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

You will be welcomed to the Holy Land by our airport representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

With Bible in hand, cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Along the way, participate in a special onboard worship service. Visit Caesarea Philippi, where Peter told the Lord, “You are the Christ!” (Matthew 16). At Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, you’ll learn about the “ancient boat”, a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed. You’ll also visit the Chapel of the Primacy, where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ (John 21). Travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Visit the synagogue, which stands on the site where Jesus taught (Matt.4:13, 23). Travel to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached to the people (Matt. 5-7). End your day at the Yardenit Baptismal Site, where you can remember your baptism at the Jordan River. Enjoy dinner and your overnight stay in Tiberias.

Explore the massive excavations at Beth Shean, a city continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years, including when the Philistines hung the bodies of King Saul and his sons from its walls (1 Sam. 31). Travel the ancient caravan route through the Jezreel Valley to Tel Megiddo, where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other. Visit Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene and tour the recently excavated synagogue. Visit the Roman aqueduct and theater at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians. Here, Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion (Acts 10) and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. Enjoy dinner and your overnight stay 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. Visit Sepphoris, the cosmopolitan Roman capital of Galilee until Herod Antipas built Tiberias. It is heralded as the traditional birthplace of Mary and possibly where Joseph and a young Jesus labored. Today, we’ll visit Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23) and Cana, the site of Christ’s first miracle. Continue past Tel Dothan, thought to be the place where Joseph found his brothers with their flocks (Genesis 37). Visit modern-day Nablus (Ancient Shechem) and see Jacob’s well, where Christ encountered the Samaritan woman (John 4). See Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, where the Israelites recited the blessings and cursings of the law. Enjoy dinner and your overnight stay on the shores of the Dead Sea.

This morning, visit the baptismal site at Qasr el Yahud, the traditional site of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Next, we will visit 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. Travel to Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery, to discuss the mysterious community of the Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. Visit 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. End the day just off the Roman road where Jesus “walked” the Wadi Qelt gorge, also known as the Valley of the Shadow of Death, the site of the Monastery of St. George. Enjoy dinner and overnight on the shores of the Dead Sea.

Begin your touring today standing atop the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives (Acts 1: 9-12). Walk to the Garden of Gethsemane and pray there as Jesus prayed (Matt.26:36-44). Visit the Israel Museum, where you will see the first-century model of the city of Jerusalem. Also, view the Shrine of the Book, where the Book of Isaiah, discovered among the Dead Sea
Scrolls, is displayed. Continue to Bethlehem and visit the cave where Jesus was born and the church ,which has been constructed on the site (Matthew 1: 18-25; Luke 2: 1-7). Nearby, visit Shepherds’ Field, where the Good News was first heard. Enjoy dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and walk the Cardo, the ancient main street of the Old City once lined with shops and now partially restored. Visit the Davidson Center and the Southern Wall Excavations, including the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1-31), where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle. 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. Visit the Garden Tomb, the possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea, and experience the reality of the Resurrection. Enjoy dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

On Mount Zion, you will view the site of King David’s Tomb. Stand in the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper (Mark 14: 12-26). Walk through some of the ancient rooms in the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was held overnight before His crucifixion (Luke 22). Visit Ein Karem, where Mary visited with Elizabeth prior to our Lord’s birth. Travel to Emmaus, where Jesus, after His resurrection, was invited to visit with two of his disciples who did not recognize Him until He blessed and broke bread with them (Luke 24:13-17, 28-31). After dinner, continue to the airport for your return flight to the USA.

Return home with memories of the people and places of the Holy Land.