Jerusalem’s Old City at night
Tours de Force
There are more options than ever for active adults
looking to explore all that Israel has to offer.

BY HILARY DANAILOVA
or my travel-averse grandmother, a Holy Land trip was a lot like
her diet — the one that always started tomorrow. When she and
my grandfather finally joined a tour of Israel, the Yom Kippur War
broke out on their second day in Jerusalem. But they had a wonderful
time anyway, and the photos, stories and gold Chai necklaces from
that trip were among my grandmother’s most cherished mementos.

Whether it’s a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage or an annual vaca-
tion, there are more options than ever for older Americans seeking
to experience Israel — alternatives that go far beyond the traditional
greatest-hits tour, though that, too, has evolved with changing tastes.

No other demographic is as varied in age, interests, physical con-
dition, or generational preferences as today’s seniors, who might be
anywhere from 50 to 100.

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DECEMBER 17, 2015
First-timers might enjoy a group visit to the Western Wall, a swing
through Tel Aviv and a dip in the Dead Sea; repeat visitors, active
adventurers and scholars will find itineraries tailored to their par-
ticular bents. On virtually every tour, couples predominate, followed
by a sizable contingent of single women (single men are less common,
though exceedingly popular). The average age is generally in the 60s,
which is true even for trips not specifically aimed at seniors.

But there is one thing all sojourners have in common, according to
Susan Blum, Israel department manager at Philadelphia-based Gil Travel
Tours: “Every trip, they’re yelling, ‘Turn on the Wi-Fi!’ ” — her tone con-
veying that from 80-year-olds, this you wouldn’t expect. “And it’s like,
‘Look on the right, there’s something amazing,’ ” recalled Blum. “Come
on, you’re in Israel. Turn off your phone and look out the window!”
THE GOOD LIFE
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