Afternoon: Depart USA on an overnight flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.

Afternoon: We transfer along the Mediterranean coast to the seaside city of Haifa. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Mediterranean as we travel up Mt. Carmel to our first site. Upon arrival, check into the hotel and enjoy some free time. Later this afternoon we meet our fellow participants and take part in an introductory presentation.

Dinner: Welcome Dinner.

Lodging: Dan Panorama Hotel

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at Hotel

Morning: This morning we begin our exploration of this diverse nation with a stop at the site of Caesarea Maritima, established by Herod the Great as the Roman capital of the region. We explore the excavations of the crusader city, the aqueduct and the amphitheater.

Lunch: Druze village for a typical lunch.

Afternoon: Chance to experience the traditional hospitality and learn of their culture and their contributions to modern Israel. The Druze religion is an off-shoot of Islam dating to the 11th century influenced by Greek philosophy and the Gnostic movement. We finish the afternoon at the beautiful Bahai Gardens, set above the tomb of the religions revered “Bab” one of the religion’s three central figures. These spectacular terraced gardens are the 2nd holiest place on earth for the Bahais, a faith with roots in 19th century Persia.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Evening: Later join our group for an expert led discussion on the history and heritage of the region.

Lodging: Dan Panorama Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: This morning we travel north along the coast to Acre, a city with a diverse history. Many nations, cultures and religions have left their mark on this metropolis. We will discover some of the treasures of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lunch: Enjoy some free time for lunch in Acco

Afternoon: We leave the coast and drive into the Galilee to the site of the ancient city of Zippori, called “the ornament of all of Galilee” by historian Josephus Flavius. We will view some of the well-preserved mosaics, including the famed “Mona Lisa of the Galilee.” We continue to the city of Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. Then our route takes us further inland to the shores of the Sea of Galilee known here as the Kinneret, where we check into our kibbutz hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at the Kibbutz.

Evening: This evening our expert discusses Israel’s founding and the Kibbutz movement, an integral part of the socialist utopian philosophy that drew Jews here beginning in the 1880’s.

Lodging: Kibbutz Kfar Giladi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast on Kibbutz

Morning: This morning we visit the Banias spring and then continue to the Golan Heights. At the region’s Kibbutz El Rom, we learn of the struggle for the Golan Heights during the Yom Kippur War. We view a short film about the heroic Oz 77 Tank Brigade that successfully defended the Golan during that conflict. After the film climb to Mt Bental, one of the highest points in the Golan Heights, for views of the region. On a clear day, you can see the outskirts of Damascus.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own in Katzrin, where we find several restaurants and coffee shops available.

Afternoon: Then set out for Agamon Hakhula. This rich green area is on the migratory path of hundreds of bird species. A local expert helps us examine the region’s legacy as a nature center and it’s role on bird migration between Europe and Africa.

Dinner: Dinner on Kibbutz

Evening: Later gather for a forum with kibbutz residents to discuss the joys and challenges of life here.

Lodging: Kibbutz Kfar Giladi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Check out and make our up to the Jerusalem, holy to the world three largest monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Our drive includes a stop at Sapir Station, part of the national water system. Here we take part in an expert led presentation on the distribution and conservation of the water so essential to life in throughout this arid land.

Lunch: Free time to lunch in Beit Shean.

Afternoon: Later make our way to Jerusalem in time to take in the spirit of preparation for the Sabbath. Arrive at our hotel in the late afternoon

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

Lodging: Grand Court Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Today we explore the Mt of Olives and the nearby Old City of Jerusalem where we focus on the city’s Arab and Christian neighborhoods including the winding streets of the traditional market, the Christian Quarter, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, beloved by many as the site of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Lunch: We set out for Bethlehem, where we lunch in a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Then take in the richly decorated Church of the Nativity, built atop of the grotto venerated by generations Jesus’ birthplace.

Dinner: Dinner this evening is on your own.

Lodging: Grand Court Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: This morning we visit the Israel Museum to view the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book, and continue through New Jerusalem to Yad Vashem, Israel’s museum dedicated to Holocaust studies. A graduate of Yad Vashem’s holocaust institute will lead us through the site and provide background information on the museum’s mission to enhance our visit.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to sample local restaurants

Afternoon: Return to the Old City to explore the Jewish Quarter including the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site. We also view the Temple Mount known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and the Davidson Center, dedicated to investigating and illustrating Jerusalem’s past.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

Evening: Return to the hotel for dinner. Gather for a special discussion on contemporary archeology in Jerusalem. In such crowded land coveted by so many, the study of the past has special meanings and controversies. Our lecturer helps us to understand the researcher’s challenges.

Lodging: Grand Court Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Check out of the hotel at we prepare to say goodbye to Jerusalem. This morning we get our hands a little dirty with a hands-on archeological experience at Tel Maresha, in the area of Beit Guvrin. With the help of an expert, we have the opportunity to dig, sift and examine our finds.

Lunch: Lunch on your own to sample local restaurants

Afternoon: After lunch nearby we continue south to the shores of the Dead Sea – the lowest place on earth- where we check-in at our hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

Lodging: Prima Spa Club

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Enjoy time for a morning soak in the salty waters. Then set out for the nearby fortress of Masada. This isolated site was fortified by Herod the Great as refuge in time of revolt. In the first century, Jewish rebels fled to the fortress in a stand-off against Roman legions. It was here that the rebels chose suicide over capture and enslavement for themselves and their families.

Lunch: There is free time for lunch near the base of Masada (a coffee shop and self service restaurant are available).

Afternoon: Board our coach for the drive to the Aravah Border crossing where we enter Jordan. Continue on to the site of the ancient Nabataean city of Petra. Enroute our local expert discusses the Petra site and its significance.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

Lodging: Taybet Zaman Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: With our expert, set out for an excursion through red rock city of Petra, an ancient trading center carved into the canyon walls, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a short walk, we emerge through a narrow passage way called the “siq” to view some of the many buildings cut into the stone including the famous the “Treasury.”

Lunch: Lunch at a restaurant in Petra

Afternoon: Make your way back out at your own pace as you explore this fascinating site on your own. Return to our Petra hotel.

Dinner: Dinner is at hotel.

Lodging: Taybet Zaman Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Set out to along the Desert Highway enroute to Amman. Along the way take in the views from Mt Nebo where Moses viewed the “promised land.” Continue on to Madaba, which boasts being the city of mosaics. Here view the city’s crown jewel, the Byzantine map depicting lands all the way to the Nile Valley. For many the map’s most fascinating aspect is the detailed rendering of the landmarks of Jerusalem including the Roman "Cardo" and Church of the Holy Sepluchre.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant or the hotel.

Afternoon: Depart for a panoramic drive through Amman, one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities. Our drive will take us to view some of the most important sites of this metropolis that like Rome was originally built on seven hills.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

Lodging: Al Fanar Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel

Morning: Our local expert takes us to discover Jerash. We visit the ancient Greco-Roman metropolis that was a city of the Decapolis and is home to some of the most important Roman ruins in the Near East.

Lunch: Return to Amman with free time for lunch and to explore on your own.

Afternoon: Later rejoin the group for a discussion on life in modern Jordan.

Dinner: This evening gather for a Farewell dinner.

Lodging: Al Fanar Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for homeward bound flights.

Meals Included: Breakfast