Day 1: Monday Outbound flight
Flight from the UK to Israel
Day 2: To The North of Israel
Leaving Tel Aviv we head north to the magnificent ruins of Caesarea, the home of the first Gentile convert to Christianity and from where Paul sailed to Rome. There will be time to see the Hippodrome, Herod’s Palace and the beautiful aqueduct. After lunch we head to Haifa to see Elijah’s cave and then Muhraqa (on Mount Carmel) where Elijah fought the prophets of Baal. Overnight Sea of Galilee region.
Day 3: Around The Sea of Galilee
We spend our day around the Sea of Galilee visiting some beautiful places: The Mount of The Beatitudes, site of The Sermon on the Mount, Tabgha, possible site of the feeding of the five thousand, Chapel of Mensa Christi, possible site of the resurrection breakfast: Capernaum, the centre of Jesus’+
Galilean Ministry, Qatzrin where you can see biblical life, The Golan Heights, Yardenit, the Pilgrims' Baptismal site on the River Jordan and we shall have a wonderful boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. Overnight Sea of Galilee region.
Day 4: Nazareth and Cana
Today we head for Mount Tabor, possible of the transfiguration, Village of Cana, the scene of Jesus’ first miracle where He turned water into wine and Nazareth, Jesus childhood home where we see the Basilica of the Annunciation over Mary’s house. St Joseph’s Church the Church of Mary’s Well, the Souk and the Old Synagogue. In Nazareth we shall also visit the Nazareth Village which is an excellent reconstruction of Nazareth from biblical times. Overnight Sea of Galilee region.
Day 5: Masada, Qumran and The Dead Sea
We drive South roughly following the River Jordan, to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered after which we head to Masada, the famous rock fortress, the final resistance of the Zealots against Romans in the Jewish War of the 1st Century AD. After a relaxing time floating on the waters of the Dead Sea (the lowest point on earth), we head back to the stunning city of Jerusalem. Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 6: Bethlehem
We begin our day with a visit to Bethlehem to see Church of The Nativity and The Shepherd’s Fields. We will also visit Herod’s Bethlehem Palace. After lunch and a visit to a Christian shop to buy olive wood products, we return to Jerusalem. Today we return early to the hotel so there will be plenty of time to relax with friends, go for a walk or visit the Anglican Cathedral (near the hotel). Overnight Jerusalem
Day 7: Worship at Christ Church and a tour of Jerusalem n the We begin our day by joining the 9:30 a.m. service at Christ Church. Christ Church is the oldest Protestant Church in the Middle East. After the service, there will be time to look at their Heritage Centre which gives us an insight into Jerusalem’s history and layout. The afternoon will be spent in the Jewish Quarter to see the ancient wall from 10th century B.C. , possibly built Solomon. We shall also see the Cardo which was an ancient Roman market. The day will end with time at The Western Wall. Overnight Jerusalem
Day 8: Jerusalem—Ein Karem & Yad Vashem
Our day begins early so that we can go up onto Temple Mount to think about the Temple Old Testament times. Afterwards we walk through the Arab quarter of The Old City. We then drive through New Jerusalem so that we can visit Ein Karem, home of John the Baptist’s parents and Yad Vashem –one of the best museums of the Holocaust.
Day: 9 Jerusalem—The Last Week of Jesus’ Life
Starting in the Mount of Olives we view the Golden City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. As we walk down the Mount of Olives we stop at Dominus Flevit , where Jesus wept over Jerusalem and then Garden of Gethsemane, scene of Jesus agony, arrest and betrayal. We head next through The Lion Gate to visit the Church of St Anne and the Pool of Bethesda. Next we head to Sisters of Zion Convent where Pilate may have sat on the Roman Pavement before walking along the Via Dolorosa thinking of the Stations of the Cross tracing Jesus’ last steps to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Calvary. Our day ends with a Communion service at The Garden Tomb.
Day 10: Wednesday 1st November 2017—Jaffa and homeward bound
Our day begins slowly with a visit to Pater Noster, possibly the place where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer. Leaving Jerusalem, we drive to Jaffa, an ancient port in New Testament times. There will be time to walk around Jaffa and think of how it has progressed from an ancient sea port to its modern day status of an extension to Tel Aviv. In the afternoon we drive to Tel Aviv airport for our flight to the UK arriving in London late evening.