encounter the lord and walk where jesus walked!

Destination Israel

8:30am Meet in LAX at the EL AL check in counter for the flight to Tel Aviv. Leave LA At 11:30am on a nonstop direct flight to Tel Aviv. Meals served on board. Direct EL AL flights are available from Newark less $70, Cleveland or Akron OH less $TBA and Dallas TX less TBA Mark the location you are flying from on your Application please.

Welcome to Israel

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport at 11:25am Meet your guide. Visit ancient Jaffa, home of Simon the Tanner and Tabitha. Continue to the Tel Aviv hotel – remainder of the day is at leisure, with time to meet Pastor Rolo on the beach for sunset. (Dinner and Breakfast) 1 night: Leonardo Beach hotel ~ Tel Aviv.

On the road to Galilee

Travel north through the Plain of Sharon, along the Mediterranean shore on the old coastal road, which linked Egypt with Babylon. Stop at Caesarea, the Roman capital and 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 9:30P and Philip preached (Acts 8:40) Visit the Theatre & the New Roman port exhibit ~ in the Crusader city. Then stop for prayer and worship for Israel, at the Western Altar. Visit the summit of Mount Carmel at Muhraka the “burning place” where Elijah confronted the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30) Continue inland, across the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, to visit one of King Solomon’s fortified city kingdoms (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with 21 impressive layered ruins of civilizations. Here the book of Revelation will come to life, at the site of the epic Armageddon. (Breakfast and Dinner) 3 nights: Lake House hotel ~ Tiberias

Galilee – Golan

Start the day at Mt of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5). Travel North to Banias to visit Caesarea Philippi, the Northern extent of Jesus’ Ministry, where Jesus asked, “Who do men say that I am?” Stop for Prayer and Worship at the nearby Northern Altar. Travel onto the Golan Heights, stop to reflect on current events and the ferocious battle that took place October 1973 in the Valley of Tears. Enjoy a St. Peter’s fish lunch. Visit sites central to Jesus’ ministry starting at Kfar Nahum, Capernaum, center of Jesus’ Ministry in the Galilee and the site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt 8:5, 9). See the remains of St Peter’s (Mother in law’s) home and the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Continue to the Church of the Primacy of Peter (Tabgha) on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Proceed to Gennasereth – Ginosar to visit the famous ancient boat, from the time of Jesus, with time for shopping. Following the tradition of the “fisherman” disciples, sail on the Sea of Galilee with time for meditation, worship and prayer. (Breakfast, lunch and Dinner).

Galilee

Start the day with a spectacular view of the area of Jesus’ Ministry from Mt Arbel. Continue to Nazareth. Visit St. Mary’s church and Mt Precipice, where our Arab Christian friend, Rania, Director of the HOPE house of prayer in Nazareth, will meet and address our group. Travel to Gideon’s Spring at Ein Harod. End the day at Yardenit for Baptism in the Jordan River. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Jordan

Get an early start, drive through the Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2), to cross into Jordan at the Allenby Bridge. Continue through the mountains of Gilead. Stop in Madaba, then view the unique ancient mosaic map of the world, from the Byzantine era. Emulating the children of Israel and Moses, stop on Mt. Nebo for a glimpse of the Promised Land. Continue south through the Moab mountains to Mukawir and from there via the Kingsway to Petra. 1 night: Old Village Hotel ~ Petra (Breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Petra (One of the 7 wonders of the world)

Start the day walking and riding into Petra - “the Red Rock”, center 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. Mid-afternoon leave Petra traveling south on the Kings Way, via Ras El Naqeb, to Wadi Rum, of Lawrence of Arabia fame. Explore this fascinating, unique sand and sandstone desert traveling by jeep pick- up trucks through the heart of this magnificent stark terrain, to your Bedouin tent camp where you will enjoy a Bedouin feast. 1 night: Zawaida Tent Camp ~ Wadi Rum Upgrade to a superior dome cost is $85 per person (for 2 people sharing; & the single supplement is $190. Limited to 20 domes Mark yes to the upgrade on your Application (Breakfast & Dinner)

