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Balashram Trek 2011
Israel
28 October - 6 November
BACKGROUND
Balashram is a residential school in rural Orissa, India and is situated 80kms from Cuttack. It was set up in 2004 for the poor and destitute children of Orissa. The school which is entering it's seventh year of operation, presently takes care of 320 children, both boys and girls giving them an opportunity for a complete education. Next year, yet another 40 disadvantaged children will be joining Balashram. The children are being educated in English and are growing up beautifully in all areas of their lives- academically, creatively, physically, socially, morally and spiritually.
Children are admitted to the school from the age of 4 years with a plan to educate them to18 years of age. Balashram is funded by voluntary donations and gives the most disadvantaged children the chance of an education normally only affordable to children from wealthy families. Balashram is managed by the board of trustees of Prajnana Mission, an Indian based charity founded by Paramahamsa Prajñanananda.
Paramahamsa Prajñanananda has commented "When I see these children and how much they are achieving in their lives, it gives me so much joy. I do not think I have ever seen a group of so many children living together and being so happy and joyful. An act of charity on our part gives them an opportunity that they would not otherwise have. Human civilisation will survive better when its under-privileged children are properly taken care of and helped to grow up successfully as the future of humankind."
The school will ultimately accommodate 480 children and substantial investment is still required to support the running of Balashram. The purpose of the Balashram trek is to raise funds but the treks have also proved to be a wonderful experience for all those that have taken part.
WHO CAN TAKE PART IN THE TREK?
Anyone who is over 18, fit and healthy and with a spirit of adventure can join the trek and by doing so can make a real difference to the children’s lives.
Each trekker needs to raise sponsorship of at least £2500 (EURO2825, USD4110) and pay £700 registration fee (EURO 790, USD1150) towards the cost of the trek themselves. In addition each trekker will need to organise and purchase their flights to Tel Aviv. Places are strictly limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis. The registration fee is due when you book and the sponsorship monies are due by the 19 August 2011 at the latest.
This will be our fifth Balashram Trek and those wishing to take part will need to be in good health and have a level fitness to walk up to 8 hours a day in the desert. In addition you must be committed to raising the sponsorship monies or to sponsoring yourself.
The trek will be professionally organized by Classic Tours Limited who are an experienced trek and tour operator. Marketing, initial administration and fund-raising will be co-ordinated by Kriya Yoga UK.
The treks are very popular and tend to fill up quickly. However, it is essential that you read all the information provided on this site before deciding whether to join us. We are delighted that Paramahamsa Prajnananandaji will be joining us for the trek again this year. Baba Prajnananandaji has recently said "Last year I had the opportunity to visit Israel for the first time, and it was a beautiful experience to be in the land of the Holy Bible. During the upcoming trek, we will as trekkers discover together the beauty of this country and as pilgrims we will follow in the footsteps of Jesus and discover the origins and holy sites of Judaism and Christianity"
THE ITINERARY:
ISRAEL TREK 2011
(Download copy of the Itinerary)
This trek combines visits to pilgrimage sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Galilee with trekking in the Negev desert.
Day 1 – Friday 28th October
Arrive Tel Aviv and transfer to The Three Arches Hotel in Jerusalem
You will need to book your own flights to and from Tel Aviv. When you arrive at the airport you need to organise your own transfer to the trek meeting point at Jerusalem International YMCA, Three Arches Hotel, King David Street, Jerusalem 91002, Tel: 972-2-5692692 E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it You should plan to be at the hotel by 1700 hrs at the latest where you will meet the rest of the group and receive a welcome briefing from our Tour Leader. Meditation/prayer follows with dinner at 1900hrs. Overnight at our hotel.
Day 2 – Saturday (Shabat) 29th October
Transfer from Jerusalem to Mitzpe Ramon and Trek Ein Avdat enroute
After morning meditation and breakfast, we will leave our hotel around 0900 and travel south in our coach (approx two and a half hours journey) to Ein Advat.. Here we will stop for a warm up trek of about one hour around EinAvdat, located in the Nahal Zin area. Nahal Zin is the largest wadi (dry river bed) in the Negev Desert. At the end of our trek we stop at Chan Hashayarot for lunch in a traditional Bedouin tent. After lunch we visit the ruins of Avdat which overlooks the desert and the ancient Spice Route. From Advat we drive south for approximately two hours to our hotel, in Mitzpe Ramon. Overnight at the Ramon Hotel
Day 3 – Sunday 30th October
Mitzpe Ramon and Trekking in Ramon Crater 13kms/6hrs
After breakfast we check out of our hotel and drive for approx 30 minutes to our trek start point and set off on a gentle trek in the Ramon Crater area. Despite its name, the Maktesh is not a crater but a vast erosional feature some 300m deep, 8km wide and 40km long. This spectacular features multicoloured sandstone, volcanic rock and fossils. It is here that the tribes of Israel wandered 3000 years ago on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land and Avdat. It is typical desert terrain – arid, dusty, uneven ground - due to the meagre rainfall in the area. We hike towards Ein Yelek and the Ammonite Wall, a large rock wall which forms part of the crater’s southern side. Along this wall is a rich variety of fossils and large sea snails, remnants of ancient times when the whole of the northern Negev region was covered by the sea. Our walking will be at a slow pace today so that we have time to soak in the history and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of our surroundings. We continue to our desert camp at Wadi Gevanim where we stay overnight.
