Day-by-Day Itinerary
This is a "Living Itinerary"... can be changed to include other places where we might want to spend
more time in prayer.
Day 1 Depart from Dallas/Fort
Worth Gateway to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast served aboard.
Day 2
Upon arrival
in Tel Aviv, we transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Already we begin to
feel the spirit of this land enchanting us, as we visit sites from the Bible and share the experience of walking in the footsteps
of Jesus. (Dinner) (Isaiah 61: 1 4)
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| Caesarea Harbor |
Day 3
Drive along the
Mediterranean coast to the ruins of the ancient Roman capital Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in 22 B.C. Visit the Roman Theatre, the Aqueduct and the Herodian Port. Continue up to Mt. Carmel, see the magnificent
panoramic view. Visit Muchraka, the location of Elijahs altar during his confrontation with the false prophets of Baal. Continue via the Valley of Armageddon to the excavation of Tel Megiddo. Continue up te mountains of the lower Galilee, to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and
Marys Well. Driving via Cana of Galilee, we reach Tiberias. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B, D)
| View from the Mt. of Beatitudes |
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Day 4
Take a boat ride
on the Sea of Galilee. Arrive at Ginosar and vist the fishermans boat found here
and dated to Jesus time. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on
the Mount, then travel to Tabgha site of the Miracle of Loaves and Fishes. Capernaum
is our next stop, city of Jesus and Peter. Cross the Jordan River to the land
of Gaderenes. Afternoon visit to Casarea Phillipi now called Banias one of the
main sources of the Jordan River. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
(B, D)
Day 5
We start the day
with a visit to the Yardenit, the Baptismal Center on the Jordan River. On to
Kursi, site of the Demons and Swine and from here up to the Golan heights to the Peace Observatory for an impressive view
of the Sea of Galilee. Continue to the old Roman city of Beit Shean to visit
the impressive ruins. Drive along the Gilboa mountain range to the Prophet Gideons
Spring and on to the Tel of Jesreel the location of queen Jezebels summer palace where we hear about the sites intimate connection
with Old Testament events. From here we venture south towards the city of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D)
Day 6
We start our day
with a visit to the Garden Tomb, followed by an orientation beside Calvary. Continue
to the Old City, through St. Stephens Gate to the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of Flagellation and the Ecce Momo Arch. View the Gabbatha pavement then proceed to Temple area and Mount Moriah, to visit
the Western Wall, the Ophel Archeological Park, where we see the Pennacle and visit the new visitors center dedicated to research
and education on the Biblical Temple. Continue through the Bazaar to the last
stations of the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. On an
afternoon drive to Bethlehem, we view the Shepherds field of Boaz and Ruth. Visit
the Church of the Nativity, the Milk Grotto and the came of St. Jerome. (B, D)
Day 7
Leave Jerusalem,
after stopping at the Inn of the Good Samaritian, arrive at the shores of the Dead Sea the lowest point on the earth. We drive along the Dead Sea to Masada, the fortress where the Jewish Zealots held
off the armies of the Roman Empire before choosing suicide over surrender. Continue
to Ein Gedi, where King David found shelter from the wrath of King Saul. After
lunch we enjoy a short float in the Dead Sea. Continue to Qumran where the Dead
Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 in a cave and then return to Jerusalem. (B, D)
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| Lost City of Petra - Monastery |
Day 8
Full Day of leisure
to pursue personal interests or shop. Or you may take the one night and day optional
excursion to Jordan. (B, D)
That optional
excursion will leave from Masada by way of the Allenby Bridge to cross over into Jordan and continue on to the ancient city
of Petra. We overnight in Petra.
The next morning
after breakfast we check out of our hotel to start our visit to Petra. This entire
city, with its rose colored temples and amphitheatre, is carved out of the multitude of rocks which surround the hidden valley. This city was lost to the modern world until approximately a hundred years ago. St. Paul studied here for three years and Herod the Great came from Petra. After our visit to Petra, we return via Mt. Nebo with it remarkable view of the Jordan Valley, the Dean
Sea and the distant spires of Jerusalem. From here we continue to Madaba, where
we will see some of the first Byzantine mosaics in the world. We then depart
for the Allenby Bridge to cross back into Israel and return to Jerusalem in time for dinner and overnight at our hotel. (B,
D)
Day 9
Drive to Mt. Scopus,
the impressive home of the Hebrew University, then to the Mt. of Olives for an outstanding view of Jerusalem. Afterwards, visit the Chapel of Ascension, Garden of Gethsemane, and Church of All Nations. See the Kidron Valley and Tomb of Absalom, Zechariah, and James.
Then to Mount Zion, the Room of the Last Supper, and King Davids Tomb. Afterwards,
we drive past the Knesset and the Israel Museum. Next visit the recently constructed
Model of Ancient Jerusalem. Time permitting, we visit the recently excavated
archeological site of the Jewish quarter the Cardo, the Wide wall built by King Hezekiah and the Herodian mansion. Farewell dinner before being transferred to the airport. (B,
D)
Day 10
Today our journey
ends with good memories as we head for home. Arrival the same day.
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