Israel Archives - Great Safaris

The Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

The Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem with its dignified architecture and honey-colored Jerusalem stone exterior resonates with the spirit of this legendary city. One of Jerusalem’s favorite hotels, the Dan Panorama Hotel, boasts an exceptional location that enables you to explore Jerusalem’s multifaceted attractions simply by stepping outside.
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Across the road from the Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem is the splendid Bloomfield Garden, one of the largest parks in Jerusalem and which overlooks the city. At the end of the park is the famous Yemin Moshe neighborhood, established in 1891 by Moses Montefiore; it was the first Jewish district build outside the walls of Jerusalem. Towering high above the red roofed houses is the Montefiore Windmill which provided inexpensive flour to the residents and today is a museum that showcases Montefiore’s vision.

Modern Jerusalem is on the doorstep with stores, business centers, theaters and museums all within easy access. Offering a special combination of attentive caring hospitality with warm Israeli undertones, the Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem features guestrooms fitted with every thoughtful amenity, a rooftop pool and elegant public areas. Whether it’s for family holidays, a romantic break or a business meeting, the Dan Panorama Hotel Jerusalem welcomes visitors with the warmth and attention to detail that spells true hospitality – offering much more than one of Jerusalem’s best addresses.

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Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias

Facing the beautiful promenade which is situated next to the breathtaking shores of the Sea of Galilee, the Leonardo Plaza Hotel Tiberias has a fantastic location right in the heart of Tiberias, overlooking the famous Sea of Galilee.

The hotel offers 262 beautifully decorated rooms with balcony and superior facilities as well as exciting leisure activities with a modern health club and various spa facilities (fitness, sauna, Jacuzzi and massage treatments).

The hotel is the ideal starting point to explore the north of Israel and discover the famous historic and cultural sight such as the Golan Heights, the Jordan River, the Hermon Mount or Hamat Gader.

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Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center, Tel Aviv

The Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv City Center is a straightforward high-rise hotel, 3.7 km from the shops at Azri’eli ha-Shalom Center and a 10-minute walk from the Tel Aviv Marina.

Modern rooms with balconies have free WiFi and flat-screen TVs; some have sea views. Club rooms provide access to a private lounge with free refreshments, and suites add plush decor and living rooms.

Amenities include a French/Asian bistro, a BBQ eatery and a restaurant with beach views, plus a coffee shop and a poolside snack bar. There’s also a fitness center, an indoor/outdoor pool and a hot tub. A spa offers treatments for a fee, and shuttle service to Azri’eli ha-Shalom Center is free.

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The King David, Jerusalem

The King David Hotel Jerusalem, one of the world’s legendary hotels, is a major landmark in a unique city. Blending the past and old world refinement, the King David Hotel is unquestionably the most famous of all Jerusalem hotels. Superbly located on an elevated site, the King David Hotel Jerusalem offers incomparable views of the walls, minarets and domes of the Old City.

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Only a 15 minute walk from the King David Jerusalem hotel is the Old City with all of its splendor. The Old City is divided into four quarters- the Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim. Each quarter has an incredibly rich history that dates back thousands of years.

Built in the 1920’s at the meeting point of the historic Old City and dynamic New Jerusalem, the King David Hotel delights the eye with stately pink quartz exteriors and exotic public rooms decorated with motifs that recreate a bygone romantic era. Other singular attractions of the King David Hotel are the spacious private gardens that enclose green lawns, a tennis court, adults’ and children’s swimming pools (heated during the season), as well as a children’s playground and quiet corners for relaxing. Guest rooms and suites of the King David Hotel are a harmony of elegance and luxury and distinguished by solicitous attention and devotion to detail. The official venue in Jerusalem for banquets and state occasions, the King David Hotel has always been the hotel of choice for world leaders and famous personalities.

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Galei Kinnereth, Tiberias

Nestled among lush, green lawns, with breathtaking views of the Golan Heights, the Galei Kinnereth has made a name for itself as Tiberias’ leading boutique hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The hotel offers 120 rooms, ranging from standard accommodations to luxury suites, all with balconies of varying sizes and views.

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Rooms include all the necessities, including air conditioning, safe and minibar, for a true self-indulging vacation. The main attraction is the hotel’s vast spa complex, spread over 700 m², with private treatment rooms, hot tub, sauna and an abundance of relaxing facilities.

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Hotel guests are treated to a private beach, complete with sun beds, parasols, towels, and lifeguard services. Enjoy the entertainment facilities, with a complimentary hotel library, kids’ club, and various culinary possibilities.

The Dan Carmel, Haifa

As the first exclusive hotel in the City of Haifa, The Dan Carmel’s perfectly placed mountain top location allows for panoramic views over the Mediterranean Sea and a breathtaking backdrop. Overlooking Haifa Bay, and the Galil and Golan Landscape, the sheer magnificence is simply heart-stopping.

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The Dan Carmel’s recently refurbished rooms and suites are all designed with classic and elegant tones and complete with the modern accessories and luxurious comforts, as expected at the best hotels in the world. Extra-Large bathrooms designed for indulgence and 42Inch LED screens with multimedia outlets enable you to relax and unwind after a rigorous day of touring or working.

Dan Carmel’s stylish lobby and public areas are a perfect place to gather ones thoughts and the large swimming pool hidden between tall trees of the luscious gardens create an enchanting relaxation zone, to reconnect and re-energize.

