Day 1: USA DEPARTURE DAY
Depart from a meeting before the tour. Board your overnight flight on your way to Israel.
Day 2: Arrive in Israel, Jaffa (Jopa)
Arrive in Tel Aviv at Ben Gurion Airport. We will be met and assisted by a representative of Freedom Tours. Meet your guide and transfer to our hotel in Tell Aviv via Jaffa (Ancient Jopa). After seeing the House of Simon the tanner, we will walk through??????????????????????????????????????????????? the lovely artist' quarter with its reconstruction and quaint old streets. We will check-in at the hotel, have dinner and remain overnight.
Day 3: Mediterranean coast, Megido, Haifa, Acco, Tiberias
After a very healthy Israeli buffet breakfast, you drive along the Mediterrannean coast to Caesarea. Built by king Herod, it was from here the Apostle Paul sailed on his hazardous journey to Rome. You will see the ancient Roman theater, which is still used today for cultural events, the Crusader moat and the aqueduct. Drive to Megiddo (Valley of Armageddon), ancient city, important for its strategic location Via Maris, rebuilt after return from Babylonian Exile. Visit the remains of Solomon's fortress city and the water tunnel. Louise Brock will lecture at this point on the "war of Armageddon." Proceed via a Druze village to Mt. Carmel for a visit to Muhraka where Elijah encountered the false prophets of Baal. Continue to Haifa which origined in the Second Temple period. Haifa is known as the gate way to the northern region. Haifa sprawls between sea and mountain, resembling San Francisco. From Haifa you will continue to Acco (Acre). Acco, Ancient Canaanite , a major Galilean city during Roman period. Paul landed here on returning from Tyre, capital of the Crusader kindom. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Nazareth, Beit Shearim, Saffed, Sopphoris
After breakfast we will drive to Nazareth, for a vist to the Church of the Annunciation, the Baptist Church and the ancient Synagogue which is a church today. We will visit the Bazaar where we will enjoy Baklava and a Mediterranean pastry over a cup of coffee or tea. Continue to Beit Shearim. The site is important in the Jewish rabbinical tradition. The catacombs are especially impressive. It was here that the High Concil had its seat. We will proceed to the Sopphoris (Zippori) where the Crusaders built a church dedicated to St. Anne, Mary's Mother. Then we will drive to Saffed (Zafat). The city has been a holy town for Jews since the 16th century, known for its cabalistic mysticism, today it is an artistic community. We will continue to Ramot Naftali, Naftaly Tribe area. We will visit the fortress and hear the story of the Bible that was thrown to the soldiers defending the place. We will then return to Tiberias for dinner and an overnight stay. After dinner we will enjoy a multimedia show, the "Galilee Experience" and visit the shops in Tiberias.
Day 5: Capernaum, Tabgha, Mt, of Beatitudes, Khorazin, Golan Heights
After breakfast we will board a boat that will take us across the sea of Galilee to ancient Capernaum, where Jesus lived and performed many miracles. Visit Tabagha were Jesus fed the Multitudes with two fish and five loaves of bread. We will then proceed to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. We will visit Khorazin, a town which existed in the first century, together with Capernaum and Bethsaida, with was condemned by Jesus for its lack of faith. Capernaum and Khorazin both contain synagogues in the midst of the excavated urban area. Bethsaida was apparently an important city in the Galilee-Golan area in the first century. It is one of the most frequently mentioned towns in the New Testament. We will continue through the Hulla Valley on the way to the site of Caesarea Phillippi, and visit Tel Dan. We will take the scenic road to the Golan Heights, covering sites from prehistoric times to the Roman period. We will also visit Nimrod's fortress, its raised head faces Damascus. Louise, one of the guides, will have a special lecture on the "Syrian situation according to the scripture." Behind and below the Heights is the Banias, on of the main sources of the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight stay in the Golan Heights.. |
