Israel Perspectives and Peoples Cultural Discovery

We will have a trip briefing at breakfast this morning before strolling through White City, a UNESCO-listed district recognized for its Bauhaus and art deco architecture. On Rothschild Boulevard, visit the Independence Hall, which illustrates the role the city played in the establishment of the modern state. Walk through nearby Neveh Zedek, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods now enjoying a revival with new galleries and restaurants. Then explore the ancient port town of Jaffa, now a thriving artists' colony with many galleries, studios, and shops, and an unusual antique market. Enjoy a festive welcome dinner tonight.

Drive up the scenic coast to Caesarea Maritima, ancient capital of the Roman province and now a national park, to see impressive remains of the Roman and Crusader periods. Continue to Haifa, where there are lovely views of Bahai Gardens, and then on to Acre (Akko), an ancient Phoenician and Crusader seaport designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the Citadel of Acre's stunning halls and buildings of the Knights Hospitaller and Templar, and walk through the covered bazaar. End the day with a wine tasting at the hotel's cave bar.

Lace up your boots for today's hike along the portion of the Jesus Trail that descends from Mount Arbel to the Sea of Galilee. Enjoy stunning views and learn about the area's rich history: It is here that early Christianity evolved; Jesus delivered his famous Sermon on the Mount at the Mount of Beatitudes. At Nof Ginosar, visit a 2,000-year-old boat that was found preserved in the sea's muddy shores, and see the famous ruins at Capernaum, where Jesus lived and taught at the synagogue.

Drive up to Golan Heights and gaze into Lebanon and Syria to the lush Tel Dan Reserve - Dan was once the northernmost city in the ancient Kingdom of Israel - and its ruins. Continue up to Nimrod Crusader Castle, built by the Arabs and occupied by the Crusaders for its strategic position. After lunch, hike down to Banias to see the archaeological remains of this sacred place that span Pagan, Jewish, Christian Byzantine, Muslim, and Crusader eras (weather permitting).

Journey west to Nazareth - the childhood home of Jesus - to see the Church of the Annunciation and the nearby remains of the major Byzantine church and Mary's Well. Then continue down the Jordan Rift Valley to Jericho, the world's oldest continuously inhabited city; excavations here reveal over 10,000 years of human settlement. Lunch in Jericho before we continue to Ein Gedi. On arrival at Ein Gedi, have time to enjoy the kibbutz and its beautiful surroundings.

Rise early this morning to explore the ancient fortress of Masada, the last stronghold of the Rome-opposed Jewish Zealots. See Herod's palaces, baths, and other ruins that reveal the dramatic events that took place here in the Judean Desert 2,000 years ago. Continue to Qumran, on the Dead Sea's northern shore. Now a national park, Qumran was once the home of the Essenes, a secluded desert sect that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd discovered manuscript fragments in clay jars hidden for centuries in the caves. Enjoy a swim in the Dead Sea before driving to Jerusalem through the Judean Wilderness.

Enjoy a dramatic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, then walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Christ. Enter the Old City and view the Temple Mount, then visit the Western (Wailing) Wall. Then walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the crucifixion site. Also behold the Tomb of David and the Upper Room, supposedly the site of the Last Supper.

Begin today at Yad Vashem, a powerful memorial to the six million lives lost in the Holocaust. Drive past the Knesset to the Israel Museum, home to the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls and other fascinating exhibits. Visit the lively Mahne Yahuda market where we will enjoy lunch. In the late afternoon, revisit the Old City to stroll through the historic quarters. At the Davidson Center, learn how daily life revolved about the Temple in ancient times. Join a tour of the underground Western Wall tunnels.

Travel to Bethlehem and walk through Manger Square to the Church of Nativity, where many believe Jesus was born. Lunch in a Palestinian Christian family's home in Bethlehem. Stop at the Banksy-inspired Walled Off Hotel to see the separation wall with its political graffiti and the exhibit on the occupation. In the afternoon, return to the hotel for some free time or to do some last minute shopping before gathering for a farewell dinner this evening.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your homeward-bound flight.