12 Day Inspirational Tour
special Pastor led small group

Day 1 • Departure
Today we embark on our Journey to the Holy Land. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight…Tomorrow you will be walking where Jesus walked!

Day 2 • Great Sea 
Today we arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv where we will meet our Israeli guide and transfer to our hotel on the coast. We will walk on the shore of the Mediterranean, relax and have dinner. Pastor will conduct the day's devotion with the sunset over the Great Sea. We will enjoy a time of prayer and thanks to God for safety and the blessings that lie ahead on our journey. Enjoy a good night's rest for the busy activities tomorrow.

Day 3 •Caesarea, Nazereth, Mt. Carmel, Tiberias 
After breakfast we will head north to Caesarea. This was the staging ground for Pontius Pilate's troops. Here Peter first presented the Gospel to the Gentiles when he preached to Cornelius with his friends and family. Imagine yourself to be back in the Roman Empire gathering at the amphitheater or receiving your water from the great aqueduct. Leaving Caesarea, we will head north to Mt. Carmel. We will ascend the slopes of Mt. Carmel to see where Elijah hid from King Ahab. We will enjoy a panoramic view sweeping from the Mediterranean Sea to the Valley of Megiddo. Experience the confrontation of Elijah against the prophets of Baal…Stand here at the place where God answered the prophet's prayer with fire from heaven. From Carmel, we descend to the most significant battlefield of all time. Here the armies of the world led by kings and emperors such as David, Alexander, Pompey, Mark Antony, Nebuchadnezzar, and Pharaoh have battled throughout the ages. It is the bloodiest parcel of ground in human history. Archeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization in the ancient city of Megiddo. We cross the valley to Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus. It was here that Jesus stood and preached in the synagogue and declared that He was the Messiah. We will see Cana of Galilee where the first miracle of Christ was performed and where Jesus was approached by a nobleman of Capernaum whose son he healed. We will ascend to Mt. Arbel for a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee and surrounding lands. From this overview you will have a valuable lesson on the geographic layout of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. We will have dinner and overnight lodging for the next two nights overlooking the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias.

Day 4 • Ceasarea Philippi, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee 
This morning we will journey to the headwaters of the Jordan River at Caesarea-Philippi. Hear the confession of Simon Peter and listen to Jesus speak about the founding of His Church. We will enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee with a view of the Golan Heights. At Capernaum, the home base of Jesus' Galilean ministry, we will visit an ancient synagogue and Peter's Home. Then we will travel on to the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the sea, where we will open the Word of God and relive the Sermon on the Mount. This evening we will take in the multimedia presentation of the Galilee Experience, an educational and entertaining production.

Day 5 • Beit Shan, Mt. Nebo 
Today we will visit the most magnificent archeological site in Israel at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. Beit-Shan was the city where the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were hanged after they were killed in battle on Mt. Gilboa. We will cross the Jordan River, the most crooked river in the world, 200 miles of twisting river covering only 70 miles. We will cross over into the country of Jordan and turn southward toward Petra. We will pass by the burial site of Moses at Mt. Nebo. See the crossing where the children of Israel came into the Promised Land toward Jericho. We will journey southward until we reach the ancient city of Petra and here spend the night.

Day 6 • Petra, Red Sea 
After breakfast, we will spend the morning exploring the ruins of Petra. We will open God's Word and learn the past and future significance of this ancient site. From Petra we will head south again this afternoon to the Arava border crossing until we reach the southern tip of Israel on the Red Sea at the city of Eilat. We will visit the underwater aquarium and recount the Biblical significance of this site. This was the base for Solomon's navy and the last wilderness stop of Israel before heading north to the Promised Land.

Day 7 • Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea 
Today we will tour the city of Eilat and time permitting, Timna. Next we will head north toward the Dead Sea area. We will stop at the mountain fortress of Masada. We will ascend the mountain by cable car and survey where the Jewish zealots made their last stand against the Roman 10th Legion after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. We will spend the late afternoon and night at the Hotel and Spa on the shores of the Dead Sea. We will visit the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and also the oasis of En-Gedi: David's hiding place from King Saul in the Judean wilderness. 

Day 8 • Jericho, Bethany, Mt. Olives, Pool of Bethesda
This morning we will leave the Dead Sea and journey to one of the oldest cities in the world, Jericho. We will explore the ruins of the ancient city, Elisha's spring, and recount Joshua's battle for the ancient city. From Jericho we will head up toward Jerusalem on the Jericho road. We will be reminded of the kindness of the Good Samaritan whose story used this road for its backdrop. Before entering Jerusalem we will visit the tomb in Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. We will slip over the mountain to the precipice of the Mt. Olives. Here at the site of the ascension of Christ, we will take in the panoramic view of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Walk between the ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane as we gather to pray and read the words of Christ. Next, we enter the Old City through Stephen's Gate, and visit the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus cured a cripple. We will stay for the next 4 nights in Jerusalem.

Day 9 • Biblical Times
An interesting and educational day of touring awaits us today beginning at a scale model of the ancient city of Jerusalem. Our guide will walk us through an accurately detailed smaller version of Biblical times in Jerusalem as well as the architecture and décor of the Temple. Next we visit the house of Caiaphas and the "Upper Room" where the disciple whom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and where later Thomas cried; "my Lord & my God." From here we will see the ancient Roman Cardo, Herodian Mansion, Temple Institute and Western Wall. On our way out of the city we will visit the Rabbinical Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era. If the authorities will permit, we will tour the tunnels under the Western Wall. 

Day 10 • Jesus’ Steps
We will view the Southern Wall Excavations -- This southern side of The Temple was the main entrance for the common folk, whereas the Priests and Levites had their own entrance from the higher, eastern side. Parts of the giant stairs, which led to the Temple Mount from the courtyard, have been unearthed. It is in this courtyard that Jesus likely drove out the vendors and money exchangers who were exploiting the people. We move on to the Judgment Hall of Pilate, hear of those who conspired against Him and are reminded of His brutal beating and humiliation. While walking along the Via Dolorosa, we are reminded of His way of suffering, view the Church of the Sepulcher. Then we will journey to the Garden Tomb for an inspirational worship service that you will never forget! Later today our guide will escort those who wish to visit the marketplace in Old Jerusalem.

Day 11 • leisure, Free Time In Jerusalem
Today, we will have free time to explore Jerusalem. Our guide will be available for an afternoon walking tour for those who wish to take advantage of his services.

Day 12 • Home
An early morning transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure home.

Price Includes:  1st class lodging, roundtrip air fare from JFK (discount airfare available nationwide), expert Biblical guides, admissions, sightseeing, and breakfast & dinner daily.

Not Included: visa, border taxes ($26), air taxes, gratuities.

Deposit Required: $300 per person will reserve your place.  A $100 service fee will be charged for cancellation at any time in addition to our normal payment and cancellation policy. 

Attention Pastors: Do you have a group of 8 or more? Pilgrim will customize a tour for you. We also have scheduled departures for smaller groups.