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In the Footsteps of Jesus – Holy Land Tour
January 3 – 13, 2013
With Pastor Mark and Reverend Mia Whitlock
  
Thursday, 3 January.
Depart on overnight flight to the Holy Land
Friday, 4 January.
Arrival / Jaffa Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (today’s program depends on arrival time), to be Met and assisted by your CHT representative and to meet your guide. Our tour begins in ancient Joppa (Jaffa), once the gateway to the Holy Land. Here was the house of Simon the Tanner (Acts 10: 9-16) and the place of the Miracle of the resurrection of Tabitha (Acts 9: 36-43). Proceed to our hotel for check-in. Overnight: Carlton Hotel Tel Aviv (B.D)
Saturday, 5 January. Caesarea / Mount Carmel / Druze Villages /
Acre After breakfast, After the visit drive North to Caesarea Maritima. Visit the Roman Theater, Herod's Palace, the Palace of the Roman Procurator (Acts 23: 23 and Acts 26: 23 - Paul; Acts 10: 20-48 – Peter and Cornelius), the Amphitheater, and the Crusaders' City and Harbor. Proceed to Mount Carmel to visit the Monastery of the Muhraka, where Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal. From the roofs of this Monastery, we have a beautiful view of the Jezreel Plain. Through the Druze villages, Daliyat el Carmel and Usifiya, we proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view of the city and harbor. Proceed to Acre to visit the old city with its city walls, the Knights' Halls, and the Harbor. Through the Galilee proceed to Tiberias for overnight. Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Tiberias (B.D)
Sunday, 6 January. Galilee/ Yardenit
After breakfast, we visit the Ancient Boat from the time of Jesus that was found at Ginnosar. We then take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on the water (Matthew 14: 22-23). The ride will end at Capernaum, the town of Jesus, where he lived in the house of Peter performing from there his miracles and healings (Matthew 4: 13, Matthew 8: 14-15). We then drive to the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 7) where we shall visit the heptagonal church that was built by the Italian architect Berluzzi. Proceed to Tabgha, for a visit of the Church of the Loaves and the Fish (Matthew 14: 14-34). Driving along the Northern shores of the Sea of Galilee we shall reach the Golan Heights, proceed to Banyas, the ancient Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16: 13-20) one of the main sources of the Jordan River. We conclude our day at the Yardenit Baptismal site near the southern part of the Sea of Galilee. Return to hotel. Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Tiberias (B.D)
Monday, 7 January. Nazareth /Megiddo / Jerusalem
After breakfast, drive to Cana and visit the church that stands on the spot where Jesus performed his first miracle. Then we continue to Nazareth to visit the Church of Annunciation (Luke 26: 28) and Nazareth Village, where the Bible comes to life. We then travel through the Jezreel Plain on to Megiddo, named also Armageddon - the place where the last battle of mankind is due to take place (Rev. 16:16) - where we shall visit the Museum and this 5,000 year old city with the Gates from the times of King Solomon, the old Canaanite temples and the water tunnel from the time of King Ahab. From here, we travel south for the ascent to Jerusalem Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (B.D)
Tuesday, 8 January. Jerusalem -The Mount of Olives and the Old City
After breakfast, ascend the Mount of Olives for a wonderful panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. Walking down the Mount of Olives, we shall reach the Church of Dominus Flevit (Luke 19: 41-44), where Jesus wept, and proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26: 36-58), to see the old olive trees and visit the Basilica of the Agony. Driving through the Kidron Valley, we shall reach the Lion’s Gate and enter the Old City to visit raise our voices in song in St. Anne’s Church and visit the Pool of Bethesda. We then walk in the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa (all 14 Stations of the Cross) and, via the exotic bazaar, arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We proceed through the newly rebuilt Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo. We conclude our day of touring at the Western Wall - the holiest place for the Jews. Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (B.D)
Wednesday, 9 January. Qumran / Dead Sea / Masada
After breakfast drive via the Good Samaritan Inn (Luke 8: 25-37) to Qumran--the city of the Essenes--where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in a cave by a shepherd. From there we descend for a possible "dip" and "float" in the salty water of the Dead Sea, the world’s lowest place, at Ein Gedi Spa. We then visit the mountain fortress of Masada, stronghold of the Jews in the war against the Romans. Ascend to the fortress by cable car to visit the palaces of Herod the Great with its Roman baths and pools. Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (B.D)
Thursday, 10 January. Jerusalem—Layers of History
After breakfast, we tour David’s City, the most ancient part of Jerusalem including the dry tunnel. We then walk along the foundation stones of the Western Wall of the Temple Mount in the Rabbinic Tunnels*. Then on to Mount Zion to visit the Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. To conclude our day, we take in a wonderful summary of Jerusalem history at the Tower of David Museum. Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (B.D)
Friday, 11 January. Jerusalem— Bethlehem* / Garden Tomb / New City
After breakfast, proceed to Bethlehem * to visit the Church of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7) and Shepherd’s Field. Next we drive back to Jerusalem to the area of Golgotha (place of the skull) and the Garden Tomb to celebrate the resurrection with Communion and a time of praise. Proceed to Yad Vashem, the Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Drive to the Israel Museum with its Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea scrolls are kept, see the Model of Jerusalem as it was at the time of the Second Temple. Then see the Menorah in front of the Knesset - the Israeli Parliament - and Return to the hotel for overnight. Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem (B.D)
Saturday, 12 January. Ein Karem / Emmaus (Latrun) / Abu Gosh
After breakfast, we have some free time this morning for shopping in Jerusalem, followed by a late morning check-out from the hotel. We then visit Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist, and continue to Beit Shemesh and the Elah Valley, where David fought Goliath. Driving via Emmaus (Latrun) (Luke 23: 39-44), we proceed to Abu Ghosh, the biblical Kiryat Ye'arim, from where King David brought the Holy Shrine back to Jerusalem. We enjoy a delicious Middle Eastern farewell dinner in Abu Ghosh and leave for the airport for our flight back home. (B.D)
Sunday, 13 January.
Arrive home and begin planning your next trip to the Holy Land.
* visit subject to availability.
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