OUR TOURS
Bible Land Tour
$1450
Start the day with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the peak of the Mt. of Olives from which Jesus rose to heaven (Luke 24:50, 51) . On to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 21:1-16) and Church of the Agony. continue to Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated Model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Continue to Yad Vashem (the memorial to the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust.
7 DAYS
Monday John F. Kennedy Airport / New York
Leave from JFK Airport for an exciting visit to Israel with its historic sites holy to three religions. (Please see the note at the end of the itinerary for JFK departure instructions.)
Tuesday Ben Gurion Airport / Jerusalem
When you arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met by a TAL Tours representative and transferred to your hotel. Relax, have a good meal, and prepare for a day full of lots of sightseeing tomorrow.
You will spend your first night in Jerusalem.
Tuesday Jerusalem (new city)
Start the day with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the peak of the Mt. of Olives from which Jesus rose to heaven (Luke 24:50, 51) . On to the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 21:1-16) and Church of the Agony. continue to Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated Model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Continue to Yad Vashem (the memorial to the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust. Afternoon visit to the picturesque village of Ein Karem , the birth place of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25) . Return to Hotel.
Wednesday Jerusalem (Old City) / Bethlehem
Walk through one of the Gates to the walled Old City: the renewed Jewish Quarter; the Western Wall, the Temple area;the colorful bazaars; Via Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which contains the last five stations. Drive to Mt’ Zion and visit the tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper (Matthew 26:26-35; Luke 22:7-38; Luke 2:11-47) and Dormition Abbey (the church is built on the site where Mary, mother of Jesus,“fell into eternal sleep”). Afternoon continue to Bethlehem* to visit the Church of the Nativity and a view of the shepherds fields. Return to Jerusalem for overnight.
Thursday Beit Shean / Nazareth / Galilee
Leave Jerusalem, and drive north via Jericho*, the oldest city in the world. It was the first town conquered by the Children of Israel under Joshua (Joshua 4:5-6). Then via the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean, an ancient city with a glorious past. King Saul and his sons, who lost the battle with the Phistines at nearby Mt. Gilboa, were hung from the city walls (Judges 6:4-8). Visit the excavations of this beautiful Roman City which during the Byzantine period served as the capital of Palestina Secunda. Proceed to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his boyhood living with Joseph and Mary (Luke 1:26-38) to visit the Church of the Annunciation & Mary’s Well. On to Safed, city of the Kabala (mysticism), for a walk through the mystic alleys and the artists’ colony. Drive to our selected Kibbutz Hotel for overnight accommodations.
Friday Golan Heights / Sea of Galilee
Drive to the Golan Heights. See the former Syrian fortifications, and the Druze villages. Visit as Jesus did with his disciples (Matthew 16:13-23) Caesarea Phillipi (Banias), source of the Jordan River (Mark 8:27). Drive to the shores of the Sea of Galilee lying 600 feet below sea level, where violent storms rush down from the surrounding mountains. It was here that Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea (Matthew 8:26) and taught from Peter’s boat (Mark 3:7-9), to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ Galilee Ministry where he leaved and healed the sick and performed numerous miracles (Matthew 9:1;4:13). Visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue and Peter’s House. Visit Tabgha, where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish took place (Luke 5:1-11) and the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-8). After a short tour of Tiberias the old center of Jewish learning, Return to the Kibbutz hotel for overnight.
Saturday Acre / Haifa / Tel Aviv
After Breakfast drive west to Acre for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications as Paul did (Acts 21:7). Continue for a sightseeing tour of Haifa, including the Bahai Shrine, Persian Garden and Mount Carmel, associated with the prophets Elijah and Elisha (Kings 1 2, 15:24, 25) for a panoramic view of the city. Proceed southwards to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Crusader fortress. Caesarea was the home of the first gentile convert, Cornelius who was baptized by Peter (Acts 10). Continue to Tel Aviv-Jaffa, where Jonah embarked for Tarshish (Jonah 1:3-17) for a short city tour and to hotel for overnight.
Sunday At leisure
Day at leisure in Tel Aviv, or an optional tour to the Dead Sea and Masada.
Monday Tel Aviv / Ben Gurion Airport
This morning we check in for our homebound flight from Ben Gurion Airport, rejoicing and putting our trust in the Lord, remembering the words from Psalms 125:1: “They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed but abideth forever”.
Note:
It is very important that you arrive at JFK airport a minimum of three hours prior to departure. This allows you ample time to check your bags, get through security and find your departure gate. In order to more easily go through check-in and security, ensure that your passport and airline tickets are readily accessible.
Although waiting longer at the gate may not seem desirable, the alternative — should you not allow yourself sufficient time — is that you must rush through check-in and security.