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Israel & Jordan. Rich in Culture, Rich in Heritage.

on January 9, 2020

Two of the most enchanting and hospitable countries in the Middle East welcome you with open arms. Israel & Jordan have been captivating visitors for centuries and it is time for you to make their acquaintance. Grand desert landscapes, ancient monuments, biblical sites and Bedouin and Arabic influences will mesh together and make these countries your new favorite travel destinations.

Gate 1 Travel knows Israel like no other travel company. Thanks to our longstanding and enduring relationships throughout the country, we can offer an unmatched experience that provides endless insight into its natural and cultural treasures, all at the best value you’ll find anywhere. There are as many reasons to visit Israel with Gate 1 Travel as there are historic and religious sites in this incredible nation, and there are plenty! Right across the border lies Jordan, or officially known as the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It sits in the crossroads of Asia, Europe and the Middle East so it has always had an excellent strategic and cultural location. It also lies in what Christians, Jews and Muslims call the “Holy Land.” Gate 1 Travel shows you one of the oldest cities on earth in Amman, the lowest point on land at the Dead Sea and so much more in this country.

Inspiration knows no bounds in Israel & Jordan. Culture, religion and history merge seamlessly within these countries like not many others achieve. We invite you to join us in these nations that Gate 1 knows so well.

Israel

Jerusalem:
Few other cities in the world boast such a concentration of religious sites like Jerusalem. Many call this city the “Soul of Israel” and it’s easy to understand why. Powerful emblems of faith appear on every corner of the Old City, as you’ll see in the Stations of the Cross that line the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows. Jesus is said to have walked this road while bearing His cross. This pilgrimage route, and our own walk, ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site of His crucifixion. It’s a particularly moving visit, especially if you also pay homage at the place of His birth, Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, and at the Church of the Annunciation in the city of His youth, Nazareth.

In the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount crowned by the gilded Dome of the Rock, is said to shelter the Talmudic source of life, the site from which God gathered dust to create man. In Islamic faith, it is the location of Mohammed’s ascent to heaven. It is a symbol of unity, as Gabriel brought Mohammed here to pray with Abraham, Moses, and Jesus. The Western (or Wailing) Wall borders the temple, a pilgrimage site where the devout worship and insert prayer slips of paper in the spaces between the mortar and rock. It is impossible to not be moved by the power of this place. Step outside the Old City for a breathtaking view from Mt. Zion, site of the ancient City of David. Jerusalem’s new city is no less inspiring, as you can choose to discover for yourself. At the Israel Museum, art and archaeology from the country’s millennia of history are on display, none more remarkable than the fourth and fifth-century Dead Sea Scrolls, housed under an impressive white dome. From inspiring to sobering, visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Farther south, the towering massif of Masada tells the dramatic story of 960 Jewish rebels who committed suicide in AD 73 rather than surrender to the Roman Empire.

Tiberias:
The River Jordan played a crucial part in Christian theology, as the scene of miracles, battles, and baptisms. Most notably, John baptized Jesus in its waters at a site that we’ll visit. The valley’s fertile history is on rich display and you can unravel it all, during an enriching stay in Tiberias, bordering the Sea of Galilee’s shores. Nearby Beit She’an, a city dating to the 15th-century BCE, invites you to stroll through 5,000 years of history.

Thousands of years of Canaanite, Egyptian, Roman, Arab, Byzantine, and Ottoman history blanket the shores of the Sea of Galilee. There will be ample time to explore Tiberias on your own, perhaps sampling one of its soothing thermal springs. In Safed, a mystical Kabbalah artists’ colony welcomes you, and in the Golan Heights, you may sample special vintages at a kosher winery. Perhaps choose to visit the remarkably historic port city of Acre, or Akko, where echoes of knights and crusaders whisper in Ottoman-era medieval streets. Next, explore the ancient ruins of Capernaum and the fabled spot where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes.

