Itinerary

For this tour the arrival day in Israel would be on a Thursday.

Day 1:  Thursday.  Arrival at the Ben Gurion airport.

A driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in Jerusalem.  Rest up for the trip ahead.  Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 2: Friday.  Desert  Jeep tour from Jerusalem

Pick up from Abrahams’ hostel at 08:00.   drive in a jeep south towards the Dead Sea.  We will be out of the city in minutes, and enter the Judean desert. First we will stop at Mount Azazel, a holy mountain, in which, according to tradition, every year the sins of the people were thrown off a cliff.  Drive down the wadi and enter the desert that is inhabited by nomadic Bedouin tribes.  We will view their animals (goats and camels), and the tents that they live in.  Visit an ancient water hole that is still in use today by the desert farmers.

Continuing on stop at the Mar Saba monastery, in which almost no tourists or travelers get to see because of its placement in the desert.  This is one of the most beautiful monasteries, and one of the oldest inhabited.  It was built over 1500 years ago, and today is inhabited by about 20 Greek Orthodox monks.  They meditate in the rock caves that surround the monastery.

Drive through the desert, and pass Nabi Musa, that the Muslims believe to be the tomb of Moses.  We will stop for lunch nearby (not included).  In the afternoon we will stop at the springs at Ein Prat.  You will experience the clear cold water that seeps out of the rocks, and forms streams and pools.  Take your time to enjoy swimming, drinking coffee, and relaxing before starting the drive back to Jerusalem.

• -In the unlikely event of rain in the desert, we will go out on a flash-flood tour instead!
• -During winter when the springs are too cold, we will hike along them amongst the nature

Overnight Jerusalem

Day 3: Saturday.   Jerusalem

At 08:30 a driver will take you to start the tour.  There will be an overview of the Old City, being able to view the Garden of Gethsamane, the Church of All Nations, and the temple mount.  Entering the Old City by way of the Armenian Quarter, arrive at the Western Wall.  Walk along to the Stations of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, and arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Continue on to the Byzantine main street that is over 1700 years old.  Visit the Cardo and the Jewish Quarter.  Walk up to Mt. Zion and only on Saturdays visit the Hall of the last Supper and David's tomb, on all other days visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum.    Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 4: Sunday.  Masada and Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is located at the lowest point on Earth in the South of Israel. There is no life in the Dead Sea due to its high salt content which is about 33%. The waters of the Dead Sea are said to be very therapeutic for all sorts of skin ailments, because of the high mineral content in the water.  
Masada resides on a plateau in the middle of the desert.  King Herod was the first to come and build 2 palaces for himself.  It is known for the Jews residing here and how the Romans  with fifteen thousand troops conquered Masada.  They did it by building a ramp that was 375 feet from bedrock stones, and it still took them years to overpower the Jews.  

Schedule
08:30 a.m. Pick up from your hotel, and drive to the Dead Sea with our team of professionals.
11:30 : Tour of Masada will start at the entrance of the site.  Included in your package is an optional cable ride.
13:00 : Lunch at a local restaurant.
14:00 : Bathing in the Dead Sea
15:30 : We will begin our return trip towards Tel Aviv.  This route includes Ein Gedi and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and a view of Jericho one of the oldest cities in the world.
18:30 : Arriving in Jerusalem

Overnight Jerusalem. 

Day 5:  Monday.  Horseback riding on the Jesus trail.

There will be an early morning transfer from your hotel in Jerusalem to Nazareth at 05:30 a.m.

Follow the footsteps of Jesus, on one of the most significant pilgrim trails in the world, as you ride along the path which runs all the way from Nazareth to Capernaum.

Pick up from Nazareth at 07:15.  A driver will take you to Kibbutz Lavi, we will prepare and mount the horses.  Begin riding in the direction of the Horns of Hattin, on the way notice the beautiful landscapes and views of the Galilee.  The Horns of Hattin are twin peaks that mark the site of an extinct volcano.  This is the battlefield where the crusaders were defeated in 1187 by Saladin, and it resulted in the formation of the third crusade.

We will start our journey from the top to go along the Jesus trail, as it goes from hilltop to hilltop.  Pass one of the holiest shrines in the Druze religion, the Nabi Shu'ayb.  It is believed that the tomb of Jethro resides.  The Druze have made pilgrimages here to the tomb complex for centuries.  We will stop and have some hot beverages, with local desserts, when we arrive down in the valley at the Arbel stream.

The last part of the trail we will make from the Arbel Stream to the village of Migdal, which was the hometown of Mary Magdalene.  This final part of the trail takes you underneath the amazing Arbel cliff, which overlooks the Sea of Galilee.  Overnight Nazareth.

Day 6: Tuesday. Kayaking from Nazareth

Pick up from Maayan Square- Mary’s Well at 07:15, and drive to the Sea of Galilee.  There we will meet with the guide and receive the equipment, Kayak, and the information that you will need for this tour. There will be a short safety instruction, and an outline of where we will go, and what you will see, on the day ahead.  Start in the kayaks on the Jordan delta to the ancient fishing village of Bethesda.  Some of Jesus' apostles were born and raised here.  View the beautiful wildlife with a large variety of birds and marine life.  Continue to Capernaum, and arrive next to the Church at Capernaum where it is said that Jesus chose his 12 Apostles. We will stop for some tasty snacks at a garden in Capernaum.  Then continue kayaking to the southern part of the Sea of Galilee.  Arrive at the Church of St. Peter, and tour this church and visit the site of the Church of Loaves and Fish.  After lunch, we will go to a nearby beach before we start the way back to Nazareth.  We will arrange a transfer for you to Tel Aviv.  Overnight Tel Aviv.

