DAY 01: NORTH AMERICA / GREECE.
Tour members will gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours
prior to the departure to Europe. Dinner and breakfast will be served
in flight.
DAY 02: ATHENS / TEL AVIV.Upon
our arrival at the Athens airport we will be met by our representative
and taken on a half day tour of Athens. Our sightseeing includes the
Stadium and Temple of Zeus, Theatre of Dionysus and the Hill of Muses
for a panoramic view of Athens and the Acropolis. See Mars Hill, where
Paul addressed the citizens of Athens, and the monuments of the
Acropolis - including the Parthenon, the Agora (marketplace) and
Socrates' Prison. Return to the Athens airport for our early morning
flight to Tel Aviv.
DAY 03: TEL AVIV / GALILEE.Upon
our early morning arrival we will be met and transferred to our hotel
for rest and a late wake-up call before we begin the thrilling journey
of following in the footsteps of Jesus. 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 amphitheater. 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 (IKings:18).
Traveling westward across Galilee we will ascend Mt. Tabor (Psalm
89:12), seeing Deboriya - the hometown of the prophetess Deborah - at
the foothill of Mt. Tabor (Judges 4 and 5). Overnight at our hotel on
the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee.
DAY 04: TIBERIAS / CAPERNAUM / CAESAREA
PHILIPPI / 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 (John
6:24) to visit the ancient ruins of the first century synagogue where
Jesus preached (Matt. 4:13-17). Then on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where
Jesus preached the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matt. 5-7) and to Tabgha - the
chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes - (Mark
6:34-44). We will then proceed to upper Galilee and the site of Peter's
confession (Matt. 16:16) at Caesarea Phillipi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm
89:12) the probable site of the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8) 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 05: 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 (Luke 1:5-42)
and Mary's Fountain (Luke 4:16-22). We continue past Bethshean and then
south through the Jordan Valley to ancient Jericho where the walls came
tumbling down (I Kings 17:1-6 and II Kings 2:19-22) and a commanding
view of the Mt. of Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11) and Elisha's Fountain.
Then up to Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness. Overnight at our
hotel in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
DAY 06: 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 (Matt. 24:3) 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
(Matt. 26:36-57). 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 (Luke 22:14-20) 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. Visit Ein Karem and return to our hotel for overnight.
DAY 07: 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 Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock which is built on the ancient
site of Solomon's Temple (Genesis 22:9-14) and over the Rock of
Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) 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 (John 19:13) where Jesus was tried before Pilate
(Mark 15:6). 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 (Luke 2:1-20) then the Field of Boaz and
Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 & 4:13). We return to Jerusalem passing Rachel's
Tomb to our hotel for overnight.
DAY 08: 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 Ein Gedi. Travel 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 Center of the
Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls. We continue on the Jericho Road
viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). On the return to
Jerusalem we visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John
11:1-46). On to our Jerusalem hotel for overnight.
DAY 09: JERUSALEM / JOPPA / EMMAUS.
Travel to Tel Aviv for some sightseeing including Ancient Joppa. After
lunch return to Jerusalem via Emmaus where Jesus appeared after
Resurrection (Luke 24:30-31). Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 10: JERUSALEM /
TEL AVIV / NORTH AMERICA.
Morning departure from Jerusalem to the Tel Aviv airport for our flight
to North America. The close of our unforgettable journey of the Bible
Lands.
Upon
our arrival at the Athens airport we will be met by our representative
and taken on a half day tour of Athens. Our sightseeing includes the
Stadium and Temple of Zeus, Theatre of Dionysus and the Hill of Muses
for a panoramic view of Athens and the Acropolis. See Mars Hill, where
Paul addressed the citizens of Athens, and the monuments of the
Acropolis - including the Parthenon, the Agora (marketplace) and
Socrates' Prison. Return to the Athens airport for our early morning
flight to Tel Aviv.
Upon
our early morning arrival we will be met and transferred to our hotel
for rest and a late wake-up call before we begin the thrilling journey
of following in the footsteps of Jesus. 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 amphitheater. 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 (IKings:18).
Traveling westward across Galilee we will ascend Mt. Tabor (Psalm
89:12), seeing Deboriya - the hometown of the prophetess Deborah - at
the foothill of Mt. Tabor (Judges 4 and 5). Overnight at our hotel on
the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee.
Early
morning departure to Cana and then on to Nazareth, the hometown of
Jesus, where we will visit the Church of the Annunciation (Luke 1:5-42)
and Mary's Fountain (Luke 4:16-22). We continue past Bethshean and then
south through the Jordan Valley to ancient Jericho where the walls came
tumbling down (I Kings 17:1-6 and II Kings 2:19-22) and a commanding
view of the Mt. of Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11) and Elisha's Fountain.
Then up to Jerusalem through the Judean wilderness. Overnight at our
hotel in the Holy City of Jerusalem.
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 Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock which is built on the ancient
site of Solomon's Temple (Genesis 22:9-14) and over the Rock of
Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) 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 (John 19:13) where Jesus was tried before Pilate
(Mark 15:6). 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 (Luke 2:1-20) then the Field of Boaz and
Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 & 4:13). We return to Jerusalem passing Rachel's
Tomb to our hotel for overnight.
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 Ein Gedi. Travel 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 Center of the
Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls. We continue on the Jericho Road
viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). On the return to
Jerusalem we visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John
11:1-46). On to our Jerusalem hotel for overnight.
