On this tour we will visit much of the Land of Israel but most importantly, we will follow the footsteps of Jesus from His ministry in Galilee to His final days in Jerusalem. In each key biblical site, we will enjoy teachings from our hosts and experts at the actual sites being described. Very cool!
Depart USA for Israel
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. After going through passport control and receiving and proceeding to the customs hall to collect our luggage. Our guide and driver will be waiting. We will check into our hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast at our hotel. We begin our journey going north along the coastal road to Caesarea Marítima. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheatre, hippodrome, and the remains of this famous port city, and an aqueduct built by King Herod.
We will then travel on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. Next, we travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, the Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed many levels of civilization.
Time to make our way to the Sea of Galilee where we will stop at Mt Arbel for a awesome panaramic view of the Sea of Galilee.
From there we will check into our hotel at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar. Dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we will walk over to the Igal Alon Museum to visit the ancient Fisherman Boat followed by a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee.
A devotional on board and a time of worship will bring to life the experiences of Jesus and the fishermen disciples.
We will now drive to Capernaum, the ministry center of Jesus during His ministry and then up to the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
Our final visit today will be to Magdala, the hometown of Mary of Magdala. The recent excavation of the First Century Synagogue and well-preserved village makes Magdala one of the most interesting Biblical sites in Israel.
Following breakfast, we drive north to Tel Dan. We’ll enjoy a great walk and learn of the history of this site where the children of Israel fell into false worship. We’ll also visit Caesarea Philippi, where a profound experience between Jesus and His disciples took place.
We will visit the Golan Heights and Har Ben Tal which is one of Israel’s favorite mountain peaks to visit. Mount Bental was the site of a courageous battle fought during Israel’s war for the Golan.
Driving back to the Sea of Galilee's southern tip for an opportunity to be baptized at the Jordan River
Return to Ginosar for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we travel southward to Beit-Shean/Scythopolis, the most magnificent archeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys.
During the time of Jesus, Scythopolis was one of the chief cities of the Decapolis - a league of ten cities sharing Greek culture and government.
Then you’ll descend to the lowest place on earth, to the Land of the Dead Sea. Our first stop will be at the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947.
We now make our way to our hotel located on the Dead Sea beach.
Take time in the morning to relax and bathe in the Dead Sea, an experience like no other, or swim in the pool or spa or just relax.
We will leave the hotel later in the morning and make our way to Masada. With a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress of Masada. Here our guide we will treat us to the history of the famous zealot stand.
Afterward, we proceed to Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat", an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. This is where King David hid from Saul, and where God defeated the enemies of the Israelites by praise and worship led by King Jehoshaphat.
Now it’s time to make our way up to Jerusalem. Stopping atop Mt Scopus we have our first view of the "Golden City". Dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we will make our way to the Old City and begin in the Jewish Quarter. Walking also the Roman Cardo road – Walking exploration of the rich history and culture of the Jewish people. As we walk through the Jewish Quarter we arrive at the Broad Wall-Hezekiah's Wall which was built to protect those outside the city walls by King Hezekiah.
Walk down the Kotel steps to the Plaza, and begin with a visit to the Davidson Center - Southern Wall excavations. From here Jesus entered the Temple Mount. It is also likely that this is the place that Peter stood and preached and where thousands were saved and baptized on the Day of Pentecost. We will walk over to the Western Wall also known as the Kotel. This is the holiest place for the Jewish People. It is now time to go under the Western Wallsfascinating Rabbinical Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era.
Walk down the Kotel steps to the Plaza, and begin with a visit to the Davidson Center - Southern Wall excavations. From here Jesus entered the Temple Mount. It is also likely that this is the place that Peter stood and preached and where thousands were saved and baptized on the Day of Pentecost. We will walk over to the Western Wall also known as the Kotel. This is the holiest place for the Jewish People. It is now time to go under the Western Wallsfascinating Rabbinical Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era.
We continue our sightseeing just outside the Dung Gate on the southeastern hill below the Temple Mount in the City of David. We visit Gihon Springs, the original water source for Jerusalem, and view new excavations including a typical Israelite four-room house, and the lower city wall. A highlight today will be a water walk through the incredible Hezekiah's Tunnel to the pool of Siloam, the place of Jesus' miracle in John 9.
We now make our way to theJerusalem Bethlehem crossingto the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd's Field before we drive to the Valley Elah, where David defeated Goliath. We then drive to where battles were fought at Mareshah and Lachish, then thru the land of the Philistines, passing the city of Gath and stopping at the river bed in search of smooth stones for our sling. Return back to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight
After breakfast, we will walk where Jesus walked; beginning the day with a panoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives and the Palm Sunday Road stopping in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Walk between the ancient olive trees, read the scriptures of Jesus' prayer, and take time for personal reflection is important here. We make our way back to the Old City entering the St. Stephen's Gate - Lion's Gate and arrive to the Church of St. Anne and the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus miraculously healed a paralyzed man.
We will walk along the Via Dolorosa one of the gates that will exit the city. Our final visit today will be a tour and communion at the Garden Tomb Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we spend a very meaningful morning with our ministry partner Bridges for Peace, at the Jerusalem Assistance Center.We will see the hands-on work that goes on from this center loving the Jewish people unconditionally and building relational bridges to the people God loves and the Nation He created
In the afternoon we will make our way to the Israel Museum. We will experience a walk through of an accurately detailedmodel of Biblical Jerusalem. This model will help put into perspective all that you have seen over the previous days touring. After our visit, you will have time to shop, or just relax and pack. We will be heading to the airport after dinner.
Return home.