Day 1: October 26: Departure from the USA

Depart from Minneapolis, MN for your overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.

Day 2: Sunday / October 27: Arrival – Herzliya
We arrive at Ben Gurion airport and depart northward to our hotel for one night in the coastal area
near Tel Aviv to start off the journey of visiting the Holy Land. The remainder of the day is free to
walk along the Mediterranean, relax, and dine in our hotel in Herzliya.

Day 3: Monday / October 28: Caesarea –Mt. Carmel – Nazareth – Cana – Tiberias
After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where the Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct. We visit Mount Carme, Muhraqa (the Place of Fire), and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18), discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest. Afterward, we go to Nazareth. Drive to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, and the Church of St. Joseph. We end our day with a visit to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Day 4:Tuesday/ October 29: Caesarea Philippi – Golan Heights – Mt. Arbel – Valley of Doves – Sea of Galilee
We start our day with a visit to Caesarea Philippi, at the source of the river Jordan, where Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. Then we return to the Sea of Galilee via the Golan Heights with a stop overlooking the Road to Damascus. On to Mount Arbel, where we overlook the ancient road from Nazareth to Galilee with a possible hike on part of the Jesus Trail. Lunch on your own. We then carry on to the Valley of the Doves and travel along the ancient road that leads from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee along the Via Maris. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 5: Wednesday/ October 30: Sea of Galilee – Magdala – Capernaum – Mount of Beatitudes
We start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Then we visit Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, and see the 1st-century synagogue, the oldest synagogue discovered on the shores of Galilee, with a stone-carved replica of the Temple and Menorah. We then take a short drive to Capernaum, the biblical village and hometown of Jesus. Capernaum is closely associated with Jesus and His ministry as described in the Synoptic Gospels. There we see the house of the mother-in-law of Peter and an ancient synagogue that dates back to the time of Jesus and where much of His teaching took place. After a lunch of St. Peter’s fish on your own, we drive to Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000. We then visit the site known as “Peter’s Primacy” where Jesus appeared to His disciples for the third time after His Resurrection. Later we continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, the scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. We enjoy the view of the enchanting gardens and reflect on Jesus’ sermon. We also have time for communion service and worship. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 6: Thursday/ October 31: Jordan Valley – Shepherds Field – Church of the Nativity - Bethlehem (ELCJHL)
After breakfast, we drive through the Jordan Valley and on to Bethlehem to visit Shepherd Fields, where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Our Lord. These fields are also the setting of the Book of Ruth. After lunch on our own, we travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the place where Our Lord was born. We check in at our hotel and enjoy conversation and dinner with Local Church leaders. Overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 7: Friday/ November 1: Augusta Victoria Hospital – LWF – Mt. of Olives - Anns, Pools of Bethesda
We start our day at Augusta Victoria Hospital to witness the work of the Lutheran World Federation in health and education. Later, we enjoy a panoramic view from the top of Mount of Olives, and then we continue to the Church of the
Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster. We continue down to Dominus Flevit and St. Mary Magdalene Church. We pray at the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, we visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Jesus was denied by St. Peter. Then we visit the Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper, and King David’s Tomb. We then visit St Anne’s church and the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where the healing at the pool took place. Back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Saturday / November 2: Wadi Qelt – St. George Monastery – Baptismal Site – Dead Sea
This morning we departed Bethlehem, traveling through the Judean wilderness where Jesus fasted for 40 days, and along the ancient road passing the good Samaritan inn. Upon reaching Wadi Qelt, we enjoy a view of St. George’s Monastery nestled in the wilderness. We carry on along the ancient road toward Jericho, passing by Herod’s Winter Palace, where the infamous King died in the year 4 BC, On the way to Jericho, we head to Bet Arabah where John baptized Jesus. The site is also known as the “Place of Crossing” of the Israelites. From Bet Arabah, we drive to the city of Jericho. We see the Mount of Temptation. We then drive to Qumran and visit the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were accidentally found and the buildings that formed the public center of the Essenes. Then we proceed to the Dead Sea where we can enjoy a dip in the relaxing and healing waters. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 9: Sunday/ November 3: Holy Sepulcher – Church of the Redeemer (ELCJHL) – Western Wall - Jerusalem
This morning after breakfast, we walked the Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that Jesus walked from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. There, we visited Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. We then visit the Church of the Redeemer and Meet with Bishop Ibrahim Azar (ELCJHL). Lunch on your own. Then to Jewish Quarter, and go to the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 10: Monday/ November 4: Departure from Tel Aviv to the US
Check-out and departure from our hotel for the return home. We arrived on the same day.

NOTE: The schedule is subject to change due to various factors and at your Tour Leaders’ and Guide’s discretion.