“following in the footsteps of jesus”

TORONTO

Departure from Toronto on Air Canada flying non-stop to Tel Aviv departing at 4:30pm from Terminal 1.

TEL AVIV / JAFFA

Arrive in Tel Aviv at 10:00am where we will be met by our tour guide to start our tour in Jaffa that 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. Transfer to our hotel in Tel Aviv. Balance of the day will be at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv at the BY 14 Hotel, Tel Aviv

CAESAREA / MT. CARMEL / MEGIDDO

Following our breakfast we drive north along the Plain of Sharon, the Mediterranean and the old coastal road- the Via Maris which 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) at Muhraqa. 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. Dinner and overnight at the Lake House Hotel, Tiberias

JESUS’ MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

After breakfast, we will begin our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Ginossar where we view an ancient boat from the time of Jesus that was discovered in the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Capernaum, the centre of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and the site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt.8:5; 14-7; 9; 1-7; 17:18). We will see the remains of Peter’s house and the synagogue site where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Drive to Tabgha and visit the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. Visit the newly excavated town of Magdala the town of Mary of Magdalena. 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 then proceed to the site of the city of Korazim where there are the remains of a First Century Synagogue where Jesus frequently ministered. Return to Tiberias via the east side of the Sea of Galilee stopping at Kursi to see the place where the demons entered the swine and entered the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight at the Lake House Hotel, Tiberias

ROAD TO JERUSALEM

We start the day with a visit to Yardenit, the Baptismal Centre on the Jordan River. Drive to Cana (site of Jesus’ first miracle; visit the Franciscan and Greek churches). We proceed to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus. We will visit Nazareth Village depicting a village from the time of Jesus. We continue southward viewing Mt. Tabor the site of the Transfiguration 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) and view Jericho and the Mt. of Temptation. Ascend up the Judean Wilderness to the Golden City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem at the Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem

JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM

We will drive to the top of the Mount of Olives, for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Tracing the footsteps of Jesus, we will stroll down the Palm Sunday Route on the Mount of Olives 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), King David’s Tomb 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 and visit the amazing excavations at the Western Wall Tunnels. 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 Sepulchre for a brief visit. Drive to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity before returning to Jerusalem where you will have time for personal shopping. Finish the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb or Gordon’s Calvary with a group devotional in one of the gardens. Dinner and overnight at the Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem

OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

We start the day at the City of David Excavations to see remains of Jerusalem from the time of King David. See the Hezekiah Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam. Continue to the Davidson Centre and visit the archaeological park of the excavations along the Western and Southern walls of the Temple Mount of Jerusalem. Drive to the New city of Jerusalem by 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. Continue 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. Dinner and overnight at the Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem

MASADA / DEAD SEA / QUMRAN

Drive to the lowest point on earth to the Dead Sea. We stop at Qumran, where a shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 in a cave. These scrolls are the oldest scriptures of the Bible ever found. You will see where the Essenes who wrote these scrolls lived and wrote these scrolls. Continue south to Masada. Ascend by cable car to the summit of this fortress built by King Herod the Great and the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots. You will visit the palaces, bathhouses, swimming pool, and the oldest synagogue in the world on this mount. Continue to the shores of the Dead Sea where you will have time to take a float in the saltiest body of water in world. Finish the day at Ein Gedi nature reserve and Oasis. Dinner and overnight at the Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem

JERUSALEM AT LEISURE

Perhaps re-visit the Old City for shopping in the bazaars Visit many of the Museums that Jerusalem has to offer that you did not see on the tour or just relax at the hotel. Dinner and overnight at the Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem

TORONTO

Depart Tel Aviv flying non-stop to Toronto with Air Canada departing at 11:45am and arriving in Toronto at 4:30pm.