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

We take a morning flight from our various U.S.A. homes and will arrive the next afternoon at the Ben Gurion International Airport. Safe travels!

Arrive in Tel Aviv

Welcome to Israel! After our planned arrival in Israel, if time allows, we stop at Jaffa before driving up the Mediterranean Coast. Overnight at hotel in Tel Aviv.

Caesarea - Haifa - Mount Carmel- Sea of Galilee

Our day begins with a brief stop at King Herod’s Roman port city, Caesarea (the pride of the Mediterranean world), where Paul the Apostle was tried before being sent to Rome. We briefly stop to see the amazing aqueducts that Herod built to bring water into his city. We will continue to Mount Carmel, traveling east along the top of Mount Carmel to Muhraka (the place of burning) to discuss the interesting life and experiences of the prophet Elijah. We will drive through Haifa for a breathtaking view of the city and the beautiful Baha’i temple and gardens. We will travel to the Sea of Galilee and stop at Magdala, where we learn of some of the women in the Savior’s life and visit the beautiful memorial to Mary. We then will check in to Ein Gev on the east shore of the Sea of Galilee, where we will spend two nights.

Mount of Beatitudes - Capernaum - Mount Arbel - Banias - Bental

We begin our day visiting the Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount, for a discussion and personal contemplation of the teachings of Jesus. We will travel to visit Mount Arbel, the traditional site where Jesus Commissioned the Twelve Apostles to go to all the world to preach the gospel. We will visit the Nof Ginosar Museum to see a boat dating from the time of Jesus and then take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We will then take a short drive to the site of ancient Capernaum, Peter’s home, and the headquarters for Jesus’ Galilean ministry. We will eat our individually purchased lunch on the bus as we travel to Banias, ancient Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon, to recall the Savior’s discussion on priesthood keys (Matthew 16). If time allows, our last stop may be at Mount Bental for an impressive view of the Golan Heights before returning to our guesthouses to enjoy an evening of swimming and relaxation at Ein Gev.

Mount Tabor - Nazareth - Jordan River - Jericho 

The day begins early, with us driving to the village of Devaria, where we take taxis to the top of Mount Tabor, the traditional site of Christ’s transfiguration. We will next visit Nazareth, the Church of the Synagogue, and the Church of the Annunciation. In the afternoon, we drive down to the Jordan Valley and continue south, following the Jordan River to Qasr el Yahud to review the important events that occurred at the Jordan River. We will travel to Jericho and stop by the Mount of Temptations where it is believed to be the place where Jesus fasted 40 days and was tempted by the Adversary. There will be time for shopping before we check in to the hotel.

Masada - Qumran - Dead Sea - Mount of Olives - Jerusalem

Our morning travels will take us south along the Dead Sea, which is 1,400 feet below sea level. Our first stop is at the ancient mountaintop fortress built by King Herod—the Masada. We will ride the tram up to explore the ruins and, on the return, to meet our bus that takes us to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. After lunch, we will float in the Dead Sea at Kalia Beach. We drive to Jerusalem and, on the way, stop at the ancient road to Jericho to review the parable of the Good Samaritan. Before checking in at the hotel, we will stop on the top of the Mount of Olives for an overview of the stunning landscape and sacred places. 

Jerusalem - Old City - City of David

We visit the Ophel area before we walk up to the Holy Mount, which is located atop Mount Moriah—the place where Abraham took Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice. It was also the site of the temples of Solomon and later Herod; today it is occupied by the magnificent Dome of the Rock and the El Aksa Mosque, making this site the third most sacred site in all the world of Islam. We will then go to Lion’s Gate and walk to the Pool of Bethesda area to discuss the events in John 5, before going on to the general area of the Antonia Fortress. We will visit Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion−“Ecce Homo” John 19:5, where Jesus was sentenced to be crucified. We will continue on the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried the cross to Golgotha. After a visit to the Western Wall, we visit the Jewish Quarter to see Hezekiah’s Broad Wall, and stroll down the Roman Cardo, which was originally built by the Roman emperor Hadrian. Next, we walk through the excavated City of David (including the new Davidson Museum and Warren’s Shaft) and into Hezekiah’s Tunnel—the ancient water system carved through the hill in the time of Isaiah. We continue to the Pool of Siloam, the site of one of Jesus’ miracles, and review John 11. After we return to the hotel to change into dry clothes and eat dinner, we enjoy a free evening to experience Jerusalem’s nightlife and prepare for the crescendo of our travels—the final week of the life of our Lord.

Lazarus’ Tomb - Yad Vashem - Model City - Bethlehem - Western Wall

Our day begins early to visit Bethany, the traditional village of the home where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived. We will visit Lazarus’ Tomb. We will then drive through Mea Shearim (an ultraorthodox community) on our way to Yad Vashem, the sobering Holocaust memorial. Afterward, we continue to the Israel National Museum, which includes the Shrine of the Book (the museum of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and the wonderfully re-created Model City of Jerusalem, which portrays the city as it looked near the time of Jesus. We will have lunch at the Palm Restaurant in Bethlehem. We then visit Shepherds’ Field and discuss the wonderful events of the Savior’s birth. We will continue to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity (traditional site of the birth of Jesus). We may have time to visit an olive wood carving shop and do some shopping in Bethlehem. We will take the bus to the Western Wall to watch religious Jews welcome in the Sabbath. Dinner at hotel afterwards.

Footsteps of Jesus - Mount of Olives - BYU Jerusalem Center - Gethsemane - Golgotha - Garden Tomb

We begin the day at 7 a.m. on the bus with a visit to the Mount of Olives to briefly review the past, present, and future of this area before going to the beautiful BYU Jerusalem Center, where we attend sacrament meeting. We will visit the Grotto of Gethsemane where olive presses were located and where Jesus and His disciples would have met and rested. We continue to a private garden across from the traditional Garden of Gethsemane, where centuries-old olive trees remind us of the sacred account of our Savior’s suffering and arrest. We will have lunch on the bus. We will then go to Golgotha, the place of the Crucifixion, and conclude at the Garden Tomb, where the body of Christ was interred and from where He arose on Easter Sunday. Free time the rest of the day!

Footsteps of Jesus - Upper Room - House of Caiaphas

We will then visit the Upper Room, where it is believed a Passover feast was held with Jesus and the Twelve Apostles, where the sacrament was introduced, and where the disciples receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We next visit the possible site of the House of Caiaphas the high priest, where the Savior was illegally tried after His arrest and put in a dungeon. Free time. Dinner and our final group meeting. After dinner we will depart for the airport.

Tel Aviv - Home Cities

We bid farewell to the Holy Land as we depart today for the Ben Gurion International Airport to fly home—taking with us never-to-be-forgotten memories. We will arrive home in the afternoon.