Dead Sea & Jerusalem

Get an early start. Follow in the footsteps of Joshua and the children of Israel, cross into Israel, at the Arava terminal. Travel North through the stark Arava wilderness to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on the earth (417 meters below sea level). Pray and worship at the Southern Altar. Visit Masada – ruins of King Herod’s mountaintop fortress and last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 73 C.E. (Ascend and descent by cable car). Visit Ein Gedi oasis, where David fled the wrath of King Saul. Continue North along the shore of the Dead Sea. Stop at Qumran, where a Bedouin shepherd discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in a nearby cave. Enjoy a unique experience, “float” in the Dead Sea! You cannot sink! Continue through the Judean wilderness and enter Jerusalem as Jesus did via Mt. Scopus; stop to recite a Psalm of ascent with your fist view of the Holy City and the Temple Mount. (Breakfast and Dinner) 5 nights: Lady Stern ~ Jerusalem

Jerusalem

Start the day at Succat Hallell, the House of Prayer in Jerusalem, with a time of worship and prayer as you look out upon Mt. Zion and the Mt of Olives. Visit Yad Vashem – National memorial and Museum of the Shoah (Holocaust) where you pay tribute to the six million Jewish victims of the Shoah in Europe during the 2nd World War. Continue to the Israel Museum to visit the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea scrolls and the adjacent Model of Ancient Jerusalem, describing the city from the Second Temple Period. View the Old and New City from the Mt of Olives then follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the Galileans, walk down the hillside on the route of Palm Sunday via Dominus Flevit to Gethsemane. Visit the Church of All Nations, with time for reflection and prayer in the adjacent Olive grove. Continue to Mt. Zion, visit the Upper Room – site of the Last Supper and St. Peter in Gallicantu to see the steps that Jesus might have walked on. Time for Shopping in the Old City. (Breakfast & Dinner)

Shiloh / Bethel / Old City

Visit Shiloh, where Joshua cast lots and divided the land for the 12 tribes (children) of Israel and, circumstances permitting, Beth El where Jacob called on the name of the Lord, God talked to him in a vision and he saw angels of God ascending and descending on the ladder, whose top reached to heaven. Return to the Old City to visit the Pools of Bethsaida, where Jesus healed the paralytic man and enjoy the acoustics in St. Anne’s Church. Continue to the Monastery of the Sisters of Zion to visit the Lithostrotos, perhaps the very place where Jesus was tormented by Roman soldiers. Walk into the Jewish quarter via the Cardo, stopping to see windows into the layered past from the first and second temple periods and the Roman/Byzantine/Crusader era Cardo, or main street. Stroll through the ancient alleyways of the Old City to the Jaffa Gate (Breakfast and Dinner)

Jerusalem

Start the day in David’s City visiting: Warren’s shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam. Enter the Old City through the Dung gate and visit the Southern Wall Archeological Park to see the impressive excavations along the South Western Wall of the Temple Mount and to stand on the very same ancient steps that Jesus and the disciples used, 2000 years ago, to enter the House of God. Continue to the Western Wall (Kotel) an important Jewish pilgrimage and prayer area. Then walk back in time through the Western Wall Tunnel Excavations. Stop at the Temple Mt Institute to see replicas of the instruments used in worship at the Temple. Continue through the colorful Suk (markets) and stop to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. End the day at the Garden Tomb with prayer and a time of communion. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Jerusalem

Spend a day at leisure in this fascinating city, with time to revisit places of interest and to do some shopping in the Old City. Other options: spend some time at Succat Hallel, the House of Prayer, stroll through the Orthodox community of Meah Shearim (modest dress and head covering). Visit some of the fabulous Museums in Jerusalem, walk the ramparts (the walls) of the Old City (a modest entrance fee is required). Late Check out is included. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel. Meet for debriefing, then transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your return flight. (Breakfast and Dinner)

Back to the USA

Depart Tel Aviv at 1am on an El Al direct non-stop flight to LA, Newark or Boston. Arrive in LA at 6:25am (meals served on board).