DESTINATION ISRAEL

9:30am Meet in the departure hall at London ON Airport, to check in for the Air Canada flight at 1pm to Toronto. Leave Toronto at 4:50pm on a direct, non-stop Air Canada flight to Tel Aviv, meals served on board.

WELCOME TO ISRAEL

Arrive in Tel Aviv at 10:15am, meet your tour guide. Drive through Jaffa of Jonah and the whale and Tabitha fame. Stop for a unique view of modern Tel Aviv. Drive north through the Plain of Sharon, along the Mediterranean shore, on the coastal road en route to the Galilee. Stop at Caesarea Maritima the largest port in the Mediterranean, built by King Herod the Great, later the Roman capital. 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. Travel north, view Muhraka (the burned place) on Mt. Carmel where the prophet Elijah challenged the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30). Continue to your hotel. 3 nights: Leonardo ~ Tiberias [Dinner]

MT. CARMEL GALILEE

Travel through the Jezreel Valley en route to Megiddo. Stop to visit this unique site, one of King Solomon’s fortified city kingdoms (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with some 21 impressive levels of destruction. From here the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive, as you read about Armageddon – the final Battle, while viewing the fertile plains of the Jezreel Valley. Proceed to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus. View the Church of the Annunciation and visit Nazareth Village to relive life in a village from the time of Jesus. Travel via Cana site of the first miracle changing water into wine to Mt Arbel. Enjoy a splendid view of the area of Jesus’ ministry, the Sea of Galilee, Jordan Valley and the Golan Heights. [breakfast & dinner]

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,” where Peter made the confession of faith in Christ (Matt; 16:16). Continue via the Golan Heights to Chorazin, one of three villages Jesus prophesied over “Woe to thee….” with impressive ruins of a first century Synagogue. Continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered “The sermon on the mount” (Matt.5). Travel down the mountain, stop to visit the sea shore at the Church of the Primacy of Peter, then proceed to Capernaum centre of Jesus’ Ministry in the Galilee and 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 the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Visit the ancient boat from the time of Jesus and end the day emulating the disciples with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. [breakfast & dinner]

ROAD TO JERUSALEM

Start the day at Yardenit, the baptism centre on the Jordan River. Travel south and stop to visit Beit Shean, one of the largest archaeological parks in Israel, 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. Drive through the Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2). Visit 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 to the Holy City – Jerusalem of Gold, stopping on Mt Scopus as the Galileans did to recite a Psalm of Ascent and enjoy the first view of the Holy City. Continue to Mt. Zion, visit the Upper Room known as the room of the Last Supper: King David’s Tomb: and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built on the site of High Priest Caiaphas’ home. Participate in community prayers at the King of Kings. 5 nights Lady Stern hotel ~ Jerusalem [breakfast & dinner]

NEW JERUSALEM

Pay tribute to the six million victims of the Shoah in Europe during the Second World War at Yad Vashem, National Memorial and Museum of the Shoah (Holocaust). 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 to 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. Visit King David’s City, including ruins of King David’s city, the Canaanite tunnel and the Pools of Siloam. Continue to the Southern Wall Archaeological Park, view the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque built on the Temple Mount as you visit the impressive excavations along the South Western Wall of the Temple Mount, including the very stairs Jesus and the Disciples used when entering / exiting the House of the Lord. Participate in community prayers at the King of Kings. [breakfast & dinner]

JERUSALEM – OLD CITY

Drive to the top of the Mount of Olives, for a majestic, panoramic view of Old and New Jerusalem. Following in the footsteps of Jesus, stroll down the Mount of Olives to the Olive Garden at Gethsemane, also known as the Church of All Nations. Continue across the Kidron Valley (Valley of Jehoshaphat), to the Western Wall (the Kotel) to visit the imposing 2000-year-old massive remnant of Temple Jesus knew. Walk back in time under the city through the Western Wall Tunnels. Visit the Pools of Bethesda at St. Anne’s Church. Continue walking along the colourful alleyways of the “Suk” (bazaars) and through the Old City market place. Stop to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, site of the Golgotha – the crucifixion, death, burial & resurrection of Christ. Continue walking through the Old City to the Jewish Quarter, visit the Roman / Byzantine / Crusader main street, called the “Cardo and the archaeological windows into Old and New Testament. End the day at the Garden Tomb with time for reflection, prayer and communion. [breakfast & dinner]

DEAD SEA

Visit ancient Shiloh where the tabernacle – House of the Lord (Joshua 18:1) – sojourned for some 400 years. Drive through the Judean desert to the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea (over 1300 feet below sea level). Travel south along the shore of the Dead Sea. View Ein Gedi spring where David fled the wrath of King Saul, en route to Masada. Ascend by cable car to visit King Herod the Great’s, remote, desert fortress – built on the imposing summit. Later the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in the revolt against Rome (73 ace). Travel north along the Dead Sea, stop to float on the Dead Sea the saltiest body of water in the world – you cannot sink! Continue to Jerusalem. [breakfast & dinner]

JERUSALEM

Spend the day at leisure in this fascinating city with ample 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. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel, then [breakfast & dinner]

CANADA

Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your return flight to Canada. Depart from Tel Aviv at 11:55am on your direct, non-stop Air Canada flight to Toronto, meals served on board. Arrive in Toronto at 5pm. Continue on the flight to London ON at 6:20pm arriving at 7pm.