Haifa & Tel Aviv:
The Mediterranean Sea does not spring to everyone’s mind when they think of Israel but some of the country’s most beautiful places grace its sun-kissed coast. The splendid terraced Baha’i Gardens offer magnificent views of Haifa. Mt. Carmel was the spot of Elijah’s sacrifice by fire in which he miraculously ended a drought. In Caesarea, seat of Pontius Pilate and of impressive Roman and Crusader ruins, Herod the Great built a city to rival Rome. With the blue waters of the Mediterranean as their backdrop, these historic sites are all the more magnificent.

If Jerusalem is Israel’s soul, Tel Aviv is its beating heart. This young and vibrant city on the sea never sleeps and offers a fun and fascinating glimpse into the country’s modern lifestyle. Whether you prefer an hour on the beach or an afternoon shopping at the Dizengoff Center, Tel Aviv will not disappoint. By contrast, in the city’s southern districts, Jaffa or Joppa is a wellspring of biblical and rabbinical history.

Red Sea
In the south of Israel, the Negev desert stretches to the Red Sea. The desert makes for a mesmerizing drive through arid plains, but it’s not all barren land. At Kibbutz Sde Boker, the first prime minister of Israel, David Ben-Gurion, retired and passed away. We’ll stop to pay respects at his grave. Farther south, the small town of Mitzpe Ramon sits on the northern ridge of the Ramon Crater. This once-forgotten enclave, built as a camp for the workers who laid the road to the Red Sea, is coming into its own as an eco-tourist destination.

The sea resort town of Eilat is at a geographic crossroads; Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia are all visible from this northern tip of the Red Sea. Our days here are unregimented, with lots of time to swim or snorkel. And there’s plenty more to explore: join optional tours to the magnificent ancient city of Petra or to the Timna Valley, home to incredible rock formations carved by desert wind and the once-active copper mines known as King Solomon’s Mines.

Jordan

Dead Sea
Welcome to the Earth’s lowest elevation on land. This body of water has long been said to have healing and therapeutic powers due to its high content of minerals in the waters. See for yourself while you are visiting the area. Perhaps pamper yourself with treatments or feel free to just enjoy the stunning surroundings on your own, the choice is yours in this incredible setting. No matter which you chose to do while here, make sure to dip your foot in the water or go for a float! Close-by lies the village of Bethany, the site of Jesus’ baptism by John. This is also the place where the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven on a chariot of fire. Bethany and the surrounding area formed the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, Jordan River and Mount Nebo.

Mount Nebo
Moses is believed to have led his people here after wandering the desert for 40 years with the Israelites. Moses stood here at the summit of Nebo and first viewed the Promised Land of Canaan. This is the reputed burial site of Moses in the bible. Mount Nebo overlooks the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea beautifully and you will be surprised by how lovely this area is. On a clear day, you will be able to view the Dead Sea, Jordan River, Jericho, Bethlehem and the distant hills of Jerusalem.

Madaba
The mosaic city of Madaba is where an ancient map of the Holy Land is set into the floor at Saint George’s Church. View this incredible site that is said to have been created in the 6th century AD in the Byzantine-era style. The map contains the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and especially Jerusalem. It is comprised of more than two million differently colored individual pieces of stone. The map is not set towards the north like modern maps but faces east towards the altar so that it coincides with the actual compass directions.

Petra
Petra will likely become one of the highlights of your trip due to its uniqueness and beauty. This “rose-red” city was hand-sculpted by the Nabateans right into the red desert cliffs in the 3rd century BC. This group was originally nomadic but decided to settle in a number of places including Petra, Naqab desert in Palestine and northern Arabia. Make your way through the “Siq,” or long winding road, to the incredible Treasury building, or Al-Khazneh, that rises over 140 feet. The place gets its name because many locals thought it might contain hidden treasure within its walls. Continue from the Treasury and discover elaborate royal tombs, a theater and burial chambers, all of which are remnants of the great Nabatean culture that called this place home in ancient times.

Wadi Rum
Travel through the alien-like landscape of the Wadi Rum desert, with its ancient river beds, wind-sculpted mountains and vast desert sands. This “Valley of the Moon” was an inspiration, and later filming location, for T.E. Lawrence’s novel, Lawrence of Arabia. This area also served as a filming set for the Star Wars movies, Prometheus, The Martian and more, to serve as the planet of Mars or an alien planet due to its red coloring and surreal landscapes. This incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site will lead you to the eroded sand dunes of sandstone known as “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom.”

