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

DAY 02: TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM Arrival in Tel Aviv. Upon arrival, transfer to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (D)

DAY 03: MOUNT OF OLIVES/MOUNT ZION/BETHLEHEM This morning we begin on 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. Also 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 He was arrested. We will also visit the site of the Last Supper and the Tomb of David. We then proceed to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We will visit the Church of the Nativity, Manger Square and Shepherd's Fields. We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 04: JERUSALEM We will have a walking tour of the "Old City" of Jerusalem beginning at the Dung Gate. Visit the Wailing Wall and see Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock, where tradition holds that Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed. Walk the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, passing through the picturesque native bazaars. End our day at the Garden Tomb and Skull Hill. We return to our hotel for Dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 05: BETHANY/JERICHO/DEAD SEA/MASADA This morning we drive to visit Bethany, the site where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived and the tomb of Lazarus. We continue to Jericho, the world's oldest inhabited city and view the excavations of the ancient Canaanite City. We continue to Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

(Optional tour to Masada - additional cost. It was in Masada that the small band of 960 Jewish Zealots held out against the advancing Roman Legions and slavery. Ascending by cable car to the top of this fortress built by King Herod, you can investigate the environs left by the community after their three-year battle from 70-73 A.D.)

DAY 06: JERUSALEM/JORDAN VALLEY/TIBERIAS This morning we leave Jerusalem for Tiberias via the Jordan Valley. We will stop at the tradition site of Baptism on the Jordan River. Continue on to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/D)


DAY 07: AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE Today we start by sailing on the Sea of Galilee. We then reboard our motorcoach to visit Capernaum, Jesus' second home. There we will see the 2nd Century Synagogue and the House of Peter's mother-in-law. We drive 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. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 08: NAZARETH/MEGIDDO/CAESAREA/NETANYA After breakfast we depart Tiberias and proceed to Nazareth, viewing Mount Tabor and Cana traveling through the Valley of Esdraelon. In Nazareth we will see the Church of the Annunciation, Joseph's Workshop and Mary's Well. Continue to the Valley of Armageddon and the historic military fortress of Megiddo 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. Then continue on to Netanya for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 9: TEL AVIV/USA Depart for our flight back home. We bring back with us memories of exciting and rewarding experiences in the Holy Land. This region will be more understood now as we read history, scripture and current events. (Meals in Flight)