Depart for your overnight flights to the Holy Land.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, you will collect your luggage in the baggage claim area, and continue to the Arrivals Hall where you will be greeted by a tour guide and/or driver. Your group will transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem in time to check-in. Enjoy dinner at the hotel before retiring for the evening.

After breakfast, your group will have free time this morning to explore the city of Jerusalem. At noon, the group will transfer to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. In Bethlehem, you will have the opportunity to visit the Shepherd’s Fields (Luke 2:8). In the caves of these fields, you are still able to see the soot marks of fires that shepherds lit to keep warm. The tour concludes at the Manger Square, which stands in front of the Church of the Nativity. As you enter the Church, you will proceed down to the Grotto of the Nativity, which marks the spot of Our Savior’s birth (Matthew 2:1-18). Beneath the Altar, there is a silver star and a Latin inscription that states: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). Afterwards, your group will drive to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. It is known that there are two Churches in Ein Karem, both representing the two homes of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The first is in a valley where the birth of St. John the Baptist is commemorated (Luke 1:39-80) in the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The second is on a hill where Elizabeth spent five months in seclusion (Luke 1:24) at the Church of the Visitation. Your group will visit both of these Churches before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning your group will check out from hotel and drive to Nazareth, during the visit to Nazareth we visit the Church of the Annunciation which includes the Church of St. Joseph which tradition identifies it with the workshop of Joseph and the house of the Holy family. We will continue with a visit of the Church of the Incarnation, where we will celebrate mass and view at the Grotto the remains of the house of the Blessed Virgin where the Angel appeared and announced the good news. In the afternoon, the group will visit Capernaum (entrance included), where they will have the opportunity to see the Synagogue of where Jesus taught (Mark 1:21-29), and gave His sermon on the Bread of Life. Drive to our hotel in Tabgha for check in, dinner and overnight.

This morning your group will have free time for mass and prayer. Afterwards, check out from our hotel and head on to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus proclaimed His Great Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49). The group will then continue to Mount Tabor (taxi fees included) to visit the Church of the Transfiguration. Depart Mt. Tabor and head to Jerusalem re-arriving at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, the group will depart to the Mount of Olives, where you will be able to take in the beautiful, panoramic view of Jerusalem. Historically, the Mount of Olives was a mandatory transit point for Jesus during many iconic moments. Your group will visit the Ascension Chapel (entrance included) and Pater Noster Shrine (entrance included), where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Pater Noster) (Luke 11:1-4). You will have the opportunity to stop at Dominus Flevit, which is a Church that commemorates where Jesus wept for Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). The tour continues on to Gethsemane, a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Jesus brought His disciples here to pray the night before He was crucified (Luke 22:29-53). The Garden still contains trees with roots that date back to the time of Jesus. Beside the Garden is your next stop, the Church of All Nations, built over the “Rock of Agony”. This is where Jesus prayed alone on the night of His arrest. Throughout this time, you are invited to remain in prayer and to reflect on Christ’s agony that he experienced. And then visit the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. The tour continues as you will visit the house of the High Priest Caiaphas (Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu) (entrance included). This Church commemorates where Jesus was examined and eventually imprisoned before the Council in Jerusalem. It also commemorates Peter’s Denial of Christ (John 18:15-18), Peters’ repentance, and Jesus’ forgiveness of Peter. You will also visit the Upper Room on Mt. Zion. The Upper Room is where Jesus and His disciples celebrated the Last Supper (Matthew 26:17-30) and, where Jesus appeared to His disciples after His Death and Resurrection (Mark 16:14). In addition, your group will visit the nearby Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Tradition tells us that this Church is where Mary, the Mother of Jesus, “fell asleep.” At the end of this prayerful day, your group will return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Your group will have a very early morning wakeup, which will begin the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress (entrance included). This is the spot where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-19:16). Following His condemnation, He was taken (on the Road to Calvary) to His place of Crucifixion. Your group will reflect upon the Stations of the Cross as you travel through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Luke 23:26-33). This Sacred destination is the site of Calvary (Jesus’ crucifixion place) and, His tomb (Luke 23: 50-55). Your group will celebrate Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Following Mass, your group will return to the Hotel to enjoy breakfast. Enjoy the afternoon at your own leisure. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Today you will have a full day free to explore Jerusalem. Breakfast, dinner & overnight at our hotel.

Today you will have another full day free to explore Jerusalem. Breakfast, dinner & overnight at our hotel.

Today we will transfer to Tel Aviv for our return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer: Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of places to be visited. Occasionally local religious holidays, national days, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of visits or the missing of certain visits.