BASIC 8 DAY ITINERARY BASIC 10 DAY ITINERARY ISRAEL'S CENTRAL BIBLICAL HEARTLAND JERUSALEM-ISRAEL'S CAPITAL AROUND JERUSALEM THE JORDAN VALLEY NORTHERN ISRAEL ISRAEL'S COAST SOUTHERN ISRAEL CHRISTAN SITES click on any to go immediately to the site!

SAMPLE ITINERARIES  

 

(this is meant to be a sampling, though not an exhaustive list of possibilities- hundreds of possible permutations)

In working together to build a custom itinerary, selecting the mix of sites, defining the tour's emphasis and the inclusion of physical and fun activities (like baking pita, camelriding, horsebackriding, jeeping, kayaking, mosaic making, swimming, hiking, birdwatching, boat riding, skiing, waterskiing, snorkeling, scubadiving,  handgun shooting, rappeling, etc) the tour can be geared toward the young, the old, the fit, the sedentary, people of all religions and denominations. 

 

SAMPLE BASIC 8 DAY ITINERARY

Day 1 JUDEA-  IN THE PATH OF THE FOREFATHERS

Hevron (Tour the modern and ancient Jewish Quarters: Admot Yishai/Tel Rumeida- modern 7 caravan community,  newly excavated ancient Hevron, tombs of Yishai, father of David, and Ruth, his great grandmother; Ashkenazic Quarter- Beit Hadassah, Beit Schneerson- the beginning of modern settlement in Hevron; Beit Romano- former yeshiva of Sde Chemed and later Lubavitch, today Yeshivat Shavei Hevron; Avraham Avinu 16th century Sephardic Community- rebuilt in 1989; Herodian guilding atop Ma'arat (the cave of) Machpela; Gush Etzion (modern settlement bloc, historic southern buffer defending Jerusalem; Kfar Etzion audio-visual presentation on ancient and modern settlement of area), Beit Lechem (Rachel's Tomb, Boaz' fields, King David's birthplace.)

Day 2 JERUSALEM (OLD CITY)  

Four Quarter Walking Tour. (Can be divided and expanded in many ways- by quarter, by period.)  Trace the development of Jerusalem.  Reclaimed Jewish sites in today's Christian,  Armenian and Moslem Quarters. Walk through the Kotel Tunnels for the full view of the entire Western Wall, prayers at the Western Wall.  

Day 3 JERUSALEM (NEW CITY)  

Stop at Israel's parliament, the Knesset, learn about Hadassah Hospital and Israel's contribution to modern medicine and see the Chagall Windows, explore the moving Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, at Mt. Herzl's Military Cemetery, pay respect to the nation's leaders (prime ministers and presidents) and the nation's fallen battle by battle- war by war.)

Day 4 JUDEAN DESERT  

Massada (the Herodian Fortress last holdout in the Great Revolt against the Romans as described by Josephus' The Jewish Wars); Dead Sea (float in the saltiest body of water on earth at the lowest point on earth enjoying its natural curative features), Ein Gedi (nature reserve of ibexes, hyraxes and leopards, bamboo and caves; dramatic climax meeting between King Saul and the pursued David.)

Day 5  UPPER GALILEE  

Safed (16th Century city of mystics like the Ari, modern artists' colony, visit the ancient Jewish synagogues and cemetery, men can immerse in the cold spring waters of the Ari's mikveh/ritual bath), Amukah (grave of Yonatan ben Uziel, where people come to pray for their destined matches) and Meiron (burial place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, and his son, Elazar) or Gush Halav (burial place of Shemaya and Avtalyon)

Day 6  GOLAN  

Tel Dan (nature reserve at banks of the Dan River at Kibbutz Dan with important archaeological discoveries from the periods of the forefathers, Joshua and Kings.) Katzrin (the modern and ancient center of the Golan; Talmudic/Byzantine Period excavated and restored village; Golan Prize Winning Winery or Mei Eden modern spring water bottling plant, Mt Bental (former IDF base tunneled in the volcanic mountain overlooking Kuneitra, Syria) or Nature Hike to Waterfall (for swimming in season.)

