From Dan to Beersheba
30 April — 11 May 2019
On this unique Holy Land tour and pilgrimage, we will visit archaeological sites from the Biblical period — some familiar (e.g. Jericho, Jerusalem, Dan, Beersheba) and some perhaps less so (e.g. Hazor, Arad). These spectacular sites are wonderfully educational and the goal of the trip is to help the participants appreciate in a new way the story and history of the Old Testament.
The visit is designed to give special time to a few selected archaeological highlights, as well as visiting a number of less well known locations. The tour also offers a journey through some breath-taking geological features, such as the Great Crater in the Negev desert, so there will be something for everyone.
TEAM
Leader: Dr Kieran O’Mahony, OSA
Lecturer: Dr Brad Anderson
Guide: Philip Kool
GENERAL REMARKS
RESOURCES
DAILY SCHEDULE
Tuesday 30 April 2019
Depart Dublin via Istanbul to Tel Aviv. Transfer to Zihron Yaacov for overnight.
Wednesday 1 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Tel Megiddo / National Parks Megiddo
13.15 Tel Muhraka and Mount Carmel / National Parks Mount Carmel
15.45 Acre / Akko
19.00 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Galilee.
Thursday 2 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.00 Magdala
11.15 Tel Hazor / National Parks Hazor
14.45 Tel Dan / National Parks Dan
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Galilee.
Friday 3 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Capernaum
12.10 Beth Shean / National Parks Bet Shean
16.15 Jericho + Qasr Al Yahud
17.45 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Jericho.
Saturday 4 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Qumran / National Parks Qumran
12.00 Ein Gedi / National Parks En Gedi
15.30 Mamshit / National Parks Mamshit
Spectacular sunset drive through the Great Crater to Yeruham.
18.45 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Yeruham.
Sunday 5 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Ein Avdat (nature trail)
13.45 Tel Avdat / National Park Avdat
16.15 Mitzpe Ramon spectacular walk along the crest; / National Parks Makhtesh Ramon
17.15 Drive to Yeruham
18.15 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Yeruham.
Monday 6 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.30 Tel Arad / National Parks Arad
14.00 Tel Beersheba / National Parks Ber Sheva
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Jerusalem.
Tuesday 7 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.45 Tel Maresha / National Parks Maresha
14.00 Tel Lachish
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist and dinner)
Overnight Jerusalem.
Wednesday 8 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.45 Herodion / National Parks Herodion and Wadi Kelt
14.00 Nebi Samuel / National Parks Nebi Samuel
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist and dinner). Overnight Jerusalem.
Thursday 9 May
06.00 Breakfast
07.00 Temple Mount
09.00 Eucharist in St Anne’s, Via Dolorosa (to be booked)
10.00 City of David with Hezekiah’s Tunnel
15.00 Israel Museum
18.30 Hotel (Lecture and dinner)
Overnight Jerusalem.
Friday 10 May
Day at leisure in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem.
Saturday 11 May
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport in time for your return flight to Dublin.
Proposed flights
Tuesday 30 April
Dublin – Istanbul 10.55 hrs. 17.15 hrs.
Istanbul – Tel Aviv 19.45 hrs. 21.55 hrs.
Saturday 11 May
Tel Aviv – Istanbul 08.40 hrs. 10.55 hrs.
Istanbul – Dublin 13.05 hrs. 15.35 hrs.
Price: €2,195.00 per person sharing – dinner, bed & breakfast basis
This price includes:
Return flights Dublin – Tel Aviv via Istanbul
11 nights accommodation in 3/4* hotels on a dinner, B&B basis (1 night Zihron Yaacov/2 nights Sea of Galilee/1 night Jericho/3 nights Yeruham/4 nights Jerusalem)
Coaching as per programme
Services of an English speaking guide throughout the tour (except 10th & 11th May)
Entrance fees where applicable
Extras:
Insurance: €40 per person (+ 66 years – double premium)
Sole occupancy supplement: €675.00 for the duration of stay (limited availability)
Tips/gratuities for guide, driver and hotel staff
How to reserve a place: a completed booking form with deposit of €250.00 per person (payment by cash/cheque /debit/credit card) should be sent directly to MAP Travel. The balance will be due 10 weeks prior to departure (cash/cheque/debit card) should be sent directly to MAP Travel.
30 April — 11 May 2019
On this unique Holy Land tour and pilgrimage, we will visit archaeological sites from the Biblical period — some familiar (e.g. Jericho, Jerusalem, Dan, Beersheba) and some perhaps less so (e.g. Hazor, Arad). These spectacular sites are wonderfully educational and the goal of the trip is to help the participants appreciate in a new way the story and history of the Old Testament.
The visit is designed to give special time to a few selected archaeological highlights, as well as visiting a number of less well known locations. The tour also offers a journey through some breath-taking geological features, such as the Great Crater in the Negev desert, so there will be something for everyone.
