Israel Perspectives & Peoples Cultural Discovery Tour

Your Guides

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The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.

Rom A.

Born in Israel, Rom completed three years of army service before following his passion to see the world. Through his extensive travels, he developed a deep appreciation for people, sharing ideas, human nature and history, which led him to becoming a tour guide. In his spare time, Rom loves hiking, diving, kitesurfing, and is a huge fan of street art and food.

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                    [Headline] => Arrive in Tel Aviv
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Welcome to Israel! Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. After a rest you may want to stroll along the promenade or Rothschild Boulevard. Dinner tonight is on your own, as our guests will arrive well into the evening.
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                    [Latitude] => 32.0853 N
                    [Longitude] => 34.7818 E
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                    [Headline] => Tour Tel Aviv & Jaffa
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Start the day with a breakfast trip briefing and then take a stroll 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.
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                    [Latitude] => 32.0494 N
                    [Longitude] => 34.7584 E
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                    [Headline] => Take a Scenic Drive to Caesarea Maritima, Haifa, & Acre
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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.
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                    [Travel_Type] => 1-hour private van transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 32.9331 N
                    [Longitude] => 35.0827 E
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                    [Headline] => Journey to Golan Heights & Descend to Banias
                    [ActivityOverview] => 1 hour/2 miles hiking
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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).
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                    [Travel_Type] => 1.5-hour private transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 33.2472 N
                    [Longitude] => 35.6937 E
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                    [Headline] => Hike Around Mount Arbel & the Sea of Galilee
                    [ActivityOverview] => 1.5 hours/3 miles hiking with 820\' elevation loss
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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.
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                    [Latitude] => 32.8803 N 
                    [Longitude] => 35.5733 E
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                    [Headline] => Travel to Nazareth & Jericho
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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.
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                    [Travel_Type] => 2.5-hour private van transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 32.6996 N
                    [Longitude] => 35.3035 E
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                    [Headline] => Travel to Jerusalem via Masada & Qumran
                    [ActivityOverview] => 1 hour/2.5 miles hiking with 1,150\' elevation gain & loss
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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.
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                    [Travel_Type] => 1.5-hour private van transfer 
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                    [Latitude] => 31.7683 N
                    [Longitude] => 35.2137 E
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                    [Headline] => Step Back in Time in Old Jerusalem
                    [ActivityOverview] => 1-2 hours/2-3 miles walking
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Enjoy a dramatic view of Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives, then walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane. Follow your guide through Dung Gate and into the Old City for an enjoyable tour of the Four Quarters. Get your first view of the Temple Mount, known by Muslims as the Haram el Sharif, and observe worshippers at the Western (Wailing) Wall. There is also an option to take the underground tunnel tour. Next, visit the Davidson Centre to learn how daily life revolved around the Temple in ancient times. Then walk along the Way of the Cross, through the markets within the Christian and Muslim Quarters. The Via Dolorosa ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where you can observe intense devotion and prayer, by many different denominations, at the site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of Christ. In the afternoon stroll through the Armenian and Jewish Quarters via the Cardo and out through the Zion Gate. Your action-packed day in Jerusalem will also include stops at the Tomb of King David and the Upper Room.
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                    [Latitude] => 31.7683 N
                    [Longitude] => 35.2137 E
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                    [Headline] => Sightsee in the New City of Jerusalem
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Today\'s sightseeing begins with a visit to Yad Vashem - the Jewish people\'s powerful memorial to the six million lives lost to the Holocaust. Next, drive past the Knesset, Israel\'s parliament, en route to the Israel Museum, where you\'ll see a fascinating model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of the Second Temple and the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea scrolls. You may also take time to visit the rest of the Israel Museum collection. Enjoy lunch at the lively Mahne Yahuda food market. In the late afternoon, you are free to revisit the Old City and stroll through its historic quarters before gathering for a farewell dinner this evening  to say goodbye to your Israeli guide.
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                    [Travel_Type] => 1-hour private transfer
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                    [Latitude] => 31.7683 N
                    [Longitude] => 35.2137 E
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                    [Headline] => Bethlehem & Herodium
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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. 
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                    [Latitude] => 31.7683 N
                    [Longitude] => 35.2137 E
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                    [Headline] => Depart from Jerusalem
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After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your homeward-bound flight.
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    [ActivityHighlight] => You will be touring cities, towns, ruins and archaeological sites.  Walks and hikes are easy and range from 2-3 miles.  Daily drives range from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours.
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Accommodations

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Elegant modern hotels with high-quality service. Includes three nights at the legendary Scots Hotel in Tiberias.

Lily & Bloom-Tel Aviv

Comfortable Hotel

Tastefully modern while intentionally vintage, Lily & Bloom offers elegant comfort in an urban chic atmosphere. Nods to Bauhaus style complete the boutique hotel's design package, which showcases the property's warm atmosphere and quality service. Guest rooms are stocked with comfy pillows and all the modern amenities, including Nespresso machines and free Wi-Fi.

Ein Gedi Hotel-Kibbutz Ein Gedi

Comfortable Hotel

Formerly a modest kibbutz guesthouse that expanded over the years, the Ein Gedi became a full-fledged hotel in 2012. Today the luxurious accommodation has spacious and elegantly designed rooms, thoughtfully landscaped gardens, a modern spa, free Wi-Fi, a vast swimming pool, and — thanks to the property's roaming wildlife and stellar views — direct exposure to quiet, peaceful desert beauty.

Scots Hotel-Tiberias

Luxury Hotel

The Scots Hotel is a unique and tranquil accommodation in a region steeped in history and legend. Expect contemporary comforts in charmingly restored 19th-century buildings with basalt walls and high ceilings, or in the more classically modern rooms on the main building's upper floors. High-level service and a pool with sweeping views of the Sea of Galilee round out the Scots' experience.

King Solomon Hotel

Comfortable Hotel

The King Solomon Hotel is located at the heart of Jerusalem, just a 15-minute walk from the Old City! A restful stay perfect for travelers seeking to explore Jerusalem's iconic sights and restaurants. With 24 rooms, their amenities include a buffet breakfast room and bar, a fitness centre, and an array of thoughtful touches such as complimentary tea and coffee in each room and a balcony with beautiful views of the surrounding hills.

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