Depart the USA for Tel Aviv, Israel. Whatever international fight arrangements you make, please ensure that you arrive in Israel no later than Friday night.
Depart USA
On arrival in Israel, you will proceed through customs and immigration and ultimately exit to the main airport welcoming area. Proceed outside with your luggage and get in the queue for taxis to Tel Aviv to go to your hotel. Arrival details will be provided.
Dinner, and Overnight: Leonardo Plaza City Tower Hotel
Website: https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/ramat-gan/leonardo-plaza-city-tower-hotel
This morning after our full Israeli breakfast, we travel along the Mediterranean coast to the ruins of Caesarea, the ancient Roman capital built by Herod the Great in 22 BC from which Pilate governed. Here, James was martyred, Cornelius and his household lived, Paul was imprisoned before being sent to Rome, and church fathers built a library and a place for Christian training. While in Caesarea we see a Roman theatre, ruins of Herod’s Palace, which is also the location of Paul’s testimony before King Agrippa (Acts 26), the Herodian Port, and three magnificent aqueducts that brought water from Mount Carmel to this city. Continuing northward we ascend Mount Carmel catching some magnificent panoramic view on our way to a Druze restaurant. After lunch we visit Mukraka, a place commemorating Elijah showdown with the 400 prophets of Baal (1 King 18). From there we descend to the Jezreel Valley (the Valley of Armageddon) passing by a rolling stone tomb on our way to tour the excavations of Tel Megiddo that have revealed at least 26 civilizations dating back to the Canaanite period. Here, too, we visit Solomon’s stables and Ahab’s water tunnel. Departing Megiddo, we drive north through the Jezreel Valley to Nazareth, and visit the Mount of the Precipice — the traditional location to where the the men of Nazareth chased Jesus after they had rejected His teaching at their synagogue (Luke 4:28-30). We end today with a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee, around which much of Jesus’ ministry took place. Our hotel for the next three nights is located on a kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Nof Ginosaur Hotel & Resort
https://english.ginosar.co.il/
Our focus today is on Jesus’ ministry around the Sea of Galilee. After breakfast, we head south along the western shore to visit the ruins of Magdala — home town of Mary Magdalene. Returning northward, we visit Tabgha’s Church of the Multiplication, the Primacy of Peter (where the events in John 21 took place), the site of the Sermon on the Mount, and finally arrive at Capernaum, headquarters for Jesus’ Galilean ministry, where we see an ancient synagogue in which Jesus spoke and the ruins of Peter’s house. From there, we return south to Nof Ginosar where we see an ancient boat from Jesus’ time that was recently recovered from the lake, and then board another Galilean boat for a sail on the Sea of Galilee as well as a time of worship.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Nof Ginosaur Hotel & Resort
We travel next to Jesus’ boyhood home in Nazareth for an unforgettable visit to the recreated Nazareth Village. While there we visit Mary’s well and St George’s church. Leaving Nazareth we pass through Cana (see John 2:1-11), the Hula Valley, and ascend the Golan Heights on our way Tel Dan Nature Reserve. After a refreshing brief walk through the this nature preserve we arrive at one of the four sources of the Jordan River. At Tel Dan we will see Jeroboam’s Altar, bunkers from the 1967 Six-Day War, a Canaanite gate that Abraham saw (Genesis 14), as well as the Dan city gate fortified by King Ahab. In the plaza in front of this gate an inscription was unearthed that mentioned David (the only reference to David outside of the Bible). Leaving Tel Dan, a short drive leads us to Banias (biblical: Caesarea Philippi, where Peter declared Jesus is the Messiah/Christ). Located below Mount Hermon, Banias’ cave of Pan is another source of the Jordan River. We return from our trip to North Israel through various war memorials to our hotel.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Nof Ginosaur Hotel & Resort
Today we change hotels and drive to Jerusalem. Our first stop is at Ma’ayan Harod where God chose 300 men who helped Gideon fight the Midianites. We next tour Beit She’an, where the bodies of Saul and his sons were displayed on the city walls after their Mount Gilboa defeat (1 Samuel 31). Continuing via the Jordan Valley, we proceed to Genesis Land and enjoy hospitality of Abraham and Eliezer including a Bedouin lunch. After lunch we drive to Bethlehem and visit the Shepherd’s Fields, the Fields of Boaz and Ruth, the Church of the Nativity, and shop for souvenirs. We conclude this tour day with a night time look at the Temple Mount area from the Haas Promenade.
