Israel is among countries that start with I listed on Countryaah.com. The most important cities of Israel are, besides the capital Jerusalem – which as the holy city of Christians, Jews and Muslims is the most important tourist destination in the country – the coastal cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa. With the Dead Sea, which is 418 m below sea level – the lowest point on earth is in Israel. The highest point in the country is the 1,208 m high Mount Meron in Galilee.
- Day 1: Welcome to Israel!
- Day 2: Tel Aviv – the modern face of Israel & drive to the Sea of Galilee
- Day 3: View from the Arbel cliffs to Galilee and the Sea of Galilee
- Day 4: Hiking on the Golan Heights to exquisite wineries
- Day 5: Through the Jordan Rift, across the Dead Sea to the Negev desert
- Day 6: Past rare erosion craters and sources on the Frankincense Route
- Day 7: Hikes in the Timna Valley & a swim in the Red Sea
- Day 8: Desert crossing & impressive cave systems
- Day 9: In the footsteps of Jesus through Jerusalem
- Day 10: Departure from Tel Aviv / Jaffo – Europe
Together we immerse ourselves in history that is thousands of years old. In the biblical village of Karfarneum we trace Jesus’ presence. It is venerated as an important place of work and teaching and is the headquarters of the young community around Jesus. In Jerusalem we hike on ancient pilgrimage routes, on the Via Dolorosa, climb Mount Zion, visit the Western Wall and see the Mount of Olives. The landscape of Judea is shaped by ancient terraces, which we experience in the picturesque town of Sataf. The hike takes us past vineyards, pomegranate and almond trees, olive groves, Byzantine buildings and enclosed spring basins.
After crossing the Negev desert – with its large erosion craters (makteshim) – the bell caves of the Beit Guvrin National Park await us. Ancient stone quarries that have been turned into huge vaults over the centuries. This landscape was the scene of the most important uprising of the Jewish population against the military power of Rome. At Tel Maresha, an archaeologically impressive excavation hill, we explore the underground cave systems. From the top of the valley we can see the mountains of Judea as far as Hebron. The Mediterranean is ahead of us. The Via Maris, the most important military and trade route of antiquity, among us. The Saharonim fresh water source played an important role in the famous Nabatean Silk Road. We reach this after a hike over the Saharonim mountain (576 m).
After the easy hikes through a colorful and varied landscape, we relax with a glass of fine wine from the wineries on the Golan Heights. As light as a feather, we let the waves of the Dead Sea carry us and relax.
Meals: B = breakfast / L = lunch / packed lunch / D = dinner
1st day:
Welcome to Israel!
We land individually in Israel and a short transfer takes us from Ben-Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv – the “spring hill” on the Mediterranean. 100 years ago a few sand dunes by the sea – today a booming metropolis to which the ancient port city of Jaffa hugs. Depending on arrival time: first explorations on foot.
Travel time: approx. 1/2 hour.
Overnight stay in the Ruth Daniel Jaffa guest house or similar.
(- / – / A)
2nd day:
Tel Aviv – the modern face of Israel & trip to the Sea of Galilee
After breakfast we stroll through the old part of Jaffa – today the trendy district with countless pubs and cafes. On the waterfront we immerse ourselves in the colorful kaleidoscope of Israeli residents.
We experience modern Israel with the Mediterranean laissez-faire feeling. After a break in the vicinity of the vibrant “Carmel” weekly market, we stroll along Rothschild Boulevard through the Bauhaus district.
We leave Tel Aviv, drive north along the ancient trade route “Via Maris” and in the afternoon we arrive at our accommodation in the vicinity of the Sea of Galilee.
Travel time: approx. 2 hours.
City
tour: approx. 4 hours. Overnight in Kibbutz Shaar HaGolan or similar.
(FA)
3rd day:
View from the Arbel cliffs to the Galilee and the Sea of Galilee
The summit of Mount Arbel rises like a cliff over the Sea of Galilee. The cliffs are the exit of the famous pigeon valley on the way from Nazareth to the lake. In ancient times, the caves along the edge of the rock served as a refuge for highwaymen and insurgents, until their doings under Herod the Great was put to an end. Hiking we experience the unique views of the Galilee landscapes as well as of the Sea of Galilee, where in the afternoon we look at the holy place on the shore. Jesus moves from the biblical village of Capernaum (also called Capernaum) as part of his mission. It is venerated as an important place of work and teaching and is the headquarters of the young community around Jesus.
In the evening, Nurit, as a long-time member of a kibbutz, tells us about the peculiarity of this socialist system that has lasted for centuries: as a settlement that is defined by shared property and grassroots democratic structures.
Hike: approx. 2 hours
overnight in Kibbutz Shaar HaGolan or similar.
