Tuesday, March 6:  Depart Chicago
We depart O’Hare International this afternoon for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. We will enjoy meals and service while in flight.

Wednesday, March 7:  Arrive in Tel Aviv
Our Pilgrim Tours representative will meet us at Ben Gurion Airport.  On our first journey in Israel, we travel by private motor coach up the Judean hills then descend to earth’s lowest point, the Dead Sea. Upon arrival at our hotel, enjoy the amenities or float in the Dead Sea before a welcome dinner and night of rest.

Thursday, March 8: Masada and Ein Gedi Touring
Our day begins with a cable car ride to the mountaintop fortress of Masada with its panoramic view, site of the historic stand of Jewish zealots against the Roman seige.  We proceed to Ein Gedi, the beautiful oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. This is where King David hid from Saul.  We continue north to Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  This evening we will enjoy dinner with local believers in Arad before we return to our Dead Sea lodgings.

Friday, March 9:  Tabernacle in the Wilderness, Eilat, Shelter Bible Study
After breakfast we travel south for a visit to the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. We continue on to Israel’s most southern city, Eilat (Solomon’s port of Ezion Geber) with free time to explore on our own or an opportunity to swim in the Red Sea. This evening we will attend an international Bible study at The Shelter before retiring to our hotel.

Saturday, March 10:  Negev, Makhtesh Ramon, Avdat, Sde Boker, Beersheva
We depart Eilat this morning and travel through the Negev Desert, where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob tended their flocks. We will drive through Makhtesh Ramon (Israel’s Grand Canyon), visit David Ben Gurion’s desert home in Sde Boker, and the modern city of Beersheva at the northern edge of the Negev. We arrive in Tel Aviv, and enjoy dinner at our hotel and fellowship with area believers.

Sunday, March 11:  Caesarea by the Sea, Carmel, Haifa, Sea of Galilee and Galilee Experience
After breakfast, we travel the coastal highway along the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct, and then journey on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. We continue north to Haifa, then head east to Tiberias.  We enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee this afternoon and then a multimedia Galilee Experience presentation before we check into our hotel and enjoy our dinner and overnight.

Monday, March 12:  Galilee Touring
A full day of touring awaits as we begin our day with a picturesque view of the Sea of Galilee atop Mt. Arbel. In Capernaum we will visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter’s home. Then we travel on to the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes and the Mount of the Beatitudes. On to Chorazin, the Hula Valley and Qiryat Shmona before arriving in Caesarea Philippi, the site of Peter’s confession. Next we visit Mt. Hermon, Israel’s highest peak (9,232 ft.). Mt. Hermon was sacred to the worshipers of Baal and a possible site of Jesus' transfiguration. We conclude our day with a visit to the Golan Heights before returning to our Tiberias hotel for our dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, March 13:  Jezreel Valley, Megiddo, Nazareth Village, Zippori, Cana
We depart Tiberias this morning for Israel’s largest valley and one of its most fertile regions. We travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization and which overlooks the prophesied Armageddon Battlefield. We drive through the area of Cana and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit the Nazareth Village – a wonderful recreation of biblical times with costumed guides. We visit the town of Zippori (Sepphoris), with its lore of Herod Antipas and the Jewish Sanhedrin, before we return to Tiberias where we will enjoy dinner at our hotel along with the fellowship of a local pastor.

Wednesday, March 14:  Jordan River, Jericho, Qumran, Jerusalem
We begin our day with a visit to the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. We continue south to historic Beth Shean, and past Jericho.  We arrive in Jerusalem and check into our hotel before we enjoy an afternoon walking tour of the Old City. 

Thursday, March 15:  Jerusalem Touring
A full day of Jerusalem touring awaits us as we visit Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Memorial), Knesset (Israel’s Parliament), the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls) and the Jerusalem model, and the Haass Promenade.  We may have some free time this afternoon to shop or explore on our own.

Friday, March 16:  Jerusalem Touring
Today we begin with a panoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives, then visit the Garden of Gethsemane where Messiah prayed in agony where ancient olive trees still stand.  Next we visit the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, The Temple Mt. Institute, David’s Citadel and Tomb, the Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo within the Old City Walls, finishing our day at the Garden Tomb, a favored spot for personal reflection on our Lord’s atoning sacrifice.  With nightfall comes Shabbat – and Sabbath in Jerusalem is a memorable experience.

Saturday, March 17:  Tel Aviv
We depart Jerusalem this morning and travel down to Tel Aviv for a Shabbat service with fellow believers.  Afterwards we will enjoy a guided tour of Old Joppa (Jonah’s port city and site of Peter’s vision). Our tour to Israel ends with dinner at our hotel in fellowship with local believers.

Sunday, March 18:  Depart for USA
We depart Tel Aviv early this morning and travel back to the USA.