DAY 01: USA / EUROPE.
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: EUROPE / TEL AVIV.Upon
arrival, we will be met and transferred to our beautiful hotel in a Tel
Aviv suburb where the thrilling journey of following in the footsteps of
Jesus will begin. Dinner will be served at our hotel. Weather
permitting, we suggest a walk on the beach after dinner.
DAY 03: THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA / ANCIENT
JOPPA / CAESAREA / MOUNT CARMEL / HAIFA / PLAIN OF ARMAGEDDON /TIBERIAS.
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. We will
continue northward along the Mediterranean coast to Mount Carmel where
Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal by the Brook Kishon. After Haifa
we'll visit Megiddo and the Plain of Armageddon, Jezreel and Esdraelon.
Visit Nazareth and Cana. Eastward we will arrive in Tiberias for dinner
and overnight at our hotel and get our first glimpse of the beautiful
Sea of Galilee.
DAY 04: TIBERIAS / THE SEA OF GALILEE /
CAPERNAUM / MOUNT OF BEATITUDES / TABGHA / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / MT.
HERMON / GOLAN HEIGHTS / THE JORDAN RIVER.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 this first century synagogue where
Jesus preached (Matthew 4:13-17). Then on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where
Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 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 (Matthew 16:16) at Caesarea Philippi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm
89:12), the probable site of the Transfiguration (Matthew 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 / JERASH / MT. NEBO /
PETRA. Today we depart
Tiberias via the Sheik Hussein Bridge and cross into Jordan. We continue
to Jerash, then Mt. Nebo, and then on to Petra "The Rose Red City - Half
as Old as Time". Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 06: PETRA / EILAT.This
morning after breakfast, we visit Petra. This ancient Edomite and
Nabatean capital is an amazing city of prophecy. See this spectacular
"City of the Dead" with its famed gorge, ancient street, temples,
dwelling places and tombs carved from the solid rock. Arrive at El Ji
Post and continue the one-mile journey on horseback, or walk, passing
through the famous SIQ (natural gorge) and arrive at the "Treasury".
Visit the ancient theater. In the Nabatean Judgment Hall, Place Tombs,
famous Urn Temple and the Roman amphitheater. Those willing to climb
may view the monastery, Jebel Harun (Mountain of Aaron), supposed to be
the burial place of Aaron. Horseback journey back to El Ji Post. This
afternoon we depart Petra via the King Hussein Bridge to our hotel in
Eilat. Time permitting we drive to the shores of the Red Sea. Dinner
and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 07: EILAT / DEAD SEA.This morning we visit the
Underwater Observatory before our drive to the Dead Sea. Then check in
to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure for activities of your
own – swimming in the Dead Sea or visiting the Spa. Dinner and overnight
at our hotel.
DAY 08: DEAD SEA / MASADA / QUMRAN /
JERICHO / JERUSALEM. This
morning we continue to Masada where we will ascend by cable car to visit
the remarkable ruins of the Fortress, built by Herod the Great, and
where from 70-73 AD Jewish Zealots made their last stand in the Judean
Revolt against the Roman Legions. See the remains of Herod's Palace;
the apartments, baths, storehouses and water cisterns - all used by the
Jewish Defenders who took refuge here. We travel onward to Qumran, the
site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in caves by a shepherd boy.
