In the Footsteps of Jesus Through the Holy Land
(8 days / 6 nights)
Day 1 Depart USA
We start our journey as we board our plane to Israel. Meals and beverages are served in flight.
Day 2 Jaffa / Tel Aviv / Netanya
We arrive at the Ben Gurion Airport and are met by our Pathfinders representative who take us to our motor coach. We enjoy a stroll through Jaffa’s Artists Quarter. Jaffa is where St. Peter revived the righteous woman Tabitha. We continue through Tel Aviv making our way to the beautiful Mediterranean Sea for the evening. Dinner and overnight in Netanya.
Day 3 Netanya / Bet Shean / Jordan River / Sea of Galilee
We depart Netanya this morning and travel to Bet Shean where we view the magnificent remains of this ancient Roman City. We continue on to the Jordan River where you can be baptized or renew your commitment to Christ. We conclude our day by traveling to the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight near the Sea of Galilee.
Day 4 Sea of Galilee / Capernaum / Nazareth / Sea of Galilee
Following in the footsteps of Jesus, we board a wooden boat for the “other side” of the Sea of Galilee. We cross the Jordan River near the site of Bethsaida and arrive in Capernaum, the city of Jesus. We visit the House of Peter and the synagogue where Jesus taught. We make our way to the Mount of Beatitudes where we read the Sermon on the Mount and then continue on to Tabgha where Jesus performed His miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. This afternoon we travel to Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, to see Mary’s Well, the Church of Annunciation, and Church of St. Joseph. Dinner and overnight near Sea of Galilee.
Day 5 Jerusalem / Bethlehem / Jerusalem
We start our day with a drive up the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem, the same view that Jesus saw when he looked out over the city so long ago. We continue down the Palm Sunday road to the Church of Dominus Flevit. Then we visit the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive trees and the Church of All Nations. We make our way across the Kidron Valley to visit King David’s tomb and the Upper Room. In the afternoon, we journey to West Jerusalem. We pass by the Israeli Parliament, called the Knesset as we make our way to the Shrine of the Book to view the Dead Sea Scrolls. We continue on to Bethlehem where we visit the Shepherds’ Fields and the Church of the Nativity, built over the grotto where Jesus was born. After time at leisure to shop the beautiful Olive Wood crafts, we return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 Jerusalem / Jericho / Massada / Dead Sea / Qumrum / Bethany / Jerusalem
This morning we travel north along the Jordan Valley to visit the 10,000-year-old city of Jericho and Elisha’s Springs. We pass through the Judean Desert to the lowest point on the face of the earth, the Dead Sea. Here we ride a cable car to the summit of Massada, Herod’s luxurious winter palace and the site of the Zealots’ heroic last stand against the Romans. We enjoy a float in the Dead Sea before continuing to Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Lastly, we visit the Tomb of Lazarus and the House of Mary and Martha in Bethany. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 7 Jerusalem
Today we experience what is sure to be one of the high points of our trip as we enjoy a walking tour in the Old City of Jerusalem. We visit the Western (Wailing) Wall and see the original stairs where Jesus once preached. We continue up the Temple Mount to view the Dome of the Rock and the Mosque of El Aqsa. Proceeding through St. Stephen’s Gate, we visit the Pools of Betheseda and St. Anne’s Church. We then stand on stones where Jesus stood at Pilate’s Judgment Hall under the Ecce Homo Arch. We continue to walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After lunch and a candlelight visit inside an authentic rolling stone tomb from the time of Jesus (“Tomb of the Kings”), we conclude our day with prayer and worship at the Garden Tomb to commemorate our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. We will gather this evening for a fare well dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 8 Jerusalem / Tel Aviv / USA
We make our way to the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv for our flight home, taking with us wonderful and inspiring memories of our pilgrimage, which will be treasured and relived for the rest of our lives.