Holy Land & Greece Tour

A 8 Days / 7 Nights Christian Tour in Israel with 2 Days Extension to Greece

Itinerary

DAY 1: Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv where we will meet and transfer you to Tel Aviv. The day is at leisure, dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv.

DAY 2: Tel Aviv / Caesarea / Mt. Carmel / Nazareth / Galilee

Breakfast and departure for a sightseeing tour of the city of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. We will remember the presence of Simon Peter, the resurrection of Tabitah and vision of the house of Simon the tanner. (Acts 9-10). We will follow through the Sharon Plain (Song of Songs, 1.1) to Caesarea Maritima, the Roman capital and home to Cornelius, the first converted (Acts 10-11). We visit the ancient Roman Theatre, the Aqueduct and the Crusades ruins. Continue to Mount Carmel and the city Haifa, which was the confrontation of Elijah against the false prophets of Baal (Kings, 1, 18, 20). Then we will attend an evening sightseeing tour of Nazareth and Cana of Galilee (John 2.1). Dinner and overnight in Galilee.

DAY 3: Tiberias / Upper Galilee / Caesarea / Jordan River

Departure after the breakfast for the Mount of Beatitudes, the Sermon famous scenery of the Mountains (Matthew 5). Continuing to Capernaum, a city of Jesus and the center of his preaching in Galilee. We will explore the lake of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) to Caesarea Philippi of which Simon Peter pleaded (Matthew 16:16). We will see the region of Upper Galilee, and Decapolis. We will return to Lake Tiberias for a ride on the boat, according to ancient tradition. We will end the day on the banks of the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Overnight at hotel in Galilee.

DAY 4: Tiberias / Valley of Armageddon / Beit Shean / Jerusalem

After breakfast departure to the Valley of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) where we visit Mount Megiddo, ancient fortress of King Solomon. We pass through Beit Shean, ancient capital of the Decapolis, continue through the Jordan Valley, Jericho saw (Joshua 4) and go up the old route of pilgrims to Jerusalem. We will celebrate our triumphant entry to Jerusalem according to ancient tradition of the pilgrims in a solemn and special way. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 5: Jerusalem / Bethlehem

Breakfast and visit to the panoramic view of the city from the Mount of Olives. Continue to Mount Zion, where the tomb of King David lies, the great room where we will remember the scene of Easter and Pentecost (Acts 2), the Ascension of Jesus (Acts, 1) as well as the entry triumph on Palm Sunday, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, which today has preserved millennial olive trees. We will be on the banks of the ancient valley of Cedron and the valley of Josefat at the foot of the centuries-old walls of Jerusalem. We will continue to Bethlehem, where we will visit the Basilica of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus (Luke 2). On the way back to Jerusalem we will have a view of the Shepherds’ Field, the fields of Boaz (Ruth 2.1). Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 6: Jerusalem

Breakfast and visit at the millennial Jerusalem Wailing Wall as well as the terrace of the temple. We continue to Via Dolorosa through the narrow alleys of the old city of Jerusalem to Damascus Gate. We will visit the Garden Tomb and Calvary. Ability to enter into service in this special place. Then we will enjoy a panoramic view of the modern city of Jerusalem, the Parliament (Knesset), the Hebrew University. Visit to the Holocaust Museum (Yad Vashem) and the Book Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 7: Desert of Judea / Qumran / Masada and the Dead Sea

Departure from the hotel after breakfast, through the Judean desert. We will see the inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), according to Qumran, where they were the Dead Sea Scrolls found. We continue to Massada (resistance in the history of the Jewish Zealots against Herod’s Roman). Ascent by cable car to the imposing fortress, last fortification of the Zealots and visit to Herod’s palace excavations, Roman baths, etc. We follow the Dead Sea, the lowest place in the world. We will pause in the Dead Sea with time to bathe in the Dead Sea waters, considered medicinal waters. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 8: Jerusalem / Ben Gurion Airport / Athens

According to the schedule of your flight you will be transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for taking the flight to Athens. Athens is one of the most glorious cities in the world and the cradle of western civilization as we know it today. We will visit the main points of interest in the city: the Acropolis, the Parthenon and Mars’ Hill (Areopagus) where Paul preached the truth to the Gentile Nation. View the Agora (Marketplace) where Paul met the Stoic philosophers and take your time for a group devotion before you continue to Plaka for free time. After this, you will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 9: Athens / Corinth / Athens Airport

After breakfast, we will continue towards ancient Corinth (Acts 18.1-18). It was in ancient Corinth where Paul came and worked, established a thriving church and writing two of the epistles, which are now part of the New Testament. We will see all the sites that are associated with his ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s seat, the pillars, stairs, and the place of public worship, where Paul preached. All these visits will certainly enhance the understanding of Corinthians I and II. Afterwards we will visit the ancient Greek port of Cenchrea (Acts 18:18) where Paul was during his second missionary journey and the ruin of the early Christian 5th Century basilica and the citadel of Ancient Corinth: the Acrocorinth. Continue to scenic city of Loutraki located on the waterfront for free time before you return to your coach for 1 hour and 30 minutes driving to Athens Airport for taking your flight back home full of memories from the Footsteps of Paul.

Biblical Readings

And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple : and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. Mark 11:11
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Luke 4:9,10,11,12
But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way, and came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. And they were astonished at his doctrine : for his word was with power. Luke 4:30,31,32
Then all the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. And Gallio cared for none of those things. And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchreae: for he had a vow. Acts 18:17,18
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:1,2,3