Day 1 – Wednesday, January 31: Depart U.S.A.

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

Day 2 – Thursday, February 1: 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 take a short drive to our hotel in Netanya for dinner and overnight beside the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

Day 3 – Friday, February 2: Caesarea, Carmel, Megiddo, 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 see the fantastic aqueduct that served as a backdrop for the book of Acts. From here we depart to Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18), site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Then we proceed to Megiddo (Armageddon; 1 Kings 9:15; Rev. 16:16). Across the Jezreel Valley is the precipice of Nazareth (Luke 1 and 4). We end our day here as we are introduced to the life and ministry of Jesus in this area. Driving through modern- day Cana (John 2), we finally arrive at the outskirts of Tiberias (John 6:23). We arrive at our “kibbutz-hotel” located right on the Sea of Galilee shoreline. After dinner, we enjoy gathering together for a time of fellowship and worship.

Day 4 – Saturday, February 3: Arbel, Yardenit, Jordan River Baptism, Magdala, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes,Sea of Galilee Boat Ride

We begin the day by visiting Arbel, a mountain on the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. We will have the option 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 the top is the best there is of the whole Sea of Galilee below! Driving south to the southern end of the Sea of Galilee, we arrive at Yardenit. You will have the opportunity to reaffirm your baptism in the waters of the Jordan River. From here we drive to back to the NW corner of the lake to Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene. Here we will see another 1st century synagogue. Jesus must have taught from here! Among the other ruins are ritual baths. After lunch we see Capernaum, the home center of ministry for Jesus here in Galilee. Here, we read about the many stories related to the ministry of Jesus in the 4th- 5th century synagogue. It was in this area where Jesus called His first disciples. Close by we enjoy a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes. Here we will read from Matthew 5 about Jesus’ kingdom principles. We end the day with a visit to the Jesus’ Boat museum. A 1st century wooden boat discovered in 1986 is displayed here. From here we board our own boat for an hour ride on the Sea of Galilee. We will enjoy some worship and reflection. We return to our hotel for dinner and an optional gathering once again by the water.

Day 5 – Sunday, February 4: Hippos, Beth Shean, Jericho, Dead Sea, Jericho

We begin the day by driving to the southeast corner of the Sea of Galilee to Hippos/Sussita. Located in the southern end of the Golan Heights today, this was one of the Decapolis cities mentioned in Gospels. Among the impressive Roman ruins, the panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee from here will be stunning! From here ,we drive south to the Jordan Valley to the site of Beth Shean (1 Sam. 31), a massive Roman city of the Decapolis. Next, we drive south along the Jordan Valley to Jericho. 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 Dead Sea for a unique “float.” Close by is our hotel on the outskirts of Jericho, followed by dinner.

Day 6 – Monday, February 5: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Wilderness of Judah, Jerusalem

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, and we enjoy a walk to some of the waterfalls in the canyon. Finally, we visit Qumran and the settlement of the first century sect known as the Essenes, the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This is where the Essenes; authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls, lived. The scrolls were first discovered in Cave 1 in 1947. 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 Judea Desert. From here, we drive the rest of the way to Jerusalem for overnight. After checking in our hotel and dinner, an optional walk to the Western Wall will take place.

Day 7 – Tuesday, February 6: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Pool of Bethesda, Herodium, 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. Next, we enter the Old City of Jerusalem through the Lion’s Gate (St. Stephens) and visit the Pools of Bethesda (John 5). We also enjoy some marvelous singing in St. Anne’s church from the Crusader period. Our walk through the Old City will take us to the Christian Quarter and to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon after lunch, we drive to Herodium, the palace fortress and burial place of Herod the Great. Nearby are the Shepherds’ Fields. We will enjoy a time of reflection and worship here. We end the day at an olive wood factory and shop in Bethlehem. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – Wednesday, February 7: Israel Museum, Yad Vashem, Some of the Select Cities of the “Shephelah” – Lowlands of Judah: Gezer, Beth Shemesh, Azekah

We begin the day visiting the Israel Museum. We see the fascinating Israel Museum and the model of Jerusalem (1:50 scale model of Herodian Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time). We also see some of the “highlight” artifacts in the archaeological museum. Next, we visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum. We see the Children’s Memorial and walk through the museum on our own. We will also grab a quick bite to eat here before we leave. In the afternoon we drive west to the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah. We begin by driving to various biblical sites in this region (note: the specific sites we end up going to will be determined by time and weather). The possible mix of sites we will visit will include Gezer and the Aijalon Valley, Beth Shemesh and the Sorek Valley, and Azekah and the Elah Valley. We drive back to Jerusalem for dinner and another optional walk.

Day 9 – Thursday, February 8: City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Southern Wall Excavations, Western Wall, Free Time, Garden Tomb

We begin the day by visiting the City of David and the new excavations of David’s palace. Those who want will take an optional adventurous walk through the water 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 through an exposed Herodian drainage channel that takes us to “Robinson’s Arch” and the southern wall excavations. We walk on a Roman street and ascend the Temple steps. We then visit the Western Wall, the most holy place for Jews today! We eat lunch in the Jewish Quarter (not included). After enjoy some free time, our day ends at the Garden Tomb for Communion. We will enjoy a Farewell Dinner at a restaurant, before we transfer to the airport for our return flight home. For those doing the Egypt extension,you will return to the hotel for one more overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 10 – Friday, February 9: Arrive Home

We arrive back in the U.S.A. After going through U.S. Customs, we board our domestic flight back.