April 3rd - April 9th June 29th - July 9th Sep.1st - Sep.11th
Welcome
Tour Overview Puzzle Israel invites you to find spirituality beyond the four corners of your mat. Join us for a week of physical and spiritual experiences in the setting of Israel’s finest landscapes. While overlooking a magnificent green valley or a vast crater, skilled instructors will guide you through yoga poses and mindfulness meditation. Discover Israel’s most magical spots, which will fill you with good energy and vitality. Learn how to incorporate Yama (self-control), Niyama (personal observance), Asana (practice) and Pranayama (breathing) as a Yogi in the modern world. We believe that the outdoors bears an uplifting effect, leaving you with long-lasting memories and friendships.
DAY I
Arriving and Settling In
Relax and enjoy Tel Aviv • Welcome to Israel, land at Ben Gurion International Airport, transportation to Tel Aviv • Settle in, evening walk along the Tayelet, the beachfront promenade • Group dinner at the Old Jaffa Port • Accommodations in Tel Aviv Ben Yehuda apartments or similar
* You can upgrade the accommodation to a nearby hotel for an extra $100-$200 US per night per person
DAY II
Tel Aviv
From the sands to the city streets and the green parks • Outdoor yoga practice at HaAtzmaut Park before breakfast • Early breakfast at the famous Benedict restaurant • Walking tour through Neve Tzedek, the first Jewish neighborhood of Tel Aviv, and tasting tour in Shuk HaCarmel, the Tel Aviv open market • Find the green and relaxing parts of this hectic city with a meditation practice at HaYarkon Park • Special yoga workshop with a local teacher and open conversation on health and diet with Puzzle Israel Raw Chef Chanah Auerbach • Mingle with group members on a night out along Rothschild Boulevard; dinner recommendations and reservations can be made by Puzzle Israel • Accommodations in Tel Aviv Ben Yehuda Apartments or similar
DAY III
The Judean Desert
Drive into the captivating quietness of the desert • Drive to the Judean Desert and meet the local farmers • Learn about the unique desert agriculture and pick local fresh herbs • Outdoor cooking workshop and brunch in the middle of the desert • Late morning hike to cool down in the David Stream, Ein Gedi • Afternoon yoga practice in front of the beautiful Jordanian Red Mountains • Meet a local Bedouin family and hear their personal story • Savor the variety of dishes enjoying a traditional Bedouin dinner • Warm up your vocal chords for a bonfire and musical evening under the stars • Accommodations in Bedouin tents at Chan Metzoke Dragot
DAY IV
The Dead Sea
From the orange sands to the green mountains • Sunrise wake up; hike up to the famous ancient city of Masada • Tour Masada with a morning meditation practice on the mountaintop • Hike down and experience a yoga practice on a beach along the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth • Lunch and refreshments will be waiting postpractice • Float on the salty Dead Sea water and recharge yourself with the healing mineral mud • Relaxing afternoon at the Dead Sea Spas (spa packages priced separately) • Take an evening walking tour, strolling through the magical alleys of the Old City of Jerusalem • Accommodations at Dan Boutique Hotel or similar, Jerusalem
DAY V
Jerusalem
From the old to the new Jerusalem • Breakfast at the hotel • Morning tour of Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum • Authentic hummus lunch at the Machane Yehuda Market • Tour the Old City rooftops, experience the city from a different point of view • Drive north toward the Jordan Valley and stop for a yoga practice along the way • Enjoy a dinner on the enchanting Kinneret, the Sea of Galilee • Kibbutz accommodations (simple and modest)
DAY VI
The Golan Heights
Explore the wildlife of the countryside • Early breakfast and meditation practice at the Sea of Galilee; meet new guides and methods • Jeep tour through the Golan Heights overlooking the northern borders with Lebanon and Syria • Water hike through the waterfalls of the beautiful Yehudia River • Lunch at a local rustic farm • Evening sunset yoga practice as you connect to the wildlife of the Golan • Dinner and accommodations in a Golan Heights Villa
DAY VII
The Galilee
Nature’s wonders • Breakfast and morning meditation practice in the Golan Heights • Swim and cool down in a local natural spring • Kayak down the biblical Jordan River * • Enjoy a lunch on the peaceful Sea of Galilee • Drive to Haifa, take in the colorful coastal scenery • Dinner in a local Druze village
* Alternative activity - hike down Nahal Amud - green and full of water all year round
DAY VIII
The Carmel Mountains and the Coast
Up the mountain and down to the beach • Morning yoga practice in the ever green Carmel Forest • Light picnic breakfast • Hike up Yagur River and reach the top of the Carmel Mountain • Visit the ‘Horn of the Carmel’ – the Muhraka and view the vast Jezreel Valley from up above • Horseback ride through Ramot Menashe, one of the greenest parts of Israel • Dinner on the beach and a goodbye yoga practice • Return to Ben Gurion International Airport
Until We Meet Again!