(FA)
4th day:
Hiking the Golan Heights to exquisite wineries
The Golan Heights plateau is cut in many places by deep dry river beds, so-called wadi. They make their way from the hill in the Jordan Valley to the Sea of Galilee. Despite the name, some wadi have water all year round. We hike for several hours through the Sewitan Wadi and let the multi-layered basalt landscape work on us, find shade in oleander groves and refresh ourselves in pools of water. We take our lunch break with the Druze, a separate ethnic group that derives its origin from Shiite Islam. On the way back to our accommodation, we treat ourselves to an exquisite wine tasting. The wineries on the Golan are among the world’s best!
Hike: approx. 3-4 hours
overnight in Kibbutz Shaar HaGolan or similar.
(FA)
5th day:
Through the Jordan Valley over the Dead Sea to the Negev desert
The Sea of Galilee is 200 meters below sea level. From here we drive today through the Jordan Rift – a crack in the earth’s crust, cradle of the Jordan River – to the deepest point below sea level, the Dead Sea. The mountains of Gilad, Moab, Samaria and Judea accompany us on the right and left. The eastern bank is the breadbasket of Jordan. The lush green contrasts with the ocher-colored rock. We don’t miss the unique experience and swim in the Dead Sea. We float on the water as light as a feather. Then we hike through the Ein Gedi oasis, the “source of the kid”. Along the southern shore of the Dead Sea, you pass massive rock salt mountains into the Negev desert. It takes up around 60 percent of the total area of Israel. In the evening we reach our destination, Mizpe Ramon.
Hike: approx. 2 hours
overnight at the Ramon Hotel
(B / – / D)
6th day:
Past rare erosion craters and sources of the Frankincense Route
There are only five “makhteshim” (Hebrew for erosion crater) in the world. Three of them are in the Negev desert. The largest is called Makhtesch Ramon and opens up to the visitor like a gigantic geological window. A hike of several hours takes us through an impressive wadi landscape to the Saharonim spring, which played an important role along the famous Nabatean incense route. When we go to rest tonight, we will be at the entrance to the Timna Valley.
Hike: approx. 3-4 hours.
Overnight at Kibbutz Elifaz or similar.
(FA)
7th day:
Hikes in the Timna Valley & a swim in the Red Sea
The Timna Valley was already known in the Bible for its copper deposits. Egyptians, Israelites and later the British and the young state of Israel mined the coveted copper. Today it is part of the national park of the same name. Red sandstone on pearly white limestone transforms the landscape into a color spectacle and a geological paradise. We hike through Timna Park on several paths, encountering ancient Egyptian copper tunnels and copper smelting furnaces on the way; a temple dedicated to the god Hathor and the “mushroom”, a memorable stone formation. In the afternoon we drive to the port city of Eilat, where – depending on the season – we refresh ourselves with a swim in the Red Sea.
Driving time: approx. 1/2 hour.
Hike: approx. 3-4 hours.
Overnight at Kibbutz Elifaz or similar.
(FA)
8th day:
Desert crossing & impressive cave systems
We drive from our kibbutz guest house across the Negev desert up to the so-called Shefela: a hilly landscape between the Mediterranean coast and the mountains of Samaria and Judea. The bell caves are located in the Beit Guvrin National Park. Ancient stone quarries that have been turned into huge vaults over the centuries. This landscape was the scene of the most important uprising of the Jewish population against the military power of Rome. Entire legions perished here in the guerrilla war. An easy footpath leads us to Tel
Maresha, an archaeologically impressive excavation mound – or Tel, to put it in the language of archaeologists. We explore the underground cave systems extensively.
From the top of the valley we look east over the mountains of Judea as far as Hebron. In the west we see the Mediterranean. Between us: the Via Maris, the most important military and trade route of antiquity.
On the way to Jerusalem we drive through the Philistine land and the Ela Valley, past the sites of the fighting between Israelites and Philistines, between David and Goliath. Once in the Holy City, we hike from Mount Scopus (826 m) on an ancient pilgrimage route to Gethsemani, the place where Jesus was captured. We reach our accommodation on foot.
Travel time: approx. 3 hours.
Hike: approx. 3 hours.
Overnight at Hotel Gloria or similar.
(FA)
Day 9:
In the footsteps of Jesus through Jerusalem
We walk along the outer wall of Jerusalem to Mount Zion, with which both Jewish and Christian traditions are connected (Upper Room, place of the Dormition of Mary, tomb of King David). We visit the Western Wall, over which the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque towers. Along the Kidron valley we have particularly beautiful views of the holy places of the Mount of Olives opposite us. On the Via Dolorosa (Jesus’ Passion and Processional Path) we make a pilgrimage with countless people to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Resurrection Church, the central shrine of the Christian world. We then have enough time to get to know the old town on our own.
Hike: approx. 4 hours
overnight in Hotel Gloria or similar.
(FA)
10th day:
Departure from Tel Aviv / Jaffo – Europe
Depending on the individual flight plans, we still have more or less time to walk along the shore and relax, buy the last souvenirs at the flea market or just relax in a café at the old railway station. After a short transfer to the airport, we go back home.
(F / – / -)
