Israel has a diverse climate with snowy mountains in the north and the hot desert in the south. Jordan, Syria, and the Palestinian Authority all border Israel to the east.
Description
Arrival. Meet and assist By YPT. "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" (Ps. 118:26) from Ben Gurion Airport.
We drive to Tel Aviv and the adjacent Jaffa (Act: 9:36, 10:5, 11:5, 11:13) visiting the local basilica built on the location of Simon the Tanner’s house where the impure animals vision took place. Travel onwards to Haifa, Israel's largest port city, built on the slopes of Mt. Carmel. We then make a brief halt at the Elijah cave at Stella Marris and then we continue to Muhraqa, the place of sacrifice and the site where Prophet Elijah defeated the False Prophets of Ba'al. Proceed to your hotel for rest.
Take a day at leisure or Optional - We start this day with a boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. We will drive around the western shores to visit the pilgrim shrines of the NW shores. Visit to the Mt. of Beatitudes, the scene of the Sermon on the Mount. Continue to Tabgha to visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaf and Fishes and the nearby Chapel of the Primacy. This is followed by a visit to the ruins of the ancient town of Capernaum which in Jesus' days was a flourishing border town, also known as "his own city" (Math. 4:13). We will see the ancient synagogue and the "House of Peter". Drive to the Golan Heights to visit a former Syrian fortification.
Start this day with a drive to the Yardenit Baptism Site located on the banks of the Jordan River. Drive to Jericho the most ancient city in the world, we drive on, stopping in the shade of sycamore tree of the kind which Zacchaeus climbed in order to see Jesus (Lk. 19:1-10). Afternoon at leisure or Optional - Ascend to The Qarantal monastery (by cable car). Drive to pass Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found (no entrance). Then towards the shores of the Dead Sea. Enjoy the opportunity to swim at the unique water of Dead Sea.
Bethlehem. Visit the Basilica of the Nativity where there will be the opportunity to kneel at the birthplace of Christ in the Grotto of the Nativity. Afternoon at leisure or Optional - Visit the Fields of the Shepherds where the Angel of the Lord proclaimed the birth of the Messiah, the Savior of the World. Drive to Ein Karem where John Baptist was born, Church of St. John the Baptist and Church of the Visitation.
Jerusalem. Start this eventful day visiting Yad Vashem, the holocaust museum. Drive to the Garden Tomb. We drive to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, which is built over the ruins of the Palace of Caiaphas, the High Priest before whom Jesus was brought for trial (Mark 14: 53-65). We drive to the top of the Mount of Olives from which Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection. From the Mount there is a magnificent view over all ancient and modern Jerusalem, the center of the biblical world. We visit the holy shrines on the Mount and walk on down the "Palm Sunday Road" visiting the Chapel of Dominus Flevit (Jesus wept) en route to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of all Nations where Christ prayed.
Visit Israel Museum, to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, a model of first century Jerusalem. We shall enter within the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem and walk in the footsteps of our Lord as he bore the burden of our sins to the Cross at Golgotha. We visit the Pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the man who had been crippled for 38 years (Joh. 5:1-9) and walk on following the 14 stations of the Cross from Pilate's Judgment Hall to the empty tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We shall visit the Western Wall (Wailing Wall).
After breakfast, Check out of your hotel by 1pm. Then Lunch, if time permits prior to departure A visit to the Local market for some last minute
souvenirs buying. Then you’ll be taken to Ben Gurion airport for your flight back home. Arrive in Miami FL
