Journey of the Holy Land

The beginning of your journey in the Holy Land.
Upon arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv.

Overnight: Tel Aviv

Our guide will collect you from your hotel for a short visit to the city of Jaffa (Joppa). In Jaffa, we take you on a quick walking tour of the stunning alleys. Jaffa is an old, well-fortified town with picturesque views throughout. During the trip, we’ll pass the house of Simon the Tanner as well as awe-inspiring views from the hilltop. After Jaffa, drive north along the coast to the ruins of Caesarea. Caesarea is now an archaeological site that was once built by Herod the Great to honor Augustus Caesar. From Caesarea, drive to Megiddo. In the Bible, the book of Revelations describes a great battle at Megiddo known as “Armageddon.” Megiddo is an ancient city that was inhabited continuously for over five millennia (6000-500 B.C.). When we are done exploring Megiddo, we drive toward the Sea of Galilee and check-in at your hotel in Tiberias.

Overnight: Tiberias

We start the day in the historic city of Tiberias where Jesus once preached on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. From Tiberias, we travel to Capernaum, the home of Jesus ministry. Next, go north of Tiberias to Tabgha, where Jesus fed 5,000, and then to the Church of Multiplication, where the floor mosaic pictures a basket with loaves of bread and two fish. From Tabgha we move to the Mount of Beatitudes which overlooks the Sea. This is where Jesus delivered the “Sermon on the Mount,” and where he may have chosen his 12 apostles. We will go up the Golan Heights where you can witness the inspiring view of Mt. Hermon’s peaks, the rough surface of the Golan Height’s plateau, and the sweeping expanse of Hula Valley. We will also visit the Yardenit Baptismal Site on the Jordan River south of the Sea of Galilee. Return to the city of Tiberias for the night.

Overnight: Tiberias

In the morning, we travel to Cana to call on the Wedding Church where Jesus turned water into wine. From there we head to Nazareth, the city of Jesus’ childhood and the Church of Annunciation where archaeologists and historians believe the Archangel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary. Also included is a visit to Mary’s Well and Joseph’s Church. Drive through the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean and its excavated amphitheater. We will see the excavations of the wonderfully preserved Roman City destroyed long ago in an earthquake. End the day traveling to Jerusalem for your hotel check-in.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Today we witness the scenery of the Dead Sea and move to Masada, which sits on a cliff in the Judean Desert and was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001. Travel by cable car to the fortress—the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots during their war with the Romans. Visit all the remarkable excavations, King Herod’s palace, the synagogue, and the bathhouse and witness the fantastic Roman camps. On our way to the Dead Sea, visit the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls once lay. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on the Earth’s surface, sitting at 1,300 feet below sea level. If weather permits, bring your swimsuit for a dip in the Sea where the salt and minerals make you float on the water. Travel back to Jerusalem for the night.

Overnight: Jerusalem

The day starts at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with a glimpse of the Dead Sea Scrolls followed by a trip to the renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem which dates back to the Second Temple. Visit Ein Karem, the lovely village in the southwest outskirts of Jerusalem that is significant in Christian traditions as the place of John the Baptist’s birth. We then visit Yad Vashem, the official memorial for the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Yad Vashem was erected in 1953 and is located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl. Travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We’ll see the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. End the day at your hotel in Jerusalem.

Overnight: Jerusalem

We start by entering the Old City of Jerusalem where we visit the Western Wall and the site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. We will visit and walk the Way of the Cross, Via Dolorosa, to Cavalry and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre includes the traditional site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. Outside the Old City to the southwest lies Mount Zion where sits the tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. While on the top of the Mount of Olives, experience a panoramic view of Jerusalem, the holy city for the world’s three largest religions—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. End the day by visiting the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Jesus. Travel back to your hotel for the night.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Check out of the hotel following breakfast.

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for the flight home.

Goodbye to Israel! Hope to see you again on your next visit.