Gather in Toronto for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.

Upon arrival in Israel, we will drive north along the coast and begin our exploration of Jesus’ homeland. Caesarea Maritima, built by Herod, was one of the most important centres during the time of Jesus (Acts 10). We continue to Haifa, Israel’s second port, to enjoy the view from Mt. Carmel and the magnificent Baha’i Gardens. Turning inland, we drive to the Sea of Galilee and our modern kibbutz hotel, giving us glimpses of modern Israeli life in the country.
Nof Ginosar Guest House (3 nights) 

At the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5-7), explore the church and gardens, walking down to the sea if time permits. At Tabgha, Jesus fed the multitude (Mark 6) and nearby is the site of the story of the breakfast feast (John 21). We walk to Capernaum and the house of Peter (Mark 1 & 2). The Gospels record twelve healing miracles in Capernaum, more than anywhere else in the Holy Land. Continue to Bethsaida, the fishing village of the Gospels and home of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44). In this area, Jesus performed many miracles, including healing a blind man (Mark 8:22-26). According to Luke, the feeding of the 5,000 occurred here. We continue to Ein Gev with time for a lunch of St. Peter's Fish. At Kursi ("Gergesa" of Matthew’s Gospel) was the miracle of the swine. We stop where the Jordan River begins, at the Baptismal site of the Yardenit, with a chance to renew our Baptismal vows. 

Ascend the Golan Heights to the biblical Bashan and ancestral home of the half-tribe of Manassah, which in Jesus’ day, was in the territory of Herod Philip. Visit Tel Dan, one of the most important biblical mounds in the country, where there was an inscription found with the words “House of David”. At Caesarea Philippi, modern  Banias, amongst the ruins of pagan temples, consider the words of Jesus: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” (Matthew 16:13). Enjoy the natural beauty of Banias by the banks of one of the Jordan’s main tributaries. Spend an hour on the lake in a wooden boat modeled after one from Jesus' time. (Matthew 14) 

In Cana, recall Jesus' transformation of water into wine. In Nazareth, visit the ancient village and important sites from Jesus’ youth. Enjoy views of Mt. Tabor and the Plain of Jezreel, and follow the Jezreel Valley to Ein Harod (Judges 7). In this valley, Jesus healed the ten lepers. Where the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel meet, we find ancient Beth Shean. Climb the Tel and view the setting of Saul’s death (I Samuel 28 - II Samuel 1) and survey the magnificent Roman and Byzantine ruins: theatre, bathhouses, ancient rest rooms, market areas, colonnaded streets. Continue to Jericho and visit the Tel of the world’s oldest city and view the traditional mountain of Jesus’ temptation. Finally, atop Mt. Scopus, we behold majestic Jerusalem.
Ambassador Hotel Jerusalem (6 nights)

Pass Rachel’s Tomb as we drive to Bethlehem, enjoying the hilltop view of Jesus’ birthplace. Visit Solomon's Pools, Jerusalem's main source of water for 2,000 years and passing the monastery of Hortus Conclusus, visit  Herodion, the palace built by Herod to mark his tomb. See  one of the possible Shepherds' Fields sites as we continue to Bethlehem. Walk the old town to the Church of the Nativity, and see the manger and cave of St. Jerome.

Enjoy the view from the Mt. of Olives over the city. Visit the church of Pater Noster, dedicated to the Lord's Prayer and see the Lord's prayer in Aramaic, the language of Christ’s time. Follow the traditional Palm Sunday Road stopping at the church of Dominus Flevit (The Lord Weeps) en route to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26). Visit the garden and the church for some reflective time. Walk the path into the Kidron Valley and the Valley of Jehoshaphat, where God will judge the nations of the world (Joel 3:12). At the City of David, watch a short movie, outlining the city’s history through the centuries and visit  Hezekiah’s Tunnel, built around 700 BC to bring fresh water to the Pool of Siloam. 

We visit the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site of Islam, located on the traditional site of the ancient Temple Mount. Then walk on the Old City Walls from Jaffa Gate to the Western Wall. Examine the ruins by the Temple complex and use the steps where Jesus taught and walked. Visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site. Security allowing, enter the Western Wall Tunnel that enables us to examine the length of the outer Herodian Temple wall, including stone blocks weighing about 600 tons. Walk along the Cardo, the ancient Roman road and view the Broad Wall. While in the Jewish Quarter, there will be free time to visit the Temple Institute and the Herodion Mansion. Out through Mt. Zion Gate we can visit the King David Tomb and the Upper Room. From there take a short hike to the church grounds called Peter in Gallicantu, with the best view of early Jerusalem from the west. Here, the Assumptionist Fathers propose, was the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus and where Peter denied Jesus three times.

Drive to Bethany, the home of Martha and Lazarus, and through the Judean Desert to Qumran on the shores of the Dead Sea to view the cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will view Cave #4, which contained the greatest quantity of Dead Sea Scrolls. At Masada take the cable car to the top, to visit Herod’s mountain bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome (66-73 AD). We continue to the Dead Sea at -423 metres, as low as you are ever likely to get. Take the opportunity to swim in the therapeutic waters before we continue to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, rich in flora and fauna. 

We transfer to St. Steven's Gate or the Sheep's Gate and enter the old city. Just inside the gate are the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church, which has been perfectly preserved from the Crusades period. Follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. From there walk through the Arab Souks to Damascus Gate and then walk leisurely to the Garden Tomb for a special visit. The rest of the afternoon will be free for personal explorations. We will have an early dinner this evening. 

Returning to Tel Aviv very early this morning, we fly to Munich. On arrival, we travel south to the musical city of Salzburg, enjoying a brief tour on arrival. The balance of day is at leisure.
Hotel Untersberg (2 nights)

This morning, we set off on our guided city stroll through the city centre, a pedestrian zone with many historic sites related to Mozart. Salzburg, known as the “Rome of the North,” has many monuments from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Designated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, Salzburg was ruled for centuries by the Prince Archbishops. Highlights of our walk will include Mozart’s birthplace, St. Peter’s Church, Salzburg Cathedral and the Fortress of Hohensalzburg. The afternoon is at leisure. This evening we are in for a special treat, a Mozart Dinner during which young musicians perform and introduce us to the musical world of Mozart.

This morning we continue into the mountains and, by late morning, we will be in the beautiful Tyrolean city of Innsbruck. A local guide will introduce us to the delights of this alpine centre on a walking tour that will feature Innsbruck's old town including the Hofkirche with its royal tombs and still-functional wooden organ, installed in 1560. Later we continue to Oberammergau.
Hotel Alpenhof Oberau | May 4 departure (2 nights)
Hotel Alte Post | All other departures (2 nights)

We will have the morning free, to enjoy the colourful paintings in the village and to do a little shopping. Following lunch, the highlight of the trip, the Passion Play in Oberammergau begins! The Play was instituted in fulfilment of a vow made in 1633, when the town was stricken by the plague. It was first performed in 1634 and  then every ten years. The theatre was built in 1930 and has seating for 4,800 spectators. While the seats are covered, the stage is open to the elements, using the natural grandeur of the region as the backdrop. 

This morning enjoy some final alpine vistas as we head north to Munich. On arrival a local guide will introduce us to the sights of Bavaria's capital, the Nymphenburg Palace (from the outside), Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and the Olympic Stadium. This evening, we celebrate our journey, sharing stories and memories at our farewell dinner.
Holiday Inn Leuchtenbergring (1 night)