Day 1 February 13 ~ Tuesday – DESTINATION ISRAEL

Meet in Winnipeg airport at the West Jet check in counter at 6am for the flight to Toronto. Leave Toronto at 5:45pm on EL AL Israel’s national airline. Enjoy your overnight nonstop direct flight destination Israel, meals served on board.

Day 2 February 14 ~ Wednesday – WELCOME TO ISRAEL

At noon arrive in the Land of Promise in Ben Gurion International Airport. Meet your tour guide. Drive north through the Plain of Sharon, along the Mediterranean shore on the old coastal road known as the Via Maris, which linked Egypt and Babylon. Stop at Caesarea the largest port in the Mediterranean built by King Herod the Great. 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). Visit the Roman Theatre, the Hippodrome, and the Crusader City. Stop at the visitors’ center to view the audio visual presentation. Continue to your hotel, enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure with time to bathe in the Mediterranean Sea or walk on the beach. 1 night Palm Beach hotel Akko [dinner]

Day 3 February 15 ~ Thursday – GALILEE

Tour the Crusader City in underground Akko. Travel to and via the Jezreel Valle en route to Megiddo, view Muhraka (the burned place) on Mt. Carmel where the prophet Elijah challenged the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30) Stop to visit Megiddo one of King Solomon’s fortified city kingdoms (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with 20 levels of impressive ruins. From here the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as you read about the final Battle of Armageddon, while viewing the fertile plains of the Jezreel. Proceed to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus, visit Nazareth Village relive village life from the time of Jesus. View the Church of the Annunciation and travel via Mt Precipice to the Sea of Galilee. Emulating the disciples sail on the Sea of Galilee and visit the ancient boat from the time of Jesus 2 nights Prima Too hotel Tiberias [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 4 February 16 ~ Friday – JESUS’ MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

Drive north along the foot of the Golan Heights to visit Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan River, site of ancient “Caesarea Philippi” and the Northern extent of Jesus’ ministry, where Peter made the confession of faith in Christ (Matt; 16:16). Continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered “The Sermon On The Mount” (Matt.5). Weather permitting – walk down the mountain to Tabgha to visit the Church of the Primacy of Peter. Proceed to 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). See the remains of St Peter’s house and the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 5 February 17 ~ Saturday – GALILEE – JERUSALEM

Travel south to Beit Shean where the body of King Saul and his sons were placed on the walls by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10) also known in Jesus time as Scythopolis, capital of Decapolis to visit the largest ongoing archaeological dig in the land of Israel. Drive through the Jordan Valley, where the desert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2). Visit Qasr El Yahud on the Jordan River where John Baptised Jesus. Continue south along the shores of the Dead Sea to Qumran, home of the Cult of the Judean Desert, where a shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls (1947) in a nearby cave. Then ascend through the Judean Desert Wilderness to the Holy City – golden Jerusalem as the Galileans did stopping on Mt Scopus to recite a Psalm of Ascent and enjoy the first view of the Holy City. Travel to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity the birthplace of Jesus. 4 nights Caesar hotel Jerusalem [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 6 February 18 ~ Sunday – JERUSALEM

Start the day at Yad Vashem – national memorial and Museum of the Shoah (Holocaust), pay tribute to the six million victims of the Shoah (Holocaust) in Europe during the Second World War. Visit the new Museum, the Children’s Memorial and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous Amongst the Nations commemorating those who risked their own lives to save Jewish souls. Continue to the Israel Museum – visit the Shrine of the Book home of the Dead Sea Scrolls the oldest Bible manuscripts and the Model of ancient Jerusalem describing the city from the time of Jesus. Enter the Old city view the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque built on the Temple Mount. Visit the South Western Wall of the Temple Mount and the Davidson Centre including the very same steps that Jesus and the Galileans used to enter and exit the Holy Temple. Stop at the Western Wall (Kotel) to visit Judaism’s most sacred site. Take a journey back in time through the Western Wall Tunnels along the Temple Mt then continue to the Pools of Bethesda at St. Anne’s Church. Exit the city at St Stephen’s the Lions Gate. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 7 February 19 ~ Monday – JERUSALEM

Drive to the top of Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Stroll down the Mountain to the Garden of Gethsemane the Church of All Nations. Continue along the Kidron (the Valley of Jehoshaphat), past the Tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and James. Visit King David’s City including: a fascinating multimedia presentation, ruins of King David’s city, the Canaanite tunnel and the Pools of Siloam. Proceed to Mt Zion, visit the Upper Room (Room of the Last Super) site of the miracle of Pentecost; King David’s Tomb and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built on the site of High Priest Caiaphas’ home. Enter the Old City through Zion Gate, walk through the Armenian and the Jewish Quarter. Visit the ancient street the “Cardo,” the “Suk” the colourful bazaars, alleyways and market places to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. End the day at the Garden Tomb. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 8 February 20 ~ Tuesday – MASADA/ DEAD SEA

Drive through the Judean desert towards Jericho, the oldest town in the world (which you will see from a distance) to the lowest point on earth the Dead Sea (over 1300 feet below sea level). Continue south view Ein Gedi an Oasis in the desert en route to Masada. Ascend by cable car to the summit of King Herod the Great’s desert fortress, later the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in the revolt against Rome(73 ace). Travel north along the Dead Sea en route to Jerusalem stop to float on the Dead Sea – you cannot sink! [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 9 February 21 ~ Wednesday – JERUSALEM

Spend a day of leisure in this fascinating city. With time to re-visit the Old City for shopping in the bazaars or walk through the new city for shopping along Jaffa Road and Ben Yehuda Street. Visit one of the many Museums that Jerusalem has to offer or simply relax at the hotel and prepare for your late evening departure. Enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant with excellent Mediterranean fare. Transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your return flight to Canada. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 10 February 22 ~ Thursday – CANADA

Depart Tel Aviv at 00:50am flying nonstop to Toronto arriving at 6:35am (meals served on board). Continue on your West Jet flight to Winnipeg at 1:40pm arriving at 3:20pm.

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