Israel In Depth

14 Exciting, Life-Changing Days

May 26 - June 8, 2007

Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group

Day 1 - Departure
Depart the USA for an overnight flight to Israel.

Day 2 - Arrive In Tel Aviv
Arrive in Tel Aviv, then by motor coach we visit Joppa, Lydda, Emmaus, and Aijalon Valley. We conclude the day with a scenic drive to the prophet Samuel’s tomb, and end at Jerusalem at our hotel for our first dinner together and a six-night stay there.

Day 3 - Jerusalem, Wailing Wall, Mount of Olives
With excitement we begin our extensive tour of Jerusalem at the Wailing Wall and walk through the excavated Rabbinical Tunnel. We then ascend to the top of the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of Jerusalem and Bethany. We walk the Messianic path to the Garden of Gethsemane, across the Kidron Valley to ancient tombs. We continue to the Pinnacle wall and City of David. The day ends at Caiaphas’ House to see a 1st Century prison and road. We overlook the Temple Mount, Hinnom Valley and Potter’s Field.

Day 4 – Jerusalem, Temple Mount, Via Dolorosa, Jewish Quarter
We begin with a visit to the Archaeological Park to see original 2nd Temple stones and steps that Jesus walked by. We ascend to the Temple Mount to observe the Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, and Golden Gate, then exit to the Pool of Bethesda and see a stone pavement from the Roman times. We walk the 14 stations of the Via Dolorosa ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcre. The rest of our day is in the Jewish Quarter to see the Temple Institute, the Burnt House, a model of Jerusalem during the 1st Temple period, a wall built by King Hezekiah, the Cardo and gold Menorah built for the next Temple, and another 3rd Temple model.

Day 5 - West Jerusalem, Holocaust Museum, David’s Citadel
We travel to West Jerusalem, stop at the Promenade for the view that Abraham first had of Mt. Moriah, then pass the Knesset and arrive at Yad Vashem for a somber tour of the Holocaust museum. Later we visit the Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls), and a 1st Century model of Jerusalem. We travel back to the Old City to tour David’s Citadel Museum, Herod’s palace, and end with shopping.

Day 6 - Jerusalem, City of David, Mt. Zion, Garden Tomb
This day in Jerusalem begins with a visit to the City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam. We ascend to Mt. Zion to see the Upper Room, David’s Tomb, Grotto, and end the afternoon with a quiet visit to the Garden Tomb and Golgotha.

Day 7 - Jericho, Bethlehem
From Jerusalem, if conditions permit, we drive east through the West Bank to Jericho to see Herod’s palace, Zaccheus’ sycamore tree, ancient Jericho, and view the Mount of Temptation. On our return to Jerusalem via the Wadi Qelt (Jericho Road), we stop and view St. George’s monastery. Passing through Jerusalem onto Bethlehem, we visit Herodium, the Shepherd’s Field, and tour the Church of the Nativity. We end the day shopping at the olive wood shops and then pass Rachel’s tomb as we return again to Jerusalem.

Day 8 - Elah Valley, Beersheba, Negev Desert, Dead Sea
Leaving Jerusalem past Hadassah Hospital, we travel west through beautiful mountains to the Valley of Elah, where David defeated Goliath. We then drive through the land of the Philistines, passing the city of Gath. We drive to Lachish and on to Beersheba and Abraham’s well. We continue with a drive through the Negev Desert, past the Dimona nuclear facilities, contrasted with Bedouin tents and herds of camels, donkeys, and sheep. Our desert tour then stops at Mamshit, Arad, Zoar, Sodom, and Lot’s wife, then a relaxing swim in the Dead Sea by our luxurious hotel.

Day 9 - Masada, Engedi, Qumran, Jordan River, Tiberias
Our day begins with an ascent to the ancient fortress of Masada. After digesting its history, we drive to the oasis of Engedi, then on to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We then head north to Galilee, passing where Jesus was baptized, through the Jordan Valley and Samaria, to visit Belvoir Fortress. After we get our first view of the Sea of Galilee, water baptisms are done at the Jordan River baptismal site. We begin a four-night stay in Tiberias (once a Roman city).

Day 10 - Golan Heights, Mt. Hermon, Caesarea Philippi, Tel Hazor
We go north today to the Golan Heights, visiting Mt. Bental with a great view of snowcapped Mt. Hermon, Lebanon and Syria, and then going up Mt. Hermon to Nimrod’s Castle. Next is Banias (Caesarea Philippi where Jesus visited), to see the headwaters of the Jordan River there and at Tel Dan. We end the day by driving through the Hula Valley with the final stop at Tel Hazor.

Day 11 - Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Bethsaida, Gadara
Today we concentrate on the primary places of Jesus’ ministry. We take a quiet cruise on the Sea of Galilee in the Jesus Boat, and then disembark at the Boat Museum. Next, we visit the Mount of the Beatitudes, Magdala, Tabgha, Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida, the miracle feedings of the multitudes, Gadara, and finish circling the lake at Tiberias, where we see a film about Galilee’s Biblical history.

Day 12 - Nazareth, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Carmel, Haifa, Cana
We begin by heading west to Nazareth. We pass Kadesh, Mt. Moreh, Mt. Tabor, Endor, Shunem, and Nain before touring Nazareth Village. Afterward, we ascend Mt. Precipice to view Nazareth and Armageddon. We then head to Elijah’s Mt. Carmel, Bahai Gardens at Haifa, Sepphoris, Cana, and Mt. Arbel above the Sea of Galilee.

Day 13 - Beth Shan, Jezreel Valley, Armageddon, Caesarea
Our last day in Galilee includes visits to Beth Shan, Gideon’s springs, Sachne, a drive up Mt. Gilboa to take pictures of the fertile Beth Shan Valley, pass Tel Jezreel thru the Jezreel Valley, and a tour of Tel Megiddo, overlooking Armageddon. Final stop is at the ancient seaport and Roman Capital of Biblical Caesarea, and we finish at its Roman aqueduct. We drive through the Sharon Plain to our hotel perched on cliffs overlooking the beach and Mediterranean Sea, and have a last dinner together.

Day 14 - Tel Aviv
Leave from Ben Gurion airport and arrive back in the USA with lots of great memories and information, while others will continue on the Jordan Extension.

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Deposit: $300 per person is required to secure a reservation.
Final Payment: 60 days before departure.

Price Includes: Round-trip air, 4 star hotels, motor coach, guides, taxes, gratuities, transfers, sightseeing, and two meals a day.

Not Included: Lunches, drinks, optional tours, and personal items, air taxes, payment by credit card (additional 3% surcharge).

Available Extensions*: 
June 8-11    Petra 3 Day Add-on -  $695.00
June 10-15  Egypt 6 Day Add-on -  $550.00
June 14-17  Rome 4 Day Add-on -  $825.00

*Extensions must be purchased in sequential order, not individually.

Also Available:
The Expanded Holy Land - 10 day tour of Jordan & Egypt

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