The Times of Israel Tour

Israeli Resilience Post October 7th

November 16-23, 2026

Contents

Day-By-Day Itinerary

Please Note- The Program is Subject to Change and all speakers and guests are - 'To Be Confirmed'

Day 1: Monday November 16, 2026

Welcome to Israel!

3:00 pm Hotel check-in begins; arrival is at your convenience
Meet the ToI and Routes teams in the lobby to receive a welcome package and check in to the hotel. 

5:20 pm Group will convene at the hotel lobby and depart to the opening dinner

6:00 pm Cocktail reception and opening Private Dinner at Cheder Prati with David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel 
David Horovitz is the founding editor of The Times of Israel. He is the author of “Still Life with Bombers” (2004) and “A Little Too Close to God” (2000), and co-author of “Shalom Friend: The Life and Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin” (1996). He previously edited The Jerusalem Post (2004-2011) and The Jerusalem Report (1998-2004)

9:30 pm Return to the hotel


Overnight:
Crown Plaza Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

Breakfast at the hotel 

Start the week with a Israel 101 mini morning seminar- 

9:00 am Meeting with ToI political correspondent Tal Schneider: ‘Inside Israel’s Power Game: The Knesset, Coalitions, and Public Opinion’

11:00 am Drive to Levinsky Market

11:30 pm Tasting Tour Lunch in the Levinsky Market with Harry Rubenstein

2:00 pm Cultural Program with ToI Culture Editor Jessica Steinberg

Return to the hotel

7:00 pm Free evening and dinner on your own in Tel Aviv

Overnight: Crown Plaza Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

Geopolitics and minorities in the north with ToI diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman

Breakfast at the hotel and Check Out

8:00 am Depart for Northern Israel

10:00 am Introduction with ToI diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman at Bir Elmakhsur and meeting with a representative from the Bedouin community

11:15 am Continue North 

12:00 pm Lunch at Ein Camonim

2:00 pm Overview from Misgav Am with Lazar Berman-TBC
Israel’s complex ties with Lebanon

3:00 pm Drive to an overview of Syria

4:00 pm Overview from Mt. Bental with Lazar Berman: Bitter foe, potential partner?

4:45 pm Drive to Majdel Shams

5:15 pm Visit Majdel Shams and meet Naela Eldin, who lost her daughter during the Hezbollah attack on the soccer field in July 2024

6:00 pm Drive to Yesod Hama’ala for dinner

7:00 pm Home Hospitality Dinner in Yesod Ha’Maaleh

10:00 pm Drive to the hotel and check in

Overnight: Edmond, Rosh Pina

A day along the Lebanese border with ToI reporter Diana Bletter

Breakfast at the hotel and Check Out 

9:00 am Depart hotel

9:30 am Understanding Life on the border at Shtula

11:00 am Geopolitical overview of the northern border from Mt. Adir and introduction with ToI reporter Diana Bletter

1:30 pm Home hospitality Druze Lunch at Hurfeish

Drive to Jerusalem

6:30 pm Check in to the hotel 

Dinner on your own in Jerusalem  

Overnight: Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem

Breakfast at the hotel

8:30 amBriefing with a Leading Israeli Thought Leader – TBC
Begin the day with an engaging conversation featuring one of Israel’s foremost authors, journalists, academics or public intellectuals. Gain unique perspectives on Israeli society, democracy, regional affairs and the country’s evolving place in the Middle East.

11:00 am Visit The City of David and walk the Pilgrim road
Walk in the footsteps of ancient pilgrims along the newly opened Pilgrimage Road in the City of David, a remarkable Second Temple-period street uncovered through years of archaeological excavation. Stretching from the Pool of Siloam toward the Temple Mount, this historic route offers a unique opportunity to experience Jerusalem as it was nearly 2,000 years ago. 