Day 7 Shabbat Rest

Day 8 SHEPHELAH/JERUSALEM FOOTHILLS 

Beit Guvrin (Maresha, the birthplace of King Herod, walk through underground basement complexes- possible option- participate in Archaeological Dig), Valley of Ayalon (site of David's fight with Goliath), Tzora and Eshtaol where Samson the Brave roamed or visit Lachish, the Biblical city or crawl through the Amatzia Bar Kochba war hideout caves.)

Day 1 JUDEA-  IN THE PATH OF THE FOREFATHERS

Hevron (Tour the modern and ancient Jewish Quarters: Admot Yishai/Tel Rumeida- modern 7 caravan community,  newly excavated ancient Hevron, tombs of Yishai, father of David, and Ruth, his great grandmother; Ashkenazic Quarter- Beit Hadassah, Beit Schneerson- the beginning of modern settlement in Hevron; Beit Romano- former yeshiva of Sde Chemed and later Lubavitch, today Yeshivat Shavei Hevron; Avraham Avinu 16th century Sephardic Community- rebuilt in 1989; Herodian guilding atop Ma'arat (the cave of) Machpela; Gush Etzion (modern settlement bloc, historic southern buffer defending Jerusalem; Kfar Etzion audio-visual presentation on ancient and modern settlement of area), Beit Lechem (Rachel's Tomb, Boaz' fields, King David's birthplace.)

Day 2 JERUSALEM (OLD CITY)  

Four Quarter Walking Tour. (Can be divided and expanded in many ways- by quarter, by period.)  Trace the development of Jerusalem.  Reclaimed Jewish sites in today's Christian,  Armenian and Moslem Quarters. Walk through the Kotel Tunnels for the full view of the entire Western Wall, prayers at the Western Wall.  

Day 3 JERUSALEM (NEW CITY)  

Stop at Israel's parliament, the Knesset, learn about Hadassah Hospital and Israel's contribution to modern medicine and see the Chagall Windows, explore the moving Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, at Mt. Herzl's Military Cemetery, pay respect to the nation's leaders (prime ministers and presidents) and the nation's fallen battle by battle- war by war.)

Day 4 JUDEAN DESERT  

Massada (the Herodian Fortress last holdout in the Great Revolt against the Romans as described by Josephus' The Jewish Wars); Dead Sea (float in the saltiest body of water on earth at the lowest point on earth enjoying its natural curative features), Ein Gedi (nature reserve of ibexes, hyraxes and leopards, bamboo and caves; dramatic climax meeting between King Saul and the pursued David.)

Day 5  UPPER GALILEE  

Safed (16th Century city of mystics like the Ari, modern artists' colony, visit the ancient Jewish synagogues and cemetery, men can immerse in the cold spring waters of the Ari's mikveh/ritual bath), Amukah (grave of Yonatan ben Uziel, where people come to pray for their destined matches) and Meiron (burial place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, and his son, Elazar) or Gush Halav (burial place of Shemaya and Avtalyon)

Day 6  GOLAN  

Tel Dan (nature reserve at banks of the Dan River at Kibbutz Dan with important archaeological discoveries from the periods of the forefathers, Joshua and Kings.) Katzrin (the modern and ancient center of the Golan; Talmudic/Byzantine Period excavated and restored village; Golan Prize Winning Winery or Mei Eden modern spring water bottling plant, Mt Bental (former IDF base tunneled in the volcanic mountain overlooking Kuneitra, Syria) or Nature Hike to Waterfall (for swimming in season.)

Day 7 Shabbat Rest

Day 8 SHEPHELAH/JERUSALEM FOOTHILLS 

Beit Guvrin (Maresha, the birthplace of King Herod, walk through underground basement complexes- possible option- participate in Archaeological Dig), Valley of Ayalon (site of David's fight with Goliath), Tzora and Eshtaol where Samson the Brave roamed or visit Lachish, the Biblical city or crawl through the Amatzia Bar Kochba war hideout caves.)

Day 9 THE VALLEYS

Beit Shean (Israel's best Roman/Byzantine archaeological site, capital of Byzantine Palestina Segunda) , Beit Alpha (6th century synagogue with lively mosaic), Kangaroo Zoo or swim in the year round Sachne Springs or hike in the waist high waters of Nachal Kibbutzim.

