Day 1 June 4 ~ Monday – DESTINATION ISRAEL

5:30am Meet in Seattle airport at the Alaska Air check in counter for the 8am flight to LA arriving at 10:30am. Enjoy your 1pm EL AL overnight, nonstop, direct flight to Israel. Meals served on board.

Day 2 June 5 ~ Tuesday – WELCOME TO ISRAEL

Arrive in the Land of Promise at 1:30pm in Ben Gurion International Airport. Meet your tour guide. Drive north through the Plain of Sharon, along the Mediterranean shore on the old coastal road known as the Via Maris, which linked Egypt and Babylon. Stop at Caesarea the largest port in the Mediterranean built by King Herod the Great. 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). Visit the Roman Theatre, the Hippodrome, and the Crusader City. Stop at the visitors’ center to view the audio visual presentation. Continue to your hotel, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure with time to bathe in the Mediterranean Sea or walk on the beach. 1 night Leonardo hotel Haifa [dinner]

Day 3 June 6 ~ Wednesday – GALILEE

Travel to and via the Jezreel Valle en route to Megiddo, view Muhraka (the burned place) on Mt. Carmel where the prophet Elijah challenged the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30) Stop to visit Megiddo one of King Solomon’s fortified city kingdoms (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with 20 levels of impressive ruins. From here the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as you read about the final Battle of Armageddon, while viewing the fertile plains of the Jezreel. Proceed to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus, visit Nazareth Village relive village life from the time of Jesus. View the Church of the Annunciation and travel via Mt Precipice to Yardenit for Baptism in the Jordan river. Emulating the disciples sail on the Sea of Galilee and visit the ancient boat from the time of Jesus 2 nights Leonardo Club hotel [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 4 June 7 ~ Thursday – JESUS’ MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

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” and the Northern extent of Jesus’ ministry, where Peter made the confession of faith in Christ (Matt; 16:16). Continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered “The Sermon On The Mount” (Matt.5). Circumstances permitting – walk down the mountain to Tabgha to visit the Church marking the site of the feeding of the multitude. Proceed to Capernaum centre of Jesus’ Ministry in the Galilee site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt.8:5; 14-7; 9; 1-7; 17: 18). See the remains of St Peter’s house and visit the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 5 June 8 ~ Friday – GALILEE – JERUSALEM

Travel south to Beit Shean where the body of King Saul and his sons were placed on the walls by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10) also known in Jesus time as Scythopolis, capital of Decapolis. Visit the extensive Roman, Byzantine and Omayyad ancient site. Drive through the Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2). Visit Qasr El Yahud on the Jordan River where John Baptised Jesus. Drive through the Judean Desert to the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea (over 1300 feet below sea level). Continue south along the shores of the Dead Sea to Qumran, visit the home of the Cult of the Judean Desert, where a shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls (1947) in a nearby cave. Continue to the Holy City – golden Jerusalem entering the Holy City as the Galileans did stopping on Mt Scopus to recite a Psalm of Ascent and enjoy the first view of the Holy City. Welcome the Shabbat with a Shabbat of a life time dinner in a religious Jewish family’s home. 4 nights Grand Court hotel ~ Jerusalem. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 6 June 9 ~ Saturday – MASADA/ DEAD SEA

Get an early start – travel through the Judean Desert to Masada. Visit the imposing summit with splendid ruins of King Herod the Great’s desert fortress, later the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in the revolt against Rome (73 ace). Ascend / descend by cable car. Travel north to Ein Gedi stop to visit the lush Oasis where David fled the wrath of king Saul and to cool off in the spring. Travel along the shore of the Dead Sea stop to float on the Dead Sea – you cannot sink! Then ascend through the Judean Desert Wilderness. Stop to view the Monastery of St George and to enjoy a spectacular desert vista. End the day at the Garden Tomb with time for reflection and communion. An option is provided to travel to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity the birthplace of Jesus. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 7 June 10 ~ Sunday – JERUSALEM

Drive to the top of Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane at the Church of All Nations and pray in the adjacent Olive tree garden. Walk into the Kidron Valley (the Valley of Jehoshaphat), to visit the monumental Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and James. Continue to King David’s City – your visit includes: Ruins of King David’s city, the Canaanite tunnel and the Pools of Siloam. Walk along the walls of the Old City from the Jaffa Gate to Mt Zion. Visit the Upper Room (Room of the Last Super) site of the miracle of Pentecost; King David’s Tomb and the stairs that Jesus might have walked on at the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built on the site of High Priest Caiaphas’ home. Enter the Old City through Zion Gate, walk through the Armenian and the Jewish Quarter. Visit the ancient street the “Cardo,” the “Suk” the colourful bazaars, alleyways and market places to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 8 June 11 ~ Monday – JERUSALEM

Start the day at Yad Vashem – national memorial and Museum of the Shoah (Holocaust), pay tribute to the six million victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) in Europe during the Second World War. Visit the new Museum, the Children’s Memorial and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous Amongst the Nations commemorating those who risked their own lives to save Jewish souls. Continue to the Israel Museum – visit the Shrine of the Book home of the Dead Sea Scrolls the oldest Bible manuscripts and the Model of ancient Jerusalem describing the city from the time of Jesus. Enter the Old city view the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque circumstances permitting visit the Temple Mount. Visit the Southern Wall excavations at the foot of the Temple Mount and the Davidson Centre including the very same steps that Jesus and the Galileans used to enter and exit the Holy Temple. Stop at the Western Wall (Kotel) then take a journey back in time through the Western Wall Tunnels along the Temple Mt. Continue to the Pools of Bethesda at St. Anne’s Church. Exit the city at St Stephen’s the Lions Gate. Dabble in archaeology and get your hands dirty digging up your past as you do sifting at Emek Zurrim salvage sifting project. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 9 June 12 ~ Tuesday – JERUSALEM

Spend a day of leisure in this fascinating city. With time to re-visit the Old City for shopping 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 or simply relax at the hotel. Late check out is provided. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel. Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your return flight to the USA. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 10 June 13 ~ Wednesday – UNITED SATES

Depart Tel Aviv at 01:00am on a direct EL AL nonstop flight to Newark arriving at 5:45am (meals served on board). Continue on your Alaskan Air flight at 9:30am arriving in Seattle at 12:25pm.

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