Day 1 – Saturday, November 7: 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 – Sunday, November 8: Arrive in Israel, Netanya

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, we meet our local Israeli representative who assists us with baggage and Passport Control. We then meet our guide and driver as we make our way north to our hotel in Netanya for dinner and overnight beside the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. An optional walk on the beach can be enjoyed after dinner!

Day 3 – Monday, November 9: Caesarea, Carmel, 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 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). From here we ascend to the one of the high peaks of Mt. Gilboa where King Saul and his sons died (1 Samuel 31). Finally, we cross the Jezreel Valley to 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 Cana (John 2), we finally arrive in Tiberias (John 6:23). We arrive at our hotel located right on the Sea of Galilee shoreline. This is the first of four nights here! After dinner, we enjoy sitting together for a time of fellowship and orientation.

Day 4 – Tuesday, November 10: Gamla, Katzrin, Syrian Border, Caesarea Philippi, Dan

We begin the day by driving into the Golan Heights. Up on the plateau of the Golan Heights is Gamla. This was a Jewish city involved in the First Revolt against the Romans. An option will be provided to walk down to the 1st century synagogue. There is a high probability that Jesus taught about the Kingdom here (Matthew 4 & 9). Next, we visit the Talmudic Village of Katzrin (also Qatzrin). These ruins date from the 3rd – 7th centuries AD. We will sit in a completely restored stone house and read Mark 2. The story will come alive in great detail! Driving to the border, we next visit the Syrian Border. Here, we learn about the modern wars of Israel, primarily the 1967 and 1973 wars with Syria. Driving past Mt. Hermon (Psalm 133), we descend the Golan Heights and visit Caesarea Philippi. It was here where Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do you say I am?” (Matt. 16). Nearby is the amazing nature preserve and archaeological site of Dan. We walk through this quiet national park and impressive Old Testament city and hear the stories of disobedience that took place here (Judges 18, 1 Kings 12). We drive back to our hotel in Tiberias. After dinner, we again meet together to review the day.

Day 5 – Wednesday, November 11: Hippos, Jordan River, Magdala, Chorizim (Optional Walk to Capernaum), Capernaum, Sea of Galilee Boat Ride

Our first stop is Hippos, located on the east side of the lake and one of the Decapolis cities in the days of Jesus. We will see many Roman ruins here, plus a great view of the Sea of Galilee. We will consider the story of Mark 5 and the demoniac’s transformation. We then drive to the southern end of the lake to Yardenit. Here, an optional baptism will take place. Next, we drive to Magdala to see another ancient synagogue that dates to the time of Christ. Mary “Magdalene” was also from here (Luke 8). Located also on this corner of the Sea of Galilee is Chorizim, one of the three cities condemned by Jesus (Matthew 11). We see the basaltic ruins and synagogue which dates to the 2nd-3rd centuries. From here, we will provide an optional walk on a new trail that leads to Capernaum, the home center of ministry for Jesus in Galilee (those not doing the walk will be driven to Capernaum). Here, we read from the Gospels about the many things that took place here (Mark 1, Luke 7 & John 6) in the 4th-5th century synagogue. To end the day, we see the “Jesus boat” from the first century, a vessel found here along the shores of Galilee in 1986. Next, we enjoy our own boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, with a quiet and peaceful worship service together. We recall the storm narratives (Mark 4 & 6). Upon landing, we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 – Thursday, November 12: Reflection/Rest Day: Optional Sunrise Hike in Upper Galilee (Hill 713), Mt. Arbel & Reflection, Khirbet Cana

We begin the day with an optional pre-breakfast hike to “Hill 713” in the Upper Galilee. We hope to catch the sunrise! Next, we visit Arbel, a mountain NW 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! While on top, we will enjoy some reflection time while reading from Matthew 5-7 as well as Matthew 13. In the afternoon, our unique destination will be Khirbet Cana, an off-the-beaten-path site just north of the Beit Netofa Valley. We’ll need to use a dirt road to get there. The site is where Jesus turned water into wine (John 2) and where He healed someone from a distance (John 4). We return to our hotel for dinner and another gathering out by the water.

Day 7 – Friday, November 13: Beth Shean, Shiloh, Jericho

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, 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). You will have a chance to float in the salt and mineral-rich waters of this unique body of water-the Dead Sea! Dinner and overnight are outside Jericho.

Day 8 – Saturday, November 14: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Judean Desert

This morning, we drive south 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. Next, we continue driving north about 25 minutes to Ein Gedi. This is where David hid from King Saul (1 Samuel 24). A few other biblical connections will be made. You will have the option to walk back to the highest waterfalls. Located on the northwest corner of the Dead Sea is Qumran. The settlement of Qumran is where the first century sect known as the Essenes authored the Dead Sea Scrolls. We’ll hike to the edge of the cliff before seeing the archaeological site and a few of the caves where the scrolls were found. On the way to Jerusalem, we will make a brief stop overlooking the Wadi Qelt in the heart of the Judean Desert. Once we arrive in Jerusalem and check in to our hotel, we will enjoy dinner followed by an optional night walk through the Old City to the Western Wall and back!

Day 9 – Sunday, November 15: Mt. of Olives, Pool of Bethesda, Holy Sepulcher Church, 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 Pool of Bethesda (John 5). We also enjoy some marvelous singing in St. Anne’s Church from the Crusader period. Our walk continues along the traditional Via Dolorosa (the authentic “way of the cross” went the completely opposite direction) to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon, we visit Herodium. Located on the edge of the Judean Desert, this is where Herod the Great was buried. We end the day by driving into Bethlehem to visit the Shepherd’s Field, and to shop at an olive wood store. We drive back to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and another optional walk.

Day 10 – Monday, November 16: Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, The “Shephelah” (Lowlands) of Judah: Gezer, Beth Shemesh, Socoh or Azekah

We begin by day by driving to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum. We will first hear the testimony of our guide on the grounds of the museum before seeing the “Avenue of the Righteous” and the Children’s Memorial. We finally walk through the museum on our own. Also located in West Jerusalem is the fascinating Israel Museum! Here we will see the model of Jerusalem (1:50 scale model of Herodian Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time) and the Shrine of the Book (where some of the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed). Lastly, we will walk through the archaeological museum to see the “highlight” artifacts that connect us to the Bible! In the midafternoon we will drive west down to the Shephelah (lowlands) of Judah to see three Old Testament sites. First will be Gezer located along the Aijalon Valley. Here, we see ruins from the Canaanites to the days of Solomon. Next in the Sorek Valley is Beth Shemesh. This is where the Ark of the Covenant was returned from the Philistines (1 Samuel 6). Lastly, we travel to the Elah Valley to see where David fought Goliath (1 Samuel 17). We will see the battlefield from either Azekah or Socoh. We drive back to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Day 11 – Tuesday, November 17: City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Southern Wall Excavations, Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Garden Tomb

We begin this last day by visiting the City of David and the new excavations of David’s palace. Those who want to 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. Close by is the Western Wall, the most holy place for Jews today! Following a visit here, we will walk to the Jewish Quarter for some free time on our own before ending the day at the Garden Tomb. Here we will enjoy a brief Communion Service before driving back to our hotel for our “farewell dinner.” Depending on flight schedules, some not doing the Jordan extension will be driven to the airport for their flight home. Others will stay one more night in Jerusalem before driving to the airport for an early morning flight back home or driving to Jordan tomorrow for the start of the optional extension.

Day 12 – Wednesday, November 18: Arrive Home

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