Catholic Tour (10 Days / 9 Nights)

DAY 1: Departure

Depart country of origin

 

DAY 2: Joppa, Nazareth

Arrival to Ben Gurion airport

VIP assistance at the airport

“Joppa” (Jaffa) where Jonah the Prophet boarded the boat for Tarshish

Drive to Caesarea where Paul was imprisoned and tried, and where he converted Cornelius

Nazareth where Jesus spent his early years to visit Mary’s Well and the Church of the Annunciation

Village of Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle

Dinner and overnight Ramada Olivier Nazareth Hotel

 

DAY 3: Sea of Galilee

Drive to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee

Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Nof Ginossar

View the remains of a boat from the time of Jesus.

Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ Ministry. Located here are the ruins of an ancient synagogue and the site of Peter’s house.

Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fish and see the fish mosaic from the 5th century Byzantine basilica.

Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the “Sermon on the Mount”

Travel through the Upper Galilee to Banias Springs (Caesarea Philippe), where Peter made his confession of faith

Overnight Ramada Olivier Nazareth Hotel

 

DAY 4: Yardenit, Jericho, Jerusalem

Yardenit on the shores of the Jordan River and renew Baptismal promises.

Visit Mt Tabor, site of the Transfiguration.

Drive through the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean, where excavations have revealed 18 levels of history.

Jericho, the oldest and lowest inhabited city in the world.

Ascend the Judean Hills passing the Inn of the Good Samaritan

Visit the Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany

Overnight and Dinner Jerusalem Notre Dame Hotel

 

DAY 5: Jerusalem

Tour Jerusalem

Lookout Jerusalem from Mount of Olives

Walk down the traditional Palm Sunday route to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane

Drive via the Kidron Valley to Mount Zion and visit the Room of the Last Supper and David’s Tomb

Jewish Quarter see the Cardo and Western Wall

Enjoy the panoramic view of the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount

Christian Quarter visit St. Ann’s Crusader Church, Ecce Homo (Lithostratos), Antonia Fortress and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Garden Tomb (Garden’s Calvary).

End the day with a communion service in Bethlehem

Overnight and Dinner Jerusalem Notre Dame Hotel

 

DAY 6: Modern Jerusalem and Bethlehem

Scale model of ancient Jerusalem in the time of the Second Temple

Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial

Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed.

Afternoon drive to Manger Square in Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and the Milk Grotto

Overnight and Dinner Jerusalem Notre Dame Hotel

 

DAY 7: Dead Sea and Masada

Drive through the Judean Wilderness to the lowest point on earth – the Dead Sea

Lookout St. George’s Monastery in Wadi Kelt

Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada, the last stronghold of the Jewish zealots against the Romans.

Ascend by cable car and tour the famed archaeological site including Herod’s palace, an ancient synagogue and a bathhouse.

Visit Ein Gedi, a nearby oasis, and enjoy an opportunity to “float” in the unique waters of the Dead Sea.

Visit Qumran where the Essene community wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Overnight and Dinner Jerusalem Notre Dame Hotel

 

DAY 8: Ein Karem and Market of Jerusalem

Visit Ein Karem with two churches: of the Visitation and of John the Baptist

Drive by the Knesset – Israel Parliament

The market of Jerusalem Mahne Yehuda

Overnight and Dinner Jerusalem Notre Dame Hotel

 

DAY 9: Elah Valley and Farewell Dinner

12:00 noon late check out of the hotel

Elah Valley where David fought Goliath

Abu Gosh village

Farewell Dinner

Transfer to airport

 

DAY 10: Departure and arrival home