U.S.A. - Transatlantic Flight - Tel Aviv, Israel

We will take a morning flight from our various U.S.A. homes and change planes at the JFK International Airport in New York. We will arrive in Israel late the following afternoon. Travel safe!

Arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel

Welcome to Israel! We will arrive at the Ben Gurion Airport—which is near New Testament Lydda, where Peter healed Aeneas. We will visit Jaffa, where Peter received the important revelation about taking the gospel to the Gentiles if (time allows). We will check in to the Metropolitan Hotel in Tel Aviv, where we will have our group meeting before retiring for the night.

Tel Aviv - Caesarea - Haifa - Muhraka - Nazareth

We will drive through Tel Aviv, the largest Jewish metropolitan area in the world, and then north along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the Roman New Testament seaside capital, Caesarea. Here in the ancient Roman Theater, we will study the biblical events that happened in this place. We will then drive to Haifa (modern port of Israel and center of the Baha’i faith), stop for a view, and recount some LDS Church history related to this area. We will drive along the top of Mount Carmel to Muhraka, the traditional site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal, to enjoy a view of the Jezreel Valley and talk about the importance of this valley both anciently and now. At the lovely city of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, we will visit the Nazareth Village (developed to show life as it existed at the time of Jesus) and briefly reflect on His early life. We will then drive past ancient Cana toward the Sea of Galilee and check in to the Nof Ginosar Hotel for two nights.

Sea of Galilee - Capernaum - Mount of Beatitudes - Tel Dan - Banias - Golan Heights

Our day will begin with an exhilarating boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and seeing the ancient boat in their small museum. Then we will visit Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, where He performed many miracles and gave many teachings, including His “Bread of Life” sermon. We will pass St. Peter’s Primacy on our way to the Mount of Beatitudes, where the important Sermon on the Mount will be discussed. We will pass Hazor on our way north and briefly stop near Tel Dan to see a gate that dates back to the time of Abraham. We’ll continue on to Banias at the foot of Mount Hermon, which is ancient Caesarea Philippi, the site of Peter’s testimony of the Savior. This is where one of the sources of the Jordan River emerges from the foothills of Mount Hermon. We will then drive up on the Golan Heights—home of many Druze people as well as the scene of fierce fighting between Israel and Syria in 1967 and again in 1973—to enjoy a view of Mount Hermon. We will return to the Sea of Galilee area for a stop at Magdala, to see the shrine dedicated to some of the women in the Savior’s ministry through some beautiful art. We return to Nof Ginosar Hotel to enjoy dinner and an evening on the lakeshore.

Galilee - Mount Tabor - Beth Shean - Jerusalem

Today begins with our first stop at Mount Tabor. From this high point we will discuss biblical events associated with Gideon, Deborah, King Saul, and the Savior’s Transfiguration and His visit to the village of Nain at the foot of Mount Moreh. Next we will see the impressive ruins of Beth Shean and visualize the splendor of Roman life and Hellenistic culture. We will then continue south down the Jordan Valley and view the meandering Jordan River and the Jordan Plateau to the east with its interesting biblical history. We will stop at Qasr El Yehud, the possible site of Jesus’ baptism, and review some important scriptural events that took place in this area. If time, we will visit the Old Testament site of Jericho before driving to Jerusalem and checking in to the Olive Tree Hotel for the remainder of our nights on the tour. Following dinner at the hotel, we will have an evening lecture.

Jerusalem - BYU Jerusalem Center - Bethlehem

We will go early to the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden to review some LDS Church history in this city. We will then go to the BYU Jerusalem Center and have sacrament meeting with the Jerusalem Branch in the center’s beautiful auditorium, with its spectacular view of the Holy City. The day continues with travel to Bethlehem, site of the Savior’s birth, to visit the Church of the Nativity, which includes St. Jerome’s Grotto. At Shepherds’ Field overlooking Bethlehem, we will review the biblical events connected with this area.

Jerusalem - Dead Sea - Masada - Ein Gedi - Qumran - Jerusalem

Our morning drive will take us east then south along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface. Here we will take the cable car to the top of Masada to see the ruins of the palace-fortress built by King Herod and to recall the story of the Zealots’ last stand against the Romans. Before leaving this desert fortress, we will visit the museum at Masada’s base. As we drive north, we will stop for a quick float in the Dead Sea and lunch at Ein Gedi, one of the areas where David hid from King Saul. Then we’ll drive on to Qumran, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and discuss their importance on the way to Jerusalem. We will next enjoy a brief stop in the historic Judean Wilderness, where we will discuss the Savior’s 40-day experience and temptations. We will make a brief stop in Bethany and talk of events related to Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead. We will return to the Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem for the remainder of our nights in Israel.

Jerusalem - Old City of Jerusalem

We begin the day in Jerusalem with a visit to the Mount of Olives, where we can view and discuss the history of the Old City of Jerusalem. We then enter the Old City through the Dung Gate to visit the Holy Mount and to see the outside of the Dome of the Rock, built to honor Mohammed, Islam’s founder. Later we will stop at the Western Wall, where we will observe Jews as they participate in morning prayers and bar mitzvahs at Judaism’s holiest shrine. We will go to the site of the Pool of Bethesda and the Church of St. Anne to discuss John 5. We will visit the Ophel to examine how it looked at the time of the Savior. In the afternoon we will visit the Jewish Quarter to see the Broad Wall and the Cardo. There will also be time spent in the Christian Quarter as we visit the major shrine of Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Leaving the Old City through the Damascus Gate, if possible, we will make our first visit to Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. 

Bethlehem - Jerusalem - Model City - City of David - Hezekiah’s Tunnel

We will first visit the Yad Vashem Memorial, the Holocaust Museum, in West Jerusalem. We will drive by the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on our way to visit the Israel Museum, including the famous Model City of Jerusalem and the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls display). We will proceed to the City of David to see the Jerusalem of Nephi’s time and to walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a hydrological wonder of Isaiah’s time. We’ll spend a few moments to watch a wonderful 3-D presentation that will provide a great visual overview for the City of David and how it was established. We will also visit the true Pool of Siloam mentioned in John 9. We will enjoy some free time before returning to the hotel. We will return to the Western Wall in the late afternoon to watch the religious Jews welcome in the Sabbath. Dinner at our hotel will follow.

Jerusalem - Footsteps of Jesus

We the day with a visit to Gethsemane to begin our discussion of the Atonement. We will continue to the Upper Room, a reminder of the Last Supper and the ordinance of the sacrament. At St. Peter’s in Gallicantu, the probable site of the palace of Caiaphas, we will discuss Peter and the trials of Jesus. We will continue on to Golgotha, the place of the crucifixion, and the Garden Tomb—where we will consider the final mortal events in Jesus’ life and His atonement. If time allows, will return to the Mount of Olives to visit the Dominus Flevit or a garden where we can be by ourselves to discuss in depth the appearances of the Savior during His 40-day post-resurrection ministry, His ascension from the Mount of Olives, and His future appearance here as part of His second coming. The remainder of the day will be free for shopping and visiting any sites you wish to see on your own. This evening the director will give a lecture about scriptural symbolism and Jesus Christ.

Transatlantic Flight - U.S.A.

Finally, we will fly all night and arrive in New York to change planes in the early morning. This will involve going through customs. We hope to arrive home midday.

(Itinerary is subject to change)