Duration: 11 Days (14 Days With Rome)
Dates: March 11, 2023 to March 24, 2023
Departure City: Phoenix, Arizona (PHX)

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Saturday, March 11th: Departure to Tel Aviv
Today, we board our international flight to Tel Aviv.

Day 2 - Sunday, March 12th: Arrival - Jaffa – Caesarea – Megiddo – Mt. Carmel
Today, we will arrive at Tel Aviv. A representative of Biblical Journeys will help us clear customs before we meet our guide. We will start our tour at Jaffa where we will visit the Jaffa Port (Jonah 1), Simon the Tanner’s House (Acts 10), the Statue of Faith and see the view of Tel Aviv. We will then continue to Caesarea (Acts 10 & 25). Here we will visit the Theater, Herod’s Palace, the Hippodrome, and the Aqueduct. We will then continue to Megiddo (the Valley of Armageddon where we will have a teaching by SSCC Pastor). Here, we will visit the Bronze Age Gate, the Water Shaft and Tunnel. We will then continue to Mount Carmel (I Kings 18:1-40). We will then check into our hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 – Monday, March 13th: Cana – Sepphoris – Nazareth – Nazareth Village – Mt. Tabor
Today, we will begin our day at Cana of Galilee for a Renewal of Wedding Vows Ceremony. Afterwards we will visit Sepphoris, a Roman City and Capital of Galilee. We will then continue to Nazareth to visit Mary’s Well, walk through the marketplace on to the Synagogue, and continue to the Church of the Annunciation before we visit Nazareth Village (1st Century Israel). We will then visit Mount Tabor (The Transfiguration). In the evening we will have a worship cruise with Daniel Carmel. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 4 – Tuesday, March 14th: Mt. Arbel – Magdala – Sea of Galilee – Bethsaida – Chorazin – Caesarea Philippi
Wake up on the Sea of Galilee and enjoy the sunrise. Today, we will start our day on the Arbel Cliff Viewpoint for a morning devotion and then continue to the Jesus Boat Museum with a shopping stop. We will then continue to Caesarea Philippi for a teaching by SSCC Pastor. We will then visit Bethsaida before we come back to the Sea of Galilee Area to have lunch on the sea (St. Peter’s Fish at Capernaum Restaurant just north of the site). After lunch we will visit Capernaum to see Peter’s House, the Synagogue Jesus preached in, and some personal quiet time. We will then continue to Bethsaida before we go to Magdala to see the Synagogue. We will conclude our day at Chorazin before we head back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 – Wednesday, March 15th: Jordan River – Beit Shean – Ein Harold – Jacob’s Well – Tel Shiloh – Mt. Ebal / Mt. Gerizim
(Start –on bus and leave hotel @ 8 am) Today, we will start at the Jordan River for a Baptism Service and a shopping stop. Following baptism, we will continue to Bet Shean (I Samuel 31:8-31) to visit Palladius Street and the Agora. We will have lunch here (not included in tour). After lunch we will continue to Ein Harod/Gideon’s Springs for a teaching by our Pastor. Finally, we will visit Jacob’s Well and Mount Ebal/Mount Gerizim and Shiloh, the site where the tabernacle once was. We will then ascend into Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 –Thursday, March 16th: Mt. Zion – Mt. Of Olives – St. Anne – Via Dolorosa - Western Wall
(Start – on bus and leave hotel @ 8 am) Today, we will begin on Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room (I Corinthians 11 and Pentecost). We will then continue to Caiaphas’ House for a teaching by SSCC Pastor and visit the steps up to the house and the dungeon which held Jesus (Matthew 26:57 – 68) and see where Peter disowns Jesus (Matthew 26: 69 – 75). We will then continue to The Mount of Olives (Matthew 24 and Acts 1). Here, we will have a group photo, some personal quiet time, visit the Jewish cemetery, walk the Palm Sunday path to the Garden, see the view from Dominus Flevit (Jesus wept) on to the Garden of Gethsemane to visit the Church of All Nations and some private time in the gated section of the Garden. We will then continue to the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) where we will also visit St. Anne’s Crusader Church and sing a song. We will then walk the Via Dolorosa (Mark 15). Along the way we will see The Sisters of Zion Convent (See pavement spot where Jesus was tried by Pilate – Roman soldiers’ game); The Ecce Homo Arch (Behold the Man) (John 19:5); Lunch at Pizaeria Basti (Lunch NOT included in tour); Walking the “Way of the Cross”. We will then visit the Quarters (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Armenian); Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Cardo (Heart of Old City), and the Western Wall (time of prayer, leave a note). Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 7 – Friday, March 17th: Lazarus Tomb – Jericho – Genesis Land – Zedekiah’s Cave – Yad Hashmonah
Today, we will begin at Lazarus’ Tomb. We will then continue to Jericho for a visit. After Jericho, we will go to Genesis Land for lunch (included), a camel ride (included), and the mosaic workshop. We will then go to Zedekiah’s Cave before we head on to Yad Hashmonah (a Biblical Garden Tour). Today, you will experience the Sabbath in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 8 – Saturday March 18th: Ein Gedi – Qumran – Masada – Dead Sea
We will start our day with shopping Ahava factory (Dead Sea cosmetics). We will then go to En Gedi where David hid from Saul (I Samuel 24:1-22). Here, we will visit the Synagogue and walk past caves to the waterfall. We will then continue to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found (the Essenes) and view Mt. Nebo (death of Moses).  We will then have lunch before we continue to Masada. We will conclude our day at the Dead Sea to swim or float or take a mud bath. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 9 – Sunday, March 19th: Bethlehem – Herodium – Rachel’s Tomb – Israel Museum
Today, we will start our day in Bethlehem by the shepherd’s field for an SSCC Sunday Worship service. We will also visit the Caves, Psalm 23 View of Valley, Bethlehem (Matthew 1:18-25), and the Church of the Nativity. We will then have lunch in Bethlehem and stop for Olive wood shopping (Bethlehem Souvenir Shop) before we continue to the Herodium. We will then go to Rachel’s Tomb. Finally, we will go to Israel Museum to view The Dead Sea Scrolls and the scale models. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.cDay 10 – Monday March 20th: The Old City – City of David – Temple Mount – Western Wall Tunnel – The Burnt House – Garden Tomb 

