Shalom Friends. Some have been asking for a more detailed itinerary. While this is subject to slight change each day depending on decisions Nir and I make, here is the basic plan we will follow:
EASTERN HILLS CHURCH
Tour to the Holy Land
Led by Pastor Pat & Pam Jones
February 25-March 8, 2024
DAY 1 – Sunday, February 25 – Depart the USA for the Holy Land. Overnight: En Route.
DAY 2 – Monday, February 26 – ARRIVAL IN ISRAEL – Arrive safely at Ben Gurion Airport. Welcome by our representative and after claiming luggage transfer to Tel Aviv and check into the hotel. After a welcome dinner and orientation to the tour hopefully get a good night's sleep. Dinner & Overnight: Dan Panorama, Tel Aviv.
DAY 3 – Tuesday, February 27 – JAFFA-CAESAREA- MT. CARMEL- MEGIDDO-NAZARETH – After a rich Israeli breakfast check out of the hotel and start your journey with a visit to Joppa (present-day Jaffa) from which Jonah departed for his encounter with the whale and we'll see the house of Simon the Tanner, on whose roof Peter had his vision that led to the baptism of Cornelius (Acts 10 1-23). Then depart Tel Aviv and continue north to Caesarea (Acts 10) to explore the ruins of this ancient Roman and Crusader cities; built by Herod the Great, Caesarea is where Paul was imprisoned and tried, and where Cornelius was converted to Christianity. Continue to Mt. Carmel and Muhraka (First Kings 18), site of Elijah the Prophet’s dramatic contest against the false prophets of Baal. After lunch we'll drive via Jezreel Valley to Megiddo (Armageddon) (Revelations 16,14-19) and visit Tel Megiddo where we can see the remains of King Solomon’s Stables, an altar from the time of Abraham and the magnificent water tunnel. Drive via Nazareth and Cana, stopping on Mt. Precipice to look over the city where Jesus spent most of His childhood. Continue to the Sea of Galilee and check into the hotel. Dinner & Overnight: Lake House Hotel on the Sea of Galilee.
DAY 4 – Wednesday, February 28 – SEA OF GALILEE/IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS – After breakfast we’ll start the day with viewing the ancient “Jesus Boat” at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar before visiting the Heptagon Church at Tabgha (Matthew 14, 13), where Jesus “multiplied the loaves and fish" and Capernaum (Matthew 9,10-13), where Jesus began His Ministry. From there we'll continue to Migdal, the home of Mary Magdalene. Following a St. Peter's fish lunch, the next stop is the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5), site of the Sermon on the Mount. We’ll proceed to the basalt synagogue at Korazin to see where Jesus taught and see the “Seat of Moses” as well as the natural amphitheater where Jesus also taught. Next, we’ll cross the Jordan River and visit Bethsaida, home of Peter, Andrea, James and John. We’ll also talk about the Decapolis and visit Kursi where Jesus cast the demons out of a man into a herd of swine. We will probably do our baptismal service at Yardenit. End the day with a boat ride along the northern shore of the Sea of Galiliee. Dinner & Overnight: Lake House Hotel on the Sea of Galilee.
DAY 5 – Thursday, February 29 – NORTHERN GALILEE – After breakfast we’ll have a full day to tour Israel's lovely northern region. We'll visit the archaeological site of Tel Dan (Judges 18, 27-31) where the tribe of Dan disobeyed God's order and created a Golden Calf, and then move on to the famous city of Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16,12-23), also known as Banias, one of the contributory streams of the Jordan River; here, Jesus could be alone with His disciples and pass along His teachings. Next, we’ll take a drive through the Golan Heights, stopping to visit an ancient Jewish village called Katzrin. This is our last night here before heading south. Dinner & Overnight: Lake House Hotel on the Sea of Galilee.
DAY 6 – Friday, March 1 – JORDAN VALLEY/DEAD SEA - After breakfast and check out we’ll drive south to Beit Shean (First Samuel 31,8-13), an amazing New Testament Roman city with temples, baths and a black basalt theater. We'll continue along the Jordan Valley, with Jordan to our east and the Mountains of Samaria to our west, past the oasis of Old Testament Jericho where Joshua led Israel in the siege of the city and down to the Dead Sea. This is the lowest place on earth and the site where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan at the mouth of the sea. We'll also view and discuss the location of ancient Gilgal, Israel’s largest all-Jewish city in history; to our right will be the awesome Wilderness of Judea. Skirting the west side of the Dead Sea, we’ll note the cave where archaeologist Vendy l. Jones is excavating in search of the Ashes of the Red Heifer and Temple Treasures. Afterwards we'll visit Qumran where a young Bedouin boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. Our guide will share discoveries relating to Essene Qumran and our Jewish/Christian heritage. We'll then look over the ancient oasis of Ein Gedi (the Goat’s Rocks), where David hid out in caves while fleeing from King Saul and finally drive south along the Dead Sea to our hotel and check in. Dinner & Overnight: Daniel Hotel by the Dead Sea.
