Day 01: TEL AVIV AIRPORT – TIBERIAS
Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, meet and assist. Transfer to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at your selected hotel.
Day 02: CANA – NAZARETH – HAIFA
After breakfast, leave to Cana of Galilee: the place of the first miracle of Jesus. Continue to Nazareth and start a walking tour from Mary’s Fountain till the Basilica of the Annunciation for a visit to Mary’s House, the Upper Basilica, the Museum and the Church of the Holy Family.
In the afternoon, leave to Haifa, capital of the industry and the major port. Ascend to Mount Carmel passing by the Persian Gardens of the Bahai sect. Visit the Church of Stella Maris, the birthplace of the Carmelite Order which contains a natural grotto of the Prophet Elijah. Back to your hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
Day 03: THE SEA OF GALILEE – MOUNT TABOR – RIVER JORDAN
After breakfast, leave to Mount of Beatitudes to recall the Sermon of the Mountain. Continue to Tabgha (Heptapegon) for a visit to the Church of the Multiplication of Fish and Loaves, admiring the well conserved Byzantine mosaic from the fifth century. Then visit the small chapel of the Primacy of St. Peter before heading to Capernaum, the Town of Jesus for a detailed visit of its ruins: the remains of the House of Peter, the “Insula Sacra” and the White Synagogue. Then, you will experience a boat ride crossing along the Sea of Galilee.
In the afternoon, ascend to Mount Tabor and visit the Basilica of the Transfiguration, built of on the ruins of two earlier sanctuaries: Byzantine and Crusader. Descend and continue to River Jordan where we will have the opportunity to renew your baptismal vows. Back to your hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
Day 04: TIBERIAS – JERASH – MADABA – MOUNT NEBO – AMMAN
After Breakfast, transfer to Sheick Hussein Bridge, the crossing Border between Israel and Jordan. Meet your Jordanian Guide and continue to Jerash, the well preserved Greco-Roman city. Enter through the Arch of Hadrian and walk through oval plaza and the main streets to visit a large number of temples, the Theater and the remains of several Byzantine churches.
In the afternoon, drive to Madaba for a visit to the Orthodox Church which hosts the famous mosaic map of the Holy Land from the sixth century. Ascend to Mount Nebo, from where Moses saw the Promised Land and visit the remains of the Byzantine church. Arrive to Amman, dinner and overnight in your selected hotel.
Day 05: AMMAN – PETRA – AMMAN
After breakfast, drive through the Kings Highway to Petra, the Rose City, capital of the Nabateans, excavated totally in the red rock of the mountain. Walk through the Siq (a narrow passage) to the first monument: the Treasury Temple. Visit also the House of Justice, the Royal Tombs and the Theater.
In the afternoon, back to Amman, dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 06: AMMAN - JERICHO – DEAD SEA – QUMRAN - JERUSALEM
After breakfast, an orientation tour will take you through the major monuments of Amman before continuing to Allenby Bridge, the crossing point to Israel. Meet your Guide and transfer to Jericho, considered the oldest city in the world for a visit to Tel El-Sultan, the site of the biblical Jericho and view of Mount of Temptations.
In the afternoon, continue to Qumran for a visit to the ruins of the Essenes Monastery and view the Caves of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then drive through the Judaean Desert, passing by the Good Samaritan Inn to Jerusalem for a first contact with the Holy City from Mount Scopus. Arrive to your selected hotel for dinner and overenight.
Day 07: MOUNT OF OLIVES AND MOUNT ZION
After breakfast, drive to Mount of Olives for a visit to the Ascension Chapel and then to Pater Noster Church. Walk down to the small Chapel of Dominus Flevit and enjoy a panoramic view of the Holy City with all its major shrines. Continue to the Garden of Gethsemane for a visit to the Church of Agony (called also of All Nations) and Mary’s Tomb in the Josaphat Valley.
In the afternoon, explore Mount of Zion: St. Peter in Gallicantu, David’s Tomb, the Last Supper Room(The Cenacle) and the Dormition Abbey. Then entering Zion’s Gate, walk through the Cardo Maximum and the Jewish Quarter to the Wailing Wall. Back to your hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 08: NEW CITY – EIN KAREM – BETHLEHEM
After breakfast, an orientation tour through the New City of Jerusalem, passing by the Knesset (the Parliament) and the Hebrew University to the Israel Museum for a visit the Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple. (possible visit also to the Shrine of the Book which hosts most of the Dead Sea Scrolls and findings). Continue then to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist for a visit to the Church that recalls his birth and the one of the Visitation.
In the afternoon, driver to Bethlehem for a detailed visit to the Basilica of the Nativity: the Grotto of Nativity, the Manger, St. Catherine Church, St. Joseph and St. Jerome Chapels. Continue to the village of Beit Sahour to visit the Shepherds’ Field with the natural grottos and the remains of the Byzantine churches and monasteries. Back to your hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 09: OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM
After breakfast, transfer to the Lions’ Gate and enter the Old City for a visit to St. Anne Church and the Pool of Bethesda. Continue then walking through the Via Dolorosa (the Way of the Cross) to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher for a detailed visit to Mount Calvary, the Holy Tomb and St. Helen Chapel.
In the afternoon, free time for rest and/or personal activities. It could be dedicated to walk one more time through the narrow streets of the Old City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 10: JERUSALEM – BEN GURION AIRPORT
After breakfast and at a time previously indicated, transfer to Ben Gurion Airport to board your flight back home.
