Sample Itineraries

Day 1: Sunday, Guatemala City

Independent arrival to Guatemala City. After landing, transfer to the hotel. At 14:00 we'll take a preliminary tour of the city.

Day 2: Monday, Guatemala City - Kirigua - Puerto Barrios - Livingston

After breakfast, drive west to visit the peaceful village of Quiriguá, located in Izabel County and close to the Ego de Izabal, the largest lake in Guatemala. Next to the village surrounded by tropical forest and banana groves, is the antiquities site, which contains the largest written stone tablets associated with Mayan culture ever discovered. At the end of the visit, we'll continue Puerto Barrios to Livingston, home of the Garifuna, descendants of slaves who were brought to Guatemala by the British.

Day 3: Tuesday, Livingston - Rio Dolce (the Sweet River) - St Felipe Castle - Flores

Today we will sail on the sweet waters of the Rio Dulce ("Sweet River"), one the most beautiful river cruises in Central America. At the end of the cruise, we'll travel to the San Felipe Fortress, which was founded by the Spanish in 1652. The ships that anchored here suffered countless raids which resulted in the goods aboard ship being looted. The fortress was conquered and destroyed many times until the pirate threat ceased at the end of the 18th century. At the end of our visit, we'll travel north to Flores in the district of Ramata.

Day 4: Wednesday, Flores, Tikal

Today we'll visit Tikal, the oldest and most important Mayan city with its monumental buildings, located in the depths of the jungle. Thousands of breathtaking buildings, the remains of the magnificent city built around 700 BC and mysteriously abandoned 1600 years later. The site is unique in the rich jungle life that we'll encounter including some 300 species of birds, monkeys, giant spiders, mammals and many reptiles, as well as countless types of vegetation. The name Tikal means "the City of Voices" because the sounds of the animals that are heard all around and also because of the special structures built in a sophisticated and interesting architectural style.

Day 5: Flores - Guatemala City - Antigua

Today we'll fly to Guatemala City. After landing, we will tour Guatemala City, including the city's historical center where we'll see the national palace that serves as a museum as well as the presidential palace. Afterwards we'll make our way to Antigua, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.

Day 6: Friday, Antigua, Coffee Plantation

After breakfast we will visit the village of San Felipe de Jesus. There we will visit a coffee plantation and learn about the history of coffee and its preparation process. We will return to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat.

Day 7: Shabbat, Antigua

After services, kiddush and breakfast we will take a walk in this picturesque colonial city, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Antigua lies in the midst of 3 huge volcanoes. This historic city is famous for its colonial architecture that is characterized by its narrow streets, as well as its unique and colorful houses, that the well preserved historic buildings.

Day 8: Sunday, Antigua - Chichicastenango Market - Atitlan Nature Reserve - Panchachel

This is an enjoyable and truly fun day! We'll visit the exciting, colorful and traditional market that takes place on Sundays and Thursdays. It's considered to be the most spectacular market in Guatemala and one of the most remarkable in all of Central America. At the end of the visit, we will drive to the marvelous nature reserve of Atitlan. We'll reach the top of the mountain and see the whole turquoise blue lake and the surrounding villages and volcanoes. We'll see rivers and waterfalls and many animals. We'll visit a butterfly farm, with plants of all kinds, flowers of all colors and a multitude of beautiful butterflies. Those interested will be able to go down by Zip Line that zig zags along the entire reserve between the mountains and the green valley filled with spectacular vegetation. At the end of the tour we will arrive to our hotel in Panchachel, a town on the banks of Lake Atitlan.

Day 9: Monday, Lake Atitlan, San Pedro La Laguna, Santiago Atitlan

After breakfast we'll tour of several villages surrounding the lake. The inhabitants of the villages belong to three tribes, all descended from the Maya. We'll reach the villages by boat. We'll sail on Lake Atitlan, considered the deepest lake in Central America, surrounded by steep slopes. South of the lake are three volcanoes - Atitlán, San Pedro and Tolimán. The charming village of Santiago Atitlan is the largest of the surrounding villages. We'll take a walk through the alleys of the village and visit the local market. Here we'll see the villagers dressed in colorful traditional costumes. We'll continue to the village of San Pedro La Laguna, which is popular among backpackers from all over the world.

Day 10: Tuesday, Panchachel - Guatemala City - home

Our tour has come to an end. We'll pack our bags, load up our wonderful experiences, make our way to the airport for our flight back home.

