11 days
50
Airpot
15
Classical Holy Land Tour
Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport. Meet our representative and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Galilee.
After breakfast, we ascend the Golan Heights to Caesarea Philippi (Baniass) – one of the sources of the holy Jordan River. The natural beauty of the spot is the scenery to the remarkable archaeological findings of Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus gave Peter the authority to be "the Rock on which I shall build my Church!". Drive up to the summit of Mount Bental. From the top of this non-active volcano you have a wide view over the Mountains of Galilee, up to Lebanon, and far over the Syrian border. This is an excellent spot to explain the geography and history of this region in the past and present. Continue to Ancient Katzrin, to view the well-preserved synagogue and town, where you can also understand daily life during Jesus' Time. Return to your hotel. Dinner included. Overnight in Galilee.
After Breakfast Visit Cana in Galilee, where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water to wine at a wedding, and continue to Nazareth, where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Greek-Orthodox St. Gabriel Church near Mary's Well. Following Jesus' Footsteps, we drive up a steep, winding road to Mt. Tabor with its scenic Church of the Transfiguration.
Return to your hotel. Dinner included. Overnight in Galilee.
Optional: Mass Reservation at CANA – SHRINE OF THE FIRST MIRACLE
After Breakfast, we start at Tell Megiddo, where we can find traces of fortifications left by the Canaanites, King Salomon, King Ahab, and more, as well as a very sophisticated water system, some claim was built by king Salomon. This strategic place has always been the scenery of war, and according to John's Revelation, it is here where the last battle shall take place – the battle of Armageddon. From here we drive through some Druze villages to the modern port city Haifa, situated on the slopes of the evergreen Mt. Carmel. The view from this mountain is famous for its beauty. We visit the Carmelite Monastery of Mukhraka, which means “burned place,” where Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal and God sent down fire from Heaven. Drive to the oriental city of Akko (Acre), where the Crusaders built their most important port. We can still visit the very well-preserved "Knights Halls" under the living oriental Bazaar with its colors and odors of the East, The Last Bath Attendant in the Turkish Bath – The Hammam.
Return to your hotel. Dinner included. Overnight in Galilee.
Optional: Mass Reservation at MONASTERY OF MUKHRAKA
After Breakfast, Drive to Bethlehem and visit the ancient Church of Nativity, the very place where Jesus was born, with the Catholic St. Catherine Church housing the tombs of the Forty Innocent Children, as well as the Milk Grotto. Drive to Beit Sahur to visit the Church of the Shepherds Fields. We drive to Herodian to Visit the Tomb of Herod the Great. In the Late Afternoon, we Visit Caritas Baby Hospital
Dinner included. Overnight in Bethlehem.
Optional: Mass Reservation at BETHLEHEM –CHURCH OF NATIVITY
After Breakfast we ascend the Mt. of Olives for a panoramic view of the city, pass by the Church of Ascension, from there we walk to the Pater Noster Church, one of the first 4 churches built by St. Helen. Now, just like Our Lord in the past, we can enjoy a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem! A steep road takes us down to the Dominus Flevit Church, where the Lord wept over the destruction of the Temple. We will end this day at the Garden of Gethsemane, humbly meditating under the ancient Olive Trees, remembering Our Lord's wailing in the Church of All Nations. At Zion Gate we visit the "Upper Room" (also known as the Cenacle or Caenaculum) where Jesus and his disciples had the Last Supper together, King David's Tomb and the Dormition Abbey which marks the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have died, or fell into 'eternal sleep'.
Return to your hotel. Dinner included. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Optional: Mass Reservation at PATER NOSTER (Carmelite Sisters)
After Breakfast, we will re-experience that dramatic Friday, when Jesus was crucified. We start at the Bethesda Pools, where Jesus healed the crippled man who couldn't walk for decades, and the St. Anna Church, famous for its long-lasting echo. Following Our Lord on the Way of the Cross – the "Via Dolorosa", we stop by the Ecce Homo Arch, before entering the Sisters of Zion Monastery to see the Pretorium where Jesus was sentenced to Death, with the famous Lithostrotus, where you can still see some Roman engravings on the ancient pavement. The stations of the Via Dolorosa lead us through the colorful "Suq" (Bazaar) of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where we will see the Hill of Calvary (Golgotha) and the empty Tomb of Jesus. Walking through the Jewish Quarter we will see the well-preserved Roman Cardo. Continue at the famous Western ("Wailing" Wall) –the last remnants of the Jewish Temple. Today different Jews from all over the world come here to worship. If open to visits, we will ascend the Temple Mount to view (from outside) the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa Mosque.
Return to your hotel. Dinner included. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Optional: Mass Reservation at BASILICA OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE
After breakfast, At the Israel Museum we will visit the 1:50 Model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple Period (the Time of Jesus) and the "Shrine of the Book" where the original "Dead Sea Scrolls" are exhibited. In the afternoon free time to Enjoy Jerusalem by Your Own.
Driver to Bethlehem . Dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Optional: Mass Reservation at EIN KEREM - CHURCH OF THE VISITATION
After breakfast, According to your departing flight details. Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Ben Gurion Airport. End of services