DAY 1: 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 2: 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
3: TEL AVIV / GALILEE. After a good nights
rest and a hearty breakfast, we will begin the thrilling journey of
following in the footsteps of Jesus. Ancient Joppa on the Sea is where
Jonah set sail, and where Peter raised Dorcas from the dead. Joppa was
the home of Simon the Tanner. At Caesarea by the sea we'll visit the
Crusader's Castle, the Roman Amphitheater and water duct, and the port
from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome. 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 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
4: 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
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 (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
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 (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, see Yad Vashem - the immensely moving memorial to the
six million martyrs of the Holocaust - 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 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
8: BETHANY / QUMRAN / MASADA / DEAD SEA. This
morning we visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John
11:1-46). We continue on the Jericho Road viewing the Inn of the Good
Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) 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. Then 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. On to our Dead Sea hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9: DEAD SEA / ST. CATHERINE'S.
This morning we depart the Dead Sea on our way to St.
Catherine's. Early dinner and overnight to prepare us for the early
morning activities planned for tomorrow.
DAY
10: ST. CATHERINE'S / TEL AVIV. Very early
morning. At 2:00 am, assisted by a Bedouin guide, ascend a flight of
3,000 steps to the top of Mt. Horeb. A picnic breakfast is provided.
Descending at 8:30 am we will visit the monastery grounds and
buildings. The chapel, library and ossuary (bones of the saints of many
centuries) will provide a lifetime experience. At 10:30 am, we leave on
our way to Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11: TEL AVIV / NORTH AMERICA.
After breakfast we depart our hotel to the Tel Aviv airport for our
return flight to North America. The end of a most enjoyable journey.
DAY
3: TEL AVIV / GALILEE. After a good nights
rest and a hearty breakfast, we will begin the thrilling journey of
following in the footsteps of Jesus. Ancient Joppa on the Sea is where
Jonah set sail, and where Peter raised Dorcas from the dead. Joppa was
the home of Simon the Tanner. At Caesarea by the sea we'll visit the
Crusader's Castle, the Roman Amphitheater and water duct, and the port
from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome. 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 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
4: 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
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 (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
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 (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, see Yad Vashem - the immensely moving memorial to the
six million martyrs of the Holocaust - 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 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
8: BETHANY / QUMRAN / MASADA / DEAD SEA. This
morning we visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John
11:1-46). We continue on the Jericho Road viewing the Inn of the Good
Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) 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. Then 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. On to our Dead Sea hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY
10: ST. CATHERINE'S / TEL AVIV. Very early
morning. At 2:00 am, assisted by a Bedouin guide, ascend a flight of
3,000 steps to the top of Mt. Horeb. A picnic breakfast is provided.
Descending at 8:30 am we will visit the monastery grounds and
buildings. The chapel, library and ossuary (bones of the saints of many
centuries) will provide a lifetime experience. At 10:30 am, we leave on
our way to Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight.
