Day 1 February 8 Thursday – DESTINATION ISRAEL

3pm Meet at the Air Canada or El Al check in counter Pearson. Depart for Tel Aviv on a direct, non-stop overnight flight from Toronto at 5:45pm (meals served en route).

Day 2 February 9 Friday – WELCOME TO ISRAEL

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport at noon, clear customs and immigration and meet with your guide. Travel north and stop to visit Caesarea the Roman capital and port. 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. View the Muhraka on Mt Carmel where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal while travelling North via the Jezreel Valley en route to your hotel on the Sea of Galilee. 3 nights: Prima Galilee [Dinner]

Day 3 February 10 Saturday – GALILEE

Start the day in Nazareth where Jesus grew up including Nazareth Village where you relive life from the time of Jesus. Visit sites central to Jesus’ Ministry – starting 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). See the remains of St Peter’s house and the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Continue to Chorazin, one of the three villages Jesus prophesied over for not accepting his teaching. Stop on the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered “The Sermon On the Mount” (Matt.5). Drive down to the Church of the Primacy of Peter and the church of the “feeding of the multitude” in Tabgha. Proceed to Mt. Arbel for a great view of the area of Jesus ministry in the Galilee. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 4 February 11 Sunday – GALILEE

Drive north in the Jordan Valley to Hazor “the head of all kingdoms” to visit the site famous for Joshua (Joshua 11:1) and Deborah’s (Judges 4) conquests with an impressive Solomonic gate. Continue along the foot of the Golan Heights to visit Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan River, site of ancient “Caesarea Philippi” where Peter made his confession of faith in Christ (Matt. 16:16). Drive south stop at Kursi to visit the Byzantine Monastery marking the site of the miracle of the Demonic man and herd of swine. Visit the famous ancient fishing vessel from the time of Jesus and learn about its discovery. End the day sailing on the Sea of Galilee, with time for meditation and prayer. [Breakfast/dinner]

Day 5 February 12 Monday – JORDAN

Travel south along the Jordan Valley to the Sheikh Hussein Bridge and cross into Jordan. Travel through Perea of Jesus’ day in the mountains of Gilead to Jerash, stop to visit the impressive ruins of the Roman city. Continue south to Madaba, stop to study the unique ancient mosaic map of the world from the Byzantine era. Emulating the children of Israel and Moses, stop on Mt. Nebo for a glimpse of the Promised Land. Continue south through the Moab Mountains to Petra. 1 night: Edom hotel Petra [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 6 February 13 Tuesday – PETRA ONE OF THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD

Get an early start, walking and riding into the centre of the ancient Nabatean capital, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. See the stunning charm of the Necropolis and magnificent sandstone. Midafternoon leave Petra travelling north on the Kings Way. Then follow in the footsteps of Joshua and the children of Israel cross into Israel opposite ancient Jericho, at the Allenby terminal. Travel through the Judean wilderness and enter Jerusalem as Jesus did. Stop on Mt. Scopus to recite a Psalm of ascent with your first view of the Holy City and the Temple Mt. 4 nights: Caesar hotel Jerusalem [Breakfast & dinner)

Day 7 February 14 Wednesday – JERUSALEM OLD & NEW

View the old and new city and the Temple mount from Mt Olives. Follow in the footsteps of Jesus and the Galileans, walk down the mountain. Stop at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over the city, then continue to Gethsemane – the Church of All Nations. Visit the impressive tombs in the Kidron Valley. Enter the Old City at the Lions Gate walk back in time through the quaint ancient alley ways to the Pools of Bethesda at St Anne’s church, where Jesus healed the paralytic man. Continue through the Suk (market) along the ancient alleyways of the Old City and stop to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Stop on Mt Zion to visit the Church of the Last Supper in the Upper Room and St Peter in Gallicantu church, site of Caiaphas’ home and Peter’s denial of the Lord Jesus. End the day at the Garden Tomb remember the resurrection, with time for prayer and reflection. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 8 February 15 Thursday – WINDOWS INTO THE BIBLICAL PAST

Enter the Old City walk through the ancient alleyways through the colourful market place (Suk) to the Cardo. Tour the ancient main street stopping at windows into the archaeological past. Stop at the Western Wall (Kotel), Judaism’s most sacred site. Circumstances permitting visit the Temple Mount. Travel across the city. Stop to visit and pay respect to the victims of the Shoah at Yad Vashem, National Memorial and Museum of the Holocaust. Continue to the Israel Museum to 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. Travel to Bethlehem to visit the church of the Nativity, birthplace of Jesus. View Shepherds field. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 9 February 16 Friday – JERUSALEM

Spend the day at leisure in Jerusalem, revisit places of interest with time for last minute shopping., [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 10 February 17 Saturday – THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD

Travel through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth (417 meter below sea level). Visit Qasr El Yahud where John baptised Jesus. Continue south, view Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a nearby cave and Ein Gedi Oasis of King Saul and David fame. Stop to visit Masada – ruins of King Herod’s mountaintop fortress and last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against the Romans in 73 C.E. (Ascend and descend by cable car). Enjoy a unique experience “float” in the Dead Sea – you cannot sink! Ascend through the Judean and via Jerusalem to Emmaus for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant with great Mediterranean fare. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Canada. [Breakfast & dinner]

Day 11 February 18 Sunday – RETURN TO CANADA

Leave Tel Aviv for Toronto at 00:35am meals served on board. Arrive in Toronto at 7:30am.

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