HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE 2020

Day 1 - Tuesday - September 1st, 2020 - (B/D)

• Depart the US from multiple cities on Delta Airlines via JFK International, New York

• Orlando - 15:18 - Depart on DL 2364. Arrive in JFK at 17:59

• Austin - 11:55 - Depart on DL 2355. Arrive in JFK at 16:49

• 23:40 - Group Departure on DL 234

Note: You can depart a day earlier and arrive on this day by selecting the Extra Overnight and Transfer from your Add-ons or by contacting us. You can also book your own airfare or take part of our group airfare contract.

Day 2 - Wednesday - September 2nd, 2020 - (B/D)

• 17:35 - Group arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport. 

The group will be met immediately after passport control by our representative who will assist you to the luggage carousel, customers and into the Arrival’s hall to meet your guide and driver who will transfer you to your hotel. Time permitting, we may take a tour of Jaffa.

Dinner and overnight in Netanya, by the Mediterranean Sea: West Lagoon 

Day 3 - Thursday - September 3rd, 2020 - (B/D)

En route to Galilee we will be visiting the following Biblical sites: Caesarea (Acts 10), Megiddo (Armageddon; 1 Kings 9:15; Rev. 16:16), and Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18).

Next, we’ll visit the early Roman city Tzipori, a city built during the time of Jesus by Herod Antipas.

We complete our tour overlooking the Jezreel Valley at the traditional site for Jesus being chased out of Nazareth: Mt. Precipice.

Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee: Sofia Hotel (confirmed)  Ramot Nofesh Resort (waitlisted)

Day 4 - Friday - September 4th, 2020 - (B/D)

We start our day atop the Mount of Beatitudes and read from Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount. Next, we visit Tabgha, remembering the story of the feeding of the 5,000 and John 21 with Jesus calling out to Peter to cast the fishing net on the right side. We continue on to Capernaum, the center of ministry for Jesus in Galilee.

Next, we’ll travel to an overview of the Valley of Bethsaida, which is the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Following lunch, we will visit the 1st Century remains of Magdala including the greatest highlight of all: a 2000-year-old synagogue. We will end our day at the Jordan River at the Yardenit site where you can participate in a baptism.

Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee: Sofia Hotel (confirmed)  Ramot Nofesh Resort (waitlisted)

Day 5 - Saturday - September 5th, 2020 - (B/D)

After breakfast, we make our way north through the Hula Valley stopping first at Tel Hazor, a city taken by Joshua (Joshua 11:10-14). We then head to Tel Dan where we will tour extensively and include a visit at the Canaanite – Bronze era mud brick gate that has been nicknamed the "Gate of Abraham". At the foot of Mt Hermon we will visit the springs of Banias, also known as Caesarea Philippi. This is where Peter made his famous declaration about Jesus (Matt. 16).

After lunch, we return to the Sea of Galilee to visit the “Jesus boat" from the first century, a vessel found here along the shores of Galilee in 1986.

We’ll conclude our day sailing on our very own wooden boat ride experience on the sea of Galilee.

Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee: Sofia Hotel (confirmed)  Ramot Nofesh Resort (waitlisted)

Day 6 - Sunday - September 6th, 2020 - (B/D)

After breakfast, we leave the Galilee and make our way along the Jordan Valley to first visit the Biblical site of Beit Shean, a well-preserved Decapolis Roman city. Here the bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung from the city walls after they were defeated by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10-12).

We continue down the Jordan Valley until we meet the Wilderness of Judah, first stopping at Qaser-El Yehud Baptismal site where tradition believes Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. After this, we’ll have lunch and visit the ancient city of Jericho.

Next, we’ll visit Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul. We enjoy a walk back to the waterfalls, hopefully seeing a few Ibex along the way. Lastly, we’ll check in to our Spa Hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea where we will have the remainder of the day to go for a swim/float (included) or enjoy the spa facilities with indoor dead sea pool and jacuzzi (included) or a massage at the hotel (not included).

Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea: Daniel Dead Sea (Deluxe Rooms) Ein Bokek

Day 7 - Monday - September 7th, 2020 - (B/D)

A short drive allows us to arrive early at Masada and ascend upon the wilderness mountain, by way of cable car, to the fortress built by King Herod. We survey the ruins of the fortifications, waterworks, the synagogue and palaces. We have an optional walk back down the snake path.

Around lunchtime, we’ll visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

After this, we’ll start our own "Aliya" (rise) from the depths of the Judean Wilderness to the mountains of Jerusalem. Upon entering Jerusalem, we make a stop at the Mount of Olives and begin the Palm Sunday journey. Ultimately, we’ll reach the Garden of Gethsemane, where we’ll enjoy a private garden amongst the olive trees for prayer and reflection.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem: Herbert Samuel (confirmed) or Dan Jerusalem (Deluxe Rooms)

Day 8 - Tuesday - September 8th, 2020 - (B/D)

We will pick up from the events of Holy Week that we left off in the Garden of Gethsemane when we arrive at the traditional place for the house and courtyard of Caiaphas the high priest, also known as St. Peter en Gallicantu.

