Pastor & Tour Host
Lead Pastor,
Grace Church Winona Lake, IN
Day 1: Thursday, October 15: Depart the US
Our journey of a lifetime begins with an early departure from Chicago. We will be served dinner and breakfast en route.
Day 2: Friday, October 16: Arrive in Israel, Caesarea by the Sea
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport, we will be helped through customs and security. We head for Caesarea Maritima, the majestic seaport, built by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar Augustus.* Overnight Tel Aviv area. The Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv or similar. D.
* Note: The visit to Caesarea Maritima depends on the flight’s arrival time.
Day 3: Saturday, October 17: Beersheba, Ramon Crater, Wilderness Tabernacle
After breakfast we proceed to Beersheba (included), the ancient home of Abraham, to see the ruins and archaeological site. We move on through the Negev desert and marvel at the Ramon Crater, where we learn about the Wilderness wandering of the ancient Israelites. After lunch, we head for Timna and the Wilderness Tabernacle (included). Overnight Eilat. Herods Palace Eilat or similar. B, D.
Day 4: Sunday, October 18: Petra
In the morning, we depart Eilat and drive to Petra (included), the ancient Nabatean capital and “Rose Red City half as old as time.” We’ll see the spectacular “city of the dead,” with its famed gorge, ancient streets, temples, dwelling places and tombs carved in solid rock. Our visit includes a two-mile walk through the famous Siq (the natural gorge) to arrive at the Treasury. We can see Roman temple ruins of the Roman city, the Nabatean Judgment Hall, palace tombs, famous Urn Temple and the Roman Amphitheater. A climb of several hundred steps to the “high places” might appeal to the adventurous. Overnight Eilat. Herods Palace Eilat or similar. B, D.
Day 5: Monday, October 19: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea
After check-out we head for Masada (included), where Jewish zealots met their fate at the hands of the Roman army. We move on to Ein Gedi (lookout / parking fee included), the desert oasis, where we recall the worship of David in Psalm 46. We conclude the day at Qumran (included), the home of the Essenes and the location for the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will check in to our resort on the Dead Sea, and enjoy an opportunity to float (conditions permitting). Overnight Dead Sea. Nevo or similar. B, D.
Day 6: Tuesday, October 20: Jericho, Beit Shean, Gan Hashlosha, Baptism, Mount Arbel
This morning we make our way to the Tel of Jericho (included) – a favorite spot for archaeologists. We enjoy an excellent view of the Mount of Temptation. Jericho is an excellent location to buy world-famous Hebron pottery. We move on to the incredible ruins of Beit Shean (included), featuring eighteen layers of civilization where Saul and his sons were nailed to the city wall (1 Samuel 31:10). We depart for Gan HaShlosha (included), near Gideon’s Spring, which feeds the Jordan, for our baptism. We will climb the path to Mt. Arbel (included) for a majestic view of the Sea of Galilee. Overnight Sea of Galilee Area. U Boutique Kinneret Hotel or similar. B, D.
Day 7: Wednesday, October 21: Boat ride, Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Magdala, Caesarea Philippi
We begin today with an unforgettable boatride on the Sea of Galilee. Today we visit Capernaum (included), our Lord’s hometown for two years (Matt. 4:13), and marvel at multitudes that were attracted to the miracles performed by Jesus. We will stop at the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, Chorazin and Magdala (included) to see the remnants of a 1st Century synagogue which likely was visited by our Lord. Then it’s on to Banyas (included), the Caesarea Philippi of the Bible, where Peter made his great declaration about Jesus (Mk. 8:27ff). Overnight Sea of Galilee at U Boutique Kinneret Hotel or similar. B, D.
Day 8: Thursday, October 22: Nazareth, Nazareth Village, Megiddo, Holocaust Museum, Israel Museum
We turn to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus to visit the Church of the Annunciation and see archaeological ruins from the 1st Century (included). We stop at Nazareth Village for a glimpse of 1st Century life and lunch. Then we move on to the Tel of Megiddo (included), one of Joshua’s victories, which dates to 4,000 B.C. We look down on the Valley of Armageddon, where this period of world history concludes with the final battle (Revelation 16:16). In the afternoon we head for Jerusalem with a brief visit to the Holocaust Museum (included) for reminders of the atrocities of the Nazis against the Jews in World War II, and the Israel Museum (included), where we find a model of 1st Century Jerusalem. Overnight Jerusalem. King David or similar. B, D.
Day 9: Friday, October 23: Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, Shepherds’ Fields, Herodian, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane
We begin our day at the Church of the Nativity to focus on the birth of our Lord. We enjoy some shopping for olive wood and other local products in Bethlehem before we visit the Shepherd’s Fields and reflect on the appearance of the angels to announce the birth of Christ to the shepherds (Luke 2:8-18). We include a stop at the Herodian to reflect on the humility of Christ that led to his birth in a cave. We conclude the day with a walk down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before he was arrested and crucified. Overnight Jerusalem. King David or similar. B, D.
Day 10: Saturday October 24: Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Mt. Zion, House of Caiaphas, Upper Room
Today we follow the “Way of Sorrows,” the Via Dolorosa, tracing the route traditionally associated with Jesus’ path to crucifixion. We arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which contains the sites traditionally identified as Golgotha and the tomb of Christ. We then proceed to Mount Zion to visit the House of Caiaphas, associated with the location of Jesus’ trial before the high priest. Nearby, we visit the Upper Room, traditionally identified as the site of the Last Supper and later gatherings of the disciples. Overnight Jerusalem. King David or similar. B, D.
Day 11: Sunday, October 25: Temple Mount, Pools of Bethesda, City of David, Pilgrim’s Path, Davidson Center, Southern Steps, Temple Institute, Garden Tomb, Farewell Dinner, Departure
Today, we catch an early bus to the Temple Mount, home to the temples of Solomon and Herod and the current location for the Dome of the Rock, the Mosque of Omar, originally built in the 6th Century and the Al Aqsa Mosque, used by Muslims for prayer. After the Temple Mount, we visit the Pools of Bethesda (included), where Jesus healed the lame man (John 5). We move on to the City of David, exploring the Pilgrim’s Path*, walking the ancient ascent route upward toward the Temple Mount area, finishing near the Davidson Archaeological Park. You then enter the Davidson Center, taking in its exhibits before stepping outside to the Southern Steps, where Jewish pilgrims historically entered the Temple complex. We continue to the Temple Institute, where you will experience reconstructed vessels and explanations of Temple worship. We conclude the afternoon with Communion in the Garden Tomb and free time before we enjoy our farewell dinner and then transfer to the airport for our flight home. Overnight in flight. B, FD.
Day 12: Monday, October 26: Arrive in the USA
We arrive back in the US early this morning and transfer to our domestic flights home filled with life-changing memories of what it was like to walk in the footsteps of Moses and Jesus during our visit to the Holy Land.