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Day 1 Enjoy non-stop flight to Israel, The Holy Land.
Day 2 Land at Ben Gurion Airport and go directly to the historic port of Jaffa. See Jonah's fish and stand by the house of Simon the Tanner, where Peter had his housetop experience. Explore artists' shops in Old Jaffa then return to Tel Aviv for dinner and a free evening enjoying the city's beachfront Promenade or nearby Dizengoff Street with the artistically-acclaimed Agam fountain.
Dinner and overnight Tel Aviv.
Day 3 Begin the day with a scenic drive north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, the port city where St. Paul was imprisoned. See the the Aqueduct and the Roman Theatre as well as the historic Crusaders' walled city. Then Head north to Mt. Carmel, home of the Prophet Elijah, to the church at Muhraka, where a breath-taking panorama of the scenic Galilee and Jezreel Valley will be spread before you. Visit a Druse village en route to Haifa, Israel's largest port city. Enjoy a beautiful view of the harbor from top of Mt. Carmel. If possible, visit the Cave of Elijah in the Stella Maris Church. Proceed to Acre (Akko) the charming Crusader port city that controlled the great land trade route to the East, and visit it's underground level. From Acre we'll be on our way to Tiberias, which will be our base for the next three days.
Dinner and overnight Tiberias.
Day 4 Heading north along the western shores of the Sea of Galilee, view Magdala in passing and drive through the Valley of Genesareth (Ginosar) to the Banias, the source of the Jordan River and the location of Caesarea Philippi. Then take off for the Golan Heights for a visit to the town of Katzrin. Next it's on to Capernaum, a main center for Jesus' teachings on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee. Sail on the lake to Tiberias - with ample time for prayer and meditation - for an elective St. Peter's Fish lunch. In the afternoon, bus to the Tabgha shoreline where you will be able to visit the churches of your choice; Area churches include the Church of Multiplication and the Church of St. Peter's Primacy. We end the day on Mount of Beatitude, for the Sermon on the Mount. See the fishing boat of the New Testament period, found in 1986 on the shore of Kibbutz Ginosar, if time permits.
Dinner and overnight Tiberias.
Day 5 Head west from Tiberias to Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. Then on to Nazareth for a visit to the Church of the Annunciation, Mary's Well, and more. Later, head to Megiddo (Armegeddon), a fortress on the Via Maris and site of many battles and prophecies. It is possible today to climb Mt. Tabor for a special visit to the Church of Transfiguration. End the day at the Yardenit baptismal site on the Jordan.
Dinner and overnight Tiberias.
Day 6 On to Jerusalem! Along the way, visit Gideon's Spring at Ein Harod, where Judge Gideon chose 300 devout men for his night battle against the Midianites. Visit the exciting excavation site at Beit She'an, the new Pompeii of Israel. Then, head south through the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the world's oldest city, conquered by Joshua, for a visit to the tel and a view of Mt. Temptation. While in town, a visit to the beautiful mosaic floor at Caliph Hisham's Winter Palace can be incorporated. Along the way, we'll be in the area of Zacheus Tree. Then, it's on to the observation point in Wadi Kelt looking over the St. George Monastery, and up to Jerusalem.
Dinner and overnight Jerusalem.
Day 7 We start off with a drive to the Mt. Of Olives for an awe-inspiring panoramic view of Jerusalem. When atop the mountain you may pay your respects at the Church of the Pater Noster or the Chapel of the Ascension, after which we proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane. Crossing the Kidron/Joshaphat Valley are the Tombs of Absalom, Zecharia and St. James, and we'll enter the Old City via the Dung Gate to climb to the Temple Mount for a visit of the Dome of the Rock. Then on to the Church of St. Anne, site of the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man. Continue on the Via Dolorosa by Pilate's Judgement Hall, Flagellation and Eche Home Arch. In the afternoon, proceed to Mt. Zion to stand by the traditional Tomb of King David and climb to the Upper Room, followed by a possible visit to the Dormition Abbey. We'll make our way down the slope to the Church of Peter Gallicantu, which is a possible site of Caiapha's Palace, and continue by bus to Bethlehem for a visit to the Church of the Nativity, Manger, and Grotto of St. Jerome. Conditions permitting, we will visit the Shepherds' Fields. We will include A visit to one of Bethlehem's world famous craft shopping centers and We'll view Rachel's Tomb while returning to Jerusalem.
Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 8 Explore the New City. Beginning with the Model of Jerusalem in the time of the Second Temple at the Holy Land Hotel then the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, the beautiful Marc Chagall stained glass windows at the Hadassah Medical Center, and Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine in the Book of the Israel Museum. Our tour will take us to the village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist and give us a chance to plant a tree, as a symbol of life and regeneration, with our own hands. In the afternoon, enter the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and visit the Herodian mansions which provide an understanding of life in Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. Proceed to the Cardo and Hezekiah's Wall and then to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), the only remains of the Holy Temple. Finish the day by walking the Via Dolorosa to either the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the Garden Tomb.
Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 9 On our way through the Judean desert, en route to Masada, we stop at the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. Ascend Masada by cable car to see the magnificent ruins and the fortress where Jewish Zealots made their last stand against the Romans (73-74 AD). Next we Descend to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, where a quick dip could feel rejuvenating, while an alternative might be a climb to the falls at Ein Gedi. Return to the hotel for your final shopping adventure, dinner, packing and late-night transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your return trip on Day 10.
Day 10 (Optional) DayA Free Day to visit places of your choice in Jerusalem or do any final shopping. Public transportation can take you anywhere in the city.
Late night transfer to airport for return trip.
Day 11 Enjoy return trip home.
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