MYSTICAL ISRAEL. April 9 & November 5, Days Escorted Journeys. Safed Tiberias. Acre. Haifa Nazareth Beit Sheán SEA OF GALILEE.

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MYSTICAL ISRAEL April 9 & November 5, 2018 12 Days Escorted Journeys MAP NOT TO SCALE Acre Haifa Nazareth Beit Sheán Caesarea Safed Tiberias SEA OF GALILEE

Board jeeps for a safari into the Negev Desert and stop at a traditional Bedouin camp for lunch.

Tel Aviv Bethlehem Jerusalem Qumran Visit the Israel Museum which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, along with a spectacular collection of art and artifacts dating

1 MYSTICAL ISRAEL April 9 & November 5, Days Escorted Journeys MAP NOT TO SCALE Acre Haifa Nazareth Beit Sheán Caesarea Safed Tiberias SEA OF GALILEE Journey Highlights See Israel s most important sights, including Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem, Galilee, and the Dead Sea. Board jeeps for a safari into the Negev Desert and stop at a traditional Bedouin camp for lunch. Take a walk along the Via Dolorosa, the traditional Path of Jesus, marked by nine Stations of the Cross. Tel Aviv Bethlehem Jerusalem Qumran Visit the Israel Museum which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, along with a spectacular collection of art and artifacts dating from prehistory to present day. Masada Visit the moving Yad Vashem the Holocaust History Museum and Memorial. ISRAEL DEAD SEA Participate in an archaeological project outside the walls of the City of David. The Negev Itinerary... page 2 > Meet Your Leader... page 4 > Rates... page 5 > Flight Information... page 5 >

VIA DOLOROSA Day 4 - HAIFA / ACRE / NAZARETH / TIBERIAS More history unfolds in Acre; a subterranean city and former capital of the Crusader kingdom, today it is one of Israel s seven UNESCO World

After lunch in Acre, depart overland for Tiberias, making a stop en route to visit Nazareth, known as the Arab capital of Israel.

Walk in the footsteps of holy men and women as you visit the Church of the Annunciation, established at the site where, according to Christian tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary.

2 VIA DOLOROSA Day 4 - HAIFA / ACRE / NAZARETH / TIBERIAS More history unfolds in Acre; a subterranean city and former capital of the Crusader kingdom, today it is one of Israel s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visit Al Jazar Mosque, the crypt of St. John, and the British fortress; then explore the Turkish Baths and the colorful bazaar. After lunch in Acre, depart overland for Tiberias, making a stop en route to visit Nazareth, known as the Arab capital of Israel. It is also the city described in the New Testament as the childhood home of Jesus, and as such, is a center of Christian pilgrimage. Walk in the footsteps of holy men and women as you visit the Church of the Annunciation, established at the site where, according to Christian tradition, the angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. End your day at the historic Scots Hotel in Tiberias, which features wonderful views of the Sea of Galilee. Itinerary Day 1 - TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Upon arrival in Israel s cosmopolitan capital, transfer to the Dan Tel Aviv Hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Gather with your fellow travelers at the hotel this evening for a special welcome reception and dinner. Day 5 - TIBERIAS / SAFED / SEA OF GALILEE This morning we drive to the historic city and artist colony of Safed. Famous since the Middle Ages as a center of Jewish mysticism (kabbalah), Safed is one of the four holy cities in Israel (Jerusalem, Hebron, and Tiberias being the others). The old part of town consists of narrow cobblestone alleys revealing artists galleries, medieval synagogues, and private homes. Visit the Citadel (Metsuda) with ruins dating back to the time of the Crusades, and meet with a Cabalist. After lunch, continue overland to Galilee to visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Visit the Byzantine-style church and admire the beautiful gold Day 2 - TEL AVIV / OLD JAFFA This morning, take a drive along the lovely Promenade to Old Jaffa, one of the world s oldest ports. See the 17th-century St. Peter s Church, then meet with a local artist to discuss Israeli art. Take a stroll along the winding cobblestone streets lined with handicraft shops and art galleries. After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of the Diaspora Museum, which tells the story of Jewish communities from around the world and throughout the years. In the afternoon, visit the Carmel Market, the largest marketplace in Tel Aviv where you will find a plethora of trendy restaurants, coffee shops, and bars, as well as shops selling everything from handmade cheeses to designer clothing. CAESAREA RUINS Day 3 - TEL AVIV / CAESAREA / HAIFA After breakfast, drive along the scenic Mediterranean coast to the ancient city of Caesarea. Originally an ancient Phoenician settlement, the city was given as a gift from Augustus Ceasar to Herod the Great in 30 BC. Explore the fascinating ruins, including the Roman theater still in use today as a venue for musical performances. After lunch, continue to Haifa and ascend the slopes of Mount Carmel for breathtaking views of the city and its bustling port. Marvel at the gleaming golden dome of Baha i Shrine and take a stroll through the lush gardens. Continue to the 19th-century Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery, located on the slopes of Mount Carmel. Check in to the Dan Carmel Haifa for dinner and overnight. DIASPORA MUSEUM TRAVCOA MYSTICAL ISRAEL < 2 >

synagogue. Time permitting, visit the Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, a communal settlement.

