Tel Aviv is vibrant, modern and liberal. This 24-hour city combines sandy Mediterranean beaches with a buzzing culture scene, UNESCO recognised architecture, incredible food, and a world-renowned nightlife. Here you will find one of the biggest collections of Bauhaus buildings in the world and the old port town of Jaffa, with its wooden fishing boats, winding backstreets lined with artists’ studios and galleries and well-known flea market.  In Ahuzat Bayit take a walk under the fig and Poinciana trees of Rothschild Boulevard to see Independence Hall and some of the Bauhaus style houses of White City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nazareth is Israel’s largest Arab city, and it has often in the past, been overlooked by visitors. Some recent investment, however, has now put Nazareth firmly back on the map. The childhood home of Jesus, according to the New Testament, is now a major pilgrimage site for Christians and The Old City is a delight to visit, with an abundance of Ottoman era homes with stunning frescoes. The city’s shuk, or market, is a must see and it attracts Israelis from all over the country looking for traditional Arabic produce.

The Sea of Galilee or Yam Kinneret as it is known in Hebrew, is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and is one of the earliest settled areas in Israel. Golan Heights, part of Syria until 1967, when it came under Israeli military occupation, overlooks the upper Jordan River valley to the west. Learn about the conflicts here visiting some of the minefields and depopulated villages and have a coffee next to the bunkers of Mount Bental, overlooking the Valley of Tears.

Walking through the Old City of Jerusalem, the sense of history and religious importance, whatever your faith, is unmistakable. Take in Temple Mount, containing the Western Wall, the Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque, through the Jewish quarter to the historic Hurva Synagogue, along the Way of the Cross, the route that Jesus is believed to have taken on his way to be crucified, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre—according to tradition and to recent findings, the location of Jesus’s tomb. The skyline, a unique architectural mosaic, made up of synagogues, churches and mosques, is best viewed from the Mount of Olives to the city’s east.

Following lunch, learn about Israel’s wars and have a conversation with an Israeli soldier at Mt. Hertzl. This evening enjoy a family dinner hosted by a local Jewish family.

Just 10kms from Jerusalem, in the West Bank lies Bethlehem, or beit lechem meaning “House of Bread” in Hebrew. Arguably the holiest, and a major pilgrimage site for Christians, who flock to visit the birthplace of Jesus. The Church of the Nativity, named after the grotto it was built around, is believed to stand on his birthplace and the Grotto has a niche thought to be the exact spot where Jesus was born, marked by the Altar of Nativity and a 14-pointed silver star. The separation wall, which divides Bethlehem and Jerusalem, is adorned by numerous pieces of art from political street artists, including notably, works by Banksy.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Masada, on the Eastern edge of the Judaean Desert and overlooking the Dead Sea, is King Herod’s 2000-year-old mountain top fortress, complete with elaborate palaces and bathhouses. One of the greatest archaeological sites in Israel, the remains of the fortress are well-preserved, and many parts have been reconstructed. The most impressive structure remaining is King Herod’s northern palace, built on three rock terraces overlooking the gorge below. Masada can be ascended on foot via the winding “snake path” or by the cable car that runs from the tourist centre at the foot of the mountain.