Israel Begins Here: $2,886 from San Francisco

DAY 1 -- Saturday, February 28 – SAN FRANCISCO / LONDON

Tour members are welcomed at San Francisco International Airport for our departing flight to London via widebody aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.

DAY 2 -- Sunday, March 1 - LONDON / TEL AVIV / DEAD SEA

This morning we arrive in London and transfer to our flight to Tel Aviv.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. Continue to the Dead Sea where we will check into our hotel for overnight. You will arrive in Israel very early in the morning.

DAY 3 -- Monday, March 2 - DEAD SEA

This morning we will have some time for a swim in the Dead Sea or a mud bath that cleanses many skin disorders. For those that have arrived from the U S, you will have the time to rest and get ready for this great tour.

This afternoon we proceed to a camel trek into the Negev. We will have a chance to see wild life, and venture in where David hid from Saul. Continue to our hotel for dinner and over night.

DAY 4 -- Tuesday, March 3 - DEAD SEA / MASADA / JERICHO / TIBERIAS

This morning we will have some time for a swim in the Dead Sea or a mud bath that cleanses many skin disorders. We then drive to Masada and ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70 to 73 AD, Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We see the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth-century Byzantine church. Continuing alongside the Dead Sea, 1300 ft. below sea level -- the lowest spot on earth -- we stop at Ein Gedi. Here we will have time for lunch or to walk to the water falls that David would have used while he was fleeing from Saul.

This afternoon we proceed to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We travel to Jericho, the world's oldest city. From the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho we view the lush green Jordan Valley, Elisha's spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. We will take the Jordan River Road up to Tiberias. Time permitting we will stop at Bet Shean, if not we will come back and see it at another time. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 -- Wednesday, March 4 - TIBERIAS / BET SHEAN / SEA OF GALILEE / TIBERIAS

This morning we follow the Rift Valley running parallel to the Jordan, along the route Jesus most frequently traveled to Jerusalem. We visit Bet Shean at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where King Saul was slain, see the evidences of Egyptian, Roman and Byzantine occupations, and view the ancient tel, Roman Theater and church mosaics.

In the afternoon we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, then visit Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. Our last stop today will be at the River Jordan then transfer to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 -- Thursday, March 5 - TIBERIAS / UPPER GALILEE

This morning we leave Tiberias and head north via Magdala into the valley of Gennesareth to Ginossar to view the New Testament boat found below the sea and to visit the kibbutz. We will head to Arbel for a spectacular view of The Sea of Galilee. Then on to Chorazin, through the Hula Valley to Hazor, ruins of the powerful Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua and rebuilt by Solomon to command upper Galilee.

We continue to the northern limits of Jesus' travel as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan and Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan, Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds; here Peter made his great profession of faith. Driving to the foot of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7 -- Friday, March 6 - TIBERIAS / NAZARETH / CAESAREA / JERUSALEM

We leave Tiberias for Jerusalem, on the way visiting Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. We pass through Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle, then proceed across the Plain of Jezreel to Megiddo to visit the excavations of over 20 different civilizations. Visit Muhraka on Mount Carmel.

In the afternoon we visit Caesarea on the Mediterranean, the Roman aqueduct and port, Crusader's Moat, and the famous Roman Theater. We pass through Tel Aviv on our way to Jaffa (Joppa), the city of Jonah, where Peter had his housetop experience at the home of Simon the Tanner (Acts 10). Proceed by way of the Aijalon Valley to Jerusalem for check-in and dinner at our hotel.

DAY 8 -- Saturday, March 7 - JERUSALEM / BEERSHEBA / ASHKELON

This morning we leave Jerusalem for Beersheba, ancient city of Judah, the southernmost area of our tour. Beersheba, a watering hole and trading post for thousands of years, is the center of desert traffic, being located on the edge of the vast Negev Desert. Here we catch a glimpse of Bedouin life.

This afternoon we visit the ancient cities of Ashkelon and Ashdod. Ashkelon was an important caravan stop in ancient days; there Delilah snipped Samson's hair. Today it is a popular resort area for modern Israel. Continue to Ashdod, a smaller and newer city and home of the Israeli Navy nautical school. Leaving Ashdod we pass through the Region of Adullom, where David took refuge from Saul, and on to the Valley of Elah, the site of David's conquest of the giant Goliath. On our return to Jerusalem we stop at Emmaus, where Jesus appeared to two disciples and walked with them. Continue to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

DAY 9 -- Sunday, March 8 - JERUSALEM / RABBI TUNNEL / SOUTHERN WALL

This morning we will board our bus for our exciting tour to the famous Rabbi Tunnel. Here we will enter by the Western wall and go down to the foundation of the Second Temple. We will see a model that will demonstrate where we are in location to the time of Christ. Continue along the tunnel as we proceed to the entry way to the Holy of Holies. We will continue to the Temple Institute where we will see the making of the instruments for the new temple. We will see how they are following the Bible for exact instructions. We will see a film explaining where the Rabbi believes the Ark of the Covenant is located.

This afternoon we will head to the Southern Wall and visit the Mikve pools and the steps that Christ would have used to enter the Temple area and would have taught from. Our last stop will be to Hezekiah’s Tunnel where we will enter and wade through the water to the other end. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 10 -- Monday, March 9 - JERUSALEM / NEW CITY / BETHLEHEM

This morning we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Upper Room, the tomb of King David and Dormition Abbey. We enter the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to visit the Wohl Archaeological Museum, displaying the newly restored Herodian Quarter. Remains of this area of Jerusalem date back to the time of the Herodian Dynasty (37 BC to 70 AD). Proceed to the Shrine of the Book where we see the Dead Sea Scrolls on display then view the Knesset (Israeli parliament) building. Continue to visit Yad Vashem, a memorial of the Holocaust then visit the Model City.

This afternoon we continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Manger, Crusader's Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome. We then visit the cave in Shepherds' Field and view the Fields of Boaz. En route to Jerusalem we see the Tomb of Rachel and other antiquities before returning to the hotel for dinner.

DAY 11 -- Tuesday, March 10 - JERUSALEM / OLD CITY

Today we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem, visit the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of Ascension, then proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we pass the tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James, then visit the Pool of Siloam and the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (Caiaphas' House). This evening we will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 12 -- Wednesday, March 11 - JERUSALEM / MT. OF OLIVES

Today we enter the Old City this through the Zion Gate and see the Cardo and the remains of Nehemiah's Wall on the way to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, the Church of St. Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man"). We follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and end our day in the Garden Tomb before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 13 -- Thursday, March 12 - JERUSALEM / FREE DAY

The entire day is free to explore this famous city, take any private sightseeing excursions desired, shop or just relax.

DAY 14 -- Friday, March 13 - JERUSALEM / LONDON / SAN FRANCISCO

We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.