Day 1

Welcome to Israel! Arrive at Tel Aviv Airport Meet driver & guide, and transfer to hotel on the Mediterranean Coast. Check into hotel. Overnight in Tel Aviv/Netanya

 

Day 2

Breakfast at hotel. Begin your journey with a visit to St. Peter’s Church in Old Jaffa. Continue driving up along the Israeli coastline to Caesarea, the Roman capital of Israel, named after Augustus Caesar, who imposed the tax that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. View the beautiful restored Roman Theater, the ruins of the ancient town, harbor and aqueduct. Continue to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood. Celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation. Visit Joseph’s workshop and Mary’s Well. Proceed to Cana and the Church of the Wedding Feast, where those who are interested can renew their wedding vows. From here drive to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. Overnight in Galilee

 

Day 3

Breakfast at hotel. Drive along by the Sea of Galilee to the Mount of Beatitudes for Mass and reading of the Beatitudes. Continue to Tabgha, site of the multiplication of the loaves and fish, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5000, and Capernaum, where Jesus began his ministry. After a fish lunch on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, cross the sea by boat view the ancient Galilee Boat, dating from the time of Jesus.  Overnight in Galilee

 

Day 4

Breakfast at hotel. Check out of the hotel and drive to Mount Tabor. Ascend by taxi to the Church of the Transfiguration for Mass. Enjoy a view of the Armageddon Valley. Continue south to Beit Shean and tour the extensive excavations. Drive down the Jordan Valley to Qasr el Yahud, the site where it is believed that John baptized Jesus. Continue to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city and view, from below, the Mt. of Temptation and the Sycamore tree. Ascend to Jerusalem through the Judean Desert, stopping at Mount Scopus for a first panoramic view of Jerusalem, before checking into the hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 5

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to the Mount of Olives, and enjoy a panoramic view of the Old City. Walk down the Palm Sunday Road, stopping at the Church of Pater Noster where Jesus taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer and the Church of Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Continue to Gethsemane to celebrate Mass. Enter the Old City through St. Stephen’s Gate and walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, stopping at the Stations of the Cross along the way. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 6

Breakfast at hotel. Celebrate early morning Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Return to the hotel for breakfast before continuing to Caiphus House (St. Peter in Gallicantu). Drive to Mount Zion and visit the Church of the Dormition and the Upper Room. Walk through the Roman Cardo and the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall. Continue to the City of David and explore the site both above and below ground. Walk in the footsteps of Jesus from the Pool of Siloan to the Southern Steps. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 7

Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Period, and the Shrine of the Book, both at the Israel Museum. Continue to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial. In the afternoon drive to Bethlehem for Mass at the Basilica of the Nativity. See the birthplace of Jesus and the Holy Manger. Visit Shepherd's Field and the Milk Grotto before returning to Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 8

Breakfast at hotel. Begin the day with Mass at the Church of Lazarus in Bethany. Descend through the Judean Desert to Qumran, by passing the Inn of the Good Samaritan. Visit the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue south along the Dead Sea to Masada and ascend by cable car to the top of the desert fortress. Return to Jerusalem, stopping at the Dead Sea for a "swim" in the salty waters. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 9

Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Ein Kerem and visit the Church of the Visitation and Church of St John the Baptist. Celebrate Mass at St. John the Baptist Church. Continue to the village of Abu Gosh, thought to be the site of Emmaus. Drive to Nebi Samuel to see the tomb of the prophet Samuel before returning to Jerusalem. The rest of the day free to relax, pack or do last minute shopping. Final dinner at hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 10 Breakfast at hotel. Morning transfer to the airport with assistance through departure procedures.