Arrival Ben Gurion Airport. Meet, assist and transfer by our motor coach to our hotel in Tel Aviv. We will stop on our way for a short visit to Old Jaffa (New Testament Joppa). Dinner and overnight at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Netanya.

We begin our day driving northwards to the port city of Caesarea, built by Herod the great (Matt 2). It was at Caesarea that Peter visited the Gentile centurion Cornelius (Acts 10). Paul was under house arrest here for over 2 years. After we visit the extensive excavations including the harbor, the theatre, the hippodrome and the Roman aquaduct, we will continue and drive by Mt. Carmel, where the Prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Ba’al (1 Kings 18:17-40). Our next stop is at Megiddo, and then continue to Nazareth and stop at the overlook of the Jezreel Valley from Mount Precipice. We will conclude our day by a drive through Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11) before we arrive at the Ein Gev Holiday Resort by the Sea of Galilee in the late afternoon and check in for dinner and overnight.

We begin this day with an early morning boat ride across the Sea of Galilee from Ein Gev to Nof Ginosar. Here we will visit to the so-called “Jesus Boat” a fishing boat of the kind used by the disciples of Jesus. Next we will go to Magdala and visit a rare first century synagogue in Israel. This is a very exciting ongoing excavation that helps us see many things from the time of Jesus’ ministry. We continue to Capernaum where Jesus performed many miracles. We will visit a fourth century AD synagogue and a house identified as the House of Peter. From there, we will drive to a stop that overlooks the north end of the Sea of Galilee where you can see where 95% of the ministry of Jesus recorded in the gospels take place. Next, we travel to one of the three cities cursed by Jesus (Chorazin Matt. 11:21, Luke 10:13) There, will see a fifth century AD synagogue with a replica of a Seat of Moses (Matt. 23:2) as well as ancient homes and Jewish immersion pools. We end this day by giving you an opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan river at Yardenit. Dinner and overnight.

This morning we drive up to the Golan Heights passing by Katzerin “the town of the Golan” which was established in 1974 and continue on to Mt. Bental from where there is an observation point over the whole region and onto the ghost town of Kuneitra. Next we stop at the Banias, the location of Caesarea Philippi, in the region where the Apostle Peter made his great confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ, before continuing to Tel Dan, which was the northern most town in biblical Israel (hence the saying “from Dan to Beersheba”). Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we drive southwards through the Jordan Valley and along the slopes of the Gilboa Mountains, on the slopes of which, Saul, first king of Israel, and his son Jonathan, were killed in a battle with the Philistines about 1010 B.C. and arrive at the Spring of Ein Harod where Gideon gathered his people to fight the Midianites, as described in the book of Judges (Judges 7). Next we visit the excavations of the ancient Israelite city of Beit Shean and an abandoned arena where Christians were persecuted. After we visit these sites, we continue and drive along the Jordan Valley to Jericho and up through the Judean Hills to Jerusalem. Before checking into the Dan Jerusalem hotel we stop at the “Tayelet” promenade for a breathtaking view over the Old City of Jerusalem, Mt. Zion and the Mt. of Olives. Dinner and overnight.

This morning we depart from Jerusalem, driving through the Judean desert and along the shores of the Dead Sea to visit the Mountain fortress of Massada, the site of the last Jewish resistance against the Romans in 73 AD. Ascent and descend by cable car. Next there will be an opportunity to bathe in the waters of the Dead Sea – the lowest spot on the face of Earth, followed by a visit to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written over 2000 years ago. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

This day begins with a visit to the Western Wall. We then walk via Robinson’s Arch to the Garden of Ophel where archaeological excavations have revealed many remains of the Herodian period which include Steps leading up to the Temple Court. Then visit the excavations at the City of David. In the afternoon we shall drive to Bethlehem where Jesus was born and visit the Basilica of Nativity and the Field of the Shepherds. Returning to Jerusalem we visit the Garden Tomb and Gordon’s Golgotha.

We begin this day after breakfast, driving to the top of the Mount of Olives, for a majestic view over all of ancient and modern Jerusalem, the center of the biblical world. We walk down the “Palm Sunday Road”, via the Chapel of Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept over Jerusalem to the Garden of Gethsemane where he prayed on the night of his betrayal (Lk. 22:40-46). Next we shall enter within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, walking form the Pools of Bethesda and along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Continue to Mt. Zion for a visit to the Upper Room, the Tomb of King David and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. Dinner and overnight.

We start this day with a visit to the Israel Museum where we will see the Model of Ancient Jerusalem which gives an excellent view of Jerusalem of Jesus’ days and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. We continue with a visit to the Yad Vashem Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Then we will drive to the Valley of Ayalon, known in history as one of the major battlefields of the Near East. It was here that Joshua commanded the sun and the moon to stand still while he battled against the Kings of the Amorites (Joshua 10:12). Then we drive on to Beit Shemesh and atop at the Valley of Elah where David defeated Goliath. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Today is a free day in Jerusalem. Breakfast and Dinner will be served at the hotel. The rest of the day is free for last minute shopping or other private activities. You may wish to visit the Mahane Yehuda open market to witness the preparations for the Sabbath. In the evening you can visit the Western Wall to experience the welcoming of the Sabbath.

Depart Israel.