Day 1 Mon, Feb 14 Depart U.S.
Leave Newark on a non-stop flight for Tel Aviv.
Day 2 Tue, Feb 15 Arrive Tel Aviv
Late afternoon arrival in the Holy Land. Welcome from Christian Palestinian tour guide and transfer to a hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and a night's rest.
Day 3 Wed, Feb 16 Tel Aviv- Galilee
Travel to Caesarea and marvel at the excavations of this ancient city including the Roman theater and aqueduct. View Jesus' hometown of Nazareth from a scenic viewpoint for a time of teaching. Continue to Sepphoris, the capital of the Galilee in the first Century, and marvel at the mosaics. Descend the Galilean hills to the Tiberias area on the Sea of Galilee.
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| The Sea of Galilee Photo Courtesy of www.goisrael.com |
Take in the panoramic view on top of Mount of Beatitudes, site of Sermon on the Mount. Visit Capernaum, where Jesus began preaching in the Galilee. Drive north into the Galilean mountains to the city of Safed, a center of Jewish myticism for centuries. Enjoy a walking tour of the city. At Kibbutz Nof Ginosar see the wooden Roman boat found buried in the sea and tour the kibbutz with a member.
Day 5 Fri, Feb 18 Galilee
Journey into the Upper Galilee to Tel Dan to see the excavations of an ancient Israelite city. Continue to Banias Nature Reserve, the location of Biblical Caesarea Philippi. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
Day 6 Sat, Feb 19 Galilee-Petra, Jordon
Leave Tiberias for Bet Shean to walk among the excavations revealing 18 cities occupied for over 5000 years. Journey south through the Jordon River Valley, crossing the Sheikh Hussein Bridge into Jordon. Allowing time for border formalities, continue south visiting Mt. Nebo from where Moses viewed the Promise land and Madaba to see the 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land.
Day 7 Sun, Feb 20 Petra
Full day to discover Petra, a vast city carved into the sheer red-rock by the Nabataeans 2000 years ago. Enter the city through the siq, a narrow gorge flanked by high cliffs to the Treasury. Walk among hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings, a Roman-style theatre, obelisks, temples and colonnaded streets. Overlooking the valley is a monastery accessible via 800 stairs.
Day 8 Mon, Feb 21 Petra- Dead Sea, Israel
Leave Petra early this morning crossing back into Israel over the Jordon River at Allenby security. Brief stop at Qumran to view the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Time to try a float in the Dead Sea before dinner and overnight at hotel.
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| Sunrise over the Dead Sea Photo Courtesy of www.goisrael.com |
Day 9 Tue, Feb 22 Dead Sea - Jerusalem
Early this morning take the cable car to the top of Masada, where Herod build a palace and Jewish rebels resisted the ROmans. Ascend to Jerusalem for a panoramic introduction from the Mount of Olves. Walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Day 10 Wed, Feb 23 Jerusalem - Old City
After breakfast, possible speaker at the hotel. Discover Jerusalem's Old City beginning with the Western Wall including the Tunnel. View the Temple Mount on which the Dome of the Rock and Al Aksa Mosque are located. Visit the Pools of Bethesda and St. Anne's Church. Trace a portion of the Way of the Cross through the bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built over the site of crucifixion. This afternoon see the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum and view a magnificent scale model of Jerusalem during Jesus' lifetime. Visit Yad Vashem the Holocaust museum and memorial.
Day 11 Thu, Feb 24 Bethlehem Excursion
Journey to nearby Bethlehem to discover the place of Jesus' birth. Visit the Church of the Nativity. Learn about the Lutheran ministry at Christmas Lutheran Church and the International Center of Bethlehem (ICB), Dar Annadwa in Arabic. Meet with Palestinian Lutheran pastor Rev. Mitri Raheb followed by lunch at the ICB restaurant and shopping in the arts and craft center. Time permitting, visit and devotions in Shepherd's Fields.
Day 12 Fri, Feb 25 Jerusalem
The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer with a brief greeting from the pastor and perhaps climb the church tower for a great view from inside the city walls. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Day 13 Sat, Feb 26 Return Home
Continue homeward, arrving early morning in Newark.
Itenerary provided by Crossing Borders Internation Group Tours
