Depart on your international overnight flight from the United States.

You will be welcomed to the Holy Land by our representative at the airport. Travel to the countryside of the Galilee. Dinner and overnight in your hotel in Tiberias.  

Travel to Mount Arbel and walk along its peak for a stunning view of the Sea of Galilee and the area in which Jesus ministered, with extended views of Mount Hermon in the north and Mount Tabor in the south. It is a magnificent photo opportunity. Travel to Cana, where you will stop to remember the wedding feast and the first miracle of Jesus. You’ll visit Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus (Matthew 2:23). Walk through the Church of the Annunciation and then stop at Mount Precipice, where Luke describes how those in the synagogue rejected Jesus after He taught them. Filled with anger, they “led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong” (Luke 4:29). Explore the Nazareth Village, a living presentation of the life, times, and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. On the Sea of Galilee, near the base of towering Mount Arbel, lie the ruins of the ancient city of Magdala.

Watch the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee, where fishermen work the waters with nets much as in the time of Jesus. At Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, you will learn about the “ancient boat”, a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed. Visit the peaceful Mount of Beatitudes that overlooks the Sea of Galilee. You’ll visit nearby Peter’s Primacy and Tabgha, where you will see the famous 4th century-mosaic of the fish and the loaves. Ride across the waters to explore Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry. Visit the synagogue that stands on the site where Jesus taught. Recall his teaching and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 4:13, 23). On this hill, Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. At the Yardenit Baptismal site, situated where the Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee on its way to the Dead Sea, enjoy the peace and tranquility of the natural surroundings and participate in a baptismal service in the river in which Christ was baptized by John the Baptist (Mark 1:9-11).  

Travel to the ruins of Beit She’an, where the bodies of Saul and his sons were displayed on the walls after they were killed in battle (I Sam. 31:10, 12). Beit She’an is also noted for having the best-preserved ancient Roman theater in Israel. Visit Ein Harod (Judges 7:1), the spring where Gideon gathered his men to fight the Midianites.  At Beit Alpha, visit a fifth-century synagogue where you will see a beautiful mosaic made in the time of Justin I depicting the Holy Ark and the story of the sacrifice of Isaac. Travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo, where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other, and where Solomon built his stables. Travel to Mount Carmel, where Elijah defeated the Baal prophets (I Kings 18:19, 40), and visit the monastery at the top of the mountain. Visit Caesarea Maritima, where the  first Christians were baptized (Acts 10:48). Continue to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Travel to Jericho and visit the ruins of the ancient city, which was conquered by Joshua (Josh. 6:1, 2, 20). From Jericho, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11). Travel to Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of the Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. Travel to Masada, Herod’s mountaintop fortress, which became the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. Ride the cable car to the top to explore. Peer down upon the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp below. Time permitting, you’ll stop briefly at the Shores of the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the salt and mineral-laden waters. 

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). Descend the Palm Sunday Walk to the Garden of Gethsemane and pray there as Jesus prayed (Matt. 26:36 -44).  Stand in the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12 -26). Visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was imprisoned for a night (Matt. 26:57 -65).  Walk down through the City of David Excavations to the Pool of Siloam. 

Travel to Bethlehem, where you will visit the cave revered as Jesus’ birthplace and the church which has been constructed on the site (Matt. 1:18 -25; Luke 2:1 -7). Nearby, view Shepherds’ Field, where the Good News was first heard. Visit the Herodion, the fortified palace and final resting place of Herod the Great.

See the archaeological study being done at Emek Tzurim, where excavations from under the Temple Mount are being studied.  Visit the tel at Shiloh, once the center of Hebrew worship until the Philistines took the Ark of the Covenant. Visit the Shrine of the Book and walk around the model of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection. 

Visit the Davidson Center and the Southern Wall Excavations, including the Teaching Steps, the Western Wall, Temple Mount, and the Rabbi’s Tunnel. View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1 -31) where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle, and sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne. 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”. Stand in reverence at the traditional site of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Celebrate the Resurrection with Communion at the Garden Tomb. Return to the hotel to prepare for your overnight flight.  

Return to the USA or Enjoy an Extended Stay in Jerusalem