Depart USA
Monday, April 28

Tuesday, April 29
Day 1 - Joppa / Tel Aviv

Upon arrival at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met by your driver and guide. Drive to Joppa, the port city from which Jonah attempted to flee from the Lord. See the house of Simon the Tanner, where God sent Peter the vision declaring all foods to be clean. Continue to Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight at the Ramada Netanya hotel.

Wednesday, April 30
Day 2 - Northern Israel / Tiberias

See the magnificent harbor, theatre, and aqueduct of Caesarea Maritima, constructed during the reign of Herod. It was here that Peter explained the way of salvation to Cornelius. Ascend Mt. Carmel, the site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Drive to the mound of Megiddo, har megiddo in Hebrew, which gave its name to Armageddon. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at the Gai Beach hotel.

Thursday, May 1
Day 3 - Upper Galilee /Golan Heights

Enjoy a nature walk at Tel Dan this morning, visiting the high place where Jeroboam, son of Nebat, set up a golden calf. Continue to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Peter answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Ascend the Golan Heights to the Shalom Observatory and view the Valley of Tears. Continue to Mount Bental for a view of the entire Golan Heights, and in the distance view Syria and the city of Kuneitra. It was here that the grueling tank battle was fought during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, when Israel’s 160 tanks overcame Syria’s 1,500 tanks. For the story of this battle, visit El Rom Studios to see the OZ 77 film. Visit Gamla, an early Branze Age battlefield. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Friday, May 2
Day 4 - Sea of Galilee Area

Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee this morning. Visit the ancient synagogue from the time of Christ, recently unearthed in Magdala, believed to be the town of Mary Magdalene. Stop at the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Walk downhill to Tabgha to visit the site of the multiplication of the fish and loaves. Continue by motor coach to Capernaum, a town used by Christ as a base during His ministry. Here you will see the remains of the fourth-century synagogue and the nearby house of Peter. Drive to Gergesa, where Jesus drove the unclean spirits out of the man dwelling amongst the tombs and into a herd of swine. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Saturday, May 3
Day 5 - Dead Dea

Begin the day at Yardenit, the traditional baptism site on the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee where the sea runs into the Jordan River. Travel south through the Jordan Valley heading for the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. Along the way, several stops will be made, including the Decapolis City of Beit Shean, where the Philistines fastened the bodies of Saul and his sons to the wall of the city. This is a site of an extensive archaeological excavation and restoration project. See the Beit Alfa Synagogue, constructed in the fifth century. Continue along the Jordan River to Qumran to view Cave # 4, which contained the greatest quantity of the Dead Sea scrolls discovered at Qumran. Enjoy a swim in the Dead Sea. Don’t worry if you can’t swim, the salt content is so high that it is impossible to sink! Overnight at the Leonardo Plaza Dead Sea.

Sunday, May 4
Day 6 - Dead Sea - Jerusalem

Begin the day at the fortress of Masada, taking the cable car to the top to visit Herod’s mountain bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD). In the Judean Wilderness, stop at Ein Gedi, where David hid in a cave from Saul. Visit both areas this morning and then it’s up to Jerusalem! In Jerusalem, visit Yad Vashem, including the Holocaust Museum, the Hall of Names, and the Museum of Holocaust Art. Overnight at the Grand Court Jerusalem hotel.

Monday, May 5
Day 7 - Jerusalem

Today begins an exploration of Jerusalem. First visit the Mount of Olives and view the city. Enter and walk in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus retreated for quiet prayer. Enter the Old City, to the Jerusalem Archeological site where the experience of seeing the Southern Steps, the Pinnacle of the Temple, the Western Wall, and the Rabbi’s Tunnel, will make this one of the most memorable days of your life! Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, May 6
Day 8 - Jerusalem

Begin the morning at the Temple Mount where Abraham was called to sacrifice his son, Isaac. See the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus cured the man who had infirmities for 30 years. Visit St. Anne’s Church known for its spectacular acoustics, and Ecce Homo where the residence of Pilot once stood. Visit the Friends of Zion Museum, opened in 2015. Using ground-breaking technology, visitors meet the people who, through their faith, have forged an everlasting bond between the Jewish and Christian peoples. Stop at Yad Hashmona Biblical Garden. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday, May 7
Day 9 - Jerusalem

This morning explore the City of David to see the excavations at the Pool of Siloam. Visit the Upper Room, the house of Caiaphas and see David’s Tomb. Walk along the Roman Cardo in the Jewish Quarter, and visit the Burnt House, a reconstruction of a luxurious house from the Second Temple period. This afternoon share Communion at the Garden Tomb. Enjoy a special farewell dinner at the hotel before transferring to Ben Gurion Airport for the overnight flight, or you can stay and explore on your own for a few days.

Arrive USA
Thursday, May 8

Arrive Home today with many cherished memories