The Jesus Tour - Israel + Ephesus Extension

April 13, Thursday Depart USA to Istanbul
Tour participants depart on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul from one of the following airports: Seattle, LAX, Houston, New York JFK, Washington DC.

April 14, Friday 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.” Overnight Tel Aviv. (Metropolitan Hotel, www.metropolitanhoteltlv.com)

April 15, Saturday 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 Jesus. 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). We then drive (45 minutes) to Lake Galilee and our hotel Ron Beach (www.ronbeachhotel.com)

April 16, Sunday 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 firstcentury 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 follow 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. Wevisit 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). (Ron Beach)

April 17, Monday 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 highway 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 located2 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 (Ron Beach)

April 18, Tuesday 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.(Herbert Samuel Hotel overnight)

April 19, Wednesday 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 in east Jerusalem (Grand Court Hotel)

April 20, Thursday Bethlehem and Jerusalem 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. We then walk through the Old City to our hotel for dinner (Grand Court Hotel)

April 21, Friday 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 north-south ridge and is located on the eastside 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 Jesus.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 translations of the Lord’s Prayer in 140 languages. We then walk down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsamne and 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 tear-drop shaped roof of the Dominus Flevit Church (Latin “Lord Weeps”, it represents where Jesus 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 Stations 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 traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, tomb, and resurrection. Here we will take communion together and then return to our hotel for dinner (Grand Court Hotel)

April 22, Saturday Jerusalem Museums or Free Day
After breakfast you have three options. (Option 1) A day tour throughIsrael Museums: Israel Museum/Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls) and Yad Vashem Museum (Holocaust). (Option 2) A half-day Museum tour and a free afternoon. (Option 3) A totally free day. Everyone must return to the hotel for dinner (Grand Court Hotel)

April 23, Sunday 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 (Grand Court Hotel)

EPHESUS EXTENSION

April 24, Monday Departure USA or Ephesus Extension
After breakfast we drive (one hour) from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Airport to fly to Istanbul and then to USA.

April 24, Monday Departure for Ephesus, Turkey
After breakfast we drive (one hour) from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Airport to fly to fly to Istanbul. We then fly to Izmir Airport to start the Seven Churches tour and the Ephesus Extension. We drive (one hour) to our hotel on the Aegean Sea for dinner andovernight (Korumar Hotel, Sea View Rooms www. korumar.com.tr) (D).

April 25, Tuesday Biblical Ephesus Tour
After breakfast we tour the archaeological biblical city of Ephesus. This magnificent reconstructed Greco-Roman port city has the great theater, marble-paved roads, Roman baths, the Celsus Library, and much more. Today,Ephesus is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The apostle Paul lived and ministered here for three years from where he wrote 1 Corinthians. Later on Paul wrote the letters of Ephesus and 1-2 Timothy that he sent to Ephesus. We return to our hotel on the Aegean Sea for dinner and overnight (KoruMar Hotel) (B,D) April 26,Wednesday Ephesus Area Tour After breakfast we visit the archaeological museum of Ephesus displaying ancient coins, statues, and mosaics from the Roman period, the archeological remains of the spectacular Basilica of Saint John where the apostle John was buried, and the modern Turkish towns of Sirince and Selcuk where you will meet the locals and shop. For those who are interest, you can visit a local Anatolian Handmade Carpet and Kilim production centerand learn how world-famous Turkish rugs are made. We drive (20 minutes) to our hotel on the Aegean Sea for dinner and overnight (KoruMar Hotel). (B, D)

April 27, Thursday Departure to USA
After breakfast those on the Ephesus Extension fly to Istanbul for their International flight back to the USA.

• Roundtrip international flights on Turkish Airlines from LAX, Seattle,Houston, New York, Chicago, Washington DC
• 1 Night at Metropolitan Hotel at the Tel Aviv
• 3 Nights at the Ron Beach at the Sea of Galilee
• 1 Night at the Herbert Samuel Hotel at the Dead Sea
• 5 Nights at the Grand Court Jerusalem
• 3 Nights at Korumar Hotel – Sea View Rooms
• Extension Only
• Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels
• 10 Dinners at the hotels
• 1 lunch (St. Peters fish Lunch)
• Arrival & departure Transfers
• Transportation by deluxe AC motor coach
• Boat Tour at Sea of Galilee
• All entry fees to the sites and museums as per the 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 & driver

• Extras of personal nature & insurance of any kind
• Lunches (except St Peter Fish Lunch) and Beverages
• COVID related expenses ( PCR check and other )
• Optional tour: Sunday April 23 - Half day Yad Vashem Museum $40 per person
• Turkish Visa to be paid online before arrival www.evisa.gov.tr Extension only