Lunch: Genesis Land
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Leonardo Hotel Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
We begin our tour of Jerusalem seeing two major parts of the Israel Museum. First, we orient ourselves around a 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem at the end of the Second Temple period (66 AD). After understanding what and where we will be visiting during the next three days, we proceed to the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. From modern Jerusalem we drive to the Old City of Jerusalem and walk through Jerusalem’s famous Oriental Bazaar to the ancient Cardo, seeing Nehemiah’s Broad Wall and the Jewish Quarter. Descending down the Western Hill on this walking tour, we proceed to the Davidson Archeological Park where we view evidence of Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD, some of the Pentecost’s baptism mitzvahs in the area of the Southern Steps approach to the Temple Mount. From there, we take time to pray at the Western Wall and descend into the Kotel tunnel where we pass as close as a tourist can to the Holy of Holies continuing along the tunnel to an actual street of Jesus’ day.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Leonardo Hotel Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
We drive to the Mount of Olives for an outstanding view of the Old City and the surrounding area located near one of three traditional sites of Jesus’ Ascension. From the overlook we walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane, stopping at Dominus Flevit (where Jesus wept and prayed over Jerusalem). In Gethsemane we tour the Church of All Nations. Leaving Gethsemane we drive through the Kidron Valley, seeing it’s tombs on our way to the City of David Archeological Park where we see David’s Palace, the Milo, Nehemiah’s Wall, Gihon Spring, the shaft David used to conquer the Jebusites, and exit via Hezekiah’s Tunnel (wet) or the Canaanite Tunnel (dry), to next visit the Pool of Siloam, and see the Steps of the Ascent. Returning to the bus we drive uphill to near the top of Mount Zion where we visit David’s Tomb and the traditional site of the Upper Room (Jesus’ Last Supper). We next visit St. Peter in Gallencantu, (aka the Church of the Cock Crow, so called as Peter denied Jesus in the courtyard between the homes of Annas and Caiaphas). This church’s lower level is built over the traditional ruins of the house of Caiaphas, the high priest and president of the Sanhedrin (Jewish Supreme Court) that tried and condemned Jesus.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Leonardo Hotel Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
After Dinner: Sound & Light Show
Today we spend most of our time in the Dead Sea area - the deepest point on the earth’s surface (~1440 feet below sea level). On our drive to this area, we visit the Inn of the Good Samaritan - a museum that preserve mosaics and artifacts from biblical Samaria and other land now controlled by Palestinians. Shortly after arriving at the Dead Sea we see Qumran Cave 4 where the largest collection of Dead Sea scrolls was preserved. Qumran today shows off the ruins of an ancient Essene community. From Qumran we continue south to visit part of the Nature Reserve Ein Gedi, where King David found shelter from the rage of King Saul. Leaving Ein Gedi we continue south to the Masada National Park Welcome Center where we learn the story of Masada before ascending by cable car to visit its magnificent ruins. Masada is the fortress where from 70-73 AD the Jewish Zealots made the last stand against the Roman Empire. On our way back to Jerusalem, if there is interest and time and weather allows, we may stop and enjoy a short float in the Dead Sea.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Leonardo Hotel Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
Today our focus is on Good Friday from Jesus’ trial before Pilate to His burial in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. We bus again from our hotel to the Old City where we enter via St. Stephen’s Gate (so named as it is the traditional site of Stephen’s martyrdom — see Acts 7). After less than a two-minute walk we arrive at St. Anne’s Church built next to the site of the Pool of Bethesda. After enjoying these two places, we proceed across the street to Station 1 of the Via Dolorosa (“Way of Suffering” or “Sorrowful Way”) — a 0.6-mile processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem believed to be the path Jesus walked, carrying His cross to His crucifixion. Stations 2 and 3 are approximately 300 yards further into the Old City at the Chapel of the Flagellation and Chapel of the Condemnation. Next, we will see part of the ancient stone street on which Jesus walked in the Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) Convent. We continue our walk on the Via Dolorosa through the Old City seeing stations 4 through 9, and after a lunch break, we enter the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which contains Stations 10 to 14. This church is located on one of the three popular sites for Calvary and the garden where Jesus was buried. We will depart the Old City around 3:30pm IST to go to the final site on the Israel portion of our tour — The Garden Tomb, where after we tour and hear its story, we will have a time of reflection followed by worship and communion.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Leonardo Hotel Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
Early morning departure from Jerusalem for Ben Gurion airport for those not extending to Greece.
