Day 1 – Tuesday, March 26 – ISRAEL
2pm Meet in Toronto’s Pearson International airport terminal 1 to check in to the 5pm Air Canada nonstop overnight flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv (meals served en route).
Day 2 – Wednesday, March 27 – WELCOME TO TEL AVIV
Arrive in Tel Aviv at 10:45am meet your tour guide. Tour Jaffa which affords us a breathtaking view of Tel Aviv from this picturesque port city. Walk the unique winding alleyways, art and crafts galleries and boutiques and view Simon the Tanner’s house. Here King Solomon had the cedars of Lebanon rafted for the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Check in to your Tel Aviv hotel. The balance of the day will be at leisure. 1 night Grand Beach hotel ~ Tel Aviv [Dinner]
Day 3 – Thursday, March 28 – TO THE GALILEE
Drive north through the Sharon Plain, along the Mediterranean coast as we journey towards Galilee. Stop at Caesarea the incredible port city built by King Herod the Great. Here, Pontius Pilate had his base; Cornelius lived and was baptized (Acts 10); Paul embarked to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and Philip preached (Acts 8:40). Visit the Roman Theatre, King Herod’s palace, the Hippodrome and the Crusader City. Travel north and ascend Mt. Carmel to Muhraka – the burned spot where prophet Elijah challenged the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30). Continue inland to Megiddo, one of King Solomon’s fortified cities (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with ruins of some 20 levels of settlement. 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. 3 nights Leonardo hotel ~ Tiberias [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 4 – Friday, March 29 – UPPER GALILEE
Enjoy a panoramic view of the armistice line between Israel and Syria from Mt. Bental on the Golan Heights. Continue to Banias, site of ancient “Caesarea Philippi”, where Peter made the confession of faith in Christ (Matt.16:16). Travel to Tel Dan visit the ancient site including remains from Abraham and the Israelite kingdom periods’ and the Dan spring, the major source of the Jordan River. The Hebrew Yarden means came forth from Dan. Continue to Safed, one of the four Jewish holy cities in Israel and the modern centre of the rebirth of Kabbalah. Visit some of the ancient synagogues still in use today and the colourful artist colony. End the day at Yardenit, the Baptismal Centre on the Jordan River. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 5 – Saturday, March 30 – JESUS’ MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE
Stop in Capernaum, the centre of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt.8:5; 14-7; 9;1-7;17;18) to visit the remains of Peter’s house and the synagogue where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Drive to Tabgha to visit the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes overlooking the valley where Jesus delivered “the Sermon On the Mount” (Matt.5).), View Chorazin one of three villages Jesus prophesised “Woe to thee…..” Travel to the “other side” (of the Sea of Galilee) and stop to visit Kursi, ruins of a unique Byzantine monastery near the site of the miracle of the Demonic man. End the day sailing on the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Ginnosar where you visit the ancient boat from Jesus’ day. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 6 – Sunday, March 31 – GALILEE – JERUSALEM
Start the day at Zippori (Sephorris) home of Joachim and Anna, which after the second Jewish revolt was capital of the Galilee, where the Mishnah was redacted. Continue to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus where we visit Nazareth Village depicting village life from the time of Jesus. Travelling south we stop at Beit Shean, where the body of King Saul and his sons were placed on the walls by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10). Visit the incredible, extensive archaeological excavation. Drive through the lush Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2) then ascend via the Judean Wilderness to Genesis Land where we will ride camels to visit Abraham’s tent, (Genesis 18:1-8,) and enjoy Biblical hospitality. Continue to Jerusalem of Gold the Holy City. 6 nights Ramada hotel ~ Jerusalem [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 7 – Monday, April 1 – JERUSALEM – OLD CITY
Start the day on the Mount of Olives, for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Following in the footsteps of Jesus on the route of Palm Sunday, walk down to Gethsemane – the Church of All Nations and visit the Olive Garden. Continue across the Valley of Jehoshaphat or the Kidron Valley, past the tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and James to Mt. Zion. Visit the traditional site of the Upper Room (Room of the Last Supper), King David’s Tomb and the Church of St. Peter’s in Gallicantu, built on top of the High Priest Caiaphas’ house. Enter the Old City through Zion Gate walk through the Armenian Quarter to the Jewish Quarter and along the Roman, Byzantine, Crusader Street called the “Cardo.” Continue to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest spot. View the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, then walk along the Via Dolorosa to visit the Pools of Bethesda at St. Anne’s Church. Continue through the Old City Suk – the market place along ancient alleyways. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 8 – Tuesday, April 2 – JERUSALEM
