September 8, 2022 – Departure from PDX. Overnight on the plane.
DAY 1 - September 9 – Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. You will be met by your guide and bus driver and transferred to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv. D
DAY 2 - September 10 – Drive North to Rosh Ha-Nikra to visit the grotos. Drive East along Route 899 and stop at the Jewish synagogue at Chorazim. Arrive to Ramot Resort Hotel overlooking the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight. B, D
DAY 3 - September 11 – Continue driving North to Tel Dan and Mt. Bental, with a possible stop along the way at a Druze village in Golan Heights. Next we will visit the biblical sites around the Sea of Galilee: Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount and Tabgha (Church of the Loaves and Fish) where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fish. From there visit Yardenit for a baptism service on the Jordan River. Enjoy an evening cruise on the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and second overnight at Ramot Resort. B, D
DAY 4 - September 12 – Traveling from the Sea of Galilee to Magdala on the shores of the Kinneret, we will visit Nazareth village for lunch and then continue to Jericho to visit Mt. Temptation. From there, continue to your Kibbutz at Ein Gedii Resort near the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight at the Ein Gedii. B, D
DAY 5 - September 13 – After breakfast, we will visit Masada, the mountain fortress stronghold of the Jews in the war against the Romans. You will ascend the mountain by cable car and visit the palaces of Herod the Great with its Roman baths and pools. Next we will visit the botanical gardens and Ein Gedi National Park for a hike to David Waterfall. Dinner and second overnight at Ein Gedi. D
DAY 6 - September 14 - We continue South to Eilat, stopping along the way at Sde Boker to visit the hut and memorial site of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion. Next, we will stop at the Mitzpe Ramon Visitor Center, which sits on the northern cliff of the world's largest erosion crater, The Ramon Crater. Finally, we will continue to Eilat for dinner and first overnight in Eilat. B, D
DAY 7 - September 15 – We will enjoy a cruise on the Red Sea with lunch. If you wish, you can even jump in for a swim. Dinner and second overnight in Eilat. B,D
DAY 8 - September 16 - Drive to Jerusalem. On the way, stop at the Valley of Elah, the place described in the Old Testament where the Israelites were encamped when David fought Goliath. Continuing to Jerusalem, we will visit the largest market with over 250 vendors, Shuk Machane Yehuda. First overnight in Jerusalem. D
DAY 9 - September 17 - Visit the Garden Tomb which is considered to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. We will then continue with a walking tour of the Old City that includes Pool of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Cathedral and more... Your bus will bring you to dinner and second overnight in Jerusalem. B,D
DAY 10 - September 18 – First visit to Old Jerusalem – enter the Old City through the Zion Gate and make your way to the Jewish Quarter. Visit the Cardo. Continue to the Western Wall and the Southern Temple excavations. Visit the Rabbinic Tunnel which takes you underground to the base of the Temple Mount and the actual streets that Jesus and his disciples walked upon. Visit the City of David. Return to your hotel for dinner and third overnight in Jerusalem. B, D
DAY 11 - September 19 - Visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Then visit The Temple Institute, and wrap up the day at the Tower of David Museum to enjoy the classic, The Night Spectacular. This is an innovative light and sound show that depicts Jerusalem's journey through time. Dinner and fourth overnight in Jerusalem. B, D
DAY 12 - September 20 – The Sisters of Zion Monastery & Friends of Zion Museum. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Fifth and last overnight in Jerusalem. B, D
September 21 – Check out from hotel and transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your flights back to the US.
(U.S. Government regulations state that you may not be permitted to depart the U.S. if your passport expires within six (6) months of your travel dates or does not have sufficient blank pages for your trip)
