2009 ISRAEL PILGRIMAGE

           Tuesday, November 10 - Thursday, November 19

DATE

TENTATIVE DAILY ITINERARY

TUES, NOV 10

Tour originates in

Newark, NJ

Depart Newark International Airport for Tel Aviv, Israel.

International Flight Schedule: Continental #90

Departs Newark (EWR):  3:50 p.m.

Arrives Tel Aviv (TLV):  9:15 a.m. (next day)

WED, NOV 11
Dan Panorama Hotel

Tel Aviv

Morning arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.  Begin your pilgrimage by visiting the Road to Emmaus, the Valley of Ellah and Old Jaffa. Transfer to the hotel with a free afternoon and briefing session before dinner. 

THURS, NOV 12
HaArazim Hotel

Metula

Begin the morning with a drive up to Caesarea by the Sea to see the archaeological sites there, then drive to Mount Carmel to see Elijah's monastery.  Afterwards, we'll have a special Druze lunch and then proceed to our hotel in northern Israel.

FRI, NOV 13
Ginosar Inn

Sea of Galilee

Visit Tel Dan at a glance, Caesarea Philippi, Mount Hermon, via Nimrod Castle to a road that goes to Damascus.  Lunch will be on your own in Rosh Pina, and then we'll visit the spot where Jesus fed 5,000.  We'll see Capernaum and then go to our guesthouse via boat across the Sea of Galilee and visit the "Jesus Boat" museum.

SAT, NOV 14
Ginosar Inn

Sea of Galilee

Start the day with a drive via Cana of Galilee to Nazareth, Jezreel and Gideon's Spring, ride up to the top of Mount Tabor and enjoy a spaghetti lunch in the monastery, experience a baptismal service in the Jordan River, and return to Ginosar.

SUN, NOV 15
Ramada Hotel

Jerusalem

Visit the ruins at Beit Shean, then head to the Dead Sea and view the caves of Kumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Tour Masada before enjoying a chance to "float" in the Dead Sea and lunch on your own.  Then drive to Mount Scopus for a short "Welcome to Jerusalem" ceremony, visit the model of ancient Jerusalem in the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea scrolls are displayed.

MON, NOV 16
Ramada Hotel

Jerusalem

Enter the Old City through the Dung Gate, go to the Temple Mount and Wailing Wall, walk through the Rabbi's Tunnel and the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Kardo.  Take a short bus ride to Bethlehem and enjoy a Middle Eastern lunch and shopping before touring the Church of the Nativity.  Return to Jerusalem.

TUES, NOV 17
Ramada Hotel

Jerusalem

Ascend the Mount of Olives to visit Dominus Flevit, walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane.  Ride back to the Old City and enter through the Lion's Gate to visit the Pool of Bethesda before continuing to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. Drive to downtown modern Jerusalem and enjoy some free time for shopping and lunch on your own on Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Street.  Our last stops include the House of Caiaphas--the High Priest and the Garden Tomb for a special communion service.  The day ends with dinner and a farewell meeting.

WED, NOV 18
In flight

Enjoy a free day with lunch and dinner on your own before an evening departure for Tel Aviv to the Ben Gurion International Airport for our flight back to Newark.

International Flight Schedule: Continental #91

Departs Tel Aviv (TLV): 11:40 p.m.

Arrives Newark (EWR):  4:55 a.m. (next day)

THUR, NOV 19
Arrival in Newark, NJ and homeward bound

Early arrival in Newark International Airport.  Connect with your domestic flights home.

For more information about the trip:

Garden Tomb, JerusalemGarden of Gethsemane
Sea of Galilee
Sea of GalileeRuinsSea of GalileeMasadaJerusalem