Classic Israel Tour

Day 1  DEPARTURE

 

You will have a busy schedule when you arrive in Israel, so rest well on the flight. Once you catch a glimpse of the Mediterranean Sea and coastline of Tel Aviv, the excitement will build in anticipation of finally setting foot in the Holy Land.
 

Day 2  WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

Welcome Home! Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met and assisted through customs by a representative from Immanuel Tours Agencies. If time permits, we’ll visit the ancient port city of Jaffa before retiring to our hotel for the evening. Dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv.

 

 

Day 3     CAESAREA - MT. CARMEL – MEGIDDO - TIBERIAS

After a night of rest, we’ll be on our way to Caesarea Maritime, to visit the Amphitheatre, Hippodrome and Roman Aqueduct. We continue to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged the Prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:17-40). Our next stop is Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16). We continue to Zippori (Sepphoris), then drive through Nazareth and Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle (John 2:1-11). Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. 

 

 

Day 4     SEA OF GALILEE/ Mt. of BEATITUDES/ CAPERNAUM/ JORDAN RIVER

We begin this day with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Ginosar, where we will view an ancient boat, known as the “Jesus Boat.” Next, we visit the Mt. of Beatitudes and Capernaum, where we find an ancient synagogue where Jesus taught (John 6:24-30). We visit the nearby ruins of Korazim before we drive around the shores of the Sea of Galilee to visit Kursi, in the “Land of the Gadarenes.” Our final stop today is at Yardenit, a baptismal site on the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

 

Day 5    GOLAN HEIGHTS / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / DAN

This morning we drive up the Golan Heights through the town of Katzrin, on our way to the top of Mt. Bental, where we can view the Syrian border, the ghost town of Kuneitra, and the “Road to Damascus.” Our next stop is Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made his great confession, “Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). We continue our drive to Dan, the ruins of the northernmost city in ancient Israel, where we see several archaeological finds. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

 

 

Day 6     EIN HAROD / BEIT SHEAN / JERUSALEM

After checking out of our hotel this morning, we drive south to the spring of Ein Harod. It was at this spring that Gideon chose the army of 300 according to God’s directives (Judges 7:1-8). Next we visit the extensive excavations of Beit Shean, the capital city of the Decapolis that the Romans rebuilt in 63 A.D. We continue south through the Judean Wilderness, up to Jerusalem, the City of God. We will stop at an observation point for our first exhilarating look over the City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.  

 

Day 7     MT. OF OLIVES / GETHSEMANE / VIA DOLOROSA / MT ZION

Our first day in Jerusalem, we will drive to the top of the Mount of Olives and walk down the “Palm Sunday Road”, passing by Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. We continue to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed with His disciples. Next we enter the old city and visit the Pools of Bethesda, following the Via Dolorosa to the traditional site of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. We also will visit Mt. Zion—the Upper Room, and the Tomb of King David. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

Day 8     MASADA / DEAD SEA / QUMRAN

This day takes us down to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth. We will visit the mountain fortress of Masada, the scene of the last Jewish resistance against the Romans in 73 A.D. Next we visit Ein Gedi Spa, where we have the opportunity to “float” in the Dead Sea. Before we return to Jerusalem, we will stop at Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.  

 

Day 9     WESTERN WALL / TEMPLE INSTITUTE / GARDEN TOMB

This morning, we will join our Jewish friends at the Western (Wailing) Wall. We will walk through the Western Wall Tunnel, then continue to the Herodian Mansion of the Jewish Quarter. After lunch, we will visit the Temple Institute, then continue to the Garden Tomb where we will see, “He is not here, He is risen” (Luke 24:6). After observing the Lord’s Supper, we will return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

Day 10     YAD VASHEM / JERUSALEM MODEL / VALLEY OF ELAH

We begin this morning with a visit to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. We will visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book and the Model of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Next we will drive west through the ruins of Emmaus on our way to the Valley of Elah, where David defeated Goliath. Our final stop for the day will be at the Caves of Beit Guvrin (Bell Caves). We return to our hotel for a sumptuous “Farewell Dinner.”  

 

Day 11     DEPARTURE

After breakfast, we will transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight back to the U.S