Natural and Historical Highlights of Israel

The Trip

Join an active comprehensive adventure to Israel led by an Israeli and veteran Sierra Club leader. In addition to visiting the classic religious and historical sites, our trip will venture off the beaten path along the breadth and depth of this fascinating country. Soak up the historical and religious ambiance, and learn about the natural history that makes Israel a critical respite in wildlife migration. Our trip will focus on the unique blending of natural and human history of Israel. We will explore the rich biodiversity of this small country, at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This adventure far surpasses the typical tourist package trip to Israel, with an emphasis on activity, education, conservation, and personal attention.

Our trip will include places along the Mediterranean Sea, like Tel Aviv, the vibrant cultural and commercial center of Israel, as well as Jaffa, the oldest port town in the world. We will visit the north of Israel, which is verdant green, including the sources of the Jordan River, the Sea of Galilee, and Hula Nature Reserve, which is on the migration path of millions of birds. By contrast, our travel to the south will encounter a desert landscape with unique and colorful geological structures like Ramon Crater. Our trip includes snorkeling at the coral reefs of the Red Sea to see amazing colorful sea life and swimming (floating!) in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. We will hike up Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where people chose death over slavery. In Jerusalem we will walk and learn about the places that are sacred to all three major religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. We will learn about other people in Israel, like the Palestinians, Bedouin, Druzes, and Bahais. This is not a packaged tour!

This active adventure includes hiking in a variety of nature and wildlife reserves, as well as walking tours of places like the Old City of Jerusalem, Caesarea, and Jaffa. Expect to walk or hike three to five miles a day. We utilize experienced local guides. We will stay in very comfortable hotels, including several nights in a kibbutz with beautiful outdoor areas for relaxation. This is a trip to Israel like no other.

Day 1: (Arrival day) Arrive at Ben-Gurion International Airport (TLV). Our trip begins in the evening with a trip orientation during dinner, and you meet your traveling companions.

Day 2: (Tel Aviv, Jaffa) Vibrant Tel Aviv is the cultural and commercial center of Israel. We visit various places in Tel Aviv and Jaffa, adjacent to Tel Aviv, with a local guide. Jaffa has a history of 4,000 years and is one of the oldest port towns in the world.

Day 3: (Caesarea, Druze Village, Bahai Gardens Haifa) We leave Tel Aviv and drive north along the Mediterranean coast. We walk through the excavated city of Caesarea, with its ancient port and Roman Amphitheater. Later, we have lunch in a Druze village on Mount Carmel, next to Haifa. The spiritual center of the Bahai faith is located in Haifa. We walk in the beautiful gardens surrounding the Bahai shrine.

Day 4: (Acre, Rosh Hanikra Grottos) Today we tour ancient Acre, with its enchanting streets and underground passages. Driving farther north we explore Rosh Hanikra Grottos, where the Mediterranean blue water crashes against the white limestone rocks.

Day 5: (Hula Valley, Banias) Our day starts at the Hula Valley, where millions of birds stop during their migration between Africa and Europe. It has become a popular place for birdwatching for people from all over the world. We walk with a local guide around this nature reserve to explore its variety of migrating and native birds. Later we visit the Banias Nature Reserve where we hike from the Banias springs to a stunning waterfall. (The Banias River is one of the sources of the Jordan River.) The Banias is a beautiful place that impressed the Greeks so much that they built a temple to Pan -- the God of forest and shepherds -- there. Tonight, and the next night, we stay in a kibbutz lodge in the Upper Galilee.

Day 6: (Golan Heights, Gamla) In the morning, we drive up to the Golan Heights for great views of the Sea of Galilee and surrounding areas. Today’s hike is in the Gamla Nature Reserve in the central Golan Heights. This reserve is home to a unique number of raptors, including rare species. Dozens of pairs of Griffon vultures, comprising the largest colony in the country, nest in Gamla’s cliffs. Visitors can view the vultures in flight from a cliff-edge observation station.

Day 7: (Sea of Galilee, Qumran, Dead Sea) Leaving Galilee, we drive south to the Dead Sea. Along the way we visit the Sea of Galilee, a beautiful lake with historical significance, and also Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. In the late afternoon we check into our hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea (the lowest place on earth).

Day 8: (Masada, Ein Gedi, Eilat) Masada is an ancient fortification built on an isolated rock plateau. It is the site of the most dramatic act in Jewish history, when Jewish rebels chose mass suicide rather than submit to Roman capture. Because of its historical significance, Masada was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. You have the option to take an early morning hike up Masada, or you can ride a cable car up to the Masada site. After coming down from Masada we can experience floating on the waters of the Dead Sea. Later, we visit Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, and take a hike to enjoy the nature trails of this amazing oasis. One of the hikes takes us to a hidden waterfall. We leave the Dead Sea area and drive south through the Negev desert to Eilat by the Red Sea. Eilat is the southernmost point of Israel.

Day 9: (Eilat by the Red Sea) A morning hike gives us a chance to explore the Eilat area. The afternoon offers free time to swim and snorkel at the Red Sea (Coral Reef Nature Reserve) or to visit the town of Eilat.