Days 1: Monday: Singapore

After landing, we’ll transfer to our hotel, freshen up, hand in our passports for the Indonesian Visa, and then take an initial tour of this cosmopolitan city, and get to know some of its ethnic quarters, such as Little India, Chinatown, and Kampong Glam. We’ll get to know the quarters of the city, including the Malay, Indian and Chinese districts. We’ll also visit the area along the Singapore River, which was its economic center during the early days of European settlement on the Straits of Malacca. 

Day 2. Tuesday: Singapore

Singapore is a sophisticated, multicultural city-state. It’s relatively young, and it owes its renown to the vision and life’s work of one man, Lee Kuan Yew, who created the unique Singaporean ethos. Singapore has prospered because of its location near a deep and easily accessible natural bay which made it a friendly transit port for international shipping. Later, Singapore also became an international financial center, free of nasty bureaucracy and corruption. But it has paid a price for becoming one of the most developed places in the world: it has a controversial, hierarchical, authoritarian regime.

Our visit we’ll acquaint ourselves with this modern city, with its impressive monuments and skyscrapers, alongside which we’ll find a meticulously cultivated colonial heritage in the urban space. This space is diverse and surprising in many ways. For example, the Jurong Bird Park, with its rich world of feathered species, a quiet haven among the bustling streets and ethnic markets. Most of our tour will be on foot – by far the best way to get around the city – as we look for some of the architectural highlights, and urban patterns of this Sino-British city located inside the spice trade arena.

Day 3. Wednesday: Singapore – Denpasar – Surabaya

This morning we will leave from Singapore’s amazing Changi International Airport (it even has an indoor rain forest!) and fly to Denpasar, the capital of the island of Bali. After completing all our entry arrangements to Indonesia, we’ll continue on a domestic flight to Surabaya, a port city and the second largest settlement in the country. Surabaya is an important trading town, which in the past was home to a Jewish community with a heritage of synagogues. Today it is a diverse urban center, where we will get to know some of the local fauna of the Indonesian Islands. If there’s time, we’ll pop into the local zoo to get a first-hand look at the famous (and truly frightening) Komodo Dragon. 

Day 4: Thursday: Mt. Bromo Volcano

This morning we’ll drive to Mount Bromo. Already from the road we’ll be able to signs of volcanic activity in the area, in the form of a sea of mud bubbling up from the ground. We’ll arrive to Mount Bromo around midday, and we’ll immediately begin our climb. The initial part of our ascent will be by jeep, followed by the next stage on horseback, and finally a climb of stairs to the summit. All around us we’ll see exposed, gray and barren moonscape while in front will be the smoking volcanic crater of the mountain. In the evening we will return to our hotel in Surabaya. 

Day 5: Friday: Surabaya – Jogjakarta

This morning we’ll fly to Jogjakarta, which used to be a cultural and government center. We’ll do an introductory initial tour of the city, which is the Javanese cultural center. Java is the fertile island in the tropical belt. It is blessed with volcanic mountains and plains, and constitutes the country's political, cultural, and economic hub. Jogjakarta is the island's cultural heart, featuring Hindu and Buddhist artisans and workshops and temples, which reminds us of the crucial influences of Indian religions on the region. After landing, we will drive through the dense countryside that characterizes Java towards the Parmanan temple complex. The temples create a delicate and powerful texture of ancient Hindu architecture and art. They look like sand stalactites, decorated with carvings of the Ramayana story.

We will pass through areas of cold lava from recent eruptions, notably the Marapi Volcano, which left imprints on the area’s geography, including an entire village that was buried under a mantle of volcanic ash that flowed down the river. In the afternoon we will return to the city and prepare for Shabbat which we’ll spend at our hotel.

Day 6: Shabbat: Jogjakarta

After Shabbat services, kiddush and lunch, we’ll take a long walk through the city’s colorful and fascinating streets. 

Day 7: Sunday: Borobudur Temple

Today will be devoted to experiencing the spiritual journey for which the Borobudur Temple was built. This is one of the Man-made Seven Wonders of the World. This Buddhist temple is built in the form of a "mandala" which symbolizes the steps of consciousness which the believer ascends from the secular, earthly world to the spiritual world. The mandala is a mystical painting usually used by pilgrims and Buddhist believers, who use the chart as a tool for meditation. In the ten stairs of stone that make up the temple we’ll find about 500 carved Buddha statues and figures symbolizing major scenes of the Buddha’s life. Borobudur, a World Heritage Site, is one of the most important Buddhist sites in Asia, and it teaches about the cultural strata that affect the locals in Java to this day. As a monumentally it is considered one of the Buddhists works equal to Bagan temples in Myanmar and the Angkor temples in Cambodia.

