Day 1
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - JERUSALEM
Arrival at Tel Aviv Airport. Welcome to Israel! Transfer to Jerusalem and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Relish with us a welcome dinner and warm reception tonight.
Overnight stay at the plush American Colony Hotel.(Dinner)
Day 2
JERUSALEM
After breakfast, we begin the day sightseeing at the Temple Mount capped by the shining cupola of the Dome of the Rock. Here we meet an imam from the Al-Aqsa Mosque who will explain the importance of this holy site to Muslims.
We then visit the Western Wall (Wailing Wall). It is an ancient limestone wall known in Islam as the Buraq Wall. Here we get a chance to touch the ancient stones. Meet with a rabbi to learn about the significance of this sacred place. The tour lets you meet a local pastor who joins us at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This holy site is home to six Christian sects and, according to tradition, the tomb of Jesus.
In the afternoon we ascend to the top of the Mount of Olives and enjoy panoramic views of the domes, spires, and golden stones of Jerusalem’s Old City.
Overnight stay at the American Colony Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).
Day 3
JERUSALEM
This morning after breakfast we proceed to the City of David which lies just outside the Old City walls. It is thought to be the original capital established by King David some 3,000 years ago. Explore the archaeological site and meet with its Israeli administrators; later, speak with residents of the nearby Palestinian neighbourhood who oppose the excavations.
We get an insider perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with an Israeli politician. The tour then travels to Ramallah, where we are granted rare access to the offices of the Palestinian Authority to hear from a high-ranking politician.
Rest the night in an overnight stay at the American Colony Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch)
Day 4
JERUSALEM
Relish a breakfast meal and proceed to understand the turbulent history of the birth of the state of Israel. We meet a Holocaust survivor at Yad Vashem and get a glimpse into one of the darkest moments of history. Yad Vashem memorial is dedicated to the honour of the Holocaust victims that were murdered. We then travel to Ein Kerem, where Christian tradition says John the Baptist was born. An Israeli and a Palestinian guide will each tell their divergent narrative of the village’s role in Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. Enjoy time to explore Jerusalem on your own.
Tonight, we gather for a discussion with Israeli and Palestinian peace activists from the Bereaved Families Forum.
Overnight stay in the comforts of the American Colony Hotel (Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 5
BETHLEHEM AND THE WEST BANK
After breakfast, we travel to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc to hear the viewpoints of Israeli settlers.
The tour then continues to Bethlehem and a visit to Manger Square. This is a city square in the centre of Bethlehem and a popular attraction. We then visit the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the world. Descend into the cave over which is built the church. It is revered by many as the birthplace of Jesus. We then walk through a nearby Palestinian refugee camp and learn how murals and graffiti have been used to depict the refugees’ struggles.
Our final stop is Herodion, a volcano-shaped hill and fortress built by Herod the Great. Relish dinner, and enjoy a musical performance by a group of Israeli and Palestinian musicians.
Overnight at the American Colony Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 6
JERUSALEM - JERICHO - DEAD SEA
We head on after breakfast to meet with an environmentalist from Friends of the Earth Middle East. Their efforts to foster Arab-Jewish cooperation through environmental stewardship were featured in the special April 2010 “Water” issue of magazine. View the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum which are religious manuscripts, and then drive down through the Judean Desert to Jericho. Here we visit the archaeological site of Tel Jericho which tells the story of the ancient city of Jericho, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.
In the afternoon, continue to our hotel, located in the Ein Gedi Kibbutz on the shores of the Dead Sea. Learn about the Kibbutz movement before enjoying time on your own to float in the Dead Sea. Wander through the hotel’s botanical garden, or enjoy an optional spa treatment.
Overnight stay at the Ein Gedi Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 7
THE JORDAN RIVER VALLEY - TIBERIAS
After breakfast, we proceed on a gondola ride to explore King Herod’s 2,000-year-old mountaintop refuge. Then follow the Jordan Valley north to the Roman city of Bet She’an. Be amazed at the sights of a remarkably well-preserved amphitheatre, baths, and column-lined streets. En route, stop to dip your feet in the Jordan River, where Christian pilgrims come to be baptized.
Overnight at The Scots Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 8
GALILEE
Relish breakfast and proceed to visit Caesarea Philippi. This is a centre of worship from the Hellenic age to the early Christian era. Explore the area as you wish this afternoon: follow a scenic trail to the Banias waterfall, or enjoy a short hike through Tel Dan National Park to the ancient city of Dan. We get on board and take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Capernaum. This is where Jesus lived and preached. Many Apostles, including Peter, also made their home here. This garrison town is where Jesus performed many of his miracles.
Overnight stay at The Scots Hotel.(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner).
Day 9
NAZARETH - JAFFA - TEL AVIV
After breakfast, we proceed to Nazareth and the perspective of an Israeli Arab Christian. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, one of the largest churches in the Middle East. The tour then takes you on an excursion to the mountaintop village of Beit Jann. Discover the traditions of the Druze people, and enjoy lunch with a Druze family in their home.
We then travel towards the Mediterranean coast in the afternoon. Explore picturesque Jaffa which is a strategic port town dating back to the Bronze Age. The bustling city of Tel Aviv is our home for tonight. Enjoy dinner here on your own.
Stay overnight at the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch)
Day 10
CAESAREA MARITIMA - TEL AVIV
Today after breakfast we follow the coast north to Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s harbour city and an ancient city. Visit the ruins with geo-archaeologist and Emerging Explorer Beverly Goodman. We then enjoy a free afternoon in Tel Aviv and get together for a farewell reception and dinner.
Overnight stay at Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
After breakfast the next morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
(Day 10: Breakfast/Dinner; Day 11: Breakfast )
Day 11
### CAESAREA MARITIMA - TEL AVIV
Today after breakfast we follow the coast north to Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s harbour city and an ancient city. Visit the ruins with geo-archaeologist and Emerging Explorer Beverly Goodman. We then enjoy a free afternoon in Tel Aviv and get together for a farewell reception and dinner.
Overnight stay at Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
After breakfast the next morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
(Day 10: Breakfast/Dinner; Day 11: Breakfast )