Israel: The Holy Land & Timeless Cultures 2017 16-Day Land Tour{TRIPOperatedBy}

Extend your trip

Pre-Trip Jordan

Post-Trip Palestinian Discovery

Your Day-to-Day Itinerary Overseas Adventure Travel

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Included in Your Price

»» International airfare, airport transfers, government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless you choose to make your own air arrangements

»» All land transportation

»» Accommodations for 15 nights

»» 29 meals—daily breakfast, 6 lunches, and 8 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Lunch and 1 Home-Hosted Dinner)

»» 25 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters

»» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next O.A.T. trip—an average of $283

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. What This Trip is Like

Pacing »» We travel via air-conditioned »» 6 locations in 17 days with one 1-night 30-passenger bus (no toilet onboard), stay Jeep, wooden boat for a lake crossing, and cable car to reach Masada »» There are several overland 3-hour drives, including an off-road excursion by Jeep Accommodations & Facilities into the Judean Desert along canyons and »» Hotel rooms are smaller than those in the dry riverbeds U.S. and offer simple amenities

Physical requirements »» All accommodations feature private baths »» Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

»» There are a large number of steps to negotiate at the Western Wall tunnels and at other archaeological sites; expect 6-8 hours of physical activities and sightseeing on some days

»» You will need to access vehicles by stairs without aid

»» We reserve the right for Trip Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

Climate »» The weather in Israel is often compared to the temperate climate of Florida or southern California, with warm summers and mild, balmy winters

Terrain & Transportation »» We’ll travel over several city streets, hike along rugged paths and trails, and walk up and down many stairs at various sites in Israel. There are also walks along sandy beaches and desert terrain

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Israel: The Holy Land & Timeless Cultures 2017

Extend your trip

Pre-Trip Jordan

Post-Trip Palestinian Discovery

Traveling in Israel is to journey through land that is many things to many people. It’s a center of faith for three of the world’s great religions. A strategic crucible of modern world politics. A land of stunning natural beauty. A complex ethnic tapestry. An archaeologist’s dream. A realm of transcendent land- scapes. A place that has resonance for any traveler seeking answers to the great spiritual matters of our times.

While many tours focus on one religious tradition or another, we follow a multicultural pathway through Israel’s many layers of religious heritage. And we explore contemporary issues, too—inviting you to peer behind the headlines to meet Palestinians and Israelis, native Sabras and Eastern European immigrants, Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Druze. If you are drawn to destinations that challenge your preconcep- tions, or even inspire some soul-searching, come feel the power of this ancient place—at least once in your life.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Detailed Itinerary

An important word about your adventure

This is an adventure travel trip. Part of the adventure is the possibility that things may change which make it impossible for us to follow this trip itinerary exactly. When we are confronted with changing circumstances, this itinerary is the one we strive to follow. But it’s important for you to know in advance that we may not be able to follow this plan verbatim. The sequence of places visited may vary. The hotels mentioned on your hotel contact sheet are not guaran- teed. When we are forced to make variations, we make every attempt to use facilities that are equivalent in quality, but this is not always possible.

This trip is designed for people who want a different kind of travel experience. It emphasizes active exploration and close cultural contact, not gourmet food or deluxe accommodations. We seek out unusual experiences, in out-of-the-way places where ordinary tours don’t go. To fully enjoy this trip, you should be in good health and enjoy an active lifestyle—and flexibility is important. Bring an open curiosity, an adventurous spirit and a willingness to adapt and make the best of every situation. After all, that is the definition of adventure.

DAY 1 Depart U.S. Israel’s cultural and commercial hub, Tel Fly overnight from the U.S. to Tel Aviv. Aviv was founded in 1909 near the ancient port city of Jaffa (with which it later merged) as a planned “garden city” on the DAY 2 Arrive Tel Aviv, Israel Mediterranean coast, and blossomed into the An O.A.T. representative will meet us upon largest collection of Modernist buildings in our arrival this afternoon at Tel Aviv’s the world. Today, Tel Aviv is home to about airport, where we’ll meet travelers who one-third of Israel’s population, and is a took the pre-trip extension to Jordan. We’ll thoroughly modern city in every sense of the transfer to our hotel and settle into our phrase—whatever it may lack in ancient his- rooms, and then our small group’s Trip tory, it more than makes up for in vibrancy Leader will deliver a short orientation brief- and contemporary culture. ing before we share a Welcome Dinner at a Dinner local restaurant.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. DAY 3 Explore Old Jaffa & Tel or holiday will enjoy dinner with an Orthodox Aviv • Home-Hosted Dinner family in Jerusalem on Day 12 in lieu of today’s yeshiva dinner. After breakfast at our hotel, we begin today’s discoveries with a visit to Jaffa, a Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 4,000-year-old city situated on the southern outskirts of downtown Tel Aviv that may well be the world’s oldest seaport. Our Trip DAY 4 Overland to Haifa • Leader will take us on a walk through Old Discover Caesarea Jaffa, followed by a visit to the Ilana Goor After breakfast at our hotel we’ll depart for Museum, housed in the private home of Caesarea, where Herod the Great built a this renowned Israeli artist, designer, and remarkable artificial port—an engineering sculptor, where artifacts from Israel’s past marvel in its time. Here we’ll explore Roman and artworks from its present stand side by ruins, many of which were transformed into side. From there, we’ll venture to the color- a walled Crusader’s city in later times, and ful Jaffa Flea Market (closed on Saturdays) have some free time for lunch on our own. and have the chance to browse the vendors’ extensive selection of antiques. Then we Then we’ll proceed to Haifa, Israel’s third- enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before we largest city. This ancient seaport on the continue on to Tel Aviv. slopes of is invested with both the historical weight of Jerusalem and the Upon arrival, we’ll have the afternoon to modern ambiance and tempo of Tel Aviv. It make our own discoveries. Consider visiting is in some senses Israel’s model city, rich the Carmel Market (closed on Saturdays); with history, replete with a stew of cultures commonly referred to as a shuk (Hebrew for and religions working side by side, and an open-air market), this bustling bazaar evolving rapidly into the modern world. is the oldest model for food shopping in We’ll head to Mount Carmel for a panoramic the Holy Land, where you can discover a view of the terraced Baha’i Gardens, as they cornucopia of fresh fruits and vegetables, flow down its slopes toward the busy harbor, cheeses, spices, nuts, and even clothing and then continue on to Haifa. We’ll also stop housewares. It’s an authentic and invigorat- at an olive farm for a tasting, followed by ing whirl of activity that reveals Israel’s dinner. incredible diversity. Breakfast, Dinner Afterwards, we depart for the city of Bnei Brak outside Tel Aviv, where we meet with members of the Jewish Orthodox community DAY 5 Haifa • Wadi Nisnas • Safed • and enjoy dinner with local scholars at their Visit Ethiopian Absorption Center yeshiva, an institution of rabbinical learning. This morning we’ll set out to tour the Please note: Both the Jaffa Flea Market and streets of Wadi Nisnas, an Arab neighbor- the Carmel Market are closed on Saturdays. If hood in Haifa. Here we’ll learn more about Day 3 of your itinerary falls on a Saturday, you the peaceful Jewish-Arab coexistence in may have the chance to visit them on Day 16. the city. We’ll have time to explore Haifa’s Groups staying in Tel Aviv on a Friday, Saturday, Old Market before departing for Safed. Due to it’s elevation of nearly 3,000 feet, the

