DAY 1/2 – Travel to Israel Pack your bags and bring your sense of wonder. Your life-changing journey to the Holy Land begins as you depart the USA.
DAY 3 – Jerusalem Accommodation: Hotel Name in Jerusalem
After an Israeli breakfast, start your day with a visit to the Mt of Olives and stand and enjoy a remarkable view of the Temple Mount and Eastern Gate from this vantage point. This is the place where, forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into Heaven (Acts 1:9). You will then walk along the Palm Sunday Road where Jesus began His Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and stop to pray beneath the ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion.
Garden of Gethsemane
Then, you’ll continue down through the Kidron Valley, and see the tombs of Absalom and the high priest Zachariah before entering some of the oldest areas of Jerusalem that date back to the time of King David.
Journey on foot to the bottom of the ancient city and visit the pool of Siloam where Jesus sent the man who was born blind to wash his eyes to be healed (John 9). You may even choose to walk through King Hezekiah’s tunnel to get there!
The recently discovered Pool of Siloam
The day’s tour concludes back near Temple Mount with a visit to the Davidson visitors center at the Southern wall excavations and examines some of the most important archaeological finds in Jerusalem. Discover the significance of these historical findings and how they help us understand life in Jerusalem thousands of years ago.
Stand upon the Southern Steps where Jesus and His disciples walked and where Peter preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.
The Southern Steps with Mt Olives in the background
You will see Robinson’s Arch before walking underground through the Western Wall tunnel tour (Rabbi’s Tunnel). This tunnel runs the length of the Western Wall underneath many buildings of the Old City.
The open-air portion of the Western Wall where many gather to pray is only a small part of the entire wall. From within the tunnel, we can see much of the well-preserved Temple wall including two stone blocks weighing 600 tons each! Afterward, you will have an opportunity to pray at the Western Wall. This is one of the most iconic landmarks in all of Israel. This is as close as Orthodox Jews will get to the Temple Mount until the new temple is built. Throughout the day and night, hundreds of Jews gather to pray at the Western Wall and leave handwritten prayers in the spaces between the stones.
Orthodox Jews at the Western Wall
DAY 4, (Date) – Jerusalem Accommodation: Hotel Name in Jerusalem
You will begin with a visit to the Temple Mount where the Jewish temple stood until its destruction by the Roman Legions in 70 A.D. There we will see the Dome of the Rock built over the rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac, the Al-Aqsa Mosque. This site also has special religious significance for Muslims. Due to the volatile relationship between the Jewish and Muslim world, the Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount area has been the source of much controversy over the years.
From the Temple Mount, view the Eastern Gate that faces the Mount of Olives. This is the gate where Jesus will make His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 43:1-2,4; 44:1-3).
You will walk through St. Stephen’s Gate, now known as the Lions Gate. It is the only gate in the eastern wall of the Old City of Jerusalem. In the Christian tradition, it is thought that the stoning of St. Stephen (Acts 7) occurred outside of this gate.
View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-31) where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle healing the lame man at this pool. St. Anne’s Church, with incredible acoustics, is perfectly preserved and dates back to the time of the Crusades.
Take a brief walk along the Via Dolorosa (the way of suffering) and then pass by the Antonia Fortress (Ecce Homo) where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1-11).
You will visit the Christian Quarter and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Walk through the Jewish quarter of the old city and see the Cardo and Hezekiah’s Broad Wall.
Enjoy time at the Israel Museum with the Shrine of the Book and view several priceless artifacts including the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Adjacent to the museum is the open-air miniature model of Jerusalem that depicts the city of Jerusalem as it would have looked circa 70 A.D.
Miniature Model of Jerusalem in Jesus’ time
Day 5 – Jerusalem and Judea Accommodation: Hotel Name in Jerusalem
On Mount Zion, you will pass by the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12), and then visit the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. This church was built over the ruins of what is believed to be the High Priest Caiaphas’ house, where some say Jesus was held in the morning hours before his crucifixion.
Cherish a visit to the Garden Tomb, from where you will view what many believe to be the place where Jesus was crucified. The word Golgotha means “Place of a Skull”. This hill stands just outside the walls at the intersection of two ancient roads. Many scholars believe this location most closely matches the New Testament description.
Whilst at the Garden Tomb, you will enjoy a special service with a time of praise and thankfulness to God for the resurrection.
Step inside the empty tomb, experience the reality of the Resurrection, and remember, “He is not here, for He is risen!”
As you leave Jerusalem, you cross over the security fence into the Palestinian Authority (PA) for a visit to Bethlehem, the site of the Nativity, and spend some time surveying the Shepherds’ Fields just outside the town.
On your way to the Dead Sea, you will visit the famous site of the epic battle between David and Goliath in the Elah Valley. Walking up to Tel Azekah you will see the Biblical town ruins and reach the viewpoint looking over the Elah Valley.
DAY 6 – Judean Wilderness Accommodation: Hotel Name in Jerusalem
Ride in the cable car up to the top of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea. This was the location of one of King Herod the Great’s palaces. It is a spectacular hilltop fortress. Here your guide will treat you to the history of the famous zealot stand. Ruins of the walls and massive Roman siege ramp are still visible today.
Masada
Take a hike to Ein Gedi the largest oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. It was here at Ein Gedi, that David and his men once hid from King Saul in the canyon caves.
See Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, including the remarkably well-preserved Isaiah Scroll. Tour the museum and learn the incredible story of their discovery and their significance to the Bible’s preservation.