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The Dan Tel Aviv Hotel, Tel Aviv

The Dan Tel Aviv Hotel reflects Tel Aviv’s dynamic lifestyle. The first luxury Tel Aviv hotel in Israel’s first Jewish city, the Dan Tel Aviv has always been a prime venue for statesmen, politicians and artists who gathered here from the earliest years of the State of Israel.

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Considered the Tel Aviv hotel of choice, the Dan Tel Aviv is justly renowned for its prime location overlooking the Mediterranean and splendid beaches edged by the city’s famous seafront promenade bustling with happy strollers. Designer stores, commercial centers and the city’s famed after-dark attractions are all on the doorstep.

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Diamond Safari – South Africa and Israel

Cape Town | Greater Kruger Park  | Haifa | Jerusalem

Tour Length: 16 days

Land from $7,595  per person

Diamond Safari Cape Town,  Kruger Park, Haifa & Jerusalem: An adventure to the tip of South Africa followed by a thrilling safari in Kruger Park, visiting two different luxury lodges.   Then it is on to Israel to marvel at its ancient sites and thriving metropolises.

Day 1-3 Cape Town (3 nights) Arrive on a Saturday
Two glorious days exploring the city and environs. Ascend by cable car up Table Mountain and tour the Cape Peninsula. A special treat is a Home Host dinner with a Capetonian family!

Day 4-5  North Kruger Park Private Reserve (2 nights)
Wing to Kruger Park with daily game drives that allow for close-up encounters with wildlife.

Day 6-7  South Kruger Park Private Reserve (2 nights)
A new part of Kruger and a new lodge to double your game viewing opportunities. Open safari vehicles plunge into the bush in pursuit of the Big 5. Don’t miss the midday walking safari!

Day 8 Kruger/Johannesburg/Tel Aviv
Wing back to Johannesburg and join your guide for a tour of Pretoria and the Premier Diamond Mine.   Transfer to the airport for your late departure.  Overnight flight Saturday to ISRAEL.

Day 9  Arrive Tel Aviv / Haifa (2 nights)
Welcome to Israel!  Upon arrival Tel Aviv you are transferred to your hotel in the seaport city of Haifa.   Enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel.

Day 10 Haifa 
View the golden-domed Baha’i Shrine and their breathtaking “hanging gardens,” – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Drive along the coast to Rosh Hanikra; descend by cable car to see the magnificent underwater grottoes. Continue through the picturesque seaside town of Nahariya to the timeless Crusader city of Acre; walk through the subterranean city and bazaars that recall the colorful middle Ages. Then, to Safed, one of Judaism’s holiest cities.  Return to your hotel for Dinner.

Day 11  Haifa / Jerusalem (5 nights)
We’ll depart Haifa driving first to Capernaum to see the fantastic ruins of the ancient synagogue dating back to the 5th-century.  Ascend the strategic Golan Heights and learn about the 20th century battles that protected Israel’s future. On to Katzrin, capital of the Golan and to the Monument of the 7th Brigade.  We will enjoy a tour of the wine making process as well as sample some of the Golan’s tastiest wines. Continue for a visit to a former Syrian army bunker at Kibbutz Kfar Charuv, settled by Americans and Israelis together; view of the fertile valleys below as you tour the kibbutz and enjoy a late lunch in the communal dining room.  Then drive south and rise through the mountains to “golden” Jerusalem, stopping first for a blessing and a toast to our arrival in the eternal city.  Overnight in Israel’s capital.

Day 12 Jerusalem
Drive to Hadassah Medical Center to the see the sublime Chagall Windows. On to Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Memorial and Museum of the Holocaust, with its Children’s Pavilion and Avenue of the Righteous. Then, to Mount Herzl to pay respects to Israel’s founders and heroes. Pass the post-modern Supreme Court and the Knesset (Parliament) en route to the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Time to walk through the New Israel Museum and the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden; see the Scale Model of ancient Jerusalem. Evening: Night Tour of illuminated Jerusalem followed by a Restaurant Dinner and the “Night Spectacular” Sound & Light Show at the Citadel Museum (weather and schedule permitting).

Day 13 Jerusalem

Drive to Mt. Zion to visit the traditional Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City to the restored Jewish Quarter; walk along the Cardo, the colonnaded main street of Byzantine Jerusalem. Walk to the Western Wall, last remnant of the Second Temple.  View the Dome of the Rock. Proceed through the extraordinary Hasmonean Tunnel (tunnel schedule permitting). Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; stroll through the exotic bazaars with their wondrous aromas. End today with a visit to the fabulous Friends of Zion Heritage Center celebrating the Christian heroes who have contributed to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

Day 14 Jerusalem

Descend through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea, lowest point on Planet Earth. Ascend Masada by cable car and see this last stronghold of the Zealots in their struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod the Great’s palace, synagogue and bathhouse. Then, opportunity to enjoy an “unsinkable” swim in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. Drive via the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, on your return to Jerusalem.   Tonight, a unique and memorable evening as we join an Israeli family at their home to enjoy the traditional Friday dinner together.

Day 15 Jerusalem

Enjoy a full day at leisure for relaxation and on your own exploration.

Day 16   Jerusalem / Tel Aviv / Departure
Departure transfer to Ben Gurion Airport to return USA.