1:00 pm Hummus lunch in the Old City 

3:00 pm Return to the hotel and prepare for Shabbat 

Drive to the Old City

(Shabbat begins at 4:02 pm)

Shabbat experience at the Kotel 

7:00 pm Private Shabbat Dinner at the Jerusalem House of Quality

Return to the hotel

Overnight: Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem

Breakfast at the hotel 

Option 1: Day at leisure 

Option 2: Walking tour of the Old City – Four Quarters/Three Religions/One City

Lunch on your own  

4:00 pm Private Conversation with a Leading Israeli Journalist or Author – TBC
Join one of Israel’s leading journalists, authors or public commentators for an engaging discussion exploring the complexities of Israeli society, regional affairs, media, public opinion and the challenges shaping the country today.

Havdala 

5:15 pm Meeting and discussion with ToI Deputy Editor Amanda Borschel-Dan at the Hotel

Evening at leisure 

Overnight: Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem

A day in the south with ToI Political Correspondent Tal Schneider and ToI Military Correspondent Mannie (Emanuel) Fabian for a military overview, honoring the Oct. 7 victims, and a look at community rebuilding.

Breakfast at the hotel 

7:45 am Depart to the Gaza Envelope 

9:45 am Meet ToI military reporter Mannie (Emanuel) Fabian for a military overview of the Gaza envelope from Black Arrow view point/Sderot VR

10:45 am Drive to Kfar Aza/Sderot/Givat Kobi

11:15 am Visit one of the Gaza envelope communities affected by October 7th

1:30 pm Lunch at local foodtruck

Travel time

2:45 pm Women’s courage on October 7th: visit the Nachal Oz Observers memorial monument with ToI Political Correspondent Tal Schneider

3:30 pm Drive to the Nova festival massacre site

4:00 pm Visit the site of the Nova Music Festival Massacre site and meet Shalev BitonNova Festival Massacre survivor, and Younis Algrenawi, who risked his life to save those fleeing from Hamas terrorists

5:30 pm Drive to Jerusalem

Dinner on your own in Jerusalem  

Overnight: Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem

Breakfast at the hotel and Check Out (load luggage on the bus)

8:30 am Briefing with A Senior Political Analyst -TBC

10:00 am Private Briefing with a Senior Israeli Foreign Policy Expert – TBC
Meet with a senior Israeli diplomat, policy advisor or international legal expert for an insightful discussion on Israel’s foreign relations, regional diplomacy and the strategic issues shaping the country today.

11:30 pm Free time and lunch on own in Jerusalem

4:00 pm Program Summary with ToI Founding Editor David Horovitz at the hotel
David Horovitz is the founding editor of The Times of Israel. He is the author of “Still Life with Bombers” (2004) and “A Little Too Close to God” (2000), and co-author of “Shalom Friend: The Life and Legacy of Yitzhak Rabin” (1996). He previously edited The Jerusalem Post (2004-2011) and The Jerusalem Report (1998-2004)

5:15 pm Drive to final dinner 

6:00 pm Private Farewell Dinner at Sea Dolphin restaurant

8:30 pm Group transfer from dinner to the Ben Gurion Airport

9:30 pm Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport for departure flights

!שלום ולהתראות

 Shalom U’lehitraot!

Rates (Land Only)

$8,185 USD

Price per person sharing a double room

$ 1,400 USD

Single Supplement to reserve a room for individual occupancy

Accommodation

Crown Plaza Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

2 nights

630247053

Edmond Hotel, Rosh Pina

1 night

Edmond

Cassia Hotel, Jerusalem

4 nights

cassia_hotel_ph_nitzan_rubin_04

Included

Excluded

Guidelines for Payment and Cancellation

Payment policy:

Please note- The total cost of the Times of Israel November Program is $8,185 per person sharing a double room. The supplement for a guest rooming on their own is $1,400.

  • A deposit of $ 500 USD per registrant is due upon registration and is fully applicable to the Tour Package Price.
  • A second payment of $ 3,000 USD per registrant is due no later than 75 days before commencement of the tour (i.e. September 1, 2026). If you register on or after this date, you will be required to pay the full $3,500 upon application.
  • The balance payment is due in full no later than 30 days before commencement of the tour (i.e. October 15, 2026), at which time payment is due in the amount equivalent to the Full Amount less the total amount actually paid by you prior to this date. For each registrant separately, the Full Amount is comprised of the total of:
    • The Price of the Package plus
    • The Single Supplement if applicable plus
    • The charges for any supplemental services you may have requested.
  • Supplements for additional services are due upon confirmation of the selected services

Please note that the second and third payments will be automatically charged to the same credit card used for the deposit. An email will be sent to you regarding these charges before being processed.

