Explore the Holy Land

Travelers arrive throughout the day into the Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion International Airport, where they are greeted by a representative of WAI and transferred to our hotel located just two blocks from the Mediterranean Sea. Travelers arriving a day early, February 20 may participate today in a complimentary optional walking event along the Tel Aviv seaside promenade to the ancient port of Jaffa (Joppa). In Jaffa, King Solomon imported cedars from Lebanon to build Jerusalem’s First Temple. Here as well, the Apostle Peter received a vision of gentile equality with Jews. The only official group activity of the day is this evening’s Welcome Orientation followed by dinner.

Caesarea Walk - 3 miles, rated 1C

From a trio of ancient aqueducts, we walk south, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean, into the ruins of 1st century Caesarea, now a national park. Numerous New Testament events took place in Herod the Great’s impressive port city, including Peter’s presentation of the Gospel to the household of Cornelius, the Roman centurion. Stately remnants of the Crusader era give way as we walk to the ruins of the ancient hippodrome and amphitheater. A delicious cultural lunch on nearby Mount Carmel in a Druze home provides insight into this mysterious Arabic culture which combines elements of all three monotheistic religions. The afternoon stop takes us to Mukhraka Monastery, commemorating the duel between Old Testament prophet Elijah, and 450 prophets of the pagan god Baal. Our home this evening in Nazareth, in a rustic, 200-year-old Arab mansion!

Jesus Trail to Cana Walk - 6 miles, rated 3C

We start the day in Nazareth Village, a living history museum (operated by Christian Israeli Arabs) that brings the biblical era to life, and offers a biblical-era lunch! Afternoon activities begin in Zippori, the remarkable excavation of the hometown of Jesus’ mother, Mary. From Zippori, we walk in Jesus’ footsteps on the “Jesus Trail” along Galilean hills, through an Arab/Israeli village, arriving at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine at a local wedding – his first public miracle. We spend the next three nights at a kibbutz resort hotel on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Beatitudes to Capernaum Walk - 3 miles, rated 2B

Mount Arbel offers dramatic panoramas over the Sea of Galilee with an equally dramatic story of radical Jewish resistance to Herod the Great, told by Jewish historian Josephus. Not far away at Ginosar is the Jesus Boat Museum, a 2000-year-old fishing boat carefully preserved and displayed, which we visit before lunch. Today’s main walk starts at nearby Mount of Beatitudes, likely site of some of Jesus’ most familiar teachings, and takes us along the shores of Galilee to ancient Capernaum. Jesus spent the great majority of his public ministry around the Sea of Galilee, and this afternoon we sail across this freshwater lake from Capernaum to Ein Gev, the site of our hotel, where we spend a relaxing evening on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Tell Dan Walk - 1 mile, rated 1B
Jordan Headwaters Walk - 3 miles, rated 2C
Gamla Nature Walk - 3 miles, rated 3C

North of Galilee, in the Golan Heights, our first walk passes through an Israelite gate from the time of King Jeroboam and enters the Tel Dan archeological site to a high place of sacrifice and an overlook into neighboring Lebanon. Next, we visit the headwaters of the Jordan, marked by an intriguing ruin with the biblical name of Caesarea Philippi. Here, challenged by Jesus’ question, “Who do men say that I am?” Peter became the first of the apostles to affirm Jesus as Messiah. Further south, the national park of Gamla offers both historic intrigue and natural wonder. An epic battle between Jewish rebels and Roman legions here in 67 AD ultimately led to the devastation of Jerusalem foretold by Jesus. From the viewpoint over the long-lost ruins of Gamla, where you can almost hear the sounds of the battle, we walk along a breathtaking canyon known for wildlife and its population of soaring griffin vultures.

King Saul & Jonathan Walk - 1.5 miles, rated 2B

Heading south, our first stop is the ancient archeological site of Beit She’an, claiming 20 different eras of occupation. Before dropping down to the Roman-era ruins, we climb the Philistine Tell, where victorious Philistines displayed the bodies of King Saul and his sons after their defeat on nearby Mount Gilboa. Further south, we visit a parched desert at Qumran, where a Bedouin shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. The find sent tremors throughout the archeological world and lent additional weight to the authenticity of the Bible and its record of Jewish history. The day ends early at a Dead Sea resort in Ein Bokek with time for a spa treatment or a relaxing, unsinkable soak in the soothing waters at this lowest spot on earth!

