On day two we will explore the flea market in Old Jaffa as the city wakes, before checking out of our hotel and heading north to arrive at the ancient town of Caesarea. With a history dating back 2,300 years to the days of King Herod, visiting the national park is like walking through a story. Wandering between the ancient buildings, one can both sense how people lived here thousands of years ago and enjoy modern, contemporary experiences, such as the enthralling musical performances held in the beautiful Roman theater.

We will wander through the ruins of the castle and the various temples, visit the hippodrome, ancient port and the tiny artists’ square and explore the Roman aqueduct at sunset on the coastline before continuing up the coast to check in to our hotel in the city of Haifa. (B)

Our day starts with a morning walk in Haifa. The beautiful architecture at the German Colony lies at the base of the Baha’i gardens. These magnificent gardens are a UNESCO world heritage site, and extend all the way up the northern slope of Mount Carmel. In the centre stands a gold-domed shrine of the final resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i faith.

In the afternoon, we will head to one of our favorite photogenic gems in Israel – Acre. This ancient crusader city is a UNESCO world heritage site, dating back to the 11th century. A visit to Acre is part of the Israeli experience. The city is a meeting place for East and West, new and old, beauty and ruins, all adding to its uniqueness. The fascinating history that has passed through the streets of Acre, the legacy left behind by its conquerors, the buildings that adorn the city and the places of worship built there are just part of the experience this city offers.

Among the high-walled alleys and underground passages is a huge mosque and a Christian monastery, an inn and Turkish baths, halls built by the Knights Templar, with an extraordinary Templar tunnel and fascinating archeological findings. These are joined by intriguing museums and many churches, a row of hotels near the inviting beaches, a marina, restaurants and a picturesque fishing port. Magnificent architecture, set on the coastline appears almost intact. Acre offers an excellent blend of architecture, seascape, people and street photography. In the evening, we will head back to our hotel in Haifa. (B)

Today we head to Safed (Tzfat), located in the Upper Galilee. Tzfat is a picturesque town of spiritual people and artists, wrapped in mysticism and mystery, and steeped in sacred atmosphere. One of the four holiest towns in Israel, its location is also the highest elevation, and commands wonderful views over the Galilee and Mount Hermon. With the grapevines growing up the arbors of its stone houses, the decorated iron gates, the beautiful panorama that is visible from the verandas, and the winding cobblestone alleyways, is like strolling through a painting.

In the winter months, we also include a visit to the Hula Valley, the resting place for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds who follow the Jordan Rift Valley on their journey between Europe and North Africa. Storks, cranes, pelicans and flamingos are a familiar sight. The Hula Lake attracts birds and water fowl, and you can also see water buffalos roaming wild and many species of aquatic plants. This area is exceptional for bird photography and nature lovers.

Heading south, we pass by the Kinneret, or the Sea of Galilee. The Kinneret is Israel’s largest fresh water reservoir, and is also the country’s largest and most important source of drinking water. The Kinneret played an important role in the early years of Christianity and has now become a pilgrimage site for many Christians. According to Christian tradition, Jesus lived, preached and performed miracles in the Kinneret and the surrounding region. It was here that he was said to have walked on water. One of the most beautiful sights along the Sea of Galilee is the Greek orthodox church of the 12 apostles. Built in 1925 by the Greek orthodox church, its red-domed roof has an interior of beautiful Greek icons. In the late afternoon, we check into our hotel in the Golan Heights before capturing the sunset on Mount Bental, bordering Syria. (B)

The Golan Heights, Israel’s mountainous northern region, is one of the most beautiful and most traveled parts of the country. There are wonderful scenic treasures alongside lovely nature reserves, historic and archeological sites. The beauty of the Golan is so captivating that some visitors return here again and again to enjoy the sights.

For the history buff, the Golan is a region of endless fascination. Prehistoric sites and megalithic edifices, whose purpose remains a mystery, are dotted through the hills and valleys; Hellenistic towns, Roman fortresses and Crusader castles stand guard over the roads and ancient highways of the Golan. The Golan is the place where Jesus sought his last moments of peace before embarking on his final journey to Jerusalem.

Our day will include visiting remnants of the 1967 6-day war within the Golan Heights. Battle-scarred buildings, deserted towns and rusting military equipment within surrounding fields of spring flowers are testament to the conflict that occurred here. On 10 June 1967 the Six Day War, against all odds – Israel’s greatest military victory came to an end. At the end of our day, we will head south and check in to our hotel in Jerusalem. (B)

Jerusalem is the state capital and the biggest city in Israel. Jerusalem is a holy city to three religions; Judaism, Christianity and Islam and this is due to its 5000 year history of stories and legacies. Jerusalem’s main history revolved around the old city, the same preserved site dating thousands of years back, documents the life it used to be. In the city, you will find four quarters: Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian. You will experience the ancient city, unique markets and picturesque residential neighborhoods through your lens. Even to the most hardened atheist, It is impossible to leave Jerusalem without it leaving its mark on you. (B)

In the morning we head out to Mount Scopus for sunrise views over Jerusalem before exploring more of the city’s highlights. Starting with some street photography in the Mahane Yehuda market, we will continue to the Old City and wander through the bustle of the markets and narrow, cobbled lanes to arrive to the Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other significant religious sites.

In the late afternoon, we will take a short drive out of Jerusalem to photograph the St. George’s monastery perched on the cliff of a gorge, with the stunning landscapes of the Judean desert in the background. Here we can stop for some authentic Arabic coffee with the local Bedouins. In the evening we will have a group critique of our best images taken so far. (B)

Today we depart for the Dead Sea. With its salt formations and changing landscape, the Dead Sea allows for completely new photographic opportunities on each visit. Thanks to its unique elements of nature, the Dead Sea is unlike any other place in the world. It is the lowest point on earth, giving it unique scenery found nowhere else.

