After creating and successfully leading this tour five times from 2005 - 2009, once again this will be led by John Hodges (Van), an experienced traveler who has visited Israel thirteen times in the last twelve years, plus much of the Middle East. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, and has been a student and teacher of the Bible, Israel, Biblical history, and Bible prophecy for 37 years. This is an excellent tour for laypersons, retirees, students (high school, college, seminary), and pastors.

Day 1, May 22 - Departure
Depart the USA for an overnight flight to Israel.

Day 2, May 23 - Arrive In Israel, Lydda, Emmaus, Aijalon Valley, Jerusalem
Tour members arrive in Tel Aviv at Ben Gurion Airport, then by motor coach we drive past Lydda, Emmaus, and the Aijalon Valley on a scenic drive up to Jerusalem and arrive at our hotel for our first dinner together and a six-night stay.

Day 3, May 24 - Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Bethany, Kidron Valley, City of David
With excitement we begin our extensive tour of Jerusalem by ascending to the top of the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem and Bethany. We descend the Messianic path where Jesus rode on a donkey, to the Garden of Gethsemane where He was arrested, then across the Kidron Valley to ancient tombs. We continue to the high Pinnacle Wall of the Temple where Satan tempted Jesus, and on to Caiaphas’ House to see a 1st Century road and prison where traditionally Jesus was put on trial. We overlook the Hinnom Valley, also called Gehenna, and the Potter’s Field where Judas was buried. We end by touring the City of David to see a film, its ruins, an optional walk thru Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel, and visit to the Pool of Siloam.

Day 4, May 25 – Jerusalem, Temple Mount, Via Dolorosa, Jewish Quarter
We visit the Archaeological Park to see a film, original 2nd Temple stones, and southern steps that Jesus walked on. We ascend on top the Temple Mount to observe columns from the last Temple, Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, the Golden Gate, then exit to the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a paralyzed man. We see a stone pavement from the Roman times. We walk the 14 stations of the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcre. The rest of our day is in the Jewish Quarter to see the gold Menorah built for the next Temple, the Temple Institute, the Burnt House, a 1st Temple period model of Jerusalem, a wall built by King Hezekiah, and the Roman Cardo.

Day 5, May 26 - West Jerusalem, Emmaus, Joppa, Holocaust Museum, Israel Museum
Our first stop is at the Promenade for the view that Abraham first had of Mt. Moriah. We next travel to West Jerusalem to the tomb of the prophet Samuel and a view of his hometown Ramah, and Gibeon where the Lord appeared to King Solomon. We continue westward to a possible location of Emmaus where Jesus appeared to two disciples. We walk to a scenic view of the Aijalon Valley where Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to remain still. We then head for Tel Aviv and arrive at the ancient port of Joppa where Jonah and Peter spent time. We return east to stop at Yad Vashem for a somber tour of the Holocaust museum. Later we drive past the Knesset and visit the Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls), and see a model of 1st Century Jerusalem.

Day 6, May 27 - Jerusalem, Wailing Wall, Mount Zion, Citadel, Garden Tomb
This day in Jerusalem begins with a visit to the Wailing or Western Wall and walk thru the excavated Rabbinical Tunnel. We then ascend to Mt. Zion to see the Upper Room, David’s Tomb, and the first Church Grotto. We then walk to see the remains of Herod’s palace at David’s Citadel. For lunch we have a Biblical dinner in Abraham’s Tent. The afternoon finishes with a quiet visit and communion together at the Garden Tomb and Place of the Skull called Golgotha or Calvary.

Day 7, May 28 - Judean Wilderness, Jericho, Bethlehem
If conditions permit, we drive east thru the West Bank and Judean Wilderness to stop for a scenic view of the Wadi Qelt and ancient Jericho Road. We continue on past Bedouin camps to Jericho to see Herod’s winter palace, Zaccheus’ sycamore fig tree, Elijah’s Spring, ancient Tel Jericho, and view the Mount of Temptation where Satan tempted Jesus. On our return we pass thru Jerusalem into Bethlehem to tour the Church of the Nativity that displays where Jesus was born, shop at the olive wood factory, then by bus we visit the Shepherd’s Field, and Harod’s palace and tomb on top of Herodium. We end the day driving past Rachel’s tomb as we return again to Jerusalem.

