Christian Trip to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Masada & Dead Sea - 3 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Jerusalem & Bethlehem

Stop At: Church of the Nativity, Manger Square .15 minutes walking from bus 231, Bethlehem Palestinian Territories
Israel is home to two of the most sacred Christian destinations in the world, which if that's what you're after, then Jerusalem and Bethlehem are the places to visit. On top of Mount Scopus is where we'll start and take the opportunity to view the beautiful landscape of Jerusalem. We'll pass the Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations and the Kidron Valley on our way down the Mount, heading towards our first destination, the Old City. We'll enter the Old City into the Jewish Quarter where we'll see the sights of the Byzantine-era Cardo and head to the Western Wall, with the chance to place a prayer within the stones. After this, we'll take a special walk and follow in the footsteps that Jesus carried his cross, as we follow the Via Dolorosa.

At the end of this journey we'll end at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, allowing us to visit the site of both Jesus' place of crucifixion and burial place.

We'll make tracks and head to Bethlehem, arriving at Manger Square where we'll visit the Basilica of the Nativity. Here holds what is known formally as the Grotto of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus. There's a mosaic from the 4th century that still lives today from when the church was first built. If we've enough time at the end of the tour, we'll then head beneath the Church of St Catherine to visit the chapel caves. After this we'll head back to the hotels for a well earned nights sleep.
Duration: 9 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 2: Masada & Dead Sea Tour

Stop At: Masada National Park, Some 18 km south of Ein Gedi or 12 km from Ein Bokek to the cable car on the east side., Masada 8698000 Israel
We begin out journey by taking the route down from Jerusalem descending below sea level through the Biblical wilderness towards the Dead Sea. On the way we can see the Inn of the Good Samaritan and stop on route to look out across the desert as we pass the point marking "sea level". The ancient city of Jericho can be seen in the distance where Joshua's troops caused the walls to fall and where Jesus healed the blind .

We reach the shores of the Dead Sea encrusted with white salt and follow the shoreline towards Masada. Although it's possible to climb the ancient Snake Path up Masada as the Romans did 2000 years ago, we take the convenient cable car up to the mountain top plateau. It was here that King Herod built a fortified palace complete with every convenience. Herod had built a swimming pool, water cisterns, two palaces, store rooms and even a synagogue.

Following Herod's death the mountain top was the last outpost of Jewish zealots when the Romans tried to rid the land of Jews in the First Jewish-Roman War of 66-73AD. The Jewish zealots maintained their position for three years before the Romans finally managed to scale Masada using a ramp built by slaves. The 960 Jews didn't wait for the Romans to reach the summit, instead they killed themselves, becoming religious martyrs.

It was on Masada that the first parchment from this era was discovered in an Israeli archaeological excavation. On the parchment was the prophesy of Ezekiel "…I will take the children of Israeli from among the nations…and bring them into their own land…".

Heading back to the Dead Sea we pass the desert oasis of Ein Gedi where there is lush foliage and gorgeous waterfalls and where David hid from angry King Saul. We also pass by Qumran were the 2,000 year old Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a number of hillside caves.

To end off a perfect day we stop at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth and a contender for the title of one of the Seven Wonders of the World. People come from across the globe to enjoy the therapeutic mineral rich waters. And don't worry if you don't know how to swim, the high salt content will keep you afloat.
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 3: Jerusalem In the Footsteps of Jesus

Stop At: Western Wall Plaza Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem 97500 Israel
On this tour our first stop is the Church of the Ascension We'll start off on the Mount of Olives, a place famous for the church from which Jesus ascended into heaven. A neighboring church can be found named the Church of the Pater Noster. This church is significant as it's the place that Jesus taught his disciples of the Lord's Prayer. As is told within the bible, Jesus stood and wept over the destruction of Jerusalem as he stood on the Dominus Flevit, another vital part of our tour.

As we move onto the next part of the tour we'll visit the Church of All Nations where stationed adjacent to this is the Garden of Gethsemane, famous for being where Jesus was arrested the evening of his crucifixion. Moving onto the Old City, we'll be able to see the Pools of Bethesda on our way before stopping at the Church of Saint Anne and the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. To finish our tour, we'll walk the same footsteps that Jesus took as he carried his cross through Jerusalem, the walk now named the Via Dolorosa before we head back.
Duration: 9 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.