Jerash & Amman
Start just outside Amman in Jerash, the “Pompeii of the East”. This old city provides incredible insight into the lives of the Romans in one of their more remote outposts. Jerash is the best-preserved example of Roman civilization in Jordan and was part of the Decapolis (ten large Roman cities of the East). View the temples of Zeus and Artemis, Nymphaeum and a street lined with columns or a “colonnade.”

Proceed to Amman, the capital city of Jordan and the cultural hub of the country. It is often referred to as the “White City” due to the limestone used for the buildings. The city has many beautiful ancient sites including the Citadel, located on the highest hill in Amman. Occupied since the Bronze Age, this archaeological site includes the Temple of Hercules and Umayyad Palace. Visit the Archaeological Museum here and discover artifacts that date all the way back to prehistoric times. Next enjoy exploring the city and view the Roman Amphitheater, the souks and the city’s modern district.
Quality and value go hand in hand in Gate 1 Travel’s Israel & Jordan. Conclude each inspiring day with comfortable accommodations, delight in local cuisine and gain in-depth knowledge from local guides with a boundless national pride that you’ll find contagious. One thing is certain: whether this is your first visit or your fifth, we’ll show it all to you at a price that beats any other tour operator. Join us in Israel & Jordan!

(Pictured: Tel Aviv)

MediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

The Changing Face of the Kibbutz

on November 18, 2018

About 100 years ago, small pockets of Israel lay dormant and unused. The Galilee was a swampy marshland.The Judean Hills were rock-strewn. And the Negev’s desert landscape was largely inhospitable. To waves of Jewish immigrants from Russia,Eastern Europe, and beyond, these seemed the perfect places to start Utopian communities. 

The Jews who came to Israel during the First and Second Aliyahs wanted to be farmers. But they detested the class structures they had seen elsewhere. Instead, they wanted to create a community of equals. Their vision for communal settlements would not come easily: Most of the colonists came without any farming experience, and they learned quickly enough that this was an unwelcoming region that was often the target of hostile nomadic Bedouins.

They had to stick together. Living collectively in a commune-type environment provided the perfect security. Everyone contributed equally—with sweat equity, skills, and financial resources—to ensure the success of the group. Remarkably, these pioneers also received financial support from around the world as the Jewish National Fund, which was founded in 1901, placed “Blue Boxes” in Jewish communities everywhere; proceeds from the boxes helped to purchase land that came to belong to the entire Jewish population.

Settlers reclaimed the marshes and hills and desert, converting much of it for human development. They planted trees, drained swamps, and converted the soil into productive farmland. To encourage continued donations into those Blue Boxes, word got around about a miraculous transformation in Israel: “The desert,” so the gossip went, “was blooming.”

And that’s not all that was blooming. In a society where all were equal and free from exploitation, immense gratification and pride also blossomed. Throughout the 20th century and into this century, the kibbutz movement has grown into a kind of farm co-operative where crops are harvested, chickens are raised, and cows are milked…much of it for shipment throughout Israel and beyond.

Into the 21st Century

Our Israel, Ancient & Modern Culture trip features a two-night stay at the Pastoral Kfar Blum Kibbutz, founded in 1943. Like those before it, this kibbutz sits on land that was once barren, waterlogged, and inaccessible. Its original settlers were from the Baltic, England, the U.S., and Canada.

To stay in tune with the 21st century, the 600-member community has recently privatized. Its farm spreads out over 1,225 acres, where 1,200 tons of fruit are harvested every year, including the famous red grapefruit beloved throughout Israel. Prize-winning cotton is also grown here, as are peaches and nectarines. Each year, the kibbutz ships 3.5 million liters of milk throughout the country.

Pastoral Kfar Blum also supports itself through Israel’s thriving travel industry. Its intimately styled hotel boasts everything from a restaurant and spa, convention hall and Olympic-sized swimming pool to a synagogue, schools, and a center for music and dance. One visit is all it takes to see the community spirit of the kibbutz is still very much alive here.

MediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

Sifting through Israel’s Rich History

on November 11, 2018

Within Israels’ Emek Tzurim National Park, on the lower slopes of the Mount of Olives, untold treasures are being unearthed. But it’s not only archaeologists who are digging up relics here. It’s a small army of volunteers and travelers eager for an unforgettable educational opportunity.

The Temple Mount Sifting Project was created in 2004. Its founders might tell you that it was borne from an urgent historical necessity. Just a few years earlier, construction crews had dug an entrance to Solomon’s Stables, an ancient subterranean structure that was being converted into a mosque. The site of the stables, however, was adjacent to Jerusalem’s Temple Mount—sacred to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam—and the digging proceeded without regard for laws that protect Jerusalem’s archaeological sites. Large chunks of earth were recklessly trucked out, by some counts more than 400 loads.

Dr. Gabriel Barkey and Zachi Dvira, archaeologists working under the banner of Bar-Ilan University, were certain that priceless relics were moved with all that earth. And so, with the cooperation of the Israel National Parks Authority, they founded the Temple Mount Sifting Project.

What’s unique about the project is the reason for its founding. It’s not often that excavation projects are undertaken out of anger over the treatment of historic sites. Indeed, you don’t need a history degree to realize that construction zones in such a historic place must employ onsite experts so that uncovered relics can be labeled by location and context, documented, then removed with great care. Such was not the case here.

Still, optimism surrounds the Temple Mount Sifting Project. Even though valuable knowledge about the historical location and context of centuries-old items has been lost, scholars can still learn information from the artifacts themselves by, for instance, making assumptions about the era from which they came by matching them to similarly styled pieces that were uncovered in “known” spots.

Gabriel and Zachi knew it would be no small task to sift through 400 truckloads of earth. They would need help, and lots of it, to embark on an operation that would take many years. So they created a volunteer organization that embraces the efforts of all—from students to travelers. To that end, a simple makeshift sifting camp has been erected outside Jerusalem’s old city walls.

Since the project’s founding, tens of thousands of people have participated, sifting through buckets of earth to discover pottery, glass vessels, bones, mosaic stones, jewelry, and coins—many from the First Temple Period of the 10th century. Even fragments of mosaic floors, frescoes, and glazed wall tiles have been found.

Discovery Tours travelers have the unique opportunity to help uncover history here. During our Israel, Ancient & Modern Culture trip, we sift through the rubble using a wet-sifting technique. Who knows? You just might come across a priceless artifact.

Dead Sea Jordan
MediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

Israel’s Astonishing Natural Beauty

on November 6, 2018

When you think of Israel, a vast treasure trove of historic and religious sights undoubtedly comes to mind. But this small country is home to some of the world’s most stunning natural beauty, the likes of which you won’t see anywhere else.

Here, quiet villages are tucked away in fertile valleys. Mountains rise from plains and rocky cliffs soar to the heavens. Starkly beautiful deserts are dotted with Bedouin tents. And serene lakes stretch out like small seas. Throughout Discovery Tours’ Israel, Ancient & Modern Culture trip, you can witness this magnificence firsthand.

The Road to Galilee

The rocky terrain of Galilee seems to stretch into eternity. Dappled in wide swathes of green and soaring to summits of up to 3,800 feet, it’s a breathtaking canvas adorned with streams and flower-laden fields. The climate of this fertile region supports a large variety of flora and wildlife. The Hula Valley Nature Reserve especially thrives with life, including many birds that stop here to rest from their migration between Africa and cooler climates to the north. In one of nature’s most spectacular displays, tens of thousands of cranes pass through here as they make their way from Finland to Ethiopia every winter.

In the west of Galilee on the Mediterranean Coast, white chalk cliffs spill into the sea. Over millennia, the crashing surf has carved a network of spectacular grottoes dimly lit by the sparkle of azure waters. These Rosh HaNikra caves, Hebrew for “head of the grottoes,” are a mysterious and magical place, a maze of subterranean passageways untouched by humankind for ages until divers began exploring them. Today, a cable car lowers you to the grotto entrance, and it is well worth a visit.

