DAY 1 NEW YORK
Depart from a New York area gateway to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
DAY 2 GALILEE
Upon arrival at the Tel Aviv airport this morning, we will meet our guide and driver and start our tour to the North. Already we begin to feel the spirit of this land blessing us as we begin visiting sites from the Bible and sharing the experience of walking in the footsteps of Jesus. We drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman theater and aqueduct, on to Mount Carmel to visit the Carmelite Monastery at Muhkraka, the location of Elijah’s altar. We continue via the Valley of Armageddon to the excavation of Tel Megiddo and drive to the Sea of Galilee area. We will drive to our hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 GALILEE
Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Ginnosar where we visit the fishermen’s boat that dates to Jesus’ time, continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. On to Tabgha, site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes and to Capernaum, the center of the Lord’s early ministry. Drive along the lower Galilee mountains to Cana, site of the wedding feast, and visit the Church of Annunciation and Mary’s Well. We continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 JERUSALEM
This morning, our first stop is the ancient city of Magdala, hometown of Mary Magdalene. Here we find a complete first century first century town and synagogue where it is believed that Jesus himself visited, taught, and preached at this synagogue. The church called Duc in Altum in Latin “launch into the deep” (words of Jesus in Luke 5:4, “fishers of men”) and it honors the women of the Gospels. Continue to Yardenit, the Baptismal Site on the Jordan River. We continue to the old Roman city of Beit Shean, to visit imperessive Roman Ruins. From here we drive down the Jordan Valley bypassing Jericho, on our way to Jerusalem. We ascend the Judean Hills to arrive at the Holy city of Jerusalem. We will stop at Mt Scopus for a special prayer for Je-rusalem. Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 JERUSALEM
Departing Jerusalem we drive past the inn of the “Good Samaritan” and continue to the shores of the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth. We drive along the shore to Masada, the fortress where the Jewish Zealots held off the armies of the Roman Empire before choosing suicide over surrender. Continue to Ein Gedi, where King David found shelter from the wrath of King Saul. After lunch, we enjoy a short “float” on the Dead Sea.. Afterwards we return to Jerusalem.
DAY 6 JERUSALEM
We start the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb, followed by an orientation beside Calvary. Travel to the Old City, through St. Stephen’s Gate to the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of the Flagellation, and the Ecce Homo Arch. View the Gabbatha pavement, then proceed to the Temple area on Mt. Moriah to visit the Western Wall and the Ophel Archaeological Park, where we will see the Pinnacle. Tour the new visitor’s center dedicated to research of the Biblical Temple. Continue through the Bazaar to the last stations of the Via Dolorosa. In the afternoon drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Milk Grotto and the cave of St. Jerome.
DAY 7 JERUSALEM
Drive to the Mt. of Olives for an outstanding view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of the Ascension, Garden of Gethsemane, and Church of All Nations. See the Kidron Valley and Tomb of Absalom, Zechariah and James. We continue to Mount Zion, the Room of the Last Supper, and King David’s Tomb, and past the Knesset and the Israel Museum. Enjoy a farewell dinner before being transferred to the airport.
DAY 8 JERUSALEM
Depart Tel Aviv and arrive home the same day.
