Tour Leaders - Dr. Judy and Dallas Phillips
College Credit Available

ISRAEL ITINERARY

Day 1 - USA – Depart from Sacramento or San Francisco to the land where the Bible unfolds before our eyes. Here we walk, see, feel, and touch the roots of our faith, experiencing the divine and sensing His presence in an incredible journey of a lifetime.

Day 2 - Tel Aviv – Flying over the Atlantic Ocean and over Europe, we reach the shores of Israel. Upon arrival to the Ben Gurion Airport, we are met by our guide and transferred to the Metropolitan Hotel in Tel Aviv on the coast of the Mediterranean. We spend the rest of the day relaxing and enjoying being in Israel. In the evening we have a wonderful buffet dinner and a good night’s rest.

Day 3 - Joppa/Philistine Country/Beer Sheva – After a rich Israeli breakfast, we begin our tour of Israel with a visit to Joppa where Jonah boarded a boat, fleeing from the Lord. Here we see a great view of Tel Aviv. Then we travel to Beth Shemesh, land of Samson. We also stop at Elah Valley, where David slew Goliath (1 Samuel 17), and pick up smooth stones. Then traveling the Gaza Road where Philip met the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8), we reach Tel Maresha, a site with outstanding remains from the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine days. Next we visit the Bell Caves, where Romans quarried limestone to make their cement roads, 2000 years ago! Then we continue to Tel Beer Sheva, where Abraham made his covenant with Abimelech and settled after coming from Ur of the Chaldeans. Here we see the well dug by Abraham, the ancient city gate, and extensive excavations, revealing the ancient city. Overnight at the Crowne Plaza by the Dead Sea.

Day 4 - Dead Sea Area – Today we travel along the Dead Sea, lowest place in the world at 1300 Ft. below sea level, and then head toward Galilee. Our first stop is Masada, where a cable car takes us to Herod’s magnificent fortress, site of the Zealots’ last stand against Rome (AD 70-73) where we see well-preserved storehouses, cisterns, palaces, and a synagogue. Then we visit the Ein Gedi nature reserve and hike to the waterfall area where David wrote some of his beautiful psalms and where he cut off a corner of Saul’s garment (1 Samuel 24). Here, we see a spectacular view of the Dead Sea. Next we visit Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery. Then it is up to Jerusalem and overnight in the Golden City of the Great King, staying at the Mount Zion Hotel..

Day 5 - Mt. of Olives and Jerusalem – We begin our first tour day in Jerusalem at the Mount of Olives, with its magnificent view of the great city of Jerusalem, and hear an overview of its history. Then we walk down the Palm Sunday Road (Mark 11) to the Garden of Gethsemane, site of Jesus' agony in prayer and betrayal (Mark 14). We continue to the City of David and view excavations south of the Temple Mount, Warren's Shaft from Jebusite days, Hezekiah's tunnel (2 Kings 20), and the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed the blind man (John 9). Later, we leave the Old City and visit the modern part of Jerusalem. First is the Model of Jerusalem of Jesus' day, which provides an excellent perspective of the city of his time. Then we visit the Israel Museum and view the ossuary of Caiaphas, the Pontius Pilate stone, and other ancient relics. Next, we visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Finally, at Yad Vashem, the museum of the Holocaust, we better understand the miracle of Israel’s revival and return to the Land, as promised by God.  Overnight in Jerusalem at the Mount Zion Hotel.

Day 6 - Old City/Jewish Quarter/Bethlehem – Today, we tour the Old City of Jerusalem. We begin at the Jaffa Gate, walk through the old Arab Market and bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Then on to the Temple Mount, where we visit the mosque, the Dome of the Rock, where Abraham began to offer Isaac (Genesis 22) and the site of Solomon's Temple. Next to the Jewish Quarter and the extensive area uncovered by archaeologists, including the Burnt House, the Herodian Quarter, the Cardo, and Hezekiah's Wall (2 Chronicles 32). In the afternoon, we visit Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus and the Church of the Nativity, and then visit the Shepherds’ Fields, where David raised his sheep and the Good News was received. Overnight in Jerusalem at the Mount Zion Hotel.

Day 7 - Jerusalem – We begin our last day in Jerusalem, visiting biblical sites and retracing the steps of Jesus before His death. First, we visit the Herod’s family tomb and its rolling stone. Then we visit the general area of the Upper Room (Luke 22) of the Last Supper and walk to the Western Wall for a moment of prayer. Afterward, we visit the Ofel digs, viewing the southern steps that led to the Temple Mount and walking on a 1^st century street, while viewing the destruction of the Temple remains. Next, we enter St. Stephen's Gate and walk to the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man (John 5). After a time of worship and praise in St. Anne's Church, we enter the Antonia Fortress area, where the Judgment Hall of Jesus’ trial may have been located. Then we follow the Way of the Cross out the Damascus Gate to the Garden Tomb, ending our tour in Jerusalem with communion. Overnight in Jerusalem at the Mount Zion Hotel.

