DESTINATION ISRAEL

2pm Meet in the departure hall Toronto’s Pearson airport terminal 1 to check in for the Air Canada flight. Leave Toronto at 4:55pm on your overnight, nonstop Air Canada flight, destination Israel. Meals served on board.

WELCOME TO ISRAEL

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport at 10:15am. Meet your tour guide. Drive north through the Plain of Sharon, along the Mediterranean shore to 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. View Muhraka, the burned place, on Mt. Carmel where the prophet Elijah challenged the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30) and proceed along the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, one of King Solomon’s fortified city kingdoms (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with impressive ruins of 21 levels of civilization. From here the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as you read about the final Battle of Armageddon. Continue to your hotel. [dinner] 1 night: Bayview hotel ~ Haifa

GALILEE

Proceed to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus, visit Nazareth Village to relive life from the time of Jesus. View the Church of the Annunciation. Continue to Arbala for a spectacular view of the area of Jesus’ Ministry around the Sea of Galilee, the Golan Heights and the Galilee. Stop to visit Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. Travel to Tabgha to visit the Church of the Feeding of the Multitude. Continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered “The sermon on the mount” (Matt.5). Proceed to Capernaum, centre of Jesus’ Ministry in the Galilee and site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt.8:5-7 & 14-15). See the remains of St Peter’s house (Matt. 8:14) and the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Emulating the disciples sail on the Sea of Galilee then visit the ancient boat, from the time of Jesus. [Breakfast & dinner] 2 nights: Ohalo Manor hotel ~ Tiberias

JESUS’ MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

Drive north along the foot of the Golan Heights to visit Dan, of Abraham (Genesis 14:14) & king Jeroboam fame. Visit this fascinating lush site, with two significant gates and a unique alter. Continue to 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). Travel onto the Golan Heights, stop at the memorial in the Valley of Tears to pay tribute to the Israeli soldiers who held the invading Syrian tanks at bay and saved the day in the Yom Kippur War 1973 and view the old Syrian HQ at Kuneitra. Stop at Chorazin, one of the villages Jesus rebuked for not accepting his teaching. [Breakfast & dinner]

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), known in Jesus day as Scythopolis, capital of Decapolis. Visit the impressive Roma/Byzantine/Omayyad ruins. Drive through the Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2) towards Jericho, the oldest town in the world (which you will see from a distance). Visit Qasr El Yahud on the Jordan River where John Baptised Jesus. Stop at Qumran, home of the Cult of the Judean Desert, where a shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls (1947) in a nearby cave. Then ascend through the Judean Desert Wilderness to the Holy City – golden Jerusalem as the Galileans did stopping on Mt Scopus to recite a Psalm of Ascent and enjoy your first spectacular view of the Holy City. Continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity the birthplace of Jesus. An opportunity is provided to witness the greeting of the Sabbath bride at the Western Wall. 5 nights: Jerusalem Gardens hotel ~ Jerusalem [Breakfast & dinner]

JERUSALEM

Drive to the top of Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Stroll down the Mountain to the Garden of Gethsemane at the Church of All Nations. Continue along the Kidron valley, the valley of Jehoshaphat, to see the Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and James to Mt Zion. Visit the Upper Room (Room of the Last Super), King David’s Tomb and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built on the site of High Priest Caiaphas’ home to see the ancient stairs Jesus might have walked on. Enter the Old City through Zion Gate, walk through the Armenian and the Jewish Quarter. Visit the ancient street called the “Cardo”. Continue through the “Suk” (the colourful bazaar), alleyways and market places to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit King David’s City including: Warren’s shaft, the Canaanite tunnel and the Pools of Siloam. Participate in community prayers at the King of Kings Pavilion. [Breakfast & dinner]

JERUSALEM

Start the day at Yad Vashem – national memorial and Museum of the Shoah (Holocaust). Pay tribute to the six million Jewish victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) in Europe during the Second World War. Visit the 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 adjacent model of ancient Jerusalem describing the city from the time of Jesus. Enter and walk through the Old city, view the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque built on the Temple Mount. Visit the South Western Wall 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) to visit this significant Jewish prayer and pilgrimage site. [Breakfast & dinner]

MASADA / DEAD SEA

Take a fascinating journey back in time through the Western Wall Tunnels under the city, along the length of the Temple Mt. Continue to the Pools of Bethesda at St. Anne’s Church. Exit the city at St Stephen’s the Lions Gate. Drive through the Judean desert to Genesis land where you meet with Abraham and enjoy biblical folklore and camel rides. Travel through the wilderness down to the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea (over 1300 feet below sea level). Continue south view Ein Gedi an Oasis in the desert en route to Masada. Ascend by cable car to the summit of King Herod the Great’s desert fortress, later the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in the revolt against Rome(73 ace). Travel north along the Dead Sea en route to Jerusalem stop to float on the Dead Sea – enjoy a remarkable experience, you cannot sink! [Breakfast & dinner]

JERUSALEM

Spend the day at leisure in this fascinating city. 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. [Breakfast & dinner]

CANADA

Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your return flight to Canada. Leave Tel Aviv at 11:50am flying on a nonstop Air Canada flight to Toronto, arriving at 4:55pm. Meals served on board.