Day 1 – Monday, April 28: Depart U.S.A.

Tour members meet for our flight. After dinner is served, sit back, relax, and enjoy the on-board entertainment as we prepare for this exciting adventure of a lifetime.

Day 2 – Tuesday, April 29: Tel Aviv, Netanya

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, we meet our local Israeli representative who assists us with baggage and transfers us to our motor coach. We arrive in Netanya at our hotel for dinner. Following dinner, we’ll enjoy a brief orientation & worship time down on the beach of the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 3 – Wednesday, April 30: Caesarea, Megiddo, Mt. Gilboa, Precipice of Nazareth, Tiberias

After an abundant breakfast buffet, we journey north along the coast to Caesarea, built 2000 years ago by King Herod. We walk through the ancient theater, the Crusader city and the fantastic aqueduct that served as a backdrop for the book of Acts. From here we drive northeast through the Carmel Range (1 Kings 18) to the archaeological site of Megiddo (1 Kings 9:15; Rev. 16:16). We continue driving along the Jezreel Valley to Mt. Gilboa (1 Samuel 31). It was here where Saul and his three sons died in the battle against the Philistines. We end the day driving across the Jezreel Valley to the Precipice of Nazareth (Luke 1,4). Here we introduce the life and ministry of Jesus as we listen to him teaching in His hometown synagogue. We then drive through Cana (John 2), finally arriving at the outskirts of Tiberias (John 6:23) to our hotel located right on the Sea of Galilee shoreline. We will be here for the next four nights! After dinner at our hotel, we’ll gather around the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee for a time of fellowship and orientation.

Day 4 – Thursday, May 1: Hippos, Yardenit/Jordan River Baptism, Magdala, Chorazin, Optional Trail Walk to Capernaum, Capernaum

We begin the day by driving into the Golan Heights. We drive to the other side of the lake to the remarkable site of Hippos (Sussita). This was one of the Decapolis cities. Among the impressive Roman ruins, we will also enjoy a spectacular view of the lake from this eastern side! We will consider the Mark 5 story here. At the southern end of the lake is the Lower Jordan River. At a place called Yardenit, you will have the opportunity to re-affirm your faith through baptism. This is an optional experience (with a fee of $15 for the rental of a gown and towel. Sorry. You also get a certificate). From here, we drive to Magdala (north of Tiberias) to see another ancient synagogue that dates to the First Century. Mary “Magdalene” was from here (Luke 8). After lunch, we visit Chorazin. Located on this NW corner of the Sea of Galilee, this ancient city was one of the three cities condemned by Jesus (Matthew 11). We see the basaltic ruins and synagogue which dates to the 2nd-3rd centuries. As an optional experience, we will enjoy a walk on a new trail that connects Chorazin and Capernaum (our last stop of the day). This Jewish town was used as the home center of ministry for Jesus in the Galilee. Here, we read from the Gospels about the many things that took place here (Mark 1, 2, 9; Luke 7, 8; John 6) in the 4th-5th century synagogue. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 – Friday, May 2: Gamla, Qatzrin, Syrian Border, Caesarea Philippi, Dan

We spend the day primarily in the Golan Heights today! Driving north around the lake our first stop is Gamla. This was a First Century Jewish city with a synagogue. It was a city taken by the Romans in 67 AD during the First Revolt. We will look down to the site from above. Nearby is the site of Qatzrin, a partially reconstructed Talmudic village. We see what a typical village looked like during the days of Jesus. Sitting in a reconstructed stone house, we’ll read from Mark 2 (that happened at Capernaum) about the lame man being lowered down to Jesus through the roof. Driving along the northern border, we will stop and look into southern Syria. Here we learn about the modern wars of Israel, primarily the 1967 and 1973 wars with Syria. Next, we drive past Mt. Hermon (Psalm 133) and descend the Golan Heights and visit Caesarea Philippi. It was here Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Mt. 16). Nearby is the amazing nature preserve and archaeological site of Dan, one of the sources of the Jordan River. We walk through this quiet national park and hear the stories of disobedience that took place here (Judges 18, 1 Kings 12). We end the day by driving back through the Huleh Valley to our hotel in Tiberias. We’ll enjoy dinner at our hotel before a time of reflection on the shoreline of the lake.

