Day Trip to the Land of a Thousand Caves from Tel Aviv

Our first stop will be the Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in June 2014. The ancient inhabitants of Maresha dug basements under their homes, which they used for a variety of purposes. You’ll see an underground oil press, storage areas, and elaborate graves, as well as the most fascinating attraction – the columbarium (where funeral urns are stored). With thousands of square holes carved into soft rock, it looks like something out of an Indiana Jones movie.

We’ll then drive on and continue our adventure. Preparing for their big revolt against the Roman Empire, Jewish farmers constructed a series of escape tunnels beneath their villages. Some of these tunnels were discovered and restored in recent years, and can now be visited by people who don’t suffer from claustrophobia.

We’ll also visit the Ella Valley, where David slew Goliath some 3000 years ago. Once you understand the geographical structure, the biblical story will make so much sense.

Optional: A visit to a boutique winery. Many local inhabitants of this area have established their own private wineries – let’s try their wines!