  • Operator accepts Visa, MasterCard or American Express. A 3.7% processing fee is charged to any amount paid by credit card.
  • Payment via Bank Wire Transfer is also accepted.

Cancellation policy:

All cancellations must be made in writing and addressed to: orly@routestravel.com . The applicable cancellation fee is determined based on the date when Operator receives written notification of Customer’s request to cancel Customer’s booking. The term “all amounts owed for the tour’ includes the basic Tour Price, Single Supplements, where applicable, and the cost of any additional services requested.

  • Cancellation received no later than August 16, 2026, is not subject to a cancellation fee.
  • Cancellation received later than August 16, 2026 but no later than September 1, 2026 is subject to a cancellation fee equivalent to $ 500 USD.
  • Cancellation received later than September 1, 2026 but no later than September 16, 2026 is subject to a cancellation fee equivalent to $ 2,500 USD.
  • Cancellation received later than September 16, 2026 but no later than October 16, 2026 is subject to a cancellation fee equivalent to $ 3,500 USD.
  • Cancellation received later than October 16, 2026, is subject to a cancellation fee equivalent to 100% of the Tour Package Price.

Non-Operation of Tour:
Please note that the rates above are based on a minimum of 20 Tour participants. In the event the number of registered participants is less than 20 on September 16, 2026, the Operator will consult with the Tour Sponsor (TOI) with a view to exploring if there is a solution to operate the Tour with less than 20 participants or alternatively at a later date. However, Operator reserves the right and at Operator’s sole discretion to cancel the Tour and refund amounts received from each participant.

Travel Protection

More than ever, Travel Insurance is a vitally important feature of any planned travel and safeguards against unexpected developments

Travel protection offers many great benefits and peace of mind when traveling.  One of the many benefits is, to insure the travelers trip cost, in the event a traveler needs to cancel the trip, due to unforeseen medical illness of the insured or of an immediate family member.

The other key benefit included here is medical expense coverage, given that the majority of our health insurance plans, lack coverage for accidents/illness occurring outside of the US.

In addition to trip cancellation and medical expense coverage, other benefits protecting the travelers during their journey are , trip delay , trip interruption, lost or delayed luggage upon arrival in destination, medical evacuation, 24/7 emergency assistance and much more.

To receive a quote and for any travel insurance questions you may have, please reach out to Liana DiCurzio at Traveland. Her email is Liana@traveland.net   please be sure to mention that you are traveling with ToI/Routes Trips

We highly recommend reaching out for an insurance quote, as soon as possible after making the very first initial payment, as some benefits and plans such as the Cancel For Any Reason plan (CFAR),  are time sensitive,  and are only available  for purchase within 13 days of the very first trip payment

VAT (Value Added Tax)

Israeli VAT not applicable to non-Israeli tourists for a variety of services and is therefore not included in our prices. In this connection, please note the following:

  • Should any members of your group be either holders of an Israeli passport or residents of Israel, they are subject by Israeli law to Israeli VAT (Value Added Tax) which is 18%, a tax which is not included in the above prices since non-Israeli tourists are exempt from this tax on key services. If we are informed of the participation of Israeli citizens/residents in advance, we can bill accordingly from the outset. Otherwise, any Israeli passport holders and/or residents regardless of where they reside, will be charged VAT by the hotel reception.
  • With respect to tourists, although current regulations continue to exempt them from VAT on key services, this could change at any time, in which case VAT would have to be added by law to the services provided.

 

Any questions? Contact us at Orly@routestravel.com 

If the trip is oversubscribed at the time of your registration, please fill in your information on the registration form, and you will be added to the program waiting list