The exotic spices of Israeli cuisine fill streets and surrounding landscapes with enticing aromas during your customizable culinary tour. Uncover the secrets to seductive baklava and decadent rugelach. The Mediterranean Sea gives way to the vineyards and orchards of Galilee. Cobblestone lanes contain celebrated restaurants. Spice markets radiate with color, and the scent of rich coffee lingers in the air. Whether a self-professed foodie celebrating international flavors or a home chef eager to...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Jerusalem - Israel at First Taste
Jerusalem overtakes the desert hills and shimmers with creamy antique stones and celebrated gilded domes. Olive orchards and cypress trees absorb water from underground springs. Cobblestone streets wind between ancient buildings, leading to the remnants of ancient Roman and Byzantine roads. Locals wander through the aisles of the Mahane Yehuda Market, basking in the dynamic culinary scene of produce vendors and restaurants serving a mixture of classic Israeli cuisine and contemporary twists on Middle Eastern culture. Your flight lands at Ben Gurion International Airport.
Your private transfer greets you upon your arrival and escorts you to the enchanting city of Jerusalem. Your luxurious hotel overlooks the ancient walls of the city, offering a mixture of historical charm with contemporary comfort. The remainder of the day is yours to wander through the enticing aromas and fascinating architecture of the city. For an introduction into Jerusalem, you make your way to the Tower of David, located on a promontory overlooking the Old City. The palace of Herod the Great once stood atop the citadel, followed by the occupations of the Romans and keen Crusaders.
The citadel now holds the dramatic galleries of the Museum of the History of Jerusalem, which offers a chronological telling of the city’s past from the second millennium BCE up to the founding of Israel in 1948. A chiseled block from one of Herod’s lesser towers continues to stand at the base of the main keep, and the 16th-century gate greets visitors at the entrance to the citadel. The hill provides the perfect sampling of Israel’s remarkable history, which has influenced the cuisine over time.
What's Included:
Day 2
Jerusalem – A Day’s Worth of Samples
Day 3
Jerusalem – Connecting the Flavors of Jerusalem
Day 4
Galilee – A Different Side of Israel
Day 5
Galilee – In the Habit of the Countryside
Day 6
Tel Aviv – History with Flavor
Day 7
Tel Aviv – The Scents of the City
Day 8
Tel Aviv – Beyond the Golden Beaches
Day 9
Tel Aviv – Lingering Tastes in Tel Aviv
Trip Highlights
- Delight in the comforts of homemade Druze cuisine during a private cooking lesson offering insight into delectable dumplings, flatbreads, and desserts
- Sample a variety of hummus across the neighborhood of Old Jerusalem to find the best combinations of flavor and texture in the city
- Enjoy a taste of challah in the oldest bakery in Jerusalem, learning about the best ways to make the bread, along with the meaning behind the traditions
- Relish the markets of Israel for an immersive experience in the bustling ambiance accompanied by the aroma of exotic spices and vibrant produce
- Stroll along olive orchards and citrus groves before sampling the locally produced olive oil to find subtle but distinct differences
- Traverse the seaside promenade and lavish beaches of Tel Aviv leading to the historic port of Jaffa
- Discover the difference between the Arab tastes in spices and coffee while touring the city of Nazareth, Israel’s largest Arab city
- Treasure a sampling of wine produced from a vineyard located in the Galilee region
- Take pleasure in the flavors of the seaside Tel Aviv on a cooking tour led by a local chef passionate about the trends of the city’s ever-evolving cuisine
Detailed Description
Discover the true flavors of Israel during your sensational 9-day culinary tour meant to reveal exotic spices and inspire your palate. The gastronomical adventure begins with your arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport. Your private transfer meets you upon your arrival and escorts you to Jerusalem to begin your fascinating introduction into the special cuisine of the ancient city. Traverse the fascinating promenade around the Tower of David for your first look at the history that has inspired the regional flavors. The following day, your guide meets you at the hotel, eager to lead you through the marvelous aisles of the legendary Mahane Yehuda Market. Sample baked goods and pastries, visit local vendors, and pick out fresh ingredients before partaking in a private cooking lesson utilizing the produce and spices from the market.
You learn about the significance of challah bread while visiting the oldest bakery in the city en route to touring the lanes and alleyways of the Old City. Visit a tahini factory and a number of small restaurants specializing in hummus to find the best in the city. Continue on a tour of the Jewish and Christian Quarters to visit the Wailing Wall, traverse the Via Dolorosa, and visit the Israel Museum. Next, you leave Jerusalem, making your way north to the Galilee region. Enjoy the scenic landscapes promoting vineyards, lakeshores, orchards, and mountain ridges before reaching Nazareth. Traverse the marketplace to visit a local spice store specializing in exotic world-renowned flavors, including roasted coffee. Visit an arak distillery to learn about the Middle Eastern spirit before settling into a luxurious hotel located on an organic farm.
Venture out into the countryside to visit an orchard producing stunning olive oil. Relish a private tasting before visiting a winery and farm specializing in goat cheese. Traverse the Golan Heights for an introduction to the Yom Kippur War before returning to your hotel. Then, you visit a Druze village for some insight into the unique culture and cuisine with a home-cooking lesson. Continue to the ancient city of Akko en route to the charming city of Tel Aviv.
Your guide leads you on a remarkable, encompassing tour, taking you through the Levinsky Market to sample regional specialties and into the Carmel Market in search of ingredients to cook a regionally inspired meal. Then spend a day to explore Tel Aviv at your leisure. Lounge on the beaches or survey the streets of Jaffa and the old port. You could also wander through the exhibits of the Jewish Diaspora Museum. On the last day, your private transfer meets you at the hotel and leads you to Ben Gurion International Airport for your flight home.
Starting Price
$5,900 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
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