BOTH SIDES OF THE RIVER JORDAN

Day 1 - Departure - U.S.A / Tel Aviv

Day 2 - Welcome to Israel
Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport where we will be met and assisted by our airport representative. At the arrival hall meet your tour guide and bus driver and the journey of your lifetime is about to begin.  Drive to Tel Aviv for one night at the Dan Panorama Hotel, opposite the Mediterranean Sea. After Dinner the remainder of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean and relax. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 3 - From Tel Aviv to the Galilee

Old Jaffa, Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Armageddon, Cana, Nazareth, Tiberia

After breakfast, our first day in Israel begins with a visit to old Jaffa, stroll along the narrow lanes, visit the artists’ colony, and enjoy the view  from the old Jaffa hilltop. Traveling along the coast we continue to Caesarea by the Mediterranean Sea. It is here that Cornelius the Centurion and his household were saved and baptized (Acts 10), and it was also where Paul made his defense before Festus and King Agrippa prior to his final journey to Rome (Acts 25 & 26). Continue to Mount Carmel, where Elijah hid from King Ahab and issued his challenge to the False Prophets. From here, we will have a breathtaking panorama view over Haifa Bay and western Galilee. We will continue through the Jezreel valley to Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon (Revelation 16), site of the final battle and where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. Than, on to Cana and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus and where he spent the silent years of his life. From Nazareth, the road winds down to Tiberias and the beautiful Sea of Galilee. We will have dinner and overnight lodging for the next two nights in a Kibbutz hotel on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Overnight: Sea of Galilee

Day 4 - Sea of Galilee & Golan Heights

Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Capernaum, Golan Heights, Caesarea Philippi, Kursi, Ein Gev, Yardenit

 Following breakfast, we will start the day early with a worship service on the Sermon on the Mount, the Mount of Beatitudes. We will then visit St. Peter's Primacy before traveling to the 2000 year old remains of Capernaum (Luke 4). Stand in what is left of the synagogue in which Jesus ministered.  It was from this city that Jesus did most of his Galilean ministry, where he performed many miracles, and where Peter’s mother-in-law lived and was healed. We then proceed to visit Tabgha where 5,000 were fed by Jesus and where the miracle of the multiplication of fish and loaves took place. After late lunch we drive to the Golan Heights and then travel to the northernmost areas of Israel. We will drive across the top of the Golan Heights, and than visit the Banias–ancient Caesarea Philippi. We’ll see Kursi where Jesus cast the demons into pigs that ran into the sea (Matt.8:28-33). Then on to Ein Gev, where we will be served a traditional fish lunch. After lunch we'll board a boat and ride across the Sea of Galilee. We will end the day with a visit to Yardenit, the traditional baptismal site on the Jordan River for a special time of baptism. Drive back to our Kibbutz hotel for dinner. Overnight: Sea of Galilee

Day 5 - From the Galilee to Jordan

Beit-Shean, Jordan River, Jerash, Amman

After early breakfast we proceed through the city of Beit Shean one of the earliest and most important cities in Israel from the time of the Canaanites. Today the ancient city of Beth Shean is on of the most remarkable archeological sites in Israel. It was here that after defeating Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beth Shean (1 Samuel 31). We continue through the Jordan Valley to the Jordanian - Israeli border at Sheik Hussein. Cross the Jordan river and drive to Jerash- Gerasha of ancient times, one of the best preserved and most complete of the cities of the Decapolis . Proceed to Amman, capital of modern Jordan. After Short tour of the old & new city we proceed to the hotel for check in and Dinner. Overnight Amman 

Day 6 - From Amman to Petra

Amman, Mount Nebo, Madaba, Petra

Early departure form Amman to Visit  Mount Nebo - Moses, the “friend of God” looked from here into the promised land. Next we will continue on to Madaba and visit the Mosaic map of the Holy Land from 4th century found in an ancient Byzantine church. Continue south to Petra - the spectacular Rose Red capital of the Nabateans. Proceed to the hotel for check in and Dinner. Overnight: Petra      

Day 7 - Petra, Qumran,  Dead Sea

After breakfast we will visit the Ancient site of Petra and than drive to the Allenby Bridge and re cross back to Israel. We continue to the lowest place on earth- the Dead Sea. One of our stops will be Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and an ancient Essene community. Proceed to the hotel for check in to enjoy free afternoon at leisure at the Dead Sea and our hotel’s Spa. Spa treatments are available.  Overnight: Dead Sea

Day 8 - From the Dead Sea to Jerusalem

Dead Sea, Massada, Ein Gedi, Jerusalem

After breakfast we drive along the west coast of the Dead Sea to Massada and take a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress. Massada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by Herod, is famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. From the top of the Masada, the Roman camps and siege ramps can be seen. Afterwards proceed to Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Because of its warm climate and abundant supply of water, the site developed a reputation for its fragrant plants and date palm groves. This is where King David hid in a cave when running from Saul (1 Samuel 23). It was here that David composed several of the Psalm and where God defeated the enemies of the Israelites by praise and worship led by King Jehoshaphat (1 Sam 23:29; 24 Song of Songs 1:14). We leave the Dead Sea are and ascend to the city of Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 9 - In Jesus steps, Jerusalem - Old City

Following breakfast we begin our first day of touring by boarding our motor coaches and head to the top of the Mount of Olives and stand where our Lord ascended into heaven (Acts 1). See olive trees on the Mount of Olives (Luke 19, 2 Samuel 15) that date back to the time of Christ. From the  Mt of Olives is an outstanding breathtaking view of the city across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate, see Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit.  We'll take the historic Palm Sunday road down to the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18). After lunch we will take a walk up on the ancient walls of Jerusalem, ending at the Upper Room welcoming a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.  We will worship in the Upper Room (Luke 22) and tour St. Peter in Gallicantu, site of Caiaphas the high priest's house (John 18). Then we will travel through the Jewish Quarter, walking through some of the ancient city and view the shops and unique way that the ancient customs and lifestyles maintained. We continue on to the Pool of Bethesda (John 4) and to the Sisters of Zion Church. Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 10 - In Jesus steps, Jerusalem - Old City

Bethlehem, Citadel of David, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City Jerusalem

Drive through Ramat Rachel “Rachel heights” to see the Shepherd's Fields and than visit Bethlehem, the site of the nativity. Continue through the picturesque market streets past the Citadel of David and exit through the Jaffa Gate, passing the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the way. Free afternoon and evening to enjoy the old city markets and for shopping.  Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 11 - Jerusalem - Old & New City

Bethlehem, Holocaust Museum, Shrine of the Book, Western Wall, Southern Steps, Davison center, Garden Tomb, Abu Gosh, Tel Aviv Airport

Begin the day in the new part of Jerusalem by visiting a scale model of the city set in New Testament Times, including the Second Temple.  Continue via the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and downtown Jerusalem.  We will visit the Holocaust Museum -Yad Vashem and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls collection displays the authenticity of God's eternal Word. Following lunch, we will visit the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.  (*Visit to the Temple Mount subject to change) We will continue through the Western Wall Tunnels, running along the base of the Western Wall. We continue to the Southern Steps, the archaeological reconstruction of the Temple Steps where Jesus walked so often. At the Davison center, we will see a 3D presentation of the second temple period. We will end the tour with a unique visit to the Garden Tomb, where we will have a quiet prayer and share the Lord ’s Supper. We proceed to Abu Gosh village where we will celebrate the end of our tour with a festive Farewell Dinner. Continue to Ben Gurion airport for our transatlantic flight back to the U.S.A

Day 12 - Arrival in the U.S.A

Arrive home early this morning and start planning your next trip to the Holy Land