We hope the following information, will give a feel of what promises to be an exciting new venture!  

ISRAEL - a land with a fascinating past; a vibrant present; a promised future.

Why not join us, as we explore together some of this intriguing country. We've planned a fun, active, informal trip aimed at those who haven't been before, who are young at heart and up for a challenge.  We have tried to keep the costs down. 

Key Facts

When:                October 2012  Half term - 27th or 28th Oct - 3rd or 4th Nov. (exact dates tbc.)

How:                  Flight.  London - Tel Aviv  (probably Easyjet from Luton)

Sleep:                Basic Accom.  (based in or around Jerusalem)

Food:                 Self catering / grabbing some local fast food on the hoof.

Wheels:            Minibus or Cars

Cost:                 £875 all in.  [excludes insurance & hold luggage]

Hosts:               James & Ruth Cole (who are not experts, but lived in Israel for 2 years and visit regularly.)

NB:  The situation in Israel is not always predictable, so flexibility and understanding may be required.

         If you need more details or have further questions please ask. (Clive & Ruth Beattie)

         Places are limited, so will be allocated on a  first come first served basis.

        Our decision to exclude hold luggage from the holiday was not principally based on cost or the convenience of escaping airports!  We believe the kind of programme we envisage will operate far better if people travel light and are able to carry all their own luggage.  This means we can cram easily into cars and if we go for light weight overnight stops we won't have to return to collect our main luggage.  If the idea of getting all you need for 1 week down to a rucksack 56x45x25cms. isn't a challenge you relish, then maybe this style of trip isn't for you!        

Places and Activities

• Hike in the Golan Heights (including waterfalls and ladder descents into moving water)
• Try walking on Galilee, or swim if un-successful!
• Experience the Judean wilderness (the valley of the shadow of death)
• Float in the Dead Sea
• Search out where David cut off a corner of Saul's robe near En Gedi springs
• Climb Masada,  (a rock fortress including Herod's palace)
• Camel trek in the Negev desert
• Travel the valley of Elah where David slew Goliath
• Walk the walls of the old city of Jerusalem
• Ascend the Mount of Olives
• Visit The Western Wall
• Retrace Jesus' route to the cross
• Golgotha, Garden Tomb
• Navigate through Hezekiah's tunnel (built to bring water into the city, to the pool of Siloam, approx 500m in the dark, waist deep in water)
• Mount of Evil Council - top photo opportunity
• Yad Vashem (holocaust museum)
• Relax in the Med

N.B.   These are suggestions, but time will not permit them all.  The itinerary will be tailored to the group.  Some activities will involve strenuous exercise, in hot temperatures, so a good level of fitness is required.

Underlying Aim 

We hope to have a good, fun and intersting holiday.  As well as seeing and experiencing some aspects of this country, it's peoples and cultures, we hope to gain an insight into some of the complex issues of life in Israel today. We will also have the opportunity to meet with Jewish and Arab believers in Jesus. By the end of the week we hope that we will have grown in our knowledge and understanding, but most of all grown in our faith.   NB: This is not an in depth study tour.

To book, send an initial deposit of £60, to reserve a place in our planning. There are a limited number of spaces!

Flight deposit of additional £240, due by 28th February 2012.

[After this you can still join the holiday, if we have still have space, but may need to book your own flights]

Here are some personal reflections, from previous adventurers, on the pilot trip!

- you can see why it's the promised land - a beautiful and varied landscape, sometimes lush, sometimes harsh, stunning and dramatic vistas and never dull

- the staggering complexity of Jerusalem, existing physically on multiple layers from tunnels and catacombs up to the streets and markets and then on to the roof top gardens and rampart walks

- the mind-blowing fact that the Dome of the Rock is set upon the Temple

- the value of being able to visualise the Old and New Testament scenes in their dramatic reality - Abraham offering up Isaac in the same location that Jesus was arrested - taking the prophecy and symbolism to a whole new level, Israel is full of God's promises

- cold fresh mornings like an English spring, melting away into the fierce heat of the day

- the beauty of Galilee like an Italian lake - Jesus certainly had his enjoyable lifestyle moments, sailing a 30 foot yacht in this stunning amphitheatre of a lake, swimming in it's gently lapping waves, eating from its great wealth of fish

- the safety and security while walking around Jerusalem at night

- history on every street, literally every street

- the rich variety of foodstuffs - grains, nuts, fruit, vegetables, meats, fish, breads, herbs, spices.... diversities and intensities that are unimaginable from a diet of purely European holidays

- something I've always wanted to do, only I've wanted to do it in the right way (with people I know who know the land, and not on a package!), something that I'm very glad I've done and one of the best things I've ever done

- it's fun (the Golan heights, Galilee, Hezekiah's tunnel) - it's historical (Jerusalem, Jericho, Bethlehem), it's educational (Yad Vashem), it's architectural (Roman ruins), it's majestic (Masada), it's spiritual (Golgotha and the garden tomb)

- I was educated, affected, strengthened, delighted, exercised, entertained, stunned - my faith was massively reinforced - all in a week!

"We had never been to Israel before, and were very excited about an all-action trip.  We were not disappointed!  We managed to fit loads of places and activities into our week.  There were lots of "Wow" moments, in particular around sites which were thousands of years old.  There were also "Ahah" moments when we could see the context of parables and journeys in both Old & New Testaments.  Jerusalem was fascinating, as were the Roman ruins at Caesarea and Beit She an, walking through Hezekiah's tunnel, trekking in the Golan, visiting the Garden Tomb, viewing the mountain fortress of Masada, and slowly & quietly walking round the holocaust museum at Yad Vashem.  We came back wanting to tell everyone about what we had seen, but feeling that we couldn't adequately communicate it all.  The complex tensions and relationships between the various groups had us thinking hard, and musing over God's plan for the Jews and the Gentiles.   Whenever we hear news of Israel now, we have a different perspective.  We had lots of fun and we were exercised in body mind & spirit.  Brilliant."