Day 6 – Saturday, May 3: Optional Sunrise Hike to “Hill 713,” Arbel, Mt. of Beatitudes, Ancient Boat, Sea of Galilee Boat Ride

We begin the day with an optional pre-dawn hike to “Hill 713.” It’s located in the Upper Galilee. We return to the hotel for a later breakfast. Following breakfast, we visit Arbel, a mountain on the NW corner of the Sea of Galilee. An option will be given to hike to the top of this 800-foot cliff (the bus will take others to the top from the other side). The view from on top is the best there is of the whole Sea of Galilee! We will take some time to reflect upon Matthew 5-7 and the kingdom parables from Matthew 13-14 here. Following a late lunch, we will visit the traditional Mt. of Beatitudes. We reflect more upon the kingdom principles of Matthew 5-7 here. To end the day, we see the 1st century wooden boat discovered in 1986 held in the museum on the grounds of our hotel. We will then enjoy our own boat ride on the lake. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. The rest of the evening we have free as we prepare for our drive south in the morning.

Day 7 – Sunday, May 4: Beth Shean, Shiloh, Jericho, Dead Sea

We begin the day by driving south to the Jordan Valley to the site of Beth Shean (1 Sam. 31), an impressive Roman city of the Decapolis. Driving south along the Jordan Valley and then turning west into the area of Samaria, we visit the rather new excavations of Shiloh. This is where the Tabernacle once stood. Here we see impressive archaeological ruins dating to the days of Samuel. Driving past Bethel (Gen. 12, 28) and through the Desert of Pareth (Jeremiah 13), our next stop is Jericho. After a late lunch here (not included), we climb the tel (ancient mound) to see portions of the fortification wall that supported the mud-brick walls that “came tumblin’ down” (Joshua 6). From here we drive to the southern end of the Dead Sea to our hotel. After checking in, we will have the opportunity to “float” in the Dead Sea either before dinner or early tomorrow morning before breakfast. Dinner and overnight along the Dead Sea.

Day 8 – Monday, May 5: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Wilderness of Judah, Jerusalem

Following breakfast this morning, we begin our drive northward along the western coastline of the Dead Sea to Masada. Here we ascend high upon the wilderness mountain by way of cable car to the fortress built by King Herod. We survey the ruins of the fortifications, waterworks, synagogue, temples, and palaces. An optional walk down the Snake Path will be offered. Our next stop is Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul, where we’ll enjoy a walk to some of the waterfalls in the canyon. For those who don’t want to hike through the canyon, an option will be provided to see the Talmudic synagogue. Finally, we visit Qumran and the settlement of the first century sect known as the Essenes, the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Over the lunch hour (weather permitting), we will have the opportunity to explore the cliff area above the site where the aqueduct begins. En route to Jerusalem, we end the day with a brief stop at Wadi Qelt. Here we hear the words of Isaiah 40 and Psalm 23 in the context of the Judean Desert. From here we drive the rest of the way to Jerusalem for overnight. After checking into our hotel, we stop for dinner before an optional walk to the Western Wall. This is a once in a lifetime experience we don’t want to miss!

Day 9 – Tuesday, May 6: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Eastern Gate, Pools of Bethsaida, Herodium, Shepherd’s Fields, Bethlehem

We get our first glimpse of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives, beholding a breath-taking panorama of the Holy City. We walk down the “Palm Sunday” route to the Garden of Gethsemane. We consider Jesus’ words, “Not my will, but yours be done” in a quiet olive tree orchard overlooking the eastern wall and gate of the Old City. We then walk to the Eastern Gate of the Old City and through the St. Stephen’s Gate (also called Lion’s Gate to the Pools of Bethsaida (John 5). We also enjoy some marvelous singing in St. Anne’s church from the Crusader period. Afterwards, we’ll then drive to Herodium, a palace-fortress built by Herod the Great. This site would serve as his burial place in 4 BC. We will see the remarkable “Reception Room” before the option climb to the top of this artificial mountain. We leave the site by descending through the impressive cistern system. We then drive to Beit Sahour for lunch (not included) before we visit to the Shepherd’s Fields. We will descend into a cave to reflect upon the words of Micah the prophet and the birth narrative of Luke 2. We will also sing carols in the Chapel of the Shepherds. To end the day, we drive to Bethlehem where we’ll visit an olive wood factory and store owned by a local Arab family. We drive back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – Wednesday, May 7: Judean Desert – Wadi Qelt Hike, Israel Museum, Shephelah: Azekah, Beth Shemesh, Gezer, Jerusalem

We begin our day with an early departure as we drive eastward to the Judean Desert. First, we will drive to a panoramic view of the Wadi Qelt. Then, we will enjoy an optional hike deep into the canyon of the desert. Many of the psalms were written within the context of this barren place (Psalm 23, 63). An option will be given to walk on the canyon trail below all the way to Herodian Jericho. Those not wanting to hike will drive to Jericho on a scenic road. We return to west Jerusalem with a visit to the fascinating Israel Museum. We will see a 1:50 scale model of Herodian Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time. We will also walk through the Shrine of the Book to see some of the Dead Sea scrolls. Lastly, we will also explore some of the artifacts in the archaeological museum. In the afternoon, we drive west to the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah. We begin by visiting Azekah and see where David fought Goliath (1 Samuel 17). As we listen to the story, we see how this famous battle took place in the Elah Valley below. From here, we drive to Beth Shemesh and the Sorek Valley. It was here where the Ark of the Covenant was returned by the Philistines (1 Samuel 6). If time permits, we’ll end the day at Gezer and the Aijalon Valley. Here we see ruins from Solomon’s day, where the famous “Gezer calendar” was found. We drive back to Jerusalem for dinner, overnight, and another optional walk.