Please bring with you the following:

• Hat and sunscreen
• Water and snacks
• Bathing Suit
• Towel
• Dry Clothes
• Sandals/booties for water
• Other meals

Day 7:  Wednesday. Desert Adventure from Tel Aviv

Pick up will be from the Abraham hostel in Tel Aviv at 07:00.  Take a drive to Arad, and stop at a hostel for coffee and a snack.  We will split up into groups of 2, so you can drive a buggy across the desert to Kfar Hanokdim.  After the buggy ride, we will see the amazing views of the mountains and the Judean Desert.  We will start our camel ride to a Bedouin village.  The Bedouins have resided in the desert for thousands of years.  Stop for lunch in a Bedouin's family hut, and be served the traditional tasty food. 

About mid- afternoon we will head beck to Tel Aviv, arrival about 17:30. Overnight Tel Aviv.

• - Each 2 seat buggy requires a driver with a driver's license. If you are a solo traveler, we will generally be able to put you with another driver or the guide in a buggy, however there is a small chance that you will need to travel this part of the journey on the minibus.
• - This is a partially self-guided tour, meaning that it includes full transportation with a driver but is only guided during the camel and desert buggy tour

Things to bring:

Camera, snacks and water, hat, sunscreen, and a driver's license (one per two person buggy)

Day 8:  Thursday. Petra

There will be a transfer from your hotel at 04:40 to the Sde Dov airport for your 06:30 flight to Eilat.  At 08:20 a driver will pick you up from the Eilat airport, and drive you to the Arava border (Jordan).  He will help you with the border proceedings, and pass you over to a Jordanian driver.  Drive to Petra, where you will meet your guide at the visitors’ center.  Start the tour by walking through the Siq. and arrive at the Treasury.  Continue touring Petra until it is time for lunch at about 15:30.  After lunch a driver will take you to your hotel in Petra.

(Option:  Petra by night $15)

Overnight Petra

Day 9:  Friday. Petra

This is a free day to go back in to the Petra site and see all that you missed the first day.  Today you are on your own without a guide.  At about 16:00, a driver will take you to Wadi Rum.  Enjoy the night in a Bedouin tent in the desert.

Overnight Wadi Rum

Day 10:  Saturday.  Wadi Rum- Ballooning- Jeep Tour

Start out in Wadi Rum at 06:00 a.m.  While they are getting the balloon ready, enjoy the most astounding sunrise over the Wadi Rum desert.  Rise up to a height of 3000 feet to view the whole of Wadi Rum.  View the mountains, and the sandstone structures jutting out of the sand.  Breath in the fresh clean air.  Enjoy being up in the balloon for about 1 hour, but the whole process lasts 2-3 hours.

When arriving back at the Wadi Rum camp a driver will be waiting to take you on a 4x4 jeep tour of Wadi Rum.  Tour the desert with the 2000 year old paintings on the sides of the sandstone mountains.  See how the Bedouins have lived here for hundreds of years. 

After the tour drive back to the Arava border, and to Eilat, arrival in Eilat at about 16:00.

Overnight Eilat.

Day 11:  Sunday. Eilat- Sky Diving- Jeep Tour

In the morning there will be a transfer to the Eilat airport for you skydiving adventure.  Get to the Eilat airport with your passport, or Israeli Identification.  You will meet the pilot, and get instruction.  Go up in the air for the time of your life.  Jump out of the plane, and drop, until it is time to pull open the chute.  While you are up in the air, you will be able to see 4 countries, Israel 

of course, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt.  This is a once in a lifetime experience, to view it all.  See the beautiful mountains, the blue water of the Red Sea, and the cities around them.  Landing will be at the far beach after the Herods’ hotel.  A driver will take you back to the Eilat airport.

In the afternoon at about 16:00, a driver will pick you up from your hotel to go on a 4x4 jeep tour.  This is an evening jeep tour for four hours to show you the desert as it changes from day to night.  Tour in a 4x4 jeep, and take a walk in the Lost Valley canyon to visit the pools where you can see the migrating flamingos.  As the sun starts to set view the changing colors of the desert.  The guide will light projectors, see the various animals that come alive at night like the wolves and hyenas. He will point out the stars and planets that are visible. Sit around a campfire and enjoy the home made pita bread, and there will be tea or coffee.  The guide will tell you stories about the desert which are true and also legendary.

Places are strictly limited to preserve the quality of the tour.

Route: Arava Valley, Flamingo pools, Doum Palms, Evrona Spring, the area of the Statue Valley, Tzfonot and the Lost Valley.                                                                                      

 Overnight Eilat.

Day 12: Monday.  Aqua diving in Eilat

At about 10:00 a driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the dive center.  Arrive at the dive center and enjoy a few minutes of instruction.  This is a new and innovative way to go diving without the license and the heavy equipment.  Go under the water and view the amazing marine life, the colorful fish, and the beautiful coral.  An adventurous 30 minutes that you will never forget. (This tour can be changed to intro diving..) 

The rest of the day you have free to snorkel, lie on the beach, or do some last minute shopping.

Overnight Eilat.

Day 13: Tuesday. Departure flight

There will be a transfer to the Eilat airport, and a flight to the Ben Gurion airport.  Please notify us of the time of your international flight home.