DATE

LUNCH

HOTEL

Wednesday

11-5-08

11-6-08

Delta#772 05NOV Dallas - Atlanta 355pm - 712pm

Delta#152 05NOV Atlanta - Tel Aviv 1045pm - 520pm (next day)

Enjoy hearty meals aloft with time to sleep

Meals and overnight on board as we begin this 7,000 mile journey

Thursday 11-6-08

Arrival and assistance at Ben Gurion Airport  where we will be met by our Guide and Driver with whom we will spend the next 8 days touring The Holy Land. Our luxury tour bus will transfer us to the beautiful Dan Panorama hi-rise hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Check-in, fabulous feast of a dinner. Walk the beach and visit the many shops.

Dan Panorama,

Tel Aviv

   Friday

11-7-08

Our tour begins! We travel along the coastline up to Caesarea-by-the-Sea. Our journey then takes us inland to Mt. Carmel then on to Megiddo to view the Valley of Jezreel, scene of the world’s final conflagration, Armageddon. Other unforgettable sites today include Nazareth, Yeshua’s hometown and Cana where he turned water into wine.  After a full day of touring we arrive for check-in at the luxurious Gai Beach Hotel.  After dinner we explore the city alongside the Sea of Galilee. Most shops closed for the Sabbath.

Gai Beach, Tiberias

Saturday 11-8-08

Shabbat is

Jewish Sabbath

Day

First stop this morning will be the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached The Sermon On The Mount. Tom leads our service that recalls the great event from the same rock where Jesus spoke. Afterwards,  it’s on to the beautifully flowered Capernaum, Jesus’ ministry headquarters. Later we will take a wooden boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and partake of the famous St. Peter’s fish lunch (or chicken). If time permits we will visit Beit Igal Alon, the “Jesus Boat” site. We end the day with a baptismal service in the Jordan River.

St Peters fish lunch

Gai Beach, Tiberias

Sunday

11-9-08

Today we journey through the strategic Golan Heights. This is the portion of Israel which shares a border with Syria. Other wonderful sites include Mt. Hermon and Caesarea Phillipi where Peter declared, “Thou art The Christ.”  We will tour Tel Dan and the powerful headwaters of the Jordan River.  Tonight, Tom & Melanie have a very special, extra added bonus: a surprise dinner for you away from the hotel. This is not listed on your tour itinerary but has become a wonderful tradition on all our tours

Gai Beach, Tiberias

Monday

11-10-08

We say goodbye to the Galilee region today and and begin making our way up to Jerusalem.  On the way we explore the spectacular archeological site of Beit Shean.  We will also visit Gideon’s Spring. Then, following in the footsteps of our Lord, it’s up to Jerusalem for a great view of the city.  We check-in and have dinner at The Neve Ilan Hotel.  If you’re up for an evening adventure, get a cab at our hotel and head for Ben Yahuda street for shopping (on your own). It’s a walking mall and the favorite night-time place of the locals. Very pleasant. Some shops stay open.

Neve Ilan,

Jerusalem

Tuesday

11-11-08

A very full day!  We begin atop the Mount of Olives and walk down Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane for a brief, private service in the garden (Tom). Enter the Church Of The Nations (quiet, please).  Then it’s on to Caiaphas’ (the high priest) house where Jesus was cruelly held in a dungeon overnight.  Other sites today include the Pools Of Bethesda and walking the Via Dela Rosa through the Old City.  The bus will take us to The Israel Museum where we will view the original Dead Sea Scrolls.

Neve Ilan,

Jerusalem

Wednesday

11-12-08

Today we go into The Old City.  Sites include: Jewish Quarter, Southern Steps of the Temple Mount, Western Wall Tunnel (Rabbi’s Tunnel), optional lunch in the Jewish quarter, Mt. Zion, the Upper Room and a view of Bethlehem.  The highlight of our day is a tour of The Garden Tomb, the place many believe was the site of the resurrection. Tom will lead us in a communion service. 

Neve Ilan,

Jerusalem

Thursday

11-13-08

Today we leave Jerusalem for a 90-min. bus ride down to the Dead Sea.  We will visit and tour the mountain fortress of Masada, a stronghold of King Herod. A modern tram takes us up to the top for a tour of this well-preserved archeological site.  Afterwards, a short ride delivers us to Ein Gedi, the place where David hid from King Saul.  It’s a great nature hike back to the falls for a biblical history lesson. Wild Ibeks (Israeli deer) can be seen everywhere. We check into our fabulous 5-star resort hotel where you can enjoy a float in the Dead Sea.

La Meridien,

Dead Sea Resort Hotel

Friday

11-14-08

Our final day in The Holy Land. Late wake-up call. Great breakfast and one final chance to float in the sea or enjoy the many other amenities of our resort.  Then it’s back to Jerusalem for some last-minute shopping or just walking around in the Old City. Our farewell dinner is at the fine Naura restaurant, a special treat. Next stop, the airport for our flight home filled with memories that will last a lifetime!

Delta#153 14NOV Tel Aviv - Atlanta 1125pm - 605am next day

Meals and overnight on board as we head back home

Saturday

11-15-08

Delta#761 15NOV Atlanta - Dallas 845am - 1004am