Itinerary
Jerusalem is located in between the Dead Sea and the Mediteranean Sea. Jerusalem is a very holy city to the 3 major religions, Judaism, Christianity, and the Abrahamic. It is one of the oldest inhabitted cities in the world. Yad Vashem is a memorial to the Holocaust survivors, it was created in 1967. It is to be found on Mount Hertzel.
Bethlehem is one of the holliest place for Chrstianity. It is the said birthplace of Jesus, and every year thousands of Christians make the pilgrimage here to celebrate Christmas.
Jericho is now under Palistinian authority. Jericho was first inhabitted over eleven thousand years ago, according to the archaeological findings.
Nazareth is located in Northern Israel, and is the largest city in the North. It is made up of mostly Christians. Mary was told that she was going to give birth to Jesus, by the angel Gabriel here in Nazareth.
Capernaum is located on the Sea of Galilee to the North, and was once a fishing village. This is a famous town that is mentioned in all the Gospels.
Day 1: Jerusalem
Panoramic overview from the Mount of Olives, overlook Jerusalem-new city and the Temple Mount Esplanade of old city. Travel along the Kidron Valley to view the Garden of Gethsemane and the walls of the city. Via the Armenian Quarter enter The Western (Wailing) Wall square via the local Bazaar to the Christian Quarter, the Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – the site of the crucifixion. Walk along the 1700 year old Byzantine main street, the Cardo and the renovated Jewish Quarter. Ascend to Mt. Zion and on Saturdays - visit the Hall of Last Supper & David's tomb. Tour the new city by car to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum.
Remarks:
*On Fridays, Saturdays & High Holidays - Holocaust Museum is closed. Visit instead Kind David's Tomb, Hall of Last Supper & Garden of Gethsemane.
Day 2: Bethlehem and Jericho
Bethlehem is the birthplace of King David, meaning City of Bread as a result of the wheat crop that grew in the region. We will drive to Bethlehem via Nativity Circle, visit the Church of Nativity, also the cave where Jesus was born and the Manger Square, where Jesus was placed after his birth. Also visit the Greek and the Catholic Church and the Milk Grotto, where Mary fed her son. Overview the Shepherd's Fields and visit the church.
Depart for the Judean desert, on route view the Inn of the Good Samaritan. Overlook the breathtaking view of the moon landscaped Judean desert. Short stop at sea-level and continue to Jericho - the oldest city in the world. Stop at Zacheus Sycamore, the oldest Sycamore tree which Zacheus climbed in order to see Jesus walking by. We will visit the Mound of Ancient Jericho where 25 ancient cities were uncovered. Return to hotel.
Day 3: Where Jesus walked
We start on Mount Olives visiting the place of the Ascension and Pater Nostra, where we can see the Lord's Prayer is 123 languages. After an overview of Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives, looking down at the Old City and the Temple Mount, we begin our descent, stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept as he foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem and continuing to the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Before ascending to the Old City and entering through the Lion's Gate, we look back at the Kidron valley and the Jewish cemetery on Mount of Olives, with the monumental burial sites at its base.
In the Old City our first stop is at the pools of Bethesda in the grounds of the Church of St. Anne, mother of Mary. Underneath the Sisters of Zion convent we will see the ancient pavement with the games the Roman soldiers played engraved on the stones.
This is where the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, begins, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Please note: Entrance fees not include on this tour.(44 NIS per person)
Day 4: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee
Via the coastal plain and the valley of Armageddon to the Churches of Annunciation and St. Joseph in Nazareth. Passing Cana and the Church of the Miracle of the Multiplication visit Capernaum, at the foot of Mount Beatitudes. Continue past Tiberias to Yardenit where there is the possibility of a baptismal service for participants. Pass Mount Tabor on the return journey.
Arrival back at your hotel about 18:00 p.m.
The order of this tour can be changed according to the starting day.