Duration: 11 Days
Dates: October 5, 2021 to October 15, 2021
Departure City: Washington, DC (IAD)

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Detailed Itinerary

Tuesday (Oct. 05) - Day 01: Flight to Tel Aviv 

Wednesday (Oct. 06) - Day 02: Tel Aviv
Arrive in Tel Aviv and board a new, climate-controlled motor coach where our guide will greet us and give us an orientation of the land as we travel towards Jaffa (time permitting). There we will consider the vision of Peter (Acts 10) and start following the sequence of events that lead to the opening of the gates of the early church to Gentiles. As we look at the very place where Jonah ran from the Lord, we will also reflect on our own walk with God. Check into our hotel on the coastal plains of the Mediterranean Sea.  Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Netanya. (D)

Thursday (Oct. 07) - Day 03: Caesarea Maritima – Mount Carmel – Sepphoris – Nazareth – Tiberias
6:30 AM Buffet breakfast. Check-out. Drive to Caesarea Maritima.9:00 AM Visit Caesarea Maritima (included), a magnificent city with Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader ruins. Here we will elaborate on the story of the baptism of Cornelius, the first gentile convert into Christianity (Acts 10), and on the travels of Paul — those events that led Caesarea Maritima to become the springboard of Christianity to the West. Proceed to Mount Carmel.11:00 AM Visit Mount Carmel, Muhraqa – The Place of Fire (included), and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18), discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story.12:15 PM Lunch (included).
After lunch proceed to Sepphoris.2:15 PM Visit Sepphoris (included), an impressive archaeological site, most famous for its Byzantine mosaics and ancient water system. Sepphoris was once the capital of Galilee and a seat of Sanhedrin (the high court of Jewish law). Drive towards Nazareth. We will climb the Mount of Precipice, the brow of the hill, on which the city was built (Luke 4). There we will reflect on the rejection of Jesus by his family and friends in Nazareth. While there overlooking the Armageddon Valley, we will also discuss the reasons why we believe this will be the setting for the final battle between good and evil mentioned in Revelation 16:16. Drive to the Sea of Galilee and check-in at our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/L/D)

Friday (Oct. 08) - Day 04: Mount of Beatitudes – Magdala – Peter’s Primacy – Capernaum – Ancient Boat Museum – Sea of Galilee boat ride – Tiberias
6:30 AM Buffet breakfast. 8:00 AM After breakfast, we begin our day on the Mount of Beatitudes and discuss the Sermon on the Mount. 9:30 AM We will then visit Magdala, the home town of Mary Magdalene with its magnificent ruins and synagogues. Passing through Tabgha, visit the Church of St Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus appeared to his disciples the third time after the Resurrection. 12:00 PM During lunch break you will have the opportunity to try St. Peter’s fish, commonly eaten by people in Jesus’ day (lunch included).1:15 PM We will then visit Capernaum (included), Jesus’ Galilean ministry base. There we will see the house of Peter’s mother in law, in addition to other ruins of the village. We will stand in the ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus was confronted by the demoniac. 2:30 PM We end our day with a visit to the ancient boat museum, containing a recently-discovered 2000-year old fishing boat (included).We will then sail on the Sea of Galilee on a replica of that boat (included). Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/L/D)

Saturday (Oct. 09) - Day 05: Tel Hazor – Tel Dan – Caesarea Philippi – Yardenit Baptismal Site
6:30 AM Buffet breakfast. After breakfast, we begin our day with traveling to the northern boundary of Israel. Our First stop will be Tel Hazor (included), where we will view the ruins of the largest Canaanite city and the only place that Joshua burned. This is one of three cities mentioned in the Book of Kings as part of the building activities of King Solomon.Drive to Tel Dan (included), the northern extremity of Biblical Israel. We will visit the location of the altar where the golden calf was placed by King Jeroboam. There we will discuss the downfall and idolatry of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. We will move on to the Dan Stream, the largest tributary of the Jordan River and possibly the place where Psalm 42 was written (“As the dear pants for the water brook, so my soul pants for Thee...”).We will then continue to Caesarea Philippi (included), where we will visit the ruins of the pagan altars and consider the confession of Peter (Matthew 16).12:30 PM Lunch (included). We will drive further north to the border with Syria where we will consider the dramatic conversion and life- transformation of Saul of Tarsus: The Apostle Paul. We then travel to Yardenit, the baptismal site of Jesus on the Jordan River. You will be offered the opportunity to be baptized in the waters of the Jordan. Return to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/L/D)

Sunday (Oct. 10) - Day 06: Beit Shean – Bet Arabah – Jericho – Dead Sea
6:30 AM Buffet breakfast. We leave the area of Galilee, following the Jordan Valley Road to Beit Shean (included), the capital of the Decapolis. 8:30 AM There we will see the ruins of the Roman and Byzantine cities. We will also discuss the demise of King Saul and his sons, whose bodies were hanged on the walls of Beit Shean. We will then continue traveling south to the actual location where John the Baptist was baptizing on the Jordan River. 12:30 PM Jericho will be our next stop, where we will have lunch (included).1:30 PM Visit Tel Jericho (included), where we will see the location of city from the town of Joshua, view the Mount of Temptation. Then, enjoy panoramic tour of Jericho, seeing the Sycamore Tree reminding us of the encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus. We travel to our hotel spa on the Dead Sea where you will have the chance to enjoy the facilities in the hotel. You will also be able to experience floating in the Dead Sea.
Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea. (B/L/D)

