MARCH OF THE LIVING FOR ADULTS
PROGRAM DATES
April 12 – 19, 2026 | Poland Only
April 12 – 25, 2026 | Poland + 7-Day Israel
April 12 – 28, 2026 | Poland + 10-Day Israel
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2026 REGISTRATION UPDATE
Registration for the 2026 March of the Living for Adults has opened. Space will be limited, and we encourage you to sign up early to confirm your commitment-free participation.
“Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By.” – Elie Wiesel
Join a once-in-a-lifetime journey of remembrance and renewal as part of the annual Adult Delegation to the International March of the Living.
REMEMBRANCE IN POLAND
Together, we’ll celebrate the historical achievements of the Jewish People in Poland – Europe’s largest pre-War community –and bear witness to all that was lost. Our program in Poland will take us to the cities of Krakow, Tarnow, Lublin, and Warsaw, and it coincides with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), when we will march in unity with thousands of fellow global attendees from Auschwitz to Birkenau and take part in a special ceremony attended by dignitaries from around the world.
RENEWAL IN ISRAEL | Optional
Participants have the option to continue to Israel for a tour designed for travelers returning to the Jewish Homeland anew. Together, we’ll make new discoveries in the Carmel Mountains, Ramon Crater, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. Our itinerary coincides with the national holidays of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day). Together, we’ll observe the national siren where the entire country stands in honor of those lost, and we’ll experience the authentic joy of celebrating Israeli independence, dancing in the streets of Jerusalem.
The March of the Living for Adults is a highly emotional experience. More than a tour, this is an opportunity to bear witness to one of history’s darkest hours, recommit yourself to the Never Again imperative, and reinforce Jewish values of compassion, tolerance, and action – all as part of a larger global movement and global community.
OUR NATIONAL DELEGATION FOR ADULTS
Organized jointly by BBYO and Authentic Israel, we are proud to be an official national adult delegation to the International March of the Living. Our program is led by a team of acclaimed Jewish educators, professional guides, and tour staff who support our travelers all along the way of this important journey.
PROGRAM ITINERARY
Explore our projected 2026 itinerary, subject to reasonable change based on local considerations
PART I | BEARING WITNESS IN POLAND
Travelers make their own flight arrangements to Poland and are encouraged to arrive in advance at our Krakow hotel by prior arrangement – with Shabbat meals available April 10-11 as requested. A recommended flight will be designated for travelers wishing to arrive together on April 12th with connecting options from airport across North America.
SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2026 | The Kazmierz Legacy
Our recommended flight arrives to Krakow in the late morning
Travelers arriving on the designated flight and other flights arriving in the same timeframe will be accommodated with a complimentary airport transfer
- Check-in to our hotel in central Krakow – meet our staff team and get oriented to the journey
- Introductory walking tour to Kazmierz – Krakow’s historic Jewish Quarter, where we honor the proud legacy of Polish Jewry dating back to the 14th century – including stops at the Remu Synagogue, the Tempel Synagogue, old Jewish cemetery, and Jozefa Street
- Evening: Welcome dinner at the Krakow JCC, now the center of modern Jewish life in Krakow, where we’ll meet with the Executive Director, Jonathan Ornstein
OVERNIGHT: KRAKOW, POLAND
Meals Included: Dinner
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 | Confronting Auschwitz & Birkenau
- Arrive at the grounds of Auschwitz II-Birkenau where the full horror of the extermination of 1.5 million Jewish People is palpable (packed lunch provided)
- Continue to Auschwitz I, where we will tour the watchtowers, fences, cell blocks, wall of death, crematoria, and Arbeit Macht Frei Gate
- Close out the day visiting the surviving synagogue of Oswiecim, located just minutes from Auschwitz-Birkenau, to honor what was lost and to process the experience together
- Return to Krakow for dinner and processing time
OVERNIGHT: KRAKOW, POLAND
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2026 | The March of the Living
Today is Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day
- Trace the history of the Holocaust at the Krakow Ghetto, the Plaszow Labor Camp, and view the Oscar Schindler Factory from outside
- Return to Auschwitz, where we join thousands of travelers from around the world in unity for the March of the Living (lunch is provided en route)
- Take part in the official Yom HaShoah ceremony at Birkenau attended by political leaders and dignitaries from Poland, Israel, and beyond
- Return to Krakow for dinner followed by a group night out at Old Town Market Square – the biggest Medieval plaza in Europe – and view Wawel Castle
OVERNIGHT: KRAKOW, POLAND
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2026 | Lublin & Majdanek
- Depart the Krakow region and travel through Poland’s Galicia countryside to Lublin
