First Baptist Church Valdosta Georgia
April 14-April 26, 2012

This trip to Israel included total of 10 participants this year. We visited Israel from the North to the South and went to Petra in Jordan. Here is the itinerary for this trip, together with few photos and comments participants had about this trip:


Day 1, Saturday, April 14, 2012
Depart from the US to Tel Aviv, Israel.

Day 2, Sunday, April 15, 2012
Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Transfer to our hotel in Tiberias. Overnight by the Lake.
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias

Day 3, Monday, April 16, 2012
Today we start our tour in Israel. Leaving Tiberias, we will visit Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus and spend some time in the Nazareth Village where we will learn how people used to live in the time of Jesus in a Jewish village. We will also visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and the old Synagogue where Jesus himself was teaching. Driving pass Mary’s Well, we will then continue to village of Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle turning water into wine at the Jewish wedding. Rest of the day we will spend in the Golan Heights. We will make a short stop at the factory shop of Naot on our way up to the Golan. We will then visit Caesarea Phillipi and look at the Israeli-Syrian border and learn about the different wars of Israel. We will end the day facing the Sea of Galilee where we can enjoy communion together watching the beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee.
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias

Day 4, Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Today we will walk the path of Jesus in the land of Galilee.  We will visit the sites where his ministry began; where he preached, performed miracles and gathered the multitude to follow him: Mount Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), Capernaum, the headquarters of his ministry where we will visit the old Synagogue and Peter’s House, Tabgha, where the multiplication of the loaves and fish took place (Matthew 14:19-21). We will then visit the museum in Nof Ginosar where the “Jesus Boat” is displayed. This 1st century boat was discovered sunk in the mud in the Lake. We will take a Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee and spend time in a prayer service on the same waters Jesus walked (Mark 6:48-50). Our day will end with a baptism service at the Jordan River (Luke 3:21-22). 
Overnight: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias

Day 5, Wednesday, April 18, 2012
We will start our drive to Jerusalem via the coastal area of Israel. Our first visit will be to  the top of Mt. Carmel, where the great prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal and proved to the people that the God of Israel is the true God (1 Kings 18:17-40). On to Megiddo, the city of King Solomon and King Ahab, where 20 different layers of civilization were excavated also known as the valley where the kings of the earth will gather for the battle commonly referred to as the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16). Caesarea, the port city built by King Herod the great 2000 years ago and the place where Simon Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius, the Roman centurion who became the first Gentile convert (Acts 10: 44-48), will be our next site. We then continue to Jerusalem. Depending on arrival, we might stop for a panoramic view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus and a traditional entrance for the Holy city.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 6, Thursday, April 19, 2012 (Memorial day for the Holocaust)
Full day tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Starting with a panoramic view from Mt. of Olives, we will then continue to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus “often met with his disciples” (John 18:2) and where he spent his last hours in solitude before being captured by the Romans (Luke 22:47-53). Up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, Cenaculum, the place of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-22) and the place where the gift of the Holy Spirit came upon believers who were gathered there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Here is also King David’s Tomb.  Walk from there through the Zion Gate to visit the Jewish Quarters and the Roman Cardo, the main street in the Byzantine period of Jerusalem. On to the Western Wall, the holiest place for Jews, to pray to God’s presence and put a note in the wall. We will tour the Western Wall Tunnels, walking under the Western Wall plaza to the base of this remarkable wall and along it, all the way up north. Continue to walk the Via Dolorosa, the fourteen stations of the cross, starting at the Pool of Bethesda and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchure.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 7, Friday, April 20, 2012
Full day tour of the New City of Jerusalem. We will start the day visiting the City of David Excavations, where we will learn about Jerusalem of 3000 years ago. We will then pass the Knesset, Israeli Parliament with the famous Menorah, view the Supreme Court and drive to Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial. Continue to Machane Yehuda Market to get a sense of Jerusalem and the many faces of the people in it while we watch them getting ready for Shabbat. Towards the evening, we will go to the Western Wall to watch the Jewish people as they come to pray at the most sacred place for Jews.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 8, Saturday, April 21, 2012
We start our day with a visit to Bethlehem. We will then continue to the Israel Museum, the place where the Dead Sea scrolls are on display and the model of 2nd temple Jerusalem. Our day will end with the Garden Tomb, Golgotha or Calvary. Here, Jesus was crucified, died on the cross, was buried and raised from the dead (Matthew 27:33-61) and here we will have a service.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 9, Sunday, April 22, 2012
Today we start our journey South. We will stop at the Ellah Valley to talk about the famous fight between David and Goliath. We will then continue driving to the famous Ramon Crater and learn about how it was created. We will then have a Jeep Tour into the Crater to view its unique and beautiful views. Rest of the day we will drive down to Eilat, the most Southern city in Israel for overnight.
Overnight: Isrotel Agamim Hotel in Eilat

