Day 1: Saturday, April 3, 2027: Depart the United States
The day has arrived and we depart from Jackson (JAN) on an overnight journey to Israel.
Day 2: Sunday, April 4, 2027: Arrive in Israel
Today we arrive in Israel at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. Time permitting, we visit the ancient town of Jaffa where Peter had his vision on the rooftop of the house of Simon the Tanner. Overnight Tel Aviv Area or Sea of Galilee Area. Vert Lagoon Netanya or Sofia Sea of Galilee or similar. D.
Day 3: Monday, April 5, 2027: Caesarea, Muhraqa, Megiddo, Nazareth
Today we travel to Caesarea Maritima (included), where we will visit this magnificent city with Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader ruins. Here we will elaborate on the story of the baptism of Cornelius, the first gentile convert to Christianity, and on the travels of Paul—those events that led Caesarea Maritima to become the springboard of Christianity to the West. Continue to Mount Carmel (included) and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal, discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story. We will visit Tel Megiddo (included), from where we will take in a magnificent view of the Valley of Armageddon. Travel to Nazareth where we will climb the Mount of Precipice, the brow of the hill on which the city was built. There we will reflect on the rejection of Jesus by his family and friends in Nazareth. We depart for Sea of Galilee, passing Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle. Overnight Sea of Galilee Area. Sofia Sea of Galilee or similar. B, D.
Day 4: Tuesday, April 6, 2027: Boat Ride, Boat Museum, Mt. Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tabgha, St. Peter Fish Lunch, Peter’s Primacy, Magdala
After a buffet breakfast, we will visit the ancient boat museum containing a 2000-year-old fishing boat (included). We will then sail on the Sea of Galilee on a replica of that boat (included). We will visit the Mount of Beatitudes and discuss the Sermon on the Mount. We will then visit Capernaum (included), Jesus’ Galilean ministry base. Then we drive to Tabgha and will see the Primacy of Peter where Jesus appeared to the disciples the third time after his resurrection. Try St. Peter’s Fish for lunch (included). Finally, visit Magdala (included), the hometown of Mary Magdalene. Overnight Sea of Galilee Area. Sofia Sea of Galilee or similar.
Day 5: Wednesday, April 7, 2027: Tel Dan, Banias, Golan Heights
We start our day with a visit to Tel Dan (included), and with a walk to the head of the springs that form the main source of the River Jordan. We visit the ancient high place of Tel Dan, where archaeologists uncovered the remains of a large Israelite cultic complex and a replica of the four-horned altar, recalling the shrine established by King Jeroboam I. We then explore the impressive city gates, including one of the best-preserved examples of Old Testament fortifications and the remarkable Canaanite mudbrick gate—the so-called “Abraham Gate”—dating to around 1800 BC. Our journey proceeds to Caesarea Philippi (included), rich in biblical history, where we’ll reflect amidst ancient ruins and sacred sites, recalling Peter’s profound declaration. As we traverse the rugged terrain of the Golan Heights, we’ll be treated to panoramic views of the landscape, including Paul’s legendary route to Damascus. Overnight Sea of Galilee Area. Sea of Galilee or similar. B, D.
Day 6: Thursday, April 8, 2027: Beit Shean, Bet Arabah, Jericho
This morning we leave the Sea of Galilee area heading south. We stop to visit Beth She’an (included), or Scythopolis as it was called by the Romans. 1 Samuel 31 tells us that King Saul was defeated by the Philistines and died on nearby Mount Gilboa. When the Philistines found Saul’s body, they fastened it to the wall of Beth She’an. Later, during Jesus’ time, Scythopolis was a member of the Decapolis, a group of ten cities sharing Greek culture and government, mentioned at Matthew 4:25, Mark 5:20, and Mark 7:31. We will then continue traveling south to Bet Arabah where John the Baptist was baptizing on the Jordan River. We visit the Tel of Jericho (included) with its ancient ruins, pointing out what possibly could be the foundations of the ramparts that Joshua and the Israelites brought down. Overnight Jerusalem. Cassia or similar. B, D.
