This morning journey to Mt. Nebo, from where Moses saw the Promised Land when they arrived from Egypt. According to the final chapter of the Book of Deuteronomy, after 40 years leading the headstrong Israelites in the desert, Moses stood on the windswept summit of Mount Nebo and viewed the Promised Land of Canaan (Israel) which God had said he would not enter.

From Mt. Nebo, we will travel to Madaba, which is an ancient town in Jordan, southwest of the capital Amman. Known as the “City of Mosaics, It is visited for its 6th- century Mosaic Map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George.

Later we continue to the real Baptism site of Jesus on the River Jordan. The Jordan River runs through the land and history of the Bible, giving its waters a spiritual significance that sets it aside from other rivers. It is significant for Christians because John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the waters of the Jordan.

We will drive to the Dead Sea and enjoy the rest of the day swimming in or relaxing by the Dead Sea before returning to the hotel. It is set in the lowest dry land on earth, so it has no outlet. Because it has no exit, water is lost only through evaporation, which leaves behind the minerals. The high concentration of minerals (predominantly magnesium chloride) provides the buoyancy that keeps bathers suspended.

Overnight stay in Dead Sea (D)

Today we make a day tour to the Ancient city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, deep within the deserts of Jordan. Through a narrow gorge, it emerges into view, revealing awe-inspiring monuments cut into the surrounding cliffs.

Petra was built by the Nabateans, the industrious Arabs who settled in southern Jordan more than 2000 years ago. It is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. Inhabited since prehistoric times, this iconic 2000-year-old-Nabataean-caravan-city, situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Camel caravans passed through, loaded with spices, textiles and incense from distant regions–and through such commerce, the city flourished.

This morning we will journey to the Allenby Bridge Crossing and enter Israel. Drive to Jericho, believed to be the oldest city on earth. Jericho (the name means “City of Palms”) is mentioned 70 times in the Old Testament. Here Jesus healed Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, and dined with Zacchaeus, the rich tax collector. Jesus chose the steep, rocky road from Jerusalem down to Jericho as the setting for the parable of the Good Samaritan. Since Jericho was on the normal route from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through it several times.

Next we visit Mt. Quarantal by Cable car, where Jesus was tempted by Satan and fasted for 40 days. The summit of the mount offers a spectacular panoramic view of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and the mountains of Moab and Gilead. The name, Mount Qurantal, arises from a mispronunciation of the Latin word Quarentena, meaning 40, the number of days in Christ’s fast.

Continue our journey to the ancient fortress Masada, the springs and oasis of En Gedi. Further travel to the remote outpost of Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. The scrolls include at least fragments of every book of the Old Testament except the book of Esther.

Enjoy your breakfast then drive to Bethany. The little village of Bethany, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives about 3km from Jerusalem, was a favorite place of rest and refuge for Jesus. Here he knew the intimacy and friendship of his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. We will also visit the Tomb of Lazarus, in the cemetery just below the village, where he raised Lazarus from the dead.

We will then drive to Beit Sahour to visit the Shepherds Field, where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus. We will then journey back to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, where Jesus was born. The cave where the birth took place and the manger stood can now be visited underneath the huge Basilica of the Nativity. This is the oldest complete church in the Christian world. Also visit St. Jerome’s Grotto where St. Jerome translated the Bible into Latin. Walk to the miraculous site of the Milk Grotto.

Overnight stay in Bethlehem (B L D)

This morning we drive to Hebron to visit the Tomb of the Patriarchs. It is the burial place of three biblical couples — Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah. It was the patriarch Abraham who bought the land containing the Cave of Machpelah to use as a burial place. when his wife Sarah died.

We then journey north into Galilee to Nazareth, the town of Jesus. Nazareth in Galilee is celebrated as the town where the Virgin Mary, aged around 14 years, gave her “YES” to bear the Son of God. This is where will visit the Basilica of the Annunciation. Next to the Church of the Annunciation, on the northern side, is the Church of St Joseph which was Joseph’s Workshop and where Jesus grew up learning the trade. We will also visit the house of Joseph and Mary and Mary’s Well. Fed by the main freshwater spring in the little village, it would have been visited daily by Mary, often accompanied by her young son.

Overnight stay in Nazareth/ Tiberias (B L D)

This morning journey to Caesarea Philippi (Banias) where Peter answered Jesus’ question, “Who do you say I am?”. Near Caesarea Philippi, a city of Greek-Roman culture known for its worship of foreign gods, Jesus announced he would establish a church and gave authority over it to the apostle Simon — whom he renamed Peter. Take a Stroll through the base of Mt. Hermon, the location of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River.

We will then travel to visit the Church of the Beatitudes. The Mount of Beatitudes, believed to be the setting for Jesus’ most famous discourse, the Sermon on the Mount, is one of the most beautifully serene places in the Holy Land. Within sight are the scenes of many of the events of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, including the town of Capernaum 3km away, where he made his home.

After relishing the special St. Peter’s Fish lunch, we will visit Capernaum, the home town of Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. The rest of the afternoon will be spent visiting Tabgha, the Church of Multiplication of bread and fish, the Church of the Primacy of Peter, and the site of Mensa Christi.

