Compare The Holy Land: Past, Present, and Future by National Geographic Expeditions
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| Trip |
3.5 | Average
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| Duration | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 5,995 |
| Price Per Day | $ 545 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
10 Breakfast,7 Lunches and 9 Dinner |
| Description |
Immerse yourself in the history and culture of the Holy Land on an expedition inspired by the peace-building efforts of National Geographic Emerging Explorer Aziz Abu Sarah. Explore the City of David and Masada, glide across the Sea of Galilee, and discover Jerusalem through the eyes of Jews, Muslims, and Christians. Hear a broad spectrum of narratives on this program designed in partnership by Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews. |
Days 1 & 2: U.S./Tel Aviv, Israel/Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: American Colony Hotel
Take an overnight flight to Tel Aviv, and transfer to Jerusalem. Relax at the hotel before our reception and welcome dinner tonight.
Day 3: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: American Colony Hotel
Begin the day on the Temple Mount, capped by the shining cupola of the Dome of the Rock. Meet an imam from the Al-Aqsa Mosque, who will explain the importance of the holy site to Muslims. Then visit the Western Wall with a rabbi, touch the ancient stones, and learn about the significance of this sacred place. A local pastor then joins us at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, home to six Christian sects and, according to tradition, the tomb of Jesus. In the afternoon, ascend to the top of the Mount of Olives, and take in a panoramic view of the domes, spires, and golden stones of Jerusalem’s Old City.
Day 4: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: American Colony Hotel
Just outside the Old City walls lies the City of David, thought to be the original capital city established by King David some 3,000 years ago. Venture into the archaeological site, and meet with its Israeli administrators, and later with residents of the nearby Palestinian neighborhood who oppose the excavations. Later, get an insider’s perspective on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict with an Israeli politician. Then travel to Ramallah, where we are granted rare access to the offices of the Palestinian Authority, and hear from a high-ranking politician.
Day 5: Jerusalem
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: American Colony Hotel
Today, trace the turbulent history of the birth of the state of Israel. At Yad Vashem, Israel’s moving memorial to the Holocaust, meet with a Holocaust survivor for a personal glimpse into one of history’s darkest moments. 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, gather for a discussion with Israeli and Palestinian peace activists from the Bereaved Families Forum.
Day 6: Bethlehem and the West Bank
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: American Colony Hotel
Travel to the Gush Etzion settlement bloc to hear the viewpoints of Israeli settlers. Continue to Bethlehem and meet with the mayor to learn about the city’s shrinking Christian population. Stop by Manger Square and, at the Church of the Nativity, descend into the cave revered by many as the birthplace of Jesus. 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. Over dinner, take in a musical performance by a group of Israeli and Palestinian musicians.
Day 7: Jerusalem/Jericho/Dead Sea
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Ein Gedi Boutique Hotel
This morning, meet with an environmentalist from Friends of the Earth Middle East whose efforts to foster Arab–Jewish cooperation through environmental stewardship were featured in the special April 2010 “Water” issue of National Geographic magazine. View the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum, and then drive down through the Judean Desert to Jericho to visit the archaeological site of Tel Jericho. This 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.
Day 8: The Jordan River Valley/Tiberias
Accommodation: The Scots Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Soar up the flank of Masada in a gondola and explore King Herod’s 2,000-year-old mountaintop refuge. Then follow the Jordan Valley north to the Roman city of Bet She’an to see its remarkably preserved amphitheater, baths, and column-lined streets. Along the way, stop to dip your feet in the Jordan River where Christian pilgrims come to get baptized.
Day 9: Galilee
Accommodation: The Scots Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Caesarea Philippi, a center 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 the Tel Dan Nature Reserve to the ancient city of Dan. Take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Capernaum, where Jesus lived and preached, and many apostles, including Peter, made their home.
Day 10: Nazareth/Jaffa/Tel Aviv
Accommodation: Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hear the perspective of an Israeli Arab Christian on the way to Nazareth, where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, one of the largest churches in the Middle East. On an excursion to the mountaintop village of Beit Jann, discover the secretive traditions of the Druze, and enjoy lunch with a Druze family in their home. Travel towards the Mediterranean coast this afternoon, and explore picturesque Jaffa, a strategic port town dating back to the Bronze Age. Explore the bustling city of Tel Aviv, our home for tonight, and enjoy dinner on your own.
Days 11 & 12: Caesarea Maritima/Tel Aviv/U.S.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner ( Day 11), Breakfast (Day 12)
Accommodation: Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
Follow the coast north to Caesarea Maritima, Herod’s harbor city, and visit the ruins with geo-archaeologist and National Geographic Emerging Explorer Beverly Goodman. Then enjoy a free afternoon in Tel Aviv before gathering for a farewell reception and dinner. After breakfast the next morning, transfer to the airport for your flight home.