Day 10, Monday, April 23, 2012
Full day trip to Petra, Jordan and back to Eilat
Overnight: Isrotel Agamim Hotel in Eilat

Day 11, Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Today, we will leave Eilat and drive down to the Dead Sea area. We will stop at the Desert Tabernacle in Timna park to learn about the way this Tabernacle was built. We will then continue to the Dead Sea and have the rest of the day to relax at the Dead Sea, experience ‘floating’ on the water and use the facilities at the hotel. Tonight is the evening of Memorial Day for falling soldiers, so most public places are closed.
Overnight: Isrotel Dead Sea Hotel, Dead Sea

Day 12, Wednesday, April 25, 2012 (Memorial Day for Falling Soldiers)
Today we will visit the eastern slopes of the Judean Hills and the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea. We start in  Massada, the royal fortress built by King Herod and used by the Jewish Zealots as the last stronghold during the great revolt against Rome between 66-73 AD. We view the Ein Gedi waterfalls where King David escaped from his enemies and continue to Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written by the Yachad (Essene) Sect 2200 years ago and where they were discovered in 1947. We then drive to Tel Aviv for overnight. Tonight is the end of the Memorial Day for Falling Soldiers and the beginning of the Independence celebrations for Israel. We will have time to join people as they celebrate the Independence in the streets of Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Renaissance Hotel Tel Aviv

Day 13, Thursday, April 26, 2012 (Independence Day)
Today, our last day in the land, we will leave the hotel later in the morning and visit Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv was founded 100 years ago. We will drive through the Rabin Square where Yitzhaq Rabin was assassinated , see the Bauhaus neighborhoods of early Tel Aviv and visit Jaffa, the old port city and the artists galleries. Our day will end with an early dinner in Tel Aviv before we head to the airport for our flight back home

First Baptist Church Valdosta GA
May 15-26, 2010

This trip to Israel included total of 15 participants, from Georgia and Texas. We visited Israel from the North to the South, even went to Petra in Jordan. Here is the itinerary for this trip, together with few comments participants had about this trip:

Day 1, Saturday, May 15, 2010
Depart from the US to Tel Aviv, Israel.

Day 2, Sunday, May 16, 2010
Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv Delta Flight 152 Arriving at 05:20 PM). Meeting and assistance. Transfer to our hotel in Tiberias.
Overnight: Moriah Plaza Hotel or similar, Tiberias

Day 3, Monday, May 17, 2010
Today we start our tour in Israel. Leaving Tiberias, we will visit Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus and spend some time in the Nazareth Village where we will learn how people used to live in the time of Jesus in a Jewish village. We will also visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and the old Synagogue where Jesus himself was teaching. Driving pass Mary’s Well, we will then continue to village of Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle turning water into wine at the Jewish wedding. Rest of the day we will spend in the Golan Heights where we look at the Israeli-Syrian border and learn about the different wars of Israel.
Overnight: Moriah Plaza Hotel or similar, Tiberias

