Day by Day Travel Itinerary

• DAY 01 Wed . Jun . 17

  Depart USA

  Today we depart our home city for our flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, with one connection

• DAY 02 Thu . Jun . 18

  ARRIVE TEL AVIV / JAFFA / CAESAREA

  We arrive in the Holy Land this afternoon where we are met by our Wilcox Tours agent. Enjoy a scenic drive through Jaffa, the oldest port in the world. From here Jonah set sail for Tarshish. Jaffa was also the home of Tabitha who was raised from the dead by Peter. And, while lodging in the home of Simon the Tanner, Peter had his vision. We walk through the Old City of Jaffa through the artist quarter. Next, we’ll travel to Caesarea-by-the-Sea from where the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome. The extensive ruins of the Roman aqueduct and amphitheater built by King Herod remain. One overnight in Tel Aviv at our hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

• DAY 03 Fri . Jun . 19

  TEL AVIV / NAZARETH / CANA / TIBERIAS

  Today we proceed northward to the summit of Mount Carmel, we’ll see where Elijah slew the false prophets. We continue to Megiddo - Armageddon; more than 5,000 years old and once used by Solomon as an important chariot city. Journey through Jezreel Valley to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home, where we may choose a visit to the spring of the ancient village; a walk through the bazaar over the site of the ancient village, visit the Church of the Annunciation and get a view from the “brow of the hill on which the city was built” (Luke 4), looking toward Mt. Tabor in the Jezreel Plain. In Cana, Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine. Two overnights in Tiberias

• DAY 04 Sat . Jun . 20

  UPPER GALILEE / TIBERIAS

  This morning, we take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, pausing en route for a special service. The ancient synagogue and St. Peter’s house still stands in Capernaum. Bethsaida Archaeological Park has been under excavation since 1987 and is now open to pilgrims around the world! This ancient fishing village was home to the Apostles Phillip, Simon and Andrew. Jesus spent much of His time here performing miracles. We’ll see authentic first century homes and streets that have not been built over in the past two thousand years but miraculously preserved from the days of Jesus’ ministry! Marvel at the view of Galilee from the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. Next, we go to Tabgha, the traditional site of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. After a St. Peter’s fish lunch we continue through the Hula Valley (part of the Great Rift Valley) to Hazor. Drive to Dan and Banias Springs at the foot of Mount Hermon. Here at Banias is Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made his great confession of faith. We will have a special baptismal service at the Jordan River. If you wish to be baptized or reaffirm your faith again by baptism, plan to join this ceremony. We conclude our sightseeing with a visit to the new Magdala archaeological site, which is rich in cultural history for both Jews and Christians

• DAY 05 Sun . Jun . 21

  TIBERIAS / JERICHO / DEAD SEA

  Among Israel’s most impressive ruins are those found in Beit She’an. Excavators have discovered eighteen successive towns featuring black and white stones, marble columns, mosaics, and a 6,000-seat Byzantine amphitheater. Journey further south to the oldest city in the world, Jericho, settled in 9,000 BC. It is also the lowest, at 820’ below sea level. This was the first city conquered by the Israelites in the Promised Land, under Joshua’s command. View the Mt. of Temptation where Jesus was led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil, after His baptism. Our journey continues to our hotel on the Dead Sea. Enjoy a float in this unique body of water

• DAY 06 Mon . Jun . 22

  MASADA / JERUSALEM

  Early this morning we’ll visit the fortress Masada, rising 1,200’ above the desert plain. See the restoration efforts of remains of buildings dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries AD. Visit Qumran National Park where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a Bedouin shepherd in 1948. This afternoon we walk to the nature reserve of Ein Gedi, rich in flora and fauna, and a lovely waterfall. We later journey through the deep and picturesque gorge of Wadi Kelt to Jerusalem for the next four overnights!

• DAY 07 Tue . Jun . 23

  JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM / JERUSALEM

  At Herodium National Park we’ll visit King Herod the Great’s fortified summer palace, which is perched high atop a hill at the edge of the Judea Desert. Continue to Shepherds’ Field where an angel appeared before the shepherds to tell them of the birth of Christ. Ephrath - meaning fertility, is now known as Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. In the Church of the Nativity, we see a stone manger, where it is believed Jesus was born. This site next to the inn was where the animals were kept and fed. Today a Silver Star marks the spot of His divine birth. In the Valley of Kidron we see the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed a blind man. Later this afternoon we drive to the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Israel Museum, including the outdoor model of Jerusalem as the city may have looked in 66 AD.

• DAY 08 Wed . Jun . 24

  OLD CITY / JERUSALEM

  Deep in the heart of Jerusalem we visit the Dome of the Rock Mosque, next to the Wailing Wall. Continue on toward the Cardo, also known as the “Street of Pillars” which was formerly the central road in the Old City. Portions of this ancient road have been restored, but most of it still lies deep below the city of Jerusalem. Next, visit the Burnt House and Museum. Our walking tour in the Old City of Jerusalem continues by the Lion’s Gate, at the Church of St. Anne, and the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus said to the man “Take up thy bed and walk.” Along the Via Dolorosa - “Sorrowful Road,” we see the stations connected with Jesus’ crucifixion. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre represents the final station where He was crucified. And we’ll visit the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Alexander.

• DAY 09 Thu . Jun . 25

  JERUSALEM

  Enjoy a breathtaking panorama of old and new Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Visit the site that commemorates Jesus’ ascension, Paternoster Church, where the Lord’s Prayer is written in thirty-five languages, the Church of All Nations, and the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Old City of Jerusalem, we examine the ruins near the south side of the Temple complex, including steps where we may be certain Jesus, and the disciples walked. Next, we walk through the modern Kotel Tunnel that enables us to examine the length of the outer Herodian Temple, mostly preserved in mint condition, including two stones each weighing about 600 tons.

• DAY 10 Fri . Jun . 26

  THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF JERUSALEM & THE OLD CITY / TEL AVIV

  This morning we go to Shiloh to see the red heifers, specifically at the Red Heifer Center in Ancient Shiloh, which is a heritage site and a center of Jewish life before the First Temple in Jerusalem.  In Mt. Zion we visit the Coenaculum - Room of the Last Supper.  Next we have a special service, and communion will be held at the Garden Tomb.  This afternoon will be free for walking the Old City or shopping for final souvenirs. Prior to departing we will enjoy a Middle Eastern farewell dinner at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem, before driving to the airport for our late night check in for our flight home.

• DAY 11 Sat . Jun . 27

  U.S.A

  We arrive back in the USA today with new and deepened friendships and memories to last a lifetime.