Author: Dudu Levy

Drive south to Be’er Sheva, capital of Israel’s Negev region,  visit this sprawling city that boasts an old Turkish quarter which has become a trendy downtown, as well as wealthy satellite suburbs, view the modern architectural buildings of the Ben Gurion University and the Soroka Hospital. In biblical times it was the southernmost city of Israel, built around natural wells, the most famous being Abraham’s Well.

We continue to Kibbutz Sde Boker, realization of the dream envisioned by David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, who wanted to settle the desert and make it bloom. The kibbutz, built in the northern Negev Mountains, became the home of Ben Gurion and his wife, Paula, and the house he lived in has become a museum to his heritage. We will visit this museum and the Ben Gurion memorial site, which has a magnificent view of the Zin rift.

We proceed to the Ramon Crater, a special geolical erosional feature, exposing the region’s geology, we will visit the visitors center overlooking the crater, descend to Ramon crater to see some of the fascinating geological attractions, such as the “carpentry shop”–a hill where sandstone has formed prisms that appear sawed; and the ammonite wall – a great vertical rock surface on the southern side of the crater that consists of large, fossilized marine snails.

On our return we will visit Avdat, the most important historic city on the Incense Route after Petra inhabited by Nabataeans, Romans and Byzantines. It was destroyed by earthquake in the early 7th century CE. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, and it was also the filming location of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Drive eastward through the Wilderness of Judea, see the Bedouin settlements along the way, passing by the Inn of the Good Samaritan descending to the lowest point on earth – the Dead Sea, 400 Meters below sea level.
Proceed south along the Dead Sea west coast, view of Qumeran and its caves where the famous Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947, proceed further south, visit a Dead Sea products shop, view of the oasis of Ein Gedi, arrive at Mt. Masada.  Ascend by the cable car to the mount, enjoy the breathtaking view of the wilderness, tour the impressive ruins of the great fortress  established by king Herod the great over 2000 years ago which later on became the last stronghold of the Jewish rebels against the Roman empire (73 AD).  See the walls, the palaces, the storerooms, the Roman bath house, the old synagogue, the Roman encampments and the ramp.
Descend by the cable car and travel to a nearby beach of the Dead Sea – stop for a swim in its therapeutic water, experience the black mud and enjoy the amazing feelings of floating on the water.

Continue to hotel for overnight.

Drive south to Be’er Sheva, capital of Israel’s Negev region,  visit this sprawling city that boasts an old Turkish quarter which has become a trendy downtown, as well as wealthy satellite suburbs, view the modern architectural buildings of the Ben Gurion University and the Soroka Hospital. In biblical times it was the southernmost city of Israel, built around natural wells, the most famous being Abraham’s Well.

We continue to Kibbutz Sde Boker, realization of the dream envisioned by David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, who wanted to settle the desert and make it bloom. The kibbutz, built in the northern Negev Mountains, became the home of Ben Gurion and his wife, Paula, and the house he lived in has become a museum to his heritage. We will visit this museum and the Ben Gurion memorial site, which has a magnificent view of the Zin rift.

We proceed to the Ramon Crater, a special geolical erosional feature, exposing the region’s geology, we will visit the visitors center overlooking the crater, descend to Ramon crater to see some of the fascinating geological attractions, such as the “carpentry shop”–a hill where sandstone has formed prisms that appear sawed; and the ammonite wall – a great vertical rock surface on the southern side of the crater that consists of large, fossilized marine snails.

On our return we will visit Avdat, the most important historic city on the Incense Route after Petra inhabited by Nabataeans, Romans and Byzantines. It was destroyed by earthquake in the early 7th century CE. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, and it was also the filming location of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Return to point of departure.

We drive north to the lower Galilee, descending to the Sea of Galilee, 210 meters below sea level passing the city of Tiberias overlooking the Sea of Galilee, our 1st stop is Magdala on the lake shore recently excavted, visit the local ancient synagogue dating from the 2nd temple period.

Continue driving around the lake, stop at Kibbutz Geinosar where we visit an ancient fishing boat found in the Sea of Galilee dating from the period of Christ.

View of Mt.of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

Our last stop for today is the village of Cana of Galilee, we visit the church of the Wedding where Jesus performed his 1st miracle turning water into wine.

We drive north through the Sharon coastal plain following the route of the ancient Via Maris, passing Iron wadi dotted with Arab villages, view of biblical Megiddo overlooking the Plain of Armageddon. We continue our journey east and north along the Jordan Valley on the way to the Sea of Galilee, view of Kibbutz Degania that withstood a heavy attack of the Syrian army in 1948.

We travel further eastward ascending to the Golan Heights overlooking the Yarmuch River and Hammat Gader on the border line between Israel and Jordan. Stop at Hashalom lookout, a breathtaking observation point overlooking the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias.

Travel through the Golan Heights southern plateau, view of former syrian fortifications and the modern Israeli settlements, proceed to Katzrin where we visit the Talmudic village with its ancient synagogue. Proceed to Mt. Bental overlooking Syria and Kuneitra, view of Mt.Hermon.

Drive west, descend to the valley ending at a local Kibbutz.

Begin with a walking tour of the Kibbutz, learn about this unique form of settlement. Travel to the Banias reserve known as Caesarea Philippi, the Banias is one of the sources of the Jordan river, enjoy nature, the local vegetation and waterfall.  We proceed further up to the nearby impressive Nimrod castle, formerly a Crusader fort.

We leave the Golan and drive through the Hulla valley and the Upper Galille to the city of Safed the center of the mystic movement of the Kabbala, we tour the local old Artist colony dotted with art galleries and visit local synagogues.

Return to point of departure.