Day 4, Tuesday, May 18, 2010
We start our day with a Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee and spend some time in a prayer service on the same waters Jesus walked (Mark 6:48-50). Visit to the museum in Nof Ginosar where the “Jesus Boat” is displayed. This amazing ancient fishing boat, from the 1st century, was discovered sunk in the mud in the Lake of Galilee. Then we will walk the path of Jesus in the land of Galilee.  We will visit the sites where his ministry began; where he preached, performed miracles and gathered the multitude to follow him: Mount Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), Capernaum, the headquarters of his ministry where we will visit the old Synagogue and Peter’s House, Tabgha, where the multiplication of the loaves and fish took place (Matthew 14:19-21). Our day will end with a baptism service at the Jordan River (Luke 3:21-22). 
Overnight: Moriah Plaza Hotel or similar, Tiberias

Day 5, Wednesday, May 19, 2010
We will start our drive to Jerusalem via the coastal area of Israel. Our first visit will be to  the top of Mt. Carmel, where the great prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal and proved to the people that the God of Israel is the true God (1 Kings 18:17-40). On to Megiddo, the city of King Solomon and King Ahab, where 20 different layers of civilization were excavated also known as the valley where the kings of the earth will gather for the battle commonly referred to as the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16). Caesarea, the port city built by King Herod the great 2000 years ago and the place where Simon Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius, the Roman centurion who became the first Gentile convert (Acts 10: 44-48), will be our next site. We then continue to Jerusalem. Depending on arrival, we might stop for a panoramic view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus and a traditional entrance for the Holy city.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 6, Thursday, May 20, 2010
Full day tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Starting with a panoramic view from Mt. of Olives, we will then continue to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus “often met with his disciples” (John 18:2) and where he spent his last hours in solitude before being captured by the Romans (Luke 22:47-53). Up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, Cenaculum, the place of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-22) and the place where the gift of the Holy Spirit came upon believers who were gathered there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Here is also King David’s Tomb.  Walk from there through the Zion Gate to visit the Jewish Quarters and the Roman Cardo, the main street in the Byzantine period of Jerusalem. On to the Western Wall, the holiest place for Jews, to pray to God’s presence and put a note in the wall. We will tour the Western Wall Tunnels, walking under the Western Wall plaza to the base of this remarkable wall and along it, all the way up north. Continue to walk the Via Dolorosa, the fourteen stations of the cross, starting at the Pool of Bethesda and to the Church of the Holy Sepulchure.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 7, Friday, May 21, 2010
Full day tour of the New City of Jerusalem. We will start the day visiting the City of David Excavations, where we will learn about Jerusalem of 3000 years ago. We will then pass the Knesset, Israeli Parliament with the famous Menorah, view the Supreme Court and drive to Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial. Continue to Machane Yehuda Market to get a sense of Jerusalem and the many faces of the people in it while we watch them getting ready for Shabbat. Towards the evening, we will go to the Western Wall to watch the Jewish people as they come to pray at the most sacred place for Jews.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 8, Saturday, May 22, 2010
We start our day with the Israel Museum, the place where the Dead Sea scrolls are on display and the model of 2nd temple Jerusalem. We will then continue with a visit to Bethlehem and end our day with the Garden Tomb, Golgotha or Calvary. Here, Jesus was crucified, died on the cross, was buried and raised from the dead (Matthew 27:33-61) and here we will have a service. Time permitting, we will visit the Bible Time Center in Ein Karem.
Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 9, Sunday, May 23, 2010
Descend the eastern slopes of the Judean Hills to the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea. On to visit Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written by the Yachad (Essene) Sect 2200 years ago and where they were discovered in 1947. View of the Ein Gedi waterfalls where King David escaped from his enemies and continue to Massada, the royal fortress built by King Herod and used by the Jewish Zealots as the last stronghold during the great revolt against Rome between 66-73 AD. Rest of the afternoon we will enjoy the Dead Sea, where we can experience ‘floating’ on the water. We will then drive down to Mitzpe Ramon for overnight.
Overnight: Ramon Inn Hotel or similar, Mitzpe Ramon

