Wild Gush Etzion: Caves, Pioneers & Adventure

Gush Etzion

Discover the wild side of Gush Etzion — ancient fortresses, hidden caves, underground swimming holes, pioneering farms, and serious adventure.

Herodion — Fortress, Rebels & Hidden Tunnels:
Climb to breathtaking Judean Desert views, then explore Herod’s remarkably well-preserved, 2,000-year-old fortress from the days of the Second Beit HaMikdash. Discover rebel tunnels, ancient shuls and mikvahs, and see Herod’s palace come back to life through immersive multimedia.

Nahal Tekoa & Haritun Cave:
Scramble down into the dramatic cliffs of Nahal Tekoa and explore the enormous Haritun Cave hidden deep inside the canyon.

Optional Extreme Cave Spelunking:
Only for those in good shape and ready to get dirty — belly-crawl, squeeze, and twist through tight underground passages on an unforgettable one-hour cave adventure.

Zohar Yehuda Farm — Modern-Day Pioneers:
Visit a remote mountaintop ranch where Jewish pioneers raise animals and herd sheep among breathtaking desert views. Meet the modern-day “Judean cowboys” maintaining a Jewish presence in remote parts of the Land.

Ancient Borot — Underground Swimming Adventure:
Climb down ladders into ancient underground cisterns, jump into cool hidden pools, and swim inside cave-like chambers beneath the ground.

Chesed for Soldiers:
Bring treats to the soldiers protecting the area and take a moment to personally say thank you.

Swap-Out Options

UTV Adventure in Meitzad:
Take the wheel of a UTV — even the kids can drive! Follow a yeshivish “hilltop cowboy” through rugged trails, remote frum mountaintop communities, and pioneering farms while hearing how these communities are building, farming, and maintaining a Jewish presence across the hills of Judea.

Deerland Zipline:
Fly across the valleys of Gush Etzion on one of Israel’s longest and most exciting ziplines.

Caliber 3:
Experience Israeli counter-terror training through an action-packed program led by experienced security professionals.

“Wow! Our entire family (ages ranging from 5 to 35) had an amazing experience with Arky last week!!! Even as I’m writing this a week later my family is still discussing how much fun we had with Arky and how it was the highlight of our trip!!! Not only did we do lots of fun things and see awesome sights but we also learnt a lot in a fun way. We highly recommend seeing Israel with Arky!!!” -Essie and Yaakov Berkowitz