Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight.

Once you arrive, you will be welcomed at the Tel Aviv airport by our representative and transferred to your Galilee hotel to enjoy dinner and overnight. Provided that the flights arrive in the morning, you’ll tour Caesarea Maritima and Mount Carmel.

Journey to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter proclaimed, “You are the Christ” (Matthew 16).  You will also visit the ancient remains of Tel Dan and the altar built by King Jeroboam I (I Kings 12:25 -30).  On the Mount of Beatitudes, contemplate the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matt. 5 -7). Visit Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee, and visit the synagogue built on the site where Jesus taught (Matt. 4:13, 23). Cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee on a very special boat ride, complete with an onboard worship service. Overnight in Galilee.

See Sychar, home of Jacob’s Well, where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman (John 4). Visit Qasr el Yehud, the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Stop in Jericho, the oldest known inhabited city in the world. Visit the ruins of the ancient city, which was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 6: 1,2,20), and see parts of the ancient city walls that have been uncovered. From Jericho, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4: 1 -11) and the Judean wilderness. Stop briefly at the Shores of the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the salt and mineral-laden waters. View the Wadi Kelt, a deep gorge in the Judean Wilderness that may be the “valley of the shadow of death,” referred to in Psalm 23. Overnight in Jerusalem.

In Bethlehem, gaze out over Shepherds’ Field and visit the cave revered as Jesus’ birthplace (Matt. 1: 18 -25) inside the Church of the Nativity, the world’s oldest functioning church (Matt. 1: 18 -25). Continue on to Bethany, where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11). Inside the modern-day Church of St. Lazarus are mosaics that date back to the Byzantine church that originally stood here. Journey through the Valley of Elah, where David defeated Goliath (I Samuel 17. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Visit Mount Zion and walk through some of the ancient rooms of Caiaphas’ the High Priest’s house beneath the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu.  Here, Jesus was held overnight before His crucifixion (Luke 22). Visit the Temple Mount, once the site of the Temple of Solomon. Take time to pray at the Western Wall. Sit on the Teaching Steps where Jesus once taught. Wander through the excavations of the city of David. Walk the steps to the Pool of Siloam, recently uncovered at the foot of the City. Explore Hezekiah’s Tunnel, an amazing engineering feat that was dug from either end and met in the middle (Note: Those who are claustrophobic may want to meet the group at the other end of the tunnel). Overnight in Jerusalem.

Stand atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem. Forty days after his resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1: 9 -12). Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26) among olive trees in the Kidron Valley across from the walls of Jerusalem. View the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle (John 5: 1 -31). Sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne, known for its amazing acoustics. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23: 1 -11). Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and stand in reverence at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Your final destination allows time for reflection at the Garden Tomb. Enjoy dinner tonight before transferring to the airport for your return flight.

May 9 - Return to the USA