Israel and Beyond

Take a specially designed walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem with both Israeli and Palestinian guides an experience exclusively designed by National Geographic Emerging Explorer Aziz Abu Sarah. This unique dual-narrative tour allows travellers a deeper understanding of the diverse cultural, religious, and political aspects of Israel. Visit key sites including the Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock, and the Al Aqsa Mosque. Continue to the Western Wall, then walk through the Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This afternoon, visit the Mount of Olives for stunning views of Jerusalem, then enjoy free time to wander on your own or opt to visit the Garden of Gethsemane. Later, enjoy a discussion with a local scholar on conflict resolution and local interfaith issues.

Take a sobering visit to Yad Vashem Memorial to learn about the Holocaust and its ramifications today. In the afternoon, visit the famed Israel Museum. View the Dead Sea Scrolls, housed in the Shrine of the Book and observe one of the greatest archaeological finds of the past century. After, opt to walk through the museum’s state of the art archeological exhibition on your own.

Enjoy a second exclusively designed dual-narrative tour of Bethlehem with Israeli and Palestinian guides. Visit Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. Walk through a nearby Palestinian refugee camp and then head to a local Palestinian family’s home for a cooking class and lunch.

Start the day with a guided visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Masada with stops at Herod’s Palace, the Bathhouse, and the Synagogue. After that, it’s off for a visit to the Dead Sea, continuing along the Jordan Valley north to the Sea of Galilee, where we’ll stay in a kibbutz hotel for the next two nights and enjoy a lecture on the Kibbutz movement.

Visit the Mt. of Beatitudes, for gorgeous views of the Sea of Galilee and visit the church that was built atop this hill, where Jesus is believed to have delivered his “Sermon on the Mount” speech. Continue to the ruins of Capernaum, where Jesus lived and preached, and where many apostles, including Peter, made their home. Learn about the lives of Israeli Arabs on the way to Nazareth, where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, one of the largest churches in the Middle East.

Continue to the Mediterranean, visiting the coastal city of Haifa and then south to Caesarea Maritima to see the ruins of Herod’s harbour city. After, continue toward Jaffa, an ancient port city dating back to the Bronze Age. Continue on to the bustling city of Tel Aviv for our last evening.