8-Day The Holy Land Only – Protestants – Believers 4
The Holy Land
Overview
After Breakfast, we begin our day on the Mount of Olives where we will encounter a panoramic view for our introduction to the Old City. Visit the Ascension Church where Jesus ascended to Heaven. We will walk the Palm Sunday Trail to the Church of the Pater Noster, built on the traditional site where Christ taught the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2, Matt 6:9-13). We continue to the Church of Dominus Flevit, the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:37-44). Then we continue to the Church of All Nations, Church of Gethsemane (Mark 14:26-72). We continue to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, Dormition Abbey, and the Tomb of David. We then go to St. Peter of Gallicantu to see the pit where Jesus was jailed after praying in Gethsemane (Mark 14:26-72). We then continue to the Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount and Judaism’s holiest site. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Included/Exclude
- All tours and transfers in an air-conditioned deluxe motor coach
- Deluxe Bus Motor Coach
- Licensed Tour Guide throughout the trip
- Entrance fees as per the program: Taxi Tabor - Capernaum - Boat Ride - Accesionsion Chapel - Pater Noster - Peter in Gallicantu
- Taba Exit Tax 35 $ PP
- Parking fees
- Anything not mentioned above
- Tips for hotel staff, local guides & driver
- Personal expenses
- Lunches Supplement 18$ per person per meal
- Drinks at meals
- Audio Guide earphones (whispers) Sup. 10$ PP for the whole trip (recommended)
- Personal expenses
Tour Plan
- Meet and assist by our representative at the airport. Check the bus and drive to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
- If time permits, we can include a visit to Jericho.
- After Breakfast, we begin our day on the Mount of Olives where we will encounter a panoramic view for our introduction to the Old City. Visit the Ascension Church where Jesus ascended to Heaven. We will walk the Palm Sunday Trail to the Church of the Pater Noster, built on the traditional site where Christ taught the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2, Matt 6:9-13). We continue to the Church of Dominus Flevit, the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:37-44). Then we continue to the Church of All Nations, Church of Gethsemane (Mark 14:26-72). We continue to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, Dormition Abbey, and the Tomb of David. We then go to St. Peter of Gallicantu to see the pit where Jesus was jailed after praying in Gethsemane (Mark 14:26-72). We then continue to the Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount and Judaism's holiest site. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
- If time permits: Optional Tours: Kotel Tunnels, Third Temple Museum, or City of David Tunnels Excavations (Supplement Applies).
- Breakfast at the hotel. Start our day with a visit to the Nativity Church. We will enter the Church and go down to the Grotto of the Nativity, which marks the spot where Jesus was born. Beneath the Altar, there is a silver star with the Latin inscription: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). Then we will depart for the cave at the Shepherds’ Field where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The cave has soot marks from the fires that the shepherds lit to keep warm while watching over their flocks. The field is also the setting of the Book of Ruth. Continue to Hebron - The Cave of the Patriarchs is one of the three most important sites for the Jewish people. The cave, which is located beneath the building that is seen today, was purchased by Avraham Avinu in order to bury his wife Sarah there. This was the first Jewish real estate deal in the land of Canaan. Continue to Mamre, the site where Abraham pitched the tents for his camp, built an altar (Genesis 13:18), and was brought divine tidings, in the guise of three angels, of Sarah's pregnancy (Genesis 18:1–15). Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Breakfast. Drive to visit the old city of Jerusalem and enter through St. Stephen's Gate where St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death. We continue to the Church of St. Anne, marking the place where the parents of the Blessed Mother lived. We will visit the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic (John 1:5-9). Then we will follow the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, the 14 Stations that Our Lord walked by on the way to his crucifixion. “Way of Grief” in Latin is a road in the old city of Jerusalem, a path where Jesus was led in agony, carrying the crucifixion cross, passing by the Ecce Homo Arch, the site where Pontius Pilate presented Our Lord to the crowds. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is a complex building that includes several chapels, each with its own religious significance. Continue to the Garden Tomb, where we believe Jesus has risen and view the empty tomb and celebrate Holy Communion. Continue our tour with a visit to the Israel Museum to view the Dead Sea Scrolls that were found in Qumran. Then proceed to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Breakfast at the hotel. Start your day in Haifa, enjoying the coastal beauty and the Baha'i Gardens. Proceed to Muhraqa (1 Kings 18:20-40), where the prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal, followed by a visit to Stella Maris Monastery, which overlooks Elijah's Cave (1 Kings 18:42-45). Then, head to Cana to explore the Wedding Church, where Jesus performed His first miracle (John 2:1-11). Finally, conclude your day in Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, visiting the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of the Nativity, where significant events in the life of Jesus, such as the Annunciation and His childhood, are commemorated (Luke 1:26-38). Continue to Tiberias to check in at our hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Breakfast at the hotel. Begin your day at Tel Dan, located in the region of Dan, one of the ancient tribes of Israel. While Tel Dan itself isn't mentioned in the Bible, the region holds historical and biblical significance as part of ancient Israel. Reflect on the history of the area and the stories of the Israelite tribe of Dan. Journey to Abraham's Gate (Genesis 14:14), which is traditionally believed to be the city gate of Laish, an ancient Canaanite city that Abraham pursued in Genesis 14:14. It's a location associated with biblical events and the patriarch Abraham's journey in the Promised Land. Continue to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), mentioned in the New Testament (Matthew 16:13-20), where Peter made his famous confession of Jesus as the Messiah. Reflect on the biblical event that took place here and its significance in the life of Jesus and His disciples. Finish with a visit to the Yardenit Baptismal Site along the Jordan River, significant for its association with the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist, as described in Matthew 3:13-17, where the heavens opened, the Spirit descended like a dove, and a voice proclaimed Jesus as God's beloved Son. Pilgrims visit to reaffirm their faith and reflect on this pivotal event.
- Breakfast at the hotel. Start our day at Mt Tabor, the transfiguration site of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2, Luke 9:28). Visit the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Visit Tabgha, the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the 5,000, and the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Luke 9:10-17). Visit Capernaum, where Jesus began preaching, and visit the synagogue that stands on the site where Jesus taught. Reflect on His teaching and preaching of the gospels (Matthew 4:13, 23). Lunch is St. Peter’s fish along the Sea of Galilee. After lunch, end the day with a Jesus Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
- After breakfast, check out from the hotel. Transfer to Tel Aviv airport to catch your flight back home.