Sea of Galilee — Tiberias, Hippos, Jesus & animals staring at me
The Sea of Galilee -- aka Lake Galilee, Lake Tiberias, Kineret, and Lake of Gennesaret -- is part of the Jordan Valley just like the Dead Sea and as such is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth (about 210 m). The area
Visiting Jericho — The World’s oldest city
I wanted to visit Jericho because it would take me away from the cold rain in the mountains of Jerusalem and Ramallah and back towards the lovely warmth I had experienced around the Dead Sea. Despite the two cities being less
Banksy’s Bethlehem — A street art tour through the city Jesus was born in
There are two main reasons to visit Bethlehem these days -- Christian religion and street art religion. Every year around Christmas, between mid-December and Orthodox Christmas in early-January, pilgrims descend on Bethlehem's old city to see the place where Jesus Christ was
Hebron, a dual-narrative tour with Abraham Tours
We meet at 8:30 am in the Abraham Hostel lobby at Ha-Davitka Square. There are a lot more people here than I had expected, considering that we will be using public transport to move around. After checking off our names on
Itinerary for Israel’s South — Negev Desert & Dead Sea
Israel's southern half is dominated by the vast Negev Desert. Summers are hot and dry but winter days are temperate and mild. While it might get cold and rainy in Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, and the North, the South is the perfect place
Negev Desert hikes: Avdat NP to Ein Akev Spring to Sde Boker Kibbutz
My last excursion in Israel's South took me into the desert: First, I explored ancient Avdat and then I went in search of an oasis to Ein Akev. The Negev Desert covers more than half of Israel's land mass -- from
Life in the Negev Desert: Your guide to Mitzpe Ramon
Mitzpe Ramon translates to "Ramon lookout." A fitting name for a small town perched on the cliffs of Ramon Crater (Ramon Mekhtesh). Founded less than 70 years ago as a camp for the workers building Route 40 between Beer Sheva
Hiking in the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, Israel
Ein Gedi (also: En Gedi) is Israel's biggest oasis. Set between the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert, it has springs and waterfalls and flowing brooks at the foot of 200m cliffs. It is also home to Nubian ibexes and rock
How to visit Israel’s Dead Sea
One of the must-do experiences in Israel is a bath in the Dead Sea. You can book a tour from Tel-Aviv or Jerusalem. But you can also organize a visit yourself. This guide tells you all you need to know
Israel guides: Masada — sunrise, history, and stunning landscapes
"Go see the Masada sunrise!" is a sentence you will hear all over the hostels in Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv. I saw the photos and was convinced. But I didn't want to book a tour from Jerusalem (and get up at