Depart from Oklahoma City on our flight to Tel Aviv. Meals and overnight on board. After dinner, relax and enjoy the onboard entertainment.

Arrive in Tel Aviv. In the baggage claim area, meet our guide, who will welcome us to the Lands of the Bible and escort us throughout our stay in Israel. Israel guides are legendary for their knowledge and dedication. Ours will instruct us on the many sites we will visit and their relationship to the religion, history, archeology, culture and modern life in Israel. Time permitting, visit Jaffa, the traditional home of Simon the Tanner and the port from which Jonah sailed.   Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Tel Aviv  

Enjoy a relaxing morning at leisure before we make our way to Caesarea, site of major events in the lives of Peter and Paul. Travel to Megiddo, inspiration for James Michener’s “The Source”, and prophesied site of Armageddon. Archeological digs reveal 20 layers of civilization, including fortifications of King Solomon and the water tunnel of King Ahab. Megiddo provides a magnificent view of the fertile Jezreel Valley, at the crossroads of the ancient Via Maris. We drive through Jezreel Valley for a visit to Mt. Carmel and the place where Elijah slew the prophets of Baal. On to Sepphoris, the former Roman capital of the Galilee and the famous seat of Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish ruling council, in the second century AD. Sepphoris is comprised of a crusader fortress, a Roman amphitheater and numerous impressive mosaics.   Dinner and overnight in Galilee

Travel through the Golan Heights and better understand their strategic importance to the security of Israel. Visit Gamla, known as the “Masada of the North”, where Jews held out against the Roman armies in 67 AD, and where many perished when the Romans ultimately overran the almost impregnable fortress/city. Walk the streets of Bethsaida, one of the “cities of woe” mentioned by Jesus in Matthew 11 and where Jesus chose five of His disciples (Matt. 4:18-21, John 1:39-51). Journey to Caesarea Philippi, where Peter proclaimed, “You are the Christ” (Matthew 16). Visit Tel Dan, one of ancient Israel’s boundary markers—“from Dan to Beersheba”.   Dinner and overnight in Galilee

This morning, pray and sing hymns as you cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee by boat. At Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, you will learn about the “Ancient Boat”, a rare example of the kind of boat in which Jesus would have sailed.  Next, travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry. Visit the synagogue on the site where Jesus taught (Matt. 4:13, 23). At the Mount of Beatitudes, read the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7). If time permits, visit the Chapel of the Primacy, where Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ (John 21). Travel to the new site of Magdala, once home to Mary Magdalene, and visit a recently discovered first-century synagogue. End the day at Yardenit Baptismal Site on the Jordan River.   Dinner and overnight in Galilee

Begin your day traveling from Galilee to Nazareth, site of Mary’s Well. Also visit Nazareth Village, an accurate, full-scale re-creation of first century Nazareth, including homes, storage cave and synagogue, all set on the last remaining field that was farmed by Nazareth villagers at the time of Jesus. Restoration of farm site and construction of village were done with first-century building techniques.  Drive along the Jordan Valley to Beit She’an to see the expansive excavation taking place at this ancient Roman Decapolis city. Stop at Gideon’s Spring, where Gideon selected his soldiers to do battle against the Midianites. End your day with time at the Dead Sea.   Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea

Depart to Masada, overlooking the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth, where we ascend by cable car to visit the remnants of Herod’s palace. Here in 73 AD, the Zealots made their last stand against the might of Rome. Visit Ein Gedi, fabled Spring of David, and proceed to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947.  It is now time to “go up” to Jerusalem. We will enter the city as pilgrims did since ancient times to fulfill the words of the prophet, “I was glad when they said unto me . . . Our feet shall stand within the gates O Jerusalem” (Psalms 122:1-2).   Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Start the day with a magnificent view of the Old City from atop the Mount of Olives. Take the “Palm Sunday Walk” to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Drive across the Kidron Valley. Enter the Old City through St. Stephens Gate (Lions Gate) to the Muslim Quarter. Visit the beautiful Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate’s Judgment Hall, and the Ecce Homo Arch. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, into the Christian Quarter, and see the Stations of the Cross. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Drive to Mt. Zion to see the house of Caiphas and the Upper Room of the Last Supper.   Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

We will begin the day with a visit to the reconstructed Jewish Quarter, walk through the Cardo, the original Roman street, and see the amazing remains of the massive wall built by King Hezekiah. See the important excavations taking place at the Western Wall and the Southern Temple Staircase. Visit the Davidson Center and archeological park. Also visit the City of David (or the Ophel) which was the Jebusite city that David had conquered. Since that part of Jerusalem remained in use almost up to current times, it is hard to find much that can be attributed to David. However, some believe that David built a citadel with his palace, just north outside the walls of the Jebusite city. On the Temple Mount, where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac, see the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque that now stand there. End the afternoon at Golgatha (Gordon’s Calvary) and the empty Garden Tomb. Special time is planned for worship, communion, meditation and inspiration. This evening, we visit the Western Wall Tunnel and see the excavations.   Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Begin your day at the fascinating Wohl’s Museum. In this unique museum, located underneath the Old City, lies 6 houses from the Herodian Period that were excavated in 1967. It gives you a unique sense of what lies hidden underneath the Old City, as seen today. Journey to the stirring Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. Visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed, all at the Israel Museum. This evening, we will share in a farewell dinner and the Certification of Pilgrimage presentation to each tour participant.   Tonight, you will transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home.

Return home with everlasting memories of the Holy Land.