Extreme Adventures in Israel: 14 Days of Desert, Forest, and Marine Experiences

Centuries of history come together at the capital of Israel, Jerusalem, and spiritual mesmerism attracts all sorts of travelers, including religious explorers, skeptics, and casual adventurers. Clashing cultures entwine with contemporary creations, and the Judaean Mountains cast shadows over the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Armenian quarters. Jerusalem is a fascinating and diverse cityscape that you may discover as you stroll the city center this evening after transferring from the airport to your accommodation. You will spot heritage sites and landmarks set to seduce you on tours in the coming days.

You will wake up eager to explore the history of Jerusalem this morning, quickly devour breakfast, and join your guide for a tour of the city. The City of David, Jerusalem’s earliest settlement, will enchant you with stories dating back 3,000 years, and the Siloam Tunnel will invite you to explore a Biblical relic built during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. You will then continue to the Old City of Jerusalem and wander the religious quarters to holy sites, including the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock Islamic shrine, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Israel has experienced a turbulent history fraught with war, terrorism, and suffering. Today, you will explore the dramatic history and pay your respects to the soldiers that have, and continue to, fight for independence. You will meet a former Shabak Senior Counter-Terrorism Official, delve into the secrets of Israel’s fight with terrorism, and visit villages that were the stages of the Arab-Israeli war. Your extreme history tour will continue to Ayalon Institute, an underground ammunition factory, and on to the Stalactite Cave Nature Reserve for a remarkable subterranean adventure.

Your evocative experiences in Israel will continue this morning as you tour Yad Vashem, Jerusalem’s Holocaust memorial that preserves the memory of those who died fighting their oppressors. After exploring the dramatic exhibits, you will drive past Israel’s House of Parliament, Knesset, en route to your accommodation. You may take some time to unwind before you head for the Shuk Machane Yehuda market to taste the local delicacies, visit the Israel Museum, and peer at the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book. An ATV tour of the Judaean Desert will complete your stay in Jerusalem.

After breakfast, you will stow your luggage in your transfer and take a trip along the Mediterranean coast to the port city of Acre. It is an Old City recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the oldest ports in the world. Here, Crusaders built underground tunnels and elaborate halls for knights to gather and discuss strategy. After your history tour of the city’s famous landmarks, you will race across the Mediterranean Sea by tornado boat, snorkel in the immaculate water, explore the Grutas de Rosh Hanikra grottos, and arrive at Galilee.

Lush fields thrive on the fertile mountainous soil of Galilee, and you can catch extraordinary views of the biblical Sea of Galilee from their lofty peaks. Today, you will hike the Hermon Stream Nature Reserve to the ancient site of Banias, where a spring once associated with the Greek god Pan awaits your discovery. You will watch the silver streams of Banias Waterfall cascade into the natural pool and swim in the refreshing sapphire water before you continue along a cliff trail in the Manara area. White water rafting and a jeep ride during sunset will reward your adventurous spirit.

From jade hillsides to golden sand seas, you will discover Israel’s diverse landscapes more closely today as you cross the Judean Desert towards the Dead Sea. You will arrive at accommodation nearby the Jordan Valley, where you will have panoramic views of the rolling rocky hills and the endless stretches of sand. The Dead Sea is the region’s primary attraction, and you will cross the desert by ATV to the water’s edge. Here, you will hop in kayaks to paddle and swim around the mineral-rich salt lake, where you can float effortlessly.

Few views capture the beauty of the Judean Desert sunrise than those at the Masada fortress atop a towering cliff. Sunrise will paint the sky in blush pink and radiant orange hues, and the desert creatures will come to life in the sparse region. You will wander the fortress, visit the excavations of King Herod’s palace, the synagogue, bathhouse, and more ancient archeological landmarks before you take a cable car to the jumping-off point of an extreme salt cave abseiling expedition. You will descend into the cave, crawl through caverns, and enter underground chambers unlike any you have ever seen.

The resort town of Eilat, an oasis among the Southern Negev Desert, sits on the banks of the Red Sea and invites travelers to lounge in the luxuries of the reserves and marine wonderlands near the shore. En route to your accommodation, you will hike the challenging desert canyons of Nahal Tamar and ride desert bikes across the rugged Mars-like landscape of Timna Park. The reward for your adventurous day in the desert will be your sun-kissed room overlooking the Red Sea’s beautiful blue waters.

You will spend today discovering as much of Eilat and its sandy surroundings as possible. A hike across the desert trails will guide you to a region you will recognize from famous adventure travel photography, the Red Canyon. Here, pathways will direct you between the towering maroon canyons whose curvaceous rock formations have naturally formed from millions of years of wind erosion. You will then continue to the Negev Desert dunes and sandboard down the soaring steep slopes to complete your thrilling exploration from Eilat.

You will explore the marine wonders of Eilat today, starting with the breathtaking beaches of the Red Sea. You will lounge on recliners overlooking the azure water and sip cocktails as the sunlight glistens against the small waves. The Underwater Observatory Center around the corner from the beach will give you a glimpse of marine life, and the Dolphin Reef will present an opportunity to dive with the dolphins on an unreal underwater adventure. Your final tour of Eilat will be a welcomed chance to relax and unwind in the Red Sea’s shimmering waters.

Today, you will venture back across the Judean Desert to the coastal city of Tel Aviv. En route, your guide will show you to the Ramon Crater, or Makhtesh Ramon, where you will delve into the storied history of the fascinating natural geological phenomenon and capture remarkable landscape views of the enormous circular formation. Your tour will continue to Sde Boker, where you will stumble upon Ben Gurion's hut and grave that shares a slice of history before you hike the marvelous canyons of Ein Avdat Natural Reserve.

Glittering beaches, glamorous nightlife, and a creative cultural scene dominate the diverse districts of Tel Aviv. You will be thrilled to spend your final days embracing the luxuries in and around Tel Aviv, starting with a stroll along the trendy Rothschild Boulevard. You will arrive at the Independence Trail to absorb the Israeli heritage and then continue to Shuk Ha'Carmel, the Carmel Market, to indulge in the regional delicacies laid out across colorful market stalls. A stop at the Jaffa Flea Market and a drive to a beautiful viewpoint will complete your tour to Israel.

Although coming to a close, you will be thrilled to have explored so much of Israel on this two-week adventure. Your extreme excursion will have shown you the country’s diverse landscapes, let you experience each region’s unique and thrilling activities, and give you opportunities to make lasting memories with your travel partners or family and new friends made along the way. Today, you will enjoy one last breakfast before you pack your bags and transfer to the airport for your flight home.