Day 10, Monday, May 24, 2010
Today we will visit the famous Ramon Crater and learn about how it was created. We will then have a Jeep Tour into the Crater to view its unique and beautiful views. Rest of the day we will drive down to Eilat, the most Southern city in Israel for overnight.
Overnight: Agamim (Isrotel) Hotel or similar, Eilat

Day 11, Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Full day trip to Petra, Jordan and back to Eilat
Overnight: Agamim (Isrotel) Hotel or similar, Eilat

Day 12, Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Today, our last day in the land, we will leave the hotel later in the morning and drive down to Tel Aviv. We will stop at the Desert Tabernacle in Timna park to learn about the way this Tabernacle was built. We will stop at the Ellah Valley to talk about the famous fight between David and Goliath. We will then drive to Tel Aviv to visit the city founded 100 years ago. We will drive through the Rabin Square where Yitzhaq Rabin was assassinated , see the Bauhaus neighborhoods of early Tel Aviv and visit Jaffa, the old port city and the artists galleries. Our day will end with Dinner in Tel Aviv before we head to the airport for our flight back home (Delta Fight 153 Departing at 11:35 PM)

Christian Trip to Israel
10 days suggested Itinerary
With an option to Petra, Jordan

Day 1
Departure to your flight to Tel Aviv

Day 2
Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Meeting and assistance. Transfer to a Kibbutz guest house by the Lake of Tiberias. Depending on arrival time, visit to sites en route to the north such as Jaffa and/or Caesarea.
Overnight: Kibbutz guest house, Tiberias

Day 3
We start our day with a visit to the museum in Nof Ginosar where the “Jesus Boat” is displayed. This amazing ancient fishing boat, from the 1st century, was discovered sunk in the mud in the Lake of Galilee. Then we will walk the path of Jesus in the land of Galilee.  We will visit the sites where his ministry began; where he preached, performed miracles and gathered the multitude to follow him: Capernaum, the headquarters of his ministry, Mount Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5: 1-12) and Tabgha, where the multiplication of the loaves and fish took place (Matthew 14: 19-21). After lunch, we will visit Mt. Arbel. The beautiful view of the Sea Of Galilee will strike us as we stand on the top. Our day will end with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and spend some time in a prayer service on the same waters Jesus walked (Mark 6: 48-50).
Dinner and opening ceremony at a beautiful restaurant by the Lake of Galilee.
Overnight: Kibbutz guest house, Tiberias

Day 4
Ascend the Golan Heights for a breathtaking view of the Lower Galilee. We will start with the view point towards the Israeli-Lebanese border, from the town of Metula. Through the remains of the Syrian bunkers on the Golan Heights,  controlling the Kibbutzim in the valley, we will drive up north, learning about the 6 day war in 1967 and the Yom Kippur war in 1973 and understand Israel’s unique situation in the Golan. Pass and visit Banias Nature Reserve and waterfalls, known as Caesarea Philippi, where Peter confessed Jesus’ messiahship (Matthew 16: 13-17). After lunch, we will end the day with a Jeep Ride in the Golan Heights, this time visiting sites we were not able to visit with a regular vehicle and getting a full depth of the Golan.
Overnight: Kibbutz guest house, Tiberias

Day 5
Today we will start with a visit to  the village of Cana where Jesus performed his first public miracle of changing water into wine (John 2: 1-10). Visit Nazareth, the “City of the Annunciation”, where the angel Gabriel revealed to Mary the imminent birth of Jesus and John the Baptist (Luke 1, 26-38). After lunch, visit to Beth Shean, one of the oldest cities in the Holy Land and a major crossroads in the Beth Shean valley, which reached its peak in Roman and Byzantine periods. Our day will end in the baptismal site Yardenit, where even today, Christians are being baptized (Luke 3:21-22).
Overnight: Kibbutz guest house, Tiberias

