After a blessed week of Bible study, we begin the Israel tour, where the many places of the Bible come alive before our eyes.

29.10.22 (Sat) First day of travel: Focus on Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

• Breakfast at Hotel Jerusalem Gold.
• Departure from the hotel at 08:00.
• Visit to the birthplace of John the Baptist (Ein Karem).
• Drive to Bethlehem: visit the Basilica of the Nativity at the site of the Savior’s birth and Shepherds Field.
• Return to Jerusalem: visit to the Mount of Olives, the Church of Lamentations, the Garden of Gethsemane and walk along the Via Dolorosa.
• Also, visit to Calvary (Garden Tomb) with breaking of bread.
• Return to the Hotel Gold, dinner and overnight.

30.10.22 (Sun) Second day of travel: Focus on Jerusalem.

• Breakfast at the Jerusalem Gold hotel.
• Departure from the hotel at 08:00.
• Ascent to the Temple Mount, visit to the Wailing Wall as well as the City of David.
  Sightseeing of the Jewish quarter.
• Visit to Mount Zion as well as the Hall of the Last Supper.
• Visit to Christ Church (first Protestant church in the Middle East) as well as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
• Return to the Gold Hotel, dinner and overnight.

31.10.22 (Mon) Third day of travel: Jaffa and surroundings.

• Breakfast at the Jerusalem Gold Hotel.
• Departure from the hotel at 08:00.
• Sightseeing in Jaffa (sometimes called Yaffa or Yafo, historically also Joppe). Today Jaffa is a district of Tel Aviv. Originally an Arab port city, since Israel’s independence it has been annexed to Tel Aviv, which was founded a little further north. Unlike Tel Aviv, Jaffa has a long history and is mentioned in the Bible. Despite its annexation to Tel Aviv as a city district, Jaffa has been able to retain its oriental flavor to this day.
• Visit to the towns of Tel Beit Shemesh and Caesarea.
• Drive to King Solomon Hotel in Netanya, dinner and overnight.

01.11.22 (Tue) Fourth travel day: Megiddo (Armageddon) and surrounding area.

• Breakfast at King Solomon Hotel.
• Departure from the hotel at 08:00.
• Sightseeing in the city of Megiddo. Megiddo is the place also called Armageddon in the Bible (Revelation 16:14-21) and is one of the most important archaeological sites of biblical history in Israel.
• Sightseeing of the port city of Acre.
  Visit to the city of Nazareth (Basilica of the Annunciation, the Mount of Overthrow).
• Drive to the Astoria Hotel in Tiberias, dinner and overnight.

02.11.22 (Wed) Fifth day of the trip: Upper Galilee.

• Breakfast at the Hotel Astoria.
• Departure from the hotel at 08:00.
• Visit to Dan and Banyas, the source of the Jordan River.
• Visit to Caesarea Philippi.
• Visit to Capernaum (Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Menza Christi).
• Return to the Astoria Hotel in Tiberias, dinner and overnight.

03.11.22 (Thu) Sixth day of the trip: Desert of Judah.

• Breakfast at Hotel Astoria.
• Departure from the hotel at 08:00.
• Visit to Bethany, the historic site of the baptism of Jesus Christ.
• Visit to Qumran and Masada.
  Bathing excursion to the Dead Sea, located more than 400 meters below sea level.
• Visit to Ein Gedi Oasis (optional).
• Accommodation at Hotel David on the Dead Sea, dinner and overnight.

04.11.22. (Fri) Seventh travel day: Negev desert.

• Breakfast at Hotel David.
• Departure from the hotel at 08:00.
• Visit to Timna National Park.
• Accommodation at Hotel Americana in Eilat, dinner and overnight.

05.11.22. (Sat) Eighth day of the trip: Red Sea.

• Breakfast at Hotel Americana.
• Bathing excursion to the Red Sea. The salinity of the water is quite high at 4.2% and allows good visibility underwater due to reduced algae growth, making the Red Sea very interesting for diving and snorkeling.
• Return to Hotel Americana in Eilat, dinner and overnight.

06.11.22 (Sun) Departure day: Bus transfer to the airport.

• Bus transfer to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
• Goodbye and L’shanah haba’ah b’Yerushalayim (“Next year in Jerusalem”)!