NOTE: OUR TOURS ARE ONLY ON DATES LISTED, NOT YEAR AROUND UNLESS YOU BOOK A CUSTOM TRIP WITH A MINIMUM OF 6-10 PEOPLE.
THE DATES FOR THIS JOURNEY ARE: MARCH 3-15th, 2010
Israel & Jordan, Walking in the Footsteps of the Masters
Of all the sacred sites in the world, The Holy Land is certainly one of the most inspiring and emotional. It’s remarkable that three of the largest mono-theistic religions were born in this tiny area: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Consider that Jerusalem is where Solomon built the Great Temple, Christ was crucified, and the Prophet Mohammad came during his famous night journey. Indeed the Holy Land has been a place of great faith and hope – and terrible war and sorrow. Israel is home to not only the three largest Abrahamic traditions, but to offshoots of those religions such as the Druze, and the Samaritans. In addition the Ba’hai faith has their temple here. Even if you do not practice any of these religions, you cannot help but be deeply touched by the power and mystery of this land.
During our spiritual journey to Israel and Jordan we’ll travel through time and immerse ourselves in the footsteps of the great spiritual masters. By connecting to these sacred and holy spaces we’ll find our own internal heaven-on-earth and divinity. Your heart will open as you move through these places of prayer and devotion. I invite you to share our love of this beautiful country and experience the power and the magic of it. This is not your typical Biblical trip to the holy land – by visiting the sacred sites, hiking the land and connecting to the culture and mysticism of the people, you will merge with the energy of the holy land in the deepest and most profound way.
**Please note that this is a spiritual journey for adults and is a group journey with a minimum of 6 people. There will be no children unless you book your own private tour.**
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Weds March 3: Depart for Israel!
Day 2, Thurs Mar 4: Arrival in Tel Aviv. Spend the day relaxing by walking along the promenade of the Mediterranean Sea or by exploring Tel Aviv. Tonight we will meet and travel to nearby Jaffo, the ancient seaport to have a most unique experience. After our special surprise dinner, we'll head for the shores of the Mediterranean Sea where we’ll form a circle and have time to get to know one another, discuss our experience and enjoy the sea at night. Includes: (D).
Day 3, Fri March 5: Golan Heights. Today we’ll wake up early and head to our home for the next two nights, a lovely bed and breakfast wood cabin replete with Jacuzzi, candles, etc. on the Golan Heights. On our way, we’ll stop to visit the amazing archeological sight of Beit Shean a city which dates back to the Chalcolithic period (4th century BCE). After our visit to Beit Shean, we will head for a beautiful spot on the shores of the Sea of Galilee where we will enjoy a picnic lunch and a session on different cultures and what they valued as seen in the archeological ruins in Bet Shean. We’ll then head for a delicious fish restaurant on the shore of the Sea of Galilee and back to our lovely accommodations on the sea. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 4, Sat March 6: Golan Heights. Today after a delicious breakfast, we’ll head for the ancient city of Gamla, located in the Golan Heights and mentioned in Talmudic sources as a walled city dating back to the time of Joshua Bin-Nun. This is a beautiful site and while there we can sit in one of the few synagogues that remains from the time of the second Temple, a wonderful place for contemplation and meditation. After our visit to Gamla we will head for the Golan Heights Winery, for a tour and a wine tasting. From here, we will take our wine, cheese and bread and head to the Banyias spring which begins at the foot of Mount Hermon. Here, we will find a beautiful spot overlooking the water to have a time for a group discussion. Tonight we will head for the Druze village of Pekiin.