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. northern city of Safed is Israel’s highest city DAY 7 Nazareth • • and known as the center of Jewish mysticism Nature Reserve • Home-Hosted Lunch (Kabbalah). We’ll visit a local synagogue in Druze Village • Visit El Rom • and then have lunch on our own. After, After breakfast, we’ll depart for Nazareth, our group will take a walking tour of the where we’ll walk in the footsteps of city, ending up at a Kabbalah center, where Jesus—as well as Elijah, Deborah, Solomon, we’ll meet with a Kabbalist for a discussion and many other biblical figures—as we pay on the principals of this religious practice. a visit to the Church of the Annunciation, Then, we’ll visit an Ethiopian Absorption built on the site where Mary is said to have Center, which is supported in part by Grand received word from the angel Gabriel that Circle Foundation. Here, we’ll enjoy a tradi- she would bear the son of God. tional buna coffee ceremony and learn about how the center helps immigrants get settled Then we’ll set off for a light walk through into their new home. the Gamla Nature Reserve. We’ll take in the history and archaeology in this beautiful area Late this afternoon, we’ll head back to Haifa, that was once an ancient fortress captured by where dinner tonight is on our own. the Romans, the name of which comes from Breakfast the Hebrew word for camel—gamal—be- cause the ancient fortress was on a mountain shaped remarkably like a camel’s hump. DAY 6 At Leisure in Haifa • Optional Next, we’ll visit a Druze village, where Tour to Akko & Rosh HaNikra caves we’ll enjoy a Home-Hosted Lunch with a Today is yours to enjoy at leisure in Haifa. Druze family and learn about their unique culture and traditions. The Druze are an Or you may join a full-day optional tour that Arab religious community that opted out of begins with a visit to the ancient walled city mainstream Arab nationalism, and whose of Akko, once known by the Crusaders as members have served in the Israeli Defense the city of Acre. Our walking tour includes Forces. In the past, the Druze have seemed a visit to the Knights’ Halls, a series of radical for their belief in equality between vaulted halls below street level; the Al-Jazzar men and women, the abolition of slavery, Mosque; and the spice market, the Old City’s and separation of church and state. main marketplace. Then we’ll make our way to Kibbutz El Rom, Then, after an included lunch at a local which is located next to the battleground restaurant, we continue to Rosh HaNikra, of the , one of the defining where we witness a wondrous series of moments of the Yom Kippur War. At the cavernous tunnels formed by the pounding Kibbutz El Rom we’ll learn about the struggle of the sea on the white chalk cliffs. of the Israelis against the Syrian Army Dinner is on your own this evening. during the tank battle there in 1973. We then pause at the Valley of Tears Memorial, which Breakfast overlooks the battleground.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. This afternoon we’ll check into our lodge, DAY 9 Visit churches at Capernaum where we’ll have the remainder of the day & Mount of the Beatitudes • at leisure followed by dinner together this Cross the evening. This morning, we leave the Golan Heights, Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner making our first stop at Capernaum (formerly Kfar Nahum), an ancient Roman fishing village whose church was founded DAY 8 Golan Heights • A Day in on the traditional site of St. Peter’s home. the Life of Kibbutz Kfar Haruv While there, we’ll also visit the modern Church of the Beatitudes—which was built Today we’ll experience A Day in the near the site of Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Life of Kibbutz Kfar Haruv. For more than a Mount—before boarding a boat to sail across century, kibbutzim have played and continue Lake Kinneret, better known as the Sea of to play a very important part in the develop- Galilee. ment of modern Israel. The communal- living collectives, originally established on First, we’ll cruise to Kibbutz Genosar to farms, support themselves with a mixture of view the “Jesus Boat,” the restored skeletal agriculture and other business. Kfar Haruv remains of a fishing vessel discovered on was founded in 1973 and reflects that blend, the muddy shores of Lake Kinneret in 1986 with its operating dairy farm and hydraulics that dates back to the first century AD—the plant. 400 residents live here, including time of Jesus’ ministry. We’ll then stop some of the children from the first genera- for lunch at a local restaurant by the sea. tion of settlers. Afterwards, some travelers may wish to join the Christian pilgrims who gather here to Our visit begins with an informal discussion renew their baptism vows by immersing with a kibbutz member, who will warmly themselves in the same waters where Jesus welcome us and answer any preliminary was baptized. questions we may have. We’ll then stop by the community’s kindergarten, where we’ll In addition to its historical importance, meet its youngest residents. For lunch, we Lake Kinneret is the only sweetwater lake in will work together to prepare a meal in the Israel, and it is considered by many to be a communal dining room and then dine with national asset. Visitors take the history and members of the kibbutz, which affords us a religious importance to heart, but to modern wonderful opportunity to learn more about Israelis, the lake’s ability to store and supply their lives and experiences in this setting. scarce water for drinking, for agriculture, After a short guided walk of Kfar Haruv— and for industry is nearly as important. featuring an enlightening sojourn within its dairy farm—we’ll bid farewell. By the end From here, we travel to Jerusalem. We arrive of our visit, we’ll come away with a richer in the early evening, settle into our hotel, understanding of the kibbutz tradition. and enjoy dinner on our own tonight.

