israel journey 2021

Departure from Toronto or Winnipeg

Departure from Toronto or Winnipeg flying non-stop either on El Al or Air Canada to Tel Aviv.

TEL AVIV / JAFFA

Arrive in Tel Aviv where our tour guide will meet us. We begin our tour in Jaffa affording 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 1st Temple in Jerusalem. You will view the spot of the House of Simon the Tanner. Jonah departed from Joppa (Jonah 1:3) to Tarshish. Transfer to our hotel in Tel Aviv for check-in. Balance of day at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

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 and Aqueduct. 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 and the Bahai Gardens. 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. Finish the day at Mt Arbel which stands sharply and prominently over your first view of the Sea of Galilee. Its graceful stature and steep slopes, particularly on the eastern side, provide magical views across the Sea of Galilee and beyond, to the Golan Heights.Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ein Gev Guest House on the Sea of Galilee

JESUS MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

After breakfast, we will depart our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Ginossar to visit the museum showing a ancient boat that sailed on the Sea of Galilee from the time of Jesus. Continue to Capernaum, the centre of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and the site of many of His miracles (Mark 2:4; Matthew 8:5-17). We will see the remains of Peter’s house and the synagogue site where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). 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 (Matthew 11:20-24) where there are the remains of a First Century Synagogue where Jesus frequently ministered. Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ein Gev Guest House on the Sea of Galilee

GALILEE / GOLAN HEIGHTS

We start the day at Hazor one of the horse chariot cities from the time of King Solomon. Continue to Tel Dan to see the ruins from Abraham’s time and the Dan Spring, which is a source of the Jordan River. Continue to the 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). Drive to the Golan Heights and the foot of Mt. Hermon the highest mountain in Israel and have a panoramic view of the corner of Israel, Syria and Jordan from Mt. Bental. Visit Kursi the place where a man was healed from demons. (Luke 8:26-39). Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ein Gev Guest House on the Sea of Galilee

NAZARETH / BEIT SHEAN / JERUSALEM

We start the day at Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle turning water into wine at the wedding (John 2:1-11). Continue to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus. We will visit Nazareth Village depicting a village from the time of Jesus. Stop at Mt. Precipice for a magnificent view of the Valley of Armageddon before proceeding to Naim where a boy was raised from the dead. (Luke 7:11-17). Drive to Harod Spring the site of the Biblical Battle from the time of Gideon. 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 bodies 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). Stop at the Jordan River where Elijah stopped before ascending up the Judean Wilderness to the Golden City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

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. We drive across the Kidron Valley, past the Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and James 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 to the Jewish Quarter. Walk along the Roman/Byzantine Street called the Cardo to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest. We continue our walk along the Via Dolorosa to visit the Pools of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Church and Pilate’s Judgment Hall. Walk through the Old City alleyways and exit from the Jaffa Gate where our bus will be waiting for us. Drive to the Garden Tomb or Gordon’s Calvary for a communion service. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

JERUSALEM

We start the day in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City for a visit to the Davidson Center and the Archaeological Park around the southern wall excavations. We visit the City of David excavations once the capital of the Israeli Kingdom under King David. Explore the excavations and learn about Jerusalem’s water supply in ancient times. See the Pool of Siloam and the Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Drive to Yad Vashem, the national Holocaust Memorial and Museum for an emotional visit. We continue to the Israel Museum to visit the Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Period as it looked from the time of Jesus. We will stop next at the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament to take a picture of the Menorah, Israel’s national symbol. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.

VALLEY OF ELAH / NEOT KEDUMIM

Drive to the Valley of Elah to see where the battle of David and Goliath took place. Continue to Beit Shemesh to read from 1 Samuel 6:1-21. Visit the Valley of Aijalon (Joshua 10:1-15). Continue to Neot Kedumim- the only Biblical Landscape Reserve in the world, where you can see and experience the Land of the Bible as it was during the time of the bible. Drive to Modi’in the birth place of the Maccabi’s. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

JERUSALEM

Today is a free day in Jerusalem to enjoy enjoying last minute shopping in the Old City Bazaars or visiting the many museums that Jerusalem has to offer. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem

QUMRAN / MASADA / DEAD SEA

Drive to Qumran to see the caves where a young shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. We stop at Ein Gedi Oasis to read scripture where David fled Saul. Continue south to Masada and ascend by cable car to the summit of this magnificent fortress built by King Herod the Great and the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots. We drive to our hotel and the balance of the day for a chance to “float” in the saltiest body of water in the world or use the hotel’s spa. Dinner and overnight at the David Hotel, Dead Sea

DEAD SEA / TIMNA NATIONAL PARK / EILAT

Depart in the late morning and drive south through the Arava Valley at to see the Wilderness come to bloom, Isaiah 35:1-10. Continue to the Timna National Park to see the King Solomon Pillars and the Tabernacle in Wilderness (Exodus 40). Dinner and overnight at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Eilat

EILAT

Today is a free day in Eilat to enjoy this resort town on the Red Sea. Perhaps go swimming or relaxing at your hotel swimming pool or on the beach, snorkeling or scuba diving. You can visit the world famous Underwater Observatory to see the coral and tropical fish in their natural environment. Dinner and overnight at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Eilat

NEGEV / BEER SHEVA / TEL AVIV

Depart Eilat and drive through the Negev and the moon like landscape of the Ramon Crater. Stop for a visit to Avdat and see the remains from the Roman period and 5th century Byzantine churches. Continue to Tel Beer-Sheva (Genesis 21:22-34) now the capital of the Negev before arriving to Tel Aviv. Dinner and overnight at the Grand Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv

Departure

Depart Tel Aviv. on El Al or Air Canada flying non-stop to Toronto.