- Stop for a solemn visit to the Zbylitowska Góra forest mass grave memorial
- Break along the way to explore the Castle of Lancut and learn about the local Jewish community
- Lunch is provided en route
- Arrive to Lublin and enter the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, a famed center of Jewish learning and the site of a massive Nazi book burning
- Check-in to our hotel in central Lublin
- Dinner will be served in the area
OVERNIGHT: LUBLIN, POLAND
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026 | Majdanek
- Travel to the Majdanek concentration camp, originally set up in July 1941 for prisoners of war but soon turned into an infamous death camp for Jews and Poles
- Lunch is provided along the way
- Continue on to Warsaw – Ascend the Mound of the Warsaw Uprising, an artificial hill created from the rubble of the former Warsaw Ghetto
- Reconvene for a catered dinner experience at our hotel
OVERNIGHT: WARSAW, POLAND
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026 | Treblinka
- This morning, we travel north for a solemn visit to the stark Treblinka Memorial in the forest (lunch is provided en route)
- Return to the city for a visit to the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery – one of the biggest Jewish cemeteries in the world – where we will be inspired by the life stories of Jewish leaders from preceding generations
- Visit the Jewish Historical Institute of Warsaw to view the “Oneg Shabbat” Archive – a hidden testimony to the experience of Jews who lived and died in the Warsaw Ghetto (time permitting)
- Evening: Option to take part in a communal Kabbalat Shabbat service at the historic Nozyk Shul (orthodox) or Beit Warszawa (egalitarian)
- Reconvene for a catered Shabbat dinner experience at our hotel
OVERNIGHT: WARSAW, POLAND
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2026 | Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
All touring today is on foot
- Free morning or Shabbat service options followed by a group Shabbat lunch
- Uprising! – Explore the remains of the Warsaw Ghetto and learn about the Jewish community’s famous revolt along the Route of Heroes and at Rappaport Memorial
- Umschlagplatz – Gathering place before transfer to Treblinka Death Camp
- Visit the groundbreaking Museum of the History of Polish Jews (POLIN)
- Wrap-up session and celebrate the end of our journey over a closing dinner
- Mark the end of Shabbat with havdallah followed by a group night out in Warsaw’s Old Town
OVERNIGHT: WARSAW, POLAND
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2026 | The Journey Continues
Transfer to Warsaw airport for onward flights:
- Flights to North America | Our designated flight departs Warsaw in the early morning (TBD)
Travelers flying on the designated flight and other flights departing in the same timeframe will be accommodated with a complimentary airport transfer - Flights to Tel Aviv | An optional group flight will be offered for purchase
We expect the group flight will take off for Israel either on Sunday evening or Monday in the early morning (TBD)
Meals Included: Breakfast
PART II | ISRAEL REVISITED
SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2026 | Baruch HaBah – Welcome!
- Arrive at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and head north to the Carmel Mountains region
- Check-in to our hotel in Zichron Yaakov, the historic pioneering town founded by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild in the Carmel Mountains (guaranteed check-in at 3pm)
- Meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30pm to gather as a group and depart for dinner
An optional walking of Zichron Yaakov will be offered to those arriving earlier in the day - Evening: Shehecheyanu at the Caesarea Aqueduct Beach followed by a welcome dinner at the Aresto Restaurant in the Caesarea Port
OVERNIGHT: ZICHRON YA’AKOV, ISRAEL (Elma Arts Hotel)
Meals Included: Dinner
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026 | A Young Nation of Immigrants
- Celebrate the pioneers who risked it all for a new beginning in the Land of Israel at the Beit Ahronson Museum
- Experience how Israel absorbs its immigrants of today at Yemin Orde Youth Village, including a shared lunch with the student community
- Atlit Detention Camp – Learn about the challenges faced by Jewish refugees arriving on the shores of Israel following the Holocaust
- Evening: Take part in a local ceremony commemorating the start of Yom HaZikaron – Israel’s Memorial Day
- Dinner is included at the hotel this evening
OVERNIGHT: ZICHRON YA’AKOV, ISRAEL (Elma Arts Hotel)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 | Remembering the Sacrifice
Today is Yom HaAtzmaut – Israel’s Independence Day
- Depart from the Carmel Mountains and travel towards Jerusalem
- Stop en route at Khan Sha’ar HaGai, the site of a key battle of Jerusalem in the 1948 War of Independence
Observe a minute of silence as the national Yom HaZikaron siren sounds - Arrive to Jerusalem and sample your way through Jerusalem’s iconic Mahane Yehuda open-air market using the “Shuk Bites” tasting card
- Celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 by recounting the story of Ammunition Hill
- Evening: Dinner on your own and join Jerusalem’s Erev Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day) celebrations!
