OVERVIEW
This small group journey through Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank gives participants exclusive access to the culture, politics, and environment of the region. Led by regional experts, this luxury trip goes beyond borders and takes you off the beaten track to delve into the complex environmental realities in the Middle East.
New dates coming soon!
Dates coming soon!
Exact prices will be announced with the opening of registration.
Please contact beyond@friendsofarava.org if you have any questions!
Please note: transportation to and from the Middle East is not included in the price of the tour
- Transportation during the tour is included in the tour price
- Luxury coach buses will be provided for the duration of the trip
- Transport to and from the airport with VIP services
- Transportation to and from the Middle East is not included in the price of the tour.
Throughout the journey through Jordan, Israel, and the West Bank, participants will enjoy accommodation in 5-star hotels.
The safety and security of our participants is our primary concern. We consult with Israel’s security services and receive all security alerts posted by the Security Department of Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) and its subsidiary company, The Israel Experience.
Insurance is not included in any tour package. We require tour participants to purchase trip insurance.
To speak with someone about the Beyond Borders Tour, please call 617-266-7100 or email beyond@friendsofarava.org, and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Registration coming soon.
ITINERARY
This is a draft itinerary based on the 2022 Beyond Borders tour.
Day 1: Arrival in Jerusalem. Attend a welcome dinner, meet your fellow participants and the staff who will be with you for this unique experience, and discuss the trip’s itinerary, what you’ll experience, and receive an overview of the regional situation.
Day 2: Jerusalem. Travel together for a tour of East Jerusalem, meet Israeli Knesset leaders engaged in environmental cooperation.
Day 3: West Bank. Meet Palestinian engineers and partners engaged in the Arava Institute’s work. Continue onto Ramallah to meet with the Arava Institute’s Palestinian partners in the non-governmental organization, Damour for Community Development, and others who are part of the Arava Institute’s Track II Environmental Forum. Travel to Tel Aviv for dinner and to relax after a full day.
Day 4: Tel Aviv. Take a multi-narratives tour of the city, learning about the Jewish and Arab historical foundations of Jaffa, and meet Israeli civil society leaders.
Day 5: Bedouin Village of Wadi Aricha and Mitzpe Ramon. Learn more about the ecological environment and environmental cooperation efforts, meet with Arava Institute researchers, and explore beautiful Mitzpe Ramon for an ecological tour.
Day 6: Kibbutz Ketura / Arava Institute / Optional travel to Eilat. Meet with Arava Institute staff, receive a tour of the Arava Institute, and hear our vision for the Institute as it begins its next 25 years of growth. Then travel together to the Dead Sea R&D Center, a science center that conducts research in the region and promotes cross-border scientific cooperation, for a tour of the Arava Institute’s joint projects in renewable energy.
Day 7: Kibbutz Ketura / Arava Institute / Optional Travel to Eilat. Tour the Institute’s orchards and see the renowned Methuselah, the first date palm germinated from Judean date palm seeds, over 2000 years old. Tour the Institute’s Off-Grid Technology Village and explore cutting-edge research and development the Arava Institute is piloting.
Day 8: Aqaba and Wadi Rum. Meet with Arava Institute alumni at the Marine Science Center in Aqaba and learn about the water sustainability projects the center conducts with the Arava Institute researchers. Enjoy a Jeep tour of Wadi Rum, a beautiful and otherworldly section of the Arabian Desert that features red sand dunes and towering sandstone mountains.
Day 9: Petra and Dead Sea. Tour and explore the World Heritage site of Petra, an ancient Nabatean city and archeological site. Continue onto the Dead Sea to enjoy a traditional overlooking the beautiful view of the Dead Sea into Israel.
Day 10: Amman. Meet with government leaders & ambassadors in the Jordanian capital of Amman. Head to Madaba to visit the Byzantine mosaics. Enjoy dinner with Arava Institute Jordanian and Palestinian alumni engaged in sustainability efforts in Jordan.
Day 11: Departures from Amman.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to participate?
Not necessarily, but please contact beyond@friendsofarava.org for specifics.
Do I need to have traveled to Israel or the Middle East beforehand?
No, this tour is open to all, including seasoned travelers and first-timers!
Is travel to and from the Middle East included in the tour price?
No.
Will we need to travel on group flights to and from the Middle East?
At this point, we do not anticipate that you will need to travel on a group flight.
Will someone pick me up from the airport?
Yes, we will pick you up from the Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, or we can work with you on coordinating your arrival if you have different plans. For those departing upon the conclusion of the tour, we will provide transportation to the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. At the conclusion of the tour, you may also choose to fly back to Israel from the Amman airport.
Are there kosher options at every meal?
There will be kosher meals in Israel, and vegetarian options in Jordan and Palestine.
I keep Shabbat; how are the activities structured during Shabbat?
Our schedule will accommodate those who keep Shabbat.
What should I bring?
Friends of the Arava Institute staff will be in touch with suggested packing lists closer to the trip date.
I’d like to know more information about the optional extension in the UAE.
Please contact beyond@friendsofarava.org with any questions.
How many people will come on this tour?
This tour is capped at 20 participants.
