Our journey begins when we depart the U.S.A. for Tel Aviv, Israel.

Welcome to Israel! In Tel Aviv, we proceed through customs and security to meet our agent who assists us to our motor coach. We start our time together touring Jaffa, the port town where Jonah took his fateful journey in the belly of a whale. We will also visit Caesarea Maritima, the port city of Herod the Great, where Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial before we check into our nearby Netanya hotel for dinner and overnight. 

Today we travel from the Mediterranean to Megiddo, overlooking the Valley of Armageddon, where 20 cities lie atop one another. Next is Mt. Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. Then, we continue to Nazareth (Jesus’ childhood home) and the Mt. of Precipice. We’ll also visit the excavations at Sepphoris. We then arrive in Tiberias for dinner and overnight near the Sea of Galilee.

After breakfast, we travel north to the Golan Heights for a beautiful view of northern Israel’s landscape. Then we head to Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13-16). We embark on a short hike to Tel Dan to see the altar of Jeroboam. We’ll also visit Magdala, 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. Dinner and overnight are back in Tiberias.

We set sail this morning across the Sea of Galilee for a special time of worship on the water! We then travel south to Beit Shean, one of the best-preserved Decapolis Roman cities. This is where King Saul and his sons’ bodies were hung from the city walls after being defeated by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10-12). Next, we stop at Gideon’s Spring, before continuing to the Valley of Elah where David slew Goliath with a sling and a stone. We then make our way up to Jerusalem where we have the privilege of experiencing a Shabbat dinner at the home of a host family in the heart of Jerusalem to share a meal and learn about their faith and traditions. Overnight is in Jerusalem.

After breakfast, we travel south to Masada where we ascend by cable car up to King Herod’s astonishing mountaintop fortress. From here, we head to the oasis at Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul. We continue north to Qumran, the settlement of the Essenes. They were the first century sect who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls. We make a special stop at the Dead Sea (the lowest spot on earth) for a short float in the salt and mineral-laden waters. Then we have a visit to Qasr El-Yehud, the newly excavated Jordan River site where tradition holds that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

This morning, we start our day at the ancient olive grove at the Garden of Gethsemane with a Communion Experience. Then we continue to the Haas Promenade to take in a remarkable view of the Old City and to orient us to Jerusalem. Next, we take time to honor the lives lost in the holocaust at the Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. We’ll pray alongside the Jewish faithful at the Western Wall and take a step back in time and underground in the Rabbi’s Tunnel. We’ll also explore the Southern Wall Excavations including some of the steps from the time of Jesus leading up to the Temple. After dinner, we’ll attend the Tower of David Night Spectacular – an open-air sound a light show that will take us on a breathtaking journey through thousands of years of Jerusalem’s history.

We start early this morning with a visit to the Temple Mount (conditions permitting) where the Temple once stood, and the Dome of the Rock now stands. From the temple area we make our way to St. Stephen’s Gate to 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, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and the ancient Cardo. Next, we drive to the City of David, and then we go on a short walk to Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Be sure to bring a flashlight and water shoes to walk through the tunnel. Anyone wanting to stay dry can walk through Hezekiah’s shaft. If time permits, we will visit the newly excavated Pool of Siloam and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. We have dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

This morning we gather for a time of worship at the Garden Tomb as we reflect on the agony of the crucifixion and celebrate the glory of the resurrection! Then we travel north through Samaria to Mt. Gerizim to view Jacob’s Well and will also visit Shiloh. We continue to the Mt. of Olives. We’ll walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Church of the Agony (Church of All Nations) where tradition says Jesus prayed before his arrest. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem.

We start the morning at the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scroll display in the Shrine of the Book, and a remarkable scale model of 1st century Jerusalem. Then, we visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We will tour Bethlehem Bible College, see the Shepherds’ Field & the Church of the Nativity. We return to Jerusalem for our farewell dinner at the hotel and to prepare for the journey home.

This morning we transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight back to the U.S.A. We return home same day with a transformed faith and memories to last a lifetime!

This morning we depart Israel for Jordan via the Allenby Bridge, where we meet our agent and are assisted through security and customs. We board our motor coach for Mt. Nebo where Moses looked out over the Promised Land. Next, we travel to Machaerus (Mukawir). Perched on a 700-meter-high hill southwest of Madaba are the ruins of the fortress of Herod the Great. Machaerus is where John the Baptist was beheaded by Herod Antipas. We continue south to Petra for dinner and overnight.

Explore the rose-red city of Petra! Walk the Siq to the iconic Treasury building (which you may recognize from Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade) then continue through the 2,000-year-old Nabatean site to explore the many ruins and caves of this ancient city. Dinner & overnight in Petra.

Today we will explore Wadi Rum by jeep ride! We’ll drive over and among the dunes of this stunning desertscape. Next, we will visit the Crusader Castle of Karak before continuing to Amman for dinner and overnight.

This morning we tour the ruins of Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. We will celebrate a Lord’s Day Communion Experience in one of the ruins of an ancient church in Jerash. We cross the border back into Israel and will have some free time to explore the Old City of Jerusalem (time permitting). We enjoy a final dinner together, before transferring to Tel Aviv for the flight home.

We return home today with a transformed faith & memories to last a lifetime!