TEAM
Leader: Dr Kieran O’Mahony, OSA
Lecturer: Dr Brad Anderson
Guide: Philip Kool
GENERAL REMARKS
- Each day: lunch will be either a quick lunch or an arranged pack lunch, at our own expense.
- Each day: we go straight from the early morning lecture to the bus, so come prepared to depart immediately.
- The guide will bring us the sites and give an introduction. Supplementary guiding on the sites from Kieran O’Mahony and Brad Anderson.
RESOURCES
- To see what each site has to offer, click on the links in the daily schedule.
- Booklet of notes by Brad Anderson (PDF).
- Guide books: the best is still J. Murphy-O’Connor The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide I recommend everyone to get this guide book.
- Yale Introductory course on the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)
- Israel: An Archaeological Journey
- Oxford Illustrated History of the Holy Land (Reobert G. Hoyland and H.G.M. Williamson 2018).
- Web Resource: See the Holy Land. A very complete site, with lots of info and pictures.
- App Resources: Museum of Israel; Bible Lands Museum.
- Dervla Murphy Between River and Sea. Encounters in Israel and Palestine. Could be an interesting book to have on the trip.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Tuesday 30 April 2019
Depart Dublin via Istanbul to Tel Aviv. Transfer to Zihron Yaacov for overnight.
Wednesday 1 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Tel Megiddo / National Parks Megiddo
13.15 Tel Muhraka and Mount Carmel / National Parks Mount Carmel
15.45 Acre / Akko
19.00 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Galilee.
Thursday 2 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.00 Magdala
11.15 Tel Hazor / National Parks Hazor
14.45 Tel Dan / National Parks Dan
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Galilee.
Friday 3 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Capernaum
12.10 Beth Shean / National Parks Bet Shean
16.15 Jericho + Qasr Al Yahud
17.45 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Jericho.
Saturday 4 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Qumran / National Parks Qumran
12.00 Ein Gedi / National Parks En Gedi
15.30 Mamshit / National Parks Mamshit
Spectacular sunset drive through the Great Crater to Yeruham.
18.45 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Yeruham.
Sunday 5 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.15 Ein Avdat (nature trail)
13.45 Tel Avdat / National Park Avdat
16.15 Mitzpe Ramon spectacular walk along the crest; / National Parks Makhtesh Ramon
17.15 Drive to Yeruham
18.15 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Yeruham.
Monday 6 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.30 Tel Arad / National Parks Arad
14.00 Tel Beersheba / National Parks Ber Sheva
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist / dinner). Overnight Jerusalem.
Tuesday 7 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.45 Tel Maresha / National Parks Maresha
14.00 Tel Lachish
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist and dinner)
Overnight Jerusalem.
Wednesday 8 May
07.00 Meditation (optional)
07.30 Breakfast
08.45 Lecture
09.45 Depart hotel
10.45 Herodion / National Parks Herodion and Wadi Kelt
14.00 Nebi Samuel / National Parks Nebi Samuel
18.00 Hotel (Eucharist and dinner). Overnight Jerusalem.
Thursday 9 May
06.00 Breakfast
07.00 Temple Mount
09.00 Eucharist in St Anne’s, Via Dolorosa (to be booked)
10.00 City of David with Hezekiah’s Tunnel
15.00 Israel Museum
18.30 Hotel (Lecture and dinner)
Overnight Jerusalem.
Friday 10 May
Day at leisure in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem.
Saturday 11 May
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport in time for your return flight to Dublin.
Proposed flights
Tuesday 30 April
Dublin – Istanbul 10.55 hrs. 17.15 hrs.
Istanbul – Tel Aviv 19.45 hrs. 21.55 hrs.
Saturday 11 May
Tel Aviv – Istanbul 08.40 hrs. 10.55 hrs.
Istanbul – Dublin 13.05 hrs. 15.35 hrs.
Price: €2,195.00 per person sharing – dinner, bed & breakfast basis
This price includes:
Return flights Dublin – Tel Aviv via Istanbul
11 nights accommodation in 3/4* hotels on a dinner, B&B basis (1 night Zihron Yaacov/2 nights Sea of Galilee/1 night Jericho/3 nights Yeruham/4 nights Jerusalem)
Coaching as per programme
Services of an English speaking guide throughout the tour (except 10th & 11th May)
Entrance fees where applicable
Extras:
Insurance: €40 per person (+ 66 years – double premium)
Sole occupancy supplement: €675.00 for the duration of stay (limited availability)
Tips/gratuities for guide, driver and hotel staff
How to reserve a place: a completed booking form with deposit of €250.00 per person (payment by cash/cheque /debit/credit card) should be sent directly to MAP Travel. The balance will be due 10 weeks prior to departure (cash/cheque/debit card) should be sent directly to MAP Travel.