Day 01. USA/TEL AVIV. Depart USA for Tel Aviv. (Meals in flight)

Day 02. TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM. Arrive Tel Aviv, transfer to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 03. JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM This morning we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater Noster and walk along Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the Church of All Nations, which stands on the Rock of the Agony. View the Eastern (Golden) Gate and the Pinnacle of the Temple. Drive to Mount Zion and visit the House of Caiaphas, "The High Priest" and the dungeon where Jesus was imprisoned the night of His arrest. We will also visit the Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper and the Tomb of King David. Proceed to Bethlehem, where we will visit the ancient Basilica of the Nativity. Stand on the site where Jesus was born and see the Shepherds' Field and the Field of Boaz. Return to Jerusalem for night and overnight. (B/D)

Day 04. OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM Today we will be visiting the "Old City" of Jerusalem entering through the Dung Gate. Visit the Western Wall, the Ecce Homo Arch (Behold the Man) and the Via Dolorosa. We will also see Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock, where tradition holds that Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed. Passing through the picturesque native bazaars we will walk the Way of Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and visit the Garden Tomb and Skull Hill. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Jerusalem. (B/D)

Day 05. BETHANY/DEAD SEA/MASADA This morning we drive to Bethany to visit the site where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived and the the Tomb of Lazarus. Then we continue to drive through the Judean Hills, we will stop to view the Valley of the Shadow of Death and the 4th century Byzantine Monastery. On to Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, where we can touch the water of the Dead Sea. It was in Masada that a small band of 960 Jewish Zealots held out against the advancing Romans. Ascend by cable car to the top of this fortress built by Herod, along the southern shore of the Dead Sea. On top you will investigate the environs left by the community after their battle from 70-73 A.D.) Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B/D)


Day 06. PETRA Today we cross the Jordan River into Jordan. Drive to Petra, "The Rose Red City" of the Edomites, and later the Nabateans. This is an amazing "City of the Dead" with its streets, dwelling places, tombs and temples carved out of the solid mountain rock. Upon arrival at El Ji's Post we will continue one more mile through the SIQ (natural gorge) and arrive at the "Treasury". Among the many sites we will see the Nabatean Judgment Hall, Roman Temple, the Roman Amphitheater, Palace Tombs and the Urn Temple. We will have dinner and overnight in Petra. (B/D)

Day 07. MOUNT NEBO/JERASH/TIBERIAS After breakfast we will drive to Mount Nebo, the traditional site of the tomb of Moses. From the ruins of a Byzantine Church, we are able to see the panorama of the Promised Land that lay before Moses - the Jordan River, the Dead Sea, Jericho, and the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Then we continue to Jerash in the hilly area of ancient Gilead. Visit the world's best preserved Greco-Roman city of Jerash: a sprawling open-air museum of monumental temples, baths, theaters and churches of the early and late Byzantine era. We then cross back over the Jordan River and head to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Day 08. AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE This morning we sail in our boat on the Sea of Galilee for this beautiful view of the shore. Afterwards, we re-board our motor coach to Capernaum, Jesus' second home. Here we will see the second century Synagogue and the House of Peter's mother-in-law. Continue to Tabgha, the chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. We will visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Then we stop at the traditional site of baptism at the Jordan River. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Day 09. NAZARETH/MEGIDDO/MOUNT CARMEL/CAESAREA Today we proceed to Nazareth, viewing Mount Tabor and Cana. We visit the Church of the Annunciation, Joseph's Workshop and Mary's Well. Continue to the Valley of Armageddon and the historic military fortress that controlled the highway between Egypt and Mesopotamia. on to Haifa to see Mount Carmel and visit Elijah's Cave. We will drive south along the Mediterranean Sea and stop in Caesarea, the ancient port built by King Herod the Great. We will visit the fortress used by the Crusaders, the harbor, moat and amphitheater. Continue to our hotel in Netanya for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Day 10. TEL AVIV/USA This morning we board our jet back to the USA and home. We bring back with us memories of an exciting and rewarding time in the Holy Land. This region will be more understood now as we read history, scripture and current events. (B/L/D)