Tour of Israel

Day 1

Board the plane in New York City (JFK) for the overnight flight to Israel.

Day 2

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Transfer to our hotel for dinner and an optional stroll along the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. Overnight in Netanya.

Day 3

Tour Caesarea by the Sea, the 1st-century Roman capital—including the theater, Herod’s palace and other highlights. Explore Megiddo, including evidence of King Solomon and the kings of Israel as well as the ancient Canaanites. Drive to Nazareth to tour Nazareth Village, a re-creation of life in biblical times, and enjoy a 1st-century meal. From the Mount of Precipitation, view Mount Tabor and the Jezreel Valley (biblical Armageddon). Drive to the Sea of Galilee. Overnight in Tiberias.

Day 4

Ascend to the Decapolis city of Hippos. Embark on a morning boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. Enter Capernaum, the center of Christ’s Galilee ministry, to see the synagogue and ruins of the ancient village. Examine the city of Chorazin. Proceed to Nof Ginosar to view a fisherman’s boat from the time of Jesus. Visit the 1st-century synagogue and other excavations at Magdala. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee from atop the Arbel Cliffs . Overnight in Tiberias.

Day 5

Travel north along the Hula Valley to stroll through the Dan Nature Reserve. Tour the ancient city of Dan, including the mud-brick Canaanite city entrance, the Israelite city gate, and the high place of the golden calf. Visit Caesarea Philippi, where Peter made his great confession of faith in Jesus Christ. Explore Nimrod Fortress and enjoy the view of majestic Mount Hermon from Mount Bental. Return on the Damascus Road through the Golan Heights. Overnight in Tiberias.

Day 6

Drive south through the Jordan River Valley to explore Bet Shean, one of the Decapolis cities. Visit the ruins of the Old Testament city of Jericho. Proceed to Qumran to examine the excavations of the Essene community and view the Dead Sea Scrolls caves. Hike the nature trail at Engedi to see the cave where David hid from King Saul. Continue south to our hotel to enjoy a relaxing opportunity to float in the buoyant mineral waters of the Dead Sea. Overnight in Ein Bokek.

Day 7

Ride the cable car to the top of Masada to experience Herod the Great’s historic mountain fortress. Continue to Beersheba, the home of Abraham. Drive north into the Judean Hills to Azekah for a splendid view of the Valley of Elah and the opportunity to select your own five smooth stones where David defeated Goliath. Continue to Jerusalem, the city of the Great King. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 8

Ascend the slopes of the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view of Jerusalem. Walk down the ancient lane to see the Garden of Gethsemane. Drive to Bethlehem to explore the Herodion, the fortress built by Herod the Great which he chose for his burial site. Enjoy lunch at the Bedouin Tent restaurant. Visit the Church of the Nativity and view the Shepherds’ Fields. End the day with a special shopping excursion at historic Kando Store. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 9

Tour the City of David on the hill of Ophel, including Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam. See the 1st-century Pilgrimage Road (recently opened as a tunnel) that leads all the way to the Temple Mount. See Robinson’s Arch, the Trumpet Stone, the stairway leading to the temple, and ancient ritual baths. Examine the Model of Jerusalem at the Israel Museum—where you will also see the museum’s archaeological exhibitions and the Shrine of the Book, home to some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 10

Ascend the Temple Mount to see the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the exquisite Dome of the Rock. Follow the narrow, winding streets to the Christian Quarter to see the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Stroll through the Jewish Quarter to see Hezekiah’s Broad Wall and the Cardo as well as the famous Western Wall. If time permits, examine the recently expanded exhibits at the Citadel of David near the Jaffa Gate. Enter the serene grounds of the Garden Tomb to celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ with a communion service. Return to the hotel for a farewell dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 11

Those concluding the tour will transfer to the airport in Tel Aviv for the early morning flight to New York City (JFK) and your connecting flight home.

Optional Extension to Jordan and Egypt

Day 11

Cross the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge to enter the Kingdom of Jordan. Visit Tall el-Hammam, the site recently suggested as the ancient city of Sodom. Drive to the Baptismal Site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River at the beginning of his ministry. Ascend to the top of Mount Nebo to view the Promised Land from the same place as Moses shortly before he died.  Drive south into the mountains of Edom to our hotel near Petra. Overnight in Wadi Musa.

Day 12

Venture into the amazing rock-city of Petra. Marvel at the stunning beauty of the Siq (the entrance passage), the Treasury, the Street of Facades, the 4000-seat theater, and the various temples and royal tombs carved into the red stone. Overnight in Wadi Musa.

Day 13

Drive north, including a portion of the King’s Highway. Depending on our flight schedule, we may have time to see the Amman Citadel, the location of Rabbah-Amman that King David conquered. Transfer to the Queen Alia International Airport for the flight to Egypt. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 14

View the Great Pyramids on the Giza Plateau (ancient Memphis) as well as the amazing Sphinx, one of the most distinctive symbols of Egypt. If time permits, drive to Sakkara to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Experience the fascinating culture of ancient Egypt by touring the Great Egyptian Museum, including the renowned artifacts of King Tutankhamum. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 15

Transfer to the airport for the flight to New York City (JFK) and your connecting flight home.