DAY 1: Israel Arrival, Tel Aviv and Jaffa

Airport meeting and assistance, transfer to our Tel Aviv. Tour of Tel Aviv by bus, passing by the city’s main attractions including the Tel Aviv Museum and Opera house, the Dizing off Square, the Rabin Square by the City Hall and the Mediterranean Promenade. On to the Old Jaffa port and tour the narrow alleys. After our walking tour of Jaffa and a visit to the St. Peter’s Church, we shall arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 2: Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana

After breakfast, check out of our hotel. Drive the Coastal Highway to Caesarea, the ancient port city on the Mediterranean for a tour of the site and the nearby Aqueduct. Drive further north to Mount Carmel and visit the Muckrake Church. Drive to Megiddo, believed to be the site of Armageddon. Tour the site. In the afternoon, visit Nazareth, the church of the Annunciation and Mary’s well. Visit nearby Cana – the Church of the First Miracle known also as the Marriage Church. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3: Upper Galilee and the Golan

After breakfasts take a morning cruise on the Sea of Galilee. Drive to the north most point in Israel – Mt. Hermon, for a visit to the Crusader’s fortress of Kala’at Namrud, best preserved castle and breathtaking view of the Lebanese Bak’a. Tour the fortress that supervised all entries to the Holyland from the inner land roads in ancient days. Descend Mt. Hermon and visit the Banias, the spring that generates most of the water for the River Jordan, known also as Caesarea Philippi and the ruins of the 5th century Church on site. Drive the Golan Heights roads to visit Mount Avital, an observation point deep into Syria viewing Damascus on the far horizon. Visit the Israeli Army bunkers before descending the Golan to the Sea of Galilee for late afternoon visit to Kursi before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Evening: Optional visit to the Diamond Factory of Tiberias.

DAY 4: Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem

After breakfast, check out of our Tiberias hotel and travel along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum where we shall tour the Church and the nearby archaeological excavations of the Synagogue and community. Drive to nearby Tabgha and visit the Church of the Loft and Fish Miracle. Ascend to the Mount of the Beatitudes and visit the Church and its grounds for private reading of the Sermon on the Mount. Depart the Galilee via the Jordan Rift Valley road, passing by Beit Shean and Jericho, arriving Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

DAY 5: Jerusalem

Start our appreciation of the Holy City of Jerusalem with a visit to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city. Visit the Church of Ascension and walk the Palm Sunday route down the hill to the Garden of Gethsemane, stopping along the way at the Maria Magdalena Church. Visit the Church of All Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane. Drive to Nearby Mount Zion and visit the Room of the Last Supper and the Tomb of King David. Visit the Dormition Abbey. In the afternoon, visit Yad Vashem, memorial to the Holocaust. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6: Dead Sea excursion

After breakfast, depart our hotel for a visit to the Lowest spot on the surface of the earth – the Dead Sea. Our tour will pass by the Good Samaritan Inn for a short stop before arriving at Qumran for a visit. Tour the site of Qumran including the Audio Visual presentation of the Desert communities at Jesus times. Drive to the Ahava factory of Dead Sea cosmetics and enjoy time at their private beach with good clean showers and changing rooms and Hot spring water pools and black mud. In the afternoon, visit Massada – the desert fortress of King Herod and Israel’s first World Heritage Site. Ascend by Cable car (Supplement of $14 per person) and descend by foot the Roman Ramp. Drive the Desert road via Arad and return to Jerusalem for Dinner and overnight.

DAY 7: Jerusalem – Old City

Morning tour of the Old City, starting from the St. Stephen’s Gate (the Lion’s Gate), stopping at St. Ann, the Pool of Bethesda and walking along the Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Visit the Cardo and the Jewish Quarter before arriving at the Western (Wailing) Wall. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight

DAY 8: Bethlehem, Ein Karem and departure

Drive to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity and Manger’s Square. Visit St. Catherine’s Church and tour the Shepherd’s Field. Time for some last minute gift shopping at one of the Church stores around. In the late afternoon tour of Ein Karem – home of St. John the Baptist. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. SHALOM and see you soon.