Israel & Greece

Apr 12 Wed Depart Chicago at 9:40 pm – Fly Tel Aviv

Apr 13 Thu Arrive Tel Aviv Airport
Our representative will meet you at Tel Aviv Airport after the customs and baggage claim with a “JEFF DODGE – TUTKU TOURS” sign. Meet and transfer to the hotel TAL BY THE BEACH for diner and overnight. (D)

Apr 14 Fri Joppa - Caesarea - Mt. Carmel - Megiddo - Mount Tabor
Drive north to Caesarea to see the ruins of this large port city built by Herod the Great to honor Roman Caesar Augustus. After lunch drive to Mt. Carmel and the Carmelite Monastery of Muhraka, where God caused Elijah to defeat the priests of Ba’al. From Mt. Carmel see the magnificent panoramic view of the Jezreel valley before. Descend to Megiddo to tour this important archaeological site where many important battles took place and the referent for Armageddon in Revelation 16:16. Brief stop on Mount Tabor, traditional site of Jesus’ Transfiguration. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at SEA OF GALILEE HOTEL. (B,D)

Apr 15 Sat Nazareth - Cana - Chorazim - Dan - Caesarea Philippi
Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth and traditional Mt of Precipice Lookout where Christ was taken to thrown down the cliff. Stop in Cana at the traditional wedding church. On the drive to northern Galilee we’ll see the synagogue at Chorazim. From there we drive ruins of Tel Dan. We will walk in the verdant nature preserve to see the altar as well as the famous Solomon’s Gate. We then visit Caesarea Philippi (Banias) to see the source of the Jordan River and the site of Peter’s confession of Christ (Matthew 16:18). Drive through the Golan Heights as we return to the holiday village of En-Gev kibbutz for dinner & overnight. (B,D)

Apr 16 Sun Boat Ride to Ginnosar - Boat Museum - Magdala - Capernaum - Mount of Beatitudes - Tabgha
Boat ride from En-gev to Kibbutz Nof Ginosar where we will visit the Yigal Alon Museum that houses the remains of a first-century boat, sometimes called the “Jesus boat.” Later we will visit the ruins of the synagogue at Magdala. Then we will stop at Capernaum to see the ruins of the synagogue and Peter’s house. At Tabgha we will see the church that celebrates the miracle of the loaves and fishes. We then continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. Dinner and overnight at Sea of Galilee. (B,D)

Apr 17 Mon Beth Shean - Jericho - Jordan River - Qumran
Morning drive to Beth Shean, one of Israel’s most ancient cities, which became Scythopolis under the Romans. We continue south through the Jordan Valley to Jericho, one of the world’ oldest cities. At Qasr el-Yehud we will see the traditional location of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Those who wish to be rebaptized in the Jordan may do so. We continue to the Dead Sea area to see Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. Swim in the Dead Sea before dinner and overnight at EIN GEDDI. (B,D)

Apr 18 Tue Ein Gedi - Masada - Israel Museum
Visit Ein Gedi Nature Reserve for a short hike towards the natural springs. At Masada we will ride up to this natural fortress using the cable car to overlook the Dead Sea. After exploring the extensive remains where Jewish zealots held off the Romans until 72 AD, those who wish can hike down the Snake Path back to the Visitors’ Center. Driving up to Jerusalem we will visit the Israel Museum and become oriented to Jerusalem through its 3D map of the ancient city. Dinner and overnight at GRAND COURT in Jerusalem. (B,D)

Apr 19 Wed Bethlehem - Herodion - Mount of Olives - Pool of Bethesda - Church of the Holy Sepulcher
We first drive to the Herodion, the fortress King Herod built south of Jerusalem. We then visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity built over the traditional cave where Jesus was born. Returning to Jerusalem, we first stop for an overlook on the Mount of Olives. We then descend the Mount to the Garden of Gethsemane. After a brief stop at the Church of All Nations and the tomb of Mary, we will enter the old city through the Lion Gate. We stop at the Pool of Bethesda to see where Jesus’ healing took place. Passing through the Damascus Gate, we walk to the Garden Tomb where we will end our day with a short service with communion. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B,D)

