In The Footsteps Of Our Lord

Caesarea / Megiddo / Acre

Following a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast (which you will enjoy each morning prior to departing for your day of touring), depart Tel Aviv. Drive north along the coastal plain to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans.  Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct.  Proceed to Muhraka, the site of confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal; enjoy the spectacular view of the Jezreel valley and the lower Galilee. Continue to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon.  Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well-preserved water supply system. Continue to Acre, capital of the Crusaders for more than a century. Visit the remarkable underground Crusader City and crypt; visit also the ancient city and harbor before continuing eastwards across the plains of the Galilee to Kibbutz hotel Lavi, not far from the Sea of Galilee.

Dinner and Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee.

Tiberias / Capernaum / Caesarea Philippi

After a short tour of the Kibbutz grounds we take a boat ride on  the Sea of Galilee. Visit the Yigal Alon center where the “Jesus boat”, an ancient fishing boat from the 1^st century id displayed. Continue to Capernaum.  Visit the remains of the 2^nd century synagogue.  Proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of fish and loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4^th century mosaic floor. Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Caesarea  Philippi (Banias)  Springs, where Jesus was recognized as The Messiah by His Disciples.  Tour the Golan Heights, with its valleys, grazing land and snow-capped mountains.

Dinner and Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee.

Nazareth / Beit Shean

Drive to Cana to visit the Wedding Church, where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine.  Continue to Nazareth. In Nazareth, we shall visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s well.  Next on our program is the Jordan River and the Baptismal site Yardenit. Continue to Beit Shean, one of the ancient Decapolis cities, and visit the Roman theatre. This is the city where Saul and his son Jonathan were nailed to the walls. Judges 1.27 also mentions Beit Shean.  Continue south along the shores of the River of Jordan.  Passing Jericho, we proceed westward and climb to the Golden City of Jerusalem.

Dinner and overnight: Jerusalem.

Jerusalem – Old City

Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem.  Our appreciation of this Golden City begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery.  Visit the Church of All Nations.  Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper.

Enter the Old City to begin exploring the wonders of Jerusalem. Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago.  View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.  Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His Cross. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the colorful Arab bazaar (a chance to test your negotiating skills). Visit the Garden Tomb.

Dinner and overnight: Jerusalem.

Jerusalem – New City and Bethlehem

Today’s program is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem.  Visit the model of ancient Jerusalem .Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.  Enter the site by walking along the Street of the Righteous Gentiles, dedicated to the non-Jews that risked their lives in order to save their Jewish neighbours.  Continue to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptists.  This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth.   Proceed to Bethlehem* to visit the Church of the Nativity and visit the Shepherds’ field.

Dinner and overnight: Jerusalem.

Qumran / Masada / Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean Desert to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found in 1947 by a Bedouin boy.  Visit the ancient city of Qumran and drive along the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Massada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D.  Ascend Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod’s Palace. Time and weather permitting we will have an opportunity to float on the Dead Sea waters. Return to Jerusalem.

Dinner and overnight: Jerusalem.