Day 10  UPPER COAST 

Caesaria (Herod's port city, Roman seat of power, Crusader city fortified by King St. Louis), Zichron Yakov (Baron de Rothschild financed 19th century colony, Carmel winery, Nili World War I Spy Ring Museum)

 JUDEA-  IN THE PATH OF THE FOREFATHERS

Hevron (Tour the modern and ancient Jewish Quarters: Admot Yishai/Tel Rumeida- modern 7 caravan community,  newly excavated ancient Hevron, tombs of Yishai, father of David, and Ruth, his great grandmother; Ashkenazic Quarter- Beit Hadassah, Beit Schneerson- the beginning of modern settlement in Hevron; Beit Romano- former yeshiva of Sde Chemed and later Lubavitch, today Yeshivat Shavei Hevron; Avraham Avinu 16th century Sephardic Community- rebuilt in 1989; Herodian guilding atop Ma'arat (the cave of) Machpela; Gush Etzion (modern settlement bloc, historic southern buffer defending Jerusalem; Kfar Etzion audio-visual presentation on ancient and modern settlement of area), Beit Lechem (Rachel's Tomb, Boaz' fields, King David's birthplace.)

SHOMRON (A)

Psagot (the community that has been under fire since the Rosh HaShana "El Aqsa" intifada began- visit the community and the army base), Beit El (peek at Ayosh Junction from the nearby army base, take a spin around Beit El, tour Arutz 7, the "pirate" radio station and web site offices that don't have censored news) and Shilo (visit the site of the mishkan/sanctuary of Eli the priest and Samuel, his disciple)

SHOMRON (B)

Beit El (peek at Ayosh Junction from the nearby army base, take a spin around Beit El, tour Arutz 7, the "pirate" radio station and web site offices that don't have government censored news), Shilo (the site of the mishkan/sanctuary of Eli the priest and Samuel, his disciple), Elon Moreh (Jewish community that overlooks Shechem and the mountains of Gerizim and Eval- the blessing and curse.

Among the sites no longer accessible to us because of Arab rioting are the tombs of Joseph, Joshua, his father- Nun and Calev ben Yefuneh.  May we merit to be able to pray by our ancestors once again - soon.

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL'S CAPITAL, AND THE HEART OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE

JERUSALEM (OLD CITY)  

Four Quarter Walking Tour. (Can be divided and expanded in many ways- by quarter, by period.)  Trace the development of Jerusalem.  Reclaimed Jewish sites in today's Christian,  Armenian and Moslem Quarters. Walk through the Kotel Tunnels for the full view of the entire Western Wall, prayers at the Western Wall.  

MT. ZION & THE OLD CITY'S JEWISH QUARTER

On Mt Zion, visit the tomb of King David; Observation point on roof of King David's Tomb for the Talpiyot Promenade, the Judean Desert, Jordan's Moabite mountain range, and the only view of the Temple Mount during Jordan's 19 year occupation of the Old City before the Six Day War.  In the Jewish Quarter, at the Yad Ben Zvi 3-D exhibit learn about Jerusalem during the First Temple Period and its water system;At the Broad Wall learn about the Assyrian's failed attempt to conquer Jerusalem; Experience Second Temple/Roman Jerusalem at the Cardo north-south central ancient street, see the glory of Jerusalem through the exhibit of the Temple Vessels Institute and the pathos of Jerusalem's fall and the Second Temple's destruction at either the Herodian quarter under Yeshivat HaKotel or the Burnt House.  Visit some of the quarter's ancient synagogues such as the Rambam's synagogue and the Churva built in the 18th century, destroyed, rebuilt and destroyed in 1948 by the Jordanian Legion. Go to the Batei Machseh area where the last Jews were besieged in the 1948 Independence War before the fall of the Old City to the Jordanians. 

MOSLEM QUARTER & TEMPLE MOUNT ENVIRONS

Visit some of the old Jewish homes, syngagogues and yeshivas of the current Moslem Quarter including Neot David (once called St. John's Hospice), Chaya Adom Yeshiva, the Young Israel of the Moslem Quarter, that were reclaimed by Ateret Cohanim and Ateret Leyoshna.  Tour the recent Southern Wall Excavations. Walk the steps of the Second Temple Period to the blocked Hulda Gates.  See the Herodion stones, in situ, as they were thrown down during the destruction of the Second Temple. Imagine through artist's rendition of the activities by Robinson's Arch.

