Monday
- U.S. Departure: We depart from the U. S. to our European Gateway.
Meals are served en route.
Tuesday
- Europe / Tel Aviv / Netanya: In our European Gateway we will connect
with our flight to Tel Aviv. After being greeted by our tour manager,
we will pause to visit Joppa, the biblical port town where Peter raised
Tabitha. We overnight in Netanya on the Mediterranean Sea. (D)
Wednesday
- Caesarea-by-the-Sea / Nazareth / Cana: This morning we visit the
seacoast city of Caesarea where Peter preached and where Paul was
imprisoned for two years. The city was also the residence of Pontius
Pilate and the home of Philip the Evangelist. This afternoon we tour
Nazareth (the Annunciation at Nazareth, and Cana (Jesus attended the
wedding feast and performed his first miracle. We overnight in Tiberias.
(B, D)
Thursday
- Sea of Galilee Area / Tiberias: Today we cruise on the Sea of Galilee
to Capernaum. We will also visit the Mount of Beatitudes and Tabgha
(feeding of 5,000 and the post-Resurrection appearance to the disciples).
This afternoon we motor through the Golan Heights and visit the Pilgrim's
Baptismal site to renew our own baptismal commitment. We return to
Tiberias for free time and our overnight. (B, D)
Friday
- Bet Shean / Jericho / Jerusalem: This morning, we drive south through
the Jordan Valley to Bet Shean - whose Biblical history covers the
Canaanites, the Philistines (who hung Saul's body on the town walls),
the Romans, and the Byzantines. We continue to Jericho. From the excavated
Tel of the ruins of ancient Jericho, we can view the lush green Jordan
Valley and Elisha's fountain. Then, we "go up to Jerusalem"
for our overnight. (B, D)
Saturday
- Masada / Dead Sea / Qumran / Bethlehem / Jerusalem: This morning
we travel through the Judean wilderness to Masada, the remarkable
ruins of the fortress built by Herod the Great. Then we visit the
shore of the Dead Sea, possibly to float in its mineral-rich waters.
Afterward, we briefly pause in the area of the Qumran Caves, the site
where the community of Essenes lived and recorded the books of the
Old Testatment. Our final stop is in Bethlehem, where we will visit
the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity. Overnight Jerusalem. (B,
D)
Sunday
- Mount of Olives / Mount Zion: During our morning tour on the Mount
of Olives, we visit the Church of the Ascension, the Church of the
Pater Noster, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations.
Crossing the Kidron Valley to Mount Zion, we pass the Tombs of Absalom
and Zechariah. We visit the Church of St. Peter's in Gallicantu (Caiaphas'
House), and the Upper Room. Again, we overnight in Jerusalem. (B,
D)
Monday
- Old City of Jerusalem, Lecture and Cultural Presentation in Jerusalem
& Bethlehem: This morning we tour the Old City of Jerusalem: the
remains of the City of David, the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock,
St. Stephen's Gate, St. Anne's Crusader Church with the Pool of Bethesda,
the Via Dolorosa, the Arch of Ecce Homo, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the
Lithostrotos, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.enter the Old City
of Jerusalem Afterward there will be free time to visit sites, shop,
wander the streets of the Old City, make new friends, visit a museum,
relax at the hotel, or whatever you wish. Later today we return to
Bethlehem for a lecture, a cultural evening. Overnight Jerusalem.
(B, D)
Tuesday
- Tel Aviv / Europe / U.S.A.: This morning we begin our flights home
from Tel Aviv - our European Gateway. Meals will be served aloft.
CB
- Continental Breakfast
B - Breakfast
L - Lunch
D - Dinner
SD - Special Dinner