Start the day at Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the Shoah (Holocaust) pay tribute to the six million Jews who perished in Europe in World War 2, including the Museum, the Children’s Memorial and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations commemorating those who at great personal peril risked their lives to save Jewish souls. Continue to the Israel Museum to visit the Shrine of the Book home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period. Drive to the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament to visit the Menorah – symbol of the state of Israel. Visit Gordon’s Calvary also known the Garden Tomb site of the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ for a private communion service. End the day in Bethlehem visiting the birthplace of the Saviour in the Church of the Nativity. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 9 – Wednesday, April 3 – JERUSALEM
Spend a day of leisure in this unique and fascinating city. In the evening you might want to be at the Kotel (Western Wall) at sunset to witness the festive greeting of the Sabbath Bride. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 10 – Thursday, April 4 – DEAD SEA
Today is a fun day. We depart Jerusalem and descend to the lowest point on earth the Dead Sea, 1300ft below sea level. Stop to visit Qumran where, in 1947 a young shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest scriptures, in a nearby cave. Drive south along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Take a cable car to the summit of King Herod the Great’s desert fortress, later the last stronghold of the Zealots during the Jewish revolt against Rome. Your visit includes: two palaces, bath houses, a swimming pool and one of the oldest synagogues in the world, all on the stark remote, desert mountain top. Travel north along the shores of the Dead Sea and stop to float in the Dead Sea, you cannot sink! [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 11 – Friday, April 5 – JERUSALEM
Spend a day of leisure in this unique and fascinating city. Visit places of interest, enjoy some shopping in Old City or relax in the hotel. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 12 – Saturday, April 6 – RETURN TO CANADA
Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for the return flight. Leave Tel Aviv at 11:55am on the direct Air Canada flight to Toronto arriving at 4:55pm, meals served on board.
OR JOIN THE OPTIONAL UNIQUE 3 DAY / 3 NIGHT JORDAN TOUR EXTENSION
Price per person is $935 based on: 2 people sharing a double room and minimum 14 participants.
Not included a) The single room supplement is $399; b) Exit Tax for Israel & Jordan & Jordan visa fee US$75 paid at border crossing & gratuity US$45 per person. PLEASE MARK YES TO THE JORDAN OPTION ON THE APPLICATION!
Day 11 – Friday, April 5 – WADI MUJIB/KERAK
Travel through the Judean desert to the Allenby Bridge, cross into Jordan and meet your guide. Travel along the shores of the Dead Sea stop for a short walk at Wadi el Mujib one of the small rivers flowing into the Dead Sea. Proceed to visit the desert fortress at Kerak. Travel south and stop to visit little Petra. 2 nights Petra Palace hotel ~ Petra [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 12 – Saturday, April 6 – PETRA
Enjoy a full day in Petra the Red Rock one of the seven wonders of the ancient world visiting the lost Nabatean necropolis. Start with an easy horseback ride then walk through the “Siq” a narrow immense colourful gorge (root of the word Gorgeous), which ends at the famous treasury to visit the many colourful ancient temples and tombs and the Roman theatre. [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 13 – Sunday, April 7 – PETRA/JERUSALEM
Travel north along the Kings way to visit the desert fortress at Mukawir (Machaerus) where Herod Antipas held then killed John the Baptist. Then proceed to Madaba to visit the famous ancient Byzantine Mosaic map of the world. Continue to Mt. Nebo where emulating Moses you will view the Promised Land. Cross back into Israel at the Allenby Bridge. Proceed to Jerusalem. 1 night Ramada hotel ~ Jerusalem [Breakfast & Dinner]
Day 14 – Monday, April 8 – RETURN TO CANADA
After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight to Canada. Leave Tel Aviv for Toronto at 11:55am, meals served on board. Arriving at 4:55pm.
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