Israel Tour 2008 Daily Itinerary
May 11, Day 1, Sunday
We gather at the Newark Airport from various parts of the country before departing on our non-stop flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served aloft.
May 12, Day 2, Monday
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we collect our luggage and proceed to our awaiting tour bus, guide and driver. A scenic ride brings us to Caesarea, one of the most interesting archaeological sites in Israel. We journey through beautiful scenery to our hotel in Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and a good night's rest refresh us for wonderful days that will follow.
May 13, Day 3, Tuesday
You'll treasure the sunrises on the Sea of Galilee. After a buffet breakfast, we board a boat near our hotel that takes us on a one hour ride on Galilee, including an inspiring worship service. We disembark at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar to see the famous "Jesus Boat", a fishing vessel discovered on the nearby shore. Our second stop brings us to Tabga, site of "the feeding of the 5000" and to the nearby Chapel of Peter. A short distance away is Capernaum which Jesus used as headquarters during His ministry. Lunch at Nof Ginosar. This afternoon we journey around the Sea of Galilee, stopping at the Jordan River Baptismal site and Kurse where Jesus sent demons into a herd of swine. Final stop today is Bethsaida, an ancient town under excavation. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Tiberias.
May 14, Day 4, Wednesday
Our day of touring begins on the Mount of Beatitudes with a worship service at the site where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. From here we travel to Megiddo, the scene of many battles in history and the prophetic site of the last battle to be fought on earth. Following our lunch stop we journey up to Nazareth to visit the Roman Catholic Church of the Annunciation. Nearby is the Church of St. Joseph, marking the traditional site of the home of Joseph and Mary. Final stop today is Cana, the town where Jesus turned the water into wine. We return to our hotel for dinner and our last night in Tiberias.
May 15, Day 5, Thursday
This morning we bid farewell to Galilee and make our way to Jerusalem. Upon arrival, we ascend Mt. Scopes, located at the northern end of the Mt. of Olives, for a brief worship service. After lunch we proceed to Bethlehem, to visit the Church of the Nativity, Sheperds' Field before shopping at one of Bethlehem's finest stores. Dinner and overnight at our hotel, the Sheraton Plaza in Jerusalem.
(The visit to Bethlehem is based on political conditions at the time. If a visit is not advisable, other sites will be substituted.)
May 16, Day 6, Friday
This morning we will experience a walking tour of the Old City.
We enter through Lion's Gate, stopping first at the Pool of Bethesda and the Church of St. Anne, where Jesus healed a crippled man. Returning to the narrow streets, we walk along the Via Dolorosa, stopping at several Stations of the Cross as we make our way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Before lunch we have free time for shopping. This afternoon we visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the site where Jesus was brought the night of His arrest. The last stop is a visit to the Upper Room and the Tomb of David.