This afternoon, we’ll have time at leisure Breakfast, Lunch before dinner on our own.

Breakfast, Lunch

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. DAY 10 Western Wall tunnels • Old After strolling the winding streets of Jerusalem walking tour • Mount Jerusalem’s Arab and Christian quarters, Zion and Mount of Olives we’ll enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Old City. Then we visit Mount Zion, the tradi- After breakfast at our hotel, we enter the tional Christian site of the Last Supper, and maze of chambers and cisterns underneath the Mount of Olives, site of Christ’s betrayal the Western Wall, part of the ancient city in the Garden of Gethsemane. At the summit wall that is of great spiritual significance in we’ll enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Jewish and Islamic traditions, revered by the Dome of the Rock and the Old City. From Jews as the last standing remnant of ancient there, we’ll return to our hotel and enjoy Jerusalem’s Second Temple. dinner on our own this evening. This site is also known as the Wailing Wall Please note: The exact date and/or time of our for Jews’ mourning of the destruction of the visit to the Western Wall is subject to change. temple by the Romans in AD 70. Although the wall is nearly 1,600 feet in length, only Breakfast, Lunch about 230 feet are visible above ground. The remainder was hidden when King Herod raised the landscape surrounding the DAY 11 Yad Vashem • Machaneh Temple Mount in the year 19 BC. We’ll see Yehuda market portions of the wall that have been perfectly Today we travel to Yad Vashem, the stirring preserved, and head underground to explore “everlasting memorial” to the more than the parts that were sealed off until excava- six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. tions began in 1967, and had been hidden for With the world’s largest archives of material almost 2,000 years. relating to the Holocaust—more than 50 Then we spend the day getting to know million documents and artifacts—this mu- Jerusalem, as we explore its Old City on foot. seum and memorial complex, while built on Though it occupies an area of less than one the Mount of Remembrance, aims not only square mile, this ancient enclave’s history to remember, but to educate. We’ll spend the and spiritual significance to Christians, morning at this solemn site learning about Jews, and Muslims is immense. We begin the horrors of Hitler’s “Final Solution.” We our comprehensive walking tour in the area are sometimes able to hear a moving first- around the Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter, person account from a Holocaust survivor, which is adjacent to the site of Solomon’s although this cannot be guaranteed. First Temple and the Second Temple. From Then we explore the bustling produce market here, we have an admirable view of the at Machaneh Yehuda, one of Jerusalem’s Islamic Dome of the Rock, perched on the oldest Jewish neighborhoods, where we’ll Temple Mount, and a different perspective also have free time for lunch on our own. on the Western Wall. Our walk then takes us Then we’ll return to our hotel and have the to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built balance of the day at leisure. around what is believed to be the site of Christ’s burial and resurrection, and along Tonight we’ll set out for dinner at a local the Via Dolorosa—the ancient “Way of the restaurant. Sorrows,” where it is traditionally held that Christ walked to his crucifixion.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Please note: The exact date and/or time of our your visit to Tel Aviv on Day 3 fell on a Friday or visit to Yad Vashem is subject to change. Saturday, you will enjoy dinner with an Orthodox family in Jerusalem tonight. Breakfast, Dinner Breakfast