Transatlantic flight home or to Greece
We arrive same day back in San Francisco or land in Athens at noon.
During our time in Thessaloniki we will see many of its biblical and historical landmarks of the city: The Walls of the Byzantine Acropolis, the House of Jason where Paul lived and the Agora where he preached. We will view the newly excavated Forum, St. George Church (an ancient Roman monument which was transformed into a church), St. Demetrius Basilica (named for a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert), and the Galerius Arch which rises over the famous Via Egnatia.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Grand Hotel Palace
Continue and complete our tour of Thessaloniki leaving in time to have lunch in the ancient port area of Kavala (biblical Neapolis –– where Paul, Timothy and Silas landed on the coast of Thrace). While in Kavala we will also see it famous large Roman aqueduct, and castle crowned acropolis. As we leave Kavala, several sections of the the Via Egnatia on seen from the right side of the bus as we travel to Philippi where we will see its acropolis, theater, marketplace (agora) with its many ruins of early churches as well as the large 4th century church with basilica. Philippi is likely Luke’s hometown and Paul stayed there, preaching his first evangelical sermon and baptized the first Christians on European soil. We will see the baptismal site of Lydia. While in Philippi we will also see a crypt from the Roman period that is thought to have served as a prison for Paul.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Grand Hotel Palace
Today we depart Thessaloniki and drive to Veria (biblical Berea). We visit the memorial commemorating Paul’s preaching to the local Jews in 54 AD, the ancient synagogue where Paul spoke, and the Bema surrounded by mosaics of Paul and the plaque of scripture regarding the “more noble” church. Leaving Veria we drive to Meteora to visit world-famous Byzantine monasteries, perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes, some reach to heights of 66+ feet above ground level. These monasteries date to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliffside caves and then fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, later transformed into monasteries. After completing our tour of Meteora we drive to Kalambaka, where we will overnight.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Amalia Hotel Meteora
As we drive to Athens, we will take rest stops at the narrow pass of Thermopylae and Marathon (site of a battle in Greece’s first war with Persia). Upon arrival in Athens, we'll check into the hotel, and then begin touring some of the major sites like the House of Parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Olympic Stadium, and Presidential Palace. We will end our day at the famous Plaka with its multitude of shops, cafes and restaurants. After dinner you may either return to the hotel via the bus or remain to shop and experience nightlife in the Plaka. Our hotel is an easy walk from the Plaka.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Royal Olympic Athens
Today we visit the Acropolis, with its famous buildings like the Parthenon, and Erectheum as well as great views of Athens and sites immediately below the Acropolis (theater, agora, philosophical meeting halls, etc). Descending from the Acropolis we walk to the Areopagus (Mars Hill) where Paul stood and preached the truth to the Gentile nation. On top Mars Hill we have a closer view of the Agora below, the ancient marketplace and center of Athenian public life most likely where Paul saw the altar to an unknown god. As time and interest permits our guide will show us other sites in Athens.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Royal Olympic Athens
Visit ancient Corinth where Paul worked and preached. In ancient Corinth we will visit its Archaeological Museum, and tour its Agora (marketplace), where Paul was on trial before the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, the Temple of Apollo, and the famous Erastus inscription. After completing our time in ancient Corinth, we will drive by and see its ancient eastern port at Cenchreae. On our way back to Athens we will stop at Diolkos to view the paved trackway which enabled boats to be hauled overland across the Isthmus of Corinth. We will likely (assuming it’s open) have lunch in a cafe along the Corinth Canal where we may see large modern ships transiting between the Aegean Sea and the Gulf of Corinth than flows into the Ioian Sea.
Breakfast, Dinner, and Overnight: Royal Olympic Athens
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport as a group for our flight home.
Breakfast: Royal Olympic Athens
Transatlantic flight home