Day 8 - Jericho/Beth Shean/Ein Harod/Megiddo – Today we leave Jerusalem and travel up the Jordan Valley. We pass by Jericho (Joshua 3), a beautiful oasis, considered the oldest city in the world (8000BC) and the first city conquered by Joshua in the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 6). Next, we drive by Mt. Gilboa, site of Saul's death (1 Samuel 31), and stop at Beth Shean (1 Samuel 31) where we explore the latest excavations revealing the remains of the Decapolis capital’s steam baths, ancient streets, markets, Roman coliseum, theater. Continuing on, we visit the brook of Ein Harod, where Gideon and his 300 men were chosen to defeat the Midianites (Judges 7). Then we drive by: Mount Moreh and the city of Nain, where Jesus raised a widow’s son (Luke 7); the area of Shunem, where Elisha raised the Shunammite boy (2 Kings 4); the area of Endor, where King Saul consulted the medium (1 Samuel 28); and Mount Tabor where Deborah and Barak gathered troops and defeated Sisera (Judges 4). Next, we arrive at Megiddo (Armageddon, Rev. 16), where we view the Valley of Jezreel and see excavations of 25 superimposed cities and remains from King Solomon’s days (1 Kings 9). Overnight at Kfar Blum kibbutz.

Day 9 - Area of the Tribe of Dan – Today we travel through the spectacular northern part of Israel. First, we visit the Golan Heights, major scene of the 1967 Six-Day War, and view Quneitra on the Syrian border and the Damascus Road, where Paul encountered the risen Jesus (Acts 9, 22, 26). Then we travel to Mt. Hermon, site of the Transfiguration (Luke 9), and to the Crusader remains of Nimrod's Fortress. Here we see an inspiring view of northern Galilee. Banias, site of Caesarea Philippi, is next. Here, Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah (Luke 9). In this area, we visit the spectacular Dan Waterfall, which is one of the headwaters of the Jordan River. Next, we walk through the Dan Nature Reserve and see Jeroboam's Altar area (1 Kings 12). We also learn about the importance of the gate in the social life of the city in Old Testament times as we view an ancient city gate from Abraham's time (Genesis 14:14) and a city-gate complex of the tribe of Dan. Then, we enjoy a rafting option down the Jordan River. Overnight at Kfar Blum kibbutz.

Day 10 - Around Sea of Galilee – This day, we visit areas where most of Jesus' ministry occurred. First, we visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), then we visit the city of Capernaum and view remains of an ancient synagogue built over the foundation of the synagogue where Jesus taught (Luke 4). Next we visit Tabgha, with its mosaic floor depicting the feeding of the 5,000, and then visit Mensa Christi on the shore where Jesus fed His disciples after His resurrection (John 21). Then we board an ancient-type Jesus boat for a ride on the Sea of Galilee, recalling Jesus’ experiences with fishermen. Passing through Tiberius, we travel south of the Sea of Galilee for Water Baptism in the Jordan River. After baptism, we head up Mount Arbel for a spectacular, panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee with time for reflection upon Jesus' Galilean ministry. Overnight at Kfar Blum kibbutz.

Day 11 - Sepphoris/Nazareth/Mt. Carmel/Caesarea – Today, we leave northern Israel as we view other ancient sites along the way. We drive by the ancient tel of Hazor, conquered by Joshua (Joshua 11), and by Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle where He turned water into wine (John 2). Then we visit Sepphoris, administrative center of Galilee during the Hasmonean period (152-37 BC). At nearby Nazareth, where Jesus spent most of His life, we visit the Church of Mary's Well, featuring the only well of the ancient city. We also visit Mt. Carmel where Elijah had the contest with false and Baal prophets (1Kings 18). Then on to Caesarea, the Roman city and home of Centurion Cornelius, first Gentile to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10). It was here that Paul was imprisoned for two years before sailing from the Caesarean pier to Roman imprisonment. In this area, we also see a Roman Theater, Crusader Fortress, and ancient Aqueduct built by Herod the Great. Our last night in Israel is in Tel Aviv at the Mount Zion Hotel..

Day 12 - Israel/USA – Today, we depart for home, leaving Israel with indelible memories, but Israel will never leave our hearts, and we will never be the same. Our Bibles now will be alive in front of our eyes and in our hearts forever.

For Questions, please contact:
Dr. Judy Phillips, Glory Quest Tours -- DrPhillips@GloryQuests.com 
916/924-1919 or 866/274-4826; Fax:  916/924-1234
P.O. Box 1207, Citrus Heights, CA 95611

Tour Home Page
Israel Tour Details - Israel Registration Form - Israel Terms and Conditions
Books by Dr. Judy Phillips

Return to Reyah College Home Page - or - Return to Glory Quest Books and Tours Home Page