Day 11 – Thursday, May 8: City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Southern Wall Excavations, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Free time, Garden Tomb

We begin the day by visiting the City of David and the new excavations of David’s palace. You will have the option to experience an adventurous walk through the waters of Hezekiah’s Tunnel (1,720 feet long). We then sit on the steps of the Siloam Pool and listen to the story of John 9. From here, we walk up the Pilgrim Road that takes us to “Robinson’s Arch” and the southern wall excavations. We walk on a Roman street and ascend the Temple steps. Close by is the Western Wall. We will take some time to see the massive stones herald to pray before walking to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This church built in 325 AD preserves the most likely location for the crucifixion and burial site of Jesus. After a late lunch (not included) we enjoy a few hours of free time. Our day ends at the Garden Tomb for Communion, and we return to our hotel for a Farewell Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 12 – Friday, May 9: Transfer to Airport, Return to the U.S.A.

This morning we transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our return flight back to the U.S.A.

OPTIONAL JORDAN EXTENSION

($1,697 PER PERSON. Price is based on minimum of 15 travelers for price to be valid (Includes: Visa & Border taxes of $88 & Gratuities of $65)

Day 12 – Friday, May 9: Allenby Bridge, Wadi Mujib, Machaerus, Mt. Nebo, Medeba

We begin the day by driving south to the Jordan Valley the Allenby Bridge. Here we make the crossing from Israel to Jordan. After border formalities, we meet our Jordanian guide and bus and drive to Wadi Mujib. This is believed to be the Arnon in the Bible (Numbers 21). While there, we will walk into the canyon. Part of this fun experience is getting wet, so a bathing suit and water shoes/sandals are a must! In the afternoon we ascend the hills of Moab to Mt. Nebo. Here, we stand where Moses stood and viewed the Holy Land (Deut. 34) then take in a breathtaking view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Finally, we continue to Machaerus, one of Herod’s palace-fortresses. It was here where John the Baptist was beheaded (Mark 6). We drive to nearby Medeba where we overnight.

Day 13 – Saturday, May 10: Petra

This morning we drive down to Petra, using both the Desert and King’s Highways. In the late morning we arrive at the entrance
of Petra and spend the entire rest of the day within this red-rose ancient city. We are in the heart of the Seir Mountains, Land of Edomites, mentioned in the Bible in Genesis. These mountains house the Aaron Peak, the highest in Petra and the burial place of Moses’ brother Aaron. A walk through the Siq, the main entrance to Petra, brings us to the first monument “The Treasury” (Al-Khazneh) a dramatic site. This well-preserved monumental tomb appears in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” A walk further down through the outer siq with all of its tombs and burial chamber brings us to one of the largest theaters in Jordan. A 3000-seat theater from the early first century is carved in the sandstone mountains at the bottom of the High Place of Sacrifice Mountain. Apparently, some sacrificial rituals had taken place here. From here we walk uphill to the Royal Tombs for a great view of the lower part of Petra with all its Roman remains. There will be the option to walk to the “Monastery” of Petra and/or the High Place led by Dr. John. We come back to the entrance of the site, on our own, at any time before sunset. We then enjoy a late dinner at our hotel here in Petra. What an incredible day!

Day 14 – Sunday, May 11: Southern Border Crossing into Israel, Red Sea, Timnah, Makhtesh Ramon, Tel Aviv

Following breakfast, we leave Petra and drive to the southern border to cross back into Israel. Greeted once again by our Israeli guide and bus, we make a brief stop to see the coral reefs of the Red Sea. From here, we drive north through the Aravah (Rift Valley) to Timnah. In ancient days, this was a copper mine of the Egyptians. We also walk through a full-size replica of the Old Testament Tabernacle. Continuing north, we drive back to the Tel Aviv area through the Makhtesh Ramon, Israel’s “Grand Canyon.” We also drive through the Desert of Zin (Numbers 13) where the 12 spies explored the land. We have dinner in the Tel Aviv then we transfer to the airport for our return flight home.

Day 15 – Monday, May 12: Arrive Home

We arrive back in the U.S.A. After going through U.S. Customs, we board our domestic flight back to our homes at the end of a life transforming trip!