Conclude the day’s touring back at the Dead Sea. At approximately 1,400 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest spot in the world. The Dead Sea is almost 10 times saltier than the ocean and consequently, there are no fish or visible life forms in the sea. This high concentration of salt also makes it impossible for a swimmer to sink in the water!
DAY 7 – Jordan Valley Accommodation: Hotel Name in Galilee
Travel up the Jordan Valley, and view Wadi Qelt, a rocky plateau with stunning views of the ancient Jericho Road and St George’s Monastery. Following this you will visit the ancient city of Jericho and view the Mount of Temptation.
As you continue along the Jordan Valley you will make a short stop at the city of Beit Shean located at the intersection of the Jezreel Valley and the Jordan River. There you will see an ancient Roman city where the Bible mentions Saul and his son Jonathan whose bodies were hanged on the city walls. (1 Samuel 31). The city contains many well-preserved ruins from different eras and empires including the Egyptians, Byzantines, Greeks, and Romans.
Then on to Gideon's Spring (Ein Harod), the small mountain stream, where Gideon chose his army of 300 by observing how they drank from the springs (Judges 7). The spring is in the shadow of Mount Gilboa where Saul fought and died. His death made David lament and pray that no dew would be on the mountain (2 Samuel 1:19-27).
Gideon’s Spring
You will pass by the banks of the Jordan River, just south of the Sea of Galilee, at Yardenit to enjoy a time for baptisms in the Jordan River,
DAY 8 – Galilee Region Accommodation: Hotel Name in Galilee
Watch the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee where fishermen work the waters with nets much as in the time of Jesus. Then after breakfast, you will embark on a boat to sail the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Along the boat ride, our guide will point out various places along the Sea that are mentioned in the Gospels. After this, you will stop by to view an ancient boat found in the Sea of Galilee.
Explore Capernaum, the center of Jesus' ministry, before going to the synagogue which stands on the site where Jesus taught. Recall His teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:13, 23).
Capernaum Synagogue ruins and Peter’s house
See the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter, where Peter professed his devotion three times to the risen Christ and stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus commanded Peter to “Feed my sheep.” (John 21)
Ascend the peaceful Mount of Beatitudes which overlooks the Sea of Galilee and see the traditional site where Jesus preached His most famous sermon: the Sermon on the Mount.
View from the Mt of Beatitudes
You will visit Magdala one of the most exciting archaeological sites in Israel today. This was the hometown of Mary Magdalene.
The day will conclude as you head up to Mt Arbel for a stunning view of all of Galilee and the time of teaching on the Great Commission.
You will come down from the Mount and go for a brief walk along the Jesus Trail (Pigeon Pass Wadi Hammon).
DAY 9 – Upper Galilee Accommodation: Hotel Name in Galilee
You will spend today touring sites in the northernmost region of Israel. From several vantage points, as you drive up, you will see Mount Hermon in the distance, believed by many the site of the Lord's Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9).
You will visit Tel Dan where you will see the altar of Jeroboam, and an ancient city gate, like that of the story of Ruth. Tour the ruins of this ancient city that dates back thousands of years and also see Abraham's Gate, the place where the Patriarch Abraham would have entered the city roughly 4,000 years ago.
Take a hike to the Banias Falls before stopping to visit Caesarea Philippi, (Banias) where Jesus traveled with His disciples and where nearby Peter made his great confession to Jesus, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16:16). Here, inside a grotto, the Greeks built a shrine to the god, Pan.
Whilst at the national park, you will explore the ruins of Herod Agrippa’s Palace.
You will travel through the strategic tableland known as the Golan Heights (Bashan). From your high vantage point, your guide will point out the country of Syria in the distance and give some insight into the country of Israel’s military defenses. The Israeli Army captured this region from the Syrians during the Six-Day War.
Day 10 – South Galilee & Jezreel Valley
After an Israeli breakfast, start your day with a visit to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, and stop at the Nazareth Village for a taste of what life was like in New Testament times (Matthew 2:23).
Stop by Cana village, where the first miracle by Jesus was performed, turning water into wine, and the Mount of Precipice, where Luke describes how Jesus was rejected by those in the synagogue after He taught them. Filled with anger they "led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong" (Luke 4:29).
Just outside of Nazareth you will tour the ruins of Zippori (Sepphoris), the city built by Herod Antipas in the time of Jesus, and see the magnificent amphitheater and mosaics.
Mosaic on the floor of an ancient synagogue at Zippori
Leaving southern Galilee, you will travel the ancient caravan route through the Jezreel Valley to Tel Megiddo, an exciting archaeological dig with layers of twenty different cities built on top of each other. From Megiddo, you view the future battleground of Armageddon. Prophecy will come alive at Megiddo as we look over the Valley of Armageddon, the site of the final world war!
Next, make your way to Mt. Carmel where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).
Then a short drive to Caesarea. This maritime city was built by King Herod and was once the seat of Roman rule. Here, Cornelius became the first gentile to convert to Christianity. This is also the location where Paul was imprisoned before his trial in Rome. View the ruins of Herod’s seaside palace and a large hippodrome where chariot races were conducted.
Herodian Aqueduct at Caesarea Maritima
This is where the wonderful journey through the land of the Bible comes to a close. You will transfer to the airport to board your plane for the return trip home if your plane flies out that night. If you stay an extra night and leave the next day, there will be an additional night’s accommodation charge.
DAY 11 – Arrive back in the USA
You will bring home with you souvenirs, photographs, memories, new friendships, and an unforgettable experience. Shalom!