Overnight stay in Nazareth/Tiberias (B L D)

This morning we will enjoy boating on the Sea of Galilee. We then travel to Cana, the wedding miracle site where Jesus turned water into wine and started his public ministry. It is actually the place of his first two public miracles in Galilee — the changing of water into wine and the remote healing of an official’s son 32km away in Capernaum.

We will visit Mt. Tabor, the site of Jesus’ transfiguration when Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light. Then the prophets Moses and Elijah appear next to him and he speaks with them. In the Old Testament, Mount Tabor is described as a sacred mountain and a place for worship when the Israelite tribes gathered on Mount Tabor in the days of Deborah.

We will then visit Megiddo, the site named in the Book of Revelation as the location of the final battle between the forces of good and evil, in the Valley of Armageddon. Visitors have any archaeological remains to see and unfold the history it contains.

Overnight stay in Nazareth/Tiberias (B L D)

After breakfast, we will check out form the hotel and drive to Haifa, the port city of Israel and see the world famous Baha’i Gardens and Stella Maris Church. Mount Carmel’s most spectacular religious memorial, is the Baha’i Shrine of the Báb, which runs in manicured terraces up the northern slope. At the western edge of Mount Carmel is Stella Maris Monastery, the world headquarters of the Carmelites.

We will then drive to Muhraka in the Carmel Mountains where the prophet Elijah battled the priests of Baal and executed them. On the south-eastern peak of Mount Carmel, the site is now known as Muhraka (“the Scorching”). It is marked by a dramatic stone statue of Elijah, sword raised to heaven as he slaughters a Baal priest

As we continue our journey we will travel to the Roman capital city Caesarea Maritima to see the ruins of the old city. See the Amphitheatre, Hippodrome, Ruins of the Palace and the Aqueduct. The first gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit were from Caesarea Maritima.

As we journey toward Jerusalem our final stop for the day will be Emmaus – Abu Ghosh, one of the sites believed to be the town of Emmaus from Luke’s gospel. Here we will see the restored crusader church and the statue of the Madonna and Child atop the Church of Our Lady of the Ark of the Covenant.

We will begin our day visiting the Church of St Stephen, the first martyr. Then travel to Ein Karem, the beautiful village in Judean hill country. The two main sites in the “Judean town” of Ein Karem are linked to the understanding that Zechariah and Elizabeth had two houses in Ein Karem. In a valley on the south of the village is a fresh- water spring known as Mary’s Spring or the Fountain of the Virgin. The spring gives the village its name — from the Arabic “ein” (spring) and kerem (vineyard or olive grove).

Visit the Church of the Visitation where the Virgin Mary met Elizabeth and the child in Elizabeth’s womb leapt for joy. Later walk to the Birthplace of John the Baptist. We will also visit the Church of St Anne, believed to be the site of Mary’s birth, and the Pools of Bethesda. Continue to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu to visit Caiaphas’s prison and the sacred pit where Jesus was imprisoned for one night.

Later visit the Israel Museum where the original Dead Sea Scrolls are kept and see the model of the Second Jerusalem Temple.

As we come to the last few days of our journey, it starts getting intense and deeper into the last few days of Christ. We start our day with visit the Mount of Olives where Bethpage (remembered as the starting point of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the day that is commemorated as Palm Sunday) the Church of the Ascension, and Pater Noster Church are located. It is one of three hills on a long ridge to the east of Jerusalem and is the location of many biblical events.

Walk along the Palm Sunday route visiting the Dominus Flevit Church, a church in the shape of a teardrop, commemorating the Gospel incident in which Jesus wept over the future fate of Jerusalem and the Church of Mary Magdalene, a Russian Orthodox church whose seven gilded onion domes, each topped by a tall cross, make it one of Jerusalem’s most picturesque sights.

We continue our way to the Gethsemane Gardens and the Church of All Nations, a somber church at Gethsemane, built over the rock on which Jesus is believed to have prayed in agony the night before he was crucified.

We will then walk to Mary’s Tomb A dimly-lit, below-ground church where a Christian tradition says the Mother of Jesus was buried before we head towards the Apostle’s Grotto, the cave where his disciples are believed to have slept.

This afternoon we will explore the City of David excavations.

Today we will walk to the Old City and pray the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross. Their route is called the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrows) commemorating Jesus’ route on his way to Calvary. The last five Stations of the Cross are situated inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The final station is the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where we will have time to visit Calvary, the Tomb, and the many other chapels contained in this most holy place.

This afternoon we will journey to Mt Zion. We will go to see the Upper Room/Cenacle where Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the place where all the Apostles and Mary were gathered on the day of Pentecost.

We will walk down to King David’s Tomb, then visit the Church of Dormition, the place of the Eternal Sleep of Mary. Finally, today we will visit the Tower of David Museum to learn the history of this ancient city.

After dinner, we will return to the Tower of David for the Night Spectacular sound and light show.

Our day begins early with the celebration of Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, if possible at Calvary or inside the empty Tomb of Jesus. We will return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, we will depart Israel via the Allenby Bridge Crossing entering Jordan to prepare to depart from Amman International Airport.