Evangelical and Protestant’s Classical Tour of Israel

Day 1

Tel Aviv/Jaffa (B/D)

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport where you will be met by our representative. You will be provided assistance through baggage claim and customs. We will escort you to your bus and guide.

Drive to the Old Port City of Jaffa, one of the oldest biblical cities in the world and an important seaport since antiquity. Afterwards check-in to our hotel. The rest of the day is at your disposal. A stroll along the beautiful promenade is recommended while enjoying the refreshing air of the Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 2

Tel Aviv/Caesarea/Druzevillage (B/D)

Leave Tel Aviv and travel north to visit the ancient city of Caesarea, built by Herod the Greatand once the seat of Roman rule. Then we’ll arrive in Haifa and ascend Mt. Carmel for a Panoramic view of Haifa Bay and the beautiful Bahai Gardens. Drive through the Druzevillage of Usafiya and learn about this great community that lives in Israel and serves in its Army. Then we’ll travel to the Muhraka on Mt.Carmel where on this summit the dramatic battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal took place. Afterwards we’ll drive to Meggido, the site where the final battle between good and evil will take place in the end of days. Arrive to the lakeside city of Tiberias resting on shores of the Sea of Galilee and check in at your hotel.

Overnight: Tiberias

Day 3

Jesus Boat Museum/Sea of Galilee/Caesarea (B/D)

Visit the 2000 years old ancient boat at the “Jesus Boat Museum”, located in Kibbutz Ginosar. A boat ride on the calm waters of the Sea of Galilee is next in our program. Visit Capernaum; a 2nd century synagogue which throw light on the life of the community of that era. On to Mount of Beatitudes; a beautiful church where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the northern part of Sea of Galilee. Continue on to Caesarea Phillipi (Banias), which was a pagan city dedicated to the god Pan and was reconstructed in ancient times by Philip, the son of Herod. We will conclude our day at Yardenit, for a Jordan River Baptismal service and return to our hotel.

Overnight: Tiberias

Day 4

Nazareth/Cana (B/D)

Drive to Nazareth, via Cana where Jesus turned water into wine, to visit the Church of the Annunciation where Mary was first informed about her immaculate conception. Next we’ll visit Harod Spring. Biblical tradition says it was at this site that Gideon chose his best soldiers to fight the Midianites, according to the way they drank from the stream. We’ll drive southeast to the ancient remains of Beit Shean, the city where Saul and his sons where hung up on the city walls by the Philistines (1st Samuel 31:10). Leave the Galilee area and drive through the lush Jordan Valley. Ascend up the Judean Mountains and upon arriving in Jerusalem, we will stop at a viewpoint overlooking the Old City where we shall celebrate our arrival to the holy city.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 5

Jerusalem (B/D)

Ascend the Mt. of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem: Overlooking the Old City, the Mount is covered partly in olive trees, cemeteries and churches – commemorating the Christian events of Jesus. Descend via the Palm Sunday Walk to visit the Garden of Gethsemane. The garden is next to the magnificent Church of all Nations (Basilica of Agony) & The Greek Orthodox Church of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. Enter through Saint Stephens’s gate and arrive at the Pools of Bethesda. We’ll then walk to the Garden Tomb, an ancient Jewish sepulcher which matches the New Testament description of the tomb in which Jesus was buried. Option to visit the Church of Holy Sepulcher.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 6

Jerusalem/Bethlehem (B/D)

Visit the birthplace of Jesus when we travel into the ancient city of Bethlehem. We’ll enter into the Church of Nativity and afterwards have some time to do some shopping to bring home gifts for loved ones and us. Return to Jerusalem and walk through the Jewish Quarter, which was reconstructed after the city was unified after the Six-Day War in 1967. We’ll then proceed to holiest place in Judaism today, the Western Wall – “Kotel”. Visit the City of David and see the newest and exciting excavations of Jerusalem during the time of the first Temple period. In Emek Tzurim we’ll spend a couple of hours taking part in an archaeological dig working with the actual debris of the Temple Mount.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 7

Yad Vashem/Dead Sea/Ein Gedi (B/D)

Travel to Yad Vashem, considered the primary memorial and museum of the Holocaust. Take a tour of the Holocaust History Museum, which occupies over 4,200 square meters, mainly underground. We will depart for the Dead Seaarea and descend to the lowest land point on earth at 1388 feet (423m) below sea level. Continue on to view Jericho and stop at Kaser-El-Yahud, the site of the place of Baptism of Christ (Luke 3) and the Ascension of Elijah the Prophet (II Kings 2:11). Proceed to Massada and ascend by cable car to the desert fortress of King Herod. Time for float on the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem

(Time Permitting) Visit the beautiful Ein Gedi Reserve.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 8

Departure

After breakfast visit the Israel Museum, to see the Shrine of the Book (where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited) and the scale model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Drive to Abu Gosh, a large Arab village on the outskirts of Jerusalem, for an authentic Middle Easternmeal. The village is known for having good relations with its Jewish neighbors and some of the best hummus in Israel some say the world.

Transfer to Ben Gurion International airport for your return flight home

Grand Court or Similar
Jerusalem

Kibbutz Nof Ginosar or Similar
Tiberias

Metropolitan Hotel or Similar
Tel Aviv