Day 1 – Thursday: Arrival in Israel
- Welcome to Israel!
- We will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and will be met by a Christian Israel Tours representative immediately after passport control.
- Our representative will assist us in the terminal and will guide us through customs and outside the terminal to meet our driver waiting with the transfer vehicle.
- We will have a short ride to our hotel in the beautiful coastal city of Tel Aviv.
- Enjoy the remainder of the day or evening at leisure (depending on flight time arrivals).
- Suggested: take a stroll along the beautiful oceanside promenade of Tel Aviv, before a relaxing dinner at our hotel.
Highlights:
- Arrive in Israel
- Meet and Greet
- Transfer from Airport to Hotel
- Leisure
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 2 – Friday: The Journey North
- Start the day with a tour of Jaffa, enjoying the beautiful, quaint alleys of the old, fortified town
- Journey along the coastal highway to the ancient Roman capital, Caesarea
- We will visit the excavations of the Crusader city and the Roman port, its aqueduct and the amphitheater which has been recently restored
- Proceed towards the Sea of Galilee, stopping in Cana to visit the Wedding Church where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine
- Evening in Tiberias
Highlights:
- Jaffa
- Caesarea
- Cana
- Tiberias
Overnight in Tiberias
Day 3 – Saturday: Miracles on the Sea of Galilee
- Visit the sites on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, the stage for many events in Jesus’ life.
- Drive to Capernaum, known as “His Town”, where Jesus spent much time healing the sick and performing miracles.
- The next stop is in Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of Fish and Loaves, to visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor.
- On to the Mount of Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount and chose his 12 apostles.
- Ascend to the Golan Heights to enjoy the panoramic views.
- Visit the Banias Springs, where Jesus took his disciples and where Simon identified Him as the Messiah.
- Drive to the southern part of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Yardenit Baptismal Site.
Highlights:
- North Shore of the Sea of Galilee
- Capernaum
- Tabgha
- Mount of Beatitudes
- Golan Heights
- Banias Springs
- Yardenit Baptismal Site
Overnight in Tiberias
Day 4 – Sunday: The Jordan Valley to Jerusalem
- Optional boat trip on the Sea of Galilee (subject to extra charge).
- Visit Nazareth, the Church of Annunciation, where archaeologists believe the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, Mary’s Well, and Joseph’s Church.
- Visit the ancient synagogue at Beit Alpha, which has one of the most preserved and beautiful mosaics in Israel.
- Our tour today will end with a scenic drive along the Jordan valley, passing by Jericho, towards the ancient city of Jerusalem.
Highlights:
- Boat Trip
- The Church of Annunciation
- Mary’s Well
- Joseph’s Church
- Beit Alpha
- Jordan Valley
- Jerusalem
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 5 – Monday: The Dead Sea
- Travel through the Dead Sea to Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Ascend by cable car to visit the sites and enjoy the breathtaking views.
- Visit the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
- Continue to the Dead Sea, where, weather-permitting, we can float in the unsinkable water and bathe in the famous mineral-rich mud.
- Return to Jerusalem.
Highlights:
- Masada
- Qumran Caves
- Dead Sea
- Jerusalem
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 6 – Tuesday: Jerusalem (New City) / Bethlehem*
- We start our day with a visit to the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea scrolls are housed, and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period.
- Drive to Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born.
- Our tour will then proceed to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum located at the foot of Mount Herzl.
- Proceed to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus; we will walk through Manger Square to visit the remarkable Church of Nativity.
- Return to Jerusalem
Highlights:
- Shrine of the Book
- Ein Karem
- Yad Vashem
- Bethlehem
- Jerusalem
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 7 – Wednesday: The Old City
- Enter the Old City and visit the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.
- Walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre, housing the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection.
- Visit Mount Zion, the traditional tomb of King David, and the Room of the Last Supper.
- On to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent his last night and was betrayed by Judas.
- The last stop is the Mount of Olives, where we will enjoy spectacular views of the holy city of Jerusalem.
Highlights:
- Western Wall
- Temple Mount
- The Way of the Cross
- Via Dolorosa
- Holy Sepulchre
- Tomb of the Resurrection
- Mount Zion
- Garden of Gethsemane
- Mount of Olives
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 8 – Thursday: Farewell from Jerusalem
- Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home.
Shalom!