JERUSALEM (NEW CITY)  (A) 

Stop at Israel's parliament, the Knesset, learn about Hadassah Hospital and Israel's contribution to modern medicine and see the Chagall Windows, explore the moving Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, at Mt. Herzl's Military Cemetery, pay respect to the nation's leaders (prime ministers and presidents) and the nation's fallen battle by battle- war by war.)

JERUSALEM (NEW CITY)  (B)

Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, Mt Herzl Military Cemetery to see the prime ministers, presidents and heroes of the Israel Defense Forces that safeguard the Jewish State, Chagall Windows at the Hadassah Hospital and the HolyLand Hotel Model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. 

JERUSALEM'S NEW CITY NEIGHBORHOODS

Mea Shearim (Israel's "ultra-orthodox" neighborhood), Shaarey Chesed (central Jerusalem community, former home of the famous Magid of Jerusalem and the Jewish sage Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach. Rehavia, middle class modern new Jerusalem neighborhood, pass the homes of the President and the Prime Minister. Malcha Mall (the largest, most modern middle eastern mall.)  (Other neighborhood tours to select)

AROUND JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM'S SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS 

Mt. Scopus where the Roman Legion prepared for its attack on Jerusalemand the Paratroopers launched its attack to liberate Jerusalem in theSix Day War. View the Hadassah Hospital and visit Hebrew University.  Go to the observation point overlooking the Judean Desert.  See anancient Roman theater.  Mt. of Olives observation point of the Temple Mount and all Jerusalem, take a camel ride, Mt of Olives, the oldest Jewish Cemetery.  Tombs of Abshalom, King David's rebellious son, Zechariah the Prophet and the Or HaChayim HaKadosh. The Haas Talpiyot Promenade southern view of the City of David and Old City where Abraham stopped on his way to Mt Moriah for the binding of Isaac.

SHEPHELAH/JERUSALEM FOOTHILLS 

Beit Guvrin (Maresha, the birthplace of King Herod, walk through underground basement complexes), Valley of Ayalon (site of David's fight with Goliath), Tzora and Eshtaol where Samson the Brave roamed or visit Lachish, the Biblical city or crawl through the Amatzia Bar Kochba war hideout caves.)

PROZDOR/JERUSALEM CORRIDOR-THE MACCABBEES AND THE HELENISTS

Shimon HaTzadik's Tomb (One of the last of the Men of the Great Assembly), Mitzpe (Samuel the Prophet's Tomb, where Alexander the Great surveyed Jerusalem and Richard the Lionheart got as close as he would to Jerusalem), Latrun Tank Corps Museum (learn about the important role of the tank corps and climb on the various tanks used or captured in the different Arab-Israeli wars.

FROM OLD TO OLDER- OF BIBLICAL CITIES, MACCABBEAN BATTLESITES AND CRUSADER CASTLES

Gezer, ancient Biblical City-State; Emmaus where the Maccabbeem routed the Syrian Greek Armies; King Richard the Lionheart's Castle near Latrun.

FROM WAR OF INDEPENDENCE TO SIX DAY WAR

Kastel (ancient fortress where Arabs held a stranglehold on Jewish traffic between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv), Burma Road (quickly built narrow treacherous bypass road to avoid Arab attack) and Ammunition Hill (the Jerusalem Six Day War's toughest battle.)

NATURE'S PHENOMENA

Soreq Stalactite/stalagmite caves;  Neot Kedumim (Biblical Landscape Museum); Hasmonean Period Restored Village (great for kids) 

THE JORDAN VALLEY ALONG THE SYRIAN-AFRICAN RIFT

JUDEAN DESERT  (A)

Massada (the Herodian Fortress last holdout in the Great Revolt against the Romans as described by Josephus' The Jewish Wars); Dead Sea (float in the saltiest body of water on earth at the lowest point on earth enjoying its natural curative features), Ein Gedi (nature reserve of ibexes, hyraxes and leopards, bamboo and caves; dramatic climax meeting between King Saul and the pursued David.)

JUDEAN DESERT- (MORE AGGRESSIVE- FOR HIKING LOVERS) (B) 

3-5 hour Ein Gedi hikes (most of the time in water from ankle to waist deep or hike up to the nearly 6,000 temple to the sun god), 3 ˝- 5 hour Upper Nachal Darja. Other possibilities include jeeping and rappeling.

