Holy Land Tour

Days 1-2

Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart the States on an overnight flight to Israel. You will be welcomed at the airport by your Joshua Expeditions guide then transfer to your hotel for dinner and some time to prepare for the adventure ahead.

Day 3

Your group will board a boat and begin the tour by crossing the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Along the way, you will participate in a special on-board worship service before arriving at Capernaum, the center of Jesus' ministry in the Galilee. Your group will visit the synagogue which stands on the site where Jesus taught, and you will recall his teaching and preaching of the gospel of the Kingdom of God. At Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar, you will learn about the "Ancient Boat", a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed, and then your group will travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached to the people. At Tabgha, the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the five thousand, you will visit the Church of the Fish and the Loaves. Your group will also visit the Chapel of the Primacy, where three times Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ. Your day's tour will conclude at the River Jordan, where you will be asked to remember your own baptism while standing at the Yardenit Baptismal Site. This first day will conclude with group devotions and time to reflect on the ministry of Christ.

Day 4

This morning your group will visit the ruins of Beit Shean, which was continuously inhabited for 5,000 years and was one of the Roman cities Jesus passed on his way from Galilee to Jerusalem. You will also visit Nazareth, Jesus' boyhood home, then travel the ancient caravan route to Tel Megiddo, where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other. Later, your group will visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea, a centre of the early Christians where Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new religion and where Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial. The day will close with group devotions.

Day 5

Today you will travel first to Jericho and visit the ruins of this ancient city that was conquered by Joshua. From Jericho you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus, and even today the road from Jericho to Jerusalem twists for miles as it climbs from below sea level into the Judean Mountains. Later, your group will head to Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scroll, and you will learn about the mysterious community of Essenes who once lived on the shores of the Dead Sea. Continuing to Bethlehem, you will visit the cave revered as the place where Jesus was born, and you will see the church that has been constructed on the site. Before departing for the evening, you will also view nearby Shepherds' Field, where the Good News was first heard. This evening will close with a shared time of devotions.

Day 6

This morning your group will head to the Haas Promenade to enjoy a panoramic view from the south of Jerusalem, the Old City walls and the hill called Mount Moriah where Abraham was commanded by God to offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering. You will view the Kidron Valley and the Valley of Gehenna, and you will be able to stand atop the Mount of Olives just as Jesus did when he ascended to heaven. The view on the Mount of Olives is remarkable as you take in the "Golden City" of Jerusalem with its Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. Later, your group will visit the Chapel of the Ascension, then spend some time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane before continuing to Mount Zion to visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was imprisoned for a night. Before the evening hours, you will have a chance to stand in the Upper Room, revered as the place of the Last Supper, and then view the site of King David's Tomb. There will be much to share with your group as the evening concludes with a time of devotion and discussion.

Day 7

A visit to the Southern Wall excavations of the ancient Temple will include the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. You will be able to walk the partially-restored Cardo, the ancient main street of the Old City that was once lined with shops, and you will have a chance to view the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle. Your group will stop to sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne before visiting Herod's Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate just prior to his crucifixion. The day will conclude with a reverent walk along the Via Dolorosa, "the Way of the Cross", until you reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This emotional day will conclude with group devotions.

Day 8

Your group may choose to do some exploration on its own today, or you might want to select the optional visit* to Masada, Herod's mountaintop fortress which became the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. You can ride a cable car to the top then peer down upon the remains of the Roman camps and siege ramp below. Time permitting, your group could stop briefly at the shores of the Dead Sea for a quick dip in the salt- and mineral-laden waters before concluding the day with devotions and discussion. *(Fees for optional activities are not included in the price of the trip.)

Day 9

This morning your group will travel to Ein Karem, known as the birthplace of John the Baptist and the place where the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elisabeth. You will be able to worship at the Garden Tomb, a possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea, and you will share in the reality of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The remainder of your afternoon will be free for personal exploration before the group gathers together for one final night of devotions.

Day 10

Your tour of the Holy Land comes to a close today as your group heads to the airport for the return flight to the U.S.