We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better feel for this experience. The actual program will vary. A confirmed itinerary is distributed no later than two weeks prior to the start of the program.
DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT
Meet your staff and teens at the airport before traveling together to Europe on an overnight flight. This program starts with our Central Europe Discovery program. Once we land, your trip officially begins! We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here.
DAY 2–3 | WARSAW, POLAND
Our adventure starts with a trip to Poland. Warsaw was one of Europe’s most beautiful cities until it was flattened in World War II. It’s spent decades rebuilding and has a rich history for you to explore. Teens will pay their respects at the Jewish Cemetery, one of the largest Jewish cemeteries in the world. Then, we’ll visit Nozyk Synagogue, the only surviving pre-war Jewish house of prayer in Warsaw.
See the Warsaw Uprising Monument, which commemorates those who fought and died during the Warsaw Uprising in World War II. Step back in time as you walk through the Polin Museum of the history of Polish Jews and stand in awe in front of the Jewish Ghetto Memorial in front of the museum. We’ll travel north to Treblinka and pay our respects to those who lost their lives in the Holocaust at Treblinka Memorial before returning to Warsaw for one final dinner in Old Town Warsaw. While a solemn visit, this city is one of the most moving experiences for our teens.
DAY 4–6 | KRAKÓW, POLAND
We’ll drive through the countryside to Kraków and uncover the secrets and legends of “Wieliczka” Salt Mines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site hidden away in Poland. Then, the group will take in a panoramic view of the city from Krakus Mound. The group will prepare for our first Shabbat together in Europe and celebrate the start of the Sabbath at a synagogue in Kazmierz.
Rest and relax on Shabbat with programming at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Kraków. Meet with local community members, learn about modern-day life in Poland and how the war affected this area. The group will explore Kazmierz and uncover Jewish history in Europe, stopping at Remu Synagogue, Tempel Synagogue, a Jewish cemetery, and Jozefa Street, one of the most beautiful areas in the Jewish quarter of Kazmierz. We’ll take some time to walk through the Kraków Ghetto and Oscar Schindler Factory. Then, the group will take part in a Havdalah ceremony together before attending a performance at the annual Kraków Jewish Culture Festival.
Drive to Auschwitz and learn the dark and harrowing history of the Holocaust from one of the world’s most well-known concentration camps on our last day in Poland. Spend time reflecting on this visit at the restored Oświęcim Synagogue near Auschwitz. Enjoy a group night out at Krakow’s Market Square and Wawel Castle grounds, situated above the town.
DAY 7–9 | VIENNA, AUSTRIA
En route to Austria, we’ll stop for lunch in Brno and tour Špilberk Castle, wandering the vaulted prison tunnels before we continue our journey. Then, spend three days in pure bliss as we explore all that Vienna has to offer. Austria’s capital was shaped by some of the most significant names in history, including Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud. Scheönbrunn and Hofburg Palace are two of the most recognizable landmarks of the city. These grand palaces were home to the Hapsburgs, who were the rulers of the Austrian empire. Once we’re checked into the accommodations, we’ll enjoy a group night out at Prater Amusement Park and ride the Prater Turm Ferris Wheel!
Take a walk through this fairy-tale city and see its many green parks and elegant architecture. Vienna’s city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll stop at Judenplatz, the center of Vienna’s Jewish life, then continue to see the Monument Against War and Fascism, Heroes’ Square, and the Shoah Monument. Stop with the group at Stadttempel, the only synagogue that survived the pogrom in 1938. Tour the Scheönbrunn Palace before seeing Europe’s high-end culture at the Albertina Museum of Art. End the day at the Sounds of Vienna concert.
Embrace adventure on the white-water rafting course at the Vienna Watersports Arena, followed by a picnic-style lunch and beach volleyball game. Tour the iconic Castle Liechtenstein outside of Vienna, a picturesque palace tucked away on the edge of the Wienerwald. After, we’ll explore the water-filled Seegrotte Caves.
