Eleven-Day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land   

Day 1  ARRIVAL

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. Meet you guide and driver upon arrival. Transfer to Beersheva.  Overnight in Beersheva for the first night.

Day 2  BEERSHEVA - AVDAT

Start the day by visiting the Negev Memorial and Tel Beersheva. Continue to Sde Boker, burial site of Ben Gurion. Next visit is to the Nabatean city of Avdat with remains of the Byzantine churches and fortresses. There will also be an opportunity to visit Ein Avdat, a perpetual spring in a small canyon. Stay overnight in Arad.

Day 3  MASSADA - DEAD SEA

Leave Arad and drive to Masada, which you ascend and descend by cable car. Visits here include the Northern Palace, Roman baths, the Ancient Church and Synagogue. Relax and swim in the mineral waters of the Dead Sea.  Pass by the caves of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.  There will also be a visit to Jericho to see Tel Jericho and view Mt. Temptation.  On the way to Jerusalem, you can pass by Wadi Kelt for a view St. George’s Desert Monastery.  Stay in Jerusalem for the next five nights.

Day 4  MOUNT OF OLIVES - MOUNT ZION

The day begins on top of the Mount of Olives for a  panoramic view of the Old City and visits to the Chapel of the Ascension, Pater Noster Church, Dominus Flevit Chapel, Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane. Continue to the House of the High Priest Caiaphas where St. Peter’s denial of Jesus is marked within the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu.  In the afternoon, tour Mount Zion and visit King David’s Tomb, Room of the Last Supper and the Dormition Abbey.

Day 5  BETHLEHEM - EIN KAREM - NEW JERUSALEM 

Drive to the Shepherds Fields where the day starts with a Mass or Eucharist in the Grotto.  Continue to Bethlehem for visits around Manger Square.  Sites here include the Church of the Nativity, the Church of St. Catherine and St Jerome's Caves. In the afternoon, drive to the village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist for visits of the Church of the Visitation and Church of St. John. Continue to see the Model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period at the time of Jesus.

Day 6  THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

You enter the Old City through Dung Gate for visits of the Western Wall, El Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock. Walk to the Pool of Bethesda in the grounds of the Crusader Church of St. Anne and end the morning at the Roman pavement of the Lithostrotos under the Ecce Homo Convent.  In the afternoon, follow the Way of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa in the streets and alleys of the Old City culminating in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Leave the Old City through Damascus Gate and end the day with an optional visit to the Garden Tomb.

Day 7  PALM SUNDAY WALK

In the morning, visit Bethany, home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha.  Afterwards follow the route Jesus took on Palm Sunday starting at Bethphage and on to the Mount of Olives.  This afternoon is free to relax and spend on your own.

Day 8  TO GALILEE - MOUNT TABOR - NAZARETH

Head to Galilee via the Jordan Valley. Drive to Mount Tabor for a visit of the church of the Transfiguration. Continue to Nazareth and visit the Church of the Annunciation, the Fountain of the Virgin and the Ancient Synagogue. After spending some time in the Old Souq, proceed to Tiberias visiting the Wedding Church of Cana-in-Galilee en route.  Stay in Tiberias for two nights.

Day 9  LAKE MINISTRY - BANIAS

First visit of the day is to Capernaum which Jesus Chose as the base for his Galilean Ministry.  Continue to the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes at Tabgha and the Church of St. Peter's Primacy.  Drive up to the Mount of Beatitudes and visit the Church which commemorates the famous Sermon on the Mount.  In the afternoon, drive to Upper Galilee to visit Banias "Caesarea Philippi" (one of the sources of the Jordan River.)  Travel along the Syrian border back to the Sea of Galilee.  The day ends with a sail across the Sea of Galilee in a traditional wooden "Jesus Boat".

Day 10  ACRE - CAESAREA - JAFFA - TEL AVIV

Leave Tiberias and drive north to the port city of Acre where you can explore this Crusader City and visit  the Jazzar Mosque and Crypt of St. John.  Continue to Haifa for a panoramic view of the city and bay from Mount Carmel. Visit the Monastery of Stella Maris built over Elijah’s Cave and continue to Mohraqa the site of prophet Elijah’s challenge with the prophets of Ba’al. From here drive south to Caesarea Maritima the ancient Roman Capital with visits to its Aqueduct, Theatre and Crusader Ruins. Before arriving in Tel Aviv, pass by Jaffa for visits of St. Peter’s Church, the old harbor and the artist’s quarter. The last night is spent in Tel Aviv.

Day 11  DEPARTURE

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for Departure.  Albina Tours staff will be at the airport for assistance with security and check-in.

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