Day 1 ~ May 14, Monday – DEPART CANADA

5:45pm Meet at the EL AL counter terminal 3 in Toronto’s Pearson International airport to check in for your flight. Your experience starts at 8:45pm when your EL AL nonstop overnight flight leaves for Israel. Meals served en route.

Day 2 ~ May 15, Tuesday – ARRIVE IN ISRAEL

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport at 3pm, clear customs and immigration and meet with your guide. Travel to Jaffa of Jonah and the whale and Tabitha fame walk the quaint alleyways and enjoy a splendid view of Tel Aviv. Proceed to your hotel 1 night: Grand Beach hotel ~ Tel Aviv [Dinner]

Day 3 ~ May 16, Wednesday – GALILEE

Travel north along the Mediterranean coast, stop at Caesarea Maritima to visit the Roman capital and the largest port in the Mediterranean built by King Herod. Here Pontius Pilate had his seat; Cornelius lived and was baptized (Acts 10); Paul embarked to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and Philip preached (Acts 8:40). Tour the historical site and enjoy an audio visual presentation showing how Caesarea was built and operated as a port city. Travel to Muhraka (the burned place) on the summit of Mt Carmel where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30). Continue via the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo one of King Solomon’s fortified city kingdoms (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26) – with impressive ruins of 21 layers of civilization. Where the book of revelations will come to life at the site of the epic Armageddon. Cross the Jezreel Valley travelling to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Luke 2:51), view the city then continue via Cana, where Jesus blessed the marriage feast to the Sea of Galilee. Time permitting, stop on Mt Arbel for a unique view of the area of Jesus’ ministry at the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. 2 nights: Ein Gev – Sea of Galilee [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 4 ~ May 17, Thursday – JESUS’ MINISTRY IN GALILEE

Start the day along the path of Jesus and the disciples at Kfar Nahum (Capernaum), centre of Jesus’ Ministry in the Galilee and the site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt.8:5; 14-7; 9; 1-7; 17: 18) including, St Peter’s house and the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Proceed to the church of the Primacy of Peter with time for meditation and prayer on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Magdala where you visit a unique recently discovered ancient Synagogue. Travel North in the Jordan Valley to visit Banias better known as Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made the confession of faith in Christ (Matt; 16:16). Travel onto the Golan Heights then return to the Sea of Galilee. Following the tradition of the “fishermen” disciples sail on the Sea of Galilee. Then stop to visit the famous ancient boat from Jesus’ day. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 5 ~ May 18, Friday – GALILEE / DEAD SEA

Stop at Yardenit – modern baptism centre on the Jordan River. Proceed to Beit Shean where the bodies of King Saul and his sons were placed on the walls of the city (1 Samuel 31:10), known in Jesus’ day as Scythopolis, capital of Decapolis, here you visit the extensive impressive Roman, Byzantine and Omayyad ruins. Follow the pilgrimage route that Jesus & the Galileans took down the Jordan Valley through the homeland of Prophet Elisha, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2). Stop at Qasr El Yahud, on the Jordan River where John baptised Jesus (Matt. 3:13-17). Drive South to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth (417 meters below sea level). View Qumran possible home of the Essenes, where a shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls (1947) in a nearby cave. Visit Masada, King Herod the Great’s mountaintop impressive fortress, later the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (73 A.C.E). Check in to the Dead Sea Spa hotel. 1 night: David Hotel & Spa – Dead Sea [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 6 ~ May 19, Saturday – DEAD SEA / JERUSALEM

Enjoy the hotel facilities and the unique experience “float” in the Dead Sea you cannot sink! Travel north to Ein Gedi and take a short stroll at this oasis in the wilderness – famous from David fleeing the wrath of King Saul (1 Sam 24). Travel along the pilgrimage route that Jesus and the Galileans took via the Judean Desert to Jerusalem stop on the Mount of Olives for a wonderful view of the Old and New Cities and recite a Psalm of ascent. Following the route of Palm Sunday walk down to Gethsemane, visit the church marking the site of the betrayal of Jesus and spend some time in an adjacent Olive Grove with time for prayer and reflection. Walk into the Valley of Jehoshaphat to visit some of the more ornate, monumental tombs. Continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus. View Shepherds Field, and shop for olivewood carvings. 3 nights: Ramada hotel – Jerusalem. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 7 ~ May 20, Sunday – JERUSALEM / OLD CITY

Start this powerful day entering the Old City through St Stephen’s Gate (Lions Gate) walking to the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic man (John5 1-18). Enjoy the acoustics and sing praise in St Anne’s church. Continue along the ancient alleyways through the Suk (market). View the Antonio fortress and Ecce Homo en route to the Austrian hospice. Take a brief break to enjoy the rooftop view and optional (at modest cost) Apple Strudel, chocolate cake and coffee. Continue through the Moslem quarter to the Christian quarter, stop to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Walk the ancient alleyways of the Old City to the Citadel Museum to visit the fascinating exhibits. Proceed to the Garden Tomb with time for reflection and prayer (communion) where one remembers the crucifixion, death on the cross, burial and resurrection of Christ. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 8 ~ May 21, Monday – JERUSALEM / OLD CITY

Explore the fascinating excavations in David’s City including, Area G, Warren’s shaft, the Canaanite tunnel and the pool of Siloam. Walk through the new tunnel to the Southern wall archaeological Park where one can stand on the very same ancient steps which Jesus used to enter and exit the Holy Temple. Proceed to the Western Wall stop for reflection at the most important Jewish site. Walk back in time under the city through the fascinating Western Wall tunnels. Continue through the Jewish quarter. Stop at the Temple Mt Institute to learn about the preparations for renewal of the House of God on the Temple mount. Walk through the Cardo – a Roman, Byzantine and Crusader main street stopping at archeological windows into our Biblical past at the Broad Wall, the 1st and 2nd Temple time walls and the Hasmonean Gate. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 9 ~ May 22, Tuesday – JERUSALEM

Pay respect to the victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) at Yad Vashem, National Memorial and Museum of the Holocaust including the New Museum and the Children’s Memorial. Travel across the city to the Israel Museum, visit the Model of Jerusalem describing the city from the time of Jesus and the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Stop at the Menorah opposite the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) then walk through the Rose garden to the Supreme Court. Visit this impressive building home of Israel’s Judiciary. Continue to Mt Zion, visit St Peter in Gallicantu church built on the site of Caiaphas’ home, Jesus’ prison where Simon Peter denied Jesus. Proceed to the Church of the Last Supper site of the Pentecost and visit King David’s Tomb. Enjoy the acoustics and sing praise in the adjacent Dormition Abbey. Enjoy a farewell dinner in Abo Ghosh, known as Emmaus of Jesus’ day, at a local restaurant with good Mediterranean fare. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Canada. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 10 ~ May 23, Wednesday – RETURN TO CANADA

Leave Tel Aviv at 00:50am on your direct nonstop EL AL flight to Toronto, arriving at 6:40am, meals served on board.

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