Apr 20 Thu Walking Tour of Jerusalem
We begin our walking tour by passing through the Armenian quarter and out the Zion Gate onto Mount Zion to see the Cenacle, traditional site of the Pentecost event in Acts 2 as well as the tomb of David. We then walk downhill to the City of David to visit Hezekiah’s tunnel and the Pool of Siloam. Our bus will take us back to the Dung Gate where we will visit the Temple Mount excavations on the southern steps. If conditions allow, we will then walk on the temple mount now the home to the Islamic shrine, the Dome of the Rock. Afterward we will stop at the Western Wall of the ancient temple. We then walk up through the Jewish Quarter to the Via Dolorosa following it to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher to see the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Apr 21 Fri Tel Aviv Airport - Fly Thessaloniki (via Istanbul)
Free time in the morning. Transfer from hotel to Tel Aviv Airport. Fly Istanbul by TK 795 14:20/16:55 + take connection flight to Thessaloniki TK 1893 19:10/20:30 Our representative will meet you at Thessaloniki Airport after the customs and baggage claim with a “JEFF DODGE – TUTKU TOURS” sign. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (B,D)

Apr 22 Sat Philippi – Thessaloniki
Drive to Philippi, where Paul, intending to find a place to pray by the riverside, spoke to women who had gathered there among whom was Lydia, the seller of purple and whose heart the Lord opened to hear the words that he spoke (Acts 16:13-15). Lydia was the first Christian to be baptized on European soil. Visit the place where this event is remembered and see a crypt dating from the Roman period, which is thought to have served as a prison for the apostle Paul. See the famous Acropolis, the Market Place, the Basilica, and the Theater. Return to Thessaloniki, the city where Paul was accused of turning the world upside down by his preaching of Christ (Acts 17: 3-6), and the church to which he addressed his Thessalonian epistles, visit St. George’s Basilica, where tradition holds it is built over the synagogue where Paul preached. View the Old City Ramparts, and the Galerius Arch that rises over the Via Egnatia. See two of the most beautiful basilicas in the city, St. Sophia and St. Demetrios, dedicated to a distinguished member of the Roman army and a martyred Christian convert. Dinner and overnight in Thessaloniki. (B,D)

Apr 23 Sun Berea - Thermopylae - Delphi
Drive to Veria (Berea) (Act 17: 10-12) to see the Tomb of Philip. Then drive to Thermopylae. It is a mountain pass near the sea in northern Greece which was the site of several battles in antiquity, the most famous being that between Persians and Greeks in 480 BCE. Visit the Thermopylae Museum. Dinner and overnight in Delphi (B,D)

Apr 24 Mon Delphi - Athens
Travel to scenic Delphi, the religious center of the ancient Greek world. Walk the Sacra Via to the Athenian Treasury, the Theatre, and the Temple of Apollo where the oracle performed his or her prophetic rituals. Visit the Museum. Then proceed to Athens. Upon arrival visit world renowned Acropolis where we will visit the Propylaea, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum. Leaving the Acropolis we arrive at Mars Hill (site of the Aeropagus) where the apostle Paul stood before the city council members and declared, “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD” (Acts 17:22-23). Dinner & overnight in Athens (B,D)

Apr 25 Tue Athens Tour
Meet and drive to ancient Corinth. Arriving at Corinth, it was here that Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul and here the Apostle lived and preached for a year and a half. While in ministry at Corinth, Paul wrote First and Second Thessalonians to the newly established church in Thessalonica. Later, the church at Corinth would receive two letters from Paul (First and Second Corinthians). Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth who came to Corinth from Rome due to persecution during the reign of Claudius (Acts 18:1-17). We will see all of the Greek and Roman sites associated with Paul’s ministry: the Agora, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Odeon, the Bema and Gallio’s Seat. Return to Athens. Our day begins with visit to Agora, the market place of Athens. Here too Paul addressed the people of Athens and reasoned with Athenians for Jesus being the Son of God (Acts 17:17). Paul probably spent the entire winter in Athens before he left for Corinth. Next is the Acropolis Museum which showcases the statuary art, relief panels, vases and votive offering associated with the Acropolis. We end the day with a visit to the top of Filopappou Hill for a sunset view of the Acropolis. Dinner and overnight in Athens. (B,D)

Apr 26 Wed Athens Airport – Fly
Back to Chicago (via Istanbul) – Arrive Chicago at 5:35 pm same day.