ITINERARY
Monday, November 19, 2007 - Day 1: USA to Israel
We will depart from San Francisco at 1:35 Pm. on an overnight transatlantic flight to the Holy Land with Delta Airlines, via Atlanta. Meals and movies on board.
Tuesday, November 20 - Day 2: Arrival – Tel Aviv
Arrive at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport in the late afternoon, just outside biblical Lydda (Acts 9:32-35). We are greeted by a Gama Tours representative along with our guide and driver. We will proceed to our hotel on the Mediterranean shores of beautiful Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv.
Wednesday, November 21 - Day 3: Caesarea/Galilee
After an early breakfast, we leave Tel Aviv and drive along the Plain of Sharon, the Mediterranean and the old coastal road-the Via Maris which linked Egypt and Babylon, as we journey towards Galilee. Our first stop will be Caesarea Maritima, built by Herod, where Pontius Pilate had his base; where Cornelius lived and was baptized (Acts 10); where Paul embarked to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and where Philip preached (Acts 8:40). We turn inland and proceed to Megiddo, one of King Solomon's walled, fortified cities (1st Kings 9:15; 10:26), with the ruins of 20 levels of civilization. From here the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as we read about the final Battle of Armageddon, while viewing the Plains of Jezreel. We will pass through the town of Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2:1) and continue to Nazareth Village, recreating Nazareth as it was 2,000 years ago. Continue along the pastoral hills of the Galilee to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
Thursday, November 22 - Day 4: Jesus’ Ministry
After breakfast, we will start our day with a boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, the center of Jesus' Galilean ministry and the site of many of His miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt. 8:5; 14-17; 9:1-7; 17:18). We will see the remains of Peter's house and the synagogue site where Jesus taught and worshiped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Continue to Tabgha, the site of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes (John 6:1-14) and the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered what is perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached - "The Sermon On The Mount" (Matt. 5). We travel to Kibbutz Ein Gev for a St. Peter’s lunch (lunch may change the sequence of the itinerary this day). After lunch, we will drive north to the Golan Heights and visit Banias, one of the sources of the River Jordan and the site of ancient Caesaria Philipi, where Peter made his confession of faith in Christ (Matt. 16:16). We conclude our day and drive back to Tiberias and to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Friday, November 23 - Day 5: Road to Jerusalem
After breakfast, we will stop at Yardenit, the site commemorating the baptism of Jesus by his cousin John "An opportunity for members to be baptized in the Jordan River". We will leave the Galilee area and continue southward to Beit Shean, where we will walk through the incredible excavations of the largest ongoing archaeological dig in the land of Israel with its amphitheater, colonnaded Roman streets, mosaics and Roman bathhouse. It is also the city where the body of King Saul and his sons were nailed to the walls by the Philistines (1st Samuel 31:10). Proceed toward Judea through the lush Jordan Valley where the desert now blooms with varieties of fruit, flowers and vegetation (see Isaiah 35:1-2). The mountains of Judea rise abruptly from the plains. We will proceed towards Jerusalem, where we ascend Mt. of Olives, for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Tracing the footsteps of Jesus, we will stroll down the Palm Sunday Route on the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church Of All Nations. We will enter the Dung Gate to the Western Wall to witness the preparation of Shabbat. We will check inn to our hotel for Shabbat dinner and overnight.
Saturday, November 24 - Day 6: Jerusalem
After breakfast we start the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb (optional prayer service). From here we proceed to Mt. Zion and the City of David to visit the House of Caiphas the high priest where Jesus was interrogated the night of His betrayal (Mark 14:53-65). We will also visit Kind David Tomb and the Upper Room, the site where Jesus had his last Passover Meal before he was captures. We enter the Old City through to Herod’s Gate to visit the Chapel of the Flagellation, Pilate’s Judgment Hall. We continue through the Ecce Homo Arch built by Hadrian in 135 AD and retrace the steps of Jesus along the Via Delorosa (the way of the cross). We pass through the colorful bazaars, alleyways and marketplaces to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Return to our hotel for the remainder of the day at leisure. Attend (Optional) “The Pavilion” at the King of Kings Church. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Sunday, November 25 – Day 7: Old City of Jerusalem
After breakfast, we proceed to the Old Walled City to the Western Wall (the "Wailing Wall"), here we will visit the incredible excavation of the “Underground Rabbi Tunnels” of the Western Wall. We will continue to visit the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a lame man (John 5) and the Crusader church of Saint Anne. We walk to the Southern Steps and the incredible excavations. See the ruins and the Robinson Arch. In the same complex, we will visit the Davidson Center, for an understanding of the Temple Period procedures. We will continue to the Jewish quarter and the Cardo of the Old City. After lunch, we continue to the Temple Institute, to see the preparation for the 3rd Temple. We will have a short time to wonder and buy some souvenirs at the Old City. We will leave the Old City and drive to visit the Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book Continue to Yad Vashem - the Israeli Holocaust memorial, where six million Jews perished and the Children’s Pavilion. Return to our hotel via Ein Kerem, the village of John the Baptist, dinner and overnight at our hotel in Jerusalem.
Monday, November 26 – Day 8: Dead Sea area/Massada
After an early breakfast, we drive towards the Dead Sea area. Our route will take us back down the main highway towards Jericho. We then turn south and start driving along the shores of the Dead Sea, as we descend to the lowest point on the surface of the earth at 1305 feet (398m) below sea level. We will pass Qumran, where a young shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls and drive to Massada. We will then ascend to the top of Herod's fortress of Massada by cable car. Our walk around this historical and remarkable ruin is enhanced by the fantastic view of the Dead Sea. Here we will see the amazing courage shown against Rome and its might. Next we will stop at Ein Gedi reserve for a short hike to the waterfalls of David. Here we will hear the stories of David, which is mentioned in the book of Psalms and his rival King Saul. We will cross over for lunch for a float in the unsinkable Dead Sea and cover ourselves with mud and enjoy a bath in the Natural Hot Sulfur Springs. Return back to Jerusalem and to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Tuesday, November 27 - Day 9: Day at Leisure & departure
Enjoy your last day at leisure. This will be a good day for last minute shopping or perhaps revisiting sites of your choice. We will enjoy most of the day at leisure in Jerusalem. Late afternoon, we will be driven to a local restaurant for our farewell dinner. After dinner, we will be transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for our return flight back home.
Arrive early morning back home with everlasting memories of the Holy Land.
Shalom! |
