classic tours
Basilica of Gethsemani (Of the Agony)
the Basilica of the Agony, Gerthsemani
Calvary, Golgotha
Basilica of Gethsemani (Of the Agony)
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The Way of the Cross
The Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) is the route Jesus Christ has taken, according to Christian tradition, bearing his Cross from his trial at the Palace of Pilate to Calvary and the Holy Sepulcher. This is the highlight of any Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
We shall begin on the top of the Mount of Olives, then descend to the garden of Gethsemane, proceed into the Old City, follow the stations of the cross, up to the awe-inspiring Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Calvary (the hill of Golgotha) and the tomb of Christ. Along the route, we shall take a lunch break in one of the local restaurants.At the end of the tour- we will walk down to the Western Wall. Duration of tour: Approx. six hours
Group driving tours near Saint Gerasimus Monastery, River Jordan Valley.
Judean Desert and Dead Sea
Camels grazing
Group driving tours near Saint Gerasimus Monastery, River Jordan Valley.
Judea Desert to the River Jordan
Day tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv
We will descend from the top of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, from a beautiful observatory above the desert at 805 m (2641 ft) and roll down in into the Judea Desert. Stunning views of the desert and the Jordan Valley. It is a descent of 1240 m (4068 ft) into the lowest place on the planet at -430 m (1410 ft) underneath sea level.
It is a beautifully haunting wilderness where the men of faith throughout history: Abraham, the prophet Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus have escaped too for a vision of God. In some places, the desert looks like the surface of Mars, with only some biblical shepherds and their flocks crossing the roads. I will take you in through these roads to see where hermits of all religions lived. They have left behind some magnificent monasteries and sanctuaries.
The tour is suitable for adults, young people and teenagers.
Jerusalem Citadel - Tower of David
Western Wall, Jews praying
Bathing in the Dead Sea at sunset
Jerusalem Citadel - Tower of David
Jerusalem, Dead Sea
& Masada (One or two-day tour)
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A voyage from West to East in the Holy Land –the historic route of the pilgrims who came to the Holy city. We shall visit the various famous locations of Jerusalem, old and new, its temples and markets according to your inclinations and interests
The following day: the Temple Mount/Haram ash-Sharif, ride to the Jordan valley, optional visit to Jericho, Jesus' Baptism site on the river Jordan, Masada, Bathing in the Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. A shorter 1 day version is possible, also an expanded program available. Contact me for free advice.
Sunset at Jaffa
Eastern entrance. Ottoman revivalism
Rothschild Avenue, Tel Aviv
Sunset at Jaffa
Jaffa & Tel Aviv
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The ancient city of Jaffa, melancholy and picturesque on the Mediterranean, with its 4000 year long history. It has re-emerged to become an up-beat cultural center for young Palestinians and Israelis alike, with top-rated restaurants and venues.
In Tel Aviv, a city with a spirit and pride of its own - we will visit the historic quarter with its quaint houses and through to the 1930's White City Modernist architecture ("International Style") part of the city with its bohemian cafes and locales. This part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Tel Aviv is renowned for its museums, art galleries, theater and dance venues, classical orchestras, gastronomical variety - from ethnic street food to top-notch restaurants, and a vibrant club scene. Tel Aviv is fun.
It takes pride in its liberal values, its artistic creativity, easy going atmosphere and its tolerance. It is becoming a world LGBT hub.
View of the Valley of Esdraelon and Mount Tabor
Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth
View of lake Tiberias from Mount of the Beatitudes
View of the Valley of Esdraelon and Mount Tabor
The historic Galilee
The northern part of Israel is the Land of Galilee. This is a tour of this magical biblical land, that of the great battlefields of the of History: from Deborah vs. Siserah in the Bible, Saladin vs. the crusaders, the Mongols vs. the Mameluks, and Napoleon vs the Ottomans
This is also the Land of Jesus' life and ministry, where he preached with his disciples
You will see the great art, the impressive architecture of the northern churches and get to know chapters from history - which are less known, although thrilling. A trip to the hidden Galilee - from the historic ruins of Megiddo to Nazareth, Cana in Galilee, to the wonderful churches on the lake of Tiberias
What will you get?
