Depart from a New York gateway to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.

We arrive at the airport in Tel Aviv, meet Gabriella, our guide, and transfer to our hotel in the area for dinner and overnight. (D)

We head to nearby Caesarea Maritima, built by Herod the Great in 22 BC. We’ll visit the theater, Herodian port, the prison where Paul was kept, and the aqueduct. This is the city where Cornelius was baptized by Peter and where Paul was tried before Felix and Festus (Acts 23-26). We travel from Caesarea Maritima past Tel Megiddo, on to Mt Carmel, where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). From here we head to Nazareth to tour a replica of the 1st century town and the Church of the Annunciation, the largest church in the Holy Land. We end our day with dinner and overnight at our hotel at the Sea of Galilee. (B/D)

We begin with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, then view the “Jesus” boat, preserved from the first century A.D. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, then on to Tabgha where we view the ancient mosaic fashioned to commemorate the feeding of the 5000. After this we’re on to Capernaum, Jesus’ Galilean headquarters. There we see the ancient remains of the synagogue and Peter’s house. After a visit to Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene, we take a beautiful drive through the Huleh Valley to Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed his faith in Jesus as Messiah. We then return to our hotel at the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

We begin our travels at Beit Shean, a city whose extensive ruins relate to both Old and New Testaments. We also visit the ancient synagogue at nearby Beit Alpha. A drive along the Jordan River valley brings us to the traditional baptismal site of Jesus. Here those who want to be baptized or reaffirm their baptismal vows may do so at a site of great significance. From the Jordan River, we ascend past ancient Jericho and drive to Jerusalem, stopping for a panoramic view of the city from Mt. Scopus. Then on to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

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This morning, we visit some of the special places in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount/Dome of Rock, St. Stephen’s (Lion’s) Gate, the Pool of Bethesda and St. Anne’s Church, the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Our afternoon will be spent in the Jewish Quarter, including the Menorah, Cardo, and “Wide” wall built by Hezekiah, then to the Davidson Archeological Centre (Ophel) and Western Wall. After dinner, we visit the incredible scale model of 1st century Jerusalem and the Shrine of the Book, containing the Dead Sea Scrolls and other remarkable objects. We then head back to our hotel in Jerusalem. (B/D)

We begin our day with a trip to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus. We visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s fields, and learn more about the daily lives of modern Palestinians. The afternoon is free time, with the opportunity to tour the holocaust museum, Yad Vashem, wander the streets of the Old City, or engage in other leisure activities. After supper, we visit the Garden Tomb for a meaningful time reflecting on the life, death, and resurrection of Christ and participating in communion. We then return to our hotel in Jerusalem. (B/D)

Today begins with a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives. From there we drive the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, well-known from the Parable of the Good Samaritan, passing by the famous St. George Monastery. We visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947, then on to the beautiful oasis, Ein Gedi, site of an ancient synagogue. Our next stop is magnificent Masada, site of one of Herod the Great’s most amazing palaces and last battle ground for the Zealots. Our day ends at our hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea. (B/D)

This morning begins with an optional float in the Dead Sea, then on to Arad, where we tour water works from the Canaanite period, and an Israelite fortress, including a unique temple. Then we travel to Beersheba, southernmost point for ancient Israel. Those who choose the Egypt extension will return to overnight at the Dead Sea hotel while the rest head to Tel Aviv in preparation for their flight home on Day 10. (B/D)

Return home today or continue on to your Egypt extension.

*(B,L,D) = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We head south through the Negev Desert to Solomon’s southern port city of Etzion Geber, known today as Eilat on the Red Sea. We then continue to the border to cross over into Egypt. (B/D)

For those who wish, an early wakeup call starts our journey to climb Mt. Sinai following in the footsteps of Moses. After a view of the sunrise and beautiful desert vistas, we descend to visit the monastery of St. Catherine, the oldest on earth. Here monks have been witnesses to the Christian faith since the fifth century AD. Our motor coach then travels through the Sinai Desert over the Suez Canal to our Cairo hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Today our sightseeing includes the great Pyramids at Giza and the world-renowned Sphinx. You will even have an opportunity to ride a camel! We visit the Egyptian Museum which contains incredible artifacts from ancient times, including mummies and the treasures of King Tut. Our day also includes a visit to the Citadel, the Mohammed Ali Mosque which offers a panoramic view of Cairo and the Nile, and exciting bazaars where you can bargain for your own treasures. Then we head back to our hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

We continue our tour of Cairo with sites important to early Christianity, such as the famous Hanging Church, and to Judaism such as the Ben Ezra Synagogue. (B/D)

Today we say farewell to Egypt as we are transferred to the Cairo Airport for our flight home.