Walking in Israel and the Palestinian Territories

After breakfast at your hotel, travel to Jerusalem. Jerusalem occupies a unique place in the world. It is holy to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Start your day at Mt. Scopus, which offers an impressive panoramic view of the city from the east. Mount Scopus is part of a ridge of mountains taking in the Mount of Olives and is the perfect location for an overview of the city. Visit the Mount of Olives, one of three hills on a long ridge to the east of Jerusalem, which is the location of many biblical events. Rising to more than 800 metres, it offers an unrivalled vista of the Old City and its surrounds. Continue to Garden of Gethsemane, near the foot of the Mount of Olives. This site was named in the New Testament where Jesus went with his disciples to pray the night before he was crucified.

In the afternoon, explore the Old City on foot, where you will have the opportunity to see and touch the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), the only remnant of the Second Temple. Walk along the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which houses both the traditional site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. Just outside the Old City, visit Mount Zion, with the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Return to your hotel. (B,D)

Overnight – Sunrise Hotel or similar

After breakfast, visit the old city of Bethlehem, then walk through the Manger Square to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Grotto of the Nativity and Chapel of Saint Jerome. The Church of the Nativity is the most important landmark in Bethlehem and marks the site where the nativity took place. It was in Bethlehem just over 2,000 years ago that Mary gave birth to baby Jesus. Today, Bethlehem is a thriving city in the Palestinian Authority West Bank, approximately 10 km south of Jerusalem, and the Nativity Church is the city’s top attraction.

Next you will observe the exterior of The Walled Off Hotel, designed by the anonymous London-based artist known as Banksy. The hotel is not currently open, however previously has served as not only a place to stay but also serves as a powerful art installation and a platform for political commentary on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In the afternoon, transfer to Battir. The Battir hill landscape comprises a series of farmed valleys, known as widian, with characteristic stone terraces, some of which are irrigated for market garden production, while others are dry and planted with grapevines and olive trees. This is considered one of the last farming villages in Palestine that still uses a unique irrigation system from the Roman times.

Upon arrival in Battir, meet the local farmers, enjoy the view, and savour a traditional lunch. Then, commence your hike to Beit Jala, a distance of 5.08 km. Situated on a hill adjacent to Bethlehem, the city of Beit Jala has existed for thousands of years, and its Christian community is one of the oldest in the world. The name ‘Beit Jala’ comes from Aramaic (the language of Jesus) and means, “Grass Carpet”. Anthropological evidence shows that humans have lived in the Bethlehem area since prehistoric times, even as far back as the Stone Age, 200,000 years ago. Afterwards, transfer back to Bethlehem for the night. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Sunrise Hotel or similar

After breakfast, travel toward Wadi Qelt, a valley that runs from the northwestern slopes of the Jerusalem Wilderness just outside Jerusalem and down to the city of Jericho to the east. Today’s trail starts just above Saint George Monastery and continues through the mini canyon of Wadi Qelt down to Jericho. The hike takes 2-3 hours (7 kilometres) and includes a stop at the Monastery of St. George of Ghoziba, known as Deir al-Qilt, which is located on the old road that connects Jerusalem and Jericho, and another stop at the old ruins of Herod’s winter palace. The site was known in the Greco-Roman era as the City of Gardens. King Herod used it as a winter resort for himself and his family.

From here, transfer to Jericho for lunch before exploring the old city of Jericho. Reputed to be the oldest town on earth, visit the sycamore tree mentioned in the Biblical tale of Zacchaeus. Stop at Elisha’s Spring that supplied Jericho with fresh water for centuries. View the Mount of Temptation.

Continue to visit the Dead Sea. At 400m below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth, the area characterised by high annual temperatures, low humidity and high atmospheric pressure, while the air is extremely oxygen-rich. With the highest content of minerals and salts in the world, the waters of the Dead Sea possess anti-inflammatory properties, while the dark mud found at its shores has been used for therapeutic purposes for more than 2000 years. Return to Bethlehem. (B,L,D)

Overnight – Sunrise Hotel or similar

This morning, after a short transfer, you will head through the desert landscape that rises to the west of the Dead Sea. The path brings you to the edge of the Kidron Valley or Wadi al-Joz, a deep limestone canyon, from where you can see the even more remote and spectacular desert monastery of Mar Saba, built into the cliff face on the opposite side of the ravine. Mar Saba is one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world. Part of the Mar Saba visit is the exclusion of female visitors. Whilst men can enter, ladies can only overlook the complex from a vantage point called the Women’s Tower. Enjoy a moderate hike of the Mar Saba Monastery Loop, following the shepherds’ tracks deep into the canyon, across the riverbed, and back up towards the monastery, covering a distance of 12 kilometres. Afterwards, transfer to the Rashaydeh area for an overnight with a local Bedouin community who now find themselves forced to the very margins of society.

Learn about their cultures and traditions as you have the unique opportunity to spend the night here in the black goat hair tents. Your stay as guests here is helping these families to find new ways to maintain old traditions. The Bedouin people have also retained their ancestral knowledge of desert plants, and it may be possible to have a guided walk through the herbal and medicinal plants around the camp. (B,L,D)

Overnight – with the Bedouin community

Enjoy an early morning walk and watch the beautiful sunrise with the Dead Sea in the foreground and the mountains of Jordan in the background. You will be transferred back to your hotel in Bethlehem to have a shower and a short rest. After resting, travel to the al-Taybeh village, 32km north of Jerusalem. Tyabeh is the only Christian village left in Palestine, holding on to its memory of Jesus seeking refuge here shortly before his crucifixion.

Visit the Beer Factory, home to Taybeh—Palestine’s only beer, brewed in four varieties: Golden, Amber, Dark, and Zero (non-alcoholic). Proudly promoted as ‘The Finest in the Middle East,’ this locally crafted beer carries the name of its village. If you’re here in October, you might catch Taybeh Oktoberfest, a vibrant village festival celebrating not just the beer but local produce and culture.  Continue to Ramallah to visit the Yasser Arafat Mausoleum and Museum before returning to Bethlehem. This evening, immerse yourself in tradition with a folklore night at a local restaurant in Beit Sahour.  (B,L,D)

Overnight – Sunrise Hotel or similar

This morning is yours at leisure until it is time to be transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for your onward flight. (B)