Masada Snake Path Walk -1.3 miles, rated 3B (OPTIONAL)
Ein Gedi David Waterfall Walk - 1.3 miles, rated 2C
Masada is another masterpiece of Herod the Great – a mountain-top citadel/playground captured by Jewish rebels in 66 AD, at the beginning of the First Jewish-Roman War. To reach the top, either climb the ancient, winding Snake Path, or ride the 21st century gondola. In an epic setting, we learn of the epic siege that ended tragically in self-inflicted death for the Jewish defenders, marking the end of the First Jewish-Roman War. Our second walk intersects the wanderings of King Saul again, this time at Ein Gedi, as we walk along a stream past lovely waterfalls below the caves where Saul hunted in vain for his son-in-law, fugitive and future king David. Returning north, we end the day just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem in a hotel that will be our home for the next four nights.

Jerusalem Footsteps of Jesus Walk - 3 miles, rated 2B

Today’s memorable walk begins at the Mount of Olives with sweeping views over Jerusalem. From here, we descend a trail of tears along a network of legendary sites connected with Jesus’ last days. Most prominent are the Sanctuary of Dominus Flevit (commemorating Jesus weeping over Jerusalem’s future destruction) and the Garden of Gethsemane. Upon entering the Old City through the Lion’s Gate, we continue into the Muslim Quarter on Via Dolorosa, the Way of Suffering, a historically-dubious route to Golgotha marked out by medieval Franciscan Catholics. The route is thought-provoking, nevertheless, and takes us through Jerusalem’s evocative, winding, cobblestone streets to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, culmination of our route and focal point of human history. Join us this afternoon for a visit to the City of David National Park. Here, where David first took Jerusalem from the Jebusites, we descend underground. The wet route splashes through the dark, water-filled (up to your calves) 2700-year-old tunnel built by King Hezekiah as a secret water channel prior to the Assyrian siege! A dry route that shares the historical value of the experience is also available.

Bethlehem Manger Walk - 2 miles, rated 1B

We begin our day with a short, six mile drive south to Bethlehem, in the Palestinian West Bank. A walk through old Bethlehem takes us to Manger Square, where we enter the Church of the Nativity, memorializing the birth of Jesus. Our next stop explores a network of caves overlooking fields where shepherds may have “watched their flocks by night”. Following a cultural lunch experience in Bethlehem, a Palestinian town, join us for an excursion to Yad Vashem, an unforgettable holocaust museum and memorial in West Jerusalem. The evening continues with a high-tech sound and light show magically projected onto the crumbling shapes of the ruins of the Tower of David. Dinner is nearby in a historic old building in the Armenian Quarter of Old Jerusalem.

Jerusalem Ramparts & Western Wall Walk - 2.5 miles, rated 2C

This unique day exploring both above and below the Old City begins with a walk along the ramparts, built in the 16th century by Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. We start at the Jaffa Gate and exit at the Zion Gate, walking through the Jewish Quarter to the Jerusalem Archeological Park (Davidson Center) to review what we have learned about this incredible city. Timelines and short films illustrate the various periods of history. After a break for lunch, we visit the Western Wall, holiest site in Judaism, absorbing the significance of this place of Jewish worship, backed by the Muslim-controlled Temple Mount. From the Wall, we descend into a tunnel that runs along the lowest courses of the Western Wall of Herod’s Temple. Our route takes us below the Muslim Quarter, adjacent to the spot in the Temple where the Holy of Holies had been.

We begin our day with an ascent to the Temple Mount (conditions permitting), holy to both Islam and Judaism as the site of Mt. Moriah, where Abraham nearly sacrificed Isaac; Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple of Herod; Mohammed’s Night Journey to Heaven; Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s oldest and most sacred; and Dome of the Rock, built over the spot from which it is said Mohammed ascended to Heaven on his Night Journey. Next, we visit the Garden Tomb, an alternative site of the tomb and resurrection of Jesus just north of the city walls. The Garden Tomb complex contains a tomb from the period and, unlike the crowded and overly-decorated Church of the Holy Sepulcher, evokes a sense of the peace, power, and purpose we associate with of the resurrection of Jesus. Our last stop is the Israel Museum, often referred to as the Shrine of the Book for the Dead Sea Scrolls that are reverently displayed here. Later, a farewell dinner prepares us for late evening flights to North America. Our journey through the Holy Land is complete, but the impact of what we have experienced will linger.