Day 8, May 29 – Beth Shemesh, Elah Valley, Philistia, Beersheba, Negev Desert, Dead Sea
 Leaving Jerusalem past Hadassah Hospital, we travel west thru beautiful mountains and the Sorek Valley to Beth Shemesh where the Ark of the Covenant was carried from the Philistines by two cows pulling a cart. The next stop is Tel Azekah and the Valley of Elah, where David defeated Goliath. We then drive to where battles were fought at Mareshah and Lachish, then thru the land of the Philistines, passing the city of Gath. We continue on to Beersheba and see Abraham’s well. We then go east with a drive thru 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, May 30 - Masada, Engedi, Qumran, Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias
We ascend to the ancient fortress of Masada. After digesting its history, we drive to the oasis of Engedi where David hid from King Saul, then on to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We head north past where Jesus was baptized, thru 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 (known for Roman hot springs).

Day 10, May 31 – Northern Galilee, Golan Heights, Mt. Hermon, Caesarea Philippi, Hazor
We go north today to the Golan Heights of ancient Bashan, 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 thru the Hula Valley with a stop at Tel Hazor. As we return to Tiberias, we drive up to Mt. Arbel for a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee.

Day 11, June 1 - 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 Magdala, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida, the miracle feedings of the multitudes and the place of the demoniacs and pigs at Kursi, Hippos, Gadara, and finish circling the lake by arriving at Tiberias, where we shop and see a film about Galilee’s Biblical history.

Day 12, June 2 – Central Galilee, Cana, Sepphoris, Nazareth, Armageddon, Beth Shan
We begin by heading west thru Cana and then tour the ancient city of Sepphoris. Next we go to close by Nazareth and a guided tour of Nazareth Village. Afterward, we ascend Mt. Precipice for a view of Nazareth and northern Armageddon. We drive to the Jezreel Valley, stop at Tel Jezreel the city of Ahab and Jezebel, and then go to Harod Springs where Gideon downsized his army to 300. We drive up Mt. Gilboa, to where King Saul was killed, to take pictures of the fertile Beth Shan Valley. We then descend to visit the extensive Roman ruins and Tel of the ancient city of Beth Shan. We return to Tiberias thru the Jordan Valley and one last drive along the Sea of Galilee.

Day 13, June 3 – Western Galilee, Mt. Tabor, Mt. Carmel, Jezreel Valley, Caesarea
On our last day in Galilee, by bus we pass thru the Biblical places of Kadesh, Mt. Moreh, Mt. Tabor, Endor, Shunem, and Nain. We then travel northwest to Elijah’s Mt. Carmel where he dueled with the 450 prophets of Baal. We have a wonderful western view of the Jezreel Valley. We descend back down the mountain to take a tour of ancient Tel Megiddo, overlooking southern Armageddon. Our last stop is at the ancient seaport and Roman Capital of Biblical Caesarea where Paul was put on trial before sailing for Rome. We also take pictures of the city’s Roman aqueduct. We drive thru the Sharon Plain to our hotel perched on cliffs overlooking the beach and Mediterranean Sea for one last night stay in Israel and for reflections about everything that we have seen and heard.

Day 14, June 4 - Tel Aviv
Leave from Ben Gurion airport on our return flight home with lots of great memories and information, while others will continue on the Jordan Extension.


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Chicago O'Hare (ORD)

Land Only

Price Per Person
Double Occupancy (approximate)

$3,395.00

$2,595.00

Single Supplement $800.00     Limited Space - Reserve Early!   Click here for reservation form

 

For additional information, contact John Hodges (Van) at:
hodges777@juno.com   or  708- 331- 4440


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

 Price Includes: Round-trip airfare from Chicago, IL, (discount airfare available nationwide), First class lodging, motor coach, guides, taxes, gratuities, transfers, sightseeing,  two meals a day, Abrahamic lunch.

 Not Included: Air taxes (based on airfare purchase) Fuel charges and air taxes can be $300 or more, lunches, drinks, optional tours, and payment by credit card for land portion (additional 3% surcharge).

Available Extensions*: 
June 4-7     Jordan 3 Day Add-on -  $699.00
June 6-11     Egypt 5 Day Add-on -  $675.00

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

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