Blog
Tour writeups, reflections on guiding and the occasional practical guide.
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Settlement of the Jordan Valley
A day through the Jordan Valley and the southern Sea of Galilee: the Harod Spring, the Roman bridge and hydroelectric ruins at Old Gesher and Naharayim, the Kinneret Courtyard and Rachel the Poet, Degania, the Motor House and the Kinneret Cemetery.
Caesarea
A day around Caesarea: the Byzantine flour mills at Nachal Taninim, the Hadrianic aqueducts at Beit Hanania, the national park itself with Herod's port, hippodrome, theatre and bathhouse, and the birds mosaic to the north.
Beer Sheva and the Southern Coastal Plain
A long day through the southern coastal plain and into the Negev: Mazkeret Batya, the Museum of Philistine Culture and Ashdod Yam fortress, Ashdod Port, the Rutenberg Power Station and Beer Sheva, finishing at the Monument to the Negev Brigade.
Modern Tel Aviv
A second day of touring Tel Aviv, this time tracing its modern development — the cultural quarter, Sarona, the Tachana, the ha'apala memorial, Rabin Square, the old port and the Yitzchak Rabin Centre.
The Ayalon Valley
A day in the Ayalon valley between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem: Tel Gezer's Israelite gate, Mini Israel, the Crusader Toron des Chevalliers and Latrun's silent Trappist monks, ancient Emmaus, the Tombs of the Maccabees and Neot Kedumim.
The Sea Peoples
Following the footsteps of the Sea Peoples along the southern coast: Tel Qasile in the Land of Israel Museum, Izbet Sartah, the Crusader fortress of Migdal Tzedek, Tel Afek / Antipatris, ancient Ashkelon and Jonah's Hill above the Ashdod port.
Campus Negev Day 3: from Ovdat to Mamshit
Day 3 of the Negev campus: the Nabbatean city of Ovdat and the hidden Bor Chavarim cistern, a hike up Ein Avdat, Ben-Gurion's grave at Sde Boker and a brief stop at Mamshit before heading back to Tel Aviv.
Campus Negev Day 2: The Ramon Crater / Makhtesh Ramon
Day 2 of the Negev campus in the Makhtesh Ramon: the refurbished visitors' centre in Mitzpe Ramon, the Nabbatean khan at Saharonim, the dykes of Nachal Ardon, the Carpentry Shop and a porcupine or two at Bio Ramon.
Campus Negev Day 1: The Negev Mountains
Day one of the Negev campus. We trace the peaks of the Negev mountains, from Yerucham Park to the Large Makhtesh with its fossilised trees, and on to Ein Yorkeam and the Scorpions' Ascent.
Safed / Tzefat
A return to Tzefat, where I spent three months on my gap year, this time as a guiding student. Akhbara, Mt Canaan, the kabbalists' synagogues of the Old City and a sunset over the Crusader citadel.
If you are going to Israel, you would be mad not to give him a call.
Amol Rajan, BBC presenter and broadcaster
Having been on trips in Israel with seven different tour guides, Samuel stood above all the rest.
Seasoned Israel traveller
Samuel is one part walking encyclopedia, one part storyteller, one part stand-up comedian.
Berkeley Haas Business School student