ITINERARY

Tues. , Toronto/ Rome Enroute to Israel        
Today we embark on our journey to Israel, the Holy Land.  We will meet at Pearson International Airport, Terminal “1" at 2:00pm where we will meet a rep from Canadian Gateway in the Alitalia Departures area for check-in.   Meals will be served aloft and we can catch up on some sleep enroute to Rome.

Wed., Rome, Italy / Tel Aviv, Israel                                                                                                                           D
We arrive at Rome’s Leonard da Vinci Airport early in the morning  and connect with a flight to Tel Aviv arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, around 3:30pm.   We will be met by local reps and be transferred to our hotel, directly on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in Tel Aviv.   After dinner, we will meet with our Tour Hosts, Evangelists Bill and Gwen Prankard, for a short time of prayer this evening when we can thank God for a safe journey and for the special blessings that lie ahead.    Some may wish to walk over to Jaffa later this evening and others may wish to have a good night’s rest before touring begins tomorrow.  Dinner and overnight at our Tel Aviv Hotel.
           
Thurs., Jaffa / Caesarea / Megiddo / Tiberias                                                                                                      B/DFollowing breakfast, we will visit the ancient port of Joppa, as it was called in the Bible, now known as Jaffa.  Jaffa was the home of Tabitha, also known as Dorcas, a Christian lady known for her goodness and generosity.  When she became ill and died, Peter, by the power of God, restored her to life (Acts 9: 36–41).  It was at Joppa, while in the home of Simon the Tanner , that Peter had the vision that showed him that the Gospel was to go out to the Gentiles as well as the Jews (Acts 10: 9–16; 36–43).   Continue along  the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea-by-the-Sea where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized.  See the Roman Amphitheatre where Paul made his defense before King Agrippa (Acts 25:26); view a Roman Aqueduct and explore a Crusader Fortress.   Proceed to Mount Carmel where the prophet Elijah defeated the false priests of Baal.    We continue on to Tel Megiddo where it is believed that the armies of the world will one day gather for earth’s final conflict–the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16).  Here archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization.    Drive through the area of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus.  Then continue on through the area of Cana (Kfar Kana).  This is the village and the traditional site (Latin Church) where Jesus performed His First Miracle  of changing water into wine at a wedding.   Then,  on to Tiberias where we will check in at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Friday,  The Galilee Area                                                                                                                                    B / D
We focus on Jesus’ ministry today while crossing the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum.  While on the boat, we will stop for a time of worship and teaching.   In Capernaum we view remains of a second century synagogue.  Continue to Tabgha, traditional site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes.  Next  is the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the “Sermon on the Mount”.  We proceed to Caesarea Philippi where Peter first confessed Jesus as Christ.   On our way back to Tiberias, we will visit Nof Ginosar to view the ancient “Jesus Boat” on display in a special building, the Yigal Alon Centre.  After dinner this evening, we will visit The Galilee Experience for a special multi-media presentation showing the history of the Galilee over the last 4,000 years.  You can do some shopping in the Immanuel Gift Shop following the presentation.     We will celebrate the Sabbath by enjoying a Shabbat Meal with the Hydes.    Dinner and overnight Tiberias.

Saturday, Tiberias / Jerusalem                                                                                                                           B / D Following breakfast, we will travel to the Jordan River for a special Baptismal Service with Evangelist Prankard, where those who wish may renew their baptismal vows.   Later, we will continue  to Be’it Sean, also called “Scythopolis”, and  tour the excavations of the most marvellous archaeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan Valleys.  After defeating Saul, on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines hung King Saul and Jonathan’s bodies on the gates of Be’it Sean (1 Samuel 31: 10–12).   Next, we visit Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Enroute to our hotel in Jerusalem , we will stop and view the beautiful panorama from the Mount of Olives.     We will walk down the Palm Sunday Path to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed for God’s will to be done (Matthew 26:36).  We will then visit the Western Wall (Kotel).  Dinner and overnight at our Jerusalem Hotel.

Sunday, Jerusalem                                                                                                                                                B / D
Begin the day with a visit to the Pool of Bethesda for a time of teaching and then to  St. Anne’s Church.  Continue to the Western Wall, then drive to Mount Zion and the site of the Upper Room of the Last Supper for a time of prayer.  Visit King David’s Tomb, then proceed to the House of Caiaphas, the High Priest, at St. Peter in Gallicantu. (John 18).   Continue to the New City of Jerusalem to visit the Memorial to the Holocaust–Yad Vashem– honouring the six million Jews that were killed.   Dinner and overnight at our Jerusalem hotel.

Monday,                                                                                                                                                                B / D
Our day begins with a visit to the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed.  Continue on to the Holy Land Model of ancient Jerusalem, a miniature of the city during the time of the Second Temple.  Then, proceed to the Garden Tomb where we will worship our Lord in celebrating the Lord’s Supper (Communion).     Afternoon Free.


DALE SHERWOOD
Group Tours Consultant
Tel. No.        905 660-1100, ext. 120
Toll-Free:     1-888-879-8515
E-Mail:   dale@canadiangateway.com