Masada, a mountaintop fortress is surrounded by barren landscapes of the Judah desert. Hidden springs, caves and mountains gives the area a variety of photographic opportunities amidst one of the most beautiful settings Israel has to offer. At the mineral spa area of Ein Bokek in the Dead Sea, we check-in to our hotel. (B)

The Negev is a large desert that covers the entire southern half of Israel. The least populated area in Israel, it is a home to (among others) the nomadic desert people known as the Bedouin. The Negev offers some truly breathtaking scenery and fascinating sites. Here we will visit spectacular desert gorges, ancient towns, canyons and national parks.

Today we enjoy a pleasant drive around the Negev, stopping at scenic points to photograph the Ramon crater, the largest erosional crater on earth. With weather conditions permitting, we can practice astro-photography techniques at night due to the surrounding desert’s lack of light pollution.

In the evening we will celebrate our Farewell Dinner in Ein Bokek. (B) (D)

Watching the sunrise over the mountains across the Dead Sea, photographing the salt deposits on the shore and capturing Masada in all its glory in the morning golden hour is on the agenda before breakfast. When we check out of our hotel in the Ein Bokek, we will review our past weeks photos, trade contact information and bid you farewell on arrival to Eilat.

We urge you to extend your stay in Israel or elsewhere in the Middle East and make good use of everything you will learn on our photo adventure. (B)

Our second day starts early as we take a sunrise tour by 4×4 vehicle to visit some of the area’s most interesting and photogenic sites. Watching the sun rise between the sandstone rock creating subtle changes of light, textures in the desert floor changing as the sun rises and illuminates the wonderful rock formations. Some of the locations we will visit include the Red Sand Dunes, Little Bridge, Burdah Rock Bridge, Khazali Canyon, and Lawrence’s Spring – named after the British soldier, Lawrence of Arabia that resided here. This is a great way to start our day. The first impression you may have of Wadi Rum during golden hour is the feeling that you are on a different planet. The similarity to Mars is striking. No wonder it has been the backdrop of so many movies. After breakfast, we leave our tent camp and head to our next destination – our beautiful hotel located near to the Red Rose City of Petra.

A World Heritage Site, and one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the legacy of Petra seems to have been frozen in time. This amazing city dates back more than 2,000 years, and was built and inhabited by the Nabateans, an ancient Arab civilization. The Nabateans were considered scientists, and admired for their ingenuity in architectural planning, construction and irrigation skills. Petra is located at the crossroads of ancient trading routes, and was of major importance for caravans passing through.

In the afternoon, we will enjoy a guided tour with an expert on the city’s heritage. Passing through the Siq [narrow slot canyon] we arrive to the Treasury, probably Petra’s most iconic structure, and the setting for the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. We will spend a few hours touring the ancient city, as you try to absorb the scope of its size while photographing the fascinating scenes that unfold around each corner.

In the early evening, before arriving to our hotel, we will take some artistic shots of the wind farm that overlooks Wadi Musa, the municipality of Petra and the surrounding area. Using a combination of tripods and neutral density filters, we will capture movement of the turbines in motion, perfect when the sun starts to go down. After returning to our hotel and enjoying an excellent dinner, we will take a well-deserved rest after experiencing a truly memorable day. (B)

After breakfast, we will head to Little Petra, a far smaller site, though of major importance to Petra. Known locally as Siq Al-Barid, this site includes temples, tombs, cisterns and other methods in channeling and storing water. Various religious ceremonies were held here and festivals were hosted by the king of the Nabateans. Evidence of wine production is represented by a well preserved fresco depicting cherubs with grapevines. After relaxing in our hotel and going over our best images selected to date with a group critique, we will prepare ourselves with tripods and warmer clothing as we head out for our night shoot.

Before arriving to visit ‘Petra by Night’, probably one of the most beautiful sights that can be captured in photography, we will stop at a viewpoint overlooking the Dana Biosphere reserve to capture beautiful panoramic shots during sunset. A tripod and graduated neutral density filter to balance skies will be useful here. Finally, our day ends in spectacular fashion as we spend 2 hours photographing Petra by Night.

Walking down through the Siq with lanterns on the floor directing us and the cliffs of the canyons towering above us, stars emerging through the natural beauty of the rock, and the wonderful silence that beckons us to the Treasury, this event has to be one of the most spectacular and memorable nights you will ever experience. Arriving to the Treasury, with its floor covered in lanterns, the beautiful facade cut out of sheer rock is laid bare in all it’s glory. Even the best photographer could not create lighting of such beauty. After photographing the light show, we will make our way back to the exit, enjoying the scenes on our own without distractions and at our own pace. Back in the city we will celebrate with a ‘Farewell Dinner’ fit for a King, or Queen. (B) (D)

On day four, we head out early for a sunrise tour of Petra. Arriving at the sites at dawn with just the sound of the call for prayer, watching the locals attending to their rickshaws, and having the whole place to ourselves, we prepare ourselves as the colors of the pink sandstone become more intense. Here we can explore at our own pace. Some may wish to do an uphill hike to visit the High Place of Sacrifice, or to view the Treasury from above. Others may prefer to just wait and watch the scenes that unfold. On returning to our hotel, we will enjoy our breakfast, check-out of our hotel and head back to the border where we will exchange contact information, and sadly bid you farewell. (B)

Due to Petra’s location, guests have several options for returning home. Aqaba airport in Jordan and Eilat airport in Israel serve international flights. Alternatively, you may wish to enjoy some time on your own at the end of our trip by staying at the Red Sea coastal towns of Aqaba or Eilat. Finally, you have the option of returning directly to Tel Aviv by vehicle with your guide. Once you’re registered we’ll be happy to advise you on your best return travel options.