After our visit to the temple, we’ll learn about the life of the Javanese villages and their crops such as the cassava, papaya, tobacco and coconut palms. In the afternoon we’ll witness a trance ceremony, run by local shamans, to expel evil spirits – also an example of the influence Indian religions on the area.

In the evening we will see the Ramayana show; the popular Hindu epic which has spread throughout Southeast Asia and established itself in the Javanese tradition. The show is playfully formulated, and it tells the story of the god Rama and his wife Sita, and the evil monkey god Hanuman. 

Day 8: Monday: The Sultan’s Palace – Denpasar - Ubud

This morning we’ll visit the Sultan's Palace in the city center as well as the impressive Muslim center. If we have time, we’ll stroll down Malioboro Street. In the late afternoon we’ll make our way to the airport and fly to back Denpasar, the capital of Bali Island. Bali has many names: "God’s Island" and "Paradise on Earth", names that symbolize not only the beauty of the island but also the special atmosphere that it imposes on its inhabitants. Bali is probably the most famous in the Indonesian Islands. It’s a Hindu island that preserves past and rich traditions of culture, folklore and worship. The island is decorated with mountain ridges, volcanoes, lakes, golden-sand beaches, streams and ravines and man-made landscapes such as the "Steps of the gods", as well as lofty rice terraces, spice plantations and coconut palms.

Traditional small villages dot the island, along with hundreds of private and public temples and towers, with entrances that are arched and inlaid with statues of gods and demons. The temples are located on the tops of mountains and on the slopes of volcanoes, in the water and on the coastal cliffs, in the rainforests and in the heart of the rice paddies, as places of worship, witchcraft and meditation. 

After landing we will travel to the artist town of Ubud where we will stay for the following 6 nights. 

Days 9-11. Tuesday – Thursday: Touring in Central Bali

During these three days we’ll be heading out of a variety of tours marking the New Moon period. We’ll start with a scenic trip passing over Lake Bator to the temple in Saki, which might be described as the “Mother of all Temples”. The temple is located on the slopes of Mount Agung, Bali’s sacred mountain, considered to be the seat of the gods. We’ll visit the Goa Gajah Temple, the elephant temple which is dedicated to Ganesh (the elephant-headed god of knowledge who removes obstacles) dedicated to the god of knowledge removes. The temple in located inside a cave, the mouth of which is carved to resemble a gaping jaw of a mythological figure. We’ll be traveling around in small, open vehicles to central Bali to the astonishing area of the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Here we’ll learn about the reciprocal relationship that the locals have with their faith in Shri Devi, goddess of rice, one the one hand, and the extraordinary maintenance methods of their irrigation canals and the intensive crop farming on the other. This relationship between faith and agriculture has given Bali the nickname "an engineered paradise." 

We’ll visit the Tampak Siring Temple, a 1000-year-old temple built on a sacred spring, where we’ll hear about Balinese Hinduism (Holy Water Religion), which places special emphasis on water rituals. We’ll continue to Penglipuran Village, to visit the Bangli Temple and the town of Galungan, to see the justice hall which has a ceiling decorated with paintings depicting paradise scenes and hellish punishments. Next on our schedule is the agricultural area of Bukit Jambul, to try find an active temple celebration (Udalan) in one of the 4,500 temples scattered throughout the island. During these temple celebrations offerings are made to the local gods and cockfights are held as a blood ritual to the demons.

We’ll watch a Barong dance show which presents the battle between good and evil in the world, and we’ll try to understand its meaning and symbolism. On one of the other nights, we’ll see the Kecak show, a tempestuous Balinese dance, which has become one of Bali’s the famous icons.

During these three days visits and tours will be flexible and will operate in accordance with events happening in situ. We’ll make every effort to experience as many of the local festivities, ceremonies and practices as we can, including cremation rituals, temple celebrations, abrasive dental methods, etc. wherever we can find them. The program for these three days will be managed accordingly. 

Day 12: Friday: Villages, Rafting on the Ayung River

We will spend a few hours in the Ubud area for an in-depth visit to the local Balinese community. We’ll discover life at the Banjar (extended village) level, the small village level and the family homestead. Afterwards we’ll enjoy some excitement: rafting through the Ayung River Canyon**. The rafts are piloted by local sailors who are experienced hands on the river. Afterwards, we’ll explore the artist town of Ubud where we’ll visit the royal family’s home, visit artisans' homes and also have personal time to enjoy the shops and the artisans’ market. In the afternoon we will return to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat. 

