Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage
08 DAYS | 7 Nights
- DAY 1
ARRIVAL: TEL AVIV – MT. TABOR – CANA & NAZARETH
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, meet and greet by your guide for the Holy Land pilgrimage and make our way north to the site of the Transfiguration at Mt. Tabor. Then we continue to Cana to visit the Greek Orthodox Church, site of Jesus’ first miracle. Then proceed to Nazareth, one of the holiest towns in Christendom. We will see Mary’s Well where the Angel Gabriel told Mary she will give birth to Jesus, and the Greek Orthodox Church of Annunciation, where we see frescoes of all the main Orthodox saints. Check in, dinner and overnight in Nazareth (D)
- DAY 2
TIBERIAS: CAPERNAUM AND SEA OF GALILEE SITES
We drive to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, then to Tabgha, Greek for Seven Springs and the Church of the Multiplication of Fishes and Loaves. We visit the Church of St Peter’s Primacy, explore Capernaum, headquarters of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and see the new church built on St Peter’s House. See the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles, with its lovely pink domes and a setting overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Then we sail across the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth (B,D)
- DAY 3
TIBERIAS: AKKO – HAIFA – JAFFA
Today we check out from our hotel in Nazareth and drive along the Mediterranean Sea to Akko (Acre), one of the oldest and most important coastal cities in the Holy Land, Akko is steeped in 4000 years of history. Minarets and church steeples are reminders of the different authorities who governed here, it retains the flavor of origins as a fishing village in the Mediterranean bustle. We continue to Haifa, we enjoy a panoramic view of Haifa Bay and the Bahai Shrine. Finally, we arrive in Jaffa (Joppa) the place where Peter lodged with Simon the Tanner, and during his stay—through the power of the Holy Spirit—Peter raised Tabitha from the dead. Check in, dinner and overnight in Bethlehem (B,D)
- DAY 4
JERUSALEM: BETHLEHEM – NATIVITY – SHEPHERDS FIELDS & EIN KAREM
Today we visit Bethlehem; the birthplace of the Lord Jesus and part of our tour will include a visit to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Nativity, followed by a visit the Greek Orthodox Church at the Shepherds Fields. In the afternoon we visit Ein Karem where we visit the Church of St. John the Baptist and the Church of the Visitation back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
- DAY 5
JERUSALEM – MOUNT OF OLIVES – MOUNT OF ZION
Begin today’s visits with a breathtaking view of the Holy City on the Mt. of Olives, visit the Place of Jesus’ Ascension and the Pater Noster grotto. Afterwards, walk down the Palm Sunday Path to Dominus Flevit where he wept over the city. Down at the bottom of Kidron Valley we will visit the Greek Orthodox Church marking the tomb of Mary. Visit The Garden of Gethsemane the site of the arrest of Jesus and taking Him to the house of the High priest Caiaphas. We continue to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper. Return to our hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight (B,D)
- DAY 6
OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM & FREE TIME
Following breakfast, we visit old city of Jerusalem with visits of the Cardo – ancient Byzantine Street, the Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried his Cross all the way to Golgotha, the Antonia fortress and the Lithostrothos and finally the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This unique church, which bears little resemblance to any church most visitors know from home, is where Orthodox and Catholic Christians mark the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. We enjoy some free time in the Old city colorful bazaars before returning to our hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight (B,D)
- DAY 7
JERUSALEM: BETHANY- JERICHO – BAPTISMAL SITE – & DEAD SEA
Our first stop is at the little village of Bethany, on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives about 3km from Jerusalem it was a favorite place of rest and refuge for Jesus. Here he knew the friendship of his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. And here, in the cemetery just below the village, he raised Lazarus from the dead. We leave Bethany and arrive in Jericho, being the normal route from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus passed through it several times. We will see the traditional sycamore tree of Zacchaeus & ascend the Mt Temptation via a cable car and visit the Orthodox monastery there. Thereafter we continue to the Baptism site beside the Jordan River. Finally, we, proceed to the unique Dead Sea where we will have an opportunity to float in the saline waters of the lowest Sea on earth. Dinner & Overnight Bethlehem (B,D)
- DAY 8
JERUSALEM / LOD/ JAFFA/ TEL AVIV / RETURN
We drive to Lod, the ancient city of Lydda and the traditional site of the martyrdom of St. George. Stop at the 4th century “Church of St. George the Dragon Killer” dedicated to the 4th century Christian martyr Saint George, the patron saint of England. Then travel to the ancient port of Jaffa famous for its affiliation with the Biblical stories of Jonah the Prophet and Solomon. Finally, we transfer to the Tel Aviv airport for our return flight. (B)
YOUR JOURNEY
CLOTHING
We strongly advise that you pack clothes according to the season in which you visit Israel. For summers, pack light weight clothing, preferably short-sleeved or sleeveless shirts with shorts, and sandals. For winter tours, pack a coat and a raincoat with shoes that fully cover your feet, an umbrella, gloves, a scarf, and other warm items. Beach shoes and a bathing suit are a plus if your trip includes a visit to Eilat or the Dead Sea. Even in summer, pack a sweater or jacket for the chilly nights in the mountains and desert
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Pack your personal appliances as you would for any international trip. Note that the power grid in Israel offers single-phase 220 Volts at 50 Hertz. Most sockets in the walls there have threepinholes, butbringing an adaptor plug will solve that problem. If you or somebody in your group intends to use shavers, traveling irons, or any other small appliances, it would be wise to pack a transformer as well
PASSPORTS & VISAS
All visitors to Israel must carry a passport that does not expire for at least six months after they intend to depart from the country. Visitors to Israel must check if they need a prearranged tourist visa depending on their nationality
CURRENCY
The Israeli currency is the New Israeli Shekel. On arrival in Israel, use your bank-card to withdraw some Shekels from the ATM in the arrival-halls at Ben Gurion or change a small amount of dollars at a bank or your hotel. There are ATM machines all over Israel and credit cards are widely accepted.
INCLUDED WITH EVERY LUXURY SMALL GROUP JOURNEY
- Your preferred choice of accommodation: Deluxe, First Class, Superior Class Hotels Kibbutz and religious guest houses.
- Breakfast & dinner buffets daily at hotel
- Porterage service at hotels
- Meet and assist at border and crossing points
- Carefree travel with arrangement that include border taxes and visas
- Professional and Licensed guides that speak your language
- Entrance fees
- Transportation in a modern, comfortable WI-FI equipped coaches
- Maps & Hats
- Daily bottles of water
- Israel Ministry of tourism certificates
- Headsets
OTHER JOURNEYS YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN
LET US KEEP IN TOUCH
CONTACT US
Give us a call or drop us a line
SEND A MESSAGE
You can contact us also by:
Overseas Travel Bureau O.T.B (ltd)
Your Partner in the Holy land
Phone: +972 (0) 2 6287090 [email protected]
44 Ragheb Al Nashashibi St. – P.O.BOX 24091 Jerusalem, Israel
CONTACT US
Give us a call or drop us a line
SEND A MESSAGE
You can contact us also by:
Overseas Travel Beureu (O.T.B)
Your partner in the Holy land
Phone: +972 (0) 2 6287090 | [email protected]
44 Raghed Nashashibi St.-P.O.Box 51013 Jerusalem, Israel