Board for your flight from the USA to Israel. This will be an overnight flight, arriving the next day to Tel Aviv.

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, reception and assistance, we will drive to our hotel for check in, followed by a welcome dinner.

-Overnight in Tel Aviv

Starting the tour off we head to Caesarea Maritima (Acts 8:40), Herod’s magnificent coastal city, with fine Roman and Crusader buildings. Particularly impressive are the amphitheater, hippodrome and the nearby aqueduct. We will see the amazing water transport techniques of the Romans also at Park Alona, by wading through 800 meters of an underground water conduit (water sandals and towels are a must). Ascend to Mount Carmel (1 King 18:16), where the Prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and then drive by Megiddo (Joshua 12:21), in the Valley of Armageddon, before hiking in the Mount Arbel Park overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

-Overnight in Tiberias

We begin the day by discovering the remains of a 2,000-year-old fishing boat known as “The Jesus Boat” at the Yigal Alon Museum. We will pray and worship while sailing on the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat. Continue to Capernaum (Matthew 4:13), a fishing village on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and where Jesus preached and healed. We visit the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) where “The Sermon on the Mount” was given. Continuing on to the springs and archeological site of Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13) we will remember the Lord’s question to His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”; ending our day with a drive up to the strategic Golan Heights for a panoramic view of Israel’s northern borders.

-Overnight in Tiberias

Today we begin our day at Magdala (Luke 8:1-3) on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the hometown of Mary Magdalene. We then visit Mt. Tabor, known as the site of The Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-13), where Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus on the mountaintop. Visit the Yardenit Baptismal site, where the Sea of Galilee empties into the Jordan River. Robes and changing facilities are provided for those wishing to be baptized. We’ll head south towards Jericho (Joshua 5:13), the oldest continuously inhabited town on earth. Afterwards we travel south towards Jerusalem, where we enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Old City from the Haas Promenade to close our day.

-Overnight in Jerusalem

We begin the morning on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24:3), for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, prior to descending towards the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:40) for prayer and meditation in the ancient olive groves. We will walk along the Way of the Cross, visiting the Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2-9). We will also visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of the crucifixion, then continue through the winding alleyways of the Old City, with free time for shopping in the Old City “Shouk” (market).

-Overnight in Jerusalem

Today we visit Temple Mount (Genesis 22:2), where Jewish tradition holds that it is the site where God gathered dust to create Adam and where Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac. We then go under the Old City on the Western Wall Tunnels Tour, allowing visitors to reach the segments of the Wall hidden from view, and to walk through ancient and fascinating subterranean spaces with exquisite archeological findings. We will travel back to the beginnings of the city at the City of David site where ongoing excavations are revealing thousands of years of history, including Hezekiah’s tunnel. Continue to the Southern Steps, where pilgrims ascended to the Temple in the time of Jesus.

-Overnight in Jerusalem

Driving south along the Jordan River towards the Dead Sea, we stop at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and at the nearby beach for a swim in the famed salty waters. We’ll head to the nature reserve and oasis of Ein Gedi, where David his when fleeing from King Saul (1 Samuel 21:10). Next we visit the mountaintop fortress of Masada, built in the year 30 B.C. by King Herod. At the beginning of the great revolt against Rome in the year 68 A.D., the site was conquered by a group of Jewish zealots, and Masada became their last stronghold.

-Overnight in Jerusalem

Today we begin our in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1), the birthplace of Jesus, followed by a tour of the Herodium, Herod’s city and where his grave was recently uncovered. After returning to Jerusalem we make our way to Mount Zion (Isaiah 24:23), to visit the Upper Room (Mark 14:15) where Jesus broke bread with his disciples, the tomb of King David and the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu.

-Overnight in Jerusalem

On this, our last morning in Jerusalem, we partake in communion and worship at the Garden Tomb (John 19:38-42), located in the heart of historic Jerusalem, just outside the Old City walls. On site there is an ancient Jewish tomb which many believe is the site of Jesus’ burial and resurrection. We’ll spend the afternoon visiting the Holocaust Memorial Museum at Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial dedicated to the lives lost during World War II. We continue to the Israel Museum, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the impressive model of the Second Temple period. We will also take a special tour of the section of the museum dedicated to early Christianity in the Holy Land before departing for the airport and the flight back home!