Insider 8 Day Israel Itinerary to the Holy Land

Today we embark on our Journey to the Holy Land. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get plenty of rest on the flight.

Tomorrow you will be walking where Jesus walked! We will be traveling by motor coach through the Land of Israel/Holy Land. It will be an experience of a lifetime.

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport where we will be met by our travel guide who will accompany us during our entire stay in Israel. We travel northward to our hotel for one night in the coastal area near Tel Aviv.

The remainder of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean, relax, and have dinner. The time is right for a personal devotional with the sunset over the “Great Sea.”

Enjoy a time of prayer of thanks for safety and the special blessings ahead, a prayer for the people of this land, and a good night’s rest.

After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheatre, hippodrome, a film on history and remains of this famous port city and aqueduct, and then journey on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal.

Next, we travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, the Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. We drive through the area of Cana and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit the Nazareth Village. We will also visit the Grand Basilica of the Annunciation and St Joseph’s church. Then we stop at Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine. We will have dinner and overnight lodging for the next two nights in the Tiberias area on the Sea of Galilee.

Following breakfast, our morning travels take us to two valuable northern sites. The site where the children of Israel fell to the depths of pagan worship and Caesarea Philippi, the site of Peter’s Confession.

In Capernaum, we will visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter’s home. Then we travel on to the site of the possible multiplication of loaves and fishes in Bethesda and the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea.

Finally, we will enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee. A brief scripture reading and devotional on board brings to life the experiences of Jesus and the fishermen disciples concluding a wonderful day.

We begin our day with an opportunity to be baptized at the Jordan River Baptismal site. We pass ancient Jericho, view from a distance this city famed as the oldest in the world, before coming to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, where Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan as well as the area where the children of Israel led by Joshua entered the Promised land.

Our lodging for the evening is at the Dead Sea the lowest place on earth. Spend time in the special spa and enjoy a dip in the Dead Sea for a relaxing float before dinner.

Our day begins with a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress of Masada.

Afterwards we proceed to Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Because of its warm climate and abundant supply of water, the site developed a reputation for its fragrant plants and date palm groves. This is where King David hid from Saul and where God defeated the enemies of the Israelites by praise and worship led by King Jehoshaphat.

Next, we visit Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Our lodging for the next four nights will be in Jerusalem.

Conditions permitting we will visit the Temple Mount with commentary on the Temple Periods and the variety of belief systems past and present that make this area so valuable. From there we will also be able to see the Pool of Bethesda, Stephen's Gate and St. Anne’s Church.

Passing by the Protestant Cemetery, we visit the "Upper Room" just outside the Zion Gate where the disciple whom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and where later Thomas cried, "my Lord & my God".

We will also walk where Jesus walked; Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives and then the Garden of Gethsemane. How many have wished to be whisked back in time to get a glimpse of our Lord or hear His voice if only for a moment? To walk between the ancient olive trees, read the scriptures of Jesus' prayer and take time for personal reflection is important here.

Next, we visit the House of Caiaphas where Jesus was beaten and spit upon. See a pit where he may have been held for the evening and the ancient hillside steps he walked as he was taken to be condemned.

After breakfast we drive to Bethlehem, visit the birthplace of our Lord which is marked by the Basilica of the Nativity and kneel at the place of His birth in the Grotto of the Nativity.

We will also visit the Shepherd’s field where the angel of the Lord proclaimed the good news of the birth of the savior (Luke 2:8-18).

Afterwards we will proceed to Ein Karem to visit the Church of the Visitation, where the Virgin Mary came to visit Elisabeth (Luke 1:39-80) and the birth place of John the Baptist.

After that we head to Jerusalem for dinner and rest before to travel the next day to Ben Gurion airport for our flight home.