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

In Tel Aviv, after proceeding through customs, we’re met by our tour guide. From here, we drive to our hotel in Netanya for dinner and overnight.

We start by traveling to Caesarea Maritima (Acts 10), then venture to Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). Then we stop for lunch at a Druze Village (not included), before continuing to Megiddo. Afterwards, we continue to Nazareth (Jesus’ childhood home), concluding our day by enjoying a beautiful panoramic view from Mount Precipice. Dinner and overnight are in Magdala near the Sea of Galilee.

This morning, experience the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee! We then begin our day by sailing on the Sea of Galilee in a replica “Jesus Boat.” Then we visit the Ancient Boat Museum to see a boat from the time of Christ. Then we read the Sermon on the Mount at the Mt. of Beatitudes. Lunch features the option to try an authentic St. Peter’s Fish (not included)! After lunch, we visit Tabgha (feeding of the 5000) and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. Then we travel to Capernaum (Jesus’ ministry base). We end our day at the Jordan River site of Yardenit for a time of baptisms (optional). Dinner and overnight are back at our hotel near the Sea of Galilee.

Today we travel north to Tel Dan for a hike to see the altar of Jeroboam. Then we continue to Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). Afterwards, we visit Mt. Bental, with views into Syria and Lebanon. Then we stop at a Druze Village at El Sultan for lunch (not included). Our next stop is Hippos, located on the east side of the lake and one of the Decapolis cities in the days of Jesus. We will see many Roman ruins here, plus a great view of the Sea of Galilee. We will consider the story of Mark 5 and the demoniac’s transformation. We conclude our sightseeing today with a stop at the site of Magdala, before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today we begin with a visit to Arbel, a mountain NW of the Sea of Galilee. The view from on top is the best there is of the whole Sea of Galilee! Afterwards, we will visit Kfar Kedem at Hoshaya to experience a village, where we can get dressed like those 2000-years-ago, milk a goat, bake our own bread, and ride a donkey. Afterwards, we visit Gideon Springs. We continue with a drive to Beit She’an. Recent excavations there have disclosed the impressive ruins of the country’s largest city in the Roman and Byzantine periods, which was destroyed by an earthquake in 749 CE. We continue our drive via the Jordan Valley to the lowest place on Earth –The Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel near the Dead Sea.

We begin this morning with a unique experience of floating on the Dead Sea. Then we will depart our hotel for a cable car ride to Masada, the site of the most dramatic act in Jewish History. Here, we will explore the ancient excavation of Herod’s Palaces, bathhouse, the storerooms, the Ramp, and the oldest Synagogue in the world. We continue to Ein Gedi, an Oasis on the Dead Sea shore. Near the 200-meter-high waterfall is a cave where David had his famous meeting with King Saul (1 Samuel 24: 1-23). The walk around the reservation confirms that Ein Gedi is one of the most beautiful reservations in the world. Then we visit Qumran, where the 2000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Next, we drive through the Judean Desert and ascend to Jerusalem, where stop at Mt. Scopus for an overlook of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight will be in Jerusalem.

Today we will ascend the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24:3, Luke 21:37) for a breathtaking, panoramic view of the old city of Jerusalem. We will walk along the Palm Sunday Way and descend first to the church known as the Dominus Flevit (“the Lord weeps”) and then to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:39-45, Mark 14:32-42), where Jesus spent the last night before he was arrested. Then we make our way to the Old City to the Davidson center and the southern wall excavations, where we will walk on a Roman street and ascend the Temple steps. Afterwards, we will visit Bethlehem, passing by Rachel’s tomb on the outskirts, and then visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field. Dinner and overnight will be in Jerusalem.

This morning, we begin at the Temple Mount and the home of 3rd holiest place for the Muslims in the world, the Al Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Then we make our way to St. Anne’s Church, which is a fine example of Crusader architecture, and the Pools of Bethesda. We will then walk the Via Dolorosa which will lead us to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Afterwards, we visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls and Bar Kokhva letters are exhibited. We then visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, where we will see the Memorial for the Children, Remembrance Hall, and the Museum. Dinner and overnight will be in Jerusalem.

We begin the day by visiting the City of David and the amazing new excavations here, including David’s palace. Then we walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel (bring a flashlight and water shoes). Anyone wishing to stay dry can walk through Hezekiah’s Shaft. Afterwards, we visit the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and see the Herodian Mansion. We continue with a visit to the Western Wall, before driving through part of the Judean Desert (Jeremiah 13) en route to Shiloh. We will see the new excavations of what is believed to be where the Tabernacle (1 Samuel 2-4). Then we return to our hotel for dinner. After dinner, we have a visit to the Western Wall Tunnels. Overnight is in Jerusalem.

This morning, we proceed to the house of the high priest, Caiaphas, and visit the church of Peter in Galicantu (Matthew 26:31-35). This is the place where Peter denied the Lord three times. Then we visit the Last Supper room (Matthew 26: 17-25). We then visit the Garden Tomb, an ancient Jewish sepulcher which matches the New Testament description of the tomb in which Jesus was buried. Protestants sanctify this place as the burial place of Jesus. We continue with a visit to the Elah Valley, “the valley of the oak or terebinth,” best known as the place where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath (1 Sam. 17:2, 19). Then we drive to the Old Port City of Jaffa (Joppa), one of the oldest Biblical cities in the world and an important seaport since antiquity. It was from here that Jonah embarked for Tarshish and was swallowed by a great whale. It was also here that Peter stayed at the home of Simon the Tanner, raised Dorcas (Tabitha) from the dead, and had a vision in which he saw the door opening to evangelize to the Gentile nations. We will enjoy a Farewell Dinner in Jaffa and transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home.

We arrive home in the U.S.A. at the close of an unforgettable tour. We take home wonderful memories of the Old and New Testament, a renewal of our faith, and a greater understanding of the life of our Lord.