Day 13: Shabbat: Ubud

After Shabbat serv ices, kiddush and lunch, we’ll take a walking tour about the exotic scenery near our hotel, wandering through this quaint artisans’ village, with its rice paddies and coconut palm groves. After Shabbat we’ll enjoy a night out on the town. 

Day 14: Sunday: Baratan Lake, Tanah Lot Temple, Nusa Dua

This morning we’ll bid farewell to the village of Ubud and continue our travels through Bali. We’ll travel to Baratan Lake to scope out the impressive Ulun Danu Temple, located on the lake’s waters. We'll continue to Candi Kuning and stop in at the fruit, vegetable and spice market. From here we’ll descend towards the Bali shoreline for a visit to the Tanah Lot Temple. The temple is built on a rocky outcrop in the ocean and can only be reached at low tide. We plan to arrive at sunset, to see the temple slowly fade into darkness. At the end of the day, we will reach Nusa Dua Beach where we will settle down for some leisure time and touring over the next two days. 

Day 15: Monday: Kuta, Uluwatu, Padang Padang

See this beach here on the left? That’s what we’ll wake up to. So, do we really want to rush off early this morning? Naaah! We’ll wake up easy, easy facing the sea, enjoying the magic of Nusa Dua Beach. Then, after a late breakfast, we’ll visit the Uluwatu temple which looks out over the beach. But we need to be careful as we walk among the many monkeys in the temple. Seeing as we’re already near the Padang Padang beach, we’ll take a walk along the beach to Kuta, Bali’s international action city. At the end of the day, we will return to our hotel by way of the beach. 

Day 16: Tuesday: Seaside Relaxation… Departure

A leisurely, seaside morning at our beachfront hotel. Around midday we’ll leave for the airport near Denpasar for our flight to Singapore where we’ll connect with our flight to our home gateway.

Day 1: Thursday: Arrival to Lima, Peru

Arrival to Lima, capital of Peru. We’ll transfer to our hotel and enjoy an easy afternoon.

Day 2: Friday: Lima, Peru

Today we’ll embark on a city tour of Lima that begins at the Plaza de Armas, which has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Running along two sides are arcades with shops: Portal de Escribanos and Portal de Botoneros. In the center of the Plaza is a bronze fountain dating from 1560. Located in the Plaza is the Cathedral, and next to the Cathedral is the Archbishop’s Palace. We’ll view the 17th century Monastery of San Francisco and visit the old colonial streets in the center of the city as well as the Inquisition Museum. In the afternoon we’ll tour modern Lima and the district of Miraflores, with its Larcomar mall located on (and in) the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Afterwards we’ll return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat which we’ll enjoy with the local Jewish Community.

Day 3: Shabbat: Lima - Paracas

R&R (Rest & Relaxation) is some of what Shabbat is all about, so after Shabbat services, Kiddush and lunch with the local Ashkenazi community, we'll take a leisurely walk to visit an interesting archeological site before returning to the hotel. On Motzaei Shabbat we’ll pack our luggage, load it on to the bus and head south across the desert to the resort town of Paracas. Nothing like driving through the desert at night. Late night check-in and off to bed. 

Day 4: Sunday: Paracas – Ballestas Islands – Paracas

After breakfast we’ll walk down to the pier and board our speedboats for the 2-hour ride across the water to Ballestas Islands, often referred to as the “Little Galapagos.” Composed largely of rock formations, these islands are an important sanctuary for marine fauna like the guanay bird, the blue-footed booby and the tendril. These islands are the world's largest supplier of guano. Other notable species include Humboldt penguins and two varieties of seals (fur seals and sea lions), amongst other mammals. We’ll cruise the islands slowly for a few hours and then head back to our resort hotel for some down time. In the afternoon we'll offer optional activities such as snorkeling, an ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle – a.k.a. 4X4 Motor Bike like some of us did in Cambodia) ride through the desert, or an option to do some touristy shopping in the nearby hamlet of Pisco.

Day 5: Monday: Paracas – Lima – Cusco – Sacred Valley

After an early breakfast, we’ll make our way back to Lima. Seeing as this is quite a long drive (and no, there aren’t any flights) we’ll stop along the way at some ancient Inca sites and begin to learn about this unusual civilization that came and went in the span of 500 years. Sun-worshippers and manufacturers of spectacular gold jewelry, for both decorative and religious purposes, they were wiped out by the Spanish who came to South America to plunder its riches. We’ll make a lunch stop along the way and then continue to Lima airport for our flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, we’ll leave the city immediately* and descend to the Urubamba Valley, the popular name given to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Upon arrival to the Sacred Valley we’ll check into our hotel for (a late) dinner and overnight.

