Departure from your City.

Arrive in Israel and transfer to your hotel.

DAY 3: CEASAREA, HAIFA, NAZARETH

We begin our tour of Israel at Caesarea city of Cornelius the Centurion, the first Gentile convert (Acts 10). Here, as we walk among the ruins of many centuries, the events of yesterday seem very near. In a beautiful example of a Roman amphitheater have your group sing and listen to the acoustics of a structure built in the days of Jesus. At Mt. Carmel, see where Elijah held the contest with 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Then drive to Haifa, the only natural port in Israel. Continue to Sephoris where a third century city is being excavated and see the best preserved mosaic floors in the country. This is believed to be the birthplace of Mary, Jesus mother. Visit Nazareth, where Jesus spent most of His life, stop at the Church of Mary’s Well. We drive through Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed His first miracle at the wedding feast. At the end of the day drive across the Galilee to our hotel.

DAY 4: THE SEA OF GALILEE – GOLAN HEIGHTS

This morning we will be visiting places where Jesus spent most of his public life. We board a boat for a ride on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, where Jesus taught in the synagogue and spent much of His ministry (Matthew 4). Then we will visit the Golan Heights, major scene of the Six Day War, Kuneitra on the Syrian border, and the Damascus Road, where Paul had his vision (Act 9). We will journey to Mt. Hermon, where the miracle of Transfiguration occurred, and on to Banias, one of the headwaters of the Jordan River, the site of Caesarea Philippi. Here Peter confessed Christ’s divinity. We end the day at the Mount of Beatitudes, where Christ preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7).

DAY 5: MEGIDO – BETH SHEAN – JERUSALEM

Today we leave the Galilee and head toward Jerusalem. Drive by Mt. Tabor to Megido to view the excavations of 21 superimposed cities, the remains from Solomon’s days and walk through the water tunnel dug in the days of king Ahab. Mt. Gilboa, site of Saul’s death (I Samuel 31); and the natural hot springs of Sachne. At Beth Shean explore the latest excavations revealing the remains of the Decapolis Capital, streets, markets, Roman coliseum and amphitheater before heading down the Jordan Valley to Jericho (Joshua 3). Then travel on the same Jericho Road used at the time of Christ (Luke 10) to go up to the Golden City of the Mighty King:JERUSALEM.

DAY 6: MT. OF OLIVES – NEW JERUSALEM

We begin the day at the Mt. of Olives with an overview of Jerusalem, an explanation of its history, and a walk down the Palm Sunday Road, the Garden of Gethsemane, site of Jesus’ betrayal. Next we visit the Model of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus where an excellent perspective o the city can be gained. In the afternoon we will visit Yad Vashem, which the museum for the Holocaust, and at the end of the day the Israel Museum, with the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed.

DAY 7: OLD CITY – JEWISH QUARTER – BETHLEHEM

A tour of the old city is on today’s schedule. Starting at the Jaffa Gate we walk through the old Arab Market and bazaars to the Jewish Quarter, visiting the extensive area uncovered by archaeologists, including the Burnt House, the Herodian Quarter where you see the interior of houses from the days of Jesus, the Cardo, Hezekiahs Wall, the Rabbis Tunnel visit the underground archeological digs in Jerusalem, walk along the Western Wall and through the Hasmonen Tunnel from the 2nd century B.C.E., the Ofel excavation walk on the Roman Street from Jesus days and view the destruction of Jerusalem done by Titus in 70AD, also walk on the slops leading to the Temple mount during the 2nd Temple Period. Then we visit the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount. In the afternoon we visit Bethlehem, the Church of Nativity, and the Shepherds’ Fields, where David raised his sheep and the Good News were received.

DAY 8: DEAD SEA – MASSADA

Today we leave Jerusalem and drive to Massada where a cable car takes us to Herod’s Magnificent fortress, site of Zealots’ stand against Rome. At Ein Gedi we hike through the nature reserve to the waterfall where David cut off Saul’s skirt. Then we stop at the Dead Sea for lunch and swimming before returning to Jerusalem. On the way we visit Qumran site of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

DAY 9: JERUSALEM CHRISTIAN SITES

We begin our tour day in Jerusalem by retracing the steps of Jesus Herod’s Family Tomb see a rolling stone, in its original setting of the kind that was used to seal the tombs in Jesus days. After a time of praise and worship in the Upper Room we walk down the Kidron Valley. Entering St. Stephen’s Gate, we come to the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man. After a time of praise in St. Anne’s Church, we enter the Antonia Fortress, site of Jesus’ trial. We then follow the Way of the Cross out of the Damascus Gate to Calvary, where we visit the Site of the crucifixion and culminate our tour with communion at the Garden Tomb.

DAY 10: MT. NEBO – MADABAH – PETRA

We depart Jerusalem early on the way to the Allenby bridge continuing to Amman and visiting the capitol of Jordan. Then continue to Mt. Nebo where Moses saw the Promised Land before he died. After the breathtaking view we continue to Madbah to see the famous mosaic floor from the 6th century depicting the Holy Land and the city of Jerusalem. We over night in Petra.

DAY 11: AQABAH – EILAT

This morning we will visit Petra ant the remains of the outstanding Nabatean city and its temples all cut out of the rock. We leave Petra and visit Aqabah. After passing the border formalities we cross to Eilat Israel southern city on the Red Sea.

DAY 12: RED SEA – SINAI

Early in the morning we drive through one of the most majestic deserts in the World until we come to the foot of Mt. Sinai the place were the law was given to Moses. We visit the St. Catherine Monastery with one of the two oldest churches in the world. We return to overnight in Eilat.

The day is for swimming, resting or shopping. On the late afternoon we take a domestic flight to Tel Aviv airport and departure for home, chasing the sun all the way and arriving with a lifetime of memories.