Shalom! Arrive Israel at Ben Gurion Airport. Met and assisted by E.S.T representative
We commence our Pilgrimage of the Holy Land with a drive along the Mediterranean coastline to Tiberias in the Galilee. En-route we visit the ancient port of Caesarea, constructed by Herod the Great, then make our way to Haifa, to view the famous Baha’i Gardens and
Shrine. We continue to the biblical region of the Galilee. Overnight Tiberias.
Day 2 - Sea of Galilee
Following in the footsteps of Jesus we explore the biblical sites of the Galilee.
We visit Tabgha, the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Mk
6:30-44), the Chapel of the Primacy of Peter (Jn 21:1-14) and the Mount of The
Beatitudes (Mt 5:1-5). We continue to the ancient ruins of Capernaum the Town
of Jesus, and drive to Ginosar to see the ‘Jesus boat’; a restored fishing boat
of the kind used in Jesus’ time. Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee with lunch of St Peter fish meal. We conclude our day at the baptismal site at Yardenit, part of the River Jordan. Overnight Tiberias.
Day 3 - Tiberias - Cana - Nazareth
We drive to Cana to visit the Wedding Church, where Jesus performed his first public miracle of changing water into wine (Jn2:1-11, and continue to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation where the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to give birth to Jesus (Lk 1: 26-33). We visit the Mount of the Precipice (Mount of Leap) then on your way to Banias (Caesarea Philippi) return to Tiberias. Overnight Tiberias.
Day 4 - Mount of Olives - The Holy City
After breakfast, we drive to Jerusalem to ascend the Mount of Olives, and
take in the majestic view of ancient and modern Jerusalem, the centre of
the Biblical world. Entering the Old City of Jerusalem we visit the Pool of
Bethesda, the site of the healing of the crippled man (Jn 5: 1-18) then walk the
Stations of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
(Mt 27:32) and the Redeemer Lutheran Church. Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 5 - Jerusalem - Masada - The Dead Sea
We descent to the Dead Sea, close to Jericho on to the Fortress of Masada,
the site of the last Jewish rebellion against the Romans in 73 AD. Ascend by
Cable car to the summit to view the restored remains of Herod’s Summer Palace,
World Heritage listed by UNESCO.
We continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point
on earth, where we have the opportunity to bathe or float in its therapeutic
waters. Return to Jerusalem passing by Qumran, the site of the discovery of the
Dead Sea Scrolls. On to Qasr El Yehud – original Baptismal site. Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 6 - Garden Tomb - Resurrection Sunday - Bethlehem
This day begins with a Dawn Service at the Garden Tomb to celebrate the Risen
Christ where we join in worship with fellow Christians from throughout the
world. Following the service, we drive to Haas Promenade to enjoy a sweeping
view of Jerusalem. Walk down Palm Sunday Road, to the Chapel of Dominus Flevit,
where Jesus wept, and visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on
night of his betrayal (Lk 22:40-46). Then drive to Bethlehem, and visit Shepherds
Field, where the ‘Angel of the Lord’ proclaimed the birth of the Saviour (Lk 2:
8-20) and the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus (Mt 2:1). Overnight
Jerusalem.
Day 7 - Yad Vashem - Dead Sea Scrolls - City of David
After breakfast we visit the picturesque village of Ein Kerem, birthplace of
John the Baptist the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth (Lk. 1:5-17). Continue to
Yad Vashem, a moving and impressionable memorial for the victims of the
Holocaust. Drive to Jerusalem’s Parliament Hill and enter the Shrine of the Book,
where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. We go to the City of David and walk
through Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Kgs 20:20), to the Pool of Siloam where Jesus
healed the blind man (Jn 9:1-11). Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 8 - Western Wall – Mt Zion
Today we visit the Temple Mount, the Western Wall the Holy Shrine of the
Jewish people, the Cardo, the Jewish Quarter, the Room of the Last Supper and
Church of Peter in Gallicantu (Lk 22: 57-62).
We walk through the shopping bazaars of the Old City, the universal centre of the three monotheistic faiths Free time to visit the Redeemer and orthodox Churches and breathe in the biblical history of the Holy City. Overnight
Jerusalem.
Day 9 - Jerusalem - Tel Aviv - Yafo
We continue to the Crusader Church at Abu Gosh. Then drive to
Tel Aviv - Jaffa to visit St Peter’s Church and the House of Simon the Tanner where Peter had his vision. The remainder of the day is free to visit Carmel Markets, the Turkish Train Station or enjoy the panoramic seafront of the Mediterranean. We will have a farewell supper then transfer by bus to the Ben Gurion Airport.
Flight back.
