Day 1: Departure
After much prayer and preparation, we will depart arrive at the airport at least three hours early for our international check-in and departure for Tel Aviv.
Overnight – on flight
Day 2: Arrive in TEL AVIV – Caesarea Maritima
Arrive in Tel Aviv and board a new, climate-controlled motor coach where our guide will greet us and give us an orientation of the land as we travel towards the Mediterranean coast. We will visit Caesarea Maritama, known too as Caesarea by the Sea—including the theater, Herod’s palace and the aqueduct. The magnificent city contains extensive and well preserved Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader ruins and, as well, is the same place from which the story of the first gentile convert into Christianity (Acts 10) is first documented. It also holds importance to the travels of Paul — those events that led Caesarea Maritima to become the springboard of Christianity to the West. Check into our hotel on the coastal plains of the Mediterranean Sea for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight Dan Panorama, Haifa
Day 3: Ω MOUNT CARMEL, MEGIDDO, NAZARETH VILLAGE, NAZARETH, SEA OF GALILEE
After a buffet breakfast, Ascend the Carmel mountain range to a site, the Muhraka, commemorating Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). Explore the excavations at Megiddo, known as biblical Armegeddan, which holds 20 layers of civilization representing 5,000 years of accumulated cities. Here we will see the stables and gateway built by King Solomon, and walk through the underground water tunnel built to protect the city from the Assyrian invaders 2,800 years ago. Drive to Nazareth (the hometown of Jesus) for a fascinating tour through Nazareth Village, a re-creation of life in biblical times. As we make our way past Cana (site of first miracle of turning water into wine) to our base in the Galilee, we will view Mt. Tabor and make our way to our hotel in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and enjoy dinner together.
Dinner and Overnight Kibbutz Ein Gev Galilee
Day 4: CAPERNAUM, MOUNT OF BEATITUDES, CAESAREA PHILLIPI, ANCIENT BOAT, BOAT RIDE, SEA OF GALILEE
We will begin our day at the site of Capernaum, hometown of St Peter and the center of Jesus’ Ministry in the Galilee. See the remains of the first century town and the synagogue where Jesus taught, and have an opportunity to consider and discuss the meaning of these teachings. See the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered, and enjoy the view from here as well. Drive up to the Golan Heights, site of (biblical Bashan) and head to Caesarea Phillipi, where many believe the transfiguration occurred. We will drive through the Golan Heights down to the ancient Jesus boat museum, containing a recently-discovered 2000-year old fishing boat. We will then sail on the Sea of Galilee on a replica of that boat. Dinner at the hotel.
Dinner and Overnight Kibbutz Ein Gev Galilee
Day 5: MAGDALA , BET SHEAN, BAPTISMAL SITE, JERICHO, JERUSALEM
After a buffet breakfast, we will visit the newly discovered site of Magdala, situated directly on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This newly excavated site boasts the massive discovery of the oldest second temple period inscribed “Magdala stone”. Moreover a first century period synagogue along with several ancient ritual baths as well as a large seaside village and Roman cardo have recently been excavated. Magdala is the birthplace and home of Mary Magdalene and the site also contains a beautiful spirituality center. From here we will leave the area of Galilee, following the Jordan Valley Road to Beth Shean, the capital of the Decapolis. There we will see the ruins of the Roman and Byzantine cities. We will also discuss the demise of King Saul and his sons, whose bodies were hanged on the walls of Beth Shean. We will then continue traveling south to the actual location where John the Baptist was baptizing on the Jordan River. Jericho will be our next stop, where we will visit the Tel of Jericho with its ancient ruins, pointing out what possibly could be the foundations of the ramparts that Joshua and the Israelites brought down. After lunch, we travel to the Old Roman Road, where we will consider the setting for the Parable of the Good Samaritan. From there we will stop at Eretz Beresheet and enjoy a camel ride and dinner with Abraham. Drive to Jerusalem for check in.