* IMPORTANT: The reason for our immediate departure from the city is that Cusco is located at an altitude of 3400m above sea level. That’s almost 3 times higher than Kathmandu! It is very important for you to discuss this issue with your doctor before traveling. Some people may require altitude pills, and some won’t. Personal oxygen tanks are available in all hotels in Cusco and in the Sacred Valley.

Over the next three days we’ll discover the tranquility and beauty of the Sacred Valley of Urubamba - a 26 mile-long valley carved by a winding river that was once the heart of the Inca Empire. This fertile area between Cusco and Machu Picchu is home to small Andean towns and colorful markets. At 610 meters lower than Cusco, time here allows gentle acclimatization to the high altitudes of the Andes.

Day 6: Tuesday: Sacred Valley

Today we’ll tour the Sacred Valley of the Incas, located along the banks of the Rio Segrado River, between the lofty mountains of the Lower Andes. We’ll include as many of the following as we can: 

1. Chinchero, according to Inca legend, this is the birthplace of the rainbow 

2. The village of Pisac to experience a colorful local market

3. Ollantaytambo, a picturesque village with its magnificent ancient ruins and mountainside rock terraces. 

4. Moray, an ancient Inca crop laboratory. Maybe this is the place where the people of Peru learned how to cultivate over 3000 (Three Thousand!) species of potato and colorful varieties of corn. 

5. If time permits, we’ll also make a stop at the Maras Salt Ponds to see how ancient salt mining techniques are still being used today. 

For those who would like to do some horse riding, it’s an optional activity for this afternoon. It’s going to be a busy day!

Day 7: Wednesday: Sacred Valley -Machu Picchu- Cusco

Bucket List Day! After an early breakfast we’ll transfer to the Ollanta train station for the ride to the town of Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu, ‘the Lost City of the Incas’ (altitude 2,340 meters – twice that of Kathmandu)). The ruins of Machu Picchu are one of the most captivating and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. Sweeping Andean landscapes provide a spectacular backdrop for this mysterious stronghold that was lost to the world until its rediscovery by archaeologist Hiram Bingham III in 1911. This mountaintop citadel, which served as both a center of worship and an astronomic observatory, is located in the middle of the cloud forest overlooking the Urubamba River. There are both agricultural and urban areas constructed with the precision stonework for which the Incas were known. The agricultural area consists of terraces and food storehouses, and the urban area contains temples, squares, and royal tombs. 

After the tour, we’ll return to enjoy some free time in the endearing and colorful village of Aguas Calientes (Spanish for “Hot Waters” due to the hot springs that are located in this area), before boarding the train for the journey back to Cusco. Upon arrival, check in to our hotel for dinner and some well-deserved rest. 

Day 8: Thursday: Cusco

The ancient capital of the Incas offers an intriguing combination of colonial architecture and Inca ruins. This Spanish colonial city and former capital of the great Inca Empire is bursting with ruins and artifacts built on the foundation of an old Inca Citadel. Highlights include the Temple of the Sun and the magnificent Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman which is set on a hill overlooking the city. Hopefully, our night's rest will have helped us acclimatize to the altitude here in the Capital of the Incas. We'll go slow today, taking in as many of the sights as our pace will allow. We'll visit the awesome fortress of Sacsayhuaman just outside the city – an incredible ancient construction built of huge rocks cut to fit into one another without any cement or other form of construction adhesive. If there's time and we're not too groggy, we'll also take in the Inca sites of Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tampumachay. We'll return to the city to visit the local market, the plazas and cobble-stone streets, and the Koricancha (‘site of gold’). We'll probably need some rest time in the afternoon. In the evening after dinner, we'll go out to a delightful dance show in one of the city's nightclubs.

Day 8: Friday: Cusco -Lima 

After breakfast we'll head for the airport and fly back to Lima, where we'll complete the tour of the city we began a week ago, and then check in to our hotel to prepare for Shabbat which we'll spend once again, with the local Jewish community.

