Trip Itinerary

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B= Breakfast, D = Dinner 

Day 1: Departure
Our journey begins as we depart on our international flights to Tel Aviv.

Day 2:  Arrival in Tel Aviv
We will arrive in Tel Aviv in the morning and transfer to our hotel, where we can rest. Our hotel is very close to Joppa, the ancient seaport mentioned in the biblical narrative of Jonah and the whale, and in the story of Solomon’s import of the cedars of Lebanon, Simon the Tanner and Peter. We will walk in the old city and learn about the Miracle of the Resurrection of Tabitha by Peter (Acts 9:36-42) and his vision in which God told him not to distinguish between Jews and Gentiles (Acts 10:12-13). We will dine in our hotel in Tel Aviv  (IF/D)

Day 3:  Caesarea, Nazareth, Tiberias
A full and memorable day awaits us! We will enter Caesarea Maritima to explore this Roman bridgehead to the East, built by Herod the Great. Here, the Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter as Cornelius the Centurion and his household were saved and baptized (Acts 10); and here Paul made his defense before Festus and King Agrippa prior to his final journey to Rome (Acts 25 & 26). We will tour the Roman theater, the hippodrome, and promenade to the renovated Crusader city. We will then visit Mt. Carmel, where Elijah prayed down fire from heaven and defeated the prophets of Ba’al (I Kings 18).  In Nazareth, childhood town of Jesus, we will visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and the reconstructed Nazareth Village Museum, a full scale reconstruction of life in Nazareth during the time of Jesus. We will drive through Cana to Mt. Tabor, the Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus was transfigured in front of Peter and James and met with Moses and Elijah. We will end the day in Tiberias, with dinner in our hotel. (B/D)

Day 4: Galilee Area
This morning, we will walk to the Yigal Allon Jesus Boat Museum, 5 minutes from our hotel. This features the Jesus Boat, dating back to the 1st century AD and similar to the boats Jesus and his disciples would have sailed in. Our tour will end with a Sea of Galilee boat ride. In Capernaum, we will visit the synagogue and Peter’s house. We will continue to Tabgha (where Jesus fed the 5,000) and view the mosaics in the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. Ascending the Mount of Beatitudes, we will reflect on Jesus’ teachings and envision the Sermon on the Mount. Following an ancient trade route, we will continue to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Peter answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” Our route then takes us over the Golan Heights, skirting Mt. Hermon, with a fabulous view toward Damascus. We will return for a second night in our hotel. (B/D)

Day 5: Yardenit, Megiddo, Bethany, Jerusalem
After breakfast, we will visit Yardenit, the baptism site by the Jordan River. We will then visit Herod’s Spring (Gideon’s Spring), where Gideon chose his army of 300 by observing how they drank from the spring (Judges 7).  Our next stop is Megiddo in the Valley Armageddon, (Rev. 16), an ancient city inhabited continuously for more than five millennia (6000-500 B.C.). Our guide will explain Megiddo’s significance and tell about the Yezreel Valley and the ancient Via Maris. We then follow the fertile Jordan River Valley southward to Bethany (visit subject to regulations), home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, and behold majestic Jerusalem. We check into our hotel, where we will stay for the remainder of our tour (B/D).

Day 6: Jewish Quarter and parts of Via Dolorosa and Garden Tomb
We will start the day with a fabulous view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. We then follow the traditional Palm Sunday route to the church known as Dominus Flevit (“the Lord weeps”). After viewing the Golden Gate, we will walk downhill to the garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations, built atop the rock upon which Jesus prayed before his arrest. Then we will drive to Mt. Zion to visit the Room of the Last Supper and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus. (Here, according to tradition, was the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus.) We will enter the Old City walls at St. Stephen’s Gate and visit the Pool of Bethesda, site of Jesus’ miraculous healing of a paralyzed man. Next we will go to Bethlehem to visit the key sites. We will tour the Shepherd’s Fields, Church of the Nativity, and Rachel’s Tomb. We return to our hotel in Jerusalem.  (B/D)

Day 7: Qumran, Masada, Dead Sea
We will drive through the Judean desert to Qumran and view Cave #4, which contained the greatest quantity of Dead Sea scrolls. We then continue south to Masada and take the cable car to the top, visiting Herod’s mountain palace/bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD).  Our guide will tell us the sad story of this fortress. We will then have a brief float in the Dead Sea—a unique experience! Dinner is at our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 8: Jerusalem
Today we will start with the City of David. This archeological park tells the story of the establishment of Jerusalem, its wars and hardships, its prophets and kings, and the history of the Jews during Biblical times. Next, we will visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, revered as the last remnant of the Second Temple. The Burnt House is nearby, which archeologists believe was destroyed at the time of the Roman conquest of Jerusalem in AD 70. The excavation, museum, and superb audio-visual presentation make this well worth the visit. We will walk the Via Dolorosa passing the Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the ancient site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. We will  then visit Gordon’s Calvary, known as the first century Garden Tomb, many believe to be the site of the burial and resurrection. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B/D)

Day 9: Jerusalem
We will ascend to the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site of Islam, located on the traditional site of the ancient Temple Mount, where God commanded Abraham to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice (Genesis 22:5, 8). We then have the opportunity to tour the Western Wall Tunnel, something most tourists don’t experience. A highlight of our tour will be the Israel Museum. Here we will see the detailed model of Jerusalem from the time of the Second Temple and the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will visit the superbly done, but sobering, Yad Vashem Memorial to the Holocaust. We will end the day in the village of Ein Kerem, home of John the Baptist, to see the Church of Visitation. This is a pleasant spot, and a good way to conclude our tour of the life and ministry of Jesus. We will have our final meal at our hotel in Jerusalem. B/D

Day 10: Return
We will head to the airport early for our flights back to the States. (B)
Reformation Tours reserves the rights to alter itineraries without notice should it become necessary. While on tour, if conditions necessitate changes, or if certain features are unavailable or limited, we reserve the right to vary or substitute alternatives. All prices are calculated at the exchange rate in effect at the time of this quotation. Should currency fluctuations necessitate an adjustment in tour price the adjusted price will be reflected in the final invoice.

What are the accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

If you are interested in a quote for your group, please e-mail us at info@reformationtours.com or call (800) 303-5534.