Depart the USA today on a life-changing trip as we journey across the Atlantic to the Holy Land.
Ben Gurion Airport / Jerusalem – Upon arrival to airport meet our TAL Tours representative and transfer to our carefully selected hotel in Jerusalem for our first overnight in David’s capital.
Jerusalem (new city) – Start the day with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the peak of the Mt. of Olives from which Jesus rose to heaven (Luke 24:50, 51) . On to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 21:1-16) and Church of the Agony. continue to Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated Model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Continue to Yad Vashem (the memorial to the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. Afternoon visit to the picturesque village of Ein Karem , the birth place of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25) . Return to Hotel.
Beit Shean / Nazareth / Galilee – Leave Jerusalem, and drive north via Jericho*, the oldest city in the world. It was the first town conquered by the Children of Israel under Joshua (Joshua 4:5-6). Then via the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean, an ancient city with a glorious past. King Saul and his sons, who lost the battle with the Phistines at nearby Mt. Gilboa, were hung from the city walls (Judges 6:4-8). Visit the excavations of this beautiful Roman City which during the Byzantine period served as the capital of Palestina Secunda. Proceed to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his boyhood living with Joseph and Mary (Luke 1:26-38) to visit the Church of the Annunciation & Mary’s Well. On to Safed, city of the Kabala (mysticism), for a walk through the mystic alleys and the artists’ colony. Drive to our selected Kibbutz Hotel for overnight accommodations.
Acre / Haifa / Tel Aviv – After Breakfast drive west to Acre for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications as Paul did (Acts 21:7). Continue for a sightseeing tour of Haifa, including the Bahai Shrine, Persian Garden and Mount Carmel, associated with the prophets Elijah and Elisha (Kings 1 2, 15:24, 25) for a panoramic view of the city. Proceed southwards to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Crusader fortress. Caesarea was the home of the first gentile convert, Cornelius who was baptized by Peter (Acts 10). Continue to Tel Aviv-Jaffa, where Jonah embarked for Tarshish (Jonah 1:3-17) for a short city tour and to hotel for overnight.
Golan Heights / Sea of Galilee – Drive to the Golan Heights. See the former Syrian fortifications, and the Druze villages. Visit as Jesus did with his disciples (Matthew 16:13-23) Caesarea Phillipi (Banias), source of the Jordan River (Mark 8:27). Drive to the shores of the Sea of Galilee lying 600 feet below sea level, where violent storms rush down from the surrounding mountains. It was here that Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea (Matthew 8:26) and taught from Peter’s boat (Mark 3:7-9), to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ Galilee Ministry where he leaved and healed the sick and performed numerous miracles (Matthew 9:1;4:13). Visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue and Peter’s House. Visit Tabgha, where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish took place (Luke 5:1-11) and the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-8). After a short tour of Tiberias the old center of Jewish learning, Return to the Kibbutz hotel for overnight.
At leisure – Day at leisure in Tel Aviv, or an optional tour to the Dead Sea and Masada.
Tel Aviv / Ben Gurion Airport – This morning we check in for our homebound flight from Ben Gurion Airport, rejoicing and putting our trust in the Lord, remembering the words from Psalms 125:1: “They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abideth forever”.