Itinerary

Day 1: Mar 17 Depart for Israel!

Today we leave home for an incredible adventure and spiritual journey to the heart of the Abrahamic religions. Depart your international airport this evening.

Day 2: Mar 18 (-/-/D) Arrival in Tel Aviv

Most flights arrive in Tel Aviv around lunch-time and then we’ll settle into our hotel. Spend the day relaxing by walking along the promenade of the Mediterranean Sea or by exploring Tel Aviv. Tonight we’ll meet and travel to nearby Jaffo, the ancient seaport to have a most unique experience. We’ll dine at “Blackout,” a restaurant that operates in complete darkness and whose staff is completely blind.

After dinner we’ll precede a few steps away to “Nalagaat Theater” (Please Touch Theater). Founded in 2002, this unique company is comprised of eleven Deaf-Blind actors who together perform and receive rave reviews from audiences as well as from the press. The ensemble is regarded as a worldwide breakthrough in the theatrical world. Overnight: Prima Tel Aviv

Day 3: Mar 19 (B/-/D) Safed/Tiberias/Sea of Galilee

After breakfast we’ll depart Tel Aviv heading north towards the Sea of Galilee. On the way we’ll stop at Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon in the New Testament. Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well-preserved water supply system. Next we’ll head to the city of Tzfat, the ancient Kabbalistic city (esoteric branch of Judaism) and one of the four holy cities in the Talmud. We’ll stroll through the quaint art galleries and shop in the artist colony. Finally, we’ll have a session with Kabbalistic artist David Freidman who will explain the basis of Kabbalah – a powerful expression of spirituality in art. At the end of our day we’ll drive to Tiberias and check into our hotel. Overnight: Prima Tiberias

Day 4: Mar 20 (B/-/D) Golan Heights

Today we’ll enjoy a boat ride that will bring us to Capernaum which was a prospering town in the days of Jesus. Next we will tour the site of Tabgha, where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Our next stop will be the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the famous Sermon on the Mount. Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight: Karei Deshe Guest House on the Sea of Galilee.

Day 5: Mar 21 (B/-/D)Beit Shean

Early morning departure from the hotel as our final destination will be the Dead Sea. We will first head to Mitzpe Gadot to view the Hulah Valley. Next we’ll visit Beit Shean, a world heritage site of one of the most important ancient cities of Roman times with a magnificent Roman theater and mosaics dating back to the Chalcolithic period (~4000 BCE), when the town was an important stop for caravans and as a center of Egyptian rule. Excavations have uncovered a series of temples built by the Egyptians in honor of their local deities. Later, it became a Canaanite city, and then an Israelite city in the time of Solomon.

Excavation in Bet She’an has uncovered the remains of a Canaanite city, a Hellenistic city (renamed Scythopolis) and a Roman Byzantine City. During its Hellenistic period, the city was the capital of the 10 Greek cities known collectively as the Decapolis. The city was predominantly Christian until the Arabs conquered it in the 7th century and restored its ancient name. We will head through the Jordan valley down to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. Once we check into our hotel, we’ll have a chance to experience the Dead Sea and the spa services if we like! Overnight: Daniel Dead Sea Resort & Spa

Day 6: Mar 22 (B/-/D) Masada/Dead Sea

After a very early breakfast at our hotel we’ll drive to Masada and walk up the Runner’s Path to the summit. Masada is the ancient desert fortress where King Herod built his summer palace and where the amazing story of the Jewish Zealots took place in 66 AD. Then we’ll walk down the Roman Ramp to the Arad side of Masada and on our way to Jerusalem we’ll visit Kfar HaNoakdim to enjoy Beduin hospitality. Before we reach Jerusalem we’ll stop at one of the observation points for our first glimpse of the city and make a traditional blessing. Overnight: Prima Royale Jerusalem

Day 7: Mar 23 (B/-/D) Jerusalem

After breakfast we will start our day with a panoramic view of the city, from atop the Mount of Olives. While on the Mt of Olives we hope to be able to visit Ibrahim abu el Hawa known as the “Peacemaker in East Jerusalem” who is living on the Mount of Olives. It is on to the Garden of Gethsemane where we will visit the ancient olive garden, the Church of All Nations and hopefully the Tomb of the Virgin. As it’s Friday and the beginning of the Jewish Shabbat, we’ll drive to Yad Vashem, Memorial to the six million Jews that perished during the Holocaust. Overnight: Prima Royale Jerusalem

Day 8: Mar 24 (B/-/D) Jerusalem

After breakfast we will make our way to the Old City entering through Stephen’s Gate. We make our way to the Pool of Bethesda and St. Anne’s Church and then stopping at Ecce Homo Chapel for prayer (pending confirmation) continue along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher ending our day at the Garden Tomb. Exploring and sitting in the energy of the Golgotha and Christ’s Tomb is a powerful experience. Overnight: Prima Royale Jerusalem

Day 9: Mar 25 (B/L/D) Jerusalem

Begin the day at Jaffa Gate to visit the Tower of David Museum. Finally we’ll visit Neve Shalom (Oasis of Peace) a cooperative village jointly founded by Israeli Arabs and Jews in an attempt to show that the two peoples can live side by side peacefully, as well as to conduct educational work for peace, equality and understanding between the two peoples. The village is located on one of the two Latrun hilltops. Return to Jerusalem – balance of day to be decided. Overnight: Prima Royale Jerusalem

Day 10: Mar 26 (B/-/D) Jerusalem/Tel Aviv

Our last day in Jerusalem is devoted to the Jewish Quarter. Visit the ancient Roman street and shopping area known as the Cardo. Continue to the Burnt House, and the Broad Wall. We make our way down the Jewish Quarter steps and enter the Davidson Center – Southern Wall excavations – Ophel Garden. Walking across the Western Wall Plaza we will make our way to the Chain of Generation Center and the Western Wall Tunnel where we’ll have a private session with artist Jeremy Langford who designed the amazing glass exhibition.

At the end of the day we will have a lovely dinner summing up our thoughts and feelings of the past nine days spent together. Then we’ll travel back to Tel Aviv for our international flight home in the late evening.

Day 11: Mar 27 Home!

This morning we arrive back home – our hearts filled with the beautiful experiences we have had in Israel!

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