Dates: 3rd-9th of November 2019
Price: $1,150
Day 1- Nov. 3rd: Galilee
This morning we drive first to the Roman hot springs resort city of Tiberias for a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. There we will visit the ancient ruins of the first century synagogue where Jesus preached. Then we will go on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and then to Tabgha, the chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We will then drive to upper Galilee and the site of Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi followed by a visit to Mt. Hermon, the possible site of the Transfiguration, and then to our guesthouse in Nazareth.
Day 2- Nov. 4th : Caesarea / Haifa / Mount Carmel
In Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, we will visit the Nazareth Open Village – a recreation of what Nazareth would have looked like in the time of Jesus. From Nazareth we travel to Caesarea Maritima. We will visit the Crusader’s Castle, the Roman Amphitheater and water duct, and the port from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome. From there we visit Haifa, where we will visit the famous Bahai Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site. As we drive back from Haifa to Nazareth, we pass through the Valley of Jezreel by the fields of Megiddo. On the drive, we will stop at the Carmelite Monastery at the top of Mount Carmel, the biblical site of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal. Time permitting, we will also visit the Church of the Annunciation, the spot where the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary about the coming of Jesus. Then back to Nazareth guesthouse.
Day 3- Nov. 5th: Jericho / Dead Sea / Masada
Today we will visit the ancient city of Jericho with a commanding view of the Mt. of Temptation. We will see the sycamore tree of Zacchaeus and Tel al Sultan (the oldest city in the world). We will drive down past Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea to visit Masada, the site where Jewish defenders made their last stand against Rome. We will then visit the Jordan river where Jesus was baptized continue back up through the desert on Jericho Road, past the Inn of the Good Samaritan to Bethlehem where we will stay the night.
Day 4- Nov. 6th: Jerusalem
Today we will drive to the Mt. of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. We will walk along Hosanna Road to Gethsemane to visit the Church of All Nations, which stands on the Rock of Agony where Jesus was betrayed by Judas. We will then continue with a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. We will walk along the Via Dolorosa past Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, and the Ecce Homo Arch where Jesus was tried before Pilate. We will visit the Western Wall (where the Temple once stood) Touring the tunnel and Yad Vashem museum, then continue through the Old City bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Then back to Bethlehem for the night.
Day 5- Nov. 7th: Bet She’an / Nablus / Ein Karem
In the morning, we will stop at Bet She’an to see the most well-preserved theater in Israel, a bathhouse and their ancient stone streets. Later, we will visit Nablus to see Jacob’s Well, and then on past Sebastia, ancient Samaria, and the Tomb of John the Baptist. We will then continue to visit Ein Karem where Mary visited Elizabeth and the birthplace of John the Baptist. We will then travel on to our guesthouse in Bethlehem.
Day 6- Nov. 8th: Jerusalem
Today we will start at the Mt. of Olives with its spectacular view of Jerusalem. We will visit the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater Noster and the Dominus Flevit. From there we continue to Al Haram (known as the Temple Mount). We visit the Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock. In the afternoon, we will visit the Garden Tomb and Golgotha (the place of the skull), followed Mt. Zion where we will see the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on the site of Caiaphas’ House. After, we will go to the Room of the Last Supper and the Tomb of King David. We will stay again at a guesthouse in Bethlehem.
Day 7- Nov. 9th: Tel Aviv
Today we will drive to the airport in Tel Aviv for departure.
