Detailed Itinerary:
This itinerary is subject to changes as deemed necessary when in Israel.
Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019:
Depart Charlotte for overnight flight to Tel Aviv: Lufthansa 429 Charlotte- Munich 6:30 PM - 9:00 AM Sept. 16th Lufthansa 688 Munich- Tel Aviv 11:25 AM - 4:05 PM Monday, Sept. 16, 2019: Arrive in Tel Aviv at 4:05 PM. We will be met at the airport and board our motor coach to drive south toward the desert. Dinner and overnight at the Leonardo Be'er Sheva Hotel Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2019: We will spend our day experiencing the desert. Visiting Timna Park is a special experience that allows us to step into an exact replica of the Tablernacle described in Exodus 26-27. This is also the site of what is believed to be the world's first copper mine, with remains of smelting furnaces, ancient rock-drawings depicting hunters of ostriches and ibexes, Egyptian battle chariots and other images. Avdat, the home town of Herod the Great. Although it's in the middle of the deserts, the inhabitants here had perfected the art of growing grapes and manufacturing a well-renowned wine. To this day, scientists have not discovered their secret. Finish off the day with a float in the incomparable Dead Sea! Undoubtedly, your skin will love you for it! Dinner and overnight in David Dead Sea. Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019: We will continue our desert studies by traveling to Herod the Great's desert escape, Masada. This incredible architectural achievement sitting atop a mountain plateau was the Zealot refuge during the Revolt against the conquering Romans. After three long years of Roman siege on this desert outpost, the Romans finally breached the fortress walls, only to discover that its inhabitants had chosen freedom through death rather than submission to Roman slavery. The setting and the story continue to touch our hearts today. Next, we continue northwards to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a beautiful oasis in the heart of the Judean desert, rich with flora and fauna. This was the place David chose when seeking refuge from King Saul. We will journey to Qumran, the desert abode of the Essene sect, who were likely the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. This sect almost certainly influenced Jesus' teaching and theology. Then we will travel to one of the oldest cities in the world: Jericho. Next, we will drive via Jordan Valley to Beit Shean, which has played an important role throughout history due to its geographical location. The city has had many conquerors: Egyptians, Philistines, Greeks, Romans and Arabs. Several impressive buildings have been uncovered, including a theatre and a public bath-house. Finally, we'll finish the day at Mt. Arbel, a beautiful overlook as well as the site of tragic events in its caves during the reign of Herod and the Romans. Dinner and overnight at Ein Gev Kibbutz Holiday Resort. Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019: We will spend the day around the Sea of Galilee, starting with Sussita, on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here, Jesus probably healed the demon-possessed man. We will also enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and then we will continue to the Ancient Boat at Kibbutz Ginossar. This is a 2,000 year old fishing boat discovered in the mud of the Sea of Galilee in an area several hundred meters 'offshore' that had become exposed when the lake receded after two years of severe drought. Capernaum is the place where Jesus lived during much of his ministry in the Galilee and where he performed many miracles. Afterwards, we will return to the shores of the Sea of Galilee to tour Tagbha, the likely site of the "feeding of the 5,000." We continue to Mount of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount took place. Here we have a stunning view over the Sea of Galilee. From here, we will head to the recently excavated ruins of Magdala, the town believed to be the home of Mary of Magdalene. This village contained the port where the Ancient Boat, now restored and on display at Kibbutz Ginossar, was found. Before going back to the hotel, we will stop at the Jordan River, the setting where John preached and baptized. We will end the day at the Jordan river for optional baptism. Dinner and overnight at Ein Gev Kibbutz Holiday Resort. Friday, Sept. 20, 2019: We start at a city created by Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, in 17 B.C.