Day 1 DEPARTURE
  We will leave from our gateway airport and enjoy our flight across the Atlantic Ocean.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN FLIGHT 

Day 2 ARRIVAL / JAFFA* / TEL AVIV
  We will arrive in Israel, where we will be met and assisted through customs by a Melrose Travel representative. We will be acquainted with our Israeli tour guide during the short drive to our hotel in Tel Aviv. On our way, we’ll stop to visit Jaffa, biblical Joppa, oldest port city in the world. It was in Jaffa that Peter brought Tabitha back to life, and had his miraculous vision at the house of Simon the Tanner.
   Then we drive on to our hotel where a refreshing drink of Jaffa orange juice will be waiting for you upon your arrival. We will have dinner at the hotel, followed by a brief orientation meeting and an evening of rest and relaxation.

Day 3 CAESAREA* / HAIFA / ACCO / ROSH HANIKRA / SAFED / TIBERIAS
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.
   This morning we begin with a full Israeli buffet breakfast at our hotel. Then we drive north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, once a proud Roman port dating back to the time of Pontius Pilate. We will view the monumental theater built in the days of Christ, explore the remains of a Crusader fortress, and see the spectacular Roman aqueduct.
   Next, we will stop briefly in Haifa for a spectacular view of this modern seaport city, then on to Acco, known for its underground Crusader city. Then we drive to Rosh Hanikra, situated high in the white cliffs, where the sea has formed grotto-like caves. Afterwards, we will visit Safed, a city essentially unchanged since the 16th century. Safed contains an artist’s colony and was the birthplace of the Jewish Talmud. To round out the day we’ll drive to our hotel for dinner and free time during the evening.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN TIBERIAS / SEA OF GALILEE

Day 4 MOUNT OF BEATITUDES* / CAPERNAUM* / MENSA CHRISTI* / TABGHA / 2000 YEAR OLD BOAT / GALILEE CRUISE* / FISH LUNCH / UPPER GALILEE / GOLAN HEIGHTS / TIBERIAS / GALILEE EXPERIENCE
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.
   Arise early to view the sunrise on the Sea of Galilee! It’s a breathtaking experience. After breakfast, we’ll leave early for our first stop at the Mount of Beatitudes. Near this site, Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, taught on frequent occasions, and performed many miracles. We will spend some time on the mountainside to pray, sing and meditate on God’s Word.
   Next, we drive to Capernaum, the city where Jesus lived during most of His ministry. Here were the homes of Peter, Andrew, James and John. Next, we drive to the church of Mensa Christi (table of Christ) a chapel on the Galilee shore, near where Jesus challenged Peter, “Feed My sheep.” Then on to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish.
   Next, we will stop at kibbutz Nof Ginnosar to see a 2,000-year-old boat. From here we will leave the shores behind us as we enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll have a time of worship, scripture reading and prayer upon these beautiful waters. After our cruise, we will enjoy a traditional St. Peter’s fish lunch at one of the region’s fine restaurants.
   After lunch we will visit Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. We will travel to Caesarea Phillippi, Hazor and the border of Lebanon. We will view a beautiful panorama of the Sea of Galilee, and our guide will explain why this area is so vital to Israel’s security. After dinner we will visit the Galilee Experience, a moving multi-media presentation.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN TIBERIAS / SEA OF GALILEE

Day 5 CANA* / NAZARETH* / MT. CARMEL* / MEGIDDO* / MT. TABOR / BAPTISMAL SITE* / TIBERIAS
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.
  We begin our day by visiting Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle, where He turned the water into wine. We will conduct a brief marriage ceremony for any couples who would like to renew their vows. Afterwards, we will visit Nazareth, where Jesus spent the silent years of his life. We’ll visit one of the city’s many churches and drink from Mary’s well, and stop by the Nazareth Village, a recreation of the city in Biblical times. Next, we travel to Megiddo to see the site of 21 superimposed cites, dating back to before the days of Solomon. There we will see the Valley of Jezreel, also known as the Valley of Armageddon. We continue on to Mt. Carmel, to the site where Elijah battled the prophets of Baal. There we will once again view the beautiful Valley of Jezreel. We will pass Mt. Tabor, where Deborah and Barak defeated Sisera and the army of Jabin the king of Hazor. Finally, we will stop at Yardinet, where we will have a Baptism Service in the Jordan River. Everyone is invited to participate. We will end our day by returning to our hotel.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN TIBERIAS / SEA OF GALILEE

Day 6 BEIT SHEAN / JACOB’S WELL / JERICHO / DEAD SEA/ MASADA/QUMRAN/ MT. SCOPUS* / JERUSALEM
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.
   Today, our first stop is Beit Shean, the great Roman city, where we will explore the largest excavation in Israel today. Then, we drive via Jericho, the oldest city in the world and view the Mount of Temptation. From Jericho, we can even see Mount Nebo in the distance, where Moses gazed into the Promised Land.
   We will proceed to the Dead Sea region, the lowest place on earth. We will ascend Masada by cable car. It was here that 960 Jewish defenders took their own lives, rather than to become slaves to the Romans. Our guide will take us on a fascinating tour of this mountaintop fortress. We will descend Masada and drive to a nearby spa where you can take an optional “float” in the salty Dead Sea water. We will pass the oasis of Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul. Then, north to Qumran, the home of the Essenes, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered.
  Finally, we will ascend the Judean mountains; we will follow the old Jericho road past Wadi Kelt, the Monastery of St. George and the Good Samaritan Inn. Time permitting, we will make our way up to Bethany, home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, before continuing on to the city of Jerusalem. Finally, we make our way to the top of Mount Scopus for our first view of the “Golden City”. Here we will share a time of worship together. Then after a drive around the Old City walls, we will make our way to the hotel.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN JERUSALEM

