Israel - The Jesus Tour

Oct 20 Tue - Depart USA to Istanbul
Tour participants depart on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul from one of the following air-ports: Seattle, LAX, Houston, New York JFK, Washington DC.

Oct 21 Wed - Istanbul to Tel Aviv, Israel
Our overseas flights arrive in Istanbul, where we take a connection flight to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel (a two hour flight). We go through customs, meet our Israeli guide or representative after the baggage claim with a sign that reads “DR. ANDREW JACKSON TOUR - TUTKU.” Then we drive to our hotel RON BEACH TIBERIAS.

Oct 22 Thu - Mediterranean Coast and Galilee 
After breakfast we drive north (30 minutes) along the Mediterranean Coast to the large archaeological site of Caesarea Maritima, a major port city on the Mediterranean Sea built by Herod the Great and named for Caesar Augustus. It was in Caesarea that the apostle Paul was imprisoned for two years (Acts 24:27) before being sent to Rome for his trial (Acts 26:30-32). We then drive (one hour) to Nazareth, the hometown of Je-sus. We visit the Nazareth Village, a recreation of small-town life in the time of Jesus, and the Church of the Annunciation, the traditional site of the house of Mary and where the angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced that she would give birth to the Messiah, this event is known as the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38). Dinner and overnight at RON BEACH HOTEL TIBERIAS.

Oct 23 Fri - The Western Shore of Lake Galilee
After breakfast we drive north along the western shore of Lake Galilee visiting some of the primary locations of Jesus’ ministry and teaching. Our first stop is the excavated site of Capernaum, the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee (Matthew 4:13-16). Jesus lived at Peter’s house, which was often full of people (Matthew 8:14-17). Archaeological excavations uncovered a first-century house church, which was identified as Peter’s house. In the AD 400s an octagonal church was built over the house, and in AD 1990 a modern church was built on top and is known today as Saint Peter’s Church. Near the the church is a white limestone synagogue built over the black basalt first-century synagogue where Jesus ministered. We then drive to visit the Mount of Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount, the traditional location of Jesus’ teaching called the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12) and the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:13- chapter 7). It was here that he chose his 12 apostles (Matthew 10:1-4) and gave them the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). We visit the Church of the Beatitudes, which sits uphill from the ruins of a small church and monastery dating to the late AD 300s. From the Mount of Beatitudes there is a beautiful view of the four-mile long fertile plain of Gennesaret where Jesus ministered to large crowds of people. We then drive to the “Cove of the Parables” (Matthew 13:1-2), a horse-shaped inlet with sloping land going up the hill and creates a natural amphitheater. Because of its acoustics, Jesus ministered to large crowds here and taught parables (Matthew 13). We then drive to the Cove of Tabga, where seven mineral springs flow into Lake Galilee. The warm springs attract fish and this was a favorite fishing area during the time of Jesus. It is likely here that Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John (Matthew 4:18-22) to fol-low him. We visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, built upon a church that dates back to the AD 300s, and the Church of the Primacy of Peter, built in the AD 300s, that commemorates Jesus feeding his disciples after his resurrection (John 21:1–14). We then drive to the excavated town of Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2). Magdala has a first-century synagogue where Jesus taught and there are remains of a prosperous fish processing industry. We visit a modern church dedicated to the women of the Bible that contains a replica of a first-century fishing boat. Jesus’ boat landed on the plain of Magadan (Dalmanutha) (Mark 8:9-10). Dinner and overnight at RON BEACH HOTEL TIBERIAS.

Oct 24 Sat - Caesarea Philippi and East Shore of Lake Galilee
After breakfast we drive to the Kibbutz Ginosar’s Yigal Aion Museum that houses the remains of a first-century fishing boat discovered in Lake Galilee in 1986. It is called the “Jesus Boat.” Then we take a boat ride on Lake Galilee. We then drive (one hour) to visit Caesarea Philippi in northern Galilee. It is located along the high-way to Damascus to Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21-28). It was the capital of the region of Herod Philip at the headwaters of the Jordan River. Herod the Great built a white marble temple here to the Roman emperor Augustus. It was here that Peter declared that Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 16:13). Caesarea Philippi is located at the foothills of Mount Hermon, which is probably the location of Jesus’ transfiguration (Matthew 17:1). We then drive (one hour) to the fishing town and plain of Bethsaida that is located 2 miles east of the Jordan River’s entrance into Lake Galilee. The town of Bethsaida was build by Herod Philip. Bethsaida was the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip. It was on the spacious plain of Bethsaida where Jesus supernaturally fed 5,000 men (Matthew 14:15-21). We then drive (15 minutes) to the archaeological site of Kursi National Park located on the eastern shore of Lake Galilee at the foothills of the Golan Heights. A large church and monastery built in the AD 400s was excavated here. It is likely here that Jesus cast demons out of wild demonized men and sent the demons into a herd of pigs that ran into Lake Galilee and drowned (Matthew 8:28-34). We then drive (40 minutes) around the southern end of Lake Galilee to our hotel for dinner. Dinner and overnight at RON BEACH HOTEL TIBERIAS.

