Join us on this fully escorted and special tour of the Holy Land as we explore the cradle of Christianity and walk in the Footsteps of Jesus and His Disciples. Together we will fulfill the Mission of Pilgrimage! Join us in evening songs, worship and fellowship as we form new friendships, which will last long after we return home. Christian fellowship is the main ingredient that makes this tour an experience of a lifetime ! This tour is truly the ultimate Holy Land experience.

• Return group economy flight on El Al Ex Johannesburg
• 3 nights in Galilee – Haaon Village or similar
• 1 night at Dead Sea – Daniel Hotel or similar
• 2 nights in Jerusalem – Ramada Royal Hotel or similar
• 1 night in Petra – Golden Tulip Hotel
• 6 Touring days
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• Boat ride on Sea of Galilee and fish Lunch
• Meeting and assistance at Ben Gurion Airport
• Touring with English speaking guide
• Private air-conditioned bus
• Entrance fees to all sites
• Group Travel Insurance for person under 70 years old

DEPARTURE TO ISRAEL

Depart tonight on Elal from Johannesburg to Israel.

Arrive early in Tel Aviv. We start our tour at Jaffa neighboring Tel Aviv to view the old port. Jaffa was an important port on the ancient trade route to Egypt. Legend holds that the founder of Jaffa was Japet, son of Noah. We stop for Breakfast and continue to Caesarea, once a proud Roman port city dating back to the time of Pontius Pilate. View the monumental Roman amphitheater built in the days of Christ. Visit Megiddo (Armageddon), overlooking the fertile Izrael Valley. Megiddo played a prominent role in the history of the ancient Near East and one of the largest Canaanites cities, controlling the access from Egypt to Mesopotamia, which was the cause for the fiercest battles that took place here. The bible tells about Joshua defeating the Canaanite king of Megiddo, a city which king Solomon built and the site where kings Ahaziah and Joshia killed. For Christians, Armageddon is where forces of God will defeat the forces of Evil in the Final Battle at the End Day. Continue to the Mukhraka on Mt. Carmel, overlooking the Izrael Valley and the Kishon. The Canaanite inhabitants worshipped Baal and his consort Ishtar who were adopted by the Israelites. Here Elijah the prophet challenged the priests of Baal to prove whose god was more powerful and when he won, the Israelites abandoned the Canaanite deities and the false prophets were slaughtered (1 Kings 18). Mukhraka, the traditional site of the contest, is today marked by a Carmelite monastery, built in 1886.

Dinner & Overnight - Galilee (B,D)

Ascend the Golan Heights above Kibbutz Gadot. Your guide will explain why the Golan Heights area is so vital to Israel’s security. Drive north through the Hula Valley to the sacred site of Caesarea Philippi at the base of Mt. Hermon and the sources of the Jordan River. Its present name is Banias, a distortion of the Greek word Paneas, for here stood a shrine to the god Pan. Here Herod the Great built a Shrine to Caesar. Phillipi his son embellished the town and named it Caesaria. Caesaria Phillipi is to be distinguished from the Herodean port-city Caesaria Maritima. It was here that Simon acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, to which Jesus replied: “You are Peter ? and on this rock (Petra) I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it”. We travel down to Kibbutz for a tour to learn about this unique way of life and the settlements in modern Israel. Arrive at Gennosar and visit the ancient boat from the times of Jesus found under the water. Enjoy a Boat Ride across the Sea of Galilee and hear how Jesus calmed the stormy sea and walked upon these waters (communion).

Enjoy a traditional St. Peter’s Fish Lunch at Ein Gev. Visit Mt. Beatitudes. Above the mountain is the traditional spot where Jesus delivered the Sermon, he taught on many occasions and also performed many of the miracles. Continue to Tabgha, where Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplication of the fish and loaves and fed 5000. Inside the church is the famous mosaic. We walk a short distance to nearby Peter’s Primacy. Here Jesus met again with the disciples for the "last breakfast" and restored Peter to himself after the disciple's three denials by asking him three times if Peter loved Jesus. Continue to Capernaum, that in old times used to be for a border village on the way to Damascus. The Gospel tells about Jesus leaving Nazareth to settle in Capernaum, which became “his own town” and centre of his activities. From its community of fishermen he chose many of his disciples (Peter, Andrew, James, John and Matthew). View the remains of a synagogue 2-3 centuries earlier than when Jesus taught, though most likely on the same site. Nearby are the remains of an octagonal structure, thought to be built on the remains of Peter’s house.

