Departure flight from  Nashville, TN.

Welcome to Israel  Mediterranean Coast to Sea of Galilee
Arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport, we will be met by Yael Adventures  representative. In the morning, proceed to  Jaffa, the oldest port city in the world.  It was here that the Prophet Jonah boarded his ill-fated journey when escaping from God.  We see the house of Simon The Tanner and the magnificent view over modern Tel Aviv.

We will drive a long along the Mediterranean Coast  to Caesarea.  This was once the Roman capital of the country and it was here that the apostle Paul was imprisoned for two years.  We will see the aqueduct, hippodrome and theater.  On to Mount Carmel, where we visit Muhraka, the traditional site where Elijah defeated the false prophets of Baal.

Proceed to hotel check in.

Overnight in Tiberias / Nazareth

Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on The Mountain.  We will proceed to the museum at  Kibbutz Ginosar.  Here we see the first century boat that was excavated out of the mud of the lake.  This boat is from the time of Jesus, and may have been used by one of His followers, Our tour will end at the city of Magdala-  is a unique site in the Holy Land where a first century synagogue and a complete first century city have been found.

Possible venues for Mass: Mount of Beatitudes; Peter’s Primacy; Memorial of St. Peter in Capernaum

Overnight in Tiberias  / Nazareth

On to Cana of Galilee, site of the first miracle where Jesus turned water into wine at the village wedding.

We will celebrate the renewal of the vows

Continue to Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus.  We visit Mary’s Well and The Church of Joseph, built over the house of Joseph and Mary.  On to The Basilica of Annunciation where Mary received the word of God from the Angel Gabriel.  This modern church was built over the actual cave of Mary and on over the ruins of many earlier churches.

We will end our visit at Nazareth Village Step into the Bible at Nazareth Village and experience life in the first century

Possible venues for Mass: the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Church of St. Joseph, Cana, Mount Tabor, Nain

Overnight: Tiberias / Nazareth

After breakfast we’ll depart Sea of Galilee our first stop  at Yardenit, the baptismal site on the River Jordan proceed to Sheikh Husein Bridge for crossing to Jordan (about 30 mins. drive). Procedures at the frontier take a bit of time. Your Jordanian guide and driver will meet you across the river.

Than travel to Madaba, to see the fine 6th-century mosaic floor-map of the Holy Land (now covered by a Greek Orthodox church). Then on to Mt. Nebo, from whence Moses looked across to the Promised Land that was denied him.

Drive down to Petra, overnight Petra

Full day at Petra visit the extraordinary capital of the ancient Nabateans, carved out of red-rock desert canyons. (The site was voted as one of the New Wonders of the World in 2007 This must-see site makes all the driving worthwhile.

Proceed to Amman for Dinner & Overnight Amman

After breakfast we will have short city tour of Amman

Visit Bethany the baptismal site on Jordan River

Cross back to Israel we’ll drive via Jorda Valley rift to Jericho the oldest city on earth. Imagine yourself conquering Jericho under Joshua’s leadership all those years ago (Joshua 6:20.) Jericho Elisha’s Church,  Zaccheus tree.

Enjoy a stunning cable car ride to Quarantal (the Mount of Temptation, Matthew 4:1-11) and see an active monastery carved into the cliffs on our way to Jerusalem.

Dinner & Overnight in Jerusalem.

Our first stop today is the promenade at the top of The Mount of Olives.  Here we enjoy the magnificent view over the entire city before descending to The Valley of Kidron to visit Gethsemane and The Church of All Nations. Pater Noster  Continue to Mount Zion where we visit the Room of The Last Supper and The Tomb of King David. Proceed to St. Peter of Galicantu  with its beautiful  mosaic and bronze statuary & Dormition Abbey – marking the site of the Dormition of Mary, where Mary was taken up to Heaven.We enter the Old City through The Zion Gate and walk along the alleys of the Jewish Quarter to The Cardo.  This was the main commercial street in Roman times, and now it is full of shops and galleries.  Visit the Western Wall, the holiest place Jews can pray.

Afternoon free time to enjoy the colorful market of Mahane Yehuda.

Possible venues for Mass: Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, Church of All Nations, or the Dormition Abbey; St. Peter in Gallicantu, Bethphage.

Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem

After breakfast we will walk along the Via Dolorosa – following the Stations of the Cross from the Chapel of the Flagellation, and the Sisters of Zion Convent, through the streets of Old Jerusalem to the Judgment Gate and the Tomb of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Pools of Bethesda – where Jesus healed a paralytic (John 5:2).

Church of St. Anne – built over the home of Anne and Joachim, the parents of Mary.

Ein Karem – the “city of Judah” (Luke 1:39), which was birthplace of John the Baptist, including:

Church of the Visitation – where Mary met Elizabeth and uttered the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55).Church of St. John – where John the Baptist was born.

In the afternoon, we drive to Bethlehem and visit The Church of The Nativity, Milk Grotto and Shepherd’s Fields.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Possible venues for Mass: The Franciscan Chapel in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; the Church of the Visitation; the Church of St. John.

Dinner& overnight in Jerusalem

In the morning we will ascend the Judean hills to the dead sea the lowest place on earth

On to Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a Bedouin shepherd boy.  We visit the ancient site and understand the lifestyle of the community who wrote the scrolls. Continue along the shores of the Dead Sea enjoy swim & float in the afternoon

We will ascend Masada by cable car. 
King Herod as winter palace built this mountaintop fortress.  Later it was used by the Jewish Zealots in their battle against the Romans.  After arriving by cable car to the top, we see the impressive ruins including the palaces, store rooms, bath house and water system.

Stop off at Bethany,* home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11).

Drive Back  to Jerusalem.

Possible venue for Mass: Open-air at Qumran.

Dinner Overnight in Jerusalem.

This morning we will depart the new city of Jerusalem.  We will pass the Knesset, Israel’s parliament building and see the giant Menorah symbol in front.

Proceed to the airport  for our departure flight from Ben Gurion International Airport.

We return home full of rich and unforgettable memories. A common refrain is heard — is the trip really over?  Can we start planning for our return visit?