Next we’ll visit the Mt. Zion area outside the Jewish Quarter where is located the traditional room of the Last Supper and the Upper Room is also here. This will lead us into the Jewish quarter to explore some of the excavations here. Much of the ancient 1st century city is beneath the modern streets of the modern Jewish quarter, that has been rebuilt since the 1967 Six Day War.

Next, we’ll visit the Southern Wall Excavations, also known as the Davidson Visitor Center. Here, we’ll walk some of the original first century streets, steps and even money changers tables that once served the bustling 1st century Jewish temple.

We’ll end our day in Bethlehem, where we’ll visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherds Fields.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem: Herbert Samuel (confirmed) or Dan Jerusalem (Deluxe Rooms)

Day 9 - Wednesday - September 9th, 2020 - (B/D)

Rising for an early morning visit on the Temple Mount will start our day off early in an attempt to beat the crowds but be aware that queuing in line may take some time with no sitting area and only limited shade. This will allow us to tour the platform but not enter the restricted areas for Muslims only such as inside the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque.

Having experienced what is above we are going to go underneath the city's streets and homes as we explore the entire length of the Western wall in the excavations of the Western Wall Tunnels. This leads us to the St. Anne Church and the area of the Pools of Bethesda, that we find in Jesus healing the paralyzed man in John Chapter 5.  

Returning to the paths of tradition and pilgrimage we will pick up the Via Dolorosa and follow most of the 14 stations as we climb to Calvary, a break for lunch at the Christian Qtr and some free shopping time before we gather and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – one of the traditional sites for Jesus's crucifixion and burial.

The conclusion of our day is to walk in the footsteps of David and the ancient Jerusalem, that is hidden in the City of David and concludes our day by walking in the flowing waters of the Siloam tunnel (Hezekiah's Tunnel – Wet or Dry route is optional) and finding the 2000-year-old Pool of Siloam!

Following dinner, we have a night Sound & Light Show at the Tower of David that summarizes 5,000 years in a 45 min. light show spectacular!

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem: Herbert Samuel (confirmed) or Dan Jerusalem (Deluxe Rooms)

Day 10 - Thursday - September 10th, 2020 - (B/D)

Today, we’ll leave Jerusalem to visit the Shephelah (lower hill country) and the Negev (northern desert) regions. Our first stop in the Shephelah will be at the Elah Valley, where David conquered Goliath. You’ll have time to visit the actual stream where this great biblical event occurred.

Next, we’ll participate in an actual archaeological excavation, digging back in time to at least 2200 years ago during the Hasmonean period at the ancient city known as Beit Guvrin or Maresha, where the prophet Micah was from. At the end of our dig, we’ll have the opportunity to crawl through tunnels that link us through the basements of these people’s ancient homes. Note: You must bring closed-toed shoes and long pants for this experience.

Next up will be Beer Sheva in the Negev Desert, named by Abraham 4000 years ago. Since then, Beer Sheva has held an important place in the history of Israel. Next, we’ll visit Tel Sheva where archaeologists have uncovered two-thirds of a city dating from the early Israelite period (10th century BCE.) This city is located on the edge of the wilderness near the confluence of the Beer Sheva and Hebron Streams. The meticulously planned water system of this city demonstrates impressive engineering expertise. As such - we have conquered the Ancient land of Israel from Dan to Beer Sheva!!

The journey continues into the heart of modern Israel with an evening in Tel Aviv. A hands on Israeli cuisine workshop and plenty of wine is our celebration dinner (included) to complete a very hands-on practical day!!

We’ll end the day with a lovely journey through the streets of Jaffa, one of the oldest port cities in the world, made famous by the Book of Jonah.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem: Herbert Samuel (confirmed) or Dan Jerusalem (Deluxe Rooms)

Day 11 - Friday - September 11th, 2020 - (B/D)

Our morning begins in the hills of West Jerusalem following a scar on the Judean landscape that will never heal like the loss of European Jewry and the 1000 yrs of Jewish life that will fall as victims to the Nazi Holocaust. The Yad vaShem Memorial is for all those who were murdered, but also an exhibition for all of us to reflect and experience in order to ensure, that modern societies will never again fall to the depths of darkness as the era of attempted total eradication of human life by western societies. Israel as a nation will never meet a foreign dignitary before he/she has at least laid a reef at the hall of remembrance and we will visit the museum as well as the memorials in an attempt to deal with this enormous subject with a visit of 2 hours here.

Next, we will visit the Israel Museum and we visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed, the model of the 2nd temple Era and the archaeological wing of the national museum.

The pinnacle of a pilgrimage tour is a visit to the Garden Tomb, where we will have worship and communion. 

We’ll end our tour on the Road to Emmaus, in the town of Abu Ghosh where we’ll have a farewell dinner together before heading to the airport.

After dinner, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

• 23:55 - Group departure on Delta Airlines DL 235 for JFK

Day 12 - Saturday - September 12th, 2020 - (B/)

• 05:17 - Arrive at JFK International Airport

• Connect to other cities on Delta Airlines

• Orlando - 07:50 - Depart on DL 2822. Arrive at 10:40

• Austin - 08:55 - Depart on DL 2355. Arrive at 11:03