Your journey begins in the City of David, where excavations revealed monumental fortifications, stepped streets, and water systems that sustained Jerusalem for centuries. Continue to the Pool of Siloam, where pilgrims purified before ascending to the Temple. The Southern Steps still carry the marks of countless worshippers who entered Herod’s sanctuary. At the adjacent Western Wall, stand beside the surviving stones of the Temple complex. Nearby, the Burnt House and Herodian Quarter preserve vivid evidence of Jerusalem’s destruction by Rome in 70 CE. Finally, walk along the Cardo, you trace the path of a Roman marketplace that once formed the heart of Byzantine Jerusalem.
Ascend the Temple Mount, the grand esplanade created by Herod the Great, which still dominates the city skyline. At the Pools of Bethesda, examine the remains of two great reservoirs where healing traditions inspired the Gospel narrative. Following the Via Dolorosa, walk the path that commemorates Jesus’ final journey. The day concludes inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a vast complex that preserves the earliest Christian traditions of Golgotha and the tomb ofJesus beneath layers of Byzantine and Crusader architecture.
Begin at the Chapel of the Ascension, marking the hilltop where Jesus is said to have risen to heaven. At the adjacent Pater Noster Church, inscriptions in hundreds of languages preserve the words of the Lord’s Prayer. The nearby Cave of the Prophets recalls ancient traditions of prophecy and burial. On the slope, the Dominus Flevit Church offers sweeping views over Jerusalem and is surrounded by first-century Jewish tombs. At the foot of Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, gnarled olive trees stand as silent witnesses to centuries of devotion. Continue to the Grotto of Gethsemane and Mary’s Tomb, long revered since Byzantine times. Conclude among the monumental rock-cut mausolea of the Kidron Valley Tombs, built for Jerusalem’s elite during the Second Temple period.
Trace the remains of the Third Wall, hurriedly built in Jerusalem’s final days before Rome’s conquest. At the Garden Tomb, encounter a quiet setting that many believe evokes the Resurrection. The nearby Rockefeller Museum offers a variety of finds made during the British Mandate period in a beautiful museum setting. Continue to Zedekiah’s Cave and descend into a massive ancient quarry that once supplied stones for Jerusalem’s great monuments. The day concludes at Herodium, Herod’s desert palace and fortress, where a monumental stairway and lavish structures surround the hilltop tomb identified as Herod’s final resting place.
This day follows the footsteps of monks who settled in the wilderness between Jerusalem and Jericho. At the Martyrius Monastery, once a grand complex, learn how pilgrims were welcomed on their way to the Holy Land. Nearby, the Eutymius Monastery preserves remains of another important desert community dedicated to prayer and solitude. Continue to St. Gerasimus Monastery, one of the earliest monasteries near the Jordan River, and then visit the Gerasimus Laura, where hermits once lived in simple cells. The Monastery of St. John the Baptist recalls the saint’s connection to the Jordan, and the nearby Baptism Site invites visitors to experience baptism or a swim in the river. You also have the option to float in the Dead Sea, enjoying its unique waters. Heading back, pause for a sweeping view of the cliffside St. George Monastery, an iconic symbol of Judean Desert monasticism.
This unique day takes you deep into the wilderness on an off-road journey through dramatic landscapes and remote sites. The drive begins with a rugged ascent to Mount Azazel, traditionally associated with the scapegoat ritual of Yom Kippur. Next, pause for a striking view of the cliffside Mar Saba Monastery, one of the oldest and most enduring monastic communities in the world. The adventure continues to Hyrcania, a Hasmonean and later Herodian fortress hidden in the desert, where remains of a fort and a monastery crown a solitary hill. Beneath it, at Hyrcania Tunnel, you will discover an impressive subterranean passage cut into the rock, once used for water storage or refuge. Finally, traverse, through the Achor Valley to a panoramic view over the shimmering Dead Sea.
From Jerusalem, descend to the Jordan Valley for a view over Jericho, considered the world’s oldest city, and known for its conquest by Joshua according to the biblical narrative. At Qumran, face the caves where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical manuscripts known, were hidden for centuries. Continue to Ein Gedi and visit the ancient synagogue, whose mysterious mosaic inscriptions speak of community secrets. The day culminates at Masada, Herod’s dramatic desert fortress, where palaces, frescoes, and storerooms overlook the shimmering waters of the Dead Sea.
Start at Tel Beth-Shemesh, where excavations recall the Ark of the Covenant’s return from Philistine captivity. At Kiryat Yaarim, tradition places the Ark’s resting place for 2 decades, later crowned by a hilltop monastery. In Abu Gosh, enter a perfectly preserved Crusader church built over a spring. Finally, explore Motza, where archaeologists uncovered a remarkable Iron Age temple, possibly another rest site of the Ark of the Covenant.
Stand in the Valley of Elah, where David famously defeated Goliath, a landscape that still evokes the biblical story. At Maresha, descend into labyrinthine caves once used for storage, industry, and burial. In adjacent Beit Guvrin, explore a Roman amphitheater and a Crusaders church that testify to centuries of occupation. At Tel Lachish, climb the site of Judah’s second city, where massive gates and the remains of a siege ramp bear witness to Assyrian conquest. Finish at a site possibly identified with Ziklag, long associated with David’s refuge during his struggles with Saul.