3 mosaics that decorate the interior. Next, visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes and make a stop at Capernaum, where Jesus preached and performed several miracles, and view the remains of a famous 2nd-century synagogue. Time permitting, visit the Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, a communal settlement. Here you can peruse the small museum and see the famed Jesus boat, a 2,000-year-old vessel excavated from the Sea of Galilee in A cruise across the Sea of Galilee returns you to Tiberias, with dinner and overnight at our hotel. Day 6 - TIBERIAS / BEIT SHE AN / QUMRAN / DEAD SEA Take a short drive along scenic, winding mountain roads to arrive at Beit She an, or House of Rest and Quiet. Extensive excavations offer an intriguing glimpse of life in this ancient Roman city. Continue to Qumran, a settlement dating back to 103 BC, to view the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Next, travel through the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, arriving in the late afternoon. Take a dip in the buoyant waters of the sea or enjoy a walk along the shore. The Dead Sea, actually a large inland lake, contains the saltiest water in the world, almost six times as salty as the ocean. Throughout history, people have visited the area to enjoy the sea s therapeutic properties, including royalty, such as King Solomon, Queen Cleopatra, and Herod the Great. Check in to the Isrotel Dead Sea Hotel & Spa for dinner and overnight. Nabateans, the Byzantines, the Ottomans, and nomads. Visit a traditional Bedouin camp for lunch before an afternoon jeep safari that explores the Ramon Nature Reserve, Israel s largest national park and home to the Ramon Crater, the world s largest erosion crater. Carved by a retreating ocean and then a progression of rivers, the crater exposes increasingly ancient layers of rock. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 8 - DEAD SEA / MASADA / BETHLEHEM / JERUSALEM Masada sits at the top of an isolated rock on the edge of the Judean Desert. Isolated from its surroundings by deep gorges on all sides, this was the last stronghold of the Jewish zealots in their war against the Romans in 73 AD. Access in ancient times was by a steep path from the east, the White Rock from the west, or two difficult climbing approaches from the north or south. Today, access is less physically taxing, but just as exciting as you ascend by cable car. Explore the rock fortress, Herod s Palace, the mikveh (a pool used for the ritual purification of the body), storerooms, watchtowers, and the synagogue. Make a stop in Jerusalem for lunch, then continue to Bethlehem, revered by Jews as the hometown of King David, and by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. Visit the Church of the Nativity, and the cave inside where tradition holds that the virgin birth occurred. Return to Jerusalem in the afternoon, a 3,000-year-old city that is also a thriving modern metropolis. Check in to the King David Jerusalem Hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 7 - DEAD SEA / NEGEV Today, venture into the desert of southern Israel, which accounts for over half of the country s land area. Though it is sparsely populated today, various peoples have made their home in this vast desert for several millennia, including the Days 9-11 JERUSALEM Three full days of exploration of Jerusalem and the surrounding area begin with a drive up to the Mount of Olives for a picturesque, panoramic view of Jerusalem. CAPERNAUM DEAD SEA TRAVCOA MYSTICAL ISRAEL < 3 >

BETHLEHEM DOME OF THE ROCK Meet an archaeologist and take part in an archaeological project, sifting through materials from the area of the Temple Mount.

Zion where you may participate in a fascinating cultural exchange and discussion with a Rabbi, a Christian priest, and an Imam, who describe Jerusalem from the perspective of their respective

Walk along the Via Dolorosa to see the Stations of the Cross and follow in the traditional footsteps of Jesus as told in the New Testament of the Bible to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the

On your final day, visit Yad Vashem (the Holocaust History Museum) for a tour of this moving memorial complex which is dedicated to the martyrs and heroes of the Holocaust.

