Day 1 – Sunday, March 24 – TORONTO

Departure from Toronto (Terminal 3) on El Al Israel Airlines flying non-stop to Tel Aviv at 6:45pm. Complimentary dinner and breakfast plus inflight service will be provided during the flight.

Day 2 – Monday, March 25 – TEL AVIV/JAFFA

Arrive in Tel Aviv at 12:00pm where our tour guide will meet you. We start by traveling to Jaffa, which affords us a breathtaking view of the city of Tel Aviv. At this picturesque port city of winding alleys, art galleries and crafts boutiques, King Solomon had the cedars of Lebanon rafted for the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem. You will view the spot of the House of Simon the Tanner (Acts 10:6). After this tour we go to our hotel for check-in and the balance of the day is at leisure to enjoy Tel Aviv.
Dinner and overnight at the Grand Beach Hotel

Day 3 — Tuesday, March 26 – CAESAREA/MT.CARMEL/MEGIDDO

We drive north along the Plain of Sharon, the Mediterranean and the old coastal road- the Via Maris that linked Egypt and Babylon as we journey towards Galilee. We stop at Caesarea the incredible fortress city built by King Herod the Great. Here, 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). Visit the Roman Theatre, the Hippodrome, and the Crusader City. We then travel north towards Haifa and ascend Mt. Carmel the site where the prophet Elijah fought the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30). We will stop for an incredible panoramic view of Haifa.We turn inland and proceed to Megiddo, one of King Solomon’s walled fortified cities (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with 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. Continue to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ein Gev Guest House on the Sea of Galilee

Day 4 – Wednesday, March 27 – JESUS MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

After breakfast, we will depart our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Ginossar where we will see an ancient boat from the time of Jesus displayed at the Kibbutz Museum. Continue to Capernaum, the centre of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and the site of many of his miracles. We will see the remains of Peter’s house and the synagogue site where Jesus taught and worshipped. Drive to Tabgha and visit the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. Continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered what is perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached – “The Sermon On The Mount” (Matt.5). We will drive to the Golan Heights and have an overview looking at Syria. We will then proceed to the site of the city of Korazim where there are the remains of a First Century Synagogue where Jesus frequently ministered. We will drive north of the Golan Heights and visit Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan River and the site of ancient “Caesarea Philipi”, where Peter made the confession of faith in Christ (Matt; 16:16). After descending from the Golan Heights stop at Kursi the site which is identified as the place where Jesus cast the demons into the swine in the area of the Gaderines. Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ein Gev Guest House on the Sea of Galilee

Day 5 – Thursday, March 28 – GALILEE/JORDAN VALLEY/JERUSALEM

We start the day at Yardenit, the Baptismal Centre on the Jordan River. Drive to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus. We will visit Nazareth Village depicting a village from the time of Jesus. We continue to the Gideon Springs and see the springs of water described in Judges Chapter 7 where Gideon brought the army of Israel to this spring to select warriors who would join him battle. We 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 Roman theatre, colonnaded Roman streets, mosaics and Roman bathhouses. It is also the city where the body of King Saul and his sons where nailed to the walls by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10). We then drive through the lush Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2). We make our ascent to Jerusalem through the Judean Wilderness. Dinner and overnight at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 6 – Friday, March 29 – OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM/BETHLEHEM

We start the day at the Mount of Olives, for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. From here, we proceed by bus across the Kidron Valley, past the Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and James and proceed to Mt Zion to visit the traditional site of the Upper Room (Room of the Last Supper) and the Church of St. Peter’s in Gallicantu, built on top of the High Priest Caiphas’ house. We walk to the Zion Gate and enter the Old City of Jerusalem through this gate and walk through the Armenian Quarter to the Jewish Quarter. Visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest spot. We continue our walk along the Via Dolorosa to visit the Pools of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Church, Chapel of the Flagellation and Pilate’s Judgment Hall. We pass through the colourful bazaars, alleyways and market places and reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for a brief visit. Drive to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, the oldest church in the world and birthplace of Jesus. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 7 — Saturday, March 30 – QUMRAN/MASADA/DEAD SEA

This morning we have some time at the Dead Sea before driving to Masada. You will take a cable car to the summit of this magnificent fortress built by King Herod the Great and the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots. Visit the historic ruins and see the palaces, bathhouses, swimming pool, and the oldest synagogue in the world on this mountain in the middle of the desert. We will stop at Qumran, where a young shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 in the cave that you will see. These scrolls are the oldest scriptures of the Bible ever found. You will see the where the Essenes who wrote these scrolls lived and wrote these scrolls. We ascend 3700 feet through the Judean Wilderness to the Holy City of Jerusalem. Dinner & overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 8 – Sunday, March 31 – JERUSALEM

We start the day visiting Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the Holocaust commemorating the six million Jews who perished. Visit and walk through the newly opened Museum, visit the Children’s Memorial, walk along the Avenue of the Righteous Gentiles for those who risked their lives to save Jewish lives. Drive to the excavated City of David to see remains of Jerusalem from the time of King David. See the Hezekiah’s Tunnel and visit the Pool of Siloam. Continue to the Davidson Center to start at the facility using the state of art technology and film showing what the Temple Mount was like from the time of Jesus. You will continue to the Southern Wall. Excavations and see the walls from the time of King Herod and walk on the same steps Jesus walked on going up to the Temple. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 9 – Monday, April 1 – JERUSALEM

This morning we have a half day tour of Jerusalem visiting outside of Jerusalem, the Valley of Elah the place where David and Goliath had their battle. Return to Jerusalem to the Israel Museum and visit the Shrine of the Book housing the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest manuscripts of the Bible ever found. Visit the Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Period as it looked from the time of Jesus. We finish the day at the Garden Tomb-preserved by the Garden Tomb Association these beautiful gardens surround the traditional site of Golgatha. You will have time for a Communion Service privately in the gardens. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 10 — Tuesday, April 2 – JERUSALEM

Day of leisure in Jerusalem to enjoy last minute shopping in the Old City of Jerusalem or the major shopping mall. Possibly see one of the many museums that Jerusalem has to offer. In the early evening we will have a Farewell Dinner in a Middle Eastern Restaurant before transferring to the airport for your flight to Toronto.

Day 11 — Wednesday, April 3 – TORONTO

Depart Tel Aviv at 12:50am flying non-stop to Toronto on El Al Israel Airlines, arriving in Toronto at 6:20am at terminal #3.

ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN THE ORDER OF THE DAYS OR SEQUENCE