Monday (Oct. 11) - Day 07: Masada – Ein Gedi – Qumran – Dead Sea
6:30 AM Buffet breakfast. Depart for Masada.9:15 AM We begin our day visiting Masada (included) the fortress built by King Herod the Great and made famous by the Zealots in 73/74 AD with the standoff against the Romans. We visit the fortress and see the ruins that are considered a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. We take cable car onto the mountain. We leave Masada and continue to Ein Gedi.11:30 AM We visit Ein Gedi (included), an oasis in the desert where the meeting between David and King Saul took place (I Samuel 24) and where some of the psalms were written by David. We proceed to Qumran.1:00 PM Lunch (included).2:00 PM We visit Qumran (included), the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered and the buildings that formed the Essenes public center. Depart towards the Dead Sea. Return to the hotel. Enjoy a dip in Dead Sea’s salty water and our resort facilities. Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea. (B/L/D)

Tuesday (Oct. 12) - Day 08: Mount of Olives – Mount Zion: Upper Room and House of Caiaphas – Jewish Quarter – Davidson Centre – Western Wall Tunnels – Western Wall 
6:30 AM Buffet breakfast.8:00 AM Drive to the Mount of Olives and enjoy an orientation over the holy city, pointing out important locations within the Old City, connecting them with Biblical stories and prophecies about the return of Jesus. We will then walk down the Palm Sunday Procession road to the Garden of Gethsemane, where the passion of Jesus began. Each of us will be given some personal time in a private section of the Garden. We drive to Mount Zion, where we will visit the Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper and also the home of the High Priest, Caiaphas (included). 11:30 AM We will then tour the Jewish Quarter, one of the Old City’s quarters, where we can see Roman Cardo, King Hezekiah broad wall, Hurva Synagogue and Golden Menorah. 12:45 PM Lunch (included).2:00 PM Visit the Southern Wall excavations (included) where ruins of the retaining walls of the Temple Mount are still visible. We will then gather at the teaching steps, the main entrance to the Temple where Rabbis met and taught their disciples.3:20 PM We enter the Western Wall Tunnels (included), reflecting on the massive stones which once formed the western exterior retaining wall of the Temple and reach the Warren’s Gate which is symbolic for Jews as it’s the closest point to the Holy of Holies which they can reach. Visit the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, and Judaism’s holiest site. Return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B/L/D)

Wednesday (Oct. 13) - Day 09: Temple Mount – Zedekiah’s Cave – Israel Museum – Shepherds Fields – Bethlehem 
6:00 AM Quick buffet breakfast. 7:30 AM Early in the morning, we will ascend the Temple Mount, discussing its connection to both the Old and New Testaments. We will also discuss why it is considered the third holiest site in Islam. 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. 8:30 AM Leave Temple Mount and proceed to Zedekiah’s Cave.9:00 AM Visit Zedekiah’s Cave (included), known also as King Solomon’s Quarries, which is believed to be the main source of the stone used to rebuilt the Temple during Herod’s times. Drive to the Israel Museum.Visit the Israel Museum (included) where we will visit the Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem, a 1:50 scaled model of the city from the year 66 AD. We will also visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on exhibit, in addition to the archaeological section where many artifacts are displayed we will play special attention to those items that relate to Bible history. Drive to Shepherd’s Field.12:45 PM Lunch (included). Visit the Shepherds Fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Our Lord. These fields are also the setting of the Book of Ruth. Drive to Bethlehem. Visit the Church of the Nativity and view the actual place where Our Lord was born. Time will then be given to shop for olive wood and other items. Return to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B/L/D)

Thursday (Oct. 14) - Day 10: Hezekiah's Tunnel – St. Anne’s Church & Pools of Bethesda – Antonia Fortress – Via Dolorosa – Garden Tomb
6:30 AM Buffet breakfast.8:00 AM Visit Hezekiah’s tunnel (included), a 1749 foot long tunnel that was dug by King Hezekiah as he prepared for the Assyrian King Sennacharib’s invasion in 701 BC. Those interested in walking the foot deep water tunnel will have the chance to do so.10:00 AM We will visit the Church of St. Anne’s (included), a perfectly intact Crusader church. It is a wonderful place to gather and sing a song (sometimes with fellow Christians from all over the world). There, we will also visit the pools of Bethesda where the healing at the pool took place (John 5). We will then walk the Via Dolorosa (The Way of Suffering), the actual path that Jesus walked from the Antonia Fortress (included) to the crucifixion site. We will also visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jesus’ tomb.12:30 PM Lunch (included). 2:00 PM In the afternoon, we visit Garden Tomb (included), a peaceful spot where we can remember Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection. We see the Calvary and the empty Tomb. Celebrate communion service at the Garden reaching the climax of our journey at the empty Tomb.

Friday (Oct. 15) - Day 11: Departure
Coffee and cake breakfast.Check-out of the hotel.Drive to the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion airport and board your homebound flight. (B)