4 BETHLEHEM DOME OF THE ROCK Meet an archaeologist and take part in an archaeological project, sifting through materials from the area of the Temple Mount. In the City of David, catch a rare glimpse of the excavations that are revealing new discoveries every day. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations, and Mt. Zion where you may participate in a fascinating cultural exchange and discussion with a Rabbi, a Christian priest, and an Imam, who describe Jerusalem from the perspective of their respective religions. The next day discover the treasures of ancient Jerusalem on a tour of the Old City, including the Dome of the Rock, the greatest monumental building from early Islamic history. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to see the Stations of the Cross and follow in the traditional footsteps of Jesus as told in the New Testament of the Bible to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Resurrection Tomb, thought to be the actual site of the crucifixion. Explore the city s Jewish Quarter and experience Judaism s holiest site, the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall. On your final day, visit Yad Vashem (the Holocaust History Museum) for a tour of this moving memorial complex which is dedicated to the martyrs and heroes of the Holocaust. The galleries and exhibits emphasize the experiences of the individual victims through original artifacts, survivor testimonies, and personal possessions. Continue to the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the impressive model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period. The rest of the day is at leisure, with a special farewell dinner at our hotel. Day 12 - JERUSALEM / DEPARTURE Board your independent homeward flight. MEET YOUR LEADERS AMBER MEDKIFF April 9-20, 2018 journey Amber is a graduate of the University of London where she studied Fashion Design. Prior to entering the travel industry, she lived in Florence for two years while working for fashion designer Emilio Pucci, and she also worked for an international incentive company, taking care of top entertainers and CEOs from Fortune 500 companies. Amber speaks French, Italian and Spanish, and is a member of the Italian Institute and the French Institute of San Francisco, where she resides. She has published a travel article on Italy and was the subject of a Condé Nast Traveler magazine article titled How to Travel Like a Millionaire. JAN WHEATLEY November 5-16, 2018 journey Jan was born in Logan, Utah, and grew up in Newport Beach, California, where he studied political science and design. His travel career began in 1977, escorting groups for the National Retired Teachers Association of America. Jan s career advanced as he became associated with People to People leading political delegations around the world. Expanding his travel options in 1982, Jan moved and opened up a clothing design studio in Bali, Indonesia. Working with Travcoa has been the highlight of his travel career; Jan very much enjoys the many new interesting personalities he has a chance to meet with on every journey. TRAVCOA MYSTICAL ISRAEL < 4 >

5 RATES $9,990 per person, double occupancy; $12,880 per person, single occupancy Limited to 14 expedition members. INCLUDED: All meals, excluding alcohol and caviar, beginning with dinner on the arrival date and ending with breakfast on the departure date Transportation Luxury accommodations All excursions in the company of a Travel Director and expert local guides Luggage transfers All gratuities to local guides and port charges Group and individual airport transfers on arrival and departures dates Medical insurance NOT INCLUDED: International and domestic airfares Excess baggage charges FLIGHT INFORMATION You will need to purchase airfare from your home city/tel Aviv and Jerusalem/home city. Please contact our air desk for fare quotes, reservations, or other air-related questions. ACCOMMODATIONS Travcoa searches the world to find the most exquisite accommodations so guests can travel in style and, at night, relax in the luxury of some of the world s most extraordinary properties. Plus, Travcoa also arranges for guests to stay in the best-available rooms or suites, with spectacular views whenever possible, as well as private services. DINE AROUND Many years ago Travcoa invented the most generous and flexible travel dining plan imaginable: dine wherever you wish and we ll pick up the bill! It s really that simple, with no limits on where you dine or the price of a meal. Enjoy any restaurant, inside or outside the hotel and, with the exception of caviar and alcohol, it s all included in the upfront tour price, even the service charges and gratuities. OLD JAFFA Airport arrival and departure taxes Passport and/or visa fees Travel Insurance Expenses of a personal nature (minibar, phone calls, , laundry, etc.) Drinks or personal expenses or entrance fees for any extra sightseeing or optional activities Gratuity to your Travel Director A $1,000 per person deposit will secure your space on this expedition. Full payment is due 90 days prior to the journey. All rates are per person, quoted in US dollars, and must be paid in US dollars. Rates and itineraries are subject to change. Please review our Terms & Conditions online at about-us/travelers-information, or call our office for a printed copy. 100 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 1700 El Segundo, CA Business USA, Mexico & Canada Fax To reserve, visit or contact your travel consultant. < 5

Your consultant: Anu Arora. Phone:

Your consultant: Anu Arora. Phone: Israel Heritage Your consultant: Anu Arora Phone: +91-9899685829 E-mail: worldwide@cultureholidaysindia.com Day 1 Thursday - Arrival Upon arrival to airport meet our representative and transfer to hotel