Day 9: Shabbat: Lima 

After Shabbat services, Kiddush and lunch we’ll enjoy a walk down to the sea front to Parque Yitzhak Rabin and Parque Del Amor from where there's a magnificent view over the cliffs to the Pacific Ocean. After Shabbat and Havdalah, we'll go out to one last site here in Lima, the Magical Water Circuit, which is comprised of many colorful fountains that dance to music – this is a place that is usually packed with locals who come out to enjoy the spectacle. We’ll then return to the hotel and all gather round for our traditional farewell evening of refreshments, song and laughter and shared memories and perhaps begin to think about the future... 

Day 10: Sunday: Lima – Home gateway

After breakfast and depending on flight times, we’ll pack and head out to Lima’s International Airport for our flight to our home gateway.

Day 1: Wednesday: Arrival to Mumbai 

On arrival we will be welcomed and transferred to our hotel for check-in. After a rest and a refresh, we’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Day 2: Thursday: Mumbai

Our first day in India will be devoted mainly to Mumbai’s primary Jewish Heritage sites. We’ll start the day at the Sassoon Docks. Built in 1875 by Sir Albert Abdulla David Sassoon, a Jewish merchant, it was Western India’s first ‘wet’ dock–where ships can sail in regardless of the tide. We’ll continue to Knesset Eliyahoo Synagogue, the second oldest Sephardic synagogue in Mumbai. After this incredible Jewish highlight, we’ll walk around the corner to visit the Venetian Gothic styled David Sassoon Library, completed in 1870. It forms part of an important ensemble of buildings, crucial for the image of the Fort Area. Next stop is the Shaar Harahamim Synagogue, Mumbai’s oldest synagogue. After Lunch we’ll continue to Mumbai’s – Dhobi Ghat, Mumbai‘s 140-year-old, open-air laundromat. We’ll end the day with a visit to Crawford Market, South Mumbai’s most famous wholesale market. We’ll return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Friday: Mumbai

Today we’ll concentrate mainly on the British heritage side of this massive city. We’ll start the day with a visit to the Gateway of India, built in 1924 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary to Bombay (Mumbai). We’ll walk over to the Prince of Wales Museum, a heritage structure in Mumbai because of its admirable architecture. Next will be the spectacular Victoria Terminus Station, an outstanding example of Victorian Gothic Revival architecture in India, blended with themes deriving from Indian traditional architecture. Our final site will be the National Gandhi Museum, a small, modest building where Gandhi used to stay when in Mumbai. We’ll then have free time to enjoy the streets and shops of Colaba before we return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Davening will be at Chabad of Mumbai followed by dinner.

Day 4: Shabbat: Mumbai

Davening at Chabad of Mumbai followed by kiddush and lunch. Afterwards we’ll return to our hotel for some Shabbat rest. Maariv & Havdalah will be at the hotel, after which we’ll prepare our luggage for a post-midnight departure to Cochin before enjoying our final dinner in Mumbai.

Day 5: Sunday: Mumbai – Cochin – Munnar 

Very early this morning we’ll fly south to Cochin. Upon arrival, we’ll drive eastward toward Munnar, which was a popular getaway during the British Raj. Surrounded by tea estates at the confluence of three mountain streams, this hill station boasts of exotic flora and fauna. Along the way we’ll make a stop at one of the spice plantations. We’ll continue to the hills of Munnar to check in at our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Munnar.

Day 6: Monday: Munnar 

After breakfast we’ll spend the day in nature. We’ll visit the Muniyara Dolmens, situated in Marayoor. Historians, anthropologists and archaeologists from all over the world visit to explore the remnants of these Dolmenoid cists. We’ll then stop at Anamundi Peak, the highest mountain in India outside of the Himalaya. We’ll have lunch in Munnar and then make our way to Mattupetty Dam and Echo Point. We’ll return to Munnar for some free time at the local markets. After dinner, we’ll all go out to the Kalrippayattu Martial Arts Show, an Indian martial art and fighting system that originated in Tamilakam. 

Day 7: Tuesday: Munnar – Kumarakom 

After breakfast we’ll travel the old Devikulam Road to the visit Lockhart Tea Factory, a well-maintained 150-year-old tea factories dating back to the British Era. We’ll take a plantation walk to reach the factory. We’ll see the traditional methods of leaf tea processing. We’ll return to Munnar for lunch and then continue to Kumarakom and check in to our beachfront resort hotel to rest and refresh ourselves in time for dinner.

Day 8: Wednesday: Kumarakom

After breakfast we’ll drive to Kumbalangi village where we’ll cruise in a big country boat as we visit this special island village. We’ll visit a crab farm and see how coir yarn is made from coconut hair. Afterwards we’ll see different types of plantations, such as coconut, betel nuts, pepper, jack fruit, nutmeg, anthurium, orchids, vanilla etc. as well as water harvesting ponds and biogas plants. 

