Departure from the U.S.A. for your flight to Israel.

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met by an Amiel representative who will assist you through passport control and baggage claim and take you to your guide and awaiting transfer. We then transfer to Netanya and check in to your hotel. Dinner & Overnight are at The Seasons Hotel, Netanya.

Heading North, we will visit Caesarea Maritima (Acts 10, 12, 23), Mt. Carmel and on the way visit Zippory National Park. According to tradition, Zippory was the birthplace of Mary and the home town of Anne and Joachim, Mary’s parents. Here you will have the opportunity to walk on the “Mary’s Trail”. On the ancient hill of Zippori, draped in orchards, you’ll walk through the landscape of the dawn of Christianity. On your way, you will see an ancient cistern from the time of Jesus. Visit a Byzantine church, look out from a citadel at the scenery of Mary’s childhood and the village of Nazareth, and go down to Mary’s house. You can conclude with a prayer or mass in the chapel. When your visit is over, your bus will wait for you in the church parking lot. Dinner & Overnight are at Ramada Olive, Nazareth.

Visit Mt. of Beatitudes and read from Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. Visit Susita (Hippos) National Park - Sussita (Hippos) National Park is situated on a hill on the slopes of the Golan Heights, east of the Sea of Galilee and opposite Kibbutz Ein Gev, preserves magnificent remains of the ancient city of Hippos (“horse” in Greek) and in Hebrew, Sussita (sus means “horse” in Hebrew). The ancient city, whose name connotes it had a connection to horses, developed in the Hellenistic period (beginning in the 300s BCE), reached its zenith in the Roman–Byzantine periods and continued to exist after the Muslim conquest, until it was destroyed by a major earthquake in 749 CE. After that, the site was abandoned and never resettled. We then visit Korazim National Park - Korazim National Park preserves impressive remains of a Jewish village from the time of the Mishna and the Talmud, including remains of a magnificent synagogue. Primordial landscapes, a view of the Sea of Galilee and a site mentioned in the New Testament attract Christian pilgrims. We then visit the 1st Century remains of Magdala - a recently excavated highlight including the greatest relic of all: A 2000-year-old Synagogue. We then experience Baptism in the waters of the Jordan River. To end our day, we board a replica wooden “Jesus Boat” to set sail on the Sea of Galilee. Dinner & Overnight are at Ramada Olive Hotel, Nazareth.

We start our day with a visit to Nazareth, Jesus’ childhood home. We continue to Beit-Shean, the extensive Roman-Byzantine stunning remains of a city that was once part of the Decapolis, and where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were exhibited after battling the Philistines (1st Samuel 31). We drive to Jerusalem and visit Machane Yehuda Market to see how this hectic city prepares for Shabbat. We then drive via the Jordan Valley and ascend the Judean Mountains to Jerusalem. Time permitting, we will stop for a spectacular view of Jericho and the Judean Desert from Wadi Kelt Dinner & Overnight are at Lady Stern Hotel, Jerusalem.

Today we will visit the Dead Sea area. We then visit Enot Tzukim - Magical pools and abundant vegetation at the foot of cliffs rising in the heart of the lowest oasis in the world. Enot Tsukim Nature Reserve in the northern Dead Sea is one of the most singular and interesting nature reserves in Israel, both because of the wealth of flora and fauna species it contains and because of the remains of human activity that have been found there. We visit Qumran where an ancient Jewish sect chose to live at the time of Jesus and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We end the day by enjoying a float at the Dead Sea Dinner & Overnight are at Lady Stern Hotel, Jerusalem.

We start the morning on top of the Mount of Olives, following the Palm Sunday route down the mountain walking in the footsteps of Jesus and Holy Week. Arriving at the Garden of Gethsemane, we will have some private time for prayer and devotion in the garden. We proceed to the Western (Wailing) Wall, the holiest site in Judaism. Beyond the wall lies the 35-acre temple area purchased by King David (2 Samuel 24:18- 25), which is called the Temple Mount. This area is the third holiest shrine in Islam, housing both the El-Aqsa Mosque and the magnificent Dome of the Rock. Next, right inside Jaffa Gate is David’s Citadel. This was the site of Herod the Great’s palace and the most likely location of where Jesus was condemned by Pilate to crucifixion. We then visit the Garden Tomb for a time of communion and worship together. We end our day with a visit to Bethlehem as we pass by Rachel’s tomb on the outskirts and then visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherds’ Field. Dinner & Overnight are at Lady Stern Hotel, Jerusalem.

**The activities on this day are subject to the IDF’s confirmation. In case we are unable to visit the Gaza perimeter area due to security concerns, you will take part in volunteering at another location in Israel**

We will travel to the Gaza perimeter area and view one of the kibbutzim most affected by the October 7th events and meet with a local who will share his personal story. Agriculture in Israel has been greatly affected by the war. Many of the foreign workers left when the war began and many of the men in Israel who worked the fields, have been called for reserve duty. Today, you will volunteer at one of these fields, whether it be picking fruit, or vegetables – get ready to roll up your sleeves and take part in this nation wide effort to make sure Israel’s produce doesn’t go to waste. We end our day with a tour at the “Salad Trail”. The tour is planned and guided by the agronomist Uri Alon (a specialist in international agriculture.) You will observe the most up to date agricultural technologies - the “high tech” of agriculture. At every stop of the tour you will receive an explantation followed by you actually picking and eating your fruit right away. On the tour you will encounter a wide variety of seasonal fruits and végétables. Dinner & Overnight are at Lady Stern Hotel, Jerusalem.

Today we visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memoria, and proceed to the Israel Museum with the Shrine of the Book and the Model of Jerusalem. We visit Machane Yehuda Market to enjoy the colors, smells and unique atmosphere of the alleys and stalls, as well as the local products. Dinner & Overnight are at Lady Stern Hotel, Jerusalem.

Morning transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our return flight back to the U.S.A.