With 20-24 participants – $3900/person; with 25-30 participants – $3700/person. Airfare is not included in this price.

• Airport to hotel group transfers on first and last day**

• Tourist-class or better hotel accommodations

• All land travel as outlined

• 21 meals: All breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 9 dinners (BLD as listed in printed brochure)

• All listed walks

• WAI guide service throughout (2 guides)

• Biblical interpretation by Pastor Jon Furman

• Cultural & historical expertise of our local guide throughout

• All tipping for local guides and coach drivers

• Double occupancy accommodations (limited number of single occupancy spaces available for additional fee)

The official start and finish point for this Adventure is the Tel Aviv airport in Israel. Please do not book your airfare prior to receiving the Adventure Advice email, which will be emailed to you upon registration! The Adventure Advice email outlines the timing of when to book your flights and how airport-hotel transfers will take place. You may also consider arriving into Israel early: WAI will help with booking one extra night for those who choose. Arriving early has several advantages, including the participation on a complimentary optional walk to Joppa.

Please feel free to register online directly with Walking Adventures International at walkingadventures.com/adventures/israel2022. This is a private link just for WCC/BCC/HCC participants. Once 20 registrations are received, the tour will be confirmed. A $500 nonrefundable deposit is required for registration. The balance is due 90 days before departure. Please make sure you understand the General Tour Conditions, including the cancellation terms. Once you have registered, your spot is secured. The closer we get to departure day, the harder it is to fill that spot should you change your mind. Cancellations received in writing 89 to 60 days before departure will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be made on cancellations received less than 60 days before departure. No refunds will be made on any unused or canceled services once the tour has

commenced. Keep in mind that if WAI cancels this tour, you will receive a full refund of your tour payments. We strongly recommend travel insurance for this tour.

We generally walk at a pace of 2 to 3 miles per hour. Several walks on this trip are oriented more towards education, and therefore take longer due to stops for guide commentary. Nature walks, on the other hand, generally continue at a steadier pace because we’re stopping less to talk.

In most cases, we are not “strolling.” We are walking at a relaxed but steady pace. Your experience will be significantly affected by your level of physical fitness. If not walking regularly at home, we strongly recommend that you make a priority of “training” beforehand in order to both enjoy the trip and avoid medical issues due to overexertion. If you have questions about your ability to participate, please contact Scott and Ruth Burk at 503.638.1915.
We have adopted a walk difficulty rating system which contains a numeric indicator for trail incline and an alpha indicator for trail terrain. The explanation for this system is included in the printed brochure, which can be downloaded here.

These forms are available with the hard copy of the brochure, which can be downloaded here. They are also available as online PDF documents from the Israel tour webpage of Walking Adventures International - walkingadventures.com/adventures/Israel2022. To finalize your official registration, a completed and signed copy of the Registration Form is necessary. Please be sure to read all the fun stuff (the fine print) in the General Tour Conditions!

A word about risk from Walking Adventures:

The Wai philosophy of travel often clashes with certain aspects of modern journalism. The oxymoronic union between reporting and marketing has produced a “tabloid” mentality where “news” that stokes the emotions is often the unfortunate result.

Israel is admittedly the epicenter of conflict between Arabs and Jews, which has broadened to include non-Arab Muslims. Hard things have happened in this part of the world. Violence occurs. The violence that occurs in Israel, however, usually receives a disproportionate level of media attention relative to the impact of that violence on the region as a whole, or levels of violence that occur here in the USA, or in other reputedly peaceful cultures.

Many times during the past 30+ years of planning and leading Adventures, we have been in parts of the world that have less than hospitable reputations. Almost without fail, we’ve found that though life does not come with a money-back guarantee, and bad experiences do come our way from time to time, the feeling of fear generated by media reports bears little resemblance to what we actually experience in-country!

In regard to Israel, the odds of our being impacted by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict pales alongside everyday risks such as driving your car or falling in your home that we all instinctively factor into daily life choices without a second thought.

Our point? Though safety is always top of mind as we plan our Adventures, life is inherently uncertain, and we will not likely cancel our plans to visit Israel unless war is declared or significant, widespread violence makes it clear that we would be in danger.

NOTE: For a higher premium, you can purchase insurance that allows you to cancel “for any reason.” Check with your travel insurance provider for more details. (Travel insurance options are explored in printed brochure, available here.)