Duration: 10 Days
Dates: February 20, 2024 to February 29, 2024
Departure City: Chicago, Illinois (ORD)

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Detailed Itinerary

Tuesday- FEB.20 (Day 1): Leave the USA on an international flight to Tel Aviv

Wednesday- FEB.21 (Day 2): Arrival to Tel Aviv – Transfer to Herzliya
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport where we will be met by our local Israeli guide. Travel northward to Tel Aviv and check into our hotel for one night. (D)

Thursday- FEB.22 (Day 3): Caesarea - Mount Carmel – Nazareth - Tiberias
After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea (entrance included), where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheater and aqueduct, and Herod’s Judgment Hall, Palace, Chariot Arena, and Harbor. Journey on to Mt. Carmel (entrance included), where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. We drive through the area of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit the Nazareth Village (entrance included), Visit the Church of the Cave of the Annunciation. Proceed to our hotel check, dinner & overnight (B, D)

Friday- FEB.23 (Day 4): Capernaum - Mount of Beatitudes - the Sea of Galilee - Magdala
Following breakfast, our morning travels will take us to Nof Ginnosar to visit the ancient boat discovered in the lake that dates back to the time of Jesus and has been preserved in a museum (entrance included). We will return to the Sea of Galilee where we will enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea (included). We will travel on to the church of Tabgha and the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes and the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the sea. Later we will move to the city of Capernaum (entrance included), where we will see the ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter’s adult home. We will also stop at Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, back to hotel dinner & overnight (B, D)

Saturday- FEB.24 (Day 5): Caesarea Phillipi (Banias) – Mt. Hermon – Golan Heights
Travel to the spring of Caesarea Philippi (Banias) (entrance included), where Peter confessed his recognition of Jesus as Christ (Matthew 16). Here we can visit the stunning remains of a first-century AD palace belonging to Agrippa II. We drive around Mt. Hermon for a glimpse of Damascus, 45 miles away, then head back over the Golan Heights. See the springs where the Jews hid from the Romans. Back to hotel dinner & overnight (B, D)

Sunday- FEB.25 (Day 6): Beit-Shean – Scythopolis - Jericho - Dead Sea Scrolls
We will begin our day with a visit to Beit-Shean/ Scythopolis (entrance included), the most magnificent archaeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan Valleys. After defeating Saul and his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines hung their bodies on the walls of Beit-Shean. During the intertestamental period, the city was renamed the “Scythopolis.” Travel to Jericho and visit this city (entrance to Tel Jericho is included), which is famed as the oldest in the world. Stop at the Jordan River. Then it is on to the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered (entrance included). We will then continue on to Jerusalem, check-in, dinner & overnight (B, D)

Monday- FEB.26 (Day 7): Mount of Olives- Garden of Gethsemane- the Southern Wall Excavations- City of David - Bethlehem
Today we will walk where Jesus walked. Begin with a panoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah, and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives and then pass by the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the City of David and Palace of David excavations (entrance included). Examine the ruins near the south side of the Temple complex, including steps, where we are certain that Jesus and the disciples walked and the Western Wall. We will then drive to Bethlehem, where Jesus Christ was born, to visit the Church of Nativity and the Shepherds’ Fields, the fields where the angel appeared to the shepherds to lead them to where Jesus Christ was born. Back to hotel dinner & overnight (B, D)

Tuesday- FEB.27 (Day 8): Jerusalem - Temple Mount - Tour the Rabbinical Tunnels- Masada.
In the morning, we ascend to the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site of Islam, located on the traditional site of the Temple. Visit the Western Wall Tunnels (entrance included), go down to the foundation of the Second Temple. Drive to West Jerusalem passing by the Knesset on the way to the Israel Museum (entrance included). Visit the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. View the model of Jerusalem, representing how the city looked on the eve of the Jewish revolt, 36 years after the Passion of Jesus. Continue south to Masada. We will take the cable car to the top (entrance to Masada and the cable car are included), visiting Herod’s mountain bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD), Back to hotel dinner & overnight.
Please note that, due to security reasons, the only items the visitors can carry into Temple Mount are telephone, small camera, notebook and a bottle of water. Groups are not allowed to enter with professional cameras, iPads, backpacks, purses, any religious symbols such as Bible or crosses as well as Swiss penknives and clippers.

Wednesday- FEB.28 (Day 9): Bethesda – Gethsemane – Ecco Homo -  Garden Tomb
Today we begin at the Pools of Bethesda (entrance included) (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church (entrance included), perfectly preserved from the Crusader period. We will then visit Gethsemane; you will also have some private time at the private Garden there. We will then walk through the Kidron Valley on to the House of Caiaphas (entrance included). We will then visit the location of the Antonia Fortress at the convent of Ecce Homo before we pass through the Jerusalem markets. Visit the Garden Tomb (entrance included) for a special visit and communion before having dinner. Back to hotel dinner & overnight (B, D)

Thursday – FEB.29 (Day 10): Departure