– Tiberias. In spite of being a beautiful city on the shores of Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) with natural mineral hot springs, it was shunned by many Jews because of an ancient cemetery, which made it ritually unclean. After the Bar Kochba rebellion, the graves of Tiberias were purified and Tiberias became one of the main centers of Jewish learning. We continue further north to Tel Dan nature reserve with ruins of the Canaanite city of Laish, which was captured by the tribe of Dan during the period of the Judges. Among the special finds here is the High Place, from the time of King Jeroboam. The Israelite city gate has been restored, as has the Canaanite gate, with perhaps the earliest constructed arch ever discovered. If time allows, we will stop at Nimrod's Castle, a fortification given to Crusaders in a treaty with the Arabs, which they reconstructed from 1129-1130. It was to Caesarea Philippi that Jesus came to proclaim that He would build His Church. The site is also known as Banias, and it is a beautiful nature reserve, with waterfalls and streams that provide water to the Jordan River. The Golan Heights have played an important role in Israel's history, both ancient and modern. We will learn some modern Israeli history as we hear about the Valley of Tears. Finally, we'll finish the day at the city of Gamla, a Jewish stronghold during the revolt against Rome, also known as the Masada of the north. Dinner and overnight at our kibbutz hotel Ein Gev. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019: This morning begins with Mt. Arbel, overlooking the Sea of Galilee, giving an impressive perspective of where Jesus spent the majority of his life. Next we'll head to Tel Megiddo, the site of over 6,000 years of international traffic along the Via Maris. Mentioned by every great power in the ancient Near East and the location of countless major battles, Christians know this city as Armageddon. Then drive to Mount Carmel where Prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Ba'al. Here we will also see a tomb from the first century. We will leave the Galilee driving west, stopping at Zippori, which is identified with the codification of the Mishna by Rabbi Judah. The site of amazing mosaic floors, the town also features a Roman Cardo and an ancient theater and synagogue. Dinner and overnight at Prima Royale Jerusalem. Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019: We start our day at Mount of Olives with a stunning view over the Old City of Jerusalem. We walk the Palm Sunday Route down to the Garden of Gethsemane, where you will see the oldest olive trees in the world. At the bottom of the Mount of Olives, close to the bed of the Kidron Valley, are a number of extremely impressive burial structures carved in the rock including the tomb of Absalom, the son of David. Next we'll visit the Israel Museum, location of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Temple model. From there, take the short motor coach ride to Bethlehem to visit both the Shepherds' fields and Herod's incredible fortress palace, the Herodian. Dinner and overnight in the Prima Royale Jerusalem. Monday, Sept. 23, 2019: We start the day at Western Wall Tunnel that runs along the hidden continuation of the Western wall. Inside the tunnel is the closest spot accessible to Jews to where the Second Temple ‘Holy of Holies’ once stood. As such, the tunnels have become a site of prayer and spirituality. Continue to Cardo, which was a wide colonnaded street running through the heart (or cardo) of Jerusalem on a north-south axis. The Southern Stairs were the main entrance to the Temple during the Second Temple Period. The story of the City of David began over 3,000 years ago, when King David left the city of Hebron and built his kingdom on a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem. Thus, he established the unified capital of the tribes of Israel. Years later, his son King Solomon built the First Temple on the nearby Mount Moriah, the site of the binding of Isaac. Next, we'll stroll along the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, enjoying the blend of ancient alleyways and modern synagogues. End the day with a discussion of Mt. Zion and its location in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at Prima Royale Jerusalem. Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019: Begin the day with adventure by visiting Zedekiah's Cave, located underneath the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. Though the mouth of the cave was a natural opening, the rest was carved out over thousands of years as the largest quarry in Jerusalem. Herod used this quarry as a source of stone in the renovation of the Temple. From here, continue on to Yad VaShem, built as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust as well as to those who took personal risk to save their Jewish brethren. Next, visit the Temple Institute. This organization is dedicated to conserving and telling the history of the Temple Mount and the two Holy Temples built there, while also looking forward to the establishment of the Third Holy Temple. We will end the day and the trip with a visit to the Garden Tomb and communion. Dinner and overnight in the Prima Royale Jerusalem. Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019: Depart Tel Aviv for return flights home: Lufthansa 681 Tel Aviv - Munich 6:55 AM - 9:50 AM Lufthansa 428 Munich - Charlotte 12:45 PM - 4:25 PM INCLUDED in the Tour Price:
NOT INCLUDED:
Our first stop will be Sussita, on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Here, Jesus probably healed the demon-possessed man. |