Description
Israel Tour with Pastor Pete Pawelek & Cowboy Fellowship - August 2025
What's Included
Our tours are all-inclusive. Always.
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Itinerary
Day by Day
- 3
Wednesday
Mt. Carmel, Joppa, Caesarea, MegiddoThis morning we will start our day with a quick stop at Joppa on our way to Caesarea. Next we will proceeded to Caesarea, capital of the Roman procurators of Judea. Here we will visit the Roman port, Crusader's Moat, Roman theater, hippodrome and aqueduct and much more. We will stand in the palace where the Apostle Paul gave his defense to Aggrippa, and dip our toes in the Mediterranean sea. From here we will continue to Muhraka on Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged Baal’s priests.This afternoon, after a Middle Eastern lunch at a Druse restaurant, we proceed to Megiddo to visit the excavations that unearthed 20 different civilizations. Drive to Nazareth for our dinner and overnight stay in the city of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.
- 4
Thursday
Cana, Galilee, NazarethThis morning we will visit the Church of the Annunciation, Synagogue Church and Mt. Precipice, before traveling to Cana. Members of our group will have an opportunity to renew their wedding vows at the church in Cana. Next we travel down to the Sea of Galilee! On the way, if there is time we will stop at Harod, the spring of Gideon. Upon our arrival we will visit Magdala. Magdala, is home to one of the oldest synagogues dating back to the first century AD. This is also the home of Mary Magdalena and was the fishing center where Peter would have brought his catch to be sold or processed. After a time of discovery and worship (time permitting we will have our group time inside the new church) we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
- 5
Friday
Mt. Beatitudes, Dan, Caesarea Philippi, ChaorazinThis morning our drive takes us 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. On our return we will stop at Chorazin if time permits and then end our day on the mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount overlooking the sea of Galilee.
- 6
Saturday
Baptisms, Capernaum, Tiberias, Sea of GalileeThis morning we will enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, returning to Nof Ginosar to see the New Testament boat found below the sea. Our next stop today will be at the River Jordan where you will have the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan river. Our group will visit a local restaurant to enjoy the famous Saint Peter's Fish lunch before departing for Capernaum, the home of the Apostle Peter. This afternoon we will also visit the Church of Primacy, where Jesus met with his disciples following his resurrection and restored Peter. We will end the day with a time of prayer and reflection at Mount Arbel, the tallest peak around the Sea of Galilee and the place where Jesus issued the great commission to his Disciples. We will return to our hotel for our final night in Tiberias.
- 7
Sunday
Jacob's Well, Bet SheanThis morning we will take our final look at the Sea of Galilee as we depart for Bethlehem. On the way we travel via the Crusader fortress of Belvoir along the Rift Valley to Bet Shean, where King Saul and his sons were pinned to the walls. It became the Decapolis Capital and was traveled by Jesus and known as Scythopolis. Here we will see the ancient theater, Circus Maximus and Cardo Maximo, and walk on a Roman street and much more. From here we will head to Jacobs well. This site has both Old and New Testament connections including Jesus’ famous encounter with the women at the well. Next we will travel a short distance to Joseph's tomb. Finally, we will ascend the mountain in our motor coach to the nearby Samaritan village on Mt. Gerizim. Sit back and relax as we drive to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
- 8
Monday
Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, JerichoThis morning we will get an early start as we head down to the Dead Sea. There we will visit 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. Stand in one of Harods most well fortified palaces and look at the massive storehouses, cisterns and a sixth-century Byzantine church on the site. Continuing alongside the Dead Sea, 1300 ft. below sea level -- the lowest spot on earth -- we stop at Ein Gedi. Here we will have time to walk to the waterfalls that David would have used while he was fleeing from Saul. This afternoon we will proceed to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Before departing back to Bethlehem we will have time for a swim in the Dead Sea. If time permits we will stop by Jericho and look at the walls that crumbled under the weight of God’s hand thousands of years ago. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
- 9
Tuesday
Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Shepherd's Fields, Bethlehem"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11).
This morning we will make our way to the church of the Nativity and visit the manger and the cave of St. Jerome. After our time in the church we will visit the nearby shepherds fields where the angels of heaven descended to announce the birth of Christ. Next we will board our tour bus and drive north to Jerusalem. "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. After a time of prayer and reflection in the Garden we will enter the Old City and make our way to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, before we proceed to the Jerusalem Archeological Park where we see the Steps that entered the temple and the Southern Wall. It was here that Jesus would have taught the disciples. See a video that shows the temple as it was at Herod's (or Jesus') time.
- 10
Wednesday
Temple Mount, 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 third holiest site of Islam, located on the traditional site of the ancient TempleMount. Here the first and second Temples once stood. Just to the north we find the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church. The church is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period – with remarkable acoustics. 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 and past the Armenian Quarter. Continuing on to Mount Zion we visit the Upper Room and the Tomb of King David, and then to the grounds of a church called Peter in Gallicantu, which affords 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.
- 11
Thursday
City of David, Rabbi Tunnel, Museum of the HolocaustThis morning we will board our bus for our exciting tour of the city of David. Next we will travel to the famous Rabbi Tunnel. Here we will enter by the Western Wall Plaza and go down to the foundation of the Second Temple. We will 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. We continue to the Temple Mount Sifting Project on the slopes of the Mount of Olives. Here we have the opportunity to sift through rubble that originated in ancient buildings from the Temple Period and learn about findings from archaeologists and expert guides at the site. We will eat lunch in Jerusalem before giving you a time to shop in the Bazar. This afternoon we will head to Yad Vashem and see the Museum of the Holocaust. Return to the hotel to pack our bags and enjoy our final dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.
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