Depart on our transatlantic flight to Tel Aviv.

Sunday, November 16   Tel Aviv

Arrive in Tel Aviv, meet guide and board your bus for transfer to the Grand Beach Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Monday, November 17   Beersheba / Eliat

Drive through the area of Beth Shemesh on our way to Beersheba. Stop in the Valley of Elah, where David encountered Goliath. Continue to Beershseba, the city of the Patriarchs and visit the wilderness of Zin. Continue through the Negev Desert as we drive to Eilat for dinner and overnight at the Reef Hotel.

Tuesday, November 18   Petra / Jordan

Drive to the Arava border with Jordan where we are joined by our Jordanian driver and guide and travel along the Exodus route to Wadi Ram. Enjoy a Jeep tour of this spectacular wilderness before driving to Petra. Walk through the siq to enter this stunning red rock city. See the tombs and burial chambers and one of the largest theaters in Jordan. Walk uphill to the Royal Tombs for a great view of the lower part of Petra and its Roman remains. Dinner and overnight at the Moevenpick

Wednesday, November 19   Dead Sea / Jordan

Today we drive along the historical King’s Highway passing by the Crusader city of Kerak. Drive through Wadi Mujeb to Umm al-Rassas, whose churches offer fine examples of mosaic art. Continue to Madaba to floor of the Holy Land as Christian pilgrims knew it. End the day at Mt. Nebo, from which God showed Moses the Promised Land. Drive to the Dead Sea for a swim or to wade in the salty waters. Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea Spa.

Thursday, November 20   Bethany Beyond the Jordan /Sea of Galilee

A short drive this morning takes us to the recently discovered baptismal site of “Bethany beyond the Jordan,” where it is believed Jesus Christ was baptised by John the Baptist. Cross the Allenby Bridge into Israel and rejoin our bus and guide to drive to Jericho. Visit the tel of this oldest city and view the traditional mountain of Jesus’ temptation. Drive through the Jordan Valley to Harod’s Valley which is filled with biblical history. Continue on to Ein Harod where Gideon chose his army based how they drank from water. Drive through Jezreel Valley back tel to view the setting for the death of Saul. Survey the magnificent Roman and Byzantine ruins located here. Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ma’agan, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Friday, November 21   Tiberias (Sepphoris) / Nazareth

Sepphoris was the capital of Galilee when Jesus was growing up. Visit first century Nazareth Village and have lunch on your own in a Bedouin tent. In Nazareth, visit its spring where Mary would have done her family’s laundry, and walk through the present-day bazaar, over the site of the ancient village, to the Church of the Annunciation. After a stop at Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, walk to the edge of the Arbel cliff overlooking the northern part of the Sea of Galilee. Return to Kibbutz Ma’agan for dinner and overnight.

Saturday, November 22    Sea of Galilee Area

Visit the Mt. of Beatitudes and the black basalt city of Chorazin. After lunch on your own, drive to the site of Beth saida and Tabgha where Christians have long remembered the first feeding of the multitude. Continue to Capernaum, believe they have uncovered the house of Peter. View the remains of a fishing boat from Jesus’ day at the Allon Museum on the ground of Kibbutz Nof Ginosar. Then take a ride on the lake in a wooden boat modeled after the one we have just seen. Return to Kibbutz Ma’agan for dinner and overnight.

Sunday, November 23    Caesarea Philippi

Stop at Hazor, for a view of Mount Hermon and its surroundings. Continue to Dan for a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of ancient ruins. Drive to the spring of Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Peter confessed his recognition of Jesus as Christ. Visit the remains of a first-century palace belonging to Agrippas II. Drive around Mt. Hermon for a glimpse of Damascus, then head back over the Golan Heights to Kibbutz Ma’agan for dinner and overnight.

Monday, November 24   Caesarea Maritima

Cross the Jezreel Plain to Megiddo (Armageddon). Ascend Mt. Carmel, the site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Drive to Caesarea Maritima to view the site of the ancient harbor, hippodrome, aqueduct, and towards Beth Shean and climb the te where Franciscan archaeologists theatre. Travel to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at the Ambassador Hotel.


Tuesday, November 25   Jerusalem

Begin the day with an orientation of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. Follow traditional Palm Sunday route to the church known as Dominus Flevit (“the Lord weeps”). After viewing Gate, Gethsemane. Drive to Mt. Zion to the church called “Peter in Gallicantu,” which is believed to be the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus. Driving south, visit Solomon’s Pools, Jerusalem’s main source of water for almost 2000 years. Continue to the Shepherds’ Fields and visit to Bethlehem, walking through its alleys and markets to the Church of the Nativity. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday, November 26   Jerusalem

Visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, and the Western Wall tunnel, examine the length of the outer Herodian Temple wall. Continue to the Temple Institute to examine the ruins near the south side of the Temple complex, including steps where Jesus and the disciples would have walked. Descend the slope of the City of David to the Gihon spring, proceed in knee-high water through Hezekiah’s tunnel. Visit the Shrine of the Book, and the Israel Museum. End the day with a visit to the model of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Thursday, November 27   Jerusalem (Thanksgiving)

Walk through the Old City’s bazaars and ascend to the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. Visit the Pools of Bethesda and St. Anne’s Church. Follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) to the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon, we drive through the Judaean desert to Qumran and view Cave # 4, which contained the greatest quantity of Dead Sea scrolls. Continue south to Masada and take the cable car to the top, visiting Herod’s mountain bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD). Enjoy a fl oat in the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem to share a traditional Thanksgiving dinner at the Ambassador Hotel. Overnight in Jersualem.

Friday, November 28   Jerusalem

We have free time this morning for relaxing, packing or last minute shopping. We check out of our hotel and proceed to the Garden Tomb for a private Communion service. Later enjoy a special farewell dinner, including many of the foods commonly eaten by people of the Holy Land. Following dinner, we will transfer to the airport for our late night departure.

Saturday, November 29   U.S.A.

Arrive home with memories that make your Bible reading come alive!