WALK ISRAEL 2022
ISRAEL NATIONAL TRAIL MISSION - 5th Journey
From Haifa to Jerusalem
23-28 October, 2022
Over the course of five years, the Walk Israel family will cover the entirety of the Israel National Trail (Hebrew: Shvil Yisrael), a 620 mile (1,009 km) hiking trail that crosses Israel from south to north. The INT spans from the resort town of Eilat, on the Red Sea, to Dan, near the Lebanese border, and links Israel’s extraordinary landscapes and human mosaics. The trail blazes through a variety of natural and human landscapes, exposing hikers to Israel's many eco-systems and habitats. National Geographic called it one of the "holy grails of hikes."
Sunday, October 23, 2022
Meet at Vert Lagoon Resort
Visit the Victory Monument
Mission Opening Dinner
Overnight: West Lagoon Resort, Netanya
Monday, October 24, 2022
Length of hike: approximately 9 km
Hiking time: 5 hours
We will offer three levels of difficulty.
OUR FIRST DAY OF HIKING WILL COVER MOUNT CARMEL
Major sites along the way will include:
Mount Carmel
Mount Camel has been a symbol of beauty since ancient times. The area is covered with dense Mediterranean woodland and carpeted with colorful flowers. The hills, valleys, rivers and cliffs make it a dynamic ecological area with magnificent views of northern Israel and over to the Mediterranean.
Other important stops will include:
Kibbutz Yagur, featuring HaSlik
In June 1946, British police and military searched for arms and made arrests in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and several dozen settlements. The Jewish Agency was raided and approximately 2,700 individuals were arrested, including future Israeli Prime Minister Moshe Sharett. At Kibutz Yagur, one of three central arsenals for the Hagannah, the British confiscared more than 300 rifles, some 100 2-inch mortars, more than 400,000 bullets, some 5,000 grenades and 78 revolvers. The arms were displayed at a press conference, and all the men of Yagur were arrested.
Visit the Kibbutz Ulpan at Yagur, a Keren Hayesod-supported project
For many new olim (immigrants), a Keren Hayesod-supported ulpan offers them heir first home in Israel. These centres provide housing, programming and assistance in order to help olim lay a strong foundation for their new lives in Israel.
Visit a Youth Village at Hadassa Neurim, a Keren Hayesod-supported project.
Youth Villages help disadvantaged Israeli youth to cope with integration difficulties, to break the cycle of poverty and to become contributing members of Israeli society. This program provides a remedial education in a supportive home atmosphere and helps these at-risk youth create a better future.
Dinner
Overnight: Vert Lagoon Resort, Netanya
Tuesday, October 25, 2022
Length of hike: approximately 9 km
Time: 6 hours
We will offer three of difficulty.
OUR SECOND DAY OF HIKING WILL COVER JISR AZ-ZARQA
Major sites along the way will include:
Ramat Hanadiv
At the southern end of Mount Carmel, between Zikhron Ya'akov and Binyamina, lies Ramat Hanadiv, a natural gem dedicated to the memory of Baron Edmond de Rothschild. Ramat Hanadiv is a living memorial to Baron Edmond de Rothschild, operating for the benefit of current and future generations of the entire Israeli public.
Caesarea National Park
A tour of ancient Caesarea is like a walk through history. A splendid port city built by King Herod towards the end of the first century BCE to honor the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus.
Caesarea was the heart of the Roman sovereignty over the Judean province.
Excavations have revealed impressive remains of this luxurious city.
Dinner
Overnight: Vert Lagoon Resort, Netanya
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
Length of hike: approximately 13 km
Hiking time: 6 hours
We will offer three levels of difficulty.
OUR THIRD DAY OF HIKING WILL COVER THE JERUSALEM AND JUDEAN HILLS
Major sites along the way will include:
Ha-Masrek Reserve, Beit Meir
HaMasrek means The Comb in Hebrew. The nature reserve was named after the pine trees that grow densely in this area, similar to the teeth of a comb. A Palmach training group who lived in Givat Brenner and went on patrols in the area are probably responsible for the name of the reserve.
Nahal Kisalon
Bnei Brit Cave
In 1951, the Forest of the Martyrs was planted in the Jerusalem Hills. The forest was planted in memory of the Jews killed in the Holocaust, with six million trees planted on both sides of the Kesalon River. A natural cave was extended into a grotto which is a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.
Armon Hanatziv Promenade
We will enjoy panoramic views of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, the Judean Desert, Mount Zion and Mount Scopus. Along the way, we will learn about the dramatic historical events that took place in Jerusalem.
Arriving in Jerusalem
Finally, after years of Walk Israel hikes, we will finally enter as a group into the capital of Israel, Jerusalem!
Dinner
Overnight: Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem.
Thursday, October 27, 2022
Length of hike: approximately 6 km
Time: 4 hours
We will offer three levels of difficulty.
OUR LAST DAY OF HIKING WILL COVER THE JERUSALEM HILLS
Major sites along the way will include:
Mount of Olives
The Mount of Olives, overlooking the Old City, is an important Jerusalem landmark. The ridge derives its name from the olive trees that grew here in ancient times. According to the Bible, it is here that the Messiah will arrive. The Mount of Olives offers a spectacular, panoramic view of the city.
Kidron Valley
The Kidron Valley is the valley originating slightly northeast of the Old City of Jerusalem, which then separates the Temple Mount from the Mount of Olives. It is dotted with ancient tombs.
The City of David
The City of David, another famous landmark, is an archaeological site speculated to have been the original urban core of ancient Jerusalem. The area has divulged some of the most extraordinary archeological finds of the ancient world, spanning thousands of years. Among the most dramatic finds are remains of what is believed to be King David's royal palace and extensive evidence of the massive destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian Empire, and most recently, the Pilgrimage Road, the main thoroughfare for pilgrims going up to the Temple during the Second Temple Period.
Free time in the afternoon in Jerusalem
Festive closing event
Overnight: Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem
Friday, October 28, 2022
Buses depart for airport and Tel Aviv drop offs