Footsteps of Our Lord Tour

Saturday Weekly Departures

Today we embark on our Journey to the Holy Land. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight…Tomorrow you will be walking where Jesus walked!

Overnight onboard

Upon arrival into Ben Gurion International Airport, you will be met at the main arrival hall. Proceed to your hotel in Tel Aviv for check in and dinner.

Overnight: Tel-Aviv

Following a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast (which you will enjoy each morning prior to departing for your day of touring), depart Tel Aviv. Drive north along the coastal plain to Caesarea (Acts 9.30 Acts 10 24-48), capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct. Continue to Megiddo (1 Kings 4.28, 9,15, 2 Kings 23,29 & Revel. 16.16), identified as the site of Armageddon. Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well-preserved water supply system. Drive to the beautiful port city of Haifa, nestled on the Mediterranean Sea. Visit the world famous Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. From Haifa, drive to Acre (Micah 1.10), capital of the Crusaders for more than a century. Visit the ancient city and the harbor before continuing eastwards across the plains of the lower Galilee for our lodging in Kibbutz Lavi - not far from the Sea of Galilee. After dinner we will have an evening lecture by one of the kibbutz members to learn about the unique way of life in this Jewish community.

Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi - Galilee

After breakfast we will take a short walking tour in the kibbutz. Then, drive to Tiberias, the capital of the Galilee, we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Matt. 4.13 13.54, 17.24, Luke 7, Mark 1.2, John 4.46-54). Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha (Matt. 13, Mark .33-45, & John 21), the site of the miracle of fish and loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5,6,7,8), where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Spring and Waterfall (Matt. 16.13 and Mark 8.27), where Jesus was recognized as The Messiah by His Disciples. Tour the Golan Heights, with it’s valleys, grazing land and snow capped mountains. Return to Kibbutz Lavi for dinner.

Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi - Galilee

Begin the day with a drive to Nazareth (Luke 1.26, 4.16-29, Matthew 2.23) via Cana of Galilee (John 2.1-11). In Nazareth, we will visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. We continue to Yardenit - the Baptism site on the Jordan River. Drive to Beit Shean, one of the ancient Decapolis cities (Mark 5.20, 7.31), and visit the Roman theatre. This is the city where Saul and his son Jonathan were nailed to the walls (1st Samuel 31.10). Judges 1.27 also mentions Beit Shean. Continue south along the River of Jordan and passing Jericho, we proceed westward and climb to the Golden City of Jerusalem. Check in and Dinner.

Overnight: Jerusalem.

Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Our appreciation of this Golden City begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery. Enter the Old City to begin exploring the wonders of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of All Nations and the 2000 years old olive trees of the Garden of Gethsemane. Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper (Mark 14.13, Luke 22. 10-38, Matt 26 17-29, Acts 1.13 and Acts 2 The Pentecost). Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His Cross. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Matt. 27. 33-57, 28.10). No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the colorful Arab bazaar (a chance to test your negotiating skills). We will end the day by visiting the Garden Tomb. Return to the hotel for dinner.

Overnight: Jerusalem.

Today’s program is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem. Visit the model of ancient Jerusalem at the Israel museum. Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Enter the site by walking along the Street of the Righteous Gentiles, dedicated to the non-Jews that risked their lives in order to save their Jewish neighbors. Continue to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptists (Luke 1.39-80). This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth. Proceed to Bethlehem * to visit the Church of the Nativity. Return to the hotel for dinner.

Overnight: Jerusalem.

Following breakfast, we will leave the city of Jerusalem and travel to the lowest place on earth - the Dead Sea. One of our stops will be Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and an ancient Essene community. We will continue past the shores of the Dead Sea and arrive at Masada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by Herod, famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. From the top of Masada, the Roman camps and siege ramps can be seen. We will have a free time for a "float" in the salty water of the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem for dinner.

Overnight: Jerusalem.

Arrive this morning back in the U.S.A and start planning your next trip to the Holy Land...

Note : * visit to Bethlehem subject to availability