Day by Day Travel Itinerary

• DAY 01 Thu . Mar . 13

  DEPART USA

  We begin our tour of a lifetime with an afternoon departure from Newark, arriving into Tel Aviv early morning on El Al Israel Airlines. 

• DAY 02 Fri . Mar . 14

  Arrive Israel/Tel Aviv/Caesarea by Sea

  Upon arrival we clear passport control, meet our guide and transfer by private motorcoach to Caesarea by the Sea, the ancient seaport built in honor of Caesar Augustus by Herod the Great and the Roman capital in the Holy Land for nearly 500 years.   We enjoy the remnant of a Roman aqueduct before we turn toward our hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv.

• DAY 03 Sat . Mar . 15

  Nazareth/Beit Shan/Baptism/Tiberias

  After a relaxing breakfast, we depart for Nazareth, where we recall the announcement of the angel, Gabriel, to Mary about the birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38). Visit Nazareth Village, a first-century farm and village presenting the life, times and teachings of Jesus. After lunch, we enjoy baptism at Gan Hashlosha, celebrating all that Jesus has accomplished for us.  We conclude the day with a visit to Beit Shean before heading to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at the U Boutique.

• DAY 04 Sun . Mar . 16

  Boat Ride/Caesarea Philippi/Capernaum/Mt. of Beatitudes/Magdala

  Nothing is more beautiful than sunrise over the Sea of Galilee!  We begin the day with a peaceful boat ride on the lake where Jesus performed many of his miracles.  We drive up the Golan Heights to Caesarea Philippi, the picturesque location for the great conversation between Peter and Jesus recorded in Matthew 16. Following lunch we turn our attention toward Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus during his ministry, and remember that Jesus called 11 of his 12 disciples from this area. Later we reflect on Matthew 5-7 and the “Greatest Sermon ever Preached” with a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes. We conclude the day at Magdala, a thriving community at the time of our Lord where a recent archeological discovery revealed a First Century synagogue, likely visited by our Lord, before we return to our same hotel for dinner and overnight.

• DAY 05 Mon . Mar . 17

  Mt Arbel / Megiddo / Israel Museum / Holocaust Museum

  An early morning walk along the Sea of Galilee is unforgettable. We say farewell to this beautiful area and head for Mt. Arbel for a final view of the lake. We move on to Megiddo, the ancient tel with 23 layers of civilization. After lunch, we visit Israel Museum, home of the scale model of 1st Century Jerusalem. We conclude the day with a stop at the Holocaust Museum, which focuses our attention on the atrocities of World War 2. before we arrive at the Inbal Hotel for dinner and overnight.

• DAY 06 Tue . Mar . 18

  Temple Mount / Qumran / Masada / Ein Gedi / Dead Sea

  We begin the day with an early wake-up call to beat the crowds and head the to the Temple Mount, home of two Muslim holy sites, the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque.  We remember that Abraham came here to sacrifice his son, Isaac, and that King Solomon and King Herod, both built majestic Jewish temples here.  We walk off the platform to the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man in John 5.   We head for Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  From there, we turn for Masada, the location of two of King Herod’s majestic palaces and fortress for the Jewish zealots who held out against the invading Roman army. We move on to explore the caves of Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul and conclude the day by floating in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

• DAY 07 Wed . Mar . 19

  Bethlehem / Herodian /Southern Steps/ Pilgrim’s Path

  We start the day in Bethlehem to see the Church of Nativity, the oldest church in the Holy Land and built above caves believed to be where Jesus was born.  We move on to the Shepherd’s Fields to enjoy moments of worship remembering the 1st Christmas, before we drive up the Herodian and marvel at the opulence enjoyed by Herod the Great. After lunch we return to the Old City to focus on the Jewish history of the city with stops at the Western Wall, The Southern Steps and the Pilgrim’s Path.  Dinner and overnight at our Jerusalem hotel.

• DAY 8 Thu . Mar . 20

  Garden Tomb / Mt of Olives / Gethsemane / Via Dolorosa / Church of Holy Sepulcher / Departure

  After breakfast we proceed to Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb for   communion and worship. We climb the Mt. of Olives a final time to the spot where Jesus ascended into heaven.  We walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane & ponder the agony of the Lord before His crucifixion.  We walk the Via Dolorosa, the “Way of Sorrows,” before we come to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site for the burial and resurrection of the Lord.  We can choose several optional experiences during our final afternoon in the Old City before we enjoy a private Middle Eastern dinner at the Ambassador Hotel in preparation for an evening departure for the airport.

• DAY 9 Fri . Mar . 21

  Return to U.S.

  We arrive back in the U.S. and make our connecting flight full of memories of the Holy Land that will last a lifetime.