Day by Day Travel Itinerary

• DAY 01 Mon . Jan . 22

  DEPARTURE

  Depart Charlotte for our overnight international flight to Tel Aviv, with a connection in Newark.

   

• DAY 02 Tue . Jan . 23

  ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV

  We arrive in the Holy Land late 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, but he was swallowed by a whale.  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’ll have a short tour of Jaffa, time permitting.  One overnight in our hotel overlooking the Mediterranean. 

• DAY 03 Wed . Jan . 24

  TEL AVIV / TIBERIAS

  Today we proceed northward to Caesarea-by-the-Sea from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome.  Extensive ruins of the Roman aqueduct and amphitheater built by King Herod remain.  Haifa, once a Jewish shipbuilding center, sits high above the Mediterranean on the slope of Mount Carmel.  We continue to Megiddo - Armageddon, more than 5,000 years old and once used by Solomon as an important chariot city.  Journey through the Jezreel Valley to Nazareth, Jesus' boyhood home, where we see the Grotto of the Annunciation and Nazareth Baptist Church.  In Cana, Jesus performed His first miracle by turning water into wine.  Two nights in Tiberias.

• DAY 04 Thu . Jan . 25

  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 stand in Capernaum.  Bethsaida Archaeological Park has been under excavation since 1987 and is now open. 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 been 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, 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. 

• DAY 05 Fri . Jan . 26

  TIBERIAS / BORDER CROSSING / AMMAN

  Some of Israel’s most impressive ruins are those found in Beit She’an.  Excavators have discovered 18 successive towns featuring black and white stones, marble columns, mosaics, and a 6,000-seat Byzantine amphitheatre.  Next, complete border formalities as we cross into the Decapolis region to Jerash, Jordan.  Visit one of the most complete and best-preserved Roman cities in the world.  We’ll see colonnaded streets, the South Theatre, and many Byzantine churches with beautiful mosaics.  Further south is Amman, where we’ll see the hilltop Citadel and 6,000-seat Roman amphitheater.  One overnight.

• DAY 06 Sat . Jan . 27

  AMMAN / PETRA

  Today our journey takes us south to the ancient red rock city of Petra, skillfully carved out of the sandstone mountains.  Our tour of Petra has us venturing through the twisting, turning, and sometimes narrow Siq to the Khazneh.  Behind this magnificent facade is a large, meticulously squared off room once used for hiding treasures.  Tame horses await to carry us through portions of the winding canyon.  See the 8,000-seat Roman amphitheatre and the High Place of Sacrifice with its beautiful views of the city.  On through the City Center we find the Royal Tombs. An evening spent next to Petra gives us the opportunity to watch the sun set over this magnificent city, dating back to the 4th century BC.

• DAY 07 Sun . Jan . 28

  PETRA / ROUTE OF THE EXODUS / DEAD SEA

  This morning we drive along the Exodus route north along the famed historical King's Highway passing by the well conserved Crusader city of Kerak. Drive through Wadi Mujeb. From there we go to Madaba, with its mosaic floor from the 6th century showing a map of the Holy Land as Christian pilgrims knew it in that period. We end the day at Mt. Nebo, from which God showed Moses the Promised Land. We will end our day with a mass at the Church of Mt Nebo. We then drive down to the Dead Sea for dinner and the next two overnights.

• DAY 8 Mon . Jan . 29

  DEAD SEA AT LEISURE

  Today is yours to relax and enjoy as you wish, for your day at leisure.

• DAY 9 Tue . Jan . 30

  BAPTISMAL SITE / BORDER CROSSING / MASADA / JERUSALEM

  First thing in the morning we take a short drive to the recently discovered baptismal site of “Bethany beyond the Jordan”. This site was declared a Holy Site when Pope Paul visited there in the year 2000. For Christians, the most significant event associated with the River Jordan is undoubtedly the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. It is strongly suggested that this took place very close to Beit Abara, where Joshua, Elijah and Elisha crossed the river. In the New Testament times, it became known as Bethany, the village of John the Baptist. (This Bethany is not to be confused with the village of Bethany near Jerusalem, where the Bible says Lazarus was raised from the dead).  After Jesus’ baptism at Bethany, he spent forty days in the wilderness east of the River Jordan, where he fasted and resisted the temptations of Satan (Mark 1: 13, Matthew 4: 1-11).  We then proceed to the Allenby Bridge. After we finish the border proceedings we again rejoin our bus and guide from the Holy Land and drive on the western shores of the Dead Sea to the southernmost point, Masada, last stronghold of the Jewish rebels in 73 AD rising 1,200 feet above the desert plain.  See the restoration efforts on remains of buildings dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries AD. We then drive north to Qumran for a look at one of the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found by a Bedouin shepherd in 1948. We continue driving to Jericho. At Jericho, we visit the tell of this oldest city and view the traditional mountain of Jesus' temptation. Ascending the Roman road along the deep and picturesque gorge of Wadi Qilt, we stop for a look at St. George's Monastery. Finally, atop Mt. Scopus, we behold majestic Jerusalem, City of David. The next three nights in Jerusalem!

• DAY 10 Wed . Jan . 31

  JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM

  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 Mount Zion we visit the Coenaculum (Room of the Last Supper); the Tomb of David; and the Church of St. Peter in Galicantu, where Peter denied Christ three times before the cock crowed, and which is also known as the House of Caiaphas, where Jesus was brought after his arrest.  In the Kidron Valley we see the Siloam Pool where Jesus healed a blind man.

• DAY 11 Thu . Feb . 01

  JERUSALEM / THE OLD CITY

  Deep in the heart of Jerusalem we tour the Jewish Heritage Tunnel.  See the Dome of the Rock Mosque next to the Wailing Wall.  Our walking tour in the Old City of Jerusalem will begin 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, or “Sorrowful Road,” we see the stations connected with Jesus’ crucifixion.  The Church of the Holy Sepulchre represents the final station where He was crucified.

• DAY 12 Fri . Feb . 02

  JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / DEPARTURE

  On the Mount of Olives, we visit the Paternoster Church (where the Lord’s Prayer is written in 35 languages), the Church of the Ascension, Tomb of the Virgin Mary, Garden of Gethsemane, and the Church of All Nations.  Enjoy a breathtaking panorama of old and new Jerusalem.  A special service will be held at the Garden Tomb. Tonight, we enjoy a farewell dinner in Joppa prior to late evening check in for our flight home.

• DAY 13 Sat . Feb . 03

  ARRIVE USA

  Today we arrive back in the USA on our flight from Tel Aviv.