DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Dec 5 (Thu) -Departure from Los Angeles to Tel Aviv on LH 457 via Frankfurt connecting with LH 694 to Tel Aviv. 

Day 2: Dec 6 (Fri) - Arrival Tel Aviv – Nazareth
Arrive to Ben Gurion Airport where group will be met by tour guide. Transfer by motor coach to your hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight. (Depending on arrival time).

Day 3: Dec 7 (Sat) - Nazareth – Sea of Galilee – Nazareth
After breakfast we will start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Then after we will visit Capernaum, the town of Jesus which is the center of his ministry where he performed many miracles. Visit the House of St. Peter and the ruins of the ancient Synagogue where Jesus preached. Stop at Tabgha, the Primacy of St. Peter and visit the Church of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, the site of the multiplication miracle, and the Mt. of Beatitudes. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth.

Day 4: Dec 8 (Sun) - Nazareth – Cana – Mt. Tabor – Bethlehem
Start the day with a visit to Nazareth, we will visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and view the Blessed Cave, where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. View Mary and Joseph’s house and carpentry shop where Jesus spent 30 years of his life. Then we continue to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine. End of the day will be visiting Mount Tabor. Enjoy the spectacular view of upper Galilee, where Jesus transfigured in the presence of Peter, James and John, and upon which stands the Church of transfiguration. In the evening, you will be taken to Bethlehem for the Christmas Tree lighting. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 5: Dec 9 (Mon) - Bethlehem – Shepherd’s Field – Jericho – Dead Sea – Bethlehem
After breakfast we depart to visit Bethlehem and Shepherd’s Field and Grotto. In Bethlehem we visit one of the oldest churches in Christianity, the Church of the Nativity, built over the birthplace of Our Lord. We will also see St. Catherine’s built over the tomb of St. Jerome. Surrounding Bethlehem are the Shepherd’s Fields, where the shepherds saw the angels who heralded Jesus’ humble birth. Then we continue to visit Jericho where to see the Mount of Temptation, the Sycamore tree and visit Tel Jericho , where the city stood at the time of Joshua, followed by a visit of Bet Arabah baptismal site. And then we will enjoy a swim in the Dead Sea’s unique healing mineral waters. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 6: Dec 10 (Tue) - Bethany - Mt. Olives – Mt. Zion
Start the day with a visit to Bethany and Lazarus Tomb Then we continue to Mount of Olives, and the Chapel of the Ascension from which Jesus returned to his Father and the Pater Noster Church where our Lord taught his disciples how to pray walk down the Road of Palm Sunday to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus endured his Agony. Afterwards continue to Mount Zion and the Upper Room where Jesus instituted the Eucharist & the Priesthood, situated over the tomb of David and next to the Church of Dormition, where our Mary fell into eternal sleep and the church of St. Peter of Galicantu. Evening will be a chance to participate in the Christmas Tree Lighting. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 7; Dec 11 (Wed) - Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulcher – Wailing Wall – Ein Karem
Early in the morning we will follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulcher Church. And visit the church o Ecce Homo. From there we will also visit the church of St. Anne the birthplace of Mary, and Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic in. Then we continue to visit the Wailing Wall the most important Jewish site in Jerusalem. End of the day will be visiting Ein Karem birthplace of St. John the Baptist and where the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. We will visit the Church of the Visitation. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem

Day 8: Dec 12 (Thu) - Departure on LH 681 via Munich connecting with LH 452 to Los Angeles.