Day 1: Arrival in Tel Aviv
Arrival in Tel Aviv.

Day 2: Caesarea Maritima, Megiddo, Cana
We enter Caesarea Maritima to explore this Roman bridgehead to the East, which became the Christian springboard to the West. We ascend Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal. We then drive to the mound of Megiddo, Har Megiddo in Hebrew, which gave its name to Armageddon. After surveying the Plain of Jezreel, we proceed to Nazareth, visiting part of the ancient Village and enjoying a view of Mount Tabor. We go on to Cana, commemorating Jesus' transformation of water into wine. We end the day at the Arbel cliff, which affords a view over the Lake of Galilee and the main sites of Jesus' ministry.

Day 3: Capernaum, Caesarea Philippi, Sea of Galilee
We drive along the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, where we visit the synagogue and the place where early Christians remembered Peter's house. We continue to Tabha (short for Heptapagon, "seven springs") to view the mosaics in the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. Ascending the Mount of Beatitudes, we listen to Jesus' teachings. On an ancient trade route, we pass Hazor and then go on to Dan. Here we do a nature walk and visit the high place where Jeroboam son of Nebat set up a golden calf. We continue to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Peter answered Jesus' question, "Who do you say that I am?" Our route then takes us over the Golan Heights, skirting Mt. Hermon, with a view toward Damascus. We end the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

Day 4: Beth Shean, Jacob's Well, Jericho
We visit the mound of Beth Shean, hearing the story of Saul and viewing the ruins of Roman Scythopolis. Then we drive through the Dotan Valley, where Joseph's brothers threw him into a cistern, and pass Samaria, Ahab's capital. At Nablus (Shechem), we visit the mound of the ancient city where Joshua renewed the covenant. We stop at nearby Jacob's Well, site of Jesus' conversation with a Samaritan woman. We then drive through the lovely valley of Bidan and down Wadi Fariah, the pass through which Jacob (and probably his grandfather before him) entered the promised land. At Jericho, we visit the tell of this oldest city and view the traditional mountain of Jesus' temptation. Ascending the Roman road along Wadi Qilt, we stop for a look at the Monastery of St. George . Finally, atop Mt. Scopus, we behold majestic Jerusalem.

Day 5: Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Bethlehem
We start the day with an orientation to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. We then follow the traditional Palm Sunday route to the church known as Dominus Flevit ("the Lord weeps"). After viewing the Golden Gate, we walk downhill to Gethsemane, where we take time to meditate on the Gospel text. Then we drive to Mt. Zion: to the grounds of a church called Peter in Gallicantu, which affords the best view of early Jerusalem from the west. (Here, the Assumptionist Fathers propose, was the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus.) Driving south, we visit Solomon's Pools, Jerusalem's main source of water for almost 2000 years. Passing the monastery of Hortus Conclusus ("the sealed garden") in Artas, we go to Shepherds' Fields. We conclude the day with a visit to Bethlehem, walking through its alleys and markets to the Church of the Nativity.

Day 6: Worship, Qumran, Masada, Jerusalem
(assumed to be a Sunday) The morning is free, whether for worship or to explore Jerusalem on your own. (Worship services.) In the early afternoon, we drive through the Judaean desert to Qumran. Here we view Cave # 4, which contained the greatest quantity of Dead Sea scrolls. We continue south to Massada. We take the cable car to the top, visiting Herod's mountain bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD). We conclude the day with a float in the Dead Sea, then return to Jerusalem.

Day 7: Jerusalem
We visit the Western Wall and the Western Wall Tunnel, Judaism's holiest site. (Bar Mitzvah ceremonies will be underway.) We ascend to theDome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site of Islam, located on the traditional site of the ancient Temple Mount. We then walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We drive to the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, at the Israel Museum. There we also survey an open-air model of Jerusalem, representing the city on the eve of the first revolt against, 36 years after the Passion of Jesus.

Day 8: Departure
We drive to the airport for departure.

Please note that that Christian World Travel reserves the right to alter itineraries without notice should it become necessary. All prices are calculated at the exchange rate in effect at the time of this quotation. Should currency fluctuations necessitate an adjustment in tour price, this will be reflected in the final invoice