Day by Day Travel Itinerary

• DAY 01 Mon . Nov . 04

  DEPART USA

  Today we depart Los Angeles (LAX) for our flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.
   

• DAY 02 Tue . Nov . 05

  ARRIVAL AT TEL-AVIV

  After clearing customs, we will be met by our guide at which time we will begin our tour. Time permitting, we will drive down to Nazareth and start our tour of the city of Jesus boyhood by stopping at Nazareth Village a reconstructed first-century village that tells the story of the hometown of Jesus. We then continue to the city of Tiberias where we check into our hotel for the next three overnights. 

• DAY 03 Wed . Nov . 06

  THE SHARON PLAIN AND GALILEE

  This morning we make our way to Cana of the Galilee where Jesus performed his first sign (John 2), commemorating Jesus’ transformation of water into wine. We drive up to Mt. Precipice for a panoramic view of the Jezreel. We then drive to the mound of Megiddo, Har Megiddo in Hebrew, which gave its name to Armageddon.  We ascend Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. From there we drive towards the Mediterranean coast and drive south along the coastal highway to Caesarea-by-the Sea. We enter Caesarea Maritima to explore this Roman bridgehead to the East, which became the Christian springboard to the West. After visiting this ancient harbor, and wading in the waters of the Mediterranean, we board our bus and make our way back to our hotel for dinner and overnight. 

• DAY 04 Thu . Nov . 07

  A DAY ON THE SEA OF GALILEE

  We start the day by driving to Kibbutz Nof Ginosar where we will view the 2000-year-old fishing boat at the Yigal Alon Museum. We then take a replica of this boat for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We disembark at Capernaum, where we visit the synagogue and the place where early Christians remembered Peter’s house. We continue to Tabgha (short for Heptapagon, “seven springs”) to view the mosaics in the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. Ascending the Mt. of Beatitudes, we listen to Jesus’ teachings. On an ancient trade route, we pass Hazor and then go on to Dan. Here we do a nature walk and visit the high place where Jeroboam, son of Nebat set up a golden calf. We continue to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Peter answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Our route then takes us over Golan Heights, skirting Mt. Hermon, with a view toward Damascus. Return back to the Sea of Galilee and stop at Yardenit Baptismal site.

• DAY 05 Fri . Nov . 08

  THE LOWER GALILEE AND THE JORDAN VALLEY

  Today we visit three major sites: Beth Shean, Ein Harod and Jericho. We drive down into the Jordan Valley where we stop for a visit at the modern baptismal site at the point where the Jordan flows out of the lake. We then drive to the strategic crossing point between the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel which is located in the city of Beth Shean (aka Scythopolis). Here, we will climb the Tel to view the setting of Saul’s death (I Samuel 28 - II Samuel 1). We shall then survey the magnificent Roman and Byzantine ruins: theatre, bathhouses, ancient restrooms, market areas, colonnaded streets.  We drive through the Jezreel Valley west to Ein Harod (Judges 7), which describes Gideon’s actions in thinning out his army. We then drive east into Harod’s Valley with a fantastic view filled with biblical history. We continue east back to the Jordan Valley and then south to Jericho. At Jericho, we visit the Tel of this oldest city and view the traditional mountain of Jesus’ temptation. Ascending the Roman road along Wadi Qilt, we stop for a look at St. George’s Monastery. Finally, atop Mt. Scopus, we behold majestic Jerusalem where we will have dinner and overnight. 

• DAY 06 Sat . Nov . 09

  O JERUSALEM!

  Today we will start on Mt. of Olives with the Old City tilted toward us. After an orientation, we descend the traditional Palm Sunday Road to Dominus Flevit (“The Lord weeps”), remembering Jesus’ entry (Luke 19). We continue down to Gethsemane (Matthew 26) with a visit to the garden and the church where we will have some quiet time. We then drive to the church grounds called Peter in Gallicantu, which affords the best view of early Jerusalem from the west. Here, the Assumptionist Fathers propose, was the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus. Driving south to the Bethlehem region, passing Rachel’s Tomb on the outskirts of Bethlehem, we go to Shepherds’ Fields. We then visit Bethlehem, where we will walk through its alleys and markets to the Church of the Nativity. On the way back to Jerusalem we stop at Haas Promenade for a beautiful view of the Old City from the south.

• DAY 07 Sun . Nov . 10

  THE RIFT VALLEY

  We drive to Bethany the home of Martha and Lazarus. From there we drive through the Judean desert to Qumran. Here we view Cave #4, which contained the greatest quantity of Dead Sea scrolls. We continue south to Masada where we take the cable car to the top, visiting Herod’s Mountain bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD). After floating in the Dead Sea (at minus 1390 feet, as low as you’re ever likely to get), we enter the nature reserve of Ein Gedi, rich in flora and fauna, and walk to a lovely waterfall. On our way back we take the time to stop at the traditional Baptismal site at Qasr El Yehud before we take the Jericho/Jerusalem highway driving back up to Jerusalem and passing by the Good Samaritan Inn on the way. We return to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.  

  
   

• DAY 08 Mon . Nov . 11

  THE ARCHEOLOGY OF JERUSALEM

  First thing this morning, we drive around the city walls from Damascus Gate to Jaffa Gate. Walk through Jaffa Gate down to the Western Wall Judaism holiest site and view the Dome of the Rock the masterpiece of Islamic art. We then walk towards the Dung Gate and take the time to examine the ruins near the south side of the Temple complex, which includes steps where you may be certain that Jesus taught, and He and his disciples walked. Exit Jerusalem by Dung Gate and continue walking along the path to the City of David. The tour starts with a 10 minute 3-D movie. Then descend into the ground to Hezekiah’s tunnel built somewhere near 700 B.C.  As part of the tour, you can do the 40-minute walk in knee-high water from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam. We then motor to West Jerusalem passing by the Knesset 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.  We end our day with a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. We drive back to our hotel for dinner. This evening we have a special treat, walking through underground tunnels to see the remnants of the Temple Mount of Jesus’ day including hewn stones weighing over 400 tons! Return to the hotel for the overnight. 

• DAY 09 Tue . Nov . 12

  CHRISTIAN JERUSALEM

  We transfer to St. Stephens Gate where just inside, we find the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church, which has remarkable acoustics, and which has been perfectly preserved from the Crusader period. We then follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) back as far as the Holy Sepulcher. From there we walk through the Arab Souks, past the Armenian Quarter and exit the Old City through the Mt Zion Gate to visit the Upper Room and King David’s Tomb on the grounds of Mt. Zion. From there we take the bus to the Garden Tomb where we end our tour with a special visit and the possibility of having a private communion on its grounds. The balance of the day is free. We get together for our farewell dinner before we transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our departure flight back home. 

• DAY 10 Wed . Nov . 13

  ARRIVE USA

  At the close of an unforgettable tour, we take home wonderful memories of the Old & New Testament, a renewal of our faith, and a greater understanding of the life of our Lord.