TRANS WORLD TRAVEL, INC.

Thursday, November 2, 2023 - Dallas Departure: Today we depart from DFW Airport to begin our journey to Israel.

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Friday, November 3 - Tel Aviv / Bethlehem: On arrival in Tel Aviv this afternoon, we will meet our tour manager and drive about one hour to Bethlehem for our dinner and overnight. (D)

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Saturday, November 4 - Bethlehem & Herodium: Today we highlight the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. We’ll spend the day in Bethlehem area, where we will visit the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity, and Shepherds Field. Later in the day, we’ll visit the Herodium, an impressive palace dating to the time of King Herod. Through our visits, input and reflections, we will gain a deeper understanding of the world and circumstances into which the Lord was born. Overnight in Bethlehem. (BB, L, D)

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Sunday, November 5 - Samaria / Bet Shean / Sea of Galilee: Today we’ll drive north through Samaria, where we see the twin mountains of Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal - known in the Old Testament as Mount Blessing and Mount Cursing. Here we’ll visit Jacob’s Well, where Jesus met the Samaritan woman and said: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.” En route to Tiberias, we’ll visit Bet Shean whose Biblical history covers the Canaanites, the Philistines, and the Romans. Late this afternoon we arrive in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee - our home for the next three nights. (BB, L, D)

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Monday, November 6 - Sea of Galilee / Capernaum / Mount of Beatitudes: This morning we’ll enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, Jesus’ home for two years. Highlights of the day include: Chorazin, the Mount of Beatitudes (MT. 5:1- 12); Tabgha, where we’ll visit the Church of the Multiplication and the Church of the Primacy of Peter. A special lunch will be arranged at a restaurant on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. This afternoon we’ll visit the Pilgrim’s Baptismal site along the River Jordan to renew our own baptismal vows and we’ll stop at the Kibbutz Ginnosar to see the “Jesus Boat” dating from the 1st century. Overnight in Tiberias. (BB, L, D)

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Tuesday, November 7 - Mt. Tabor / Cana / Nazareth: Today’s excursion will take us by the Horns of Hattin, where Saladin defeated the Crusaders and past Mt. Tabor (the site of the Transfiguration). Later we visit Cana, where we plan to renew our marriage vows, and then on to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we’ll visit the Church of the Annunciation. Overnight in Tiberias. (BB, L, D)

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Wednesday, November 8 - Caesarea-By-The-Sea / Mt. Carmel / Megiddo / Jerusalem: Today, be prepared to go back at least 2,000 years, where every mile will tell at least one Bible story. Our morning will begin at Caesarea-By-The-Sea. This ancient city was built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus Caesar. Caesarea serves as the backdrop for the Book of Acts, including the many visits by the Apostle Paul, his two-year imprisonment, and the commencement of his journey to Rome. Later, we drive on the crest of Mount Carmel to Muhragen where Elijah engaged in the contest with the false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18: 1-40). From an elevated platform it is possible to see the hills of Nazareth, Meggido, the Mountains of Gilboa, the valley of Jezreel (“Armageddon” in Revelation 16:16), and the hills of Samaria. En route to Jerusalem, we’ll visit the ancient Tel Megiddo – an important Canaanite city-state also known as Armageddon. Overnight in Jerusalem - our home for five nights. (BB, L, D)

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Thursday, November 9 - Jerusalem (Western Wall Tunnels / Israeli Museum): This morning we visit the Israeli Museum, including the Shrine of the Book (housing the Dead Sea Scrolls) and the Holy Land Model of Jerusalem - a 1:50 scale-model of the city of Jerusalem in the late Second Temple Period. Later today we will enter the Old City to visit the Western Wall and its tunnels - one of the most popular tourist sites in Jerusalem. These underground tunnels connect the Western Wall prayer area to the northwest side of the temple mount. Along its path are remains from the second temple period, as well as structures from later periods. The experience of walking along the tunnels is like taking a time machine back to the time of the second temple. We’ll visit the Cardo - a Byzantine road roughly the equivalent of an eight-lane highway that ran through the heart of the city, and we’ll enjoy some free time in the Old City. Overnight Jerusaelm. (BB, D)

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Friday, November 10 - Masada / Dead Sea / Qumran / Jerusalem: This morning we visit the ancient Tel of Jericho and then travel through the Judean wilderness to the Qumran Caves, the site where the community of Essenes lived and recorded the books of the Old Testament. Then we visit the shore of the Dead Sea, possibly to float in its mineral-rich waters en route to Masada, where we’ll visit the remarkable ruins of the fortress built by Herod the Great. Later this afternoon, we’ll return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (BB, L, D)

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Saturday, November 11 - Jerusalem (Mount of Olives / Garden of Gethsemane / Mount Zion): Today we motor the short distance to the Mount of Olives to visit the Church of the Pater Noster, the Dominus Flevit Church where Jesus wept over Jerusalem according to Luke 19:41, and the Garden of Gethsemane. Later we cross the Kidron Valley, passing the Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James. On Mount Zion we’ll visit the Church of St. Peter’s in Gallicantu. This afternoon, our guide will arrange for some leisure time in the Old City before dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (BB, D)

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Sunday, November 12 - Jerusalem (Old City and Via Dolorosa: This morning we walk the Via Dolorosa (the Way of the Cross) visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), St. Anne’s Crusader Church with the Pool of Bethesda (where Christ healed the crippled man), Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, the Lithostrotos, and St. Stephen’s Gate. There will be some free time this afternoon to shop and explore the Old City. This evening we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner in Bethlehem before returning to our hotel for our overnight. (BB, SD)

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Monday, November 13 - Tel Aviv / Dallas: This morning we’ll begin our return jorney home. Arrive Dallas in the late afternoon.

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PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

*  Round trip air from Dallas-Ft. Worth

*  First Class (4 star) hotels

*  Breakfast and dinner daily, plus six lunches as noted in the itinerary

*  Transportation by deluxe private motor coach

*  Comprehensive sightseeing as noted, including applicable entrance fees

*  Cruise on Sea of Galilee

*  Whisper Hearing Sets on walking tours

*  Baggage handling at all hotels -1 bag per person