Day 1 February 23 Saturday – DESTINATION ISRAEL

10am Meet in the departure hall at Charlottetown airport to check in for the Air Canada flight to Toronto’s Pearson International Airport departing at 12:25pm. Arrive in Toronto at 1:50pm. Depart on a direct, nonstop Air Canada overnight flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv at 4:55 pm, meals served on board.

Day 2 February 24 Sunday – WELCOME TO ISRAEL

10:15am Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport, clear customs and immigration, and meet your guide. Travel north and stop to visit Caesarea, the Roman capital and port. Here Pontius Pilate had his seat; Cornelius lived and was baptized (Acts 10); Paul embarked to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and Philip preached (Acts 8:40). Tour the historical site and enjoy an audio visual presentation showing the history of how Caesarea was built and operated as a port city. Continue North, time permitting stop on the Muhraka, the summit of Mt Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal and across the Jezreel Valley en route to your hotel on the Sea of Galilee. 3 nights: Ein Gev ~ Sea of Galilee [Dinner]

Day 3 February 25 Monday – GALILEE

Start the day sailing on the Sea of Galilee, with time for meditation and prayer. Stop to visit the famous ancient fishing vessel from the time of Jesus and learn about its discovery. Visit sites central to Jesus’ Ministry – starting at the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount (Matt.5). Continue to Chorazim, one of the three villages Jesus prophesied over for not accepting his teaching. Drive down to the Church of the Primacy of Peter and the church of the “feeding of the multitude” in Tabgha. Continue to Kfar Nahum, Capernaum, centre of Jesus’ Ministry in the Galilee and the site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt.8:5-7 & 14-15). See the remains of St Peter’s house and the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Proceed to Mt. Arbel for a great view of the area of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 4 February 26 Tuesday – GALILEE

Proceed to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus to visit Nazareth Village and relive village life from the time of Jesus. View the Church of the Annunciation then drive north along the foot of the Golan Heights to visit Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan River, site of ancient “Caesarea Philippi” where Peter made his confession of faith in Christ (Matt. 16:16). Drive via the Golan heights and across the Jordan Valley to Hazor “the head of all kingdoms” to visit the site famous for Joshua’s (11:1) conquest with an impressive Solomonic gate. Time permitting, and for those up to it, take a walk to visit Hippos, one of the cities of the Decapolis. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 5 February 27 Wednesday – JORDAN

Travel south along the Jordan Valley to the Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. The route will take you through the mountains of Moab of Ruth and Naomi fame (Ruth1: 16&17). Stop at Madaba to study the unique ancient mosaic map of the world from the Byzantine era. Then proceed along the Kings way to visit the desert fortress at Mukawir (Machaerus) where Herod Antipas held then killed John the Baptist. Continue south along the Kings way – time permitting stop at Little Petra en route to Petra. 1 night: Guest House or Petra Palace ~ Petra [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 6 February 28 Thursday – PETRA ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Start the day walking and riding into Petra “The Red Rock“, centre of the ancient Nabatean people and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. See the stunning charm of the Necropolis and the many magnificent sandstone edifices. Midafternoon leave Petra travelling south on the Kings Way via Ras El Naqeb to Wadi Rum of Lawrence of Arabia fame. Explore this fascinating unique sand and sand stone desert travelling by jeep through the heart of this magnificent stark terrain. Then take a camel convoy to your Bedouin tent camp where you will enjoy a sumptuous Bedouin feast. 1 night: Sun City Tent Camp – Wadi Rum (Breakfast & dinner)

Day 7 March 1 Friday – THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD

Get an early start and cross into Israel (8am) at the Arava border crossing. Travel through the Arava wilderness to Timna to visit Solomon’s Pillars and the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Continue north to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth (417 meter below sea level) stop to visit Masada – unique remains of King Herod’s striking mountaintop fortress later the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 73 C.E. (Ascend and descend by cable car). 1 night: David hotel & Spa ~ Dead Sea [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 8 March 2 Saturday – THE JUDEAN WILDERNESS AND BETHLEHEM

Spend part of the morning at the spa and enjoy a unique experience of “floating” in the Dead Sea – you cannot sink! Visit Qasr El Yahud where John baptised Jesus. Continue through the Judean wilderness and enter Jerusalem as Jesus did via Mt. Scopus; stop to recite a Psalm of ascent with your first view of the Holy City and the Temple Mt. Travel through Jerusalem to Herodion a remarkable desert fortress, purportedly the site of King Herod’s tomb to see some of the latest archaeological discoveries at the remote desert fortress. Continue to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, birthplace of Jesus. 4 nights: Prima Kings hotel ~ Jerusalem [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 9 March 3 Sunday – JERUSALEM OLD & NEW

View the site of the Holy Temple from the Mt of Olives, then follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the Galileans, walking down the Mt. via Dominus Flevit to visit Gethsemane – the Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City and stop at the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic man. Continue through the Suk (market) along the Stations of the Cross and stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, then enjoy the ancient alleyways of the Old City to the Zion Gate. Visit the Church of the Last Supper and St Peter in Gallicantu, the site of Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus. End the day at the Haas Promenade for a stellar view of the old and new cities. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 10 March 4 Monday – WINDOWS INTO THE BIBLICAL PAST

Pay respect to the victims of the Holocaust at Yad Vashem, National Memorial and Museum of the Holocaust. Visit the Model of Jerusalem, learn about the city from the time of Jesus and visit the Shrine of the Book home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Stop at the Western Wall (Kotel), a religious section of the last remnant of the Temple mount, then walk back in time under the city through Western Wall Tunnels (Excavations). Explore King David’s City including an audio visual presentation, Warren’s shaft, the Canaanite tunnel and the pool of Siloam. Continue to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park (Southern Wall Excavations) including the very same ancient steps that Jesus and the Galilean pilgrims used to enter and exit the Holy Temple. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 11 March 5 Tuesday – JERUSALEM

Spend the day at leisure in this fascinating city, with time to re-visit the Old City to shop in the bazaars or walk through the new city for shopping along Jaffa Road and Ben Yehuda Street. Visit one of the many Museums that Jerusalem has to offer (modest entrance fee required), or simply relax at the hotel. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 12 March 6 Wednesday – RETURN TO CANADA

Leave Tel Aviv for Toronto at 11:55am on your Air Canada nonstop direct flight, meals served on board. Arrive in Toronto at 4:55pm. Continue from Toronto to Charlottetown at 8:55pm arriving at 11:35pm.

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