Today we meet at our international departure airport where our host will assist with check-in formalities. This evening we will enjoy a delicious dinner high above the Atlantic.

Welcome Home to the Land of our Bible! We arrive in Tel Aviv this afternoon. Upon arrival, our TEMPLETON TOURS representative will meet us and assist us in gathering our luggage. After airport procedures are completed, we will meet our local guide and driver and begin our tour of the Holy Land. We start with a visit to Joppa, Jonah’s port of embarkation for Tarshish. Joppa was also the home of Tabitha (or Dorcas) who was raised from the dead by Peter. It was also here that Peter learned that God was interested in the salvation of the Gentiles. This evening, we will transfer to our hotel on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea for dinner and overnight. (D)

After breakfast, we will travel up the coast to Caesarea by the sea. There we will visit the Crusaders’ castle, the Roman amphitheater, the seaport from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome, and the Roman aqueduct system. We continue along the coast to Mount Carmel to see the site of Elijah’s triumph over the prophets of Baal. After lunch we continue north to Megiddo on the Plain of Armageddon to see King Solomon’s stables and water supply system. Prophecy will come alive at Megiddo as we look over the Valley of Armageddon. We then travel to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, to visit the oldest of the churches of the annunciation and Mary’s well. On our way to Tiberias we will stop in the little town of Cana where Christ turned the water into wine. We will hold a short ceremony in an ancient church for the couples who wish to renew their marriage vows. Then we’ll proceed to our hotel in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)

After breakfast we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. While on the boat we’ll pause for a brief worship service and remember the many miracles our Lord performed in this area. We’ll dock at Nof Ginossar to visit the “Jesus Boat” museum to see a boat that dates back to the time of Jesus. Then we will stop at the Primacy of Peter where Jesus commanded Peter to “Feed my sheep.” We’ll proceed to Capernaum to see the remains of an early church, the ruins of Peter’s house, and the ancient synagogue. After lunch we’ll travel to the Mount of Beatitudes above the Sea of Galilee to read the Sermon on the Mount while overlooking the Jordan Valley. Then we’ll proceed to a recently discovered site, a first century synagogue, in Magdala. It is believed that this is the hometown of Mary Magdalene, a follower of Jesus. On the return to our hotel in Tiberias we’ll stop on the banks of the Jordan River. (B/L/D)

This morning we will leave the Galilee area travel south through the Jordan River Valley. We will stop and visit the new excavations at Beit She’an, the city where the Philistines hung the bodies of Saul and Jonathan. Then we will visit Bethabara where John baptized those who came to him (John 1:28). This is also known as the “place of crossing” where the children of Israel crossed into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17). We will travel through the Jordan Valley to Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world. If conditions permit, we will enter Jericho to see the excavations of the ancient walls, view the Mount of Temptation, and see Elisha’s Spring. Our hotel tonight is located just off the shores of the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is 1300 feet below sea level and is the lowest spot on the earth. Be sure you take time to swim in the Dead Sea or the freshwater pool and spa. The waters are made up of 25% salt and are so dense that it’s impossible to sink. You can literally sit up in the water as if you were in a chair. (B/L/D)

After an excellent breakfast buffet we will travel to the mountain fortress of Masada, truly a remarkable piece of history. We’ll ascend by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress where the Jewish zealots made the last stand of the Judean revolt against Rome. Today the remains of Herod’s buildings, palaces, storehouses, cisterns, and a 6th Century Byzantine church are still in view. We will then drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Ein Gedi, a green oasis in the middle of the desert, and see the area where David hid while fleeing from King Saul. Afterwards we will travel to Qumran to see the caves where they hid some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. After lunch we will begin our ascent to Jerusalem. On the way, we will stop to view the St. George Monastery, an active monastery since the 5th century. We will also get a glimpse of “the Valley of the Shadow of Death.” We arrive in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel for over 3000 years, and pause on Mount Scopus where our guide will lead us in the traditional Jewish Welcome. Dinner and overnight will be at our hotel in Jerusalem. (B/L/D)

This morning we will begin our tour with a visit to the Temple Mount where the Jewish temple stood until its destruction by the Roman Legions in 70 A.D. There we will see the Dome of the Rock Mosque built over the rock where Abraham prepared to sacrifice Isaac, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and the Golden Gate. We’ll continue our walk through the Old City to the beautiful Crusader Church dedicated to St. Anne and the nearby Pool of Bethesda. After lunch, we will visit the Model City of Jerusalem as it was in 69 AD. We’ll also visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept. If conditions permit, we will then take a short drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, built over the cave of Christ’s birth, as well as the Shepherd’s Field and plains of Boaz. We will also visit one of the famous Bethlehem gift shops and see the ancient crafts of Bethlehem, dating from Crusader times, before returning to our hotel. (B/L/D)

Our second day in Jerusalem begins with a visit to the famous Western Wall and Tunnel excavation site. We will visit Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), site of the Antonia Fortress. We’ll pass many of the traditional 14 Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorosa and also see part of the old colorful oriental market. We will continue our walk and visit the restored Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem in Roman times. Then we travel a short distance to the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of the city of Jerusalem. While we are here, our guide will point out all of the important sites of Jerusalem. We will proceed to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room, traditional site of the Last Supper and the fire of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. At the end of the day we will be visiting the Southern Wall excavation site. Here we will walk on the very stones where Jesus trod to Herod’s “second temple” and see the place where our Savior taught the Scriptures. (B/L/D)

Today is our last day in the Holy Land so we want to make the most of it. We start our tour with a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus had His agony and was betrayed. There we will pause for devotion and prayer time in a private garden. After our worship service we will take a short walk through the Valley of the Tombs, passing the traditional tombs of Absalom and Ezra. After our walk we will visit the recent archaeological discovery of the Pool of Siloam through Hezekiah’s Tunnel. This is the place where Jesus told the blind man to wash the mud from his eyes so he could see. Then we will visit the House of Caiaphas where Peter denied Christ three times. After lunch, we will conclude our tour of the Holy Land with a visit to Calvary and the Garden Tomb, a peaceful spot where we can remember Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection and share in the Lord’s Supper. This evening we will enjoy a delicious dinner at our hotel. (B/L/D)

Today our memorable journey and Holy Land pilgrimage comes to an end. We will transfer to the airport in Tel Aviv and board the plane for our return flight home. In flight we can fellowship with our friends and remember the many things we shared together.

Our wonderful journey through the Holy Land comes to a close. Transfer to the airport for our return flights. We will bring back souvenirs, photographs, new friendships, and some unforgettable memories!