Day 3 • Caesarea Theater
Day 6 • Bet Shean
Day 8 • Church of Dominus Flevit
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
Today we begin our adventure as we board our plane for our flight over the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 2 • Arrival Tel Aviv/Jerusalem
Upon arrival, we are met by our friendly Signature Tours International representatives who assist us to our hotel in Natanya.
Day 3 • Caesarea/Mt. Carmel/Megiddo/Nazareth/Tiberias
This morning we drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea. It was here that Peter converted the Roman centurion, Cornelius. We visit the 2,000-year-old Roman theater and aqueduct. We continue to the traditional place of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Next, we arrive at Megiddo, chariot city of Solomon, overlooking the Valley of Armageddon. In the afternoon we visit Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, to see Mary’s Well and the Churches of the Annunciation and St. Joseph. Overnight is in Tiberias.
Day 4 • Sea of Galilee/Gergesa/Tabgha/Capernaum/Mount of Beatitudes/Jordan River
Today we follow in the footsteps of Jesus as we board a boat for the “other side” of the Sea of Galilee. We visit Gergesa, where Jesus drove out the evil spirits from the possessed man into the swine. Crossing the Jordan River near the site of Bethsaida, we arrive in at Capernaum, the city of Jesus. We view the House of Peter and the synagogue where Jesus taught. We read the Sermon on the Mount at the Mount of Beatitudes and visit Tabgha, where Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000. We conclude our day at the baptismal site on the Jordan River and then stay overnight in Tiberias.
Day 5 • Golan Heights/Caesarea Philippi/Safed/Chorazin
Our motor coach climbs the Golan Heights, stopping by the Syrian border near Quenitra to view the Road to Damascus, where the Apostle Paul had his conversion experience. We descend to Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mt. Hermon, where Peter recognized Jesus as the Christ. We then continue to Safed, “the city on the hill that cannot be hidden,” visiting an ancient synagogue and the artists’ quarter. Finally, we arrive at Chorazin, where Jesus preached and performed miracles. Dinner and overnight are in Tiberias for the last time.
Day 6 • Bet Shean/Jericho/Wadi Qelt/Bethlehem/Jerusalem
Driving down the Jordan Valley to Bet Shean, we see the magnificent remains of that ancient Roman city. Our next stop is Jericho, which is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. At the base of the Mount of Temptation, we visit Elisha’s Springs and the ruins of old Jericho before continuing up the old Roman road, stopping by Wadi Qelt on our way to Bethlehem. There we view the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto where Jesus was born, and Shepherds’ Fields. We have free time for olivewood shopping before returning to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and the night.
Day 7 • Jerusalem
Day 7 • Jerusalem
We begin our tour of Jerusalem with a survey of the 3000-year-old city from a panoramic view on Mt. Scopus. We then enter the Old City, visiting the Western (Waiting) Wall and the original stairs where Jesus once stood and preached. We continue up to Temple Mount to visit the dome of the Rock and the Mosque of El Aqsa. We then see sites of the Upper Room, David’s Tomb on Mount Zion, and the recently excavated remains of the houses of the High Priestly families in the Jewish Quarter. We have some free time on our own for shopping and relaxing before dinner. Overnight is in Jerusalem.
Day 8 • Jerusalem
Today we follow the Palm Sunday walk, beginning at Bethphage where Jesus mounted the donkey for His triumphal entry into the city. We follow Jesus’ path to the Church of Pater Noster and the top of the Mount of Olives, where another panoramic view reminds us of what Jesus saw as He looked out over Jerusalem. We continue down the Palm Sunday walk to the Church of Dominus Flevit and to the base of the mountain. We travel to the southern outlook over the city, at the Hill of Evil Counsel. In the afternoon, we go to the New City to visit the model of Jerusalem at Jesus’ time. We also see the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament building, and conclude our day with an exciting visit to the Shrine of the Book to see the original Dead Sea Scrolls and to the Israel Museum to see the highlights of Biblical archaeology, including utensils from the City of David, the last remnant of Solomon’s Temple, the oldest copy of a Biblical passage, ancient Israelite altars, the sarcophagus of Caiphas, the inscription of Pontius Pilate and the seat of Moses from the Chorazin synagogue. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem.
Day 9 • Massada
Day 9 • Massada/Dead Sea/Qumran/Bethany/Jerusalem
We motor coach down through the Judean Desert to the lowest point on the face of the earth, the Dead Sea. Here we ride the cable car to the summit of Massada, Herod’s luxurious winter palace and where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans. We have time for a dip in the Dead Sea before continuing to Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and the ruins of the Essenes community, who were preparing themselves in the desert for the coming of the end-time. We conclude our day at Bethany to visit the Tomb of Lazarus and the House of Mary and Martha.
Day 10 • Jerusalem
We remember the last days of Jesus in Jerusalem with a reading and devotion at the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built over the traditional House of Caiphas. We continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of the Agony, where Jesus prayed the night before His crucifixion. Entering the Old City through St. Stephen’s Gate, we proceed to the Pools of Bethesda and stand on stones where Jesus stood at Pilate’s Judgment Hall, under the Ecce Homo Arch. We then walk the via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After lunch and a candlelight visit inside an authentic rolling-stone tomb from the time of Jesus (“Tomb of the Kings”), we conclude our day with a communion service at the Garden Tomb, commemorating Our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. This evening we will hear from a Jewish or Arab spokesman on “Living in Jerusalem: Today and Tomorrow.” Dinner and overnight for the last time are in Jerusalem.
Day 11 • Yad Vashem
Day 11 • Jerusalem/Emmaus/Tel Aviv/Hometown, U.S.A.
This morning, flight time permitting, we visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust, and the beautiful Chagall Windows, depicting the twelve tribes of Israel. We stop briefly at Emmaus to conclude our visit to the Holy Land before arriving at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv for our flight back to the U.S. We will be returning with wonderful memories of our journey to the Holy Land and the 3,000-year-old Jerusalem!