Pastor & Tour Host
Day 1: Tuesday, October 6, 2026: Depart the US
Our journey of a lifetime begins with a departure from Newark. We will be served dinner and breakfast en route.
Day 2: Wednesday, October 7, 2026: 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 (included), the majestic seaport, built by Herod the Great in honor of Caesar Augustus.* Overnight Tel Aviv. Renaissance or similar. D.
Day 3: Thursday, October 8, 2026: Beersheba, Ramon Crater, Wilderness Tabernacle
After breakfast, we proceed to Jaffa, where Jonah fled to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, then on to Beersheba, the ancient home of Abraham, to see the ruin 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. Overnight Dead Sea Area. Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel. B, D.
Day 4: Friday, October 9, 2026: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea
Masada (included), where Jewish zealots met their fate at the hands of the Roman army. We move on to Ein Gedi, the desert oasis, where we recall the worship of David in Psalm 46. We conclude the day at Qumran, the home of the Essenes and the location for the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We experience the wonders of the Dead Sea before we head to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Overnight Dead Sea Area. Ein Gedi Kibbutz Hotel. B, D.
Day 5: Saturday, October 10, 2026: 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 or similar. B, D.
Day 6: Sunday, October 11, 2026:Â Boatride, Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Magdala, Caesarea Philippi
This morning, we begin with an unforgettable boatride on the Sea of Galilee. Then we visit Capernaum (included), our Lord’s hometown for two years (Matt. 4:13), and marvel at the multitudes that were attracted to the miracles performed by Jesus. We will visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, 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 Area. U Boutique Kinneret or similar. B, D.
Day 7: Monday, October 12, 2026: Nazareth, 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). Then we visit Nazareth Village to enjoy a replica of 1st Century life, typical of Jesus’ day with lunch. 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. Cassia Hotel or similar.
Day 8: Tuesday, October 13, 2026: Temple Mount, Pools of Bethesda, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher
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 head to the Mt. of Olives for a panoramic view of the city of the Old City of Jerusalem, then we walk down the hillside to visit the Garden of Gethsemane. We follow the “Way of Sorrows,” the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and to the tomb of Christ at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Overnight Jerusalem. Cassia Hotel or similar.
Day 9: Wednesday, October 14, 2026: Bethlehem, Church of the Nativity, Shepherds’ Fields, Garden Tomb, Farewell Dinner
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 return to the Garden Tomb for communion and worship, always a highlight for our tours. Our afternoon features time for shopping or optional visits (time permitting) before we head for our farewell dinner. Overnight Jerusalem. Cassia Hotel or similar.
Day 10: Thursday, October 15, 2026: Arrive in the USA
Today, we arrive back in the US 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.