Israel Expedition with Washington Baptist Church

The day has arrived, and we depart from Newark on a nonstop flight to Tel Aviv.

Having arrived in Israel, we travel north to the coastal city of Tel Aviv. Upon arrival we meet our Christian Expedition Tour Director, who will remain with us for the duration of our trip. The rest of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean Sea, relax, have dinner and spend time with the Lord. The Apostle Paul traveled the Mediterranean Sea during his missionary journeys.

Overnight in Tel Aviv (Dinner)

We have breakfast and board a private coach, which brings us along the Sea to Caesarea (entrance included). Acts 10 tells us that the Gentile Cornelius received a vision at Caesarea, which prompted him to send for the Apostle Peter, who then came to Caesarea and preached the Gospel to Cornelius and those assembled at his house. All those who heard the message received the Holy Spirit! In Caesarea, we visit the Roman Amphitheatre, hippodrome, and an ancient aqueduct. We then head to Mt. Carmel (entrance included), where Elijah confronted Baal and his prophets, and God sent fire from heaven in response to Elijah’s prayer. (1 Kings 18) Then we head to the Jezreel Valley, to Megiddo (entrance included), the Armageddon Battlefield of Revelation 16. We drive through the area of Cana and Nazareth the hometown of Jesus. In Nazareth we visit Nazareth Village (entrance included), which is a recreation of Nazareth during biblical times. We will have dinner and spend the next two nights in the Tiberias area on the Sea of Galilee.

Overnight in the Tiberias area (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

We have breakfast and then make our way to Caesarea Philippi (entrance included), where Peter made his famous confession, recorded in Matthew 16, that Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  We go on to Capernaum (entrance included), where we see the remains of the village, including the home of Peter. We see a suggested site for the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes in Bethsaida (entrance included) and the Mount of the Beatitudes. We then head back to Tiberias, where we enjoy a “St. Peter’s Fish Lunch,” of fish from the sea of Galilee (non-fish options are also available). We move on to see the Ancient Galilee boat (entrance included); a boat that was discovered in 1986, and was used for fishing on the Sea of Galilee in the First Century AD. We enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee (included), which includes a Scripture reading and devotional by your trip chaplain. We go on to Capernaum (entrance included), where we see the remains of the village, including the home of Peter. We then head to Magdala (entrance included), the hometown of Mary Magdalene, which also boasts the remains of a First Century synagogue.

Overnight in the Tiberias area (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

After breakfast, we head to the Jordan River Baptismal site. Here there is an opportunity to be baptized in the same river in which John the Baptist baptized many, including Jesus himself. We visit Jericho, which God famously gave into the hands of Joshua and the Israelites in Joshua 6, and which is regarded as the oldest city in the world. East of Jericho is Bethany beyond the Jordan, the area in which Jesus was baptized, Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan, and Joshua and the Israelites entered the land that God had promised them.

Overnight Jerusalem (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

After breakfast, we will depart from Jerusalem and enjoy the cable car trip to Masada (entrance and cable car included), the mountain-top fortress that served at the site of a famous zealot last stand. We head, then, to Qumran, an archaelogical site which was once home to an ascetic sect (Essenes), and which is where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We visit the Dead Sea, and have an opportunity to float (weather permitting). In the afternoon, we head to Genesis Land (Family Package included: hospitality, camel ride and pita bread baking workshop) in the desert, where we get to experience a recreation of life in the time of the patriarchs (including an optional camel ride and authentic food).

Overnight Jerusalem (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Today we see Jerusalem. We visit the Wailing Wall, the Temple Mount, and Rabbinical Tunnels (entrance included). We see the Via Dolorosa, the ancient Roman street that it is believed Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. We visit the Antonia Fortress (entrance included), where Jesus was condemned to die by Pontius Pilate. We see the Pool of Bethesda where, John 5 recounts, Jesus healed a disabled man; Stephen’s Gate, also known as the Lion’s Gate or the Sheep Gate; St. Anne’s Church (entrance included), which was built during the Middle Ages by Crusaders; and the site of the excavation of the Southern Wall (entrance included), which served as the south side of the second temple. It through this wall that Jesus entered the Temple before His cleansing of it. It is believed that this is where Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). We spend the rest of the day in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ.

Overnight Jerusalem (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

We begin the day by heading to the Mount of Olives. The Mount of Olives provides an incredible view of Jerusalem, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock. We visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where your trip chaplain will read the prayers that Jesus prayed there on the night before He was crucified. We move on to the “Upper Room,” where Jesus and his disciples ate the Last Supper. In the afternoon we will drive towards Ancient Shiloh. Visit Shiloh (entrance included), an ancient city which was the major Israelite worship centre before the first Temple was built in Jerusalem. Jews performed pilgrimages and brought offerings until the death of Eli, the High Priest, when the Ark of the Covenant was stolen by the Philistines and, probably, Shiloh was then destroyed (I Samuel, chapter 4). This evening, we’ll enjoy our farewell banquet.

Overnight Jerusalem (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

This morning will be spent at leisure. You might wish to visit city’s markets, or re-visit the Old City. At noon time we will check out from hotel and meet our tour guide. We walk the Via Dolorosa, and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Finally, we make our way to Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified, and the Garden Tomb (entrance included), where Jesus was buried and later resurrected. On the final evening of our trip, we gather for dinner followed by our flight home. Our flight home may depart either tonight or the next morning. If the next morning, overnight in Jerusalem. (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Today we arrive back in the U.S.

This morning driving toward Allenby border crossing to Jordan. Depart for Petra following the Kings Highway. On our way we visit Medaba famous for its 6th century AD Byzantine Mosaic showing the map of the Holy Land. Despite the fact that great part of the Mosaic was damaged our guide will show us the Jerusalem map considered to be the oldest map of Jerusalem in addition to parts of the Dead Sea, River Jordan amid other Biblical sites. On to Mount Nebo from where Moses stood and viewed the Promised Land.

Overnight Petra (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Morning visit to the red rose city of Petra, one of the wonders of the ancient world built by the Nabateans around 2nd century BC. Venture into the city by the way of the gorge called the Siq reaching the amazing Treasury building, then see the Roman lower city to include the Roman Theater, Nabatean burial caves and the Byzantine Basilica. In the afternoon transfer to Wadi Rum for the sunset jeep ride.

Overnight at the Bedouin tents in Wadi Rum (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Optional camel rides in Wadi Rum. Transfer to Amman. Rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Overnight in Amman (Breakfast, lunch & dinner)

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.

(Breakfast)