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Beautiful evergreen landscapes
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Get to know the fascinating history of the area
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Taste amazing cuisine of the region, buy spices and typical products.
The port of Caesarea Maritima.jpg
The ruins of Caesarea by the sea: Greek, Roman, Umayyad, Crusader and Ottoman
Ras a Naqura, the northern most point of the coast
The port of Caesarea Maritima.jpg
Along the coast of the Mediterranean
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The coast of the Holy Land is a long curved line of sandy beaches. This is an area rich in Biblical and Crusaders history.
We'll start at the ruins of the Roman city of Caesarea, built by Herod in 25 BC. We will visit the restored Roman theater and also the Crusader town. From there we will continue to the city of Haifa on Mount Carmel, with its shrine of the prophet Elijah and the Church of Our Lady of Carmel. We shall also visit the Bahá'í Gardens and shrine.
From there we will continue to the ancient port city of St. John of Acre (Akko) with its long history, especially as the capital of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem, and an Ottoman center of importance. The architecture of the Crusaders restored in the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Also the Ottoman and Arab structures are very impressive. We'll conclude the tour in one of the fine restaurants of Acre.
Church of Saint Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives
Aleksandrovski courtyard, entrance to the Church of Alexander Nevski, Old City
Sergei Courtyard, today - Sergei Palace Hotel.
Church of Saint Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives
I Jerusalem from the end of the 19th century up to Putin. We will visit three of the five Russian centers in Jerusalem and its surroundings: the Church of Alexander Nevsky, the Church of Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Trinity and Sergei Courtyard, in the Russian compound. An urban adventure on foot and public transport!
In addition to simple pilgrims, there were also young Russian intellectuals and artists who came to the Holy Land, some of whom became the country's greatest painters of their time, such as: Ilya Yafimovich Repin, Nikolai Andreevich Koshelev, Vasily Dmitrievitch Polenov and others. We will speak about them and see some of the masterpieces they left behind. We will also deal with some romantic and tragic figures such as Grand Duke Sergei and wife Elizabeta Fyodorovna as well as Princess Alice of Greece, the mother of Prince Philip of England, who are buried here.
The tour will visit the spectacular Russian properties scattered throughout
The trip lasts about 5 hours and includes a lunch break(food and drink are not included in the price).
Water, comfortable clothes and walking shoes are advisable. We will be visiting religious institutions, so dress code is imperative.
Alquds
Muslim Jerusalem
Wine tasting at Kadma Winery
Latroun Monastery
Father Antonio explaining the story of the church at Beit Jimal
Wine tasting at Kadma Winery
Wineries & Monasteries
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Do you know fine Israeli wines and our wonderful boutique wineries? Come and book this tour with a Mediterranean atmosphere, history, art and wine tasting! Stop for a wine-tasting at two excellent boutique wineries:
Kedma Winery, a one-woman project. Lina is an original and daring winemaker, who imported an ancient wine-making technique in pottery amphorae from her native country of Georgia.
Tzora Winery, which was one of the first quality boutique wineries, and is located in Kibbutz Tzora.
You are also welcome to buy exclusive wines at the wineries, which are hard to find in stores. The monasteries also produce special liqueurs from exotic local fruits and herbs! At the end of the trip, you could continue to one of the exceptional restaurants in this area privately, or bring your favorite food for an outdoor picnic and sip the wines you bought.
In the year 638 AD, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, the second caliph, entered Jerusalem. Since then the city has been, for the most part, Muslim. For Muslims it is known as Alquds. It was the site of the Isra e Miraj (the Night Journey of the Prophet Muhammad).
In the 8th century, the Umayyad dynasty built the wonderful sanctuaries of al Aqsa, the esplanade of the mosques (Haram esh Sharif), and the citadel (Tower of David). The Ayyubids, and the Mamluks built in the Middle Ages new palaces and madrassas buildings, which still adorn the esplanade of the Mosques and the old city. In 1517, the Ottomans took over the city and built the walls and other iconic structures. Our route: the esplanade of the mosques (Temple Mount), the palaces of the Muslim quarter, (lunch break) the citadel, and finally, a walk on the Ottoman walls from the Jaffa gate to the Damascus gate.
Duration of the tour: approximately 6 hours.
Special tours in English for Turkish visitors
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