Dinner & overnight - Galilee (B,L,D)

Breakfast at hotel. Ascend Mt. Tabor’s, Church of Transfiguration. Mount Tabor was an important tribal border in the Hebrew Bible, the place where Deborah routed the enemy and the site of Jesus' transfiguration.Continue to Nazareth where Jesus spent his childhood. Visit to the Church of Annunciation. Visit Nazareth Village to learn how people lived in times of Jesus. We drive through to Cana, site of the first miracle where Jesus turned water to wine.

Dinner & overnight – Galilee (B,D)

After breakfast we drive along the Jordan Valley past Jericho the oldest city Joshua concurred. In the horizon you will see Mt. of Temptation. We visit Quasar El Yahud Baptismal site for optional Baptismal (bring suitable clothing).It is believed that here Jesus was baptized. We drive past Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Ascend Masada by cable car. Our guide will take us on a fascinating tour of this mountain where 960 Jewish defenders organized the last resistance to the Roman conquerors. Descend Massada and enjoy a float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea.

Dinner & Overnight in Jerusalem (B,D)

Breakfast at hotel. This morning visit Bethlehem* (subject to security situation today). Israeli buses and the guide are not allowed in Bethlehem. The tour is arranged by a souvenir shop on Mt. of Olives. After a visit to the shop, their bus and guide will take us through the checkpoint. Visit the Chuch of Nativity. Next visit Shrine of the Book, where on display are the Dead Sea Scrolls and Jerusalem Model illustrating how Jerusalem during the second Temple times. Visit the picturesque village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist and where Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. According to tradition she stopped to drink from the water stream on her way to Bethlehem to give birth to Jesus. Our last visit is to Yad Vashem, a memorial to the Six Million Jews that lost their lives in the Holocaust.

Dinner & Overnight - Jerusalem (B,D)

After breakfast we drive up Mt. Of Olives. Here overlooking the Temple, Jesus taught his disciples, prophesized the destruction of Jerusalem. From here the entire city of Jerusalem unfolds before us. Down the slopes we visit Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was taken captive. On the steep pathway between the Tomb of the Prophets and the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene is the Franciscan site of Dominus Flevit ("The Lord Wept"). Here it is believed that Christ wept as he foresaw the fate of Jerusalem. Also visit Church of Ascension. From here we enter the Old City. Your guide will tell to you about the battle of Jerusalem’s old city during the 1967 war. Visit the Western Wall the most sacred place for the Jews. We then visit the Western Wall Tunnel. If time permitting and no Muslim prayer held, we walk up Temple Mount and view Dome of the Rock mosque. We continue to Pools of Bethesda, north of the temple mount. The pools were probably designed at times Herod the Great for the Jewish inhabitants to purify themselves and here Jesus performed the miracle of healing an infirm man. Walk through Via Dolorosa stations and visit Caiaphus’ House. Visit Ecce Homo Arch where Jesus trial took place and stop by the Church of Holy Sepulcher near Golgotha. Walk through the Oriental Bazaar and visit Upper Room of the Last Supper (time for prayer). We next visit the church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on the eastern slope of Mt. Zion. Our last visit today is to the Garden Tomb, where some believe Jesus was buried (Prayer service time will be booked).

Dinner & Overnight - Jerusalem (B,D)

Cross Hussein Bridge and drive to Petra. Full day tour of Petra a Nabatian city carved in the red rocked mountain.

Dinner & Overnight - Petra (B,D)

Cross back to Israel at Alenby bridge. Free time in Jerusalem. Dinner at Abu Gosh and transfer to the airport for a flight home.

(B,D)