From sea level to mountaintop, Mount Bental rises in the eastern region of the Golan Heights. In Arabic, it is sometimes known as the “Mountain of Lust,” so it might not surprise you that it was once an active volcano. Now dormant—as are the other peaks of this mountain chain—it provides incredible views of the Golan Heights and the surrounding region. The volcanic soils have made this a fertile pocket of Israel. Farming communities, kibbutzim, and wineries dot the landscape, and Discovery Tours visits one of them—the delightfully welcoming Golan Heights Winery—to sample some of the local vintages.

The tranquil Sea of Galilee is the focal point of this beautiful region. Contrary to its name, it is a freshwater lake fed by underground springs and by the Jordan River from the north. Aside from its beauty, it has a lot to boast about. It is Israel’s largest and the world’s lowest freshwater lake. What’s more, it is the site of several miracles of Jesus. He is said to have walked on these fabled waters, and to have transformed five loaves and fishes into a feast for thousands here on these shores.

A Sea Full of Salt and a Massive Mesa

Unlike the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea is very much full of salt. So much salt, in fact, that it is impossible to sink in its waters. This is the lowest point of land on earth—1,315 feet below sea. This fascinating body of water is more than nine times as salty as the ocean, creating an environment that cannot support animals, hence its name.

But it is a geographic curiosity for a host of other reasons. With the Jordan River its only significant source of water and with no outlet, tiny springs have formed underneath its shore, resulting in pools and quicksand pits. Further, with so much salt and relatively little water, intriguingly shaped salt deposits form on the shores as water evaporates, from thick multi-layered blankets to tiny pearl-like pebbles, all of them sculpted over millennia. If you’re not completely smitten with the geology of the Dead Sea, then its buoyancy is sure to put a smile on your face. Merely step in, lie back, and relax to enjoy nature’s only flotation device.

Nearby, a giant rocky plateau rises from the Judean Desert. This is Masada, and its magnificent setting helped to shape history. So commanding are the views from atop this mesa—some of its cliffs are 1,300 feet high—Herod the Great built his fortress here just a few decades before Christ. Who can blame him? The vistas of the Dead Sea and the Negev Desert are spectacular. But not everything was serene and beautiful in Herod’s day. When the Roman Empire attacked at the end of the first Jewish-Roman War, 960 Jewish rebels are said to have thrown themselves off the cliffs rather than surrender to Rome.

We invite you to surrender to the natural beauty and irresistible allure of Israel.

Click here for trip details!

MediterraneanSmall Group Discoveries

Jerusalem: City of Pilgrimage for Three Religions

on November 3, 2018

The history of Jerusalem stretches back to 4000 BC and the Copper Age. We so readily associate the city with religious history today, it’s hard to believe that millennia passed before events unfolded here that would alter how humankind thinks of spirituality, morality, and its own place in the world. Today, a mix of historic fascination and pious devotion bring people to this city. No matter what brings you here, you’re sure to be mesmerized and captivated.

Jerusalem is the center of three of the world’s major religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. No other city in the world boasts such a dense concentration of religious sites, each more moving and powerful than the last. Little wonder: the history of Judaism here dates back 3,000 years, Christianity stretches back 2,000 years, and Islam echoes back 1,400 years. The city is home to about 1,204 synagogues, 158 churches, and 73 mosques.

The most rewarding visit to this ancient and celebrated city looks on all of its sacred sites with equal fascination and respect, regardless of their meaning to any one faith. After all, no other place in world means so much to so many.

City of David

The City of David, one of the world’s most magnificent archaeological sites, lies just outside the Old City of Jerusalem. It is a spectacularly preserved place, and marks the spot where King David established Jerusalem as his capital in the 10th century BC. Since then, it has been the ancestral and spiritual home of the Jewish people.

The sacred Talmud goes into great detail about Jerusalem’s significance to Jewish heritage. King David’s struggle to capture the city and his desire to build the Jewish Temple there hold deep personal meaning for the Jewish people. The temple was completed by David’s son, King Solomon, in 957 BC, only to be destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. But the Babylonians didn’t rule for long and The Second Temple was built by Persian leader Cyrus the Great. It not only served as an economic center, but it’s also believed that the word of God came from its hallowed halls and resonated from here to all nations.