Oct 25 Sun - From Galilee to the Dead Sea 
After breakfast we drive (two hours) down the Jordan River Valley to the baptismal site of John the Baptist on the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized. Dr. Jackson baptizes those who would like to be baptized or experience a baptism renewal in the Jordan River. This is where Israel crossed Jordan into the Promised Land. The nation of modern Jordan is located across the river. We then drive (one hour) down the west coast of the Dead Sea to the Masada National Park and visit Masada. We swim in the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight at the HERBERT SAMUEL HOTEL DEAD SEA.

Oct 26 Mon - From the Dead Sea to Jerusalem 
After breakfast we drive (45 minutes) to Qumran National Park and visit where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We then drive (30 minutes) to Jericho (Jesus’ temptations, Matthew 4:1-11) and up the steep road through the Judea wilderness to the biblical town of Bethany on the south-east-side of the Mount of Olives, the town of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We visit the traditional tomb of Lazarus (John 11:17-20). We then drive (30 minutes) to our hotel for dinner and overnight, GRAND COURT HOTEL Jerusalem. 

Oct 27 Tue - Bethlehem and Jerusalem Museams Tour
After breakfast we drive (30 minutes) to Bethlehem, where we visit the Shepherd’s field (Luke 2:8-12) and the Church of the Nativity built over a cave where tradition tells us that Jesus was born. The church was built by Constantine in AD 390 and rebuilt by Justinian in the AD 500s. Returning to Jerusalem (30 minutes) we enter the Old City through the Jaffa Gate to King Herod the Great’s Palace, where the Roman trial of Jesus took place before Pontius Pilate (Matthew 27:1-2). We walk through the Old City to visit the Upper Room (location of the Passover meal, Matthew 26:17-19) and King David’s Tomb on Mount Zion. Mount Zion is dominated by the Church of Domitian (representing the place of the death of Mary). We then walk down the hill to the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. This is possibly where Peter denied Jesus, and the location of the palace of High Priest Caiaphas, where the Jewish trial Jesus took place and where he was condemned to crucifixion (John 18:12-14, Matthew 26:57-58). We walk down the hill by the City of David (2 Samuel 5:6-7) and into the Old City through the Dung Gate to the Western Wall and the Temple Mount. We also visit the excavated Huldah Gates, the primary entrance into the Temple during the time of Jesus. Dinner and overnight at the GRAND COURT HOTEL Jerusalem.

Oct 28 Wed - Jerusalem Tour
After breakfast we drive to the top of Mount of Olives, where we have a beautiful view of the Temple Mount. The Mount of Olives is a northsouth ridge and is located on the east side of Jerusalem. It is separated from the Old City by the Kidron Valley. It is called the Mount of Olives because of the olive groves that covered it at the time of Je-sus. This is where Jesus ascended to heaven (Luke 24:50-51). We visit the Church of Pater Noster representing Jesus’ Lord’s Prayer. On walls around the church are trans-lations of the Lord!s Prayer in 140 languages. We then walk down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsamneand visit the Church of the Nations (Matthew 26:36). This walk follows the route of Jesus on the Palm Sunday. During our walk we see the golden onion domes of the Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene, and the teardrop shaped roof of the Dominus Flevit Church (Latin “Lord Weeps”, it represents where Je-sus wept over Jerusalem). The bus will pick up our group and drive us to the Jaffa gate. We walk into the Old City to the Church of Holy Sepulcher, also called the Church of the Resurrection. This is the authentic area of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. We then walk the traditional Via Delarosa (Way of Sorrows), the 14 Sta-tions of the Cross, identifying with the suffering of Jesus on his way to the cross. We depart the Old City and visit the Gordon’s Calvary and the Garden Tomb, the tradi-tional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, tomb, and resurrection. Here we will take communion together and then return to our hotel for dinner - Golden Walls Jerusalem.

Oct 29 Thu - Jerusalem Museum Tour and Free Day
After breakfast, we will visit the Israel Museum/Second Temple Model and the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls). After lunch, there will be a free day. Dinner and overnight at the GRAND COURT HOTEL Jerusalem.

Oct 30 Fri - Jerusalem Free Day
After breakfast we have a free day as couples or in small groups. Return to the hotel for dinner and prepare for early departure the next morning - Dinner and overnight at the GRAND COURT HOTEL Jerusalem.

Oct 31 Sat - Depart to USA or Turkey 
After breakfast we drive (one hour) from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Airport to fly to Istanbul and then to USA.

- Roundtrip international fare on Turkish Airlines from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Houston, or Atlanta. 
- 4 nights at Ron Beach Hotel on the Sea of Galilee
- 1 night at the Herbert Samuel Hotel at the Dead Sea
- 5 nights at Grand Court  Jerusalem
- Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels
- 10  Dinners
- 1 lunch (St. Peters fish Lunch)
- Arrival & departure Transfers  
- Transportation by deluxe AC motor coach  
- Boat Tour at Sea of Galilee
- Entry fees to the sites and museums as per Itinerary
- English Speaking licensed tour guide during all tours & transfers
- Personal headsets (whispers)
- Service charges and local taxes
- Tips to hotel staff
- Tips to guide ($70) & driver ($30)

- Extras of personal nature & insurance of any kind
- Beverages with dinners and lunches
- Bus  & Guide on November 18, 2025