12-Day Holy Land & Vienna

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 on the beach after dinner.

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 PHILIPPI / MT. HERMON. 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. Time for an optional baptism if you wish.  Return to our hotel for overnight.

DAY 05: NAZARETH / JERICHO / QUMRAN / DEAD SEA. 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.  Continue to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered for a visit.  See the remains of the Community Center of the Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls.  Travel to the Dead Sea where we will spend the night.

DAY 06: MASADA / BETHLEHEM / JERUSALEM. This morning we drive via the Judean Desert 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. 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 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, 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 dinner and overnight.

DAY 08: JERUSALEM. Today begins with a tour through the Rabbinical Tunnel (if available). Then continue with 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.  This afternoon is at leisure for activities of your own.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 09: JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / VIENNA.  Travel to Tel Aviv for some sightseeing including ancient Joppa.  After lunch continue to the Tel Aviv airport for our departure to Vienna.  Dinner served aboard aircraft.  Overnight at our hotel.

DAY 10: VIENNA. Your day starts with a tour of enchanting Vienna with a local guide. There are many elegant buildings to admire in the city that are reminders of Vienna’s grand and Imperial past.  The city’s old town has numerous aristocratic mansions, baroque churches and the cathedral, Stephansdom.  You will also see the Hofburg Palace, the Hasburg’s main residence during their 600 year rule and the Belvedere Palace, commissioned in 1713 by Prince Eugene of Savoy to be his summer residence. One of the key historical places is the Schonbrunn Palace completed in 1750 and home of Maria Theresia. Here you’ll enjoy a tour through the exquisite staterooms with gracious décor.  This afternoon we visit the Leopoldskirche am Spiegelgrund -  one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau Churches in Vienna  in the city. Climb up the small spiral staircase of St. Stepens Cathedral. Also the Votive Church and the Sankt Elisabeth Kirche.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 11: VIENNA.  Today we have arranged a delightful excursion to Vienna Woods, former hunting ground of the Hapsburg Princes. The lovely drive winds up through Vienna Woods, past Liechtenstein Castle to a panoramic viewpoint across the city. Later you will visit the moving memorial Chapel in Mayerling, (scene of a royal scandal in 1889, where Prince Rudolf is said to have murdered his mistress Maria and then took his own life as his father Franz Josef I condemned their love). Onwards then to Heiligenkreuz Monastery, where Maria was hastily buried. Return to Vienna for an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps sample some aromatic coffee in one of the traditional Viennese coffee house’s or go in search of that perfect souvenir to take home!  This evening we’ll meet up for a special farewell dinner including traditional folklore, food and wine!

DAY 12: VIENNA / NORTH AMERICA. All too soon, your trip has come to an end. After breakfast we transfer to the airport for our flight home – the end of a memorable journey.