Land Cost • $2999 US per person (flight not included) including VAT • Single supplement cost - $600 US per person Terms of Payment for Land Service • Reservations can only be confirmed once the nonrefundable deposit of 10% has been paid by credit card at the time of booking ○○ Final and full payment is required 45 days prior to arrival ○○ Payment accepted by Visa, MasterCard or wire transfer ○○ All above prices and all payments must be made in US dollars Tour Services Include • 7 days touring with a professional English speaking tour guide • Transportation services for all tour sites and destinations per itinerary • All entrance fees and activities as mentioned in itinerary • Puzzle Israel logistical escort • All tour coordination services • All accommodations as in itinerary; 6 nights inclusive • Transport to and from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport Notes • Margolis Catering is an arm of Puzzle Israel led by Puzzle founder and Chef, Nir Margalith. See below for more details
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Please let us know if you would like to see pictures or links of any locations or accommodations that you are unfamiliar with
Food and Beverages • There will be bottles of mineral water for participants on the bus each morning • All meals listed will be arranged or catered by Margolis Catering lead by Chef Nir Margalith (these meals include beverages i.e. wine and/or soda depending on the meal) except: ○○ Meals as per reservations - Those not explicitly listed are not included (reservation services are included as per request) • Approximate meal prices according to region: ○○ Lunch in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem $15 US per person ○○ Dinner in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem $30-$40 US per person ○○ Lunch in Haifa $10-$15 US per person • Joint welcome dinner on first night is included Please Note The above-suggested program includes many elements that have not yet been booked. They are pending final booking and confirmation. As such, there may be slight changes in the final program. The above cost is subject to change at any time as per notice from hotels and other suppliers of services. If the number of participants and/ or rooming arrangements and/or flights schedules is changed, an additional supplement may apply.
Tour in Israel does not include • Cost of round trip airfare to and from Israel • Any expenses of a personal nature • Meals and dinners in restaurants as mentioned • Gratuities • Overtime for the driver or mileage beyond what has been allotted for the day at $30 US per hour for a 4 person taxi or $50 US for an extra hour’s usage of the bus • Any guests other than the participants in the party • Insurance for baggage, personal items, health coverage, and trip cancellation/interruption is not included, but is highly recommended. We suggest obtaining coverage through your local travel agent The Tour Day The above proposal has been quoted based on the itinerary, mileage and hours designated per day, and the other touring elements noted above. The base tour day is based on a maximum of ten hours per day. Any additional charges will be billed to the customer’s credit card at the end of the trip and must be settled locally prior to the departure from Israel. Should you decide to extend your stay at the end of the program and require a taxi to join the group; this arrangement will be at your own expense. Gratuity in Israel It is customary to tip your Israeli guide some $20 US per day, per guide (this sum depends on the size of the group and the number of guides assigned. The accepted policy is one guide per 20 participants.) It is also customary to
tip your airport drivers, bellboys and hotel staff. This, of course, is left to your discretion. Passport Validity All passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of departure from the US. Puzzle Israel Cancellation Policies Any cancellations or requests for refund must be submitted in writing and will only be considered in effect as of the date received. • Up to 45 days before arrival date - full refund will be made excluding the non-refundable deposit of 10% as indicated • Within 10 days prior to arrival - the payment becomes 100% non-refundable • Cancellation of various elements in the program less than 48 hours prior to the event will result in the payment made being 100% non-refundable
NEW VAT TAX REGULATIONS Please be aware that according to the new Israeli tax laws, being strictly enforced by all hotels, all guests holding Israeli citizenship, even those with dual citizenship/passports both for individual travelers and guests part of a group, or invited local guests, will be charged the applicable VAT tax. Therefore the necessary documentation must be received from the participants within 14 days prior to arrival in order to finalize the bill. Should this information not be provided in a timely manner, we reserve the right to charge the VAT accordingly. Responsibility Puzzle Israel (hereinafter called the Tour Coordinator), acts only as an agent for the various companies, owners or contractors providing the means of transportation, accommodation and other travel services. All exchange orders, coupons and tickets are offered subject to the Terms and Conditions under which such services are offered or provided. The issuance and acceptance of such tickets shall constitute your acceptance of the terms and conditions as set out. The airline and transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act; omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. The Tour Coordinator reserves the right to cancel/alter any part of the itinerary above as may be found desirable for the proper execution of the tour and the safety and comfort of the passengers, this without penalty to the Tour Coordinator itself. The Tour Coordinator reserves the right to change any hotel/s
listed and replace with a property of a similar category if circumstances necessitate. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the passenger/s. The right is reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of any group at any time should they require services beyond those which can be provided. If room requirements are altered due to cancellation of one or more passengers, the passengers still travelling must pay the applicable rate for the accommodation to be occupied. If you must leave the tour early, regardless of reason, no refunds will be granted for unused services. Participants should expect to pay extra for the use of facilities such as sauna, health clubs, safety deposit box, etc. Regardless of the flight arrival or departure time, most hotels have a check in between 1 PM – 4 PM. Requests for immediate check in outside of the normal check in hours will be subject to additional fees levied by the hotel. Prices quoted are based on current tariffs and rates of exchange and are subject to change without prior notice. We reserve the right to cancel a tour’s departure should there be an insufficient number of participants to make the tour viable.
Important Resources
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Puzzle Israel website for sample itineraries, ideas, testimonials and pictures: www.puzzleisrael.com ○○ We will do our utmost to ensure that the information on our website is as accurate as possible. However, pictures and descriptions are representations and not a guarantee that everything will be exactly as described or operational year round. Nir’s direct Israeli phone number: +972-(52)-226-1323, American Phone: 215-764-6412 Feel free to be in touch with any questions, concerns or trip ideas. In addition, we’re happy to connect you with our past participants so that they can share their wonderful experiences.
We look forward to sharing this adventure with you! The Puzzle Israel Team
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USA No. (215) 764-6412 Nir Margalith 972(52) 226-1323 w w w. pu z z l e i s r a e l . c om info@puzzleisrael.com