Pilgrimage Super Deluxe

Day 1  – ARRIVE BEN GURION AIRPORT – TIBERIAS
After arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel-Aviv, you will be met by your local guide, who will be with you during your stay in the Holy Land. Drive to Tiberias and Check in to your hotel, your home for the next three nights.(Breakfast & Dinner)

Day 2  – SEA OF GALILEE – GOLAN HEIGHTS
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
Take a boat on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Kibbutz Ginossar. Take a look at the perfectly intact 2000 years old boat recently uncovered on its shores. Next to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the synagogue where he taught, drive on to Tabgha. This was the site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Next the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy. Here he said to Peter, “Feed my lambs, feed my sheep”. Motor up to the Mt. of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon of the Mount where Jesus preached to the people. The beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee and entire Galilee is spectacular. After lunch, drive north to the Golan Heights, visit Banias “Cesarea Philipi”, the site where Jesus said to Peter “Upon this rock, I shall build my church”. Return to our hotel to rest before dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3 – NAZARETH – CANA – MOUNT TABOR – TIBERIAS
“And Mary said, Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”
After breakfast, drive to Cana of Galilee where the newly baptized Jesus performed the first miracle, turning water into wine at the wedding feast. Next to Nazareth, His boyhood home. Visit St. Joseph’s workshop, the cave of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well. There is ample time to walk in the streets of Our Lord’s boyhood town.
“And Jesus was transfigured before them; and his face did shine as the sun”
Take an excursion to the summit of Mount Tabor to visit the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus and the beautiful scenery of the valley of Jezreel. Drive back to Tiberias to rest before dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 – TIBERIAS – MEGIDDO – HAIFA – CAESAREA – JERUSALEM
“There was a certain man in Caesarea”
Drive through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, the site of the battle of Armageddon. Continue to the sparkling port city of Haifa. Ascend to the top of Mt. Carmel, home of the Prophets Elijah and Elisha; for a scenic view of the city and the port. Continue south along the Mediterranean coast to ancient Caesarea, a center of the early Christians. Here Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion, and Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. Visit the Roman theater, Crusader’s Moat, the Byzantine Churches, and the Aqueduct. Continue Jaffa to visit the Old port from where Yona set sail. Drive to Jerusalem, enjoy a panoramic view of the Old and New City from Mount Scopus. Check into the hotel, our home for the next four nights. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5 – MOUNT OF OLIVES – GETHSEMANE – MOUNT ZION – WAILING WALL
“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt”
This morning, stand atop the Mt. of Olives as Jesus did and enjoy the spectacular view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, significant to Christians, Jews and Moslems. Visit the Church of Pater Noster (commemorating the Our Father), the Chapel of Ascension and then walk the “Palm Sunday Road” to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done and the Church of All Nations and the Rock of Agony. Drive through the Kidron Valley to see the Tombs of Absalom, Zacharia, James and the Gihon Fountain.
“The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And he went out and wept bitterly”
Next stand in the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper. Then survey the Dormition Abbey, St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Jesus three times, and King David’s Tomb. Visit the Temple Area;
view the beautiful Dome of the Rock, el Aqsa Mosque, Islam’s third major sacred mosque, and the Wailing Wall, holiest shrine in the world for Jews. Return to our hotel to rest before dinner. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6 – BETHLEHEM – EIN KAREM
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”
Drive to Bethlehem to visit the birthplace of Jesus and one of the most revered sites, the Church of Nativity, the Manger, the Church of St. Catherine, the Grotto of St. Jerome and the Shepherds’ Fields.
“O mountain of God, receive me, a mother, with my child”
This afternoon, drive Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to visit the Visitation Church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat.”
“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which was called in the Hebrew Golgotha”
This afternoon, enter the Old City of Jerusalem where everyday life and winding cobblestone streets have remained much the same over the centuries. Sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of
Bethesda. Visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos and the arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) through the narrow alleys and bazaars to the holiest shrine in Christendom, Church of the Holy Sepulchre to visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord. Return to hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 7 –BETHANY – JERICHO – DEAD SEA – QUMRAN – MASSADA
“Man shall not live by bread alone”
Drive to Bethany, the site of the House of Mary, Martha and Lazarus; where you’ll visit the Tomb of Lazarus. Drive to ancient Jericho to visit the ruins of the ancient city which was conquered by Joshua. From the top of the ancient “tel”, you’ll have an excellent view of Elisha’s Fountain and the Mt. of Temptation. Continue to the Dead Sea to swim in the salty and mineral laden waters of the Dead Sea. The sea has high concentration of various healing chemical salts that one cannot sink in. Proceed to Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known Biblical manuscripts ever found, Continue down to Massada, the site of the Last Fortification of the Jews against the Romans in A.D 73. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 8 – DEPARTURE
Today we bid farewell to the Holy Land as we drive to the airport to board our departure flight back home.