Travel north to Emmaus, where tradition holds that the risen Jesus appeared to two disciples. Further north, at Tel Megiddo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, explore monumental finds at a place long linked with the prophecy of Armageddon. Reaching the Sea of Galilee, in Capernaum, walk through the ruins of a synagogue and see remains of what is believed to be Peter’s house. The day concludes at Magdala, where a first-century synagogue, ritual baths, and mosaics connect to Mary Magdalene’s hometown.
The day begins with the Galilee Boat, a first-century fishing vessel remarkably preserved from the mud of the lake, offering vivid insight into daily life at the time of Jesus. Continue to Tabgha, where mosaics commemorate the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes. Nearby stands the Church of Peter’s Primacy, recalling the Gospel story of Jesus’ appearance to Peter after the resurrection. Next, at Tel Hazor, once the largest Canaanite city in the land, explore a monumental palace and a destruction layer that testify to its role in biblical history. Ascending to Tel Kedesh reveals the remains of a temple that reflects the cultural blend of Galilee under Hellenistic and Roman rule. The day concludes in Safed, where the hilltop fortress recalls medieval battles, and the Jewish Quarter attests to a Rabbinical and Kabbalah center of the past.
The day begins at Tel Dan, where you will walk next to a Canaanite mudbrick gate, as Israelite city gate complex, and a high place associated with Jeroboam’s cult. Continue to Caesarea Philippi, also known as Banias, where shrines dedicated to the god Pan are carved into the cliff. This site is also where Peter proclaimed Jesus as the Son of the Living God, making it a place of both pagan worship and profound Christian significance. The journey continues to the imposing Nimrod Castle, a massive medieval fortress strategically overlooking the Hula Valley. Conclude at Vadum Jacob (Chastellet), where a Crusader stronghold built to control a key crossing of the Jordan River was destroyed dramatically by Salah ad-Din in 1179 CE.
The day begins at Gamla, a Jewish stronghold where a synagogue and city walls fell to Rome during the Great Revolt. South of it, at Ein Keshatot, walk through a beautifully reconstructed basalt synagogue that once served a thriving community. In Hippos, a Decapolis city, trace Roman streets and admire the remains of Byzantine churches overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Conclude at Ubeidiya, one of the earliest human sites outside Africa, where stone tools and animal fossils tell the story of humanity’s first migrations.
Arrive at Beit Shean, where Israelite ruins are overlain by a splendid Roman-Byzantine city with colonnaded streets and a grand theater. At Beth Alpha, the ancient synagogue floor is known for its colorful zodiac mosaic surrounding biblical scenes. Returning to Tiberias, at Hamath Tiberias, another synagogue reveals mosaics with menorahs and shofars, reflecting Jewish life under Byzantine rule. End in Ancient Tiberias, once a center of Jewish learning, where Roman baths and early churches shaped Galilee’s spiritual landscape.
In Cana, visit the Church commemorating the Wedding Feast, built over an ancient synagogue, linking tradition to archaeology. In Nazareth, the Church of the Annunciation rises above layers of first-century homes and silos that connect the city to the time of Jesus. At Sepphoris, Galilee’s Roman capital, explore theaters, colonnaded streets, and mosaics, including the celebrated “Mona Lisa of the Galilee,” reflecting the city’s cultural richness.
Explore in Akko, a city where Crusader halls, tunnels, and fortifications overlay Hellenistic and Roman remains, telling a story of layered civilizations. On Mount Carmel, enter prehistoric caves where human burials and tools shed light on early culture. Finally, explore Caesarea Maritima, the great harbor city of Herod the Great, with its theater, aqueducts, and hippodrome. Here inscriptions confirm the rule of Pontius Pilate and the possobile site of Paul’s prison.
This final day is devoted to the world of the Philistines, Israel’s ancient rivals whose culture flourished along the coastal plain. At Kibbutz Ekron, walk along the “Philistine Street,” where various finds linked to the kingdom of Ekron are displayed. Continue to Tel Ashkelon, one of the five major Philistine cities, where a massive city gate, fortifications, and cultic areas have been unearthed. Pass by Tel Ashdod, another central Philistine stronghold mentioned in biblical accounts. Conclude at the Philistine Museum in Ashdod, the only museum in the world dedicated entirely to Philistine culture. Displaying pottery, weapons, inscriptions, and reconstructions, the museum brings these enigmatic people to life.
Exploring Biblical Civilizations
This 17-day journey immerses you in Israel’s rich archaeological heritage, from the earliest settlements to monumental cities and sacred sites. Explore ancient synagogues, fortresses, temples, and towns where biblical history and daily life come alive. Guided by an expert in archaeology, each site reveals the cultures and events that shaped the Holy Land. Uncover layers of archaeology and history, connecting scripture, tradition, and material culture in a unique and memorable experience.