Dinner and Overnight Grand Court Jerusalem
Day 6: TEMPLE MOUNT, JERUSALEM ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK, CITY of DAVID, SIFTING, ISRAEL MUSEUM
Ascend the Temple Mount, where Jerusalem’s temples once stood, to see the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, both sacred to Muslims and then visit the Western Wall. Tour the Old Testament City of David, including Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Pool of Siloam and the Tombs of the House of David. View the ongoing excavations of David’s Palace and enter Herod’s underground water canal, emerging at the base of the Pinnacle of the Temple. Visit the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, including the Trumpet Stone and the ancient stairway to the Temple Mount. Then we will try our hands at archeological sifting at the Ein Zurim project, carefully studying the rubble brought out from what were the King Solomon stables in the times of the Crusaders.
Continue to the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the second Temple Model showing the city at the time of Our Lord. Dinner at leisure.
Dinner and Overnight Grand Court Jerusalem
Day 7: MASADA, EN GEDI, QUMRAN, DEAD SEA, JERUSALEM
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our day visiting Masada, the fortress built by King Herod the Great and made famous by the Zealots in 73/74 AD with the standoff against the Romans. We visit the fortress and see the ruins that are considered a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. We then continue to En Gedi, the oasis in the desert where the meeting between David and King Saul took place (I Samuel 24) and where many of the psalms were written by David. After lunch, we visit Qumran, the location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a Bedouin boy back in 1947. There we will see the caves and other buildings that the Essenes, the group of Jews who wrote the scrolls, lived. We will end the day with some time to float in the DeadSea. Return to Jerusalem and enjoy Shabbat dinner at the home of a local Jewish family.
Dinner and Overnight Grand Court Jerusalem
Day 8: MOUNT OF OLIVES, GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE, St. ANNE’S (POOLS OF BETHESDA), WESTERN WALL, JERUSALEM, VIA DOLOROSA CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE, LEISURE TIME
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our day with an orientation over the holy city from the Mount of Olives,pointing out important locations within the Old City, connecting them with Biblical stories and prophecies about the return of Jesus. We will then walk down the Palm Sunday Procession road. We will then spend some time at the Garden of Gethsemane (time will be given at the private section of the garden). We will then visit the Church of St. Anne’s, a perfectly intact Crusader church. It is a wonderful place to gather and sing a song (sometimes with fellow Christians from all over the world). There, we will also visit the pools of Bethesdawhere the healing at the pool took place (John 5). We will then visit the judgement hall (Ecce Homo). From there we will walk the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering that Our Lord Jesus Christ walked while carrying His cross and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (the traditional place where He was buried.). Remainder of the day at leisure in the Old City.
Dinner and Overnight Grand Court Jerusalem
DAY 9: HOUSE of CAIPHAS, MOUNT ZION, EIN KAREM, BETHLEHEM
After a buffet breakfast, we will visit the home of the High Priest, Caiaphas and on to Mount Zion where we will see the Room of the Last Supper. We will drive to Ein Kerem, the village where Elizabeth lived, and visit Mary’s Well. The afternoon will be spent in Bethlehem, birthplace of Our Lord. We will visit the Grotto within the Basilica as well as the beautiful church of St Catherine. Enjoy an oriental dinner in Bethlehem.
Overnight: Grand Court Jerusalem
DAY 10: SHILOH, ISRAEL MUSEUM, GARDEN TOMB, JAFFA
We will then visit beautiful grounds of the Garden Tomb where we will worship together and celebrate communion. We then travel to Shiloh to explore the place where the Tabernacle stood during the days of the Judges. From here we travel to Jaffa where we will end our tour by considering the vision of Peter (Acts 10) and start following the sequence of events that lead to the opening of the gates of the early church to Gentiles. As we look at the very place where Jonah ran from the Lord, we will also reflect on our own walk with God. Enjoy a lovely farewell dinner and travel to the airport. Return home with unforgettable memories, amazing new friends and a life-changing understanding of the Bible.
