Day by Day Travel Itinerary

• Day 01 Mon . Apr . 15

  DEPARTURE

  Today we depart USA and board our overnight flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, with a connection in Newark.

• Day 02 Tue . Apr . 16

  ARRIVE ISRAEL /JAFFA / THE SHARON PLAIN / NETANYA

  We arrive early morning. After clearing customs, we will be met by our guide and board our bus to visit Jaffa – the oldest port in the world. Jaffa was the home of Tabitha who was raised from the dead by Peter. In Jaffa Peter had his vision while lodging in the home of Simon the Tanner. We will drive north along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and stop at Caesarea Maritima where the Apostle Paul (Acts 24) was imprisoned. We walk through extensive Roman ruins – aqueduct, amphitheater, sunken harbor and hippodrome before checking into our hotel overlooking the Mediterranean for the night.

• Day 03 Wed . Apr . 17

  MT. CARMEL / MEGIDDO / NAZARETH / TIBERIAS

  Our pilgrimage this morning begins at Mt. Carmel (I Kings 18:16) where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal. After viewing the panoramic view of the Plain of Jezreel, we continue down the valley to Tel Megiddo touring this fortress once used by King Solomon. Driving through the Jezreel Valley we will stop at Gideon Springs (Judges 7) before heading to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home. While in Nazareth we visit the Grotto of the Annunciation. Continuing down the hills, we drive through Cana (John2), where Jesus performed His 1st miracle and then cross over the Arbel Cliff for a magnificent view of the Sea of Galilee. The day ends when we check into our hotel for the next 3 nights.

• Day 04 Thu . Apr . 18

  BEIT SHEAN / MAGDALA / LOWER GALILEE

  Today we start our day at the Valley of the Doves and walk on the very road Jesus traveled. We then travel south to visit the impressive ruins in Beit Shean where excavators have discovered 18 successive towns, mosaics, and a 6,000-seat amphitheater. Returning to the Sea of Galilee we stop for a special lunch featuring “St. Peter’s fish.” After lunch we will stop at Magdala to visit the recently discovered ruins which includes an ancient biblical synagogue most likely visited by Jesus. We then head to the north side of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Mount of Beatitudes (Matt 5), The Church of the Primacy (John 21) and Capernaum where we visit the synagogue and the place where early Christians remembered Peter’s house.

• Day 05 Fri . Apr . 19

  UPPER GALILEE / GOLAN HEIGHTS / CAESAREA PHILIPPI

  This morning we ascend the Golan Heights to the Tel Dan area where we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan River with views of the ancient ruins. (I Kings 12) A short drive then takes us to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Peter answered Jesus’ question – “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:21-30). We drive around Mt. Hermon through the Druze villages as we descend our way back to the Sea of Galilee stopping at Gergesa (Mark 5:13). We end our day with a museum visit to see the Jesus Boat and then take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

• Day 06 Sat . Apr . 20

  SAMARIA / NABLUS / JERICHO / JERUSALEM

  Heading inland to the Samaritan Hills we will pass by Dothan where Jacob’s sons sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite caravan (Genesis 37: 25f) and then arrive in Nablus (Biblical Shechem) to visit Jacob’s Well (John 4) and the New Testament site of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman. Traveling further south, we arrive at Jericho – the oldest city in the world which lays 820 feet below sea level. There we view the Mt. of Temptation (Luke 4) where Jesus was tempted by the devil. After lunch and a stop for shopping and maybe a camel ride… we continue driving uphill through the deep and picturesque Wadi Kelt gorge (Psalm 23) and end our day in Jerusalem checking into our hotel where we will spend the next 3 nights.

• Day 07 Sun . Apr . 21

  AROUND THE CITY OF JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM

  Our day begins at Mt. of Olives with the Old City facing towards us. We descend by foot the traditional Palm Sunday Road remembering Jesus’ entry and continue down to Gethsemane to visit the garden where Jesus prayed the night of his arrest. There we will have some quite time and devotion. We then visit the church grounds called Peter in Gallicantu (Mark 14:53f) which is built over the house of the High Priest Caiaphas who interrogated Jesus. We exit the church using the very steps Jesus used. Driving south to the Bethlehem region we visit the “shepherd’s fields” and then walk through the alleys and markets to the Church of the Nativity… built over the birthplace of our Lord. While in Bethlehem there will be ample time for shopping before driving through Bethany on our return to our hotel.

• Day 08 Mon . Apr . 22

  MASADA / DEAD SEA / JORDAN RIVER

  Today begins with an early drive through the Judean desert to Masada where we board the cable car to the top of this magnificent fortress. Masada was a palace location for Herod and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD). On our return we stop at Ein Gedi where David hid from Saul and then Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. When we stop at the Dead Sea you can float on the water or take a therapeutic Dead Sea mud bath before heading to the Jordan River – near the site where John baptized Jesus. We will allow time for blessings and baptisms in the river before returning to our hotel.

• Day 09 Tue . Apr . 23

  OUR VISIT TO THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

  We will enter the Holy City via the Dung Gate where we examine the ruins of the Western Wall of the Temple, view the Dome of the Rock and then descend below ground to walk through the Western Wall Tunnel. We exit the tunnel walk near the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church which has remarkable acoustics and is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period. Walking through the city souk (market) we arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Golgatha). We will hold a private closing worship service in a local Christian church. In the evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner before we drive to the airport for our late evening flight home.

• Day 10 Wed . Apr . 24

  OUR RETURN HOME, RENEWED AND REFRESHED

  Today we arrive back on our non-stop flight from Tel Aviv. After clearing US customs and saying goodbye to our new friends…. we catch our final flight home.