Lions Gate Travel Travel to holyland
Day 01: Airport – Jerusalem
Arrival at Ben Gorion Airport, meeting and assistance by the guide. Board the motor coach and transfer to Jerusalem for overnight (Dinner).
Day 02: Jerusalem – Mt. of Olives – Garden of Gethsemane – Old City
After Breakfast, we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. We visit the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of Ascension. We continue with a walk down the hill to Dominus Flevit Chapel where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. We proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations where Jesus endured his Agony (Matt 26.35-36, Luke 22. 39-53, John 18 and Mark 14: 26-32). . From there we proceed to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (The Cock Crows) where Jesus was held in the house of the High Priest Caiaphas. Enter Dung Gate to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We view in passing the Dome of the Rock. We visit the Church of St. Anne, and the Pool of Bethesda. Then visit Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo (“Behold the Man”) and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. We prayerfully follow the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross) through the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Matt 27:33-57, 28; 10). We return to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight (Breakfast, Dinner).
Day 03: Jerusalem – Ein Karem – Bethlehem
This morning, we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Upper Room (Mark 14:13; Luke 22: 10-38, Acts 1:13 and Acts 2: the Pentecost), the Tomb of King David and Dormition Abbey, continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Manger, the Crusader’s Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome. We then visit the cave in Shepherd’s Field and view the Fields of Boaz. Pilgrims will have an opportunity to spend some time shopping in Bethlehem. Drive to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist, and the Church of the Visitation, where Mary uttered the words of the Magnificent, return to our hotel for dinner and overnight (Breakfast, Dinner).
Day 04: Jerusalem – Qumran – Dead Sea – Jerusalem
Today, we drive to we proceed to the excavations of Qumran, the Essence community connected with John the Baptist and the site of the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Time to swim at the Dead Sea, 1300 feet below sea level (the lowest point in the earth), drive and visit the Baptismal site at the Jordan River (QASER AL YAHUD). Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight (Breakfast, Dinner).
Day 05: Jerusalem – Jericho – Bait Sheen – Tiberias
After breakfast this morning, we depart Jerusalem for Jericho, the world’s oldest city. From the excavated Tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho, (John 18:53, John 18 and Mark 14:26-32) we view the lush green Jordan Valley, Elisha’s spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation, travel along the Jordan River and continue to Beit Shean, where King Saul and his sons were pinned to the walls. It became the Decapolis Capital visited by Jesus and known as Scythopolis. See the ancient theatre, Circus Maximus and Cardo Maximo. We proceed to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight (Breakfast, Dinner).
Day 06: Sea of Galilee – Mt. Beatitudes – Capernaum – Tabgha
Today, we begin the morning with a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes (Matt 5, 6, 7, 8) – mass can be taken here. From there we proceed to Capernaum (Matt 4:13-16; Matt 4:23-24), then visit Tabgha and the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus appeared after the Resurrection. Continue to Magdala, the birthplace of Mary Magdalene was a prosperous fishing village during the time that Jesus worked and preached (Mat 15:39) and he sent away the multitude, and took shop and came into the coasts of Magdala. Excavations have uncovered a Byzantine monastery and a mosaic floor featuring a fisherman’s boat. We take a relaxing Boat ride across the lovely Sea of Galilee before returning to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight (Breakfast, Dinner).
Day 07: Galilee – Cana – Nazareth – Mt. Tabor
This morning, we travel to Cana (John 2:1-11), where Jesus performed his first miracle, changing the water into wine. If you wish, you may renew your wedding vows as a lasting remembrance of Cana. From there, we continue a short distance to Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. It is here in the Church of the Annunciation just behind the altar where you can see the grotto that was the room where Mary said “yes” to the angel of the Lord. Celebrate Mass here (Luke 1:26; 4:16j-29, Matt 2:23) from there, we visit St. Joseph’s carpentry shop and Mary’s well. We then visit Mt. Tabor, site of the Transfiguration before returning to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight (Breakfast, Dinner).
Day 08: Tiberias – Megiddo – Caesarea – Tel Aviv – Airport
We board our motor coach this morning and depart Tiberias. As we drive to the top of Tiberias we have a splendid view of the city and the Sea of Galilee. We proceed across the Plain of Jezebel to Megiddo (Revelations 16: 12-16) to visit the excavations of over 20 different civilizations. En route to Haifa, we stop at the Carmelite monastery where the prophet of God challenged the prophets of Baal, proving that there is only One True God. This afternoon, we continue to Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea while viewing the Roman aqueduct and port, Crusader’s Moat and the famous Roman Theater. It was in Caesarea that Paul was imprisoned (Acts 9:30, Acts 10: 24-28). We board our motor coach and head to Tel Aviv for our farewell dinner before continuing to the airport for our return flight home (Breakfast, Dinner).