Today, we will start our day in The Old City. Here we will visit The Temple Institute, tour Southern Wall Excavations (Steps to Double & Triple Gate), The City of David Tour (2 Samuel) (2 Kings 2:20) (2 Chronicles 32) which includes a 3D Movie, King Hezekiah’s Tunnel (Flashlight needed), The Pool of Siloah, and Gihon Spring. We will then have lunch in Old City (Lunch NOT included in tour). We will then tour the Temple Mount, the Tunnels of the Western Wall and The Burnt House. We will conclude our day at The Garden Tomb (Communion service). He is RISEN! Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 11 – Tuesday, March 21st: Return home Optional Extension to Rome:

Day 11 – Tuesday, March 21st: Departure to Rome
This morning we board our bus and go to the airport for our flight to Rome. Upon arrival in Rome, we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in Rome. As a first stop, we will visit St. Paul Outside the Walls, with the adjoining basilica where the bones of Paul have recently been found. We will then proceed to our hotel where we check in for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 – Wednesday, March 22nd: Paul's Day
This morning we will visit the most interesting sites which are linked with the life of the Apostle Paul in Rome. We start with a panoramic walking tour of Imperial Rome. We will visit the Roman Forum to see the Arch of Titus, the Arch of Constantine and the Colosseum. Then we drive a short distance to the Circo Massimo and from there, by a good walk (10 /15 minutes), we reach the Church of Santa Prisca (the home of Priscilla and Aquila), where you can still see the big Doric Capital used by Apostle Peter to baptize Prisca. Continue towards the River Tiber, that we will cross through the Tiberina Island, to reach the Ghetto where we will have a break for lunch, taking advantage of the many restaurants that still offer meals prepared according to the original Roman Jewish recipes. From here we walk to the area called Insula di San Paolo alla Regola. Tradition has it that this is the area for Paul's first visit and house arrest in about 62AD. By foot we reach the "ghetto" of Rome, return to our bus and drive to the Abbey of the Three Fountains, the place of Paul’s martyrdom, where tradition has it that three different springs gushed out at each spot touched when Paul’s head fell down. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 13 – Thursday, March 23rd: Rome / Trevi Fountain / Vatican / Sistine Chapel
This morning we visit the Vatican Museum and Gallery, Raphael's Rooms with their wonderful frescoes, the Sistine Chapel – where Michelangelo's recently restored masterpieces adorn the ceilings and walls, and Pincio Garden. Just south of the Vatican we’ll visit Mamertine Prison Paul’s final Roman prison cell. We continue into St. Peter's Basilica and view Vatican City. We will visit the Basilica of St John in Lateran, which became among the most important Christian Churches of Rome. The important Lateran Baptistery and the Holy Steps (Scala Sancta). Break for lunch. This afternoon we continue sightseeing driving to the Catacombs of San Sebastian, located on the Ancient Appian Way. This is where the bodies of Apostle Paul and Apostle Peter were kept during the Christian persecution of Valeriano (253 – 260 AD). There is a lot of “graffiti” in Latin and Aramaic in the catacombs and in the Basilica of San Sebastian. Enjoy a walking tour through the streets of the Baroque Rome area, to see the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon (inside) and Navona Square area with its beautiful Bernini’s Fountain of the Rivers. Time at leisure. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 14 – Friday, March 24th: Rome / USA
We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always, knowing we have walked in the footsteps of the early Christians on such a memorable tour that will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.