> Day 2, Thursday June 11, Arrival Athens: We will be met and assisted upon arrival and escorted to our motor coach. Our guide is waiting to show us highlights of Athens, the lively Greek capitol Sightseeing includes the majestic Acropolis rising high above the city. We will visit the Parthenon and marvel at its perfect symmetry, and view the Theater of Dionysus, the Theater of Herodes Atticus and the Agora. Then visit Mars Hill, where Paul presented the Gospel to the Athenians. An orientation tours takes us past the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Parliament, Presidential Palace, Panathenian Stadium, Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Academy, the University and the National Library. Final visit is the National Archeological Museum. B, D

> Day 3, Friday June 12, The Peloponnese: Today’s journey begins with a breathtaking drive across the Peloponnese Peninsula to the ancient city of Mycenae. The incredible excavations include the 3,000 year-old Lion Gate, palace and royal tombs. Stop at the beautiful fishing town of Nauplion for some leisure time to enjoy this historic old city overlooking the Argolic Gulf. Later, travel to the legendary healing and cultural center of Epidaurus which dates back to the 3rd century B.C. Continue ancient Corinth, where the apostle Paul lived and preached. Here he wrote his first and second letters to the Corinthians. First stop is the spectacular Corinthian Canal linking the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Visit the ancient ports of Cenchreae and Lechaion. Stop for photos of the Corinthian Canal linking the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Return to Athens for dinner and rest at our hotel. Later transfer to the airport and check-in for our flight to Tel Aviv. B, D

> Day 4, Saturday June 13, Athens/Tel Aviv: Touchdown at Ben Gurion Airport brings a warm welcome from our guide who is waiting to begin the tour. Travel north along the Mediterranean Coast to Caesarea, a city built by Herod the Great. After exploring the remains of this once magnificent city, we will visit the excavations at Megiddo, Solomon’s chariot city overlooking the beautiful Jezreel Valley. Continue to Nazareth and visit the Church of the Annunciation. From here the roads winds down to Tiberias on the beautiful Sea of Galilee, our home for the next three nights. B, D

> Day 5, Sunday June 14, The Galilee: Today we will explore the Upper and Lower Galilee. Travel through the Hula Valley to Tel Dan and explore the fabulous excavations. Proceed to Caesarea Philippi situated at the foot of Mount Hermon. Next stop is the Mount of Beatitudes, traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to En Gev on the Sea of Galilee for lunch. After lunch, enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee and put ashore at Nof Ginosar to see the 2,000-year-old fishing boat. At Capernaum visit the lovely 4th century synagogue, and see the synagogue from Jesus’ day underneath. End the day at the Jordan River, a small river with a big history! Worship service in the Galilee. B, D

> Day 6, Monday June 15, To Petra: This morning we will visit Beth Shan for a look at the Philistine, Roman and Byzantine excavations. Proceed to the Sheik Hussein Bridge and cross into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Drive through Gilead and on to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Stop at Madaba to see the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land. From here we continue along the Desert Highway to Petra, built by the Nabateans 2,000 years ago. Overnight at our hotel overlooking the ancient site. B, L, D

> Day 7, Tuesday June 16, Petra/Eilat: The entire morning is devoted to touring Petra. We enter the fabled city through a half mile long siq (gap) in some places only eight feet wide and between vertical walls 300 feet high. We will explore Petra’s Roman Theater, the magnificent Treasury, spectacular temples, elaborate tombs, and palaces. Lunch is included at the Movenpick Hotel. In the afternoon we travel south to the Arava Border and cross back into Israel Dinner and overnight in Eilat, Solomon’s port city on the Red Sea. B, L, D

> Day 8, Wednesday June 17, Up to Jerusalem: The morning is at leisure in Israel’s resort city on the Red Sea. Later, drive north by way of Arad and Tel Beersheba, the excavated and partially restored site of Biblical Beersheba. Stop in the Valley of Elah, site of David’s contest with Goliath. Crossing the Plain of Sorek, where Samson roamed, we begin the climb up to Jerusalem, the city of God’s own choosing. B, D

> Day 9, Thursday June 18, Jerusalem: This morning we drive to the Mount of Olives for great views of the Old City and the Kidron Valley below. Descending the well-known hill we come to the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Church of All Nations. We enter the Old City and visit the Church of St. Anne, and the Pools of Bethesda, and the Western Wall (Wailing Wall), and view the Temple Steps excavations. Later we will walk through the fantastic Western Wall Tunnels. Then stroll along the narrow streets to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, believed by most scholars to be the place where Jesus suffered the agony of crucifixion. B, D

> Day 10, Friday June 19, Bethlehem: Today we drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, and Shepherd’s Fields. Then visit the Herodion, one Herod’s palaces and possible site of his tomb. Return to Jerusalem for a tour of the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, and the fabulous Model of First Century Jerusalem to see how the city looked at the time of Jesus. B, D

> Day 11, Saturday June 20, Jerusalem: This morning we drive to Mount Zion and visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, possible site f the House of Caiaphas, the High Priest. In the Jewish Quarter of the Old City we will see a section of the Broad Wall (23 feet thick) built in 701 B.C. by Nehemiah to defend the city. Nearby in the Cardo we will have time to shop for trinkets and treasures! Our final visit today is the Garden Tomb. B, D

> Day 12, Sunday June 21, Dead Sea: Today we descend a quarter of a mile below sea level to the Dead Sea Plain, the lowest place on earth. Drive along the Dead Sea to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and on to Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul. Proceed to Masada and ascend by cable car to the impressive ruins of Herod’s fortress-palace. Time for a swim (float) at one of the Dead Sea hotels before returning to Jerusalem. B, D

> Day 13, Monday June 22, Homeward Bound: Transfer to the airport and board our flight bound for the USA
Return home later today filled with wonderful memories of these ancient Lands of the Bible.

Welcome home!!!