Day 2 – Sunday, June 5: Arrive in Tel Aviv In Tel Aviv, we proceed through customs and security and meet our agent who assists us to our motor coach. We have a short drive to our hotel in the Tel Aviv area in time for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 – Monday, June 6: Sharon Plain and Jezreel Valley This morning, we depart for the Galilee to visit Biblical sites at Caesarea Maritima, where Peter proclaimed the Good News to the Roman Centurion (Acts 10). We also see Megiddo and Mt. Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Afterwards, we visit Sephoris, before continuing to Nazareth. We then arrive in Tiberias for dinner and overnight at our hotel near the Sea of Galilee.

Day 4 – Tuesday, June 7: Galilee After breakfast, we make our way north for the Upper Galilee, visiting Tel Hazor, a city taken by Joshua (Joshua 11:10-14). We continue to the Golan Heights for a beautiful view of northern Israel’s landscape. Then we head to Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:13- 16), where we will see Banias Spring and Agrippa’s Palace. We then embark on a short hike to Tel Dan to see the altar of Jeroboam. We return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at our hotel near the Sea of Galilee.

Day 5 – Wednesday, June 8: Sea of Galilee Nothing compares to watching the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee! We begin today at Capernaum, Jesus’ base for His early ministry. We continue to Magdala and then to Tabgha (the traditional site of the feeding of the 5000) and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. We will visit Chorazim and then a time of worship and reflection at the Mt. of Beatitudes. Then we visit Kursi (Gadara), where Jesus sent “Legion, for we are many” into the herd of pigs as they rushed down the mountain side and into the Sea. We then board a replica wooden “Jesus Boat” to set sail on the Sea of Galilee. We finish our sightseeing with a visit to Jacob’s Ford (Templar fort ruins, north of Sea of Galilee). Dinner and overnight are at our hotel near the Sea of Galilee.

Day 6 – Thursday, June 9: Galilee to Dead Sea We begin today at the Cliff of Mt. Arbel, for an overlook of the Sea of Galilee. We continue to the Spring of En Harod and Mt. Gilboa. Next, we visit Beit Shean, one of the best-preserved Decapolis Roman cities. This is where King Saul and his sons’ bodies were hung from the city walls after being defeated by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10-12). We continue through the Jordan Valley, and we will stop at Qumran, the settlement of the Essenes. They were the first century sect who authored the Dead Sea Scrolls. We arrive at our hotel near the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 – Friday, June 10: The Dead Sea This morning we travel to Masada where we ascend by cable car up to King Herod’s astonishing fortress. From here, we head to Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul. We will have free time in the afternoon for swimming (floating) in the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel near the Dead Sea

Day 8 – Saturday, June 11: Dead Sea to Jerusalem Today we begin with a visit to Jericho, before continuing to the Wadi Qelt and see the Judean Wilderness. We’ll include a visit to Qasr ElYahud, the newly excavated site where tradition holds that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Afterwards, we visit Herodium, Herod’s palace-fortress. We then continue to Bethlehem. We continue our day with a visit to the Mount of Olives and its churches. We arrive at our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 – Sunday, June 12: Jerusalem This morning we enter Old City of Jerusalem to visit its Four Quarters. We continue to the Mount Zion, before visiting the City of David. We proceed to the Western (Wailing) Wall, the holiest site in Judaism. Conditions permitting, we will visit the Temple Mount. Then we see the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount, the original steps that Jesus climbed as he entered the Temple area, and the Davidson Center. Dinner and overnight are at hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 10 – Monday, June 13: Jerusalem This morning we visit the Pools of Bethesda and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We then have a visit to the Western Wall Tunnels for a tour. Afterwards, we continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial and Museum. Then we have a visit to the Israel Museum and a fascinating 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time. We end our day in worship at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight are at our hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 11 – Tuesday, June 14: Shfela, Ben Gurion Airport Today we drive to Beth Shemesh, where the Ark of the Covenant was returned. Then we stop at the Elah Valley to see the brook where David slew Goliath. Continuing south, we visit the Maresha Caves in Beit Guvrin with hundreds of bell-shaped caves caused by ancient Roman quarrying. This was the home of the prophet Micah (Micah 1). Then we continue to the site of Lachish, a city that was conquered by the Assyrians (2 Chronicles 32). Our last stop of the day is Ashkelon. This was one of five primary Philistine cities. We will have a Farewell Dinner together before transferring to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight back to the U.S.A.

Day 12 – Wednesday, June 15: Arrive in U.S.A. We arrive back in the U.S.A. today at the close of an unforgettable tour. We take home wonderful memories of the Old and New Testament, a renewal of our faith, and a greater understanding of the life of our Lord.