DAY 01. USA/TEL AVIV. Depart from USA to Tel Aviv. (Meals in Flight)

DAY 02. TEL AVIV. Arrival in Tel Aviv. Transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (D)

DAY 03. AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE. We start our day by sailing across the Sea of Galilee. We will reboard our motorcoach and drive to Capernaum, Jesus' second home. There 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. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. Afterwards, we will stop at the Jordan River to see the traditional site of Baptism. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 04. TIBERIAS / NAZARETH / MEGIDDO / HAIFA / JERUSALEM. Today we proceed to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunication, 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. Continue on to Haifa to see Mount Carmel and visit Elijah's Cave. We drive along the Mediterranean Sea and stop in Caesarea, the ancient port built by King Herod the Great. We visit the fortress used by the Crusaders, the harbor, moat and amphitheater. We continue on to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 05. MOUNT OF OLIVES/ MOUNT ZION / BETHLEHEM. We start our day with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. 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 Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper and the Tomb of David. We then drive to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. There we will visit the Church of the Nativity, Manger Square and the Shepherds' Fields. We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B/D)


DAY 06. JERUSALEM. Today we will be visiting the "Old City" of Jerusalem entering through the Dung Gate. Visit the Western Wall and proceed up to Mount Moriah to view the Dome of the Rock, where tradition holds that Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice him. Starting at Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), walk along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, passing the picturesque native bazaars. We will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Garden Tomb and Skull Hill. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Jerusalem. (B/D)

DAY 07. BETHANY / JERICHO / DEAD SEA. This morning we drive to Bethany to visit the site where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived and the Tomb of Lazarus. Then we continue to drive through the Judean Hills and we will stop to view the Valley of the Shadow of Death and the 4th century Byzantine Monastery. Stop in Jericho, the world's oldest inhabited city, view the excavations of the ancient Canaanite city that was destroyed by the power of God. We view the Mount of Temptations and the Greek Orthodox Monastery. Drive by Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. Continue to Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, where we can put our feet into the Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (Optional tour to Masada - additional cost. It was in Masada that the 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 AD.) (B/D)

DAY 08. JERUSALEM / CAIRO. Early morning departure from Jerusalem to Cairo, Egypt. As we cross the border to Egypt we are met by our Egyptian guide and driver. We will drive across the Sinai Peninsula and cross the Suez Canal. We travel along the great Nile River to Cairo where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

DAY 09. CAIRO/ EGYPTIAN MUSEUM / PYRAMID. Today we will visit many sites of a great civilization. Our first stop will be the renowned Egyptian Museum, which houses King Tut's treasure, statues of the Pharaohs and other interesting artifacts. Afterwards we will visit the Cheops Pyramid and the magnificent Sphinx. In the afternoon we will drive through the Old Cairo to Khan El-Khalili bazaar, the 12th century Citadel, Ben Ezra Mosque and the AMR Mosque. We will also see Republic Square, Abdin Palace, Sultan Hassan Mosque and El Azhar University. Late night departure to the airport to fly to Tel Aviv. (B/D)

DAY 10. TEL AVIV/USA. Depart for our flight back to USA. 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)