Description
Israel Tour with Ricky & Denise Cason - January 2025
We invite you to join us on a life changing tour of the Holy Land. Traveling to the land of Israel is really more of a spiritual experience than a sightseeing tour. It is so amazing to see the locations of events you have read and heard about in God's Word. Our wonderful guide will bring everything to life and you will make new friends as we travel together. There is so much to learn about and new cultures to understand and enjoy. It is hard to explain all you will feel, see, hear, taste and smell. There is nothing like actually being there and walking where Jesus walked. When you return home your view of life and the Bible will be forever changed. Hope you can go with us! Ricky and Denise Cason
What's Included
Our tours are all-inclusive. Always.
Videos
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Itinerary
Day by Day
- 2
Tuesday
Tel Aviv, NetanyaUpon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. Board our bus and travel past Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel. We proceed to the city of Netanya, on the Mediterranean to our hotel where we will check in for overnight.
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Wednesday
Netanya, Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, TiberiasThis morning we proceed to Caesarea, capital of the Roman procurators of Judea. Visit the Roman port, Crusader's Moat, Roman theater and aqueduct. Continue to Muhraka on Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged Baal’s priests.
This afternoon, after a Middle Eastern lunch at a Druse restaurant(optional), we proceed to Megiddo to visit the excavations that unearthed 20 different civilizations. This is Michener’s “The Source”. Continue down the road to Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus where we will go to the look out and view the entire valley. Then, it’s on to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
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Thursday
Dan, Hazor, Caesarea Philippi, Jordan RiverThis morning our drive takes us through the Hula Valley to Hazor, ruins of the powerful Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua and rebuilt by King Jabin and then by Solomon as a chariot city to command upper Galilee. Continue on to the northern limits of Jesus' travel as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan. Here we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of the ancient ruins, topped by the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf (I Kings 12). Then a short drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan the Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds; here Peter made his great profession of faith, recognition of Christ Jesus (Matthew 16). Driving along the foot of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. Our last stop today will be at the River Jordan where we may have the opportunity to be baptized (provided a pastor is traveling on the tour), then return to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
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Friday
Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Bet SheanThis morning we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, landing at Nof Ginosar where we will see the New Testament boat found below the sea. Continue our morning tour with a visit to Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. In the afternoon we follow the Rift Valley running parallel to the Jordan, along the route Jesus most frequently traveled to Jerusalem, to Bet Shean at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where King Saul was slain. Here we see the evidences of Egyptian, Roman, and Byzantine occupations, and view the ancient tel, Roman Theater and church mosaics. Return to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
- 6
Saturday
Tiberias, Gideon Spring, Shiloh, JerusalemJERUSALEMThis morning we begin our day with a visit to the Valley of the Doves, sitting below the imposing cliffs of Mt. Arbel. This path from Nazareth to Magdala links in with the Via Maris (Way of the Sea) and is the route Jesus travelled on his way to Capernaum. Time permitting we will drive to the top of Mt Arbel for a panoramic view of the valley below. We leave Tiberias and head to Gideon Springs. It is here where Gideon trusted in the Lord and cut his army. Continue south through the hill country stopping in Shiloh, the religious and military capital of Israel during the times of the Judges, and where the tabernacle resided for 369 years. Continue to The Holy City for a panoramic view before we head to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Sunday
Masada, Qumran, Dead Sea, JerichoToday we drive to Masada and ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70 to 73 AD, Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We see the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth-century Byzantine church. Continuing alongside the Dead Sea, 1,300 ft. below sea level -- the lowest spot on earth -- we proceed to Ein Gedi where time permitting we will walk the path to see the waterfall in the desert. This afternoon we continue to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will have a stop for lunch and time for those that want to swim in the Dead Sea. We travel to Jericho, the world’s oldest city. From the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho we view the lush green Jordan Valley, Elisha’s spring and Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. We will head up to Jerusalem and return to the hotel for dinner.
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Monday
Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Western Wall Tunnel"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace." (Luke 19:42) Our drive this morning takes us past the Chapel of Ascension and Paternoster to the Mt. of Olives for an orientation view of Jerusalem and the opportunity of a group photograph overlooking Jerusalem. We then walk the traditional Passion walk. We descend to the church known as Dominus Flevit ("Our Lord weeps"). After viewing the Golden Gate, we walk downhill to Gethsemane, where we take time to meditate on the Gospel text and view the Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City and make our way to the Western Wall Tunnel where we see a model that will demonstrate where we are in location to the Temple in the time of Christ. Continue along the tunnel as we proceed to the Gateway of the Priests entry to the Holy of Holies. Next we proceed to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park where we see the Steps that entered the temple and the Southern Wall. It was here that Jesus would have taught the disciples. If time permits we will have a little time for shopping in the Old City before we return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Tuesday
Jerusalem, Bethlehem, City of DavidDAVIDThis morning we drive to one of the possible sites for Shepherds' Fields. We then make our way to Bethlehem itself, walking through the restored old town to the Church of the Nativity and visiting the manger and see the cave of St. Jerome. After time for shopping and lunch we return to Jerusalem. We will visit the City of David excavations where we walk in the footsteps of the kings and prophets, through underground passageways to the Canaanite Tunnel, making our way to the Pool of Siloam. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
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Wednesday
Old City, Via Dolorosa, Garden Tomb“He has risen!” (Mark 16:6) After breakfast we transfer to the Dung Gate, where we ascend to the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, the thirdholiest site of Islam, located on the traditional site of the ancient Temple Mount. Here the first and second Temples once stood. Continuing on we see Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man). We then follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) through the bazaars as far as the Holy Sepulcher. From there we walk from the Christian Quarter along the Arab Souks through the Cardo Maximo to the Temple Institute where we will see the making of the instruments for the new temple. We will see how they are following the Bible for exact instructions. We will see a film explaining where the Rabbi believes the Temple and courts could be located. Leaving the Old City we continue onto Mount Zion to visit the grounds of a church called Peter in Gallicantu, whichaffords the best view of early Jerusalem from the west. (Here, the Assumptions Fathers suggest, was the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus). We board our bus to the Garden Tomb where we will end our day with a special visit and the possibility of having a private communion on the grounds outside the city walls. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Thursday
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, USAWe transfer to the Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.
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