Holy Land Pilgrimage 2012

Day 1. Welcome to Israel - Travel to the Galilee

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Met by the tour representative and depending on your arrival time you will visit Caesarea Maritima. Visit the Roman Theater, Herod's Palace, the Palace of the Roman Procurator (Apostles 23: 23 and Apostles 26: 23 - Paul; Apostles 10: 20-48 - Peter and Cornelius), the Amphitheater, the Crusaders' City and Harbor. Continue to Nazareth for dinner and overnight.

Day 2. Jesus Childhood in Nazareth and the Galilee

We will begin our day at Mount Precipice where we will view Deborah, Tabor and the many historic villages of the Galilee and then walk down the Pilgrims Path along a short section of the Gospel Trail to the Jezreel Valley below. We will continue our drive to Mount Tabor, the Mount of Transfiguration, and visit the beautiful Basilica and the rock under the altar where the Transfiguration took place. From the rooftop of the church we can enjoy a beautiful view of the Lower Galilee and the Plain of Jezreel.

Drive on to Cana in the Galilee, site of the First Miracle (John 2: 1-11 and John 4: 46-54). Here, there will be a Possibility of renewing Wedding Vows.

You will end our day in Nazareth, visiting the Church of Annunciation (Luke 26: 28) and Mary's Well (in the Greek Orthodox Church).

Dinner and overnight in Nazareth

Day 3. Discovering Jesus's Ministry by the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem

After breakfast take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on the water (Matthew 14: 22-23). The ride will end at Ginnosar, where we shall visit the Ancient Boat from the time of Jesus that was found nearby. Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 7) where we shall visit the heptagonal church that was built by the Italian architect Berluzzi.

Proceed to Tabgha, where we shall visit the Church of the Loaves and the Fish (Matthew 14: 14-34) and the Church of Mensa Christi, where Jesus elected Peter as His Representative on Earth (John 21). This is the traditional site of the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish.

Continuing along the shores of the Sea of Galilee we shall reach Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived in the house of Peter performing from there his miracles and healings (Matthew 4: 13, Matthew 8: 14-15).

Later we will continue along the Jordan Valley and pass Jericho and the Mt. of Temptation as we ascend to Jerusalem.

Return to the hotel. Overnight.

DAY 4 : Bethany - Jericho - Qumran - Masada - Dead Sea

After breakfast we will drive to Bethany (the village of Mary Martha and Lazarus ) to visit Lazarus Tomb. Our drive will continue along the Jordan Valley to Jericho where we will visit the ancient city, Elisha's Spring, the Sycamore Tree, New City and view the Mt. Temptations.

We will continue to Qumran and visit the excavations of the Essean Monastery and the Cave of the Scrolls. Driving south we will head to Masada and then to the Dead Sea.

Dinner & overnight at your Hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 5. Jerusalem - the Old City

After breakfast ascend the Mount of Olives to visit the Chapel of the Ascension (Luke 24: 50-53), the Church of the Pater Noster (Luke 11: 1-4) and have a wonderful panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, with the Temple Mount.

Walking down the Mount of Olives, we shall reach the Church of Dominus Flevit (Luke 19: 41-44) for the visit and proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26: 36-58), to see the old olive trees and visit the Basilica of the Agony.

Through the Lion's Gate we shall walk into the Old City to visit the Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda (John 5: 1-15). Proceed through the Via Dolorosa walking along the Stations of the Cross from the remains of the Antonia to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After the visits, walk through the colorful bazaar and return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 6. Mount Zion to Ein Karem to Bethlehem

After breakfast drive to Mount Zion to visit the Room of the Last Supper (Cenacle) and the Tomb of King David. Walking through the Jewish Quarter, reach the Wailing Wall - the holiest place for the Jews - and the Dung Gate, to drive through the New City of Jerusalem to Ein Kerem to visit the Church of St. John (Luke 1: 1-25). Drive to Yad Vashem, the Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.

Proceed to Bethlehem * to visit the Church of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7) and Shepherd's Field (Luke 2: 8-20).

Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 7. Departure

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure flight.

Option 1 - 3 Star Christian Guesthouses (per person/dbl occupancy) in US$

Option 2:  4 Star Hotels (per person/dbl occupancy)  in US$

Note: The above rates at the 3* and 4* hotels do not apply during the following periods:

• April 7 - 15, 2012
• May 26 - 27, 2012
• September 16 - 18, 2012
• September 30 - October 8, 2012

Supplement for the period August 2 -28, 2012: (high season in Nazareth):$44.- per person in a double. $30.- more for the single supplement.

The above rates include:

• 6 nights Hotel accommodation in the  above  hotels or similar
• Breakfast and dinner daily beginning with dinner on the day of arrival and ending with breakfast on the day of departure
  
• Transportation in Deluxe Bus as per your itinerary
• English speaking guide
• Entrance fees for the all the sites mentioned in the itinerary
• Porterage fees for all hotels and porters.

The above rates do not include:

• Tips for guide, Bus driver, hotels staff
• Lunches
• Flights
• Travel insurance
  
• Entrance fees to sites not mentioned in the itinerary
• Personal expenses such as beverages ,laundry, telephone calls, and medical insurance.

Free land package for one person sharing  a double for every full 20 paying participants