Day 3 • Caesarea Theater
Day 5 • Bet Shean
Day 7 • Massada
Day 8 • Jerusalem
Day 1 • Departure from the USA
Today we begin our adventure as we board our plane for our flight over the Atlantic Ocean.
Day 2 • Arrival Tel Aviv/Jerusalem
Upon arrival, we are met by our friendly Signature Tours International representatives who assist us to our hotel in Natanya.
Day 3 • Caesarea/Mt. Carmel/Megiddo/Nazareth/Tiberias
This morning we drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea. It was here that Peter converted the Roman centurion, Cornelius. We visit the 2,000-year-old Roman theater and aqueduct. We continue to the traditional place of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Next, we arrive at Megiddo, chariot city of Solomon, overlooking the Valley of Armageddon. In the afternoon we visit Nazareth, Jesus’ hometown, to see Mary’s Well and the Churches of the Annunciation and St. Joseph. Overnight is in Tiberias.
Day 4 • Sea of Galilee/Capernaum/Tabgha/Mount of Beatitudes/Caesarea Philippi/Jordan River/Tiberias
Today, we follow the footsteps of Jesus as we board a boat for the “other side” of the Sea of Galilee. Crossing the Jordan River near the site of Bethsaida, we enter Capernaum, the city of Jesus. We view the House of Peter and the synagogue where Jesus taught. We read the Sermon on the Mount at the Mount of Beatitudes and visit Tabgha, where Jesus performed his miracle of feeding the 5,000. We then travel to Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mt. Hermon, where Peter recognized Jesus as the Christ. We conclude our day at the baptismal site on the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight are in Tiberias.
Day 5 • Bet Shean/Jericho/Wadi Qelt/Bethlehem/Jerusalem
We drive down the Jordan Valley to Bet Shean to view the magnificent remains of that ancient Roman city. Our next stop is Jericho, at the base of the Mount of Temptation, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. We visit Elisha’s Springs and the ruins of old Jericho, before continuing up the old Roman road. We pass by Wadi Qelt on our way to Bethlehem. There, we view the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto where Jesus was born, and Shepherds’ Fields. We have time for olivewood shopping before arriving at our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and the night.
Day 6 • Church of Dominus Flevit
Day 6 • Jerusalem
We begin our day following the Palm Sunday walk, beginning with Bethphage, where Jesus mounted the donkey for His triumphal entry into the city. We follow Jesus’ path to the Church of Pater Noster and the top of the Mount of Olives, where a breathtaking panoramic view of the city reminds us of what Jesus saw when he looked out over Jerusalem. We continue down the Palm Sunday walk to the Church of Dominus Flevit and to the base of the mountain. We visit the Garden of Gethsemane, with its ancient olive trees and the Church of All Nations. We proceed to King David’s tomb and visit the Upper Room. In the afternoon, we go to the New City to visit the model of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. We also see the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament building. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem.
Day 7 • Massada/Dead Sea/Qumran/Bethany/Jerusalem
Today we motor coach down through the Judean Desert to the lowest point on the face of the earth, the Dead Sea. Here we ride the cable car to the summit of Massada, Herod’s luxurious winter palace and the place of the Zealots’ heroic last stand against the Romans. We have time for a dip in the Dead Sea before continuing to Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Here we also view the ruins of the community of Essenes, who prepared themselves in the desert for the coming of the end-time. We conclude our day at Bethany with a visit to the Tomb of Lazarus and the House of Mary and Martha. Dinner and overnight are again in Jerusalem.
Day 8 • Jerusalem
We enter the Old City, visiting the Western (Wailing) Wall and the original stairs where Jesus once preached. We continue up Temple Mount, visiting the dome of the Rock and Mosque of El Aqsa. Proceeding through St. Stephen’s Gate, we visit the Pools of Bethesda and St. Ann’s Church and stand on stones where Jesus stood at Pilate’s Judgment Hall, under the Ecce Homo Arch. We then walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After lunch and a candlelight visit inside an authentic rolling-stone tomb from the time of Jesus (“Tomb of the Kings”), we conclude our day with a communion service at the Garden tomb, commemorating Our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. Dinner and overnight are in Jerusalem.
Day 9 • Yad Vashem
Day 9 • Jerusalem/Emmaus/Tel Aviv/Hometown, U.S.A.
This morning, flight time permitting, we visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the six million Jews killed in the holocaust. We also visit the Shrine of the Book to view the original Dead Sea Scrolls. Stopping briefly at Emmaus, we conclude our visit to the Holy Land before departing from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for our flight back to the U.S. We return with memories of our “Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus,” to be relived in the days and years to come.