Tour members meet at the airport for flights to Israel. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the on-board entertainment to prepare for this exciting adventure of a lifetime. Consider: Why does God want you to go to Israel? What do you need to learn from God on this trip?

In Tel Aviv, we proceed through customs, security and meet our guide who assists us to our motor coach. We drive to the Mount of Olives for a quick view of Kidron Valley, the Temple Mount and Jerusalem and then to our hotel for dinner and several nights in Jerusalem.

We begin our day with a visit to the fascinating 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time and the Shrine of the Book Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. From here, we proceed to worship on the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the breathtaking panorama of the Holy City. Our pilgrimage will proceed 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. We will then stop for lunch in a local café (not included). Afterwards, we make our way to St. Stephen’s Gate, 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. We continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

After breakfast we will drive to the ancient City of David, an incredible archaeological find. We will take a short walk to Hezekiah’s Tunnel (conditions permitting). If interested, bring a flashlight and water shoes to walk through the wet tunnel OR stay dry and walk through Hezekiah’s shaft. Then we have a quick visit to the newly excavated Pool of Siloam. We will stop for lunch in a local café (not included). Next, we see the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu and then visit Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum. We end our day with worship and communion at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Our day begins with a visit to Davidson center. We will stand on the original steps that Jesus walked on as he entered the Temple area. Next, we visit Herodium, a “palace-fortress” built by King Herod (Matt. 2) located on the edge of the Judean Desert, where he would be eventually buried. We then proceed to Bethlehem and pass by Rachel’s tomb, visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

After breakfast, we drive to the Wilderness. The road from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea is a decent of 4,000 feet in 13 miles. Our first stop will be at Masada, where we take a cable car up to the fortress built by King Herod. Here we survey the ruins of fortifications, waterworks, the synagogue, temples, and palaces. Next, we drive to Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul. We will stop for lunch in a local café (not included ). After lunch, we take a short drive to Qumran and the settlement of the first century sect known as the Essenes, authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Afterwards, we follow the road south along the western shore of the Dead Sea (the lowest spot on Earth) where we will stop for a short swim/float. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

This morning, we will visit and stand on the 35-acre temple Mount purchased by King David (2 Samuel 24:18-25). On this site now stands El-Aksa Mosque, and the Dome of the Rock (the third holiest shrine in Islam). We walk to and pray at the holiest site in the whole Jewish world, the Western (Wailing) Wall of Herod’s temple. We will visit the Jewish quarter including the ancient Cardo from the Roman period. Then we will have time at leisure to stroll the beautiful Old city. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive north to Beit Shean, where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung by the Philistines on the walls of this city (1 Samuel 31:8-12). Beit Shean is one of the best-preserved Decapolis Roman cities, and here we visit the ruins of the Roman Theatre, the main street, and the bathhouse. A short drive will take us to Gideon Springs where the chosen 300 drank and we will read from Judges 7. We are reminded that any minority with God is an overwhelming majority. Next, we visit Nazareth Village, a reenactment of life 2000 years ago in the neighborhood of Jesus. After lunch (not included), we drive by the Church of the Annunciation (Luke 1 & 2) and next to Cana for anyone who wants to renew their wedding vows and then to Tiberias for dinner and overnight on the Sea of Galilee.

There is nothing like watching a sunrise on the Sea of Galilee from our hotel. After breakfast, we travel north to the Mt. of Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7), with time for reflection and worship. We visit Capernaum, Jesus’ home base for His early ministry, miracles and home of Peter. Next, we board a modern day wooden “Jesus Boat” for our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We stop for lunch in a local café (not included) and conclude our sightseeing with a visit to the new Magdala archaeological site, which is rich in cultural history for both Jews and Christians. We finish our day with baptisms in the Jordan River followed by dinner and overnight in the Sea of Galilee.

This morning, we drive through the famous Jezreel Valley where the Battle of Armageddon occurs and visit ancient Megiddo (Armageddon, Rev. 16:16), the ancient Roman aqua ducts, Caesarea, Roman Theater and the Crusader ruins. This is where the first Gentile, Cornelius, became a Christian (Acts 10). It was also where St. Paul defended himself in front Felix (Acts 23:23) and was imprisoned for two years before he sailed to Rome. We stop for lunch in a local café (not included). Next, we will head to Ben Gurion airport for our departure flight back home and will enjoy dinner at the airport.

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.