Drive through Jericho to Old Jericho. We will continue on the Jericho
Road viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Then we
visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1-46) en
route to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
DAY 09: JERUSALEM / NEW CITY /
BETHLEHEM.This
morning we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Upper Room,
the tomb of King David and Dormition Abbey. We enter the Jewish Quarter
of the Old City to visit the Wohl Archaeological Museum, displaying the
newly restored Herodian Quarter. Remains of this area of Jerusalem date
back to the time of the Herodian Dynasty (37 BC to 70 AD). Proceed to
the Shrine of the Book where we see the Dead Sea Scrolls on display then
view the Knesset (Israeli parliament) building. Continue to visit Yad
Vashem, a memorial of the Holocaust then visit the Model City. This
afternoon we continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity,
the Manger, Crusader's Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome. We then
visit the cave in Shepherds' Field and view the Fields of Boaz. En route
to Jerusalem we see the Tomb of Rachel and other antiquities before
returning to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 10: JERUSALEM / MT. OF OLIVES / OLD
CITY.Today
we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem, visit
the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of Ascension, then proceed to
the Garden of Gethsemane. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we pass the tombs
of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James, then visit the Pool of Siloam and
the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (Caiaphas' House). We enter the
Old City this afternoon through the Zion Gate and see the Cardo and the
remains of Nehemiah's Wall on the way to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We
visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, the Church of St. Anne,
the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of
Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo ("Behold the
Man"). We follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher and end our day in the Garden Tomb before returning
to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11: JERUSALEM.Today is a day of leisure for
activities of your own or the last minute shopping. Dinner and
overnight at our hotel.
DAY 12: 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
arrival, we will be met and transferred to our beautiful hotel in a Tel
Aviv suburb where the thrilling journey of following in the footsteps of
Jesus will begin. Dinner will be served at our hotel. Weather
permitting, we suggest a walk on the beach after dinner.
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 this first century synagogue where
Jesus preached (Matthew 4:13-17). Then on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where
Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 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 (Matthew 16:16) at Caesarea Philippi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm
89:12), the probable site of the Transfiguration (Matthew 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.
This
morning after breakfast, we visit Petra. This ancient Edomite and
Nabatean capital is an amazing city of prophecy. See this spectacular
"City of the Dead" with its famed gorge, ancient street, temples,
dwelling places and tombs carved from the solid rock. Arrive at El Ji
Post and continue the one-mile journey on horseback, or walk, passing
through the famous SIQ (natural gorge) and arrive at the "Treasury".
Visit the ancient theater. In the Nabatean Judgment Hall, Place Tombs,
famous Urn Temple and the Roman amphitheater. Those willing to climb
may view the monastery, Jebel Harun (Mountain of Aaron), supposed to be
the burial place of Aaron. Horseback journey back to El Ji Post. This
afternoon we depart Petra via the King Hussein Bridge to our hotel in
Eilat. Time permitting we drive to the shores of the Red Sea. Dinner
and overnight at our hotel.
This
morning we continue to Masada where we will ascend by cable car to visit
the remarkable ruins of the Fortress, built by Herod the Great, and
where from 70-73 AD Jewish Zealots made their last stand in the Judean
Revolt against the Roman Legions. See the remains of Herod's Palace;
the apartments, baths, storehouses and water cisterns - all used by the
Jewish Defenders who took refuge here. We travel onward to Qumran, the
site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in caves by a shepherd boy.
Drive through Jericho to Old Jericho. We will continue on the Jericho
Road viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Then we
visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1-46) en
route to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
This
morning we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Upper Room,
the tomb of King David and Dormition Abbey. We enter the Jewish Quarter
of the Old City to visit the Wohl Archaeological Museum, displaying the
newly restored Herodian Quarter. Remains of this area of Jerusalem date
back to the time of the Herodian Dynasty (37 BC to 70 AD). Proceed to
the Shrine of the Book where we see the Dead Sea Scrolls on display then
view the Knesset (Israeli parliament) building. Continue to visit Yad
Vashem, a memorial of the Holocaust then visit the Model City. This
afternoon we continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity,
the Manger, Crusader's Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome. We then
visit the cave in Shepherds' Field and view the Fields of Boaz. En route
to Jerusalem we see the Tomb of Rachel and other antiquities before
returning to the hotel for dinner.
Today
we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem, visit
the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of Ascension, then proceed to
the Garden of Gethsemane. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we pass the tombs
of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James, then visit the Pool of Siloam and
the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (Caiaphas' House). We enter the
Old City this afternoon through the Zion Gate and see the Cardo and the
remains of Nehemiah's Wall on the way to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We
visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, the Church of St. Anne,
the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of
Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo ("Behold the
Man"). We follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher and end our day in the Garden Tomb before returning
to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
