Israel/Palestine Off the Beaten Path
Day 1 – Depart USA
Day 2 – Arrive in Tel Aviv.
Morning: Travel to the Herodium to see Herod’s fortress, palace, and tomb. Then it is on to the Jewish settlement of Efrat and dialogue with the Head of the Religious Council of this Jewish community, Rabbi Bob Lang, who will share the philosophy behind West Bank Settlements.
Afternoon: Visit Bethlehem Bible College and hear a lecture on the Palestinian position on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. End the day with some shopping at the Herodium Gift Shop.
Day 3 – Wadi Qilt and Jericho
Morning: Drive to the Judean Wilderness and visit St. George’s Monastery and hike the Wadi Qilt to Jericho for lunch.
Afternoon: Time permitting, stop in Bethany to visit Lazarus’ tomb before traveling to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Evening: Enjoy a cup of coffee or ice cream at a sidewalk cafe in one of Jerusalem’s unique shopping areas during an optional visit to Ben Yehuda Street, a popular pedestrian mall only a 10-minute taxi ride from the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 – Jerusalem
Morning: Begin our day at the Western Wall Tunnel’s Behind the Scenes tour. Then pay your respects at Schindler’s Grave. Visit the Tower of David Museum, actually the remains of Herod’s Tower of Phasael, which offers a one of its kind panoramic view of Jerusalem. The Museum presents Jerusalem’s story.
Afternoon: Visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s moving Holocaust Museum or enjoy a free afternoon when you can walk the Rampart (Walls) of the Old City to see it from a unique perspective, wander in the Old City, or return to the hotel to rest. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 – Valley of Zin
Morning: Travel south to visit the Nabatean Archaeological Park. Pay your respects at the tomb of David Ben Gurion. Enjoy a nature walk at Ein Avdat.
Afternoon: Visit Avdat (Oboda), an ancient Nabatean city and stop along the long caravan route known as the “Spice Route” which brought herbs, spices, perfumes, and treasures from the Arabian Peninsula to the Gaza port, by way of Petra and the Negev desert. From here we will travel to our Dead Sea hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 – En Gedi and the Dead Sea
Morning: a nature walk to David Falls at En Gedi
Afternoon: enjoy free time floating in the Dead Sea or enjoying the spa (massage, hot tub, etc.)
Day 7 – Mt of Temptation and Taybeh
Morning: Travel to Jericho and ride the cable car up the Mount of Temptation.
Afternoon: Travel to Taybeh, the only 100% Christian town in Palestine/Israel. You can talk with the locals, visit the Old Town and the Church of St. George, and explore the ancient house/museum that is similar to homes in the time of Jesus. Dinner and overnight in Taybeh.
Day 8 – Shiloh and Sebastia
Morning: Journey to ancient Shiloh for a tour of the location of the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Visit present day Nablus (Shechem). Stop at Jacob’s well, where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman (John 4), and have a sip of the very same water.
Afternoon: Travel to Samaria and enjoy lunch. Visit ancient Sebastia. Time permitting, we will stop at Beit Alpha and its synagogue’s beautiful mosaic floor.
Day 9 – Mar Elias Schools and Nazareth Village
Morning: Travel to Ibillin to visit and converse with Archbishop Elias Chacour, a world-famous author and founder of a remarkable school. Enjoy lunch at the school with students and teachers.
Afternoon: Travel to the Nazareth Village to explore what life was like in the time of Jesus. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 – Mt Carmel and Ancient Joppa
Morning: Travel across the Jezreel Valley to Bet She’arim – home and tomb of Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, compiler of the Mishnah (oral law). Explore the large tomb complex of Rabbi HaNasi. Stop at Mt. Carmel (Muhraka), a Monastery and Chapel overlooking the Jezreel Valley commemorating Elijah’s defeat of the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel.
Afternoon: Travel south to the ancient village and harbor of Joppa, from which Jonah fled from the Lord to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3) and where Peter had a vision (Acts 9:43-10:23) convincing him to go to the home of Cornelius. Clean up and dinner at the hotel before transfer to Ben Gurion airport for the flight home.
Extension travelers stay overnight; Basic travelers transfer to the airport after dinner.
Day 11 – Return to USA
Note: Itinerary is subject to change per guide due to locale conditions