DAY 01: USA / EUROPE.
Tour members will gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours
prior to their departure to Europe. Dinner and breakfast will be served
in-flight.
DAY 02: EUROPE / 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 03: 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
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 (I Kings:18). Traveling
westward across Galilee we will view Mt. Tabor (Psalm 89:12), 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
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 (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: TIBERIAS.
Today is a free day at leisure to enjoy as you please.
DAY 06: 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 07: 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. Return to our hotel for overnight.
DAY 08: 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 09: 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 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 10: JERUSALEM.
Free day at leisure to shop, rest or visit other sites on your own.
DAY 11: JERUSALEM /
TEL AVIV / NORTH AMERICA. Early
morning departure from Jerusalem to the Tel Aviv Airport for our return
to North America. The end of a most enjoyable tour.
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.
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.
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. Return 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 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.