DAY 10–12 | PRAGUE, CZECHIA
Before making our way to the capital of Czechia, we’ll embark on a Danube River cruise through the Wachau Valley between the towns of Melk and Krems, viewing ancient castles and beautiful terrains along the way. The group will make a pit stop at Dürnstein Village and hike the Wachau Valley before we continue to Prague. After we arrive and get settled, we’ll walk through Josefov—Europe's most well-preserved Jewish quarter—where we'll visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Altneuschul (Old-New Synagogue), and the Jerusalem Synagogue. View Franz Kafka's home in the Jewish Quarter and learn about the Prague Golem, the supernatural Jewish legend that once stalked the dark corners of Josefov. Next, the group will head to the Vltava River for a stand-up paddle boarding adventure through the center of Prague. Before you know it, we’ll be welcoming the start of Shabbat together at the Spanish Synagogue.
Explore the world heritage jewels of Prague, including the Charles Bridge, the Prague Castle, Old Town Square, and the Astronomical Clock. Wander through the hillside gardens to the top of Petřín Hill for a panoramic view of Prague below. Tour the historic Strahov Monastery. After we celebrate the start of a new week with Havdalah, the group will check out a black light theater performance.
DAY 13–16 | BERLIN, GERMANY
Our next stop is Berlin! Head north through the Bohemian countryside towards Germany. Eat lunch is in Dresden, the German city infamously leveled during World War II and famously restored during the reconstruction of Europe. See the beautifully restored Semperoper Dresden Opera House. Once we arrive in Berlin, you’ll meet with Jewish teens from the area and talk to them about life in Europe over dinner.
Together, we’ll learn about Germany's Cold War history, visiting Checkpoint Charlie. Teens will also visit Hitler's Bunker, followed by the striking memorials erected in the heart of Berlin to honor the memory of the Jews and other groups killed by the Nazis. Take a break at Brandenburg Gate before exploring the Memorial to the Sinti and Roma of Europe in Tiergarten Park. Celebrate the reunification of Germany with a tour of the Reichstag Dome, the beautifully restored German parliament building. Close the day out with a tour in East Side Gallery, an 8-mile section of what remains of the Berlin Wall.
We’ll end our time in Europe traveling to the forests outside of Berlin to learn more about Teufelsberg, the abandoned NSA spy station now covered in colorful street art. Teens will enjoy some time swimming at a lakeshore beach in the area before returning to Berlin for our final night out in the city’s commercial hub, Kurfürstendamm.
DAY 17–18 | JERUSALEM
Teens will continue to build on this awe-inspiring adventure by connecting into one of our Israel Journey trips. We’ll head to the airport for a transfer flight to Israel. Once we arrive, our journey begins in Jerusalem. We’ll gather at the Haas Promenade—overlooking the unique topography of the city—for a Shehecheyanu blessing, which is a Jewish prayer said to celebrate special occasions. Walk along the ramparts of the Old City walls from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate, explore the ancient squares and rooftops of the Jewish Quarter, then reflect on your time in Jerusalem at the Kotel, also known as the Western Wall. Before departing, your group will splash through Hezekiah’s underground aqueduct deep beneath the city and enjoy a night out on Ben Yehuda Street, arguably the most famous street in Jerusalem.
DAY 19–24 | NORTHERN ISRAEL
Our adventure north to the Galilee region begins with a quick stop to explore the ancient city of Caesarea. Enjoy a day at the beach before crawling through the catacombs of Beit Shearim, where we’ll learn how the center of Jewish life shifted to the Galilee following the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. The group will spend their first Shabbat in the Holy Land relaxing on a boat cruise across the Kinneret—or Sea of Galilee—and end the Sabbath with a group night in Tiberias.
Take a walking tour of the mystical Tsfat—the historic center of Judaism’s Kabbalah movement and Jewish life during the exile period—to see awe-inspiring works by Kabbalistic artists in the artists’ colony and hear their story about how the movement inspires their designs. After this, we’ll hike to the waterfalls of the Banias Nature Reserve and finish the day rafting down the Jordan River.
Get wet hiking down Nahal Jilaboun Canyon and step underneath the Devora Waterfalls in the Golan Heights. Encounter with Druze culture and share a traditional meal in the Golan village of Ein Kinya, then view Israel’s neighbors on the summit of Mount Bental, a dormant volcano. Learn the remarkable story about Israeli super-spy Eli Cohen from Mitzpe Gadot, a lookout point in the Golan.