Day 9: Thursday: Kumarakom 

After breakfast we’ll cruise the backwaters of Kerala on our specially chartered houseboat. After lunch we’ll return to the resort where those who wish may enjoy some pampering at the spa, at the pool or wherever your mind chooses.

Day 10: Friday: Kumarakom – Cochin 

After breakfast, and depending on time, we’ll travel north to Ernakulam to visit the Thekkumbhagom Synagogue & the Kadavumbagam Synagogue. We’ll arrive to our hotel and enjoy some free time before Shabbat. Friday night we’ll daven at the hotel, and Shabbat services will be at the famous Paradesi Synagogue, probably the best-known shul in all of India and the oldest active synagogue in the Commonwealth of Nations. 

Day 11: Shabbat: Cochin

After Shabbat services at the Paradesi shul, we’ll take a walking tour to the old Jewish cemetery of Cochin, before going to our hotel for kiddush and lunch. After some Shabbat rest, Mincha and Seudah Shlishit will be followed by Maariv and Havdalah. After Shabbat we’ll go out to see a Kathakali performance.

Day 12: Sunday: Cochin 

Today we’ll continue our discovery of the mixture of Indian, Dutch, Portuguese influences that have affected this part of Southern India. We’ll start at St. Francis Church, originally built in 1503, which is one of the oldest European churches in India. From here we’ll proceed to the Chinese Fishing Nets and Koder House and the Kerala Folklore Museum. The three floors of the Kerala Folklore Museum are built in three different styles: namely the Malabar, Cochin, and Travancore styles. Afterwards there will be free time to wander about, rest or go shopping. At the end of the day, we’ll enjoy a serene sunset cruise before our final gala dinner.

Day 13: Monday: Cochin – Home Gateway

After breakfast and depending on flight times, we’ll pack and head out to Cochin International Airport for our flight to our home gateway.

Day 1: Sunday: Arusha – Serengeti

Arrival to Kilimanjaro International Airport located near the city of Arusha. Here, we’ll meet the local crew who will accompany us throughout the tour. We’ll board our special safari vehicles (details later) and head out to our first destination, Tarangire Reserve. We’ll arrive at the reserve towards evening where we’ll explore the vast savannah – the vast grasslands, centuries-old baobab trees, low bushes and a rich and diverse living world, with more than 500 species of birds, large herds of elephants, hippos, lions, hyenas and thousands of deer, buffalo, antelopes, gnu, impalas, zebras, giraffes and more.

Day 2: Monday: Tarangire - Lake Manyara

After breakfast, we’ll continue our tour of the Tarangire Reserve and then continue to Lake Manyara Reserve. Manyara Lake Reserve is the most stunning and renowned Tanzanian Reserve, located at the bottom of the Syrian African Rift, extending over 329 square kilometers and recognized as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Due to its location on the African Syrian fault, its landscape is completely different to the other nature conservation and national parks in Tanzania. Thus, already at the entrance we’ll witness a surprisingly rich and diverse tropical landscape, which develops into a rich rainforest, reminiscent of a wild jungle. Here, we’ll meet flocks of baboons, elephants, birds and more. This special forest exists thanks to extremely high groundwater. Despite its relatively small area, the reserve protects a fascinating variety of habitats and over 500 types of animals, and 400 spectacular bird species such as cormorants, pelicans, thousands of flamingos that color the lake in pink, dense elephant populations and impressive, passive hippos. If we are lucky, we might get to see the park’s famous tree climbing lions. At the end of the safari tour we will take an easy one-hour Tree Walk between rope bridges hanging among the treetops in the park - a seriously cool experience! Towards evening we’ll reach our lodge.

Day 3: Tuesday: Lake Manyara – Eyasi

After breakfast we’ll make our way to Lake Eyasi, a saltwater lake in northern Tanzania. The lake is part of the Syrian African rift and lies south of the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park, and west of Arusha. The lake is a habitat for pelicans, flamingos and storks. Here we will visit the Bushmen tribes: the Hadzabe (which is a hunter-gatherer tribe) and the Datooga – a tribe of blacksmiths who also engage in agriculture. These are the last two authentic-traditional tribes left in Africa, who have a continuous 12,000-year history in the region.