DAY 12 Jerusalem • Palestinian Life discussion • City of David • DAY 13 Jerusalem • Optional Optional Bethlehem tour Herodion & Ein Karem tour This morning begins with a discussion with Today is at leisure in Jerusalem, or you may a Palestinian journalist who will share her choose to join an optional tour that begins perspective on living in Israel. Then we visit in Herodion, a hilltop fortified palace built the City of David, an archaeological park by Herod the Great in the desert south of whose ruins shed light on the establishment Bethlehem that is also thought to be Herod’s of Israel under King David in 1004 BCE mausoleum. The tour continues to Mar Elias and the history of the Jews during Biblical Monastery, a Greek Orthodox monastery times. A highlight of the site is an ancient originally built in the sixth century AD, 1500-foot-long water tunnel built by King then rebuilt in the twelfth century. There Hezekiah in 701 BCE to protect Jerusalem’s are usually views of both Jerusalem and water source from invading Assyrians. Our Bethlehem from the hilltop. We’ll have lunch tour concludes at The Davidson Center, in the monastery’s restaurant before return- where we view a virtual reality reconstruc- ing to Jerusalem, with a stop on the way to tion of the Herodian Temple Mount as it visit Ein Karem. stood prior to its destruction. Nestled in the hills to the southwest of The rest of the day is at leisure, or you may Jerusalem, Ein Karem is notable as the join an optional tour to Bethlehem, which birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Our features the Church of the Nativity. Built visit takes us to two churches connected over the grotto where Mary is believed to to the life of the biblical figure: the Church have given birth to Jesus, the church was of St. John the Baptist and the Church of one of the world’s most coveted holy sites the Visitation. Although both structures for centuries, and was both captured and are relatively new, both are constructed defended by a succession of armies. The tour over the remains of much older buildings also includes a visit to Shepherds’ Field, that marked two important sites for early where an angel is said to have announced Christians—the site of St. John’s birth and Christ’s birth. the site of the visit from St. Mary to St. John’s mother, St. Elizabeth. Dinner is on our own this evening. Dinner is on your own this evening. Please note: If this day falls on a Friday during your trip, this evening we’ll return to the Western Breakfast Wall and have the opportunity to hear prayers on the eve of Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath).Also, if

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. DAY 14 Israel Museum • erosion craters, and dry riverbeds and expe- Overland to the Dead Sea rience the landscape up close. We’ll break for a picnic lunch in the desert. We start our morning with a visit to the Israel Museum. Here, we’ll see the expansive In the afternoon, we head to Nature model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Reserve, where we’ll visit its lush oasis and period. We’ll also take a close look at the embark on a short hike. This evening we’ll Dead Sea Scrolls, which are housed in a wing enjoy dinner together at our hotel. called “the Shrine of the Book”; the top of the shrine was designed to look like the Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner clay pot in which the scrolls were originally found. DAY 16 Visit Masada • Qumran Caves Then we’ll set off for the Dead Sea, where Our day begins with a visit to Masada, where the afternoon will be yours to enjoy. At more we’ll ascend by cable car to walk among than 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea the powerful, 20-acre ruins of this isolated is considered to be the lowest point on earth, hilltop fortress, where from AD 70-73, and because it contains an unusually high Jewish defenders made the last stand of the concentration of salt, it is surprisingly easy Judean revolt against Rome. to float within its mineral-rich waters. En route to Tel Aviv, we stop at the Qumran During your free time, perhaps you’ll walk or Caves in the Dead Sea Rift Valley to see take the hotel’s complimentary shuttle to the archaeological site where the Dead Sea the shore of the Dead Sea, where you can Scrolls were discovered. test your buoyancy. (The sheer sense of weightlessness has to be experienced to be Enjoy some free time this afternoon to relax understood.) Or, you may take advantage or explore Tel Aviv independently before of the hotel’s amenities, such as the spa gathering for a Farewell Dinner in a local (featuring an authentic Turkish hammam), restaurant. indoor and outdoor pools, and grounds Breakfast, Dinner where you may linger in a hammock beneath date palm trees.

This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner at our hotel. DAY 17 Depart Tel Aviv • Fly to U.S. or join post-trip extension Please note: The exact date and/or time of our We rise very early this morning and transfer visit to the Israel Museum is subject to change. to the airport to board our flight to the U.S., Breakfast, Dinner or begin your optional Palestinian Discovery post-trip extension.

