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ISRAEL AND GREECE-OPT ROME
pastors will and dave sawkins
There is nothing like going to Israel where God
revealed Himself in time and space. The early church father, Jerome, described Israel as “The Fifth Gospel.” Once you’ve been there, combined with a Greek cruise Apostle Paul and John sites, you will never read the Bible the same again.
itinerary
OCTOBER 22, 2025 WEDNESDAY DEPART USA
We must be at the airport 3 hours before flight time. See air schedule below.
ENROUTE TRANSATLANTIC
OCTOBER 23, 2025 THURSDAY TEL AVIV / NETANYA
Today, we arrive in Tel Aviv. Upon arrival, we are met and assisted by our guide and transferred to our hotel.
OVERNIGHT Mediterra Hotel. Natanya IS
OCTOBER 24, 2025 FRIDAY CAESAREA MARITIME / MT. CARMEL / MEGIDDO
MT. PRECIPICE / NAZARETH VILLAGE
After a full Israeli breakfast, we travel along the Mediterranean coast. Today we visit the following sites:
* The ruins of Caesarea Maritime where Paul was imprisoned before being sent to Rome.
* Mukraka, the location of Elijah's altar where he slew the prophets of Baal and the magnificent panoramic view from Mount Carmel.
* The excavation of Tel Megiddo overlooking the Valley of Armageddon. The ruins of Megiddo are 30 civilizations deep going all the way back to the Canaanites.
* Mount Precipice where the people intended to kill Jesus, but He simply walked thru them and away.
* Jesus’ boyhood home of Nazareth including a visit to the recreated Nazareth Village.
BREAKFAST: MEDITERRA HOTEL or SIMILAR
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT: LEONARDO PLAZA, TIBERIAS
OCTOBER 25, 2025 SATURDAY BOAT RIDE / MAGDALA / MT OF BEATITUDES / TEL DAN
CAESAREA PHILIPPI / PRIMACY OF PETER / CAPERNAUM
Today's highlights are:
* A sail on the Sea of Galilee and a time of worship.
* The ruins of Magdala on the western shore. It is the home town of Mary Magdalene.
* The Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount
* Ancient Tel Dan, where the Dan Tribe emigrated and created the golden calf. Here are the unearthed city
gates, a paved road, and remains of fortifications.
* Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed Christ as Messiah.
* Primacy of Peter, site of Jesus' post-resurrection appearance to disciples on the shore of Galilee. John 21
"feed my sheep" declaration to Peter.
* Capernaum, the city of Jesus so central to His ministry. The ruins of Peter’s house are still seen and the
ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus spoke. It is referred to often in Scripture.
BREAKFAST, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT: LEONARDO PLAZA, TIBERIAS or SIMILAR
OCTOBER 26, 2025 SUNDAY JESUS BOAT / YARDENIT / BETH SHEAN / GENESIS LAND
BETHLEHEM / JERUSALEM
Todays agenda includes
* A visit to the ancient boat from Jesus’ time which was recently recovered from the lake.
* Yardenit, the Jordan River baptismal site where you can be baptized.
* The Decapolis city of ancient Beth She’an where Saul and his sons were hung after their defeat at Gilboa.
* Genesis Land for a delicious Bedouin lunch in “Abraham’s tent.”
* Bethlehem where we see the shepherd’s fields and visit the site of Jesus’ birth.
BREAKFAST, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT: LEONARDO CLUB, TIBERIAS or SIMILAR
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT LEONARDO HOTEL, JERUSALEM
https://www.leonardo-hotels.com/jerusalem/leonardo-hotel-jerusalem
OCTOBER 27, 2025 MONDAY DEAD SEA / QUMRAN / EIN GEDI / MASADA
* The Dead Sea -the deepest point on earth (1200 feet below sea level)
* Masada, ascending by cable car to visit the fortress where from 70-73 AD Jewish Zealots made a last
desperate stand against the Roman Empire.
* The Nature Reserve Ein Gedi, where King David found shelter from the rage of King Saul.
* The ruins of an ancient Essene community of Qumran where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.
* On our way back to Jerusalem we can enjoy a short float on the Dead Sea if time and weather allow.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT LEONARDO HOTEL, JERUSALEM
OCTOBER 28, 2025 TUESDAY DAVID'S CITY / HEZEKIAH'S TUNNEL / POOL OF SILOAM
ISRAEL MUSEUM / YAD VASHEM / SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW
* The City of David where we see the excavated fortresses and passageways from David's conquest of the
Jebusite's city as described in the 2nd book of Samuel. The City of David is where Jerusalem started.
* Hezekiah's Tunnel runs from the Gihon Springs to the pool of Siloam and acted as an aqueduct to provide Jerusalem with water during a siege.
* Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed the blind man (John 9:1–11).
* Israel Museum, the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and featuring the most extensive
holdings of Biblical and Holy Land archaeology in the world.
* Yad Vashem, the ultimate source for Holocaust education, documentation and research.
* Sound and Light Show: Watch the walls of the Citadel become the stage for a spectacular nighttime show
celebrating Jerusalem's 4,000-year-old history through sights and sounds.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT LEONARDO HOTEL, JERUSALEM
OCTOBER 29, 2025, WEDNESDAY MOUNT OF OLIVES / GETHSEMANE / VIA DOLOROSA
CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE / GARDEN TOMB
* The Mount of Olives for group picture and an outstanding view of the city and surrounding area.