JUDEAN DESERT- (MORE RESTFUL) (C)

Massada (the Herodian Fortress last holdout in the Great Revolt against the Romans as described by Josephus' The Jewish Wars); Easy abbreviated exposure to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve; Finish the day resting at the Ein Gedi Spa (float in the Dead Sea, put on the Black Mud, soak in the Mineral Baths.)

THE ARAVA - ISRAEL'S SOUTHEASTERN BORDER

Hai Bar Desert Animal Zoo (from laughing hyena to poisonous snakes), Timna Copper Mines of King Solomon

THE VALLEYS

Beit Shean (Israel's best Roman/Byzantine archaeological site, capital of Byzantine Palestina Segunda) , Beit Alpha (6th century synagogue with lively mosaic), Kangaroo Zoo or swim in the year round Sachne Springs or hike in the waist high waters of Nachal Kibbutzim.

GOLAN  

Tel Dan (nature reserve at banks of the Dan River at Kibbutz Dan with important archaeological discoveries from the periods of the forefathers, Joshua and Kings.) Katzrin (the modern and ancient center of the Golan; Talmudic/Byzantine Period excavated and restored village; Golan Prize Winning Winery or Mei Eden modern spring water bottling plant, Mt Bental (former IDF base tunneled in the volcanic mountain overlooking Kuneitra, Syria) or Nature Hike to Waterfall (for swimming in season.)

GOLAN WATERHIKES- IN SEASON

Nachal Zavitan or Yehudiyah. Gamla, the Massada of the north where the rare Griffon Vultures can be seen. Nachal El Al hike. Or substitute Jeepride for Off the Beaten Track.

IN AND AROUND THE GOLAN

Hike along the Banias, a tributary of the Jordan River and see the Ruins of Roman Panias.  Take an exhilirating photo of the Banias Waterfalls.  Tour Nimrod's Castle, this Crusader period ARAB castle, which protected the Golan from Crusader invasion.  Metulla, Israel's northernmost border.  See the Good Fence and from Dado's Lookout see into Lebanon.

UPPER GALILEE  

Metulla (Israel's northermost town overlooking Lebanon), Tel Hai (early settlement where Jewish Hero, Yoseph Trumpeldor, fell defending the area from marrauding Arabs in the pre-state era; Hazor (Multi-period Biblical Tel) or a visit to the grave of Honi HaMagal (the Talmudic Rip Van Winkle circle drawing rainmaker) or Jordan River kayaking  (in season.)

TIBERIAS- final seat of the Sanhedrin

Named after a Roman Emperor, visit the Tombs of the Great Men and Women of Judaism- Rambam, the Shelo HaKodesh, Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai and his disciples, Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, Rachel, Rabbi Akiva's wife, Bilhah and Zilpah, Yakov's handmaidens, Tziporah, the wife of Moses and Yocheved, his mother), Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess.

TIBERIAS- the resort town

Take a banana boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Camel Ride at Ginossaur, go to the curative Mineral baths, and enjoy the Tiberias Water Slide Park

UPPER GALILEE  

Safed (16th Century city of mystics like the Ari, modern artists' colony, visit the ancient Jewish synagogues and cemetery, men can immerse in the cold spring waters of the Ari's mikveh/ritual bath), Amukah (grave of Yonatan ben Uziel, where people come to pray for their destined matches) and Meiron (burial place of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, and his son, Elazar) or Gush Halav (burial place of Shemaya and Avtalyon)

SAFED/TZFAT (FULL DAY) 

In depth tour of Safed at its peak in the 16th century. Visit some of the ancient synagogues, learn of some of the towering personalities of the era. Pay respects at the ancient Safed cemetery. Men dip in the cold spring water of the Arizal's mikve (ritual bath), visit the Safed Candle Factory, check out the art and art styles of the famous artists of Tzfat. Hike in Nachal Amud and dip in its cool waters.

IN THE PATH OF THE SANHEDRIN

Follow the trail of the Sanhedrin in the north from Usha to Shfar'am to Beit Shearim to Tzippori.

LOWER COAST  

Rishon LeZion (Baron de Rothschild financed 19th century colony, Carmel Winery, founders' museum), Rehovot's Ayalon Institute (pre-state Haganah underground clandestine munitions factory), Weizman Scientific Institute.

