10 Day Israel Itinerary for Catholics

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Day 1 – EN ROUTE

Depart the USA. to Tel Aviv, Israel. Enjoy a hot dinner served aboard the airplane.

Day 2 – Arrive TEL AVIV

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, our representative will meet the group by the luggage carousel and assist us on the way out through customs. You will then be transferred to your Mediterranean Sea side hotel for Dinner and overnight.

Day 3 – To the GALILEE

We will wake up to the first day of the Holy Land.After a rich, Israeli breakfast, we will leave the hotel and drive north along the famous highway, biblically known as the 'way of the sea'.

We will arrive at Caesarea, where we will explore the ruins of the Roman and the Crusader City. We will see the reconstructed Roman city, the walls from the times of the Crusaders and the prison where St. Paul was held in captivity before being sent to Rome. This was also the place where the first gentile was converted to Christianity.

As we leave the beautiful walls and moat, we will pass the remains of the Roman horse racing theater the Hippodrome. We will stop at the amazing remains of the Roman Aqueduct, which has been beautifully preserved under the sand dunes for 2000 years.

We will continue to Haifa for a visit of the Monastery of Stella Maris and on to Mount Carmel and visit the Mukhraka the site where the Prophet Elijah debated the 450 prophets of Baal. From here there is a breathtaking view over the whole Valley of Jezreel, better known as the Valley of Armageddon. After a complimentary Falafel lunch at a Druz village, we continue to the famous "Tel Megiddo", the archaeological mound, which inspired James Michener's book, "The Source".

Here we can see the remains of King Solomon's Stables, an altar from the time of Abraham (4000 years old), and the magnificent water tunnel.

We continue across the Valley to view Mount Tabor the site of the 'Transfiguration'. We arrive in azareth where we visit the Church of the Annunciation, and the Synagogue where Jesus learned to read the Bible.

On the way to Tiberias we pass Cana of Galilee, the village where Jesus performed his first miracle - the miracle at the wedding. Arrival at our hotel on the shores of the beautiful Lake of Galilee.

Dinner and overnight. Evening we stroll the streets of Tiberias.

Day 4 – GALILEE

Wake up to a beautiful morning in the area where Jesus spent 3 years of his ministry. Today we will dedicate our time to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

After breakfast, we will drive north through the Golan Heights to Caesarea Philipi and the Banias, one of the water resources of the Jordan River.

Continue back to the Sea of Galilee to visit Capemaum, 'the Town of Jesus', walk along the ruins of this Biblical Village, and see the Synagogue where Jesus preached and the house of Peter's mother-in-law.

Drive up to the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

Visit the beautiful mosaic floor at Tabgha - the site of the miracle of the multiplication.

We will sail in a wooden boat across the Sea of Galilee, and then have the famous St. Peter's fish for lunch in a restaurant on the lake shore.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 – GALILEE To DEAD SEA

Today, after breakfast, we will drive south to Beit Sheaan, the largest Archeological site in Israel.

We will explore the ancient Roman City with the Amphitheater and reconstructed streets. Continue south through the Jordan Valley to Jericho (should conditions allow it).

We will view Mount of Temptations.

We will visit the Qumran Caves area, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and on to the lowest place on earth - the Dead Sea.

1300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the saltiest body of water in the world.

Our hotel is by the Dead Sea shores, where we will swim, or to be more exact, float, on this amazing sea - a nonswimmers paradise.

Dinner and Overnight at our hotel in the Dead Sea.

Day 6 – MASADA and DEAD SEA

Today, after breakfast, we will visit Masada - the site of the Zealots last stand against the Romans, which was originally built as a magnificent palace for Herod the Great. At this great fortress we will visit the bathhouse, the storage rooms, the mosaics and the Byzantine Church. After descending by walking along the Ramp built by the Romans, we will drive to a Bedouin camp and enjoy a special visit with Middle Eastern hospitality. Continue to Arad and on to Beer Sheva, the "Capital" of the Negev. This is the city where Abraham dug the seven water wells. We will drive by Tel Arad, the Cananite city conquered by Joshua. Continue via the egev Desert to the Ela Valley, site of the famous battle between David and Goliath. We continue our ascent to Jerusalem, 2400 feet above sea level, via Beit Shemes and Emmaus. At the entrance to the Holy City we will celebrate with a traditional blessing, while overlooking the walls of the City of the Lord. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 7 – JERUSALEM and BETHLEHEM

Today will be one of spiritual uplifting.

We will begin the morning after breakfast, with a magnificent view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives.

We will drive down to the Kidron Valley and enter the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All ations where we can view the Basilica of Agony and we will visit the Garden Tomb.

In this area are the oldest Olive trees in the Holy Land, dating back to ancient times - a living witness to Jesus's arrest by the Romans.

We continue along the Kidron Valley, viewing the Tomb of Zachariah as well as the Tomb of Absalom - King David's son.

We will enter the Old City via the Dung Gate, then proceed to the Wailing Wall - the remnant of Solomon's Temple, the holiest Jewish site - and touch it's ancient stones.

We will ascend the Temple Mount, where we will view the Dome of the Rock.

We will continue to the famous Tunnels from the Hasmonai era and out to the Via Dolorosa and the Arab Market - the Shuk, with it's hundreds of stores selling many types of artifacts.

We will visit the Holy Sepulchre - the largest Church in Jerusalem, Pools of Bethesda and St. Ann’s Church. On to the Jewish Quarter, where we will see the renovated Cardo and it's excavations.

The afternoon will be dedicated to visiting the birth place of Jesus – Bethlehem (if it is open).

We will visit the Church of Nativity, the Shepherds' Fields and Bethany the place of Lazarus resurrection. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

In the evening we will walk and shop in the famous pedestrian street - Ben Yehuda Street.

Day 8 – JERUSALEM

We will start the morning, after breakfast, by visiting Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial. Than we continue to the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls can be seen. We will continue to Mt. Zion for a visit to the Basilica of Dormition and St. Peter in Gallicantu. On to Ein Karem for a visit to John The Baptist Church. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 9 – JERUSALEM

Today is a free leisure day, pursuing personal interests, or revisiting some sites and shopping. In the evening we will celebrate with a Banquet Farewell dinner with presentation of Pilgrimage Certificates. Late evening transfer to airport for flight back to USA.

Day 10 – RETURN TO USA

Arrive back home.