Day 1 – Friday – May 19: Flight - Overnight flight from USA to Tel-Aviv.
Day 2 – Saturday – May 20: Arrival – Jaffa – Herzeliya -
Day 3 – Sunday – May 21: Caesarea – Mt. Carmel - Megiddo – Sea of Galilee
After breakfast, drive to Caesarea, the seat of the Roman Procurator of Judea at the time of the Christ, and the site where Peter converted the centurion Cornelius. This fortified harbor city was built 2000 years ago by King Herod the Great. View the ruins of Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader times. Explore the Roman Theater and the Aqueducts.
A drive up to Mt. Carmel will bring us to the site where Elijah challenged and defeated the 450 prophets of Baal.
Continue to Megiddo, the Fortress City of King Solomon, later built again by King Ahab. The books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as we study the final Battle of Armageddon.
On your way north pass Nazareth and through Cana to the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight: Hotel near the Sea of Galilee.
Day 4 – Monday – May 22: Mt. Arbel – Magdala - Capernaum – Tabgha – Ginnosar – Mt. of Beatitudes
Your first stop today will be the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12).
Then, visit Capernaum, the town Jesus made his home after leaving Nazareth. Capernaum is the place where Jesus recruited the first of His disciples (Matthew 4:13, Luke 4:31-37, Matthew 8:14- 17, Mark 2:1-12, Matthew 8:5-13, Mark 5:21-43, Matthew 11:23-24). Visit the excavation of the ancient synagogue and the house of Peter.
Continue on to Tabgha, the site of the multiplication.
Take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
Then, visit Kibbutz Ginnosar to see the ancient boat, believed to be from Jesus’ time.
Your last stop today will be at Yardenit, at the Jordan River, where you will have an opportunity to be baptized (optional). Dinner and Overnight: Hotel near the Sea of Galilee.
Day 5 – Tuesday – May 23: Tel Dan – Caesarea Philippi - Golan Heights – Mt. Bental
After breakfast drive to Tel Dan, an important biblical city and a breathtaking Nature Reserve. The bible mentions the city a few times: "From Dan to Beer Sheba".
Continue to the Banias, the site of the ancient Caesarea Philippe. It is here that Peter made his confession of faith in Jesus (Matthew 16:13).
Climb up the Golan Heights. On your way, you will be able to see Mt. Hermon.
Continue on to Nimrod Castle.
Stop for a panoramic view of the Golan Heights from Mt. Bental. Your last stop today will be the Head Water of the Jordan River. Dinner and Overnight: Hotel near the Sea of Galilee.
Day 6 – Wednesday – May 24: Beit She’an – Gideon Spring – Qumran – Dead Sea
Leave the Sea of Galilee and drive to Beth She’an where recent excavations have disclosed the impressive ruins of the country’s largest city in the Roman and Byzantine periods which was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 CE.
Continue to Ein Harod, the site of Judge Gideon (Judges 7: 1-25).
The tour continues through the Jordan Valley past Jericho, believed to be the world’s oldest walled city. This was the first city taken by Joshua when the Hebrews returned from Egypt – ‘and the walls fell down.’ It was also the site of the Mount of Temptation (Mark 1:13). Visit the Baptismal Site near Jericho.
Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Qumran, where the 2000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls were found. End the day at your hotel located on the Shore of the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight: Hotel at the Dead Sea.
Day 7 – Thursday – May 25: Massada – Ein Gedi – Jerusalem
Morning at Leisure. Depart your hotel at the Dead Sea and drive to Massada. Ascend Massada by cable car. Massada is the site of the most dramatic act in Jewish History. Explore the ancient excavation of Herod’s Palaces, the bathhouse, the storerooms, the Ramp, and the oldest Synagogue in the world.
Continue on to Ein Gedi, an Oasis on the Dead Sea shore. Near the 200-meter-high waterfall is a cave where David had his famous meeting with King Saul (First Samuel 24: 1-23). A walk around the reservation confirms that Ein Gedi is one of the most beautiful reservations in the world.
Drive to Jerusalem. Enter the city of Jerusalem in the traditional way and view the city from Mt. Scopus. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 8 – Friday – May 26: Jerusalem
After breakfast visit the City of David, Hezekiah's Tunnel, and the Pool of Salome.
Walkthrough the Aqueduct/Tunnel back to the Southern Steps and visit the Davidson Center (the Southern wall excavation) and the Rabbinical Tunnel.
Continue to the Church of St. Anne and see the Pools of Bethesda. At Kibbutz Ramat Rachel archeological park you will have the opportunity to view Bethlehem and Shepherds Fields. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 9 – Saturday – May 27: Jerusalem
After breakfast ascend the Mt. of Olives (Matthew 24:3, Luke 21:37) for a breathtaking panoramic view of the old city of Jerusalem.
Walk along the Palm Sunday Way to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-45, Mark 14:32-42) where Jesus spent the last night before he was arrested. Cross the Kidron Valley and walk along the "last way" to Mt. Zion.
Visit the house of the High Priest Caiphas and the Church of Peter in Gallicantu (Matthew 26:31-35). This is the place where Peter denied the Lord 3 times. Enter the Old City.
Walk along the Way of the Cross.
Visit Antonia Fortress, Calvary, and have a tour and communion at the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 10 – Sunday – May 28: Jerusalem
This morning drive to the western side of the city. Stop at the Menorah near the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) the Symbol of Israel.
Then visit the Israeli Museum that hosts the Shrine of the Book and the Holy Land model.
Continue to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. Dinner and overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 11 – Monday – May 29: Jerusalem – Departure
This morning after checking out from the hotel enter the Old City and visit the Temple Institute, the Herodian Mansions, and the Western Wall.
Farewell dinner. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
Day 12– Tuesday – May 30: Tel Aviv - USA
Overnight flight back to the USA. Arrive the same day.
*Subject to change*
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ITINERARY