Day 6
Check out of our Kibbutz Guest House and drive to Jerusalem through the coast. On to the top of Mt. Carmel, where where the great prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal and proved to the people that the God of Israel is the true God (1 Kings 18: 17-40). On to Megiddo, the city of King Solomon and King Ahab, where 20 different layers of civilization were excavated also known as the valley where the kings of the earth will gather for the final battle between good and evil (Revelation 16: 12-16). Caesarea, the port city built by King Herods the great 2000 years ago and the place where Simon Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius, the Roman centurion who became the first gentile convert (Acts 10: 44-48), will be our next site. We then continue to Jerusalem. Depending on arrival, we might stop for a panoramic viewof Jerusalem  from Mt. Scopus and a traditional entrance for the Holy city.
Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem

Day 7
Full day tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Starting with a panoramic view from Mt. of Olives, we will then continue to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus “often met with his disciples” (John 18, 2) and where he spent his last hours in solitude before being captured by the Romans (Luke 22, 47-53). Next is the Upper Room, Cenaculum, the place of the Last Supper (Luke 22, 14-22) and the  place where the gift of the Holy Spirit came upon believers who were gathered there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Enter the city walls through the Zion gate to visit the Jewish Quarters and The Roman Cardo, the main street in the Byzantine period of Jerusalem. Visit the Temple Institute where Jewish scholars study the Jewish Temple and its Vessels and see the exhibition of Temple Tools. After lunch, If possible, we will end the day with a visit to Bethlehem.
Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem

Day 8
Full day tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Drive to Mt. Zion to visit the house of Caiaphas the high priest during the 2nd temple period. This church called the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is where Peter denied Jesus three times before the crowing of the cock (Mark 14, 53-62). Here we will see the underground rooms which may have been used as guard houses and a prison. We will also see the ancient steps, which were cut into the hill and led to the City of David, the Kidron Valley and Gethsemane. This is likely the path Jesus took in his way from the Upper Room to Gethsemane. we will tour the Western Wall Tunnels, walking under the Western Wall plaza to the base of this remarkable wall and along it, all the way up north. Later, we will walk the Via Dolorosa, passing the 14 stations of the cross and ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,. End of our day will be in the Garden Tomb, Golgotha or Calvary. Here, Jesus was crucified, died on the cross, was buried and raised from the dead  (Matthew 27, 33-61) and here we will have a service.
Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem

Day 9
Full day tour of the New City of Jerusalem. Pass the Knesset, Israeli Parliament with the famous Menorah, view the Supreme Court and drive to Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial. On to the Israel Museum, the place where the Dead Sea scrolls are on display, to visit also the model of 2nd temple Jerusalem. Visit. Continue through the sites that tell the story of divided Jerusalem: the turgeman stronghold and ammunition hill and end the day with in the open market of Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda
In the evening, optional tour to Mini Israel for these who are interested
Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem

Day 10
Descend the eastern slopes of the Judean Hills to the lowest place on earth, the  Dead Sea. Visit Qumeran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written by the Yahad Sect 2200 years ago and where they were discovered in 1947. On to the Ein Gedi waterfalls where King David escaped from his enemies for a short hike in the desert. Drive to Massada, the royal fortress built by King Herod and used by the Jewish Zealots as the last stronghold during the great revolt against Rome between 66-73 AD. Finish the day in the Dead Sea, where you can enjoy ‘floating’ on the water.
Dinner and a closing ceremony in a Bedouin tent  somewhere in the desert.
Overnight: Hotel in the Dead Sea

Day 11
Free morning at leisure. Departure to the airport for some participants.  Others, choosing to stay longer may take the optional trip to Jordan to visit Petra. These participants will drive to Eilat and spend the night in Eilat.
Overnight: Hotel inEilat

Day 12
Optional day trip to Petra, Jordan  to visit the famous Red Rock City.
Overnight: Hotel inEilat

Day 13
Departure to Airport for flight home.