Day 7 CITY GATES / DUNG GATE / DAVIDSON CENTER /SOUTHERN TEMPLE EXCAVATIONS / WESTERN WALL / TEMPLE MOUNT / RABINNIC TUNNEL / DOME OF THE ROCK / SHEEP GATE / PROMENADE*
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.We travel by bus around the old city walls and learn about each of the gates to the city.   Next, we take our bus to the Dung Gate, where we will enter the Old City. We will visit the Davidson Center, explore the Southern Temple Excavations and see the actual temple steps that Jesus and his disciples climbed to make their way to the Temple. Next, we will visit the Western (Wailing) Wall, the holiest site in the entire Jewish world. Then, we will visit the Rabbinic tunnel which takes us underground to the base of the Temple Mount, and the actual streets that Jesus and his disciples walked upon.
   We will ascend to the Temple Mount and visit the Dome of the Rock. We will leave the Temple Mount through the Sheep Gate and then exit the Old City through the Lion’s (or St. Stephen’s) Gate. We will drive to the Haas Promenade for a view of the entire city of Jerusalem from the southern side.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN JERUSALEM

Day 8 MEA SHE’ARIM / MT. ZION / TOMB OF DAVID / UPPER ROOM / ZION GATE / JEWISH QUARTER / CARDO / HEZEKIAH’S WALL / TEMPLE INSTITUTE / ORIENTAL MARKET /
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.
   We begin our last day in Jerusalem with a drive through the ultra-orthodox neighborhood of Mea She’arim. Then, we ascend Mt. Zion to visit the Tomb of David and the Upper Room. We will then enter the Old City through the Zion Gate and make our way to the Jewish Quarter. We will visit the Cardo, Hezekiah’s Wall, and the Temple Institute and make our way to the Western Wall once again.
   We will continue with a walking tour of the Old City that includes the Oriental Market. We will exit the Old City through the Jaffa Gate and head back to our hotel.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN JERUSALEM

Day 9 ISRAEL MUSEUM / SHRINE OF THE BOOK / KNESSET / MENORAH / YAD VASHEM / MODEL OF JERUSALEM / EIN KAREM
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.
   We will drive to the Israel Museum. There we will see the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Across the road we will find the Knesset, Israel’s Houses of Parliament and stop to see the beautiful Menorah. Then we continue to the New Yad Vashem Museum, the Holocaust Memorial of Israel. We will conclude our day with a visit to the Model of Jerusalem to learn about the city during the second temple period (the time of Christ) and a visit to the neighborhood of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist.
DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN JERUSALEM

Day 10 THE PASSION TOUR …
Retrace the steps of the Passion of Christ.

MOUNT OF OLIVES* / DOMINUS FLAVIT* / GROUP PHOTO / GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE* / HOUSE OF CAIAPHAS* / VIA DOLOROSA* / POOLS OF BETHESDA* / ST. ANNE’S CHAPEL* / LITHOSTRATOS* / ECCO HOMO ARCH* / CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPLUCHRE* / MUSLIM QUARTER / DAMASCUS GATE / GARDEN TOMB*
Full Israeli breakfast buffet at our hotel.
   We travel by bus to the top of the Mount of Olives and view the entire city of Jerusalem. Then, we will walk down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane, stopping at Dominus Flavit, the Church of the Tears. After visiting the Church of All Nations, we will go to the northern garden for a devotional service.
   Drive a short distance to the house of Caiaphas, where tradition holds that Jesus was imprisoned.
   Just a short drive back to the Old City and we will continue with a walking tour that includes: the Via Dolorosa, Pools of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Chapel, Lithostratos, Ecco Homo Arch, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Oriental Market.
   Then, we will make our way through the Muslim Quarter and exit the Old City through the Damascus Gate. Just a short walk outside of the Old City will bring us to the site of the Garden Tomb, where we will view Gordon’s Calvary, the Garden Tomb, and have a special communion service.
   This evening we will have a special Farewell Dinner where we will share highlights of our trip, and we will say “Shalom” to our guide and driver.
   After bidding farewell to Jerusalem, we travel to Ben Gurion Airport and begin our return journey, with our hearts changed forever by the impact of what God has done during this journey.

Day 11 TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT TO THE UNITED STATES
Arrive home with our hearts full of wonderful memories.

The exact order of the itinerary is subject to change, but all of sites listed above will be included.
* Designates site where devotional may be conducted

For more information please call Melrose Travel at 888-972-9009 or send us an e-mail to   res@melrosetravel.com