18 May Holy Land (5 Days / 4 Nights)
TEL AVIV – JAFFA – CAESAREA – NAZARETH – JORDAN RIVER – TIBERIAS – CAPERNAUM – TABGHA – JERICHO – DEAD SEA – JERUSALEM – BETHLEHEM – JERUSALEM – TEL AVIV
DAY 1 – TEL AVIV ARRIVAL: Arrival at Ben Gurion airport; meet, assist and transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnignth in Tel Aviv.
DAY 2 – JAFFA – CAESAREA – NAZARETH – JORDAN RIVER – TIBERIAS (55 km – 64 km – 47 km – 47 km): After breakfast begin your tour of the Holy Land by driving through the city of Tel Aviv to the ancient port of Jaffe which is now restored and is an exciting Artists Quarter. See the site of the house of Simon the Tanner. Continue north along the coast via the plains of Sharon to ancient Caesarea. Visit the Roman theater and other excavations. Drive via Mt. Carmel to Nazareth and visit the Church of Annunciation built on the site where Gabriel informed Mary she would give birth to the Messiah. Continue via Cana, the site of the First Miracle and then on to the Jordan River in whose waters John baptized Jesus. Continue to Tiberias and check into hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 – TIBERIAS – CAPERNAUM – TABGHA – JERICHO – DEAD SEA – JERUSALEM (16 km – 3 km – 155 km – 96 km – 46 km): After breakfast take a Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee. Visit ancient Capernaum where Jesus lived and performed many miracles. Visit Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the multitudes. On to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. Continue down the Jordan Valley past Jericho, the city Joshua destroyed. Drive to the lowest spot on earth, the Dead Sea. Conditions permitting, float in its unique mineral rich water. Travel up the Judean Hills to Jerusalem, the Holy city. Check into hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 – JERUSALEM – BETHLEHEM – JERUSALEM (30 km – 30 km): After breakfast drive to the Mount of Olives for an overview of the Old City of Jerusalem. Hear an explanation on this city’s most interesting history. Time for photos and possibly a Camel Ride. Visit the site of Ascension and then on to the Pater Noster Chapel where the Lord’s Prayer is written in many languages. Walk the Palm Sunday Road and then visit the Chapel of the Weeping (Dominus Flavit) where Jesus wept for Jerusalem. On to the Garden of Gethsemane and its old olive trees. Visit the Church of Gethsemane. Continue to Mount Zion. Visit the Upper Room where Jesus and his Disciples ate the Last Supper. Drive to Bethlemhem and the Church of the Nativity built over the site where Jesus was born. View the Shepherds’ Fields where the Shepherds were tending their flocks when the heard a heavenly chorus and followed the star to Bethlehem. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 – JERUSALEM – TEL AVIV DEPARTURE (69 km): After breakfast visit the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount. Walk to the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus cured the paralytic man. Walk along the Via Dolorosa and follow the 14 stations of the Cross. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure for shopping in the bazaars of the Old City. Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your flight back home.