Day 1
30 November 2019
We meet at El-Al in O.R. Tambo International airport at 18h00. Complete the necessary formalities, greet family and friends and depart for Ben Gurion airport at 21h00.
Day 2
1 December 2019
You will be met at the airport and will be escorted to your driver and guide. What an interesting day! We start our journey to Caesarea Marittima, this one of Israel’s largest National parks with its spectacular ruins, which includes an ancient harbour, theatre and aqueduct. We shall then proceed to Mt. Carmel from where Elijah performed great exploits for God against the prophets of Baal. Overnight in Galilee hotel and enjoy a well deserved dinner.
Day 3
2 December 2019
A visit to Yardenit Baptismal Site where people can get baptized if they would like to in the River Jordan. We continue our visit to Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus, during the majority of his ministry years. Another highlight will be the Mt. of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. After a delicious St Peters fish lunch we will proceed to Magdala and then to the sea of Galilee for a boat ride on the sea. Overnight and dinner in your Galilee hotel.
Day 4
3 December 2019
This morning our journey is northwards on the Golan heights towards Kuneitra on the Syrian border. Next we visit Banias the main source of the Jordan River, the Jordan river Waterfall, and the Dan Nature Reserve. We will enjoy a visit to Cana where we will visit the Wedding Church. It was here that Jesus changed the water in to wine. We will also see the Nazareth Village, which is a replica of a first century village in the time of Jesus. Overnight and dinner in our Galilee hotel.
Day 5
4 December 2019
We shall be heading towards the Dead Sea today. We start at Beit Shean, the capital city of the Decapolis with its amazing ruins and interesting new covenant history. Driving down the Jordan River valley we will enter Qumran. This fascinating site is where many of the dead sea scrolls were found. We’ll then proceed to Ein Gedi for an unforgettable hike to the hidden waterfalls. You can imagine young King David hiding from King Saul in this area. We’ll check into our Dead Sea hotel to enjoy the Spa, dinner and overnight.
Day 6
5 December 2019
After another wonderful breakfast, we will ascend the 1500 feet mountain top fortress of Masada, by cable car. Famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Travelling down the Negev you will view the incredible Mitzpe Ramon Crater. This overview will astound you. Travelling further south down the Negev we will reach the Tabernacle of Timna. It is a life size replica of the Tabernacle of Moses where the Ark of the Covenant stood. We check into our Eilat hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 7
6 December 2019
Today we will enter Jordan through the Arava Border and visit the fascinating Nabatean City of Petra. It is accessed via a narrow canyon called Al Sig and contains tombs and temples carved into pink Sandstone cliffs, earning it’s nickname the Rose City. It’s most famous structure is the 45 meter high Greek Style Façade known as the treasury. We will also have lunch here and afterwards head to Wadi Rum for our overnight experience in the desert at a Bedouin camp. Enjoy a Camel ride.
Day 8
7 December 2019
We cross back into Israel and start our journey to Jerusalem. Our first stop is Ein Avdat National Park. Enjoy the numerous springs and waterfalls next we shall visit Tel Beersheva home of the Patriarchs, where Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived. We learn some of its fascinating history and how it has shaped our faith today. We will enter Jerusalem and see a spectacular view over Jerusalem from Mount Scopus. Check into your Jerusalem hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 9
8 December 2019
We will start our Jerusalem adventure at the City of David. The most ancient part of the Holy City and the birthplace of the city of Jerusalem. The place where King David established his kingdom, and where much of the history of the People of Israel was written. We will then walk up to the excavated Southern Steps of the Temple Mount ending at the Western Wall, the holiest site in Judaism and one of the original walls that retained the Temple. Enjoy the guide’s explanation of the Jewish quarter, including the ancient Cardo. We shall end the day at the Upper Room where we can imagine Jesus having the last supper with His disciples and also to Mt. Zion where we can see the Tombs of Israel’s Kings. Overnight and dinner Jerusalem hotel.
Day 10
9 December 2019
This morning we will enter Bethlehem where we will visit the Shepherds fields on the outskirts of Bethlehem. We will enter Jerusalem again to the top of the Mount of Olives. It is from here that the risen Jesus ascended into heaven and it is to the Mount of Olives that He will return. We walk down the steep narrow “Palm Sunday” road to the Garden of Gethsemane, with its Church of All Nations. You can see the ancient olive trees with a root system that could possibly date back 2000 years to the time of Jesus. Going through the Lions Gate we find the Pool of Bethesda and the crusader church of St Anne. Thereafter, we visit the Lithostratos where Jesus was scoured and received His Crown of Thorns and Cross. Overnight and dinner Jerusalem hotel.
Day 11
10 December 2019
This morning we start at the Israel Museum, Israel’s largest museum. Which has a 1^st century Jerusalem model and holds many of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We make our way to Yad Vashem. This museum and site is dedicated to the memory of six million Jews, who perished at the hand of the Nazi’s before and during World War 11. Hereafter we’ll view Israel’s parliament called the Knesset before some free time. We will finish our journey at the Garden Tomb where we will have time to praise, worship and break bread together. We shall see the tomb is empty because He has Risen Indeed. Overnight and dinner Jerusalem hotel.
Day 12
11 December 2019
Free day to enjoy Jerusalem. Overnight and dinner Jerusalem hotel.
Day 13
12 December 2019
After breakfast, we will visit a Harp producing factory (Harari) before we go to the airport for our flight back to Johannesburg.