Israel At A Glance
Tel Aviv
Masada
Golan Heights
Ein Gedi
Capernaum
Ein Gedi
Dead Sea
Sample 10-Day Tour Itinerary
Departure
Depart from your hometown for an overnight flight to Tel Aviv.
Arrival
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, meet your representative and transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. After dinner, enjoy a walk along the Mediterranean Sea.
Caesarea Maritima. Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Nazareth
Travel to Caesarea Maritima and see a well-preserved Roman Amphitheater, remains from Herod’s Palace and a Hippodrome where horse races, special events and games took place. See the aqueducts built by Herod that brought ample water from several miles away. Visit Mt. Carmel, where Elijah defeated the 450 prophets of Baal. Continue to Megiddo and see the remains from Solomon’s days and view the plains where the final Armageddon will be fought. Drive to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, and visit a replica village built on remains from 2,000 years ago. Continue to your hotel in Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Magdala
Start the day at the Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount, then visit Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ activities in the Galilee and home to Peter, Andrew, James and John. See the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught and explore the archeological gardens. At Tabgah see the traditional site where Jesus fed 5,000. Board a replica boat from 2,000 years ago and sail across the Sea of Galilee to Tiberius. Enjoy a delightful St. Peter’s Fish lunch at a lovely restaurant built over the Sea of Gailee. Next visit Magdala, home to Mary Magdalene, a recently discovered fishing village and 1st century Synagogue. End the day with an opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River at Yardenit Baptismal Site.
Caesarea Philippi, Tel Dan, Golan Heights, Mt. Bental, Chorazin
Travel to the northern part of Israel to the site of ancient Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” and declared that the “gates of hell will not prevail.” Then, walking through the beautiful nature reserve of Tel Dan you will see the discovery of Jeroboam’s Altar and ancient Canaanite mud gate. Travel up to the Golan Heights to Mt.
Bental and see remains from the Six Day War and look into Syria. Before returning to Tiberias, visit the first century city built of basalt stone, Chorazin, one of the “cursed” cities that would not respond to the miracles of Jesus.
Beit She'an, Mt. Gilboa, Dead Sea, Qumran
Explore the latest excavations at Beit She’an, revealing the remains of a Decapolis Capital, Israel’s largest excavation. The city was destroyed in a massive earthquake in 749 AD and was not rebuilt. 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. Visit Qumran, the ancient city of the Essenes and site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery. Continue to the shores of the Dead Sea for an evening of relaxation, to take advantage of the spa facilities and to float in the therapeutic Dead Sea water.
Masada, Ein Gedi
Enjoy a morning of leisure before a visit to Masada to tour the famous archaeological site where Jewish Zealots made their last stand against Rome in AD 73. See the waterfalls of Ein Gedi where David hid from Saul. Drive to Jerusalem and stop at Mt. Scopus for a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Golden City.
Mt. Olives, Gethsemane, City of David, Bethlehem
Begin at the Mt. of Olives, then walk down the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethsemane. Then to Mt. Zion to visit the Church of St. Peter in Galacantu and Caiaphas’ House. Then to the new excavations of the City of David. Archaeologists have found what they believe is King David’s Palace that has been undisturbed for over 3,000 years including walls, wells and passageways. Our tour of the City of David ends at the Pool of Siloam that was discovered in
2005. End today in Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of the birth of Jesus, and the shepherds’ fields where the birth of Jesus was announced.
Temple Mount, Old City, Jewish Quarter
In the Old City of Jerusalem, visit the Temple Mount, the site of the Jewish Temple (circumstances permitting). Then see the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man. Visit Antonia’s Fortress and see the original paving believed to be where Christ stood before Pilate. Walk through the Old City following the Via Dolorosa through the Old Arab markets to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the sites believed to be the burial site of Jesus. Continue to the Jewish Quarter and the ancient Roman Cardo, and visit the remains from Hezekiah’s Wall. Next visit the Western Wall and walk through the Western Wall Tunnel to see remarkable underground excavation of ancient Jerusalem.
Old City, Southern Steps, Israel Museum, Garden Tomb
Return to the Old City to enjoy a virtual tour and explore the Southern Steps where Jesus walked to the Temple. The archaeological park has many public ritual bathing mikvehs, the market place where the money changers most likely conducted business, and a first century road with stones that were pushed from the Temple Mount by the Romans. Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, and walk through Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. Visit the Israel Museum and see the Holy Land Model, a 1:50 miniature replica of Jerusalem during the time of Christ, and see the Dead Sea Scrolls found at Qumran. End your time in Jerusalem at one of the sites believed to be the burial site of Jesus, the Garden Tomb.
Enjoy a wonderful farewell dinner and transfer to the airport for your late night flight home.
Our Favorite Destinations:
Jerusalem
Begin at the Jewish Quarter and see Hezekiah’s Wall, built in preparation for Judah’s rebellion against Assyria. Reflect and pray at the Western wall before walking through the Tunnels to see the remarkable excavation of ancient Jerusalem. Walk on the Southern Steps, the only entrance for all who visited the temple during the time of Christ. Explore the City of David and visit the Pools of Siloam, where Jesus healed the blind man.
The Dead Sea
See the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery and tour Masada, where the Jewish Zealots made their final stand against Rome in 73 AD. Visit Ein Gedi, where David hid from Saul. Best of all, float in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea!
Gethsemane
Spend time in the garden where Jesus prayed before His crucifixion. Walk the Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus walked from His trial to the cross, and see the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the traditional site of His crucifixion. End the day with communion at the Garden Tomb.
Beit She'an
Explore the remains of a Decapolis Capital, Israel’s largest excavation. The city was destroyed in an earthquake in 749 AD. Over 20 layers of remains from ancient civilizations have been found here, including those of the Israelites, Canaanites, Egyptians, and Philistines. It is known as the site where King Saul and his sons hung from the walls of the city.
Capernaum
Visit the home of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, where Jesus spent most of His time and did most of His miracles. See the ancient synagogue where He taught and the archaeological gardens.
Galilee
Take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and enjoy time of praise and worship. This site is also where Jesus walked on water, calmed the storm, fed the multitude, and preached the Sermon on the Mount.
