Your pilgrimage begins as you depart on your international flight.

Our representative will welcome you to Cairo, Egypt, and transfer you to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

Enjoy a felucca ride on the Nile. Tour the Old City and see the Citadel of Saladin, built in 1183 AD, and view the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. In Old Cairo, visit the Abu Serga Church built over the traditional site of the house where the Holy Family lived during their stay in Egypt. Late this afternoon, fly to Amman and overnight at the Dead Sea.

Visit Mount Nebo, where Moses caught a glimpse of the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34). On a clear day, you can see all the way across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Continue to Madaba, the City of Mosaics, to visit the Church of Saint George with its sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites.

Travel to the city of Petra. Its entrance passes through a long, narrow gorge known as the Siq and can only be accessed by carriage, horseback, or on foot. Once inside the city, marvel at the intricate detail of a city that was cut into the cliffsides of rose-colored rock. Return to your hotel at the Dead Sea for your overnight stay.

Enjoy free time this morning at your hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea. Cross the border into Israel and visit Qumran, the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery site. Learn about the mysterious community of the Essenes, who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. Head to Jericho to visit the ruins of the ancient city Joshua conquered (Joshua 6:20). From Jericho, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1). Continue to the Galilee for dinner and your overnight stay.

Enjoy a scenic drive to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (Matt.4:13, 23). On the Mount of Beatitudes, contemplate the text of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached there (Matt. 5-7). Experience a special onboard worship service as you sail across the Sea of Galilee. Visit the Church of the Loaves and Fish in Tabgha, the traditional location of the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17). As you pray in the Chapel of the Primacy, remember how Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ three times (John 21). In Magdala, once home to Mary Magdalene, visit a recently discovered first-century synagogue.

Journey to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23), and recall Jesus’ first miracle as you travel through Cana (John 2:1). Visit the Roman aqueduct and theater at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians, where
Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion (Acts 10), and where Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. Continue to the Jerusalem area for your overnight stay.

In Bethlehem, visit the cave where Jesus was born (Luke 2:1-7) and see the Church of the Nativity built over the site. Gaze out over Shepherds’ Field, where the angels first proclaimed the Good News. Visit the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper (Mark 14:12-26). Visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas (Matthew 26:57), where Jesus was imprisoned for a night.

Enter the Old City and walk along the Cardo, the ancient main street. Say a prayer at the Western Wall. Continue to the Southern Wall Excavations of the Temple Mount and the Teaching Steps where Christ would have the temple area. After lunch, wander through the excavations of the City of David. Explore Hezekiah’s Tunnel, an amazing engineering feat that was dug from both ends and met in the middle. (Note: Those who are claustrophobic may want to meet the group at the other end of the tunnel). Visit the Pool of Siloam, which continues to be excavated to its original dimensions.

Stand on the Mount of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy a remarkable view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done (Matthew 26:36-39). View the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-18), where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle, and sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne to experience its beautiful acoustics. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1). Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross,” and end your day at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reflecting on Christ’s sacrificial love. End your day with communion at the Garden Tomb (Matthew 27:57-60).

Return from Tel Aviv to the USA