OVERNIGHT: JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Dan Panorama – Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2026 | Celebrating Independence
Today is Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day
- Option #1 – Day tour to Masada and the Dead Sea
(an extra $150/p cost applies – email us to include this day tour) - Option #2 – Free day to enjoy Jerusalem on your own
- Option #3 – Celebrate Independence Day in Jerusalem taking part in March of the Living’s parade from City Hall to the Western Wall
- Evening: Attend a special Yom HaAtzmaut concert and event sponsored by March of the Living International with dinner included
OVERNIGHT: JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Dan Panorama – Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026 | Returning to the Old City
- Morning of Service – Volunteer project in Jerusalem
- Enter the Old City at Zion Gate and explore the ancient Jewish Quarter, including a visit to the restored Hurva Shul
- Break for lunch on own in the Cardo area of the Jewish Quarter
- View of the Temple Mount from the Aish HaTorah rooftop and proceed to the Western Wall
- Explore new discoveries at the City of David complex, including the recently excavated Herodian Road, once used by pilgrims on their way to the Temple
- Evening: Dinner is included at a local restaurant
OVERNIGHT: JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Dan Panorama – Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026 | Arts & Culture in Tel Aviv
- Depart Jerusalem for a day trip to Tel Aviv
- ANU – The Museum of the Jewish People on the campus of Tel Aviv University – view the Codex Sasson display and celebrate the diversity of Jewish life and traditions from around the world
- Celebrate the spirit of Tel Aviv at Nahalat Binyamin Street Festival and Carmel Market
- Discover the complexity and beauty of the graffiti art in Tel Aviv’s Florentine neighborhood – including the moving public art created to memorialize October 7th
- View Israel’s Independence Hall and free time to explore and enjoy the lively scene along Rothschild Boulevard
- Head back to our accommodations and prepare for our Shabbat in Jerusalem
- Option to return to the Old City to experience Kabbalat Shabbat at the Western Wall
- Shabbat dinner at our accommodations, joined by a Lone Soldier in the IDF
OVERNIGHT: JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Dan Panorama – Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026 | Shabbat in Jerusalem
- This morning is free to enjoy Jerusalem on your own or attend Shabbat services
7-day travelers check out at lunchtime and may store luggage in the hotel storage - Shabbat lunch is included at our accommodations
- Afternoon: Return to the Old City to tour the world heritage sites in the Christian Quarter and Arab Shuk (bazaar), including a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
- Evening Options:
- An optional airport transfer is included for those departing on overnight flights
- Night out at First Station – a vibrant cultural center on the site of Jerusalem’s first train station or at Ben Yehuda – Jerusalem’s iconic pedestrian street
OVERNIGHT: JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (Dan Panorama – Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch
NOTE: Travelers have the option to end their program on Saturday night, and a transfer will be provided to Ben Gurion Airport this evening at no additional charge. This package option does not include the hotel in Jerusalem on Saturday night unless otherwise arranged in advance.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2026 | Memory in the Western Negev
- Depart from Jerusalem and travel south to the Israeli communities along the Gaza frontier
- Meet with members of Moshav Netiv HaAsara to learn how this community of peace activists is grappling with the past and looking to the future
- Break for lunch on your own in Sderot
- Bear witness to the devastation of October 7, 2023 – including a visit to the site of the Nova Music Festival Memorial, the Tekuma “car cemetery”, and the Sderot Police Station Memorial
- Continue on to Sde Boker and check-in to our hotel overlooking the Wadi Zin Canyon
- Dinner is served at the hotel
OVERNIGHT: NEGEV DESERT, ISRAEL (Kedma Hotel)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2026 | Israel’s Desert Landscape
- Morning: Learn about Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, and his vision for the desert, visiting his striking grave site
- Continue south for an off-road jeep tour in the Ramon Crater
- Break for lunch on your own in the growing desert town of Mitzpe Ramon
- Visit the Ramon Crater Visitors Center and take a short nature walk to enjoy the views
- Taste the fruits of Israel’s desert agritcultural revolution at a Negev Desert winery tasting & tour
- Dinner is served at the hotel
- Evening: Astronomer-led desert star-gazing activity
OVERNIGHT: NEGEV DESERT, ISRAEL (Kedma Hotel)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026 | Looking to the Future
