Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Tel Aviv 10 days/ 9 nights Journey back into time to discover the roots of the religions of Abraham. While gaining a new perspective on Biblical stories, you will also enjoy spectacular sites throughout Israel. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus and Moses or witness the quaint lifestyle on a modern Kibbutz, Israel’s famous self-sufficient communities. Adventure awaits you in the intriguing country of Israel. Day 1: Jerusalem. Arrive at the Ben Gurion Airport where you will be met by our local representative and transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight accommodations. Day 2: Jerusalem and Bethlehem. After breakfast, take an early morning visit to the Garden Tomb of Jesus, then drive to Mt. Olives, the 3,000 year old principle burial ground for the Jews of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of Ascention and the Church of Paster Noster. Follow the path down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Drive through Kidron Valley by way of Absolum’s Pillar and Zechariah’s Tomb to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, Mary’s Foundation, and the Pool of Siloam. After lunch, drive to the Shrine of the Book at the Hebrew Museum to view the Dead Sea Scrolls, the ancient texts which document the evolutionary link between Christianity and Judaism. Proceed around Mt. Zion to the Upper Room, scene of the Lord’s Last Supper, and the nearby Tomb of David. Continue to Bethlehem, visit the Church of the Nativity, the Manger, the Chapel of St. Jerome, the Milk Grotto, and the Shepard’s Field. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight stay. Day 3: Jerusalem. Visit the Old City, passing through St. Stephen’s Gate. Visit the Pool of Bethesda and St. Anne’s Church. Proceed to Mt. Moriah Temple. Visit the Dome of the Rock built over the traditional rock of Abraham’s Sacrifice. See the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Wailing Wall and the Golden Gate. Continue to Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch, Antonia Fortress, and the First Station of the Cross. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to Mt. Calvery, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchur. Walk through Jerusalem’s Bazaar and King David Street to Jaffa Gate and David’s Tower. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Day 4: Jerusalem, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. Drive to ancient Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Visit the excavation of the Walls of Jericho that came tumbling down in Joshua’s day. See Elisha’s Foundation and view the Mount of Temptation. Drive to Qumran where you will see the remains of the Losene Monastery and the caves where the Dead Sea Scroll were found. Later, visit Bethany, the Tomb of Lazarus, and the House of Mary and Martha. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight in Jerusalem. Day 5: Jerusalem/Massada. After breakfast, drive to Massada. On the way, visits the ruins of the fortress where the Jewish defenders made their last stand of the Judean revolt against Rome. Also, see the remains of the storehouses, cisterns, and the 6th Century Byzantine Church still in use today. Proceed to Arad and Beersheba site of a Bedouin encampment. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight stay. Day 6: Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Tiberias. After breakfast, drive to Tiberias to visit the Roman Port of Caesarea, capital of the Roman Province. There you will see Roman and Crusader remains and the harbor from which St. Paul was taken to Rome. Dinner and overnight accommodations in Tiberias. Day 7: Tiberias. After breakfast, drive to Tabgha to visit St. Peter’s house, the Mount of Beatitudes, pass the Home of Mary Magdalene, visit the Horns of Hittin, the place of the Crusaders defeat in 1187 at the hands of Saladin. Proceed on to Canaah of Galilee and the Hill of Precipitation and into Nazareth. Day 8: Megiddo, Cesarea, and Tel Aviv. Drive to Megiddo, overlooking the Jezrell Valley. Continue on to Haifa, the city on the Carmel Mountain range with a lovely view of the Bay. Also see the Bahai Temple, Eiljah’s Cave, and the Carmelite Monastery. Drive on to Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight. Day 9: Tel Aviv. After breakfast, enjoy a full day of leisure, shopping, or exploration around the exciting city of Tel Aviv. Day 10: Tel Aviv. Transfer to the Tel Aviv Airport for extension to Egypt, leave by bus for extension to Jordon, or final departure.