Our journey begins when we depart the USA.

In Tel Aviv, we make our way through customs and security then we transfer to our motor coach. We then drive to our hotel in Netanya for dinner and overnight on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

Today, we depart for the Galilee and stop first at Caesarea Maritima, the port city of Herod the Great, where Peter proclaimed the Good News to the Centurion. Next, we stop at Megiddo for our lunch break (not included). We continue to Nazareth (Luke 1 & 2) for a special visit to the Nazareth Village with a detailed explanation of what life was like during the time of Jesus. From here, we have a short drive to Cana (John 2), where Jesus performed His first miracle at a wedding reception. Those who would like to have the opportunity here to renew their marriage vows may do so. We arrive at our hotel in time for dinner and overnight on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

There is nothing like watching a sunrise from our hotel window overlooking the Sea of Galilee. After breakfast, we travel north to Tel Dan, where we see the gate of Jeroboam. We then head through the Golan Heights and view the area from a special lookout. We drive to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made the good confession of Christ as “the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). Our lunch stop is at the Druze Village (not included). After lunch, we then return to the Sea of Galilee by way of Gadara and board a replica wooden “Jesus Boat” for our boat ride. We return to our Galilee hotel for dinner and overnight.

Following breakfast, we visit Magdala and see of the incredible archaeological finds that date back to the time of Jesus. Afterwards, we continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7), with time for reflection and worship. We then go to Mensa Christi (Tabgha) to relive the feeding of 5000 on the Sea of Galilee. Next is Capernaum, Jesus’ base for His early ministry. Traveling south along the Jordan, we stop at Jericho where we visit Seeds of Hope store and have an opportunity to spend some time with local Christians. We then visit Qasr Al Yahud, the recently excavated baptismal site on the Jordan River, where tradition believes Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. We continue south to our Dead Sea resort hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning enjoy a float in the salt and mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea before we check out of the hotel. After that, we visit Masada, the mountaintop fortress built by King Herod. We survey the ruins of fortifications, waterworks, synagogue, temples and palaces. Afterwards, we will have lunch at Masada (not included). We drive to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, where David hid from King Saul. This reserve contains vast differences in elevations over relatively short distances. We will be amazed at the lush greenery and full waterfalls. From here, we continue to Qumran and the settlement of the first century sect known as the Essenes, authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We then ascend to the majestic city of Jerusalem in time for dinner and overnight. “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:1-2 NASB).

After breakfast, we begin our sightseeing with our visit to drive into Bethlehem and visit the church of the Nativity and St. Jerome’s Cave. We then visit the Christmas Lutheran Church and School for a time of conversation with the pastor and staff before visiting the Shepherds’ Field. After our time in Bethlehem, we return to Jerusalem and visit the Israel Museum at Givat Ram. Here, we see the fascinating 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem as it would have appeared in the time of Jesus. Being here and receiving the explanation from our guide will help us better understand the places we will be visiting in the next two days. Also located here is the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. We proceed to the Zion Gate and walk to the holiest site in the whole Jewish world, the Western (Wailing) Wall. Next, we visit the House of Caiaphas (where Jesus was held). Nearby, on Mt. Zion, we will reflect on the Last Supper in the traditional location of the Upper Room. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem.

We begin our day with a visit to the Temple Mount. A short walk takes us to stand on the Southern Steps – the original steps that Jesus walked on as He entered the Temple area. Afterwards, we visit Shorashim in the Jewish Quarter and have a time of conversation with Moshe Kempinski. Then, we visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Next we visit the City of David excavations followed by the Pools of Siloam to listen to the story of John 9. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem.

This morning, we drive to the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the breathtaking panorama of the Holy City. Then we visit the Tomb of the Prophets. Our pilgrimage proceeds down the Old Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive grove and the Church of Agony, where tradition holds that Jesus prayed. Then, we walk the Via Dolorosa, including St. Anne’s Crusader Church, Pools of Bethesda, the Pavement (where Jesus stood while being tried by Pilate), Ecce Homo Arch, and the ancient Cardo. Then, we visit Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. We enjoy a Farewell Dinner at our hotel and one last overnight in Jerusalem.

At the close of an unforgettable tour, we transfer to the airport and arrive back in the States with memories that will last a lifetime of the land where Jesus walked.

After breakfast, we cross the Jordan River at the Allenby Bridge to enter the Kingdom of Jordan. We visit Tall el-Hammam to explore the site recently suggested as the ancient city of Sodom. We ascend to the top of Mount Nebo to view the Promised Land from the same perspective as Moses Afterwards, we drive south into the mountains of Edom to our hotel near Petra. Dinner and overnight are in Wadi Musa.

Today we venture into the rose-red city of Petra! Here, we spend the day marveling at the stunning beauty of the Siq (entrance passage), the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the 8000-seat Theater, and the various temples and royal tombs carved into the red stone. We then drive north along the King’s Highway to our hotel on the northeast shore of the Dead Sea. En route, we will stop at Madaba, the site of the oldest map of Palestine in the world. Dinner and overnight are in Sweimeh.

After breakfast, we transfer to the Queen Alia International Airport for our flight to Egypt (flight included). Upon arrival we will be met by our guide to begin our tour. First, we enjoy a felucca boat ride on the waters of the Nile. Then we enjoy a special tour of the new Grand Egyptian Museum. The museum houses the greatest collection of Pharaonic treasures in the world, including the expansive
Tutankhamen collection of golden treasures.

After breakfast, we venture to visit some of Egypt’s oldest sites, and enjoy a camel ride. We first visit the Pyramids of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest and is comprised of 2.3 million stone blocks. We enter this pyramid and visit the King’s Chamber. Nearby, we visit the Solar Boat Museum, to see an ancient Egyptian cedar wood boat dating back 4,500 years. We also visit the Great Sphinx. Then, we visit the Necropolis of Sakkara, to see King Zoser’s Step Pyramid. This vast site in the heart of the desert plateau is the largest necropolis in Egypt. We end in Memphis, to see the limestone Colossus of Ramses II. Here, the remnants of the nation’s first capital and once the most cosmopolitan city in Egypt now lie scattered in the desert. Dinner and overnight are in Cairo.

Inside, we see the lavishly decorated Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. We continue to the famous Suspended Church, dating back to the late fourth and early fifth centuries. We then visit the Church of St. Sergius, a fifth-century Coptic church built in the cave where the Holy Family stayed. We come to the Synagogue of Ben Ezra, where Moses was saved by Pharaoh’s water girl. Finally, we stroll through the Khan El Khalili Bazaar, a bustling warren of shops where you can bargain for rugs, copper, leather crafts, and much more. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we transfer to the airport to make our way home after an unforgettable adventure!