Depart USA
On arrival in Tel Aviv, we are met and assisted by our guide. Our coach is waiting, and we are transferred to our hotel in the coastal town of Netanya for a good night’s rest.
Overnight: Netanya
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. The apostle Paul was imprisoned here before being sent to Rome. Pilate lived here during the time of Jesus’ crucifixion. Cornelius and his household lived here too. Visit the Roman Theatre, the Aqueduct and Herodian Port. Continue toward Haifa to see the magnificent panoramic view from Mount Carmel. Visit the Mukraka, the location of Elijah’s altar where he slew the prophets of Baal. Afterwards, we drive to visit the Valley of Armageddon and the excavation of Tel Megiddo which is 30 civilizations deep going all the way back to the Canaanites. Here, too, are Ahab’s water tunnel and Solomon’s stables. We travel next to Jesus’ boyhood home of Nazareth for an unforgettable visit to the recreated Nazareth Village. If there is time, we will visit Mary’s well. We continue to the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and Overnight: Galilee Resort
https://english.ginosar.co.il/
After breakfast, we visit the ruins of Magdala on the western shore. It is the hometown of Mary Magdalene. Continuing along the shore, we see
the ancient boat from Jesus’ time which was recently recovered from the lake. Here, we board another Galilean boat for a sail on the Sea of Galilee and a time of worship. Afterwards, we visit the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount followed by another stop, along the Galilee shore for a visit to Tabgha where Jesus fed 5000 with the fish and loaves of a small boy. Almost adjacent is the site, where after the resurrection, Jesus cooked breakfast for some disciples and exhorted Peter to "Feed my sheep." Capernaum is another short distance down the shore. This town of Jesus was central to Jesus’s ministry and is referred too often in Scripture. The ruins of Peter’s house and the ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus spoke are still seen.
Dinner and Overnight: Galilee
Early this morning we head northward to ancient Tel Dan, where the Dan Tribe emigrated. Here are the unearthed city gates, a paved road, and remains of fortifications. We also see Banias Springs, the source of the Jordan River and visit Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed Christ as Messiah. Returning to the Sea of Galilee via the Golan Heights, we stop at Bethsaida where Jesus healed the blind man. Bethsaida was the hometown of Peter, Philip and Andrew. Kursi is our next stop. It is the site of the miracle of the swine and where Jesus fed the 4000. We continue to Yardenit where the Sea of Galilee empties into the Jordan River where we can be baptized in the Jordan.
Dinner and Overnight: Galilee
Drive to Gideon Springs where Gideon chose 300 men to fight the Midianites. Continue to Beit She’an, where the bodies of Saul and his sons were displayed on the walls after their Mount Gilboa defeat. Continue via the Jordan Valley, we stop at Genesis Land to enjoy Abraham and Eliezer Hospitality including a Bedouin lunch. Here you can also experience a camel ride. After lunch we drive to Jericho to see the ruins from the famous battle when the Israelite entered Canaan, as described in the Book of Joshua. In the afternoon, we drive to Bethlehem and visit the Shepherd’s Fields, the Fields of Boaz and Ruth and the Church of the Nativity, site of Jesus’ birth. Continue to the Dead Sea area.
Dinner and Overnight: Dead Sea area, Israel
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
Leisure morning or drive to Masada. Ascend to Masada 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. The Dead Sea - the deepest point on earth (1368 feet below sea level). Drive thru the Judean Wilderness to the Nature Reserve Ein Gedi, where King David found shelter from the rage of King Saul. Continue to Qumran to see the ruins of an ancient Essene community where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. If time and weather allow, we may stop and enjoy a short swim in the Dead Sea.
Dinner and Overnight: Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
Drive to the City of David and see the excavated fortresses and passageways from David’s conquest of the Jebusites city as described in the 2nd book of Samuel. The City of David is where Jerusalem started. Hezekiah’s Tunnel runs from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam and acted as an aqueduct to provide Jerusalem with water during a siege. Visit the new excavations and walk thru the Herodian tunnel from King Herod’s period that runs from the Siloam Pool to the Davidson Center in the Old City. We exit the Tunnel at Davidson Center and proceed to visit the House of Caiaphas, where the high priest resided and where Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin – the Council in Jerusalem. Peter also denied Jesus in the courts of this House. Drive to Mt. Zion to visit King David Tomb and the Room of the Last Supper.
Dinner and Overnight: Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
After Dinner: Sound & Light Show
Drive to the Mount of Olives for an outstanding view of the Old City and the surrounding area. Visit the Chapel of the Ascension, Garden of Gethsemane, and Church of All Nations. See the Kidron Valley, Tomb of Absalom, Zachariah and James. On our walking tour we proceed to the temple area on Mt. Moriah where we visit a recently excavated archeological site at the southern wall of Temple Mount in the Old City. Afterwards we see the Dome of the Rock, visit the Western Wall, and walk through the Kotel Tunnel. We also visit the Golden Gate, the Pinnacle, St. Stephen’s Gate, the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Ecce Homo Arch. We continue through the Bazaar to the Via Dolorosa, where we will have an option to carry the cross along the narrow, winding streets, tracing Jesus’ steps to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit the Roman Cardo and continue to the Garden Tomb of Jesus, where we have an orientation beside Calvary and Communion.
Dinner and Overnight: Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
This morning, we drive past the Knesset to the Israel Museum. Visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scroll collection is exhibited and where the model of ancient Jerusalem is displayed. Visit Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial. In the afternoon we travel to Jaffa, home of Simon the Tanner and where Jonah set sail to encounter the great fish. Continue to Valley of Elah where David slew Goliath. Before we return to Jerusalem, we visit some of the Kubbutzim surrounding the Gaza Strip that were impacted by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
Dinner and Overnight: Jerusalem
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
This morning we leave Jerusalem and cross the Alenby Bridge into the kingdom of Jordan. After clearing customs, we ascend the eastern mountains to visit Madaba where we view the most ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land which dates from 600AD. We then visit a nearby mosaic factory and showroom and continue to Petra.
Dinner and Overnight: Petra
We arrive at the entrance to the Siq which leads us to one of the ancient wonders of the world. An easy walk of about a mile leads us to the end of the narrow canyon which opens spectacularly to the familiar Treasury which is carved out of predominately red stone. Further down, the valley opens to even more wonders. For the hardy there is a climb to the traditional burial site of Aaron, Moses’ brother. In the late afternoon we proceed to the shore of the Dead Sea on the Jordanian side.
Dinner and Overnight: Dead Sea area, Jordan
We depart from our hotel and stop atop Mt. Nebo to see the same view that Moses had of the Promised Land. We continue north of Amman to see Jerash, another of the Decapolis cities in the region and then to the Jordanian site which is believed to be the most likely place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. It is also here on the plains of Moab where Elijah ascended into heaven in a chariot of fire.
Dinner and Overnight: Dead Sea area, Jordan
Transfer to Queen Alia Airport in Amman to board our flight home. We arrive in USA the same day.
Transatlantic flight home