"your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin alongside Edom, and your southern border shall run from the end of the Salt Sea on the east" Numbers 34:3
DAY 7 – Saturday, March 2 – WILDERNESS OF JUDEA/MASADA – This morning after breakfast we'll head to Masada to take the cable car and ride to the top of what is the most important mountain in Israel’s history. Learn the incredible story of the Jewish Freedom Fighters who held out against the Romans in 73 A.D. The story of the struggle, the excavations and the view from the top is one of the unforgettable highlights of our tour. We'll return to the hotel for an afternoon of rest and relaxation; take a float on the Dead Sea or perhaps enjoy the hotel spa! Dinner & Overnight: Daniel Hotel by the Dead Sea.
DAY 8 – Sunday, March 3 – JUDEAN HILLS – Following breakfast and check out we'll travel through the Negev Desert via Arad to Beer Sheva and view the ancient well of Abraham and the other ancient ruins exhibited here. From there we'll drive through Gat to the Valley of Ella, where David slew Goliath. Drive to Shepherds' Fields and cross over to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. Finally, arrive to Jerusalem and enjoy dinner. Dinner & Overnight: Bat Sheva Hotel, Jerusalem.
"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem" Psalm 122:2
DAY 9 – Monday, March 4 – BETHLEHEM AND NEW JERUSALEM – After breakfast we'll ascend to the Mount of Olives where our guide will discuss the geography and history of Jerusalem while overlooking the actual locales noted in the Scriptures – the Kidron Valley, the Temple Area and the Holy City. We'll descend by the path of Jesus’ triumphant entry into the Kidron Valley and then worship in the lovely Garden of Gethsemane, discussing Jesus’ suffering and his “Passion Week.” Before us is the Golden Gate of the Temple Area, as when Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in Matthew. We will enter the old city via dung gate and visit the western wall and the western wall Tunnels. After lunch on own we will end the day visit Yad Vashem, Israel's main Holocaust Remembrance and Education Center. Dinner & Overnight: Bat Sheva Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 10 – Tuesday, March 5 – THE HOLY CITY OF JERUSALEM – Breakfast at the hotel and then continue to the most ancient part of the city, although it's most recently excavated – the City of David, where we'll walk through Hezekiah's Tunnel and the newly discovered tunnel, from the pool all the way to the Southern Wall Excavations and Southern Steps. Then we will continue to the House of Caiaphas, where Jesus’ early trials took place and where Peter denied him and Jesus was “caned.” We’ll then view the Valley of the Cheesemaker, the Valley of Hinnom, the Field of Blood, where Judas took his life, Gehennah, and the Ophel, King David’s Capital City. We’ll then continue to Mount Zion and visit the Upper Room (Matthew 26), the traditional site of Jesus’ last Passover meal, or the Lord’s Supper. Explore the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Model of 1st Century Jerusalem. Dinner & Overnight: Bat Sheva Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 11 – Wednesday, March 6 – JERUSALEM'S OLD CITY – After breakfast we’ll drive to the Old City and, contingent on security, visit the Temple Mount and view the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and the Dome of the Spirits. We'll enter via the Lions’ Gate and visit the Pools of Bethesda (John 5,1-10). We’ll then continue to the Tower of Antonia, the Praetorium and Pilate’s Judgement Hall; here our Lord was tried by Pilate, beaten by the Roman Cohort and took up His Cross for Calvary. The Ecce Homo begins the traditional Via Dolorosa leading up to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Catholic site of Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection). We’ll leave some time for shopping in the Old City. Dinner & Overnight: Bat Sheva Hotel in Jerusalem.
DAY 12 – Thursday, March 7 – JERUSALEM OF GOLD – After breakfast we'll visit the Garden Tomb, where we will have time for prayer and to take communion. We’ll then visit the Jewish Quarter including the Cardo, the Herodian Quarter and Nehemiah’s Wall. We'll We will end the tour with a visit to the in the evening, we will enjoy our delicious farewell dinner.
Dinner & Overnight: Bat Sheva Hotel, Jerusalem.
DAY 13 – Friday, March 8 – BACK HOME – Morning at leisure and free time for last minute shopping. Transfer to the airport to check in for your flight, with best wishes for a safe trip home with unforgettable memories!
Depending on flight times, we will disperse any time between Thursday overnight to Friday evening.