FROM A TO A with a Z

See Ashkelon, ancient Philistine port with its excavations.  Go to Ashdod to romp around in the Sand Dunes.  Then to Yavne, where Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai took the sages and the Sanhedrin as Jerusalem was falling to the Romans and visit the tomb of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel.

IN AND AROUND GAZA

Gaza, former Philistine (sea people) center, current "Palestinian" (Arab) center.  See how the Jews of Gush Katif live under the Arab threat. Visit Yad Mordechai, the Kibbutz that faced Egyptian invasion in the 1948 Independence War.

 TEL AVIV 

Old Yafo and port, Dizengoff Circle, swim in the Mediterranean (in season), Diaspora Museum or art museums or prestate underground museums like Palmach, Haganah, Irgun or Lehi.

UPPER COAST 

Caesaria (Herod's port city, Roman seat of power, Crusader city fortified by King St. Louis), Zichron Yakov (Baron de Rothschild financed 19th century colony, Carmel winery, Nili World War I Spy Ring Museum)

IN BETWEEN NETANYA AND HAIFA

Nachal Ma'arot, where prehistoric man roamed and see film on cave life.  Atleet Illegal Immigration Detention Center where the British jailed Holocaust survivors trying to enter Israel. Pay respect to the Great Philanthropist of Israel, financer of the early Jewish colonies, Baron Edmond de Rothschild and the lovely surrounding gardens.

NORTHERN COASTAL BORDER 

Rosh HaNikra (cable car down to the Mediterranean limestone grottoes), Akko (from Crusader to Arab city, fortress prison where the Jewish underground freedom fighters were jailed and hung), Kibbutz Lochamei HaGhettaot (Ghetto Fighters' Museum), Ancient Roman Aquaduct.

WESTERN UPPER GALILEE

Visit Akko, the former capital of the Crusader kingdom, explore the underground Crusader City and the walls that defeated Napolean. Tour the Prison portrayed in the movie Exodus where the British hanged members of the Jewish Underground. Next on to Kibbutz Lohamei HaGhettaot, the Ghetto Fighters' Museum and Achziv, the once mighty Phoenician trade center and today a popular resort.

WESTERN UPPER GALILEE

Rosh HaNikra (cable car down to the Mediterranean limestone grottoes), drive along the northern border to Hanita, an early tower and stockade type kibbutz founded in the 30's. Visit the graves of Queen Esther and Mordecai of Purim fame. Last stop at the Crusader Montfort or Yehiam's Castle.

UPPER CENTRAL GALILEE

Visit the modern Tefen Industrial Park. Go to Peqi'in, the only place in Israel that has had continuous Jewish settlement for the last nearly 2000 years.  See the cave where Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, and his son, Elazar, hid from the Roman death decree. Stop at Karmiel, the capital of Central Galilee, the planned city par excellence.

ISRAEL'S SOUTHERN BIBLICAL BORDER 

Tel Arad (Solomonic period Border City) and Beersheva (modern city, ancient tel from the period of the forefathers to the period of the Kings, Israel Air Force Museum where we learn about the role and development of this critical branch of the Israel Defense Force and see the large exhibition of Israeli and Arab planes and helicopters)

EILAT

Israel Underwater Observatory or Yellow Submarine, Snorkeling around the Coral Reefs or Scuba with the dolphins, early Islamic farm, Red Canyon hike, motorboat ride in the bay. 

OUTSIDE EILAT

Hike the beautiful mountains and canyons with its colorful rock- like the sandstone of the favorite Red Canyon Hike.  From Mt. Uzziah view the Egyptian border and peer into the Sinai, where the Israelites wandered for 40 years.

CENTRAL NEGEV

Kibbutz Sde Boker (Ben-Gurion's home, hope for developing the Negev), Ein Avdat (desert oasis hike where ibexes eat the bushes and drink of the spring's waters), Mitzpe Ramon Crater (Israel's mini Grand Canyon)

THE OTHER MACHTESHES

The awesome beauty of the stark Large and Small Craters. Look for Lot's wife at Mt. Sodom, the mountain of salt which attests to G-d's punishment of the wicked city overturning it with fire and brimstone.