DAY 15 Judean Desert off-road Breakfast adventure • Ein Gedi Nature Reserve This morning, we embark upon an off-road adventure in the Judean Desert. We’ll ride 4x4 vehicles among stunning canyons,

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Pre-trip Jordan

Included in Your Price

»» Accommodations for 3 nights in Amman »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and and 2 nights in Petra luggage porters

»» 15 meals—5 breakfasts, 5 lunches, and 5 dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner)

»» 8 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» All transfers

Itinerary, Pre-Trip Extension

Experience another facet of the Middle East’s centuries-old culture in Jordan. You’ll explore Roman ruins in Amman and stroll ancient city streets in Jerash. And discover the Nabataen “Lost City” of Petra, described in poetry as a “rose-red city half as old as time.”

DAY 1 Fly from U.S. to Amman, Jordan DAY 3 Amman • Visit the Citadel You fly overnight from the U.S. to Jordan. and Roman Theater After breakfast, we explore this ancient city. Amman was once besieged and captured by DAY 2 Arrive Amman, Jordan King David and the Egyptian King Ptolemy, Arrive in Amman in the late evening. Upon and occupied by the Byzantine Empire and arrival, enjoy a Welcome Drink before dinner Christian Crusaders. Today, it is a thriving at the hotel. modern metropolis that has taken great care to preserve its historical heritage. We visit Dinner Amman’s citadel, with its blend of ancient Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic ruins. We’ll also have free time to explore the small

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. archaeological museum, with its treasure Back in Amman this evening, we are the trove of ancient coins, glassware, and guests of local residents for dinner in their statuary. home and a personal glimpse of Jordanian life. After enjoying the views of the Old City, with its 5,000-seat Roman amphitheater and Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner lovely Abu Darwish Mosque, we continue to the older section of downtown Amman. We also walk through the “gold souk,” named DAY 5 Transfer to Petra via for its concentration of gold jewelry shops the King’s Highway selling unique local items. After lunch in a After breakfast, we set off on our drive to local restaurant, we continue our discoveries Petra along the King’s Highway, which has with a walk in the Jabel Amman area. been an international trade route for the last 5,000 years. The route is scenic, and Tonight we’ll set out for dinner at a local dotted with picturesque villages and historic restaurant. sites mentioned in the Bible. En route, we’ll Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner visit Mount Nebo, the place where Moses is purported to have gazed upon the Holy Land that he was not meant to reach—it is said DAY 4 Discover Jerash and Ajlun that his tomb lies here. From here, we’ll • Home-Hosted Dinner enjoy spectacular views across the Jordan Today, we’ll explore ancient Jerash, the Valley and Dead Sea. world’s best-preserved and most complete We then continue to Madaba, known for its Greco-Roman city. First established as a striking Byzantine mosaics, including the town in AD 70, it’s a sprawling open-air earliest surviving map of the Holy Land. Set museum of monumental temples, baths, in a mosaic floor, the map dates to about the theaters, and lovely Byzantine churches. sixth century. Mosaic-making is a tradition We’ll be greeted by the triple-arched gate- that endures with local artists throughout way built to honor the arrival of the Emperor this region, as we’ll discover during a visit Hadrian in AD 129. Next to Hadrian’s Arch to a local workshop. stands the massive hippodrome, partially reconstructed. Wander through this amazing After a visit to St. George’s Church, we enjoy site and marvel at the Zeus Temple, Oval lunch at a local restaurant. Then, we’ll Plaza, and splendid avenues and plazas lined witness scenic views of the Mujib Valley on with graceful colonnades. our way to Petra. We’ll also stop for a pan- oramic view over Wadi Mujib before arriving We’ll have lunch in Jerash, and then drive in Petra in time to relax before an included through fertile green hills lined with olive dinner at our hotel. groves to Ajlun—famous for its imposing Saracen castle. Built in the late twelfth Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner century by the nephew of Saladin, it is known as Qalat ar-Rabad and dominates the skyline for miles.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. DAY 6 Explore Petra We set off for a full-day walking excursion through one of the most beautiful of all ancient ruins—the fabled red city of Petra. Reached through a towering narrow canyon, the city is carved into the solid red sand- stone cliffs, and features soaring temples, a 3,000-seat amphitheater, houses, banquet halls, churches, and tombs. It is said that Petra’s massive Treasury, with its portico and pillars, was the storeroom for the Queen of Sheba’s gifts to Solomon.

