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DAY 1 ~ TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT TO TEL AVIV
Today we depart from the USA to Tel Aviv, Israel. Meals served in flight.
DAY 2 ~ ARRIVE IN ISRAEL
Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport in
Tel Aviv and transfer to our hotel for check in, dinner and a good night's sleep. (D)
DAY 3 ~ CAESAREA, MT. CARMEL, MEGIDDO, NAZARETH, CANA
After our delicious buffet breakfast, travel
to Caesarea by the Sea on the Mediterranean coastline. It was here that Cornelius the Centurion and his household were saved and baptized (Acts 10), and it was also where Paul made his defense before
Festus and King Agrippa prior to his final journey to Rome (Acts 25 & 26). See the top of Mt. Carmel, where Elijah prayed down the fire from Heaven and defeated the 450 prophets of Baal (I Kings 18).
Visit Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon (Rev. 16). From here we can also see Mt. Gilboa where King Saul and his sons lost their lives against the Philistines (I Sam. 28) and Mt. Tabor where
Barak awaited Sisera (Judges 4), and which is the traditional site of the transfiguration (Matt. 17). Pass through Cana where Christ performed His first miracle (Jn. 2) and Nazareth, the boyhood
home of Jesus (Lk. 2) before arriving in Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/D)
DAY 4 ~ SEA OF
GALILEE, CAPERNAUM, MT. OF BEATITUDES, GADERA, BOAT RIDE, JORDAN RIVER
After enjoying the Israeli buffet breakfast, we spend most of our day around the Sea of Galilee. Drive along the shores of the lake, passing the area
of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. Enter the 2,000 year old remains of Capernaum (Lk. 4) and stand in what is left of the synagogue in which our Lord ministered. Visit the traditional site where Jesus
preached His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7) and the country of the Gadarenes where the man with the legion of demons was delivered (Matt. 8). After a fish lunch, enjoy a beautiful boatride across the
Sea of Galilee and then stop at the Jordan River for a time of spiritual blessing. Tomorrow we journey to Jerusalem. (B/L/D)
DAY ~ GOLAN HEIGHTS, MT. HERMON, CAESAREA PHILIPPI, TEL DAN
Stand on the Golan Heights and appreciate the
strategic importance of this area overlooking the Sea of Galilee. View Mt. Hermon, tallest mountain in Israel and possible site of the transfiguration. Banias is the location of the second
largest spring feeding into the Jordan River. It is also known as the location of Caesarea Philippi where Peter made his confession of faith to the Lord (Matt. 16). Visit Tel Dan where Jeroboam set
up a golden calf, paganism took root in the 10 northern tribes of Israel and brought about its downfall (I Kings 12).
DAY 6 ~ BET SHEAN, EIN
HAROD, QUMRAN, VALLEY OF THE SHADOW, JERUSALEM
Today
we say goodbye to the Sea of Galilee and begin our journey south to Jerusalem.
As our motorcoach takes us through the Jordan Valley, visit the tel of Bet Shean where the bodies of King Saul and his sons hung from the city gates (I Sam. 31). Also visit Ein Harod (Gideon's Spring) where Gideon chose his army of 300 by observing how they drank from the spring (Jg. 7). Qumran, located on the northern portion of the Dead Sea, is famous for being the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. After stopping at the Valley of the Shadow in the Judean hills, we travel up to the holy city of Jerusalem. We take a few minutes to view the city before checking into our hotel. (B/D)
DAY 7 ~ BETHLEHEM /
MT. OF OLIVES / PALM SUNDAY ROAD / GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE / MT. ZION / UPPER ROOM / WESTERN WALL TUNNEL / POOLS OF BETHESDA / ST. ANNE'S CHURCH
Begin our day of sightseeing in Bethlehem, birthplace of our Lord (Lk.
2).
Then return to Jerusalem and stand on the top of the Mount of Olives (II Sam. 15 & Lk. 9). Walk down Palm Sunday Road, see olive trees on the Mt. of Olives that date back to the time of our Lord and take time to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane (Jn. 18). Proceed to Mt. Zion on the south side of Jerusalem, King David's city. Sing praises in the Upper Room (Lk. 22), then journey back in time as we walk through the Western Wall (Rabbi's) Tunnel. Remember the miracle of the lame man at the Pools of Bethesda (Jn. 5) and listen to the beautiful acoustics as we sing in St. Anne's Church. (B/D)
DAY 8 ~ MASSADA, EIN GEDI, DEAD SEA
Travel into the Judean wilderness and south
along the Dead Sea Shoreline to visit the spectacular mountaintop fortress of Massada built by Herod. Massada is famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans.
From the top of Massada, the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp can still be seen.
Visit the Ein Gedi reserve, home to native wildlife and area where David hid from King Saul (I Sam. 23). Visit the the shores of the Dead Sea to feel the saltiest water on earth before returning to the hotel in Jerusalem. (B/D)
DAY 9 ~ MODEL CITY,
SHRINE OF THE BOOK, YAD VASHEM, TEMPLE MOUNT, GARDEN TOMB, GORDON'S CALVARY
Visit and learn from viewing an outstanding model of Jerusalem as the city appeared 2,000 years ago. The Shrine of the Book Museum houses
artifacts and replicas of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.
Visit Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) for a somber reminder of the horrors of the holocaust with the purpose of never allowing this portion of history to repeat itself. Walk up on the Temple Mount where Herod's Temple stood and remember the events that took place at this sacred site. Sense the agony of our Lord's crucifixion at Gordon's Calvary (Lk. 23) and experience the exhilaration and reality of the resurrection at the Garden Tomb. After our final dinner in Israel, prepare for departure back to the USA. (B/D)
DAY 10 ~ ARRIVE IN USA
Today we arrive in the USA with a lifetime of memories to cherish. Meals served in flight.
Extensions to Cairo, Luxor, Jordan/Petra and Jerusalem available. Call for details.
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