The Druze are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and in the Palestinian territories whose traditional religion is said to have begun as an offshoot of Islam. We will be the guests in a Druze home, enjoying a delicious feast, where our host will expound on the many beliefs of the Druze people including reincarnation. After dinner we will make our way to our cabins on the shores of the Galilee. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 5, Sun March 7: Tzfat (Safat). Today we’ll head to the city of Tzfat, the ancient Kabbalistic city where we’ll walk through the ancient alleyways and visit the Ari, Caro and Abuhav Synagogues with their fascinating stories and mystical messages. We’ll stroll through the quaint art galleries and shop in the artist colony. Finally, we will have a session with a Kabbalistic artist who will explain the basis of Kabbalah through art. Next, we head south to Jerusalem. We will head for Sataf, a serene place on the terraced slopes of Mt. Eitan, where ancient mountainous agriculture is practiced as it was by the Israelites thousands of years ago, and where we will take a short pleasant walk and visit one of the two springs. Here, we will enjoy a picnic lunch and have time for a group session. Later on, we’ll have time to explore modern Jerusalem and we’ll meet for dinner in the city. After dinner, we’ll find a spot overlooking all of Jerusalem in her majesty at night and read the poetry. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 6, Mon March 8: Jerusalem. We’ll spend all of today discovering Jerusalem by walking through the ancient city – visiting the Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Armenian Quarters. Walk to the Western Wall, the holiest site in all Judaism. Here stands the only visible remains of Herod’s splendid Second Temple where we will do a powerful dreaming ceremony. We’ll also visit Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum, and Har Herzl, the famous military cemetery. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 7, Tues March 9: Jerusalem. Our second day in Jerusalem, we’ll travel to the outskirts of the city to visit Latrun, the site of many famous military battles. Nearby we’ll visit Minzar Hashatkanim, monastery of the silent, where Trappist monks settled here in the 19th century and live a life of prayer work and contemplation and have taken a vow of silence. Across from the monastery we’ll visit the beautiful Park Canada. We’ll enjoy a short hike and a lovely picnic here. Finally we’ll visit Neve Shalom (Oasis of Peace) a cooperative village jointly founded by Israeli Arabs and Jews in an attempt to show that the two peoples can live side by side peacefully, as well as to conduct educational work for peace, equality and understanding between the two peoples. We will then make our way to the Ein Gedi Region and spend our night here. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 8, Wed March 10: Masada/Dead Sea. We will begin this morning by first visiting Masada, the ancient desert fortress where King Herod built his summer palace and where the amazing story of the Jewish Zealots took places. After words, we will go to the Ein Gedi Spa, where we will enjoy a dip in the Dead Sea, optional spa treatments, etc. Later we will visit a Bedouin tent where we will enjoy a delicious feast, an explanation of Bedouin life, and a lovely campfire, before we retire to our hotel. Includes: (B), (D).
Day 9, Thurs March 11: Beit Guvrin. Today we will travel to the north, stopping along the way at Beit Guvrin, an amazing 1,250 acre National park which lies in the Judean plain, an area with rolling hills rising some 400 meters above sea level. Most of the ground here is chalky and this soft but relatively erosion-resistant stone is ideal for caves. At the end of the day we will travel back to Tel Aviv and spend our last night together, as we began, first with a lovely dinner by the ocean and then with our final circle by the Mediterranean, summing up our thoughts and feelings of the past eight days that we spent together. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 10, Fri March 12: Tel Aviv/Home or Tel Aviv/Eilat. Departure anytime. Those of us going on to Petra will catch a morning flight to Eilat and have the opportunity to spend the day in this lovely city. Dinner will be included this day for those going the Jordan extension. Includes: (B).
Day 11, Sat March 13: Wadi Rum. This morning we cross the border from Israel and travel to the Jordanian desert of Wadi Rum. We will pass the famous seven pillars of of wisdom, described by Lawrence of Arabia and explore Wadi Rum by jeep, escorted by a Bedouin guide. Lunch in a Bedouin tent. In the evening we travel down to Petra and check into our hotel, have dinner. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 12, Sun March 14: Petra. We arise early and begin a complete and compressive walking tour of Petra, the capital city of the mysterious Nabatean traders. We then make our way back to Eilat, Israel. Includes: (B), (L).
Day 13, Mon March 15: Depart for Home! Today we fly back to Tel Aviv early in the morning in time to catch our international flights back home! Includes: (B).
Note: The main portion of this journey to Israel is March 3-12th and the optional extension to Jordan to visit Petra & the desert of Wadi Rum is March 12-15th!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 8 nights of accommodations during the Israel journey
- 3 nights of accommodations for the Jordan extension
- Breakfast daily through the entire journey
- One lunch as per the itinerary in Israel
- Two lunches as per the itinerary on the Jordan extension.
- Welcome dinner at the Blackout restaurant in Tel Aviv
- Plus seven additional dinners in Israel
- Tickets for a performance at the Nalagaat Theater in Tel Aviv
- Visit to Neve Shalom
- Private, air-conditioned bus with a licensed, English-speaking guide
- All entrance fees at the sacred sites
- All guided hikes
- All spiritual teachings, meditations and classes
- Exploration by jeep of Wadi Rum on the Jordan extension
- Portage at our hotels.
Price Excludes:
- Your international flight to Israel
- Any spa services at the Dead Sea
- Tips to the maids, laundry, or souvenir shopping.
Also see tour packages in:
Middle East
Israel
Jordan
Spiritual Odyssey
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
Desert Expeditions
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 19674