- Depart Sde Boker and begin heading north toward Central Israel
- Tour the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim
- Continue on to Beer Sheva, to explore Israel’s desert metropolis and grab lunch on your own
- Encounter with a Bedouin women’s weaving cooperative in the desert village of Lakiya
- Return to Tel Aviv and enjoy free time in the Jaffa Flea Market
- Evening: Final celebration dinner & wrap-up conversation at a Tel Aviv restaurant
- An optional transfer to Ben Gurion Airport is included for those departing on overnight flights
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Airport transfers for those traveling on the recommended flight and other similar-timed flights
- A Jewish educational guide accompanies the group throughout
- A local tour manager and security escort accompany the group in Poland
- Centrally located hotels per the itinerary
- All meals are included in Poland and most meals are included for travelers to Israel (see itinerary)
All meals are kosher - Luxury private touring bus with A/C
- All programming costs per the itinerary
- VIP reserved seating at the Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) ceremony and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration
- Remote audio headsets
- March of the Living backpack and rain jacket
NOT INCLUDED
- International flights
- Travel Insurance
Protect your investment, and plan ahead for the unexpected with a travel protection plan - Medical insurance
- Staff gratuities
- Hotel incidentals
2025 TRAVEL ROUTE
PART I | POLAND
PART II | ISRAEL (Optional)
ARRANGING TRAVEL
Travelers arrange their own trans-Atlantic incoming and outgoing flights. Recommended flights are designated for travelers wishing to travel to and from Poland together. These flights are recommended based on the availability of connecting flights from many North American airports. Complimentary airport transfers are provided for travelers flying on the recommended flights or similarly timed flights.
LEARN MORE: Travel Plans 2025
NOTE: Travelers wishing to arrive early can be accommodated at the group hotels based on the group hotel rate and according to availability.
2026 DATES & COSTS
An “Israel only” option, including March of the Living-organized celebrations on Israeli Independence Day, is also available
ENROLLMENT TERMS
Sign up for March of the Living for Adults using the online Registration Form
- To reserve your spot, a $250/person fully refundable deposit is due at the time of your registration (all program costs are listed in US Dollars)
- The deposit becomes non-refundable as of December 15, 2025
- The balance is due January 26, 2026, after which all payments are non-refundable, and exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis at Authentic Israel’s discretion
- Separate payment and cancellation terms may apply to the group flight (TBD)
- Cancellations must be made in writing, and we encourage you to obtain a travel insurance policy
- Payments may be made by check or credit/debit card, however, a 3.50% processing fee applies for credit/debit card payments (does not apply to the initial $250 deposit). Note: credit card fees are not refundable
- Authentic Israel reserves the right to deny acceptance on the tour according to their sole discretion
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Because we want you to get the most out of your travels, our touring days are full, and there is quite a bit of travel on foot. While none of the walks are strenuous, you will find at the end of the day that you have taken a large number of steps. Be prepared for an average of 3-4 hours of walking a day over all manner of surfaces (e.g., cobblestone paths, uneven walkways, etc.). Travelers requiring walking support or with mobility constraints will not be well accommodated on this program.
TRAVEL BEYOND THE EXPECTED
The power of inspiring Jewish travel extends beyond the boundaries of our name.
Discover a world of Jewish and world heritage travel opportunities in Europe and Morocco.
MARCH OF THE LIVING FOR ADULTS
ADULTS | 7-17 DAYS
Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey of remembrance and renewal on this Adult Delegation in Poland with the option to continue on to Israel
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ADULTS | 5-15 DAYS
Discover a wealth of Europe’s Jewish history and world heritage sites on this guided tour spanning Poland, Budapest, Vienna, Prague & Berlin
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MOROCCO
ADULTS | 9 DAYS
Explore Sephardic traditions while touring the colorful markets, architecture, and culture of Marrakesh, Fes, Rabat & Casablanca
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ITALY
ADULTS | 11 DAYS
Walk in the footsteps of ancient Jewish history and an epic global legacy in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, Milan & Lake Maggiore
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