Day 4: Wednesday: Eyasi – Ngorongoro Heights – Serengeti

At sunrise, we’ll embark on an unforgettable hunting-safari experience with the Hadzabe Desert Tribe. We’ll become partners in the hunters' lifestyle and familiarize ourselves with their hunting practices in the wild African bush, among the bushes and the trees. At the end of the ‘hunt’ we will return to the lodge for a shower and breakfast. Towards 10:00 we will depart for the Serengeti Reserve in the giant African savannah, covering 60,000 square kilometers, in Tanzania and Kenya. The name is given to it by the Masai tribe and means "the endless plain." Serengeti is the second largest reserve in Tanzania and spans 14,763 square kilometers - about two-thirds of the State of Israel. In 1981, UNESCO declared the park a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve. Serengeti has become famous for the spectacular phenomenon of "the great migration." Each year, over the dry season, over 2 million gnu, zebra and deer migrate in a circular orbit following food to the Masai Mara Reserve in Kenya and back. The massive herds move north, carrying hundreds of thousands of calves and young foals, for which it is the first migration of their life cycle. The plains form the setting for this breathtaking drama of the cycle of life and death. Many predators, including hyenas, lions, cheetahs and leopards, skulk in hiding for the herds as they reach the largest barrier at the end of the Serengeti Reserve - the Mara River. Towards evening we will arrive at our lodge located in the heart of the reserve.

Day 5: Thursday: Serengeti

A fascinating and wonderful day lies ahead, devoted entirely to a remarkable and breath-taking safari in the Serengeti Reserve. We'll tour the reserve to observe the thousands of Serengeti dwellers: zebras, giraffes, antelopes, deer and miniature birds; lions, leopards, cheetahs and hyenas. We will observe the seekers among them, the hunters and the hunted, reflecting a world that is all about the war of survival, endurance and also heroism. If conditions permit, we’ll leave for safari early in the morning - before breakfast – in the hope of very good luck, to see the behavior of the predators as they enjoy their festive meal after the night’s hunt.

Day 6: Friday: Serengeti – Masai Village – Karatu 

After breakfast we’ll enjoy our last safari in Serengeti. Next, on the way to the exit gate from the reserve, and en route to Karatu, we will stop for a visit to the Masai tribe in Manita village. Here we will find out why the Masai stand on one leg, what the jump dance is all about, and the symbolic meaning of the color red. We’ll learn about the Masai culture, their way of life and their traditional customs, visit their mud huts and watch a tribal song and dance performance. In the afternoon we will arrive to the town of Karatu, where we will stay over Shabbat.

Day 7: Shabbat: Karatu

After Shabbat services, kiddush and lunch, we’ll go out for a walking tour of the area near our hotel. We’ll also enjoy Shabbat rest and a lecture.

Day 8: Sunday: Karatu – The Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, we will drive to the Ngorongoro Reserve, which is one of the most beautiful areas in the world, with a plentiful, fascinating range of topographic features: crater-lined volcanoes, mountains and marshes, mountains, canyons and plains, dunes and forests with an abundant variety of wildlife. Thanks to the nature and cultural treasures that lie within the reserve, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, we’ll discover here the "Eighth Natural Wonder of Creation" - Caldera Ngorongoro, which is a huge crater created when the volcano collapsed and created a 304 sq. km. floor, with a diameter of 19 km and steep walls rising up some 600m. Within this crater we find no less than 25,000 large animals, including the world's densest population of lions and hyenas. There is also a soda lake (Lake Natron, where the mineral concentration is highest in the world), rivers, marshes, savannas, open woods, acacia and mountainous rainforests. The area teems with wildlife: herds of zebras, gnus and deer, elephants, lions, buffalo, cheetah and flamingo. The crater is also home to the Masai tribe, cattle herders by tradition, who are charged with keeping animals safe from illegal hunting. At the end of the tour, we’ll make our way back to the town of Karatu. If time remains, we will tour the town and visit the enormous local market.

Days 9-10: Karatu – Arusha – Home Gateway

After breakfast we’ll bid farewell to the Ngorongo Crater and make our way to Arusha. Here we’ll visit the Cultural Heritage Center, a museum showcasing Tanzania's cultural heritage. One of the largest and most unique of its kind in Africa, it features unique ancient collections, local residents' artwork, wood carvings, paintings and crafts, metals and gemstones. Adjacent to the museum are shops with souvenirs and decorative objects from the local works. If we have enough time, we will also visit the local, large and impressive market. We will have lunch and continue to Kilimanjaro International Airport, fly to Addis Ababa and fly back to our home gateway.