74 V i s i t www.theculturalexperience.com C a l l 0345 475 1815 Cross Periods The Holy Land in Turmoil A military history tour of Israel 17 – 27 November 2018 11 days with Cliff Churgin Activity Level 2/3 Essentials Return flights from London, train fares, 3 and 4 star hotels, buffet breakfast, 3-course dinner with drinks each evening, all entrance fees and expert guide throughout. Tour price: £3995 Single supplement: £775 Deposit: £350 Price without flights: £3695 This incredible ten-day journey will include visits to battlefields familiar to both Bible and history. We will discuss a gamut of military technologies from ancient to modern and terrain from desert to mountains and forests. The tour will be guided by Cliff Churgin, author of “Battlefields” a history of warfare, contributor to Ancient Warfare Magazine and expert on Israeli history. Throughout the tour Cliff will provide a series of illuminating talks and lectures on Israeli military history from Biblical times right up to the modern day. Since the dawn of civilization the small strip of land, ultimately known as The Holy Land, has served as a land bridge joining many of the world’s great empires. In the Iron and Bronze Ages, Egyptian, Babylonian and Assyrian armies marched through here fighting for control of cities such as Megiddo and Jaffa. Meanwhile the Israelites struggled against the Midianites, Philistines and others in battles led by men such as Gideon, Barak and King David. Later came the Romans whose war against the Jews was to leave behind some of the best preserved siege works in the world at Masada. As Europe emerged from the Dark Ages, Crusaders arrived erecting castles like Belvoir and fighting battles such as that at the Horns of Hattin against their Muslim foes. In modern times the Holy Land once more became a focus of warfare – at The Battle of Beer Sheba Australians mounted what many consider the last successful cavalry charge in history and at the Vale of Tears in the Golan Heights a handful of Israeli tanks made a desperate stand against a massive Syrian force. We can even see military history unfolding before us as Israel faces Hamas and Hezbollah in a model of modern asymmetrical warfare. Day 1 – Depart. Fly London – Tel Aviv. Check- in to our hotel for two nights. Day 2 – Old Jaffa. Visit Pharaoh Thutmose III’s Egyptian palace. At the Etzel Museum we discuss the battle for Jaffa in Israel’s War of Independence in 1948 and then on to the Israel Defence Forces History Museum for its fantastic collection of weapons. Thence to the Palmach Museum dedicated to the underground fighters of pre-state Israel. Day 3. The Western Coast. Visit Apollonia (Arsuf) where Richard the Lionheart fought Saladin to a standstill, then travel to Caesarea, a Roman and Crusader stronghold. We visit the Haifa Naval Museum. Thence to Acre, the final Crusader capital to walk its walls and check-in to our hotel for one night. Day 4 -The Jezreel Valley. A biblical day in which we visit: Megido, where some believe the biblical final battle of Armageddon will take place; Mt. Saul where the first king of Israel died fighting the Philistines; Ein Harod where Gideon met the Midianites (and where 3,000 years later Orde Wingate trained commandoes to quell an Arab uprising) and Mt. Tabor where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera and his chariots. Check-in to our hotel in Beit Shean for one night and enjoy a sound and light show. Day 5 – The Galilee. Visit the Crusader castle of Belvoir, Arbel, where Jewish rebels fought Herod, and the Horns of Hattin where “Great locations, stunning scenery, outstanding storytelling, efficient tour management and good company made the tour a memorable one.”