For more than 2,000 years, the name Petra was just a mysterious sound, a name in dusty documents. Only the local Bedouin people knew of its existence, because they lived in its caves. Converted to Islam and disguised as an Arab, Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt found the lost city in 1812. You’ll recognize several views of Petra from the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

We’ll enjoy lunch in Petra during our tour. Later this evening, we’ll have dinner together at a local restaurant.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 Petra • Transfer to Tel Aviv After an early breakfast, transfer to Tel Aviv where we begin our discovery of Israel: The Holy Land & Timeless Cultures. Please note: Due to security regulations, O.A.T. travelers will pass through Customs unassisted when entering Israel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. Post-trip Palestinian Discovery

Included in Your Price

»» Accommodations for 2 nights in »» Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and Bethlehem and 3 nights in Jericho luggage porters

»» 13 meals—5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 5 dinners

»» 9 small group activities

»» Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Leader

»» All transfers

Itinerary, Post-Trip Extension

The Palestinian Territories encompass some of the world’s most revered religious sites and archaeological treasures—from Bethlehem to ancient Jericho, the oldest walled city in the world. Journey beyond the headlines and witness this disputed region’s great natural beauty, ancient cities, and proud and resilient people.

DAY 1 Tel Aviv • Overland to the next two nights. Like Jerusalem, which Bethlehem, Israel • Visit Mar Saba lies just six miles to the north, Bethlehem monastery • Bethlehem tour holds a special place in the hearts of Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike. An important This morning, following our Israel: The Holy Palestinian stronghold and cultural center, Land & Timeless Cultures trip, we check out of it is also believed by Christians to have been our hotel and travel to one of the region’s the birthplace of Jesus, and the Jewish faith most impressive sites, the desert monastery holds that it was David’s childhood home of Mar Saba—one of the world’s oldest and site of his coronation as King of Israel. monasteries. Founded in AD 478 by Saint Sabas of Cappadocia, this Greek Orthodox Upon our arrival in Bethlehem, we’ll visit a monastery remains active today, with local market and enjoy lunch on our own. about 20 monks in residence. Then we’ll Then we’ll enjoy an overview tour of the continue on to Bethlehem, our home for

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. city, including a stop at the Church of the revere this holy pilgrimage destination, Nativity, first built by Constantine and his built over a cave where Abraham and his mother St. Helena in AD 339 over the cave descendants Isaac and Jacob are buried. First where Christ was believed to have been born. built under Herod in the first century BC, the Though that church was destroyed, a larger complex was later added to by the Crusaders church was built at the site in AD 530 and in the twelfth century. We also visit a local remains there to this day. We’ll view the market before we venture to Ma’ale Amos, Door of Humility, built to force all visitors to an ultra-Orthodox desert settlement. Our dismount from their horses before entering; discovery of the many different lifestyles floor and wall mosaics; a silver star said to in this unique region then continues, as mark the spot where Jesus was born; and the we enjoy tea with a group of Bedouins who Chapel of the Manger. Our tour of Bethlehem live in the Judean desert. Then we’ll visit a also includes a visit to Shepherds’ Field, settlement of Jewish colons, and learn about where an Angel of the Lord is said to have the life of Jewish settlers in the former informed a group of shepherds of Jesus’ Palestine. birth; and a local market. This evening we’ll We return to our hotel in the late afternoon, enjoy dinner together at our hotel. where we’ll have some time at leisure before Please note: Many ancient traditions are still gathering for dinner here this evening. observed at Mar Saba, including a restriction Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner against women entering the main compound. From the neighboring Women’s Tower, however, all travelers can enjoy splendid views of the DAY 3 Visit Ramallah • Transfer to Jericho complex, with its view overlooking the Kidron Valley. After breakfast, we head to Ramallah, literally “God’s Hill.” A vibrant Dinner cultural center, as well as administrative headquarters of the Palestinian Authority, Ramallah is a harmonious city set on a major DAY 2 Bethlehem • Hebron • crossroads of the West Bank. We’ll enjoy a Experience Judean Desert life brief walking tour of the city that includes After breakfast, we journey to the divided the old section of Ramallah, its colorful West Bank town of Hebron. Referred to in food market, and a stop at Yasser Arafat’s Judaism as the City of the Patriarchs because memorial. We continue on to Jericho, where it is here that Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, we enjoy lunch in a local restaurant upon Rebecca, and Leah are buried. Hebron is also our arrival. The oldest known continuously one of the Four Holy Cities of the Jewish inhabited city in the world and—at 853 feet faith (along with Jerusalem, Tiberias, and below sea level—the lowest town on Earth, Sefad). Today, it is the most populous city Jericho was a military fortress built on the on the West Bank. route to Canaan in biblical times. According to legend, Joshua, an apprentice of Moses Here, we’ll visit the Tomb of the Patriarchs, and leader of the Israelites, conquered the a shrine complex that is Judaism’s second- city around 1400 BC in his quest to lead most sacred site, after the Western Wall his people into the Promised Land. Now of Jerusalem. Muslims and Christians also dominated by its Arab population, Jericho