Day 10: (Eilat, Timna, Lotan, Ramon Crater) Today’s itinerary includes a visit to Park Timna, which has a variety of geological structures, including Solomon’s Pillars. These large natural pillars are the result of cracks in the hard, red sandstone. We also visit the Eco-Kibbutz Lotan, and its center for creative ecology. Finishing the day in the town of Mitzpe Ramon, we overlook the huge Ramon Crater, one of the largest craters in the world.

Day 11: (Ramon Crater, Negev Desert, Jerusalem) Our day starts with a hike along the edge of the Ramon Crater. Later we drive through the Negev Desert to Jerusalem, along the way visiting Avdat National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Avdat was an important station along the Nabatean Incense Route, an ancient trading route from Egypt to India. We arrive in Jerusalem to experience Shabbat services at the Western Wall.

Day 12: (Jerusalem-Old City) A local guide takes us on a walking tour in the Old City of Jerusalem. We start from Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City. Over 3,000 years old, the Old City’s known sites are concentrated in a small area. By walking, we see many of these famous sites such as City of David, the Western Wall, and the Dome of the Rock. We walk through the bazaar and the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the evening we are entertained by a unique light and sound show at David’s Tower. This Citadel is a historical and archaeological site that became a landmark and symbol of Jerusalem.

Day 13: (Jerusalem) Starting in the early morning, we visit the Temple Mount. Next, we visit the Western Wall tunnels to see the archaeological finds, and then leave the Old City to go to the New City of Jerusalem. Here we visit the Israel Museum, as well as the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. We end with a visit to the Holocaust Museum (Yad Vashem). 

Day 14: (Departure day) After breakfast in your Jerusalem hotel, you have free time depending on your flight time. Many flights to the USA leave Israel late in the evening, so you may have a day to explore on your own.

The leaders will make every reasonable effort to follow the posted itinerary. Please keep in mind that weather or other conditions beyond our control may cause us to modify our plans to ensure the safety and well-being of the group.

Getting There

You will arrive at and leave from Ben-Gurion airport (TLV), outside Tel Aviv. It is served from the U.S. by several of the major airlines. Our hotel in Tel Aviv is less than an hour's drive from the airport. You will need a passport that is valid until at least six months after the end of the trip. U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Israel. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in comfortable hotels, including three nights in a kibbutz guesthouse. Rooms will be double-occupancy, so if you’re a solo traveler, you will be assigned a roommate of the same gender. If you would like a single room, please contact the leader for availability and cost. 

The food in Israel is fresh and wholesome. If you have special dietary needs, other than vegetarian, please contact the trip leader to see if they can be accommodated.

Trip Difficulty

This is an active trip with moderate hiking (three to five miles on hiking days) and lots of walking. Most hikes are optional, but you will get more from the trip if you do them. There will be opportunities for those who want more strenuous hikes.  We will travel on good roads in a private air-conditioned bus. At this time of the year the weather is typically comfortable.

Equipment and Clothing

A daypack is needed for the hikes and tours. A camera is highly recommended. The leader will send a detailed packing list to each registered participant.

References

Books:

• Gordis, Daniel, Israel: A Concise History of a Nation Reborn.
• Strutin, Michal, Discovering Natural Israel, from the Coral Reefs of Eilat to the Emerald Crown of Mount Carmel.

Maps:

• Israel-Adventure Travel Map, National Geographic, 2019

Websites:

• Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel: http://natureisrael.org/
• Birding in Israel: http://www.birds.org.il/en/index.aspx
• Wildflowers in Israel: http://www.wildflowers.co.il/english/

Conservation

Since its founding in 1892, the Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Since Israel received its independence in 1948, it has struggled with conservation issues. Two of the major issues are limited water supply and high population density.

Limited water supply has been a very major and controversial issue for the country. The south of the country is desert, yet there are quite a few towns and villages in the south that need water for both residential use and agriculture. In the 1950s, Israel drained a lake (Hula) in the north, to get more water to the south. Later it was determined to be an ecological disaster. An attempt was made to reverse that action and let the rains refill the lake. It has become a major nature reserve; it has a small lake and wetlands, a major stop for migrating birds. We will visit this reserve and learn more about reversing such an ecological mistake.

About 60 years ago, several dedicated individuals started the Society for Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), which has been a major force in attracting public attention to conservation. In reviewing their work one newspaper wrote  “…Thanks to their actions, Israel has been successful, despite a high population density and an obsession with development and construction, in preserving significant spaces for nature reserves, forests, and national parks.” Today Israel has 190 nature preserves and 66 national parks, covering an area of approximately 20% of Israel’s land mass. Yet the tension between development and the environment continues. We will visit several of the successfully protected areas.

The Israeli government has two major agencies dealing with conservation:

• Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection: http://www.sviva.gov.il/English/Pages/HomePage.aspx
• Israel Nature and Parks Authority: http://www.parks.org.il/sites/English/ParksAndReserves/Pages/default.aspx

The government also developed several laws protecting various wildflowers and fauna species.

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. Our members are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, encouraging grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward environmentally understanding parallel concerns at home and abroad.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.