Travel-Learn Program
Travel-Learn: A Holy Land - Exploration of Israel
Description
Israel has been a focal point for three of the world’s major religions; this tiny nation is replete with historic and spiritual milestones. Admire the architectural beauty of Tel Aviv and Haifa. Explore Roman ruins at Caesarea and the well-preserved Crusader fort at Akko. Walk along the storied shores of the Sea of Galilee. See the Golan Heights. Stroll the winding lanes of Jerusalem. Descend into the Jordan Valley and marvel at the Dead Sea—the lowest dry-land point on earth—and see the fortress of Masada. See this enduring, evolving country on a comprehensive tour and discover the myriad and magnificent wonders of Israel with host Professor Cristelle Baskins of Tufts' Art History Department. Plus, don’t miss the opportunity to visit the “rose-red city” of Petra, Jordan, on a two-day optional post-trip extension in the city of Amman!
Cost
From $2,395 per person, plus airfare.
Contact
Contact: For more information, contact Usha Sellers, Program Director, in the Office of Alumni Relations at usha.sellers@tufts.edu or 1-800-THE-ALUM (1-800-843-2586) or 617-627-5323.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Departure
Depart for Tel Aviv, Israel. (Flight provided for Air-Inclusive participants only.)
Day 2 - Tel Aviv
Upon arrival, transfer by motorcoach to the Carlton Hotel. (Transfer provided for Air-Inclusive participants only.) En route, drive through the Old Jaffa district.
The rest of the day is free to relax and explore, before gathering for a welcome reception and dinner in the evening.
Day 3 - Tel Aviv / Caesarea / Akko (Acre)
This morning, view the beauty of Tel Aviv, whose unique Bauhaus building style has earned it the title of the “White City.” Considered the first Hebrew city in the land of new Israel, Tel Aviv was founded by newcomers who wanted to escape the crowded living conditions in Jaffa, the main port city of the time.
From here we travel to Caesarea, built around 25-13 B.C., and explore the Roman amphitheater and aqueduct before visiting the port of historic Akko (Acre), a Crusader stronghold with a remarkably well-preserved fort. Following lunch in Akko, we continue to Lower Galilee, where we will check into the Kibbutz Lavi.
Day 4 - Sea of Galilee
Follow a route along the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee to the Mount of Beatitudes and, on either side, the ancient fishing villages of Capernaum and Tabgha. In the Golan Heights, visit the former Syrian town of Quneitra and historic Katzrin. Following lunch in a restaurant, we will tour an olive press and vineyard, and attend a wine tasting. Later, weather permitting, we will embark on a boat cruise of the Sea of Galilee.
Day 5 - Haifa
Following a special tree-planting ceremony and an authentic Druze lunch, we’ll explore Haifa, Israel’s third-largest city, built on the slopes of Mount Carmel. Here, the Bahá’í World Centre, with its golden-domed Shrine of the Báb and beautiful gardens, is the holiest site of pilgrimage for members of the Bahá’í faith. Other sights of Haifa include the Cave of Elijah, the University, and Stella Maris, founding place of the Carmelite Order of the Roman Catholic Church. This afternoon, we continue on to Jerusalem and check in to the Hotel Dan Panorama.
Day 6 – Jerusalem
High in the Judean Hills, Jerusalem stands as one of the world’s most extraordinary cities, with a unique combination of history and culture. We will visit the walled Old City, home to the revered Temple Mount, the iconic Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. At the Mount of Olives, see the Garden of Gethsemane. Lunch is at a restaurant in the Arab Quarter.
Day 7 - Jerusalem
Today’s visits include Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial; Knesset, the Israeli parliament; and the bustling Machane Yehuda Market. The balance of this afternoon is free for independent exploration and discovery.
Day 8 - Masada / the Dead Sea
Marvel at the Masada, site of ancient fortifications built by King Herod, before continuing to the Dead Sea, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, at 1,378 ft. (420 m) below sea level. After lunch at the Hod Hotel, you may opt to indulge yourself in a spa treatment, relax on the beach, swim in the mineral-rich Dead Sea, or explore at your leisure.
Tonight, back in Jerusalem, attend a farewell reception; dinner follows at a nearby restaurant.
Day 9 - Jerusalem / Return Home
The morning in Jerusalem is at leisure. This afternoon, depart for Tel Aviv and board a flight to Frankfurt, Germany (for Air-Inclusive participants only), or your home city. Air-Inclusive participants check into a hotel near the Frankfurt Airport for an overnight stay, and return home the following day.
