Experience The Holy Land
Tour members meet for our flight to Israel. After dinner is served, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the on-board entertainment to prepare for this exciting adventure of a lifetime. Arrive in Tel Aviv airport, we proceed through customs and security and meet our guide who assists us to our motor coach. We will drive to our hotel in Tiberias in time for dinner and overnight. Nothing compares to watching the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee! We begin today onboard a replica wooden “Jesus Boat” to set sail on the Sea of Galilee. Then we travel to Tabgha (the traditional site of the feeding of the 5000) and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. We then spend time reflecting and worshiping at the Mt. of Beatitudes and then head to Capernaum, Jesus’ base for His early ministry. Afterwards, for those interested, our lunch stop includes the option of ordering the special St. Peter’s Fish (not included). After lunch, we head to Gadara and Bethsaida (time permitting) before making our way to the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight are back in the Galilee.
Witness the Dead Sea
This morning, we depart for the Galilee to visit Biblical sites at Caesarea Maritima, where Peter proclaimed the Good News to the Roman Centurion (Acts 10). We also see Mt. Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Time permitting, we’ll stop at the Druze Village for a short lunch break (not included). Then we continue on to Nazareth (Jesus’ childhood home), Cana (location of Jesus’ first miracle – John 2) and the Mt. of Precipice. We then return to Galilee for dinner and overnight. After breakfast, we travel north to 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 then drive and stop for lunch (not included) in Jericho (Seeds Of Hope Cultural and Youth Center) where we will spend a few hours for a ministry opportunity. Finally, we 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 drive to Qumran, the settlement of the first century sect the Essenes, authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. From here, we head to Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul. We then travel south along the western shore of the Dead Sea toward Masada where we ascend by cable car up to King Herod’s astonishing fortress. Afterwards, we make a special stop at the Dead Sea (the lowest spot on earth) for a short swim or float. Time and conditions permitting, we’ll include a visit to Qasr El-Yahud, the newly excavated site where tradition holds that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Dinner and overnight are again in Jerusalem.
Visit the Garden of Gethsemane
We begin our sightseeing today in Bethlehem with worship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and then lunch (not included) and time for shopping. Next, we pass by Rachel’s tomb on the outskirts of Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherds’ Field. Leaving Bethlehem, we visit the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the famous, breathtaking panorama of the Holy City. We then board our motor coach to the Garden of Gethsemane. Afterwards we continue to the Church of the Agony (Church of All Nations) where tradition says Jesus prayed before his arrest. We finish off our sightseeing as we enter Jerusalem through the Zion Gate and 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. We end the day with dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. This morning we visit the Shrine of the Book Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the fascinating 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time. We then make our way for a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. From here we end our day in worship at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem. In the morning, we have leisure time in Jerusalem, then we depart late morning/early afternoon for the Elah Valley to see the brook where David slew Goliath. From here, we continue our drive to Jaffa for a special Farewell Dinner. We then transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight back to the U.S.A. We arrive back 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.