Watch the Sunrise Over the Sea of Galilee
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. In Tel Aviv, we proceed through customs and security to meet our agent who assists us to our motor coach. We then drive to our Galilee hotel at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar in time for dinner and overnight. Nothing compares to watching the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee! We begin today at Capernaum, Jesus’ base for His early ministry, to see the synagogue. Then we continue to the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. We then spend time reflecting and worshiping at the Mt. of Beatitudes, before continuing to Tabgha (the traditional site of the feeding of the 5000). Afterwards, we board a replica wooden “Jesus Boat” to set sail on the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight are back at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar. Today we begin at Magdala, to see the recent excavations of Mary Magdalene’s hometown. Next, we make our way to Cana, the location of Jesus’ first miracle (John 2). Then we continue to Mt. Tabor, where we visit the Church of the Transfiguration. Next, we visit Beit Shean, one of the best-preserved Decapolis Roman cities. Jesus prepared his disciples throughout this area. We will imagine being part of a crowd following Jesus, seeking signs and wonders. Then we have time for reflection back at the kibbutz, where we will have dinner and overnight. We depart Galilee for Nazareth, with a visit to the Mt. of Precipice. Then we make our way to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, where we will have a tour of an Olive Wood Factory and time for shopping. We look out over the Shepherds’ Field and continue to Bethany. Then we arrive at our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. For those interested, there will be an optional walk to St. Stephen’s Basilica.
Visit the Ancient Olive Grove at the Garden of Gethsemane
After breakfast, we drive to Qasr Al-Yahud, the newly excavated site where tradition holds that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Then we continue to Qumran, the settlement of the Essenes. They were the first century sect who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls. From here, we head to Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul. We then travel along the western shore of the Dead Sea toward the Herodium, Herod’s palace-fortress. Then we return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. We begin today on the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the breathtaking panorama of the Holy City. Our pilgrimage proceeds down the Old Palm Sunday Road, stopping at the Church of the Ascension, before visiting the ancient olive grove at the Garden of Gethsemane. We see the Kidron Valley, before making our way to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. We visit the Upper Room, the Sacred Pit, and the Trial of Jesus. Our day ends with a walk along the Via Dolorosa where we will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We have dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Worship at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb
Our day starts with a visit to the Museum at the Notre Dame Jerusalem Center, which hosts the Shrouds Exhibition. Then we continue to the Temple Mount – this area is the third holiest shrine in Islam, housing both the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the magnificent Dome of the Rock. We continue our day with a short walk to the original steps that Jesus climbed as he entered the Temple area – the Southern Steps. Afterwards, we have a visit to the Pool of Siloam. Then we visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book Dead Sea Scroll exhibit and the fascinating 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time. We end our day in worship at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem. For those interested, we will have an optional walk in Jerusalem in the evening, following dinner. In the morning, we have leisure time in Jerusalem for a time of shopping in the Old City. Then we depart the city late morning for Jaffa (Joppa) for a special Farewell Dinner where St. Peter shared the Gospel. 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.