* The Garden of Gethsemane, and Church of All Nations.
* The Pool of Bethesda near the Sheep Gate and surrounded by five covered colonnades or porticoes where Jesus healed a paralyzed man
* The Via Dolorosa ('Way of Suffering') representing the path that Jesus would have taken, forced by the Roman soldiers, on the way to his crucifixion.
* The Church of the Holy Sepulchre considered the most important pilgrimage site for Christianity since the
fourth century. It contains the traditional site of Calvary and Jesus' empty tomb.
* The Garden Tomb of Jesus, the other possible site for Golgotha and Jesus' burial. We have an orientation
with a time for worship and communion.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT LEONARDO HOTEL, JERUSALEM
OCTOBER 30, 2025 THURSDAY KOTEL TUNNEL / WESTERN WALL / SOUTHERN STEPS
MT ZION / UPPER ROOM / CAIAPHAS HOUSE / GALLICANTU
* The temple area on Mt. Moriah where we visit the excavated archeological site near the southern wall.
* The Temple Mount, if circumstances allow, where we see the Dome of the Rock.
* The Western Wall which plays an important role in Judaism due to its proximity to the Temple Mount. The Wall is the holiest place where Jews are permitted to pray outside the previous Temple Mount platform, as the presumed site of the Holy of Holies, the most sacred site in the Jewish faith which lies just behind it.
* The Kotel Tunnel, a continuation of the open-air Western Wall. While the open-air portion of the Western Wall is approximately 200 ft long, the majority of its original length of 1,601 ft is hidden underground allowing access to the remainder of the Wall in a northerly direction.
* Mount Zion to visit the Room of the Last Supper and the Pentecost experience and in a room below, the traditional site of King David's tomb.
* Gallicantu, (cock's crow) where Peter denied Christ three times and perhaps the house of Caiaphas.
EVENING FLIGHT TO ATHENS
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT STANLEY HOTEL or SIMILAR, ATHENS
OCTOBER 31, 2025 FRIDAY AEGEAN CRUISE / MYKONOS
* After a leisurely breakfast, we transfer to Lavonia to begin our Aegean cruise.
* A visit to charming Mykonos island with its famous windmills.
BREAKFAST HOTEL
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT CELESTYAL CRUISE SHIP
NOVEMBER 1, 2025 SATURDAY EPHESUS / PATMOS
* The port of Kusadasi to visit the ruins of the Biblical city of Ephesus.
* Celsus Library and the amphitheater where the apostle Paul preached.
* Cruise the short distance to Patmos and visit the cave where John wrote Revelation
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, OVERNIGHT CELESTYAL OLYMPIA
NOVEMBER 2, 2025 SUNDAY HERKALION / SANTORINI
* Visit Crete’s incredible Palace of Knossos
* Santorini. Guaranteed Santorini sunset (weather permitting).
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER, OVERNIGHT CELESTYAL OLYMPIA
NOVEMBER 22, 2025 MONDAY DISEMBARK ATHENS / CORINTH / ATHENS
*Disembark in Athens
* Ancient Corinth to visit the ruins of the city where Paul worked. See the remains of first-century agora and where Paul was on trial at the Bema, the Fountain of Peirene, Temple of Apollo, and visit the museum.
* Athens. Visit the Acropolis and Mars Hill before checking in at our hotel in Athens
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT STANLEY HOTEL or SIMILAR, ATHENS
Santorini
NOVEMBER 4, 2024 TUESDAY Transatlantic / USA
We transfer to Athens’ Airport for return to the US
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or extend to Rome Imperial Rome
After our morning flight we arrive where we are met and assisted by our driver and guide and set off to discover Imperial Rome. Paul wrote to the Christians of Rome and he eventually went there where his ministry continued, although he was technically a prisoner. Experience the glory of Imperial Rome when you visit the Coliseum, famous as a place of spectacle and death. See the Circus Maximus, Nero’s huge stadium was able to seat 250,000 for chariot races. See the Roman Forum, an ancient meeting place, market place, religious and political center. View the Arch of Titus commemorating Titus' conquest of Judea. You'll visit the Mamertima Prison, where it is believed that both Peter and Paul were imprisoned.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT ROME
NOVEMBER 5, 2025 WEDNESDAY Christian Rome
Discover the Vatican Museum for many of the world's masterpieces. In the Sistine Chapel, view Michelangelo's frescoes, which have been restored to their full, colorful glory. Tour St. Peter's Basilica where Michelangelo's "Pieta" -- the only work signed by the master -- will be just one of many highlights. Travel the famous Apian Way. Walk through the Catacombs of San Sebastiano. Visit Tre Fontane, where Apostle Paul was beheaded. Walk through Via Del Corso, Piazza de Spagnia, and enjoy the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Piazza Navona. In the evening choose a restaurant on your own. There are hundreds of choices.
OVERNIGHT ROME
NOVEMBER 6, 2025 THURSDAY Rome
Today is a day to savor Rome on your own. By now you will have the lay of the land and from your hotel most sites are accessible via local transportation. Return to previous sites or go exploring on your own. This is also another evening to find just the right place for dinner on your own.
OVERNIGHT ROME
NOVEMBER 7, 2025 FRIDAY Transatlantic / USA
We transfer to the Rome Airport for our return to the US