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. is a quiet and verdant city, with refreshing DAY 5 Jericho • Nablus • Sabastia natural springs and an abundance of outdoor After breakfast, we first stop for pan- cafés and garden restaurants. oramic views of Nablus, one of the largest We first visit the ruins of the ancient city Palestinian cities. Ruled by many empires of Tel Jericho before traveling just north over its 2,000-year history, Nablus is also of the city to visit Hisham’s Palace. In the known as the biblical city of Shechem, eighth century, Umayyad Caliph Hisham bin where Abraham traveled on his way to Abdul Malek ruled a vast empire stretching Canaan. Then we stop to visit the ruins of from the Pyrenees mountain range to India. a Samaritan temple and citadel on Mount Hisham’s Palace, a former winter palace Gerizim, where each year Samaritans come and hunting lodge that bears his name, is to make an annual Passover sacrifice. now believed that it was actually built by his Perhaps you’ll sample musakhan, a tra- successor, Al-Walid bin Yazid. Although the ditional Palestinian dish of chicken and palace was destroyed by an earthquake in AD onions, as we pause for lunch in a local res- 747, its ruins still yield treasures of Islamic taurant. Then, we continue on to Sabastia, art and architecture. We’ll explore the old an ancient royal city in the Samarian hills, synagogue and other fascinating remains of which contains the ruins of six successive the complex and admire its exquisite mosa- cultures stretching back 10,000 years. Enjoy ics. Dinner is at our hotel this evening. spectacular views as we explore the ruins Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner of a Roman theater where Salome is said to have performed her notorious “Dance of the Seven Veils,” immortalized in a one-act DAY 4 Jericho • Optional Mount play by Oscar Wilde and an opera by Richard Temptation & Bethany tour Strauss. Today is at leisure to explore Jericho at your Late in the afternoon, we arrive back in own pace. Jericho, and enjoy dinner together at the hotel. Or you may join an optional tour that begins with a cable-car ride to the Mount of Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Temptation and continues to the pilgrimage site of Nabi Musa, believed to be where the prophet Moses is buried. After lunch at a DAY 6 Jericho • Return to U.S. local restaurant, we travel to Bethany, a After breakfast, you will transfer to the small first-century village on the southeast- airport for your return flight to the U.S. ern slope of the Mount of Olives to visit a 2,000-year-old dwelling thought to be the Breakfast house of Lazarus, whom Jesus is said to have raised from the dead. Then, we visit the St. George Monastery in the Judean Desert.

Dinner this evening is included at our hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925. optional tours on Post-trip

Mount Temptation & Bethany (Day 4 $75 per person)

Begin your tour with a cable-car ride to Mount Temptation, so-named because it is believed to be the site where the devil tempted Jesus. Then we continue to the important Muslim pilgrimage site of Nabi Musa, where popular Palestinian folklore has it that the prophet Moses is buried. Then on to Bethany, a small first-century village on the southeastern slope of the Mount of Olives to visit a 2,000-year-old dwelling thought to be the house of Lazarus, whom Jesus is said to have raised from the dead. After lunch in a local restaurant, we drive back to Jericho, passing panoramic views of the St. George Monastery in the Judean Desert.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-955-1925.