ARRIVAL TEL AVIV – TRANSFER TO GALILEE

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv the group is met by our Orthodox tour escort who will ac-company the group for the entire trip in the Holy Land. We are transferred to the Sea of Galilee area for an overnight. Open buffet dinner at the hotel.

NAZARETH – CANA – MOUNT TABOR

Open buffet breakfast. We proceed to Nazareth, visiting the Greek Ortho¬dox Church of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well. Walk along Blessed Mary’s route from the Orthodox Church to the Basilica of Annunciation. Next we visit Cana of Galilee including the Greek Orthodox Church, where we see two of the six jars that Jesus used in the first miracle of turning water into wine for the wed¬ding feast. Our final stop is Mt. Tabor to pray at the Greek Orthodox Monastery of Transfiguration. Dinner and over¬night Sea of Galilee.

SEA OF GALILEE

Open buffet breakfast. We start the day early with boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Our visit continues to Capernaum where we visit the Greek Orthodox church of the Apostles and the nearby ancient Synagogue where Jesus preached. Our next visit is to the Mt of Beatitudes and the Church of the Mul¬tiplication of Fish and Loaves where we see the fabulous Byzantine Mosa¬ic showing the five loaves and the two fish- the same caught in the Galilee and partaken of by Our Lord and the Holy Apostles. This afternoon we visit St Pe¬ters Primacy Church and the Valley of the Doves at the foot of the Arbel cliff, here is the ancient highway on the Via Maris leading from Mediterranean Sea to Damascus and is part of the route taken by Jesus from Nazareth to Sea of Galilee – part known as the Gospel Trail. Dinner and overnight in the Sea of Galilee area.

HAIFA – CAESAREA – EIN KAREM – JERUSALEM

Open buffet breakfast. Check out from hotel we depart for Haifa visit St Elias church on Mt Carmel where the Prophet hid from King Ahab. Depart for Caesarea travelling along the Plains of Sharon. We have a guided tour that includes the Theatre, Herod’s Palace, Hippodrome Port and Aqueducts. We drive to Ein Karem to see St John Ba Harim “birthplace of John the Baptist”, Mary’s Spring where Mary came to share the good news announced to her by the Archangel Gabriel with Elizabeth, her cousin, the mother of John the Baptist. Arrive Jerusalem for dinner and over¬night.

JERICHO – MT OF TEMPTATION – JORDAN RIVER – DEAD SEA

After buffet breakfast we take a full day excursion to the city of Jericho along the ancient Roman Road where we stop for a view of St George’s Monastery. Upon arrival into Jericho we take a cable car to the Greek Orthodox Monastery at Mt of Tempta¬tion for a visit of the Monastery – from here you will have a great view over Jeri¬cho – Dead Sea, Mt Moab and Mt Nebo in Jordan. On with our visit of Jericho where we visit St Zaccheus Greek Orthodox church where in its ground we would be able to see the ancient Sycamore Tree that by tradition Zacchaeus mounted to see the passing Lord.
Stop at the Jordan River Baptismal site at Bet Arabah for renewal of Baptismal vows. End the day with a stop at the shores of the Dead Sea to enjoy a dip in its unique mineral waters. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

BETHANY – BETHLEHEM – ST. SABA'S – SHEPHERDS’ FIELD

Open buffet breakfast. Start our visit this morning with the Greek Orthodox Church at Bethany marking the place where Jesus met the Sisters, at the en¬trance of the town, followed by a visit of Lazarus empty tomb. Precede to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativi¬ty marking the birth place of Jesus. We visit the Shepherd field (Orthodox Church) followed by lunch on your own. Men will visit the Monastery of St. Sabas in the desert while women have shop¬ping time in Bethlehem. Overnight in Jerusalem.

MOUNT OF OLIVES – MOUNT ZION

Ascend Mt of Olives visiting the Ascen¬sion chapel, then walk down the walk down the Palm (Willow) Sunday road stopping at the church of Mary Mag¬dalene. We visit the Garden of Gethse¬mane, and the Grotto of Gethsemane built at this holy place. On we visit the Church of the Assumption praying by the Tomb of the Virgin Mary.
On route to Mt Zion we pass St. Stephen Church mark¬ing the area where the first Christian Martyr was stoned to Death. This afternoon we visit St Peter in Galicantu church “Caiaphas Palace” , Upper Room, King David’s Tomb. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. To¬night we have dinner at a local restau¬rant and overnight in Jerusalem.

POOLS OF BETHESDA – ST. ANNE'S CHURCH – HOLY SEPULCHER – WAILING WALL – MONASTERY OF THE CROSS

Open buffet breakfast. Today we visit the Old city of Jerusalem starting at the Pools of Bethesda and the church of St Anne’s marking the birth place of the Virgin Mary. We will walk and pray the Via Dolorosa following the passion of Jesus. We enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where we visit the Church to include; Golgotha, The Empty Tomb, Chapel of the Cross followed by a visit of the nearby Alexander Nevsky Church. On to visit the Jewish quarter and the Wailing Wall. This afternoon we visit the Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Cross. Overnight and dinner in Jerusalem.

JACOB'S WELL – LOD – JAFFA – TEL AVIV

Following breakfast, check out from our hotel, we depart for Samaria reaching the ancient city of Sheckem visiting Jacobs well. On to Lod where we visit St George’s Monastery burial place of the patron Saint of Holy Land “ St George the Dragon Slayer”. On to Tel Avisi Jaffa where this afternoon we visit ancient Jaffa to include the church of St Peter. Check into our hotel at the shores of the Mediterranean. Farewell dinner and overnight Tel Aviv.

TEL AVIV DEPARTURE OR POST EXTENSION

This morning we are transferred to Ben - Gurion airport for our flight home. Or take a possible post Extension to Jordan or Sinai.