DESTINATION ISRAEL

Meet in the departure hall Seattle airport at 5AM to check in for the Alaskan Air flight to JFK or BOS or LAX. Leave Seattle at 7:35AM arrive in JFK or BOS or LAX at 3:50pm. Continue on your overnight, direct, nonstop EL Al flight at 6pm, destination Israel. Meals served on board.

WELCOME TO ISRAEL

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport at 11:20am. Clear passport control and customs then meet your tour guide and driver. Drive north through the Plain of Sharon, along the Mediterranean shore, on the coastal road known in antiquity as the Via Maris, which linked Egypt and Babylon. Stop at 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. Time permitting stop at the visitors’ center to view the audio visual presentation. Continue to your hotel. 1 night Leonardo Plaza & Bayview hotel ~ Haifa [Dinner]

GALILEE

View Muhraka, the summit on Mt. Carmel where the prophet Elijah challenged the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30) as you travel along the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo. Visit one of King Solomon’s fortified city kingdoms (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with impressive ruins of 20 levels of civilization. From here the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as you read about the final Battle of Armageddon, while viewing the fertile plains of the Jezreel. Proceed to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus, visit Nazareth Village to relive village life from the time of Jesus. View the Church of the Annunciation and travel via Mt Precipice to the Sea of Galilee. Time permitting stop on Mt Arbel for a stunning view of the area of Jesus’ ministry, the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Visit the ancient boat from the time of Jesus, then emulating Jesus and the disciples sail on the Sea of Galilee, with time for contemplation and prayer. 2 nights Leonardo Club & Leonardo hotel ~ Tiberias, Sea of Galilee [Breakfast & Dinner]

JESUS’ MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

Drive north in the Jordan Valley, along the foot of the Golan Heights to Banias. Visit 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). Continue via the Golan Heights 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 the 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. (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). [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’ time as Scythopolis, capital of Decapolis. Visit the extensive site with an opportunity to see Biblical, Roman, Byzantine and Moslem levels of destruction. Drive through the Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2). Then ascend through the Judean Desert Wilderness as the Galileans did to golden Jerusalem. Stop on Mt Scopus to recite a Psalm of Ascent and enjoy the first view of the Holy City. Travel to Bethlehem to visit the birthplace of Jesus in the Church of the Nativity. 4 nights Prima Park or Prima Palace hotel ~ Jerusalem [Breakfast & Dinner]

JERUSALEM

Start the day at Yad Vashem, national memorial and Museum of the Shoah (Holocaust), where you pay tribute to the six million victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) in Europe during the Second World War. Visit the new Museum, the Children’s Memorial and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous Amongst the Nations, commemorating those who at great personal risk saved 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: The G area, the Canaanite tunnel and the Pools of Siloam. Enter the Old city view the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque built on the Temple Mount. Visit the Davidson Centre and the South Western Wall of the Temple Mount, including the very same steps that Jesus and the Galileans might have used to enter and exit the Holy Temple. Stop at the Western Wall (Kotel). [Breakfast & Dinner]

JERUSALEM

Start the day on the Mount of Olives for a spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem old and new. Stroll down the Mountain to the Garden of Gethsemane at the Church of All Nations, with time for contemplation and prayer in the adjacent Olive Grove. Continue along the Kidron (the Valley of Jehoshaphat), past the Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and James to Mt Zion. Visit the Upper Room (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. Enter through Zion Gate and walk to the Jewish Quarter to visit the ancient main street known as the “Cardo”. Continue through the “Suk,” the colourful market place to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. End the day at the Garden Tomb. [Breakfast & Dinner]

MASADA / DEAD SEA

Drive through the Judean desert to the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea (over 1300 feet below sea level). 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. 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). Stop at a Dead Sea Beach to float on the Dead Sea– you cannot sink! [Breakfast & Dinner]

JERUSALEM

Spend a day of leisure in this fascinating city. With time to re-visit places of interest or the Old City for shopping in the bazaars or walk through the new city for shopping along Jaffa Road and Ben Yehuda Street. Or visit one of the many Museums that Jerusalem has to offer, or simply relax at the hotel. Late check out is provided. Enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel then transfer to Ben Gurion airport for the EL AL flight. [Breakfast & Dinner]

RETURN TO USA

Leave Tel Aviv at 00:30am on the direct non-stop EL AL flight to JFK or BOS or LAX arriving 5:15am, meals served on board. 7am Continue on your Alaskan Air flight to Seattle arriving at 10:40am.

>strong> OR JOIN THE UNIQUE OPTIONAL (4 days, 3 nights) JORDAN TOUR EXTENSION Price per person is $775 based on: 2 people sharing a double room and minimum 25 participants. Not included a) The single room supplement is $268; b) Israel & Jordan Exit Tax & Jordan visa fee +/-US$55 paid at border crossing & c) Gratuity US$50 per person. PLEASE FILL OUT YES TO THE JORDAN OPTION ON THE APPLICATION.