Israel Tour 2008 Itinerary

Dec. 7: USA / ISRAEL.  Tour members will gather at the ticket counter at the airport two hours prior to their departure to Israel.  Dinner and breakfast will be served in-flight.

Dec. 8:  TEL AVIV.  Upon our arrival at the Tel Aviv airport, we will begin the thrilling journey of following in the footsteps of Jesus.  Continue to our hotel , the Dan Panorama in Tel Aviv. Dinner will be served at our hotel.  We suggest a walk on the streets of Tel Aviv after dinner.

Dec 9:  THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA / CAESAREA / MOUNT CARMEL / MEGIDDO / PLAIN OF ARMAGEDDON / TIBERIAS.  After a good nights rest and a hearty breakfast, we begin at Caesarea by the sea and visit the harbor built by King Herod as well as the Roman theater and aqueduct and the port from which the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome.  We will continue northward along the Mediterranean coast to Mount Carmel where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal by the Brook Kishon.  Then to Megiddo and the Plain of Armageddon, Jezreel and Esdraelon.  Traveling eastward, we will arrive in Tiberias for dinner and overnight at our hotel, where we get our first glimpse of the beautiful Sea of Galilee.

Dec 10: TIBERIAS / THE SEA OF GALILEE / CAPERNAUM / MOUNT OF BEATITUDES / KURSI / KORAZIM.     This day will be an exciting day in the Galilee area.  After a delicious breakfast, we will depart from the Roman hot springs resort city of Tiberias via a replica boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (John 6:24) to visit the ancient ruins of this first century synagogue where Jesus preached (Matthew 4:13-17).  Then, on to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and then to Gadara (Kursi), the Arabic name for the ruin on the eastern shores of the Sea of Galilee. During the mishnaic and talmudic periods this was a Jewish fishing village. The remains of Kursi were discovered accidentally after the 1976 Six Day War, when a road was paved along the eastern bank of the Sea of Galilee.  Continue to Chorazin (Korazim), one of numerous towns that thrived in the Galilee after the destruction of the Second Temple. It is probably one of the most beautiful lesser-known ancient synagogues in Israel and one that clearly attests to a mastery of stonework, by those who built it.  On our return we stop at Nof Ginnossar to see the ‘Jesus boat’ and museum.  Dinner and overnight.

 

Dec 11:  TEL DAN / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / MT. HERMON / GOLAN HEIGHTS / THE JORDAN RIVER / BAPTISMAL SITE.  This morning we drive north to Tel Dan. (A tel is an ancient mound composed of the remains of successive settlements.) The excavation findings here include sections of imposing walls and gates, as well as a ritual site that dates back to the time of the Bible.  We will proceed to Upper Galilee and the site of Peter's Confession (Matthew 16:16) at Caesarea Philippi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm 89:12), the probable site of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8) and the present day Golan Heights where Israel, Lebanon and Syria come together.  Then continue to the Yardenit for a baptism at the Jordan River.  Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

 

Dec. 12:  NAZARETH / TIBERIAS /  BET SHEAN / GIDEON’S SPRING.  After breakfast this morning we drive to the Nazareth Village.  On to Beit Shean and the National Park which houses some of Israel’s most spectacular archaeological finds.  Visit Gideon’s spring, the Spring of Harod which flows from Gideon's Cave. This is the place where Gideon gathered his men before fighting the Midianites  (Judges 7:1). Return to our hotel for some time at leisure. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

 

Dec. 13:   JERICHO / DEAD SEA.  This morning we begin  our drive via the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. We arrive in Ancient Jericho where the walls came tumbling down and which has a commanding view of the Mt. of Temptation and Elisha's Fountain. Time available to shop at Jericho. Then enjoy a dip in the world-famous Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Jerusalem.

 

Dec. 14:  MASADA / EIN GEDI / DEAD SEA / BETHLEHEM. This morning we visit Masada, truly a remarkable piece of history.  On the way we view Ein Gedi, a green oasis in the middle of the desert. Then ascend to Masada by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress, where from 70-73 A.D. the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean revolt against Rome, and where the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a 6th century Byzantine church are still on view.  This afternoon continue our tour to Bethlehem.  We’ll see the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus, and Shepherds Fields (Luke 2:1-20) then the Field of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 & 4:13).  We return to Jerusalem passing Rachel's Tomb.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

 

Dec. 15: JERUSALEM. This morning we tour New Jerusalem:  Hebrew University, the Shrine of the Book that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Israel Museum and the Model City of Jerusalem which depicts in miniature the Holy City as it appeared in the first century.  See Yad Vashem - the immensely moving memorial to the six million martyrs of the Holocaust.  Proceed to Mt. Olive for shopping at the bazaar.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Dec. 16: JERUSALEM.  Today begins with a visit to the Temple Mount. Then a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem.  Starting at the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) where the faithful Jews cry their petitions to God, we continue to the Temple Area of Mt. Moriah.  Visit the Rabbinical Tunnel and the Southern Wall excavations by the Temple Mount.  See the Lithostratos (Judgment Hall of Pontius Pilate), and the Jerusalem shouk.  See the El Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock which is built on the ancient site of Solomon's Temple (Genesis 22:9-14) and over the Rock of Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) and the ceremonial sacrifice of animals took place.   After this, we walk along the Via Dolorosa to Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch (John 19:13) where Jesus was tried before Pilate (Mark 15:6).  We then visit the Jewish Quarter to see Hezekiah’s Broad Wall and the Jewish Cardo. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Dec. 17:  GETHSEMANE / DAVID’S TOWER MUSEUM / CAIPHAS’ HOUSE / GARDEN TOMB.  After a night of rest and a hearty breakfast, this exciting day will begin with a walk along Hosanna Road to the Gethsemane to visit the Rock of Agony where Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Matt. 26:36-57).  Then, to the biblical City of David which was situated on the southern slope of Mt. Moriah outside today's Old City wall. Under King Solomon, the city was extended northward and included Mount Moriah. Visit the Pool of Siloam.  We then drive to Mt. Zion where we visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on the site of Caiphas' House, Room of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20) and the Tomb of King David.  Visit the Garden Tomb and Golgotha - Place of the Skull.   Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Dec. 18: JERUSALEM / Airport.  Today is a day of leisure for optional activities of your own.  The we will stop for a Farewell dinner before going to the airport for our late evening flight home.

 

Dec. 19: TEL AVIV / NORTH AMERICA.  Early this morning we arrive at the Atlanta airport - the end of a most enjoyable  journey.