Price of tour includes: Round trip airfare from Seattle on Continental Airlines ● Full Israeli breakfast and dinner daily ● Full sightseeing program and entrance fees on itinerary ● All transfers and porterage at airport and hotels ● Tips to driver, guide and hotel staff ● Deluxe air conditioned motor coach ● Licensed Israeli English speaking guide ● 8 days of sightseeing ● 8 nights first class accommodations in double occupancy ● shipping of documents ● Tour price is a cash/check discount rate*

Not included: Charges for passport ● Bottled water or beverages ● Room service, items from room mini-fridge, or personal items ● Single Room ● Lunches ● Travel Insurance ● Use of credit cards for tour payments-tour price is cash/check discount(4% convenience fee not retained by Madison International Travel)*

Airline taxes are included in the tour price at the current rate of $300. Should the airline impose a tax or fuel surcharge increase, the difference will be collected before departure.

Itinerary

Day 1, Wed, Jan 7 — Depart from Seattle on United/Lufthansa Airlines 6:10 a.m. for our flight to Tel Aviv.

Day 2, Thurs, Jan 8 — We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv where we will be met by our representative and transfer to the Metropolitan Hotel in Tel Aviv. After dinner, enjoy a walk along the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 3, Fri, Jan 9 — Begin the day at Jaffa, the port where the prophet Jonah set sail for Tar shish. We will travel to Caesarea Maritima. Here you will see magnificent archaeological finds. Visit Mt. Carmel, where Elijah held the triumphal contest with 450 prophets of Baal. Continuing to Megiddo, see the site of 26 superimposed cities, the remains from Solomon’s days, and view the Plains of Jerzeel where the final Armageddon will be fought. Nazareth, is our next stop, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit a replica village built on remains from 2,000 years ago. Arrive at the Holiday Inn Hotel where we will stay while in Tiberias.

Day 4, Sat, Jan 10 — Start the day by sailing across the Sea of Galilee in a replica boat from 2,000 years ago. Visit the ancient “Jesus” boat discovered in 1986 which is consistent of boats from BC200 to AD100. Next, travel to Capernaum to explore the archeological gardens. Walk on the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount, and then visit Tabgah where Jesus fed 5,000. We then come to the first century city built of basalt stone, Chorazin, a city that would not respond to the miracles of Jesus.

Day 5, Sun, Jan 11 — Today we travel to the northern part of Israel. At Banias, one of the headwaters of the Jordan River, we visit the site of Caesarea Philippi. Then, walk through the beautiful nature reserve of Tel Dan where we will see the discovery of Jeroboam’s Altar. Travel up to the Golan Heights, look into Syria and see remains from the Six Day War. We end the day at Yardenit where you will have the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River.

Day 6, Mon, Jan 12 — We leave the Galilee area and drive down the Jordan Valley to explore the latest excavations at Beit Shean, revealing the remains of a Decapolis Capital. Drive by Mt. Gilboa, site of Saul’s death, and visit the natural springs where Gideon brought ten thousand to be tested. Continue down the Jordan Valley, driving by Jericho and the Mount of Temptations, to the lowest spot on earth, the Dead Sea. We will visit Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery, before arriving at the Moriah Classic Hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea for an evening of relaxation, take advantage of the spa facilities, or “float” in the therapeutic Dead Sea.

Day 7, Tues, Jan 13 — Enjoy a morning of leisure before a visit to Massada, to tour the famous archaeological site where Jewish Zealots made their last stand against Rome in AD73. We see Ein Gedi where David hid from Saul, and time permitting, we will hike to the waterfalls. We drive to Jerusalem and stop at Mt Scopus for a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Golden City. We arrive at our Jerusalem hotel, the Prima Royale.

Day 8, Wed, Jan 14 — Today we begin our Jerusalem journey at the Mt. of Olives where we will hear an explanation of the city then walk down the Palm Sunday road to Gethsemane. Then at Mt. Zion we will visit the Church of St. Peter in Galacantu, Caiaphas’ House where Jesus was held before trial. At the Upper Room enjoy a time of worship. See the Pools of Bethesda and enjoy a time of singing at the Church of St. Anne’s. After the lunch break, visit the new excavations of the City of David. Just outside the Old City Walls, lies the original Jerusal em.

Day 9, Thurs, Jan 15 — This morning we enter the Old City and visit the Western Wall. Next, we walk through the Western Wall Tunnel to see remarkable underground excavation of ancient Jerusalem. Continue through the Old City following the Via Dolorosa, walking through the Old Arab markets and Jewish Quarters. See the ancient Roman Cardo and the remains from Nehemiah’s Wall. At Antonia’s Fortress, see the original paving believed to be where Christ stood before Pilate, and markings of a cruel game used by soldiers. At the Herodian Mansion and Burnt House see the remains of homes that were destroyed in AD70. End the day with worship and communion at one of the sites believed to be the burial site of Jesus, the Garden Tomb.

Day 10, Fri, Jan 16— Again we enter the Old City and to enjoy a virtual tour and explore the southern steps of the Temple during the time of Christ. Then we visit areas of New Jerusalem. First we drive by the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, then walk through Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. We then visit the Israel Museum and see the Holy Land Model, replica of Jerusalem during the time of Christ, and also see the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book. We enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner and lovely biblical garden tour at Yad Hashmona, as we say good-bye to Israel. We will return to our hotel and prepare for the flight home.

Day 11, Sat, Jan 17 — Depart Tel Aviv at 5:30 a.m. on Lufthansa Airline and arrive in Seattle at 12:55 p.m. with a life time of memories of our Journey to the Land of the Bible.