Day 7: Friday, April 9, 2027: St. Anne’s, Pools of Bethesda, Mount of Olives, Shepherds’ Field, Bethlehem
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our day with a visit to St Anne’s Church (included) and the nearby Pools of Bethesda where the healing at the pool took place. Continue with an orientation over the holy city from the Mount of Olives, pointing out important locations within the Old City, connecting them with Biblical stories and prophecies about the return of Jesus. We will then walk down the Palm Sunday Procession Road to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus agonized on the night before his crucifixion. We travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We begin with a visit to the Shepherds’ Field, where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Our Lord These fields are also the setting of some of the events of the Book of Ruth. We travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the actual place where, according to ancient tradition, Jesus was born. Overnight Jerusalem. Cassia or similar. B, D.
Day 8: Saturday, April 10, 2027: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea Swim
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our day by visiting Masada (entrance & cable car included), the fortress built by King Herod the Great and made famous by the Zealots in 73/74 AD with the standoff against the Romans. We visit the fortress and see the ruins that are considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. We then continue to Ein Gedi (lookout / parking included), the oasis in the desert where the meeting between David and King Saul took place and where many of the psalms were written by David. This afternoon we visit Qumran (included), the location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a Bedouin boy in 1947. There we will see the caves and other buildings where the Essenes, the group of Jews who wrote the scrolls, lived. At the end of the day you will be able to experience floating on the Dead Sea (access to the beach included; conditions permitting). Overnight Jerusalem. Cassia or similar. B, D.
Day 9: Sunday, April 11, 2027: Temple Mount, Wailing Wall, Western Wall Tunnels, Israel Museum, Jewish Quarter, Davidson Center
This morning we ascend the Temple Mount, discussing its connection to both the Old and New Testaments. Visit the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, and Judaism’s holiest site. We also experience the Western Wall Tunnels (included). We travel to the Israel Museum (included), where we will visit the Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem, a 1:50 scaled model of the city from the 1st century AD. We then visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on exhibit, in addition to the archaeological section where many artifacts are displayed. We will pay special attention to those items that relate to Bible history. Walk through the Jewish Quarter and finish the day visiting the Southern Wall Excavations (included) where ruins of the retaining walls of the Temple Mount are still visible. We will then gather at the teaching steps, the main entrance to the Temple where rabbis met and taught their disciples. Overnight Jerusalem. Cassia or similar. B, D.
Day 10: Monday, April 12, 2027: Gethsemane, Upper Room, Gallicantu, Ecce Homo, Via Dolorosa, Holy Sepulcher, Garden Tomb
After a buffet breakfast, we begin our day with a visit to Gethsemane Garden and on to the Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper. Visit the nearby location of the home of the High Priest, Caiaphas (included). We then visit the Antonia Fortress (included), where Jesus was condemned to die by Pontius Pilate. We walk from the Judgement Pavement along the Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulcher. We will visit the Garden Tomb (donation included), where we will worship together and celebrate communion. Your flight home may depart either late tonight or the following day. If the following day and an overnight are required, overnight Jerusalem. B, D.
Day 11: Tuesday, April 13, 2027: Return Home
Your flight home may depart either the previous night or today. If today and time allows, breakfast is included today. Either way, later today we will arrive back in Jackson. Optional Extension to West Bank Sites.
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Optional Extension to West Bank
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Day 1: Tuesday, April 13, 2027: Shiloh, Nablus, Mounts Ebal and Gerizim
Today we drive to Shiloh (included), an ancient biblical city and Israel’s first religious center, where the Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant stood. Shiloh is now an archaeological site with significant ruins. We proceed to visit ancient Shechem, where Abraham built his first altar. We will also visit Jacob’s Well, where Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman. We will see Mounts Ebal and Gerizim, where Joshua gathered the tribes of Israel to renew the covenant and proclaim the blessings and curses of the Law. Overnight Jerusalem. Cassia or similar. B, D.
Day 2: Wednesday, April 14, 2027: Hebron, Be’er Sheva
Today we travel south through the Judean hills to Hebron, one of the oldest cities in the world and home to the Cave of Machpelah, where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—and their wives—are buried. We’ll explore this city sacred to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike before continuing to Beersheba, the “Well of the Oath,” where Abraham and Isaac lived and where God reaffirmed His promises. Here, the stories of the patriarchs come vividly to life amid the desert landscape of the Negev. Our flight home may depart late tonight or the following day. If the following day and an overnight is required, overnight Jerusalem. Cassia or similar. B, D.
Day 3: Thursday, April 15, 2027: Return Home
Your flight home may depart either the previous night or today. If today and time allows, breakfast is included today. We make our way to the airport and begin our journey back home, where we will arrive later in the day.