Dan To Beersheva Tour

Dan to Beersheva Tour (8 nights) upon request

Day 1 - En Route

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, our representative will meet the group assist us on the way out through customs. Transfer to our seaside hotel for overnight in Tel Aviv or Netanya.

Day 2 - Tel Aviv

After breakfast, we will then step back in history as we tour Old Jaffa (Joppa) by the Mediterranean.
From Joppa, we will transfer to our seaside hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 - To the Galilee

After a rich, Israeli breakfast, we will leave the hotel and drive north along the famous highway, biblically known as the “Way of the Sea”. We will arrive at Caesarea, where we will explore the ruins of the roman and the Crusader City. We will see the reconstructed Roman city and Theatre, the walls from the times of the Crusaders, and the prison where St. Paul was held in captivity before being sent to Rome.

This was also the place where the first gentile was converted to Christianity. As we leave the beautiful walls and moat, we will pass the remains of the Roman horse racing theater, the Hippodrome. We will top at the amazing remains of the Roman Aqueduct which has been beautifully preserved under the sand dunes for 2000 years. We will continue to Mount Carmel and visit the Mukhraka, the site where the prophet Elijah debated the 450 prophets of Baal. Visit Acco. From here there is a breathtaking view over the whole Valley of Jezreel, better known as the Valley of Armageddon.

We invite you to your first lunch in Israel, a typical Falafel, in a Druze Village. We continue to Tel Megiddo, the archeological mound, which inspired James Michener’s book, “ The Source". Here we can see the remains of King Solomon's stables, an altar from the time of Abraham (4000 years old), and the magnificent water tunnel. We continue across the valley to view Mount Tabor the site of the Transfiguration.

We arrive in Nazareth where we visit the Church of the Annunciation and the Synagogue where Jesus learned to read the Bible. On the way to Tiberias, we pass Cana of Galilee, the village where Jesus performed his first miracle –the miracle at the wedding.

Arrival at our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight. In the evening we will stroll the streets of Tiberias.

Day 4 - Galilee

Wake up to a beautiful morning in the area where Jesus spent three years of his ministry

Today we will dedicate our time to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. After breakfast, we will drive north through the Golan Heights to Caesarea Philippi and the Banias, one of the water resources of the Jordan River. Continue back to the Sea of Galilee to visit Capernaum, the “Town of Jesus”, walk along with the ruins of this Biblical village, and see the synagogue where Jesus preached and the house of Peter’s mother-in-law.

Drive up to Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon of the Mount. Visit the beautiful mosaic floor at Tabgha, the site of the miracle of multiplication. We will sail in a wooden boat across the Sea of Galilee, and then have the famous St. Peter's fish for lunch in a restaurant on the lakeshore. We will finish the day with a baptismal service at Yardenit.

Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 - Galilee to the Dead Sea

Today, after a full breakfast, we drive south to Beit Shean, the largest Archeological site in Israel. We will explore the ancient Roman City with the Amphitheater, the steam baths, and reconstructed streets. Continue south through the Jordan Valley to the world's oldest settlement, Jericho (should condition allow it) We will view the archeological excavations and Mt. of Temptations.

We will drive to the Qumran Caves area, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in 1947, and on to the lowest place on earth - the Dead Sea (1300 feet below sea level and the saltiest body of water in the world). Our hotel is by the Dead Sea shores, where we will swim, or to be more exact, float, on the amazing waters, a non-swimmers paradise. Dinner and overnight in the Dead Sea.

Day 6 – Massada to Jerusalem

Today, after breakfast, we will visit Massada, the site of the Zealots last stand against the Romans, which was originally built as a magnificent palace for Herods the Great. We will ascend by cable car to observe impressive construction, the beautiful mosaics, the synagogue, a bathhouse, and a Byzantine Church. After descending by walking the Ramp built by the Romans, we will drive to a Bedouin Camp and enjoy authentic Middle Eastern hospitality. Continue to Beer Sheva, the capital of the Negev.

This is the city where Abraham dug the seven water wells. We will observe Tel Arad, the Canaanite city conquered by Joshua. Continue via the Negev Desert to the Ela Valley, site of the famous battle between David and Goliath.

We continue our ascent to Jerusalem, 2400 feet above sea level, passing on our way to Bet Shemesh and Emmaus. At the entrance to the Holy City, we will celebrate with a traditional blessing while overlooking the walls of the city of the Lord.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 7 – Jerusalem

We will begin our pilgrimage after breakfast with a spectacular panoramic overlook of the Old City from the Mount of Olives. Walk downhill to the Kidron Valley and enter the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations also called the Basilica of Agony and we will have a short Communion at the Garden Tomb. In this area the oldest Olive trees in the Holy Land, dating back to ancient times – a living witness to Jesus’s arrest by the Romans.

We continue along the Kidron Valley, viewing the Tomb of Zechariah and the Tomb of Absalom – King David’s son.. We will enter the Old City through one of its ancient gates, then proceed to the Wailing Wall – the remnant of Solomon’s Temple – and touch its ancient stones. We will ascend the Temple Mount and view the Dome of the Rock.

We will continue through the Western Wall Tunnels to the Pools of Bethesda, the Via Dolorosa, and the Arab Market. We will visit the Holy Sepulchre – the largest Church in Jerusalem. On to the Jewish Quarter, where we will see the renovated Cardo (the once main north-south colonnaded Roman Street) and its excavations.

The afternoon will be dedicated to visiting the birthplace of Jesus – Bethlehem (if it is open). We will visit the Church of Nativity and the Shepherd’s Fields. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. In the evening we will walk and shop in the famous pedestrian street – Ben Yehuda street.

Day 8 – Jerusalem and Bethlehem

We will start the morning, after breakfast, visiting Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial. We will plant a tree. We will continue to the Israel Museum and the shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls can be seen, visit the Model of Jerusalem showing the city as it was. We will see the new city of Jerusalem with Montefiori neighborhood, Mahane Yehuda market, Mea Shearim – the Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, and more. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 9 – Jerusalem

Free day for pursuing personal interests, or revisiting some sites and shopping. In the evening, we will celebrate with a Banquet Farewell Dinner with presentations of Pilgrimage Certificates. Late evening transfer to the airport for our flight back to the US

Day 10 Return /Arrive back home