Today we arrive in Tel Aviv at Ben Gurion airport. We are greeted by staff at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport. They show us to our coaches & we transfer to our hotels in Netanya, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. This evening we have a short orientation & Mass after dinner.  

Dinner & overnight at Lagoon & Island Hotels, Netanya.  D

Heading north, we begin our tour visiting Caesarea Maritima. Our first teaching is at the theater built by Herod the Great. After touring the ruins of the ancient port city, we drive towards Mount Carmel. We experience the beautiful views overlooking the Jezreel Valley while reflecting on the story of Elijah. We have a falafel lunch in the Druze village before heading towards the Galilee. On the northwestern shore we find Magdala, a first century city & the hometown of Mary Magdalene. We tour the site with its 1st century synagogue before celebrating Mass in the Duc in Altum Church on the shore of the Galilee. Driving to the other side of the lake, we check into our seaside hotels.

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

We begin today in Nazareth for Mass at the Church of the Annunciation before visiting the grotto where the angel Gabriel announced the coming of the Messiah to Mary. At Mt. Precipice, where the Nazarenes threatened Jesus, we have a teaching by Fr. Mike. Our lunch is at Kfar Kedem, a recreated 1st century farm, followed by hands on experiences making bread, goat cheese, even olive oil. After dinner we enjoy an outdoor Evening Concert with featured musicians.

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

We begin the day at St Peter’s Primacy with the chance to seek God’s voice or to renew our vocational vows as we recall Christ’s restoration of Peter. ~ One of the most loved sites in Israel, the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooks the lake from its north shore. After a time for prayer & meditation, we have Mass.  

There is the option to hike down to the shore near the city of Capernaum before lunch nearby. The afternoon is free to enjoy the lake or perhaps go rafting on the Jordan River (extra cost). 

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

Our journey north to Caesarea Philippi takes us near Mt Hermon & Israel’s borders with Lebanon & Syria. Here Jeff teaches on the papacy. At nearby Tel Dan, we view two Old Testament city gates, one from the Israelite period & one by which Abraham entered the city. A hike along a nature path brings us to the High Place, an altar used during the Divided Kingdom, c920BC. After we enjoy a St. Peter’s Fish lunch, we return to Capernaum where Jeff teaches about discipleship in view of the synagogue where Jesus taught. Mass is at St. Peter’s Church, built over the actual home of St. Peter. Our next stop is at the Ancient Boat Museum to see a boat from the time of Jesus. From here we embark on a boat ride on the lake. After dinner tonight we have a bonfire. The priests are available for confessions on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Note: We pack tonight putting what we need for our Bedouin overnight into a small overnight bag. No suitcases will come off the coach until Jerusalem.

Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Ginossar & Hotel Kinar, Galilee - B L D

Today is the longest drive of the tour. We depart the area of the Galilee & travel along the Jordan Valley. Our first stop is at Bet She’an, a Roman city at the base of the Old Testament tel of the same name. The excavation is an amazing view of a Roman city. We have a picnic lunch by the beautiful springs at Sachne park. We drive on to Qsar El Yehud, the baptismal site of Jesus on the Jordan River, to hear a teaching by Jeff. We share Mass & renew our baptismal promises. We arrive at Kfar Hanokdim, for our Bedouin camp overnight. There may be the possibility of a camel ride! (Camel rides taken at tour member’s own risk.). After dinner we enjoy an Evening Concert in the desert with our featured musicians. 

Dinner & overnight Kfar Hanokim. B L D  

We say good-by to the Bedouin camp & return to the Dead Sea area. We stop at Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery. We have lunch at their cafeteria & enjoy a bit of souvenir shopping. Nearby is En Gedi, a wilderness site where David hid from King Saul. Here we often see Biblical animals such as ibis living in the oasis. After Jeff teaches, some may hike to the falls if there is time. We continue to the beach for a Dead Sea swim. We finally ascend to Jerusalem, stopping on Mt Scopus to offer the traditional “Shechuyanu” or blessing over the city as arriving pilgrims have done for centuries. 

Dinner and overnight Olive Tree Hotel  B L D 

Bethlehem is located less than 7 miles from Jerusalem. We begin at the Church of the Nativity to see the birthplace of Jesus. Our Mass is at St Catherine’s which also gives us access to St. Jerome’s Grotto where he translated the scripture from Hebrew & Greek into Latin. At the Shepherds’ Fields, the Christmas Story we all love is enhanced as we hear the history of these caves. After Jeff’s teaching we enjoy a special lunch & shopping at a Christian olive wood & souvenir shop.

Dinner and overnight Olive Tree Hotel  B L D