Overnight flight from the USA to Tel Aviv, Israel

Our flight arrives at Ben Gurion Airport where we are greeted by our guide and assisted with arrival procedures.  Dinner and overnight beside the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. The group will have a “Meet and Greet” following dinner around 7:30 PM in a hotel meeting room which will include a brief teaching, some important information for the tour, and a time of worship.

Dinner

Today we depart for the Galilee enjoying stops at the extensive ruins of Caesarea Maritima, an ancient port city, built by King Herod and later becoming the seat of government of the Roman governors, and where Peter proclaimed the Good News to the Roman centurion (Acts 9 & 25). We continue to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah prayed, and God defeated 450 prophets of Baal with fire from heaven (1 Kings 18). We then drive to Nazareth Village – a recreated village offering detailed explanation of what life was like during the time of Jesus.  We take a short ride to Mount Precipice, the traditional site believed to be where an angry mob attempted to throw Jesus off the cliff after his bold proclamation in the Nazareth synagogue.  We will continue to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee area dinner and overnight.
                                                                                 
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin our special time in the Galilee, rich in memories of the life of Jesus, with a drive to Mt. Tabor, where the early church fathers believed that the Transfiguration of Jesus occurred. Returning to the Galilee, we visit Peter’s Primacy - located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and best known for where Christ appeared to His disciples after His resurrection and where He commands Peter to “feed and tend” His flock. We enjoy a time of teaching and prayer at this lovely site.  We take a short bus ride to Capernaum (Mark 1: 31-­38), the base of Jesus’ early ministry, the home of Peter, and the site of many healings. We end our day aboard a replica “Jesus Boat”, a fishing boat of the kind used by the disciples of Jesus, for our ride on the Sea of Galilee. We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.  

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we travel north into the Golan Heights to visit Caesarea Philippi - where Jesus asked His disciples “who do men say that I am?” (Mark 8: 27-30, Matt. 16:13).  Continuing north, we enjoy a short hike through the beautiful nature reserve of Tel Dan where the remnants of the Bronze-Canaanite Era can be found. This area later became the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel belonging to the Tribe of Dan (1st Kings 12:28-29). We will see a Canaanite era gate as well as an impressive ritual site, most likely built by King Jeroboam, as well as the Israelite Gate from the time of the Judges.  We return to the Sea of Galilee area for a visit to Bethsaida, the home of Philip, Andrew, and Peter for a time of teaching.  We then drive to the Mt. of Beatitudes where we enjoy the beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee as we reflect on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. (Matt. 5: 1-15). We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.  

Departing the Galilee today, we make an early morning stop at Mt. Arbel enjoying a short hike for an incredible panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee.  We descend again to the Galilee to visit Magdala, prominently mentioned in the Bible as the hometown of Mary Magdalene. We then depart the Sea of Galilee driving south through the Judean desert toBethany Beyond the Jordan.  This area is believed to be the location where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  We enjoy a time of teaching and baptisms. (Must wear swimsuit or appropriate clothing for baptism. Robes/towels can be rented for  a small fee).   We continue driving south along the Dead Sea to our hotel for the night.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today is a day of Sabbath rest with no planned touring.  We can enjoy a time floating in the Dead Sea, swimming in the hotel pool, and other hotel amenities. Today, lunch is on your own. Dinner and overnight on the Dead Sea.

Breakfast, Dinner (Lunch on your own)

We begin our day with a visit to the City of David where we visit the archeological remains of David’s period and that of the Kings of Judah (2 Samuel 5: 8-10). We will have the opportunity to walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the 2,700-year-old tunnel dug during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Chron. 32:30) and remaining today as one of the wonders of early engineering.
The tunnel ends at the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed the blind man. *A flashlight and good water shoes will be helpful should you choose to walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel.  We drive to the Old City entering the Dung Gate for a visit to the Southern Steps - the very steps where Jesus would have taught!  We walk to the most holy site of the Jewish people, the Western (Wailing) Wall of Herod's Temple. Beyond the wall lies the 35-acre Temple area purchased by King David (2 Samuel. 24:18-25). On this site now stands the Dome of the Rock (the third holiest shrine in all Islam) and the El-Aksa Mosque. We will enjoy walking through the Old City of Jerusalem along the Via Dolorosa to the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed a paralytic (John 5:1-15).  Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner