U.S.A. • Transatlantic Flight • Tel Aviv, Israel

Depart Salt Lake City to Tel Aviv and then welcome to Israel! As we begin our journey in this ancient land, we notice that the mountains have hidden secrets and the old ruins have legends. For 3,000 years on this small patch of land, men have toiled and battled, prayed and worshiped, and added their own small humanity to the history of this country. Listen to the ancient land and let it tell stories of its past. Sitting on the edge of the Mediterranean, Jaffa still stands as one of the world's oldest ports. Tradition claims that Jaffa was settled by Noah's youngest son when the Flood receded and ever since being founded, Jaffa has been a center of commerce, activity, and historical events. Located in one of the small alleyways, visit Simon the Tanner's house that remains a monument to the wonderful revelation Peter the Apostle received to go and preach to the entire world.  We will travel to the seaside town of Netanya where we will have dinner and a meet and greet orientation.

Caesarea • Mt Carmel• Megiddo • Nazareth • Sea of Galilee

“And on the morrow they entered into Caesarea” as said in the Bible story with Peter and Cornelius and as with us as we raise early today and enter into Caesarea, or at least the remains of a city founded by Herod, residence of Pontius Pilate, and a prison for Paul. Sit in the well-preserved amphitheater overlooking the blue sea and hear the story of Paul's conversion of the Centurion. The scenery begins to change to the beautiful green pastures and high rolling hills of the Jezreel Valley as we approach Mt Carmel where the prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal contested their faith.  Not far away is Megiddo, the tragic site of ancient bloody battles where nations were won and lost. Upon these same tragic fields, the great and terrible last battle of Armageddon is to be fought.  We journey next to Nazareth, the quaint town where Jesus Christ spent his childhood, learned his earthly vocation as a carpenter and grew and waxed strong in spirit. We’ll visit the church of the annunciation before we finish our journey dropping down into the Galilee area and check into the Magdala Hotel in Galilee for two nights.

Capernaum • Caesarea Philippi • Dan • Banias • Tabgha

This morning we start our day walking a traditional path at the base of Mt Arbel that Jesus and his disciples would have traveled between Nazareth and the Galilee known as the “Valley of the Doves”.  We continue along the shoreside and visit Capernaum.  Capernaum is where Jesus lived and recruited his first followers among the fishermen. The well-preserved city will amaze you as you sit in the synagogue and imagine Jesus' teaching and performing miracles in this important place.  We will visit Tel Dan National Park, which combines a lush nature reserve with a biblical archaeological experience. Beside a massive rock cliff, a place of great natural beauty, Banias is the site of ancient Caesarea Philippi, where Peter bore testimony of the Savior and Jesus said “Thou art Peter and upon this, I will build my church”. We will end today with a visit to Tabgha. This is the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. There is a beautiful Byzantine mosaic in the floor commemorating this miracle that you will not want to miss.  After dinner you will have a little free time in the evening to enjoy your surrounding area.

Magdala • Mount of Beatitudes • Beit Shean • Jericho area

This morning we begin in the village of Magdala seeing an active archeological site still being unearthed today.  Here we’ll see a Synagogue dating back to the Savior’s day, where a newly discovered stone portrays the symbols of the ancient temple. We will continue on with our tour and visit to the Mount of Beatitudes. This is where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and is always a highlight to visitors. Here we see how it was possible for Jesus to teach the multitude all at the same time. This afternoon we sail upon the Sea of Galilee to view the area of Jesus Christ's early ministry. As the wind carries our boat from Capernaum to Ein Gev you will note the halo of mountains that surrounds its shores.  We will stop in Ein Gev for lunch and perhaps dine on St. Peter’s Fish.

Next, we will travel to the ancient Tel of Bet She'an, where 6,000 years and 18 levels of civilization have been discovered. It is at Bet She'an where the conquering Philistines fastened the headless body of King Saul to the city wall. Adjacent to the Tel is the wondrous excavations and restorations of the only Roman City of the Decapolis west of the Jordan. It is the best preserved Roman and Byzantine City in the country. As we leave the fertile valleys of the Galilee, we follow the Jordan River Valley south to near Jericho where we will spend the evening.

Dead Sea • Masada • Qumran •Jerusalem

We drive to the lowest point in the heart, the desert of the Dead Sea. Once the Biblical Lands of Moab and Edom, the Dead Sea basin has been a refuge to prophets, zealots and outcasts throughout time. We will come upon the spectacular cliff-top fortress of Masada, where a community of 960 Jews preferred death at their own hands to the indignity of surrender to the overwhelming Roman forces. From the desert floor, we will ascend by cable car to tour this ancient wonder.  We will follow the Jordan River Valley where we will visit Bethabara - the site where the Savior was baptized by John the Baptist. Next, we will return to the hotel to prepare for a float in the Dead Sea – the lowest spot on the earth. Before taking our float, we will stop at Qumran. Buried in the beige limestone bluffs, the ruins of Qumran still tell the story of the Essenes, a reclusive Jewish sect that buried the now famous Dead Sea Scrolls om the hills above their area.  While at the Dead Sea, we will have the opportunity to enjoy a dip in the buoyant waters and bathe in the healing medicinal mud! Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, sent her slaves to retrieve this magical mud in order to preserve her legendary beauty. This evening we will return to our hotel to prepare for our journey to the Holy City - Jerusalem.

Temple Mount • Old City of Jerusalem •  Last Supper Room •  Hezekiahs Tunnel

We will begin our day to a visit to the Temple Mount, one of the most sacred spots to three religions. This was the site of Solomon’s Temple then the massive Second Temple rebuilt by Herod. This is where the Dome of the Rock is located which we can admire from the outside. We will learn the significance of this area is the Muslims and the Christians. We then will walk and entering the oldest quarter of Jerusalem, follow the winding alleys and crowded streets to the Pools of Bethesda and learn about the miracles which happened there and the importance.  Next, we will visit St. Anne’s Church. The Church of Saint Anne is a Roman Catholic church, located at the start of the Via Dolorosa, near the Lions' Gate. In this area we will also visit the churches of the Flagellation and Condemnation, in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.  We will continue our walk in the old city on the Via Dolorosa (Way of Suffering). The Via Dolorosa is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. There are areas known as the Stations of the Cross.  These are areas where Jesus had fallen while carrying the cross. One station is believed by many is where Jesus falls and sees his mother Mary.

We will also visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of many as the site of the crucifixion and tomb. The empty feeling will be a huge contrast to the beautiful Garden Tomb, which we will visit later. After lunch we will visit Hezekiah’s Broad Wall.  The Broad Wall is a massive defensive structure, seven meters thick. We will continue to St. Peter’s in Gallicantu (Caiaphas’ Palace), where Jesus was tried after His arrest in Gethsemane. On the ancient steps leading to the palace, Peter denied Jesus three times as the cock crowed.  The last activity of the day is to take a walk- through Hezekiah’s Tunnel. The Tunnel is a water channel that was carved beneath the City David in Jerusalem in ancient times. The tunnel leads from the Gihon Spring to the Pool of Siloam. The curving tunnel is 583 yards (533 m) long and by using the 12 inch (30 cm) altitude difference between its two ends, which corresponds to a 0.06 percent gradient, the engineers managed to convey the water from the spring to the pool. We will then arrive at the end of the tunnel at the Pool of Siloam. The Pool of Siloam was first built during the reign of Hezekiah and served as a water supply. In the evening we will have dinner and overnight for the evening.

Bethlehem • Israel Museum

Music, bells and churches appropriately adorn the little town of Bethlehem for it was here that the Light of the World was given life. Pilgrimages, sacred holidays, and festivities occur all year long to celebrate the birth of Christ. Tradition holds that the small humble inn with just a stable for lodging was located where the Church of the Nativity now stands. Next, we will gather on the Shepherd Field where Shepherds still tend their flocks on the fields overlooking Bethlehem just as they did over 2,000 years ago when the angel appeared bringing them glad tidings of great joy. We will sing the beloved Christmas hymns and listen to the wondrous story - a moment not to be forgotten.  After Lunch we will discover the treasures of the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, the site chosen to house the Dead Sea Scrolls. This unique building is shaped like the ancient pottery in which the precious scrolls lay hidden for thousands of years. While we are there, we will get to see the Holy Land Model, a unique scale model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. The model visually explains the layout of the ancient city as well as the design.   

BYU Jerusalem Center for Sacrament • Gethsemane •  Mount of Olives • 

This morning we will enjoy the spirit as we attend the Sacrament meeting at the BYU Jerusalem Center.  After Church we will visit the Garden of Gethsemane nestled on the side of the Mount of Olives. You may feel the powerful spirit in the Garden as you envision the momentous events, which took place at this sacred site. Next door is The Church of All Nations – also known as the Basilica of Agony.  It is believed that where this church stands it was once part of the Garden of Gethsemane and the bedrock inside of the church is thought to be where Christ prayed in the garden. 

Temple Steps • Western Wall • Western Wall Tunnel  • Garden Tomb  •  Farewell Dinner

Today is our last full day of touring.  We will visit the Davidson Archaeological Park and the Southern Temple Mount Steps. Next we will walk to the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall).  This is the most important site in all of Jewish civilization because these rough massive stones are all that is left of the great Second Temple. Revered and honored, the Jews wait and hope for the day they will rebuild their third and final temple upon these sacred remnants. Today at the Western Wall we may see Jewish families rejoicing in the Bar Mitzvah celebration of their youth. Above the wall is Mount Moriah where the Islamic shrine, the Dome of the Rock, is located.  After lunch will discover the ancient tunnel beneath the West Tunnel. This tunnel is the full length of the Western Wall. We end our tour with a visit to the Garden Tomb. There is a limestone hill, which we revere as Golgotha, site of the crucifixion. Near the skull-shaped rock at Golgotha where crucifixions occurred, we’ll discuss Jesus’ final hours. Then we will walk a short distance along a pathway lined with beautiful foliage to the peaceful Garden Tomb, which our prophets have identified as the place of Jesus’ burial and resurrection. This cemetery with an ancient tomb that once held the Savior's mortal body and saw its glorious resurrection. There is a sign on the door of the tomb that says, “He is not here - for He is risen.” This will be an unforgettable experience as you contemplate the promise of the Resurrection. We will take time for reflection on the atoning love of the Savior. We will then bus to the hotel for dinner and continue on to the airport for our flight back to the U.S.

Tel Aviv • U.S.A.

We will arrive home after bringing wonderful memories of our time in Israel--life changing memories that will last a lifetime.

(Itinerary is subject to change)