Discover Israel's frontier pioneering history in the Galilee and view Israel's border with Jordan from Old Gesher, overlooking the Island of Peace and its complicated history. Continue south and view the Jezreel Valley from Mount Gilboa. Then, spend the rest of the afternoon swimming in the natural spring pools of the Sachne and learning about the Tower & Stockade tradition of the Galilee pioneers. We’ll travel to the Western Galilee—stopping to view Keshet Arch along the way—before descending to the ocean caves of Rosh HaNikra. Tour the Templars’ Tunnel that date back to Crusader times and immerse yourself in one of Israel’s most diverse communities, Akko. Spend the rest of the afternoon in Haifa and explore the beauty of the Bahai Temple Gardens on Mount Carmel.
DAY 25–27 | TEL AVIV
Travel to Tel Aviv and volunteer at the Jaffa Institute, an innovative charity dedicated to combating poverty in one of Israel's most diverse communities. Then, enjoy a traditional Ethiopian meal while learning about the cultural and historical experience of Ethiopian-Israelis at the Battae Center in Tel Aviv. We’ll spend the rest of the day touring old Jaffa Seaport and browsing the colorful Jaffa Flea Market.
Honor the bravery of the pioneers who helped establish modern Israel at Machon Ayalon, a secret underground ammunition facility. We’ll visit NetivHaAsara on the frontier of Gaza to learn how this community has adapted to its surroundings while maintaining a hopeful outlook for peace. After that, surf’s up on the Mediterranean Coast as we enjoy a surfing lesson at Palmachim Beach. We’ll welcome our second Shabbat with a joyous, musical experience and spend the rest of the Sabbath relaxing in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.
DAY 28–30 | CENTRAL ISRAEL
Take part in an archaeological dig with the professionals at Beit Guvrin National Park and explore the impressive natural wonder of the Bell Caves. Spend some time learning about David Ben Burion—Israel’s first prime minister—in Sde Boker at his modest desert hut. We’ll drive further south to view the world’s largest erosion crater, Makhtesh Ramon. Enjoy running, rolling, or even tumbling down the massive Kassui sand dunes as we make our way to Eilat for a guided snorkeling tour in the Red Sea. See fish and coral of all shapes, sizes, and colors before we take a banana boat ride on the sea. Stop for fresh ice cream at Israel’s famous Yotvata dairy farm.
Learn how kibbutzim—agricultural settlements in Israel—thrive in the desert, protects its ecology, and stay self-sustaining. Experience effortlessly floating in the salt water at the Dead Sea's Ein Bokek beach, the lowest point on Earth. The group will spend one night camping in the desert at a Bedouin encampment. Together, we’ll embark on a camel trek, share a Bedouin feast and stargaze after a unique bonfire experience.
DAY 31 | MASADA
One of the most anticipated moments of the trip, the group will take a pre-sunrise climb up Masada via the Roman Ramp Trail and arrive just as the sun starts to peek over the horizon. Teens will tour Herod’s desert mountaintop fortress and the bastion of an ancient Jewish rebellion before descending via the Snake Path or cable cars. Then, we’ll spend the rest of the day cooling off under the desert waterfalls in Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.
DAY 32–35 | JERUSALEM
Our trip ends right where it started, in Jerusalem, but this time is different. Teens will have three weeks of travel under their belt and a completely different perspective on Israel. We’ll start with a visit to the Theodor Herzl Museum and explore the grounds of Mount Herzl National Cemetery, honoring Israel's founders, national leaders, and fallen soldiers. Then, we’ll experience the colorful Mahane Yehuda open-air marketplace. Tour the Knesset—Israel’s supreme state body—and learn about their parliamentary system and how it safeguards the Jewish State’s democratic laws and traditions.
Pay your respects at Yad Vashem—The World Holocaust Remembrance Center—and reflect on your journey in Mifletzet Park. We’ll re-enter the Old City to experience one last Kabbalat Shabbat together at the Kotel, an emotional experience for all after the experiences we’ve had together. Spend Shabbat viewing the Dead Sea Scrolls, Temple Model, and Israel’s most prized cultural and historic treasures at the Israel Museum. Enjoy a group night out at First Station Market.
Explore the geopolitical complexity of Jerusalem in the Gilo neighborhood and take part in an eye-opening conversation about conflict through the Roots program, a grassroots movement of understanding, nonviolence, and transformation among Israelis and Palestinians. We’ll explore a few additional spots before celebrating the end of our time in Israel with a tree planting ceremony in Neot Kedumim Park. Afterwards, we’ll make our way to the airport for an overnight flight back to the U.S.
DAY 36 | RETURN FLIGHT
It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Give your friends one last hug and part ways once your flight arrives at the airport. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!
