Holy Land Tours
A Complete 10-Day Biblical Tour of Israel
Superior First Class Hotels
A Journey of a Lifetime
DAY 1—DEPART NORTH AMERICA
Tour members depart on our flight to Europe. After take-off enroute to the Holy Land, we will be served dinner.
DAY 2—ARRIVE TEL AVIV
After a brief touchdown in Europe, we arrive in Tel Aviv where we are met by our agent who assists us through customs and security. We are then transferred to our hotel in Tel Aviv or Netanya and right on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.
DAY 3—CAESAREA/MEGIDDO/NAZARETH/TIBERIAS
Today we depart for Galilee, visiting the following biblical sites: Caesarea (Acts 9 and 25), Mt. Carmel (1 Kgs. 18), Megiddo (Armageddon; 1 Kgs. 9:15; Rev. 16:16), Nazareth (Luke 1 and 2), Cana (John 2) and Tiberias (John 6:23). Optional: Baptism in the River Jordan.
DAY 4—GALILEE/UPPER JORDAN/GOLAN HEIGHTS
There is nothing quite like watching a sunrise on the Sea of Galilee from your hotel. We begin our day with an inspiring boat ride on the Sea of Galilee in a wooden replica of the "Jesus Boat." Today will include many biblical sites along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and in the Upper Jordan Valley: e.g. Capernaum (Matt. 4:13), Mount of Beatitudes (Matt. 5-7), Tabgha (Feeding of 5000; Mark 6), Church of Peter of Primacy (John 21), Magdala (Matt. 15:39; Luke 8:2); Caesarea Philippi (Paneas; Mark 8:27), view Mt. Hermon (Deut. 3:8), Border of Lebanon (Josh. 11:17), and Hazor (Josh. 11:10; 1 Kgs. 9:15). Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.
DAY 5—BETH SHAN/JERICHO/JERUSALEM
Today we go up to Jerusalem. The highway will take us to many of the following biblical sites: Mt. Tabor (Judges 4); Ein Harod (Judg. 7:1); Beth Shan (1 Sam. 31:10); and Jericho (Josh. 2–6; Mark 10:46; Luke 19:1). The road from Jericho to Jerusalem is an ascent of 4,000 feet in 13 miles. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 6—MT. OF OLIVES/TEMPLE MOUNT/VIA DOLOROSA/HOLY SEPULCHRE/BETHLEHEM
We begin our explorations with a drive to the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the breath-taking panorama of the Holy City. Our pilgrimage will proceed to The Church of Ascension, descend to Gethsemane with its ancient olive grove, and there visit the Church of Agony, where tradition holds that Jesus prayed. We will enter Jerusalem through the Dung Gate, and walk to the holiest site in the whole Jewish world, the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) of Herod's temple. Beyond the wall lies the 35 acre temple area purchased by King David (2 Sam. 24:18–25). On this site now stands the magnificent Dome of the Rock (the third holiest shrine in all Islam) and the El-Aksa Mosque. From the temple area, we make our way to St. Stephen's Gate, St. Anne's Crusader Church, Pools of Bethesda, the Sister of Zion Convent (to see the Pavement where Jesus stood as he was being tried by Pilate), Ecco Homo Arch, and then follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the ancient Cardo.
This afternoon we will pass by Rachel's tomb on the outskirts of Bethlehem, and visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd's Field. You will be fascinated by your visit to a model of Jerusalem near the Holyland Hotel (1 to 50 scale model of Herodian Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus' time), Israel's Knesset, the huge bronze Menorah, and Yad Vashem.
DAY 7—QUMRAN/EIN GEDI/MASADA/DEAD SEA/JERUSALEM
Leaving Jerusalem, we will descend down to the Dead Sea and the wilderness of Judah. Our first stop will be Qumran and the possible settlement of the first century sect known as the Essenes, the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Following the road south along the western shore of the Dead Sea, we will stop at Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul, and everyone will have an opportunity to put her/his foot (probably too cold to swim) in the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on the earth. Continuing south, the next stop is Masada, where we will ascend high upon the wilderness mountain by way of the cable car to the fortress built by King Herod. Here we survey the ruins of the fortifications, waterworks, synagogue, temples and palaces.
DAY 8—THE UPPER ROOM/ISRAEL MUSEUM/GARDEN TOMB
We begin the day by driving to Ein Karem village, the birthplace of John the Baptist, to see the Church of Visitation, and then go to Mt. Zion, The Upper Room, where Jesus spent those last momentous hours with his disciples before his passion, and it was also here where the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples at Pentecost. From there we will go to the Israel Museum, including the Bronfman Archaeological Museum and the Shrine of the Book Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. Late in the afternoon we will visit the Garden Tomb with an optional communion service.
DAY 9—JERUSALEM/EUROPE
Day without a planned program. Time to collect your thoughts; indulge your whims. Revisit the places of most interest. The Rockefeller and Hebrew Museums display a wealth of archeological treasure. Return for a last look within the walls of the Old City where bargaining is a must. Afternoon transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our early evening flight to Brussels, Zurich, Munich, Rome, Athens, Copenhagen, or Madrid. Dinner aboard your flight. Upon arrival transfer to our hotel.