Tour members meet for our flight to Israel. After dinner, relax and enjoy onboard entertainment as we prepare for this exciting adventure.

In Tel Aviv, after proceeding through customs, we’re met by our tour guide. Based upon arrival time, on the way to Jerusalem we’ll stop in the Elah Valley and read the account of David and Goliath and visit the brook where the young shepherd picked up five smooth stones. We will check-in to our hotel in the Old City (overnight accommodations for seven nights). Enjoy supper and turn in for the night. Tomorrow we will be up early and have a long day.

This morning, we drive down to Qumran, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. From here, we head to Ein Gedi (where David hid from Saul), then travel to Masada to scale King Herod’s fortress (via cable car). We stop at the renowned Dead Sea for a swim or float. We’ll stop and visit Qasr el-Yahud (the traditional site of Jesus’ baptism) and Jericho. Supper and overnight in Jerusalem.

Lace up your shoes. Today we will walk 2 miles — a great way to fight jet lag! Following breakfast at our hotel, we will worship — hopefully at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in the Old City of Jerusalem. From here, we walk to the Western Wall (the holiest site in Judaism) and Temple Mount (today: Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque) purchased by King David (2 Samuel 24:18-25). We walk the Via Dolorosa, including stops at St. Anne’s Church (great acoustics), Pools of Bethesda, the Pavement, and the Ecce Homo Arch. We conclude our walk at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the Southern Steps (where Jesus walked to enter the Temple Area). Supper and overnight are in Jerusalem. [No Bus included today, all sightseeing by foot].

Today we’ll walk 3 miles. After breakfast, we’ll head toward the Valley of Gehennah to explore the City of David and the Gihon Spring which flows through an amazing feat of engineering called Hezekiah’s Tunnel (bring a flashlight and water shoes) and empties into the newly excavated Pool of Siloam. (Anyone wishing to keep their feet dry can walk through Hezekiah’s Shaft.) We will visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, King David’s Tomb, and the Room of the Last Supper (Cenáculo). Supper and overnight in Jerusalem. Following dinner, we return to the Western Wall to visit the Western Wall Tunnels. [No Bus included today, all sightseeing by foot].

This morning we’ll walk 4 miles. The day begins with a jaunt up the stairs of Redeemer Tower for a view of the Old City, then on to the Mt. of Olives with a panoramic view of Jerusalem. We travel via the Palm Sunday Road to Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. We’ll walk to the Garden Tomb and then have the rest of the afternoon to explore the Old City at your leisure. We will regroup after supper and walk back to the Garden of Gethsemane (one mile there, one mile back) under the full moon (just like it would have been at The Festival of Unleavened bread, or Passover) for a time of reflection and worship. Supper and overnight in Jerusalem. [No Bus included today, all sightseeing by foot].

It is good to rest on the seventh day. No sightseeing is included today, but ideas could include: (re)visit museums (these are near Shrine of the Book): The Israel Museum, Bible Lands Museum, Art Garden, Sculptures Garden, Jerusalem Botanical Gardens, Armenian Museum; (re)visit holy sites; The Citadel “Tower of David” Museum; Ramparts Walk of Old City; Explore the Armenian Quarter; Terra Sancta Museum; Wohl Archaeological Museum (archaeological site displaying palatial mansions that were home to the Sadducees, the ruling priesthood at the time of Jesus), Solomon’s Quarries, Bethany: Tomb of Lazarus, Cooking Class, Pottery Class, Visit a kibbutz, winery/olive/fig/date farm, Midday prayer at the Church of the Redeemer, Tour Activity Level: Moderately Active The ITINERARY followed by: a moderated conversation about life and work in the Holy Land; or a talk by the resident archeologist; or perhaps conversations with local believers; Or just eat, rest, study, or pray. We return to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. [No Bus, No Guide].

Today we begin with a visit to Bethlehem, passing by Rachel’s tomb on our way to the Church of the Nativity, and Shepherds’ Field. Here, we will visit an olivewood shop. Lunch will be in Bethlehem (not included). We will also visit the souk (marketplace) near Manger Square. On the way back to Jerusalem we will visit the Shrine of the Book Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls (found in 1947 in Qumran) and a 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem from Jesus’ time. Supper and our last overnight in Jerusalem.

After breakfast we check out of our hotel in Jerusalem and drive north to Megiddo (Armageddon, Rev. 16:16). From Megiddo, we drive to Mt. Carmel where Elijah the Prophet challenged Ahab (1 Kings 18). After lunch, we drive to Nazareth (Luke 1 & 2) to visit Nazareth Village, and time permitting will see Mary’s well and Mt. Precipice, before visiting the Church of the Annunciation. Then, we walk through the market to the Synagogue (Luke 4:16-30). After, we drive via Cana to Mt. Arbel for a wonderful view of the Sea of Galilee and the northwest corner in particular. We arrive in Tiberias for supper and overnight on the Sea of Galilee.

This morning, experience the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee! We then begin our day reading the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) at the Mt. of Beatitudes, then travel downhill to Tabgha (feeding of the 5000) and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. We then travel to Capernaum (HQ for the ministry of Jesus in Galilee) and see a Church with a glass floor built over what are quite possibly the ruins of Peter’s house. Next door is a synagogue. Just up the coast is Kfar Nahum National Park. Venturing to Ginosar, we sail on the Sea of Galilee in a replica “Jesus Boat.” Lunch features the option to try an authentic St. Peter’s Fish (not included)! Then we return to our hotel in Tiberias and enjoy a relaxing supper.

There is nothing like watching a sunrise on the Sea of Galilee from our hotel. After breakfast, we travel north through the Golan Heights for a beautiful view of northern Israel’s landscape. Then we will head to Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). We embark on a short hike to Tel Dan to see the altar of Jeroboam. We conclude our sightseeing with a visit to the new Magdala archaeological site, which is rich in cultural history for both Jews and Christians. Supper and overnight are in Tiberias.

This morning, we check out of our hotel in Tiberius and say goodbye to the Sea of Galilee. We had south to Beit Shean where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung by the Philistines on the walls of this city (1 Samuel 31:8-12). Beit Shean is one of the best-preserved Decapolis Roman cities, and here we visit the ruins of the Roman Theatre, the main street, and the bathhouse. We then continue to Gideon Springs, where 300 unlikely warriors were selected by the LORD to defeat the Midianites because they lapped water with their tongues like a dog (Judges 7). We are reminded that any minority with God is a majority force. Afterwards, we drive to Caesarea on the Sea to visit the Roman Theater, Aqueduct, and the Crusader ruins. This is where the first Gentile, Cornelius, became a Christian (Acts 10). It was also where St. Paul defended himself in front of Felix (Acts 23:23) and was imprisoned for two years before he sailed to Rome. We will cruise south to visit the ancient port of Jaffa — also “Joppa” — where Jonah tried to escape his prophetic calling (to warn the people of Nineveh to repent) and the home of Simon the Tanner (who hosted Simon Peter in Acts 10). This is also a good vantage point to gaze westward over the water and visualize the spread of the Gospel to Alexandria, Cyprus, Antioch, Tarsus, Antalya, Crete, Ephesus, Athens, and Rome. We can check into our hotel in Netanya on the Mediterranean Coast for our last night in Israel and possibly stroll on the beach or take a dip in the sea before supper. We will share a farewell meal.

This morning, we say our goodbyes and transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight back to the U.S.A. We arrive home the same day, taking home wonderful memories, renewed faith, and a greater understanding of our Lord’s life and passion.