Day 4 – Monday 31st October
Trekking Ramon Crater 16 kms/7hrs
This morning we continue our trek in Ramon Crater which is one of 5 craters in the Negev Desert, often known as the “Land of Craters”. This is one of the most impressive geological natural phenomena on Earth and we will take our time to soak up its natural beauty. None of the paths in the crater are particularly steep, narrow or too challenging. We continue on towards Parsat Neqarot (translated Neqarot Horseshoe) which is part of Wadi Neqarot and is surrounded by a dry and rocky landscape. After lunch we trek to Ein Sharonim which is the only water source for the Ramon Crater. We camp in the desert wilderness again tonight.
Day 5 –Tuesday 1st November
Trekking Ramon Crater and transfer to Metzoke Dragot 13 kms/4.5hrs
Today we complete our exploration of the Ramon Crater. Again it is a gentle trek at a leisurely pace. The whole area is a nature reserve where pistachio trees, white wormwood (used as a remedy by Bedouins in their tea for stomach pains and colds) and desert rhubarb grows and today we will take the time to appreciate the desert flora and fauna. We finish our trek around mid afternoon and return to Chan Hashayarot where the Nabatean traders ruled circa 6th century BC. We then transfer north (approx three hours) to Metzoke Dragot which is located at the edge of a cliff overlooking the Dead Sea. The area is in the northern part of the Judean Desert which boasts an abundance of wadis and ancient caves. Overnight at the Metzoke Dragot Hotel.
Day 6 – Wednesday 2nd November
Masada Sunrise Tour, Dead Sea Swim, Sea of Galilee and Nazareth
Metzoke Dragot is known for its famous Masada fortress, from where beautiful sunrises can be viewed. This morning we have a very early (0400hrs) start with a climb up Masada so that, weather permitting, we can experience this wonderful sight. After breakfast we have an opportunity to float in the Dead Sea, which is the lowest place on Earth. The Dead Sea is actually a lake that’s made up of approximately one third salt, and due to this it is impossible to swim in it; instead you can relax and float away! Its properties have been known to cure skin conditions and help with respiration, and its mud is used in spa treatments in the many hotels along the shoreline. After our swim we drive along the Jordan Valley for 2 hours towards the Sea of Galilee, which is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, spanning approximately 33 miles in circumference. The Sea of Galilee is also where Christians believe Jesus walked on water. We will stop for lunch at Ein Gey, before taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We continue our day with visits to some of the religious sites in the area including the Church and Monastery of Apostles, Tabgham, Carpernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes before travelling to Nazareth, where we stay in the St Gabriel hotel overnight.
Day 7 – Thursday 3rd November
Nazareth, Mount Tabor, Meggido and transfer to Jerusalem
We begin our day in Nazareth with a visit to Mensa Christi Church, the Basilica of the Annunciation (where Christians believe that the Virgin Mary was visited by the archangel Gabriel). Later we will visit Mount Tabor and the Basilica of the Transfiguration. After lunch at Meggido, we explore the excavations which go back to the time of King Solomon. We then transfer (approx two hours) to our hotel in Jerusalem. Overnight at The King Solomon hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 8 – Friday 4th November
Jerusalem
This morning we visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s official museum to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. This will be followed by a tour of the Old City, including visits to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and a walk along the Via Dolorosa, which is said to be the path that Jesus walked, carrying his cross, on the way to his Crucifixion. We continue towards Temple Mount, Church of St Anne, the Pools of Bethesda Church of St John the Baptist and St James Cathedral within the Armenian quarter, before returning to our hotel. Overnight at The King Solomon hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 9 – Saturday (Shabat) 5th November
Jerusalem-Bethlehem
After breakfast we travel 10km south to Bethlehem. We start with a morning tour of Bethlehem, visiting Manger Square, and the Church of the Nativity, which was built over the accepted birthplace of Jesus. We also visit St Catherine’s Church, Milk Grotto Chapel and Rachel’s Tomb. In the afternoon we return and continue our tour of Jerusalem climbing the Mount of Olives and visiting theChurch of the Ascension, the Church of the Pater Noster and the Church of Dominus Flevit. We then visit the beautiful Garden of Gethsemane alongside the Church of All Nations which were focal sites for early Christian pilgrims. We finish the day by visiting the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, Garden Tomb, Mount Zion and Dormition Abbey which commemorates the Virgin Mary. This evening we enjoy a end-trek celebratory meal at our hotel. Overnight at The King Solomon hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 10 – Sunday 6th November
Jerusalem
After breakfast at our hotel we arrange our own transfer to the airport for our flight home.