General

Day 1: TEL AVIV
Upon our arrival at the Tel Aviv airport we will be met and transferred to our hotel in a suburb of Tel Aviv – situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner will be served at our hotel. Weather permitting, we suggest a walk after dinner on the beach.

Day 2: TEL AVIV / GALILEE
After breakfast we drive through the citrus groves and farms of the rich land of Sharon, northward to Caesarea, the Roman city of Herod where sights include Crusader fortifications and the Roman aqueducts and amphitheatre. Driving through the Jezreel Valley to the fields of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) and Megiddo. Continuing northward along the Mediterranean Sea to Haifa and Mt. Carmel – the biblical site of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal. Traveling westward across Galilee we will view Mt. Tabor. Deboriya – the hometown of the prophetess Deborah – at the foothill of Mt. Tabor. Overnight at our hotel on the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee.

Day 3: TIBERIAS / CAPERNAUM / CAESAREA PHILLIPI / MT. HERMON / GOLAN HEIGHTS
This day will be an exciting day in the Galilee area after a delicious breakfast. We will depart from the Roman hot springs resort city of Tiberias via a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to visit the ancient ruins of the first century synagogue where Jesus preached. Then on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the “Sermon on the Mount”, and to Tabgha – the chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We will then proceed to upper Galilee and the site of Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi and to Mt. Hermon the probable site of the Transfiguration, and the present day Golan Heights where Israel, Lebanon and Syria come together. We will follow the fresh mountain waters of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and to the outlet passage at the southern tip of the Sea. We will stop at the beautiful Pilgrims Park at the Jordan River. Return to our hotel for overnight.

Day 4: TIBERIAS
Today is a free day at leisure to enjoy as you please.

Day 5: NAZARETH / JERICHO / JERUSALEM

Early morning departure to Cana and then on to Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, where we will visit the Church of the Annunciation, and Mary’s Fountain.  We continue past Bethshean and then south through the Jordan Valley to ancient Jericho where the walls came tumbling down  and a commanding view of the Mt. of Temptation and Elisha’s Fountain. Then up to Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness. Overnight at our hotel in the Holy City of Jerusalem.

Day 6: JERUSALEM

After a night of rest and a hearty breakfast, this exciting day will begin with a drive to Mt. Scopus and the Mt. of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, visiting the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater Noster and the Dominus Flevit. Walk along Hosanna Road to the Gethsemane to visit the Church of All Nations which stands on the Rock of Agony where Jesus was betrayed by Judas. See the Pillar of Absalom, the Eastern (Golden) Gate and the Pinnacle of the Temple. We then drive to Mt. Zion where we visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on the site of Caiphas’ House, the Room of the Last Supper and the Tomb of King David. Continue to tour New Jerusalem: Hebrew University, the Shrine of the Book that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Model City of Jerusalem which depicts in miniature the Holy City as it appeared in the first century. Return to our hotel for overnight.

Day 7: JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM
Today begins with a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Starting at the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) where the faithful Jews cry their petitions to God. Continue to the Temple Area of Mt. Moriah. Visit the El Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock which is built on the ancient site of Solomon’s Temple and over the Rock of Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac and the ceremonial sacrifice of animals took place. After this we walk along the Via Dolorosa to Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch, where Jesus was tried before Pilate. Then continue through the Old City bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Visit the Garden Tomb and Golgotha – Place of the Skull – for a worship service. This afternoon continue our tour to Bethlehem. We will visit the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus, and Shepherds Fields, then the Field of Boaz and Ruth. We return to Jerusalem passing Rachel’s Tomb to our hotel for overnight.

Day 8: MASADA / DEAD SEA / QUMRAN / BETHANY
This morning we drive via the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth. A beautiful new road takes us south along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada, a truly remarkable piece of history. Ascend to Masada by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress where from 70-73 A.D. the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean Revolt against Rome and where the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth century Byzantine church are still on view. Return along the Dead Sea to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Visit the remains of the Community Centre of the Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls. We continue on the Jericho Road viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan. On the return to Jerusalem we visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. On to our Jerusalem hotel for overnight.

Day 9: JERUSALEM
Free day at leisure to shop, rest or visit other sites on your own