SAMPLE TOUR FOR CHURCH GROUPS ONLY
The history of Christianity in China goes back to the Tang Dynasty (8th century), the Chinese Christian community is growing rapidly and now is one of the three world religions that has come to China from the West. Delve into the history and culture visiting the holiest sites of Israel during your 9 day Holy Land tour.
Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Mt. Arbel, Sea of Galilee, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Mt. Tabor, Mt. of Transfiguration, Cana, Nazareth, Beit She’an, Jericho, Qumran, Dead Sea, Masada and Tel Aviv.
With time for devotion and reflection
For information and bookings, contact Janice Snider.
On arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, your guide will be waiting to provide the transfer to the Holy City of Jerusalem arriving at your hotel for the balance of the day at leisure. Dinner and overnight. D
NOTE: Check-in at most hotels is at 200 PM and check-out is 1200 Noon. Overnight Jerusalem
See the Mount of Olives, a major Christian pilgrimage site to see the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper and where He was betrayed by Judas. Also here you will find the Church of Ascension believed by the faithful to mark the spot where Jesus ascended to Heaven after His Resurrection and the Church of the Pater Noster where Jesus taught the Disciples the “Lord’s Prayer is next.
On the slopes of Mount Zion is the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu commemorating Peter’s triple rejection of Jesus. Directly above the Tomb of King David* is the Cenacle also known as the Room of the Last Supper believed to be the site where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His Disciples. Today’s tour ends at the Garden Tomb believed by many to be the site of the Resurrection of Jesus. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. B/D
*Men and women enter separately. One must dress modestly with the head covering.
See how modern Jews keep the Sabbath as you visit a local synagogue. Enter the Old City heading to the Wailing Wall (the Kotel or Western Wall), the most sacred site for members of the Jewish faith. In the Muslim, Quarter see the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic (John 5:2-9). Walk along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Grief that Jesus walked carrying His cross on the way to His Crucifixion marked by the Nine Stations of the Cross.
Next is Givat Ram where we visit the Israel Museum with the Shrine of the Book housing the famous Dead Sea Scrolls and the 50:1 scale model of the Second Holy Temple. In Bethlehem, the traditionally accepted birthplace of Jesus to see the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at your hotel. B/D
Leaving Jerusalem we head to the ancient Roman city of Caesarea where King Herod built a harbour and a magnificent palace. Overlooking the Mediterranean is Mt. Carmel, where Elijah the Prophet defeated the Prophets of Baal. In Megiddo, excavations have unearthed 26 layers of ruins. It has been said that this is where the last battle between good and evil before the Day of Judgement will take place.
We are now on our way to the Sea of Galilee (the Kinneret) to visit Mt. Arbel which overlooks the Sea of Galilee providing a panoramic view of Jesus’ ministry. Dinner and overnight. B/D
The day begins with a 45-minute boat ride on the tranquil waters of the Sea of Galilee. Pass through the strategic Golan Heights to the ancient Roman city of Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed that Jesus was Christ. On the north shore of the Sea of Galilee is the fishing village of Capernaum, home of the Apostles Peter, James, Andrew and John where you will see the ruins of an ancient synagogue dating from the Second Temple period and the House of Peter, one the 12 Apostles of Jesus. Next is the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the moving Sermon on the Mount.
In Tabgha see the Franciscan Church of Primacy of St. Peter commemorating Jesus’ reaffirmation of Peter as the chief amongst the Apostles. Enjoy a St. Peter’s fish lunch. Time permitting visit the ancient city of Bethsaida and Gerasenes, the place where Jesus healed two demoniacs. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. B/L/D
Journey to the River Jordan, the site of Jesus’ baptism and continue on to Mt. Tabor located at the southern tip of the Galilee Sea. Stop at the Mt. of Transfiguration where Peter, James and John witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus before proceeding to Cana where Jesus performed the first of His miracles turning water into wine.
This afternoon visits Nazareth, the Arab capital of Israel, the childhood home of Jesus and the center of Christian to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation that marks the site where the Archangel Gabriel announced the impending birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26-31). Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. B/D
Leaving the Sea of Galilee travel to the Roman-Byzantine city of Beit She’an once known as Scythopolis with its excavated ruins including streets, public buildings and temples. Travelling south we come to the world’s oldest city, Jericho. Next is Qumran where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found in a cave in 1947 by a Bedouin shepherd. A short drive to the Dead Sea takes us to our hotel arriving in the afternoon with time to enjoy floating in the unsinkable waters. Dinner at your hotel. B/D
This morning head to Masada, the isolated mountaintop fortress of King Herod and the last Jewish stronghold against the Roman invaders where over 980 zealots chose to commit mass suicide rather than being enslaved by the Roman invaders. The dramatic ending of Masada is one of the Jewish people’s greatest examples of determination.
Ascend by cable car to view the remains of Herod the Great’s palaces, storehouse complex, bathhouses, fortress and synagogue. Leaving the Dead Sea journey to Tel Aviv for an orientation tour followed by free time in the city. Transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight. B/D
Transfer to Ben Gurion for your departure flight or extend your stay in either Israel or Jordan. B
*Site under the Palestinian Authority Jurisdiction – visit subject to situation
**Visit subject to weather conditions
***The sequence of the tour, border crossing point used, hotels used and sites visited may be amended due to circumstances
****Men must cover their head while in the prayer area and women must cover their shoulders and wear long pants or a knee-length skirt. If you forget to bring a covering, guards will provide you with a piece of fabric for that purpose before you enter. The prayer area is separated by gender. If you want to be super respectful follow Jewish custom by never turning your back on the wall. You will see many people walking away from the wall backwards because it is simply disrespectful to turn away.
B = breakfast L= lunch D = dinner