The Second Temple survived several centuries of occupation—by the Macedonians, Ptolemies, and the Hellenic Empire. But it too was destroyed in 70 AD as the Roman Empire moved in to claim Jerusalem. (In the Book of Matthew, Jesus prophesied its destruction 37 years earlier.) The Romans proved victorious and banned Jews from Jerusalem.

Today, the Western (or Wailing) Wall is the only structure that remains from the Second Temple. Here, devout Jews gather to insert their written prayers into the nooks and crannies of its mortar. Of course, this is not the only site that draws Jewish people from all around the world. Temple Mount is said to shelter the Talmudic source of life, the site from where God gathered dust to create man. Because of its sacred power, many Jews will not walk on the Mount for fear of disrespecting the divine presence there. Jews within the city pray facing in the direction of the Mount. The Wall and the Mount are among the holiest and most pensive places on earth, and we’ll examine them as closely as religious law allows.

City of Christ

Jerusalem holds a critical place in the Old Testament. But it played its most pivotal role in Christianity in the life of Jesus. As a child, he was brought to the Second Temple to be presented. When he was only 12, he astonished the Jewish theologians here with his extensive knowledge of the Torah. He also attended festivals in Jerusalem and preached and healed in the Temple courts. He is believed to have had his Last Supper in an upper room, or Cenacle, on Mount Zion. This is also where the Apostles stayed when they were in Jerusalem and, by some accounts, the location of the very first Christian church.

Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem and put on trial here. He is said to have walked along the city’s Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrows, while bearing the cross. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher (revered as Golgotha or the Hill of Calvary) is traditionally believed to be the site of Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection. It’s an especially moving experience to visit here, and pilgrims have been doing so since at least the fourth century.

Jerusalem holds additional significance to Christians. When Christianity was still new and had fewer followers than it does today, the devout were outcast by Roman rule. To identify each other, they etched the fish symbol onto their homes or shops. But even that was risky: Christians who were “outed” could have been killed. All that changed once Constantine took the throne of the Roman Empire. The powerful emperor claimed Christianity as his faith, creating a fertile environment for the religion to flourish.

City of Muhammed

According to Islamic tradition and the holy book of the Qur’an, the prophet Muhammed—said to have been a messenger of God—came to Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque from Mecca on his famous “Night Journey.” He was carried through his physical and spiritual journey upon the white horse Buraq, who transported the prophets at their bidding. Upon arrival, he tied Buraq to the Western Wall while he prayed at the mosque. When he finished his prayers, the angel Gabriel ascended with him to heaven, where Muhammed led several other prophets in prayer. His travels complete, he returned to Mecca that very same night. For many, the gleaming Dome of the Rock at Temple Mount marks the spot from where Muhammed ascended.

It’s an inspiring story that has earned Al-Aqsa mosque a place as the third holiest site in Islam, even though it was the second to be constructed after the Masjid al-Haram, the massive complex in Mecca. It carries huge significance to the Islamic faith because it was mentioned in the Qur’an. Al-Aqsa is also the original qibla of Islam, or the focal point toward which Muslims face when they pray. The mosque was held in such reverence because it had been the sight of Muhammed’s ascension. Even after the great Muslim migration from Jerusalem to Medina in 624 AD, the prayerful continued to kneel in the direction of Al-Aqsa during prayer. Today, the Islamic qibla is Mecca.

But it is not Muhammed alone who has elevated Jerusalem’s significance and holiness to Islam. To dig more deeply into the inclusive messages of Islam is to see Jerusalem in a new and magnificent light. In the eyes of Islam, David, Solomon, and Jesus are also prophets of their faith. Why? Because according to their faith, God sent messengers to all nations and instilled in them a belief that they would then embrace and teach. And ultimately, every prophet preaches the “oneness” of God. It’s a comforting message, and one that is befitting of the holiest city on earth.

Experience the deep spirituality of Jerusalem during our Israel, Ancient and Modern Cultures trip. Click here for trip details!