Day 1: Arrival at Tel Aviv
Arrival at Tel Aviv airport. Meeting & assistance by our representative. Transfer to the Hotel in Tel Aviv.
Day 2: Jaffa, Caesarea, Megiddo, Sea of Galilee
Drive to Jaffa, one of the oldest cities in the world. Visit the house of Simon the Tanner, the house where St. Peter had his vision (Acts 10: 1-23). Walk through Jaffa’s reconstructed Old Quarter. Visit St. Peter’s Church. Travel to Caesarea, where St. Peter converted the centurion Cornelius (Acts 10: 1-5). This fortified harbor city was built 2000 years ago by King Herod the Great. Explore the ruins of Roman, Byzantine & Crusader times. Drive via the ancient "Way of the Sea" to Megiddo. Visit the Fortress City of King Solomon, later built upon by King Ahab. The books of Daniel & Revelation come alive as we read about the final Battle of Armageddon while overlooking the Plains of Jezreel. At Mt. Carmel we’ll see the site where Elijah defeated the 450 prophets of Baal (I Kings: 18). Overnight at the Sea of Galilee.
Day 3: Sea of Galilee, Caesarea Phillipi
Take a drive to the northern shore, where Jesus spent his years of ministry. See the ruins of Capernaum, the town where Jesus made his home after leaving Nazareth (Mark 2:1). View the remains of the ancient synagogue in which He may have preached & the house of St. Peter (Matthew 8: 14-17). On to Tabgha where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves & fishes took place (Matthew 14: 16-20). Visit the Church of St. Peter where he received the primacy (John 21: 16-17). Drive to the Mt. of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. Take an inspiring boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. After, we’ll have a chance to eat the traditional St. Peter fish. Next, we’ll drive to Caesarea Phillipi, where St.Peter made his confession of faith in Jesus (Matthew 16: 13-23). Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 4: Cana, Nazareth, Mt. Tabor
Drive to Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning jars of water into wine (John 2: 1-11). Continue to Nazareth, the home of Joseph & Mary, & visit the Church of the Annunciation (Luke 1: 26-38). Drive through the Galilee hills to explore Tzippori (Sepphoris), Capital of Galilee in Herod’s time & home of Joachim & Anna. Proceed through the lush & fertile Jezreel Valley visiting Mt. Tabor, traditional place of the transfiguration (Matthew 17: 1-9). Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 5: Bet She’an, Jericho, Jerusalem
After breakfast, drive to the Baptismal site at the Jordan River – Yardenit. On to Bet She’an. Recent excavations there have disclosed the impressive ruins of the country’s largest city in the Roman & Byzantine periods, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 CE. Drive to Bet Alfa & see the ancient synagogue. The tour continues though the Jordan Valley past Jericho, believed to be the world’s oldest walled city - the first city taken by Joshua when the Hebrews returned from Egypt. This is also the site of the Mt. of Temptation (Mark 1:13). Drive from Jericho to Jerusalem, via Wady Kelt. Enter Jerusalem as a pilgrim & view the city from Mt. Scopus. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 6: Jerusalem, Bethlehem
Ascend the Mt. of Olives for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. Visit Dominos Flevit. Descend to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spent the last night before he was arrested (Matt. 26:36). Visit the famous Church of All Nations. Walk along the “Last Way” to Mt. Zion. See Kidron Valley and the tombs of Absalom, Zachary & James. Visit the Church of
St. Peter in Gallicantu. This is the place where he denied his Lord 3 times (Matthew 26:31-34). It was also the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was interrogated (Mark 14:12). Visit the Last Supper Room on Mt. Zion (Matthew 26: 17-25) & King David’s Tomb. In the afternoon, drive to the city of Bethlehem & visit the Church of Nativity (Luke 2:2-7). Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 7: Qumran, Dead Sea, Masada
After an early breakfast, depart Jerusalem & travel to the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shore of the Dead Sea to Masada, the site of the most dramatic act in the Jewish History. You’ll ascend to the top by cable car & explore the excavation of Herod’s palaces, bathhouse, storerooms, the Ramp, & the oldest Synagogue in the world. Continue to the Dead Sea shore for a “float.” Pass the traditional site of the Inn if the Good Samaritan, on return to Jerusalem, where you’ll overnight.
Day 8: Jerusalem
After breakfast, drive to St. Stephen’s Gate. Enter the city & visit the Pool of Bethseda & St. Anne’s Church, which is a beautiful example of Crusader architecture. Follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit the Western Wall, one of the last remnants of the second Jewish Temple (which stood there in the days of Jesus). Walk through the colorful Bazaar to Jaffa Gate. Proceed to the Holyland walk-around model of the city of Jerusalem as it was in the Second Temple period (the time of Jesus). Visit Yad Vashem, the unforgettable Memorial to the victims of the World War II Holocaust. See the famous Chagall Windows at the Hadassah Medical Center. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 9: Jerusalem
Day of leisure.
Day 10: Departure
Transfer from the hotel to the airport for departure.