Breakfast with the family

Drive to Jericho, the oldest and lowest city in the world. Our first stop will be at the Sea Level Point 0. Then, Continue our drive to Jericho. We will see the ancient site of Jericho and Elisha Spring. Take the cable car ride to climb up to Mount of Temptation and then stop by the famous sycamore tree that Zacchaeus climbed to see Jesus. A visit to Hisham’s Palace from the 8th century AD contains the largest mosaic carpet in the world, survived from the ancient world—optional Lunch in Jericho.

Drive to Jordan River at the baptismal site of Jesus at the Jordan River, also known as “Qasr Al Yahud,” to enhance a moment of silence. Then, enjoy a float in the Dead Sea.

Dinner with a local family and Overnight in Bethlehem.

We will begin our first day with a magnificent view of Jerusalem. From the Mount of Olives, we will be amazed by the 4000 years of history. We will visit the church of Ascension and Pater Noster then descend the famous “Palm Sunday” path, located next to one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the world and then visit the Church of Dominus Flevit, where we remember Jesus’ moment weeping for Jerusalem future and then visit the Garden of Gethsemane with its olive trees and the Agony Church

We will walk inside the old city of Jerusalem from Lions’s Gate and visit the Bethesda Pool and St. Anne’s Church. We will follow the different stations of the Way of the Cross along the famous Via Dolorosa that ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will Pass through the Markets of the old city in the Muslim quarter.

Last visit in Bethlehem to see Banksy Graffiti, the separation wall, and The Walled Off Hotel “Banksy Museum”.

Dinner with the local family and Overnight in Bethlehem.

Breakfast with the family

This morning. We will drive by San Theodosius Monastery and stop by for a moment. Then 

Drive to San Saba Monastery. Saba is considered one of the oldest (almost) continuously inhabited monasteries in the world.

We will drive through the Judean Desert and stop to view the desert. We continue to reach  Saint George Monastery in Wadi Qelt, one of the country’s most beautiful valleys. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Monastery built on the mountain’s cleft, then take a short hike to visit the monastery in the valley. Here, you will experience silence in the heart of the desert. 

Finally, drive to Beit Sahour. The historic town, whose name means “Place of the Night Watch”, about the Shepherds who keep watch over their flock by night, lies 1km east of Bethlehem. today, it is the home of many churches and convents. Churches now mark the sites of Shepherds Field, the Field of Ruth and the Well of the Lady. 

Dinner with the local family and Overnight in Bethlehem.

Early Breakfast with the family

We will visit important sites in Galilee – Nazareth and the Sea of ​​Galilee.

We will begin with the city adopted by Jesus – Capernaum. We will go up to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus held his famous Sermon on the Mount, then we will go to the Church of Multiplication in Tabgha with its beautiful mosaics. We will see a 2,000-year-old fishing boat and boat ride on a similar old-style boat at the Sea of ​​Galilee. We will take a moment to reflect on the Sea of Galilee, the place where we as Christians believe Jesus walked on water, calmed the storm, and made Peter and Andrew into “fishers of men.” and where many of Jesus’ teachings and miracles were performed here and nearby. 

Lunch: St. Peter’s fish by the lake. (optional)

In the afternoon, we will go to Nazareth to see the Basilica of the Annunciation and cross Cana, the site of the first miracle of Jesus.

Drive back to Bethlehem 

Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem.

Begin our Bethlehem day tour by walking in the Old City of Bethlehem and its quarters “Star Street“. Visit Bethlehem Icon Centre, located in Hosh Abu Jarour, one of the old quarters of Bethlehem where the locals of Bethlehem live. Visit a second Hosh called the Syriac Quarter. A stop by the old entrance of Bethlehem; it’s believed that Joseph and Mary passed from here on their way to Bethlehem.

Visit Al Badd Museum for Olive Oil Production, also called Badd Jackaman, The museum is situated in the Old City of Bethlehem and dates back to the 19th century. Stop to visit Baituna al-Talhami Museum, also known as the Bethlehem Folklore Museum 

Afterwards, continue to Manger Square, where we will stop for coffee or tea with biscuits before entering the Nativity Church.

Visit the Nativity Church, built by Justinian in 530 AD, entering the Byzantine basilica from the Door of Humility and see the first church of Constantine’s original floor from 326 AD. Take the steps down to the grotto, the spot where Jesus was born, and visit the Church of Saint Catherine and the Caves of Saint Jerome to see the place where he translated the bible in the fifth century. The Nativity Church is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Walk Milk Grotto Street to the Church of Milk Grotto. According to tradition, it’s believed that The Virgin Mary was feeding baby Jesus, and a drop of milk fell on the ground and turned the stones white.

Have a traditional Lunch ( Zareb) with all the group and families in one of the houses of the hosted families.

Lunch is included on this day

Dinner and Overnight in Bethlehem.

We start the day in Nablus, also known as “Shekem” in the bible. We learn how soap is made from pure olive oil and then enjoy some time visiting a Turkish Bath. After some relaxation, we will meet a Samaritan priest to talk about the Samaritan community at Mount Gerizim. Before heading home, we stop at the Samaria-Sabastia located just above the built-up area of the modern-day village on the eastern slope of the hill. The ruins dominate the hillside and comprise remains from six successive cultures dating back 10,000 years: Canaanite, Israelite, Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine.

Drive to Nablus. We will visit the city of Nablus known as “Shekem” in the bible, visit Jacob’s Well Church and then visit a traditional soap factory made from pure olive oil and learn how it’s made. We will also walk in the Old City of Nablus and visit a Turkish Bath. Then we will drive to visit Mount Gerizim where the Samaritan Community lives and meet the Samaritan priest who will explain about the Samaritan community.

Later, we will drive to Sebastia, the ancient site of Samaria-Sebastia is located just above the built-up area of the modern-day village on the eastern slope of the hill. The ruins dominate the hillside and comprise remains from six successive cultures dating back 10,000 years: Canaanite, Israelite, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine.

Drive back to Bethlehem

Overnight in Bethlehem 

As our trip starts to come to a close, it’s time to go with your host to the iconic vegetable market to buy some ingredients for your meal. Food is a way we show appreciation and connect with others.. Your host family will instruct you in a class on preparing a local dish to make back home with your friends and loved ones. Explore the city of Bethlehem where you will find shops and traditional sweets. We close our last evening with our farewell dinner. 

Have Breakfast with the family, then go with a family member to the market to buy some ingredients for the meal. Back home, start to prepare for the class with your host family. Enjoy the course and make a video to learn the traditional way to cook a meal.

Later, free time to walk around the city in the evening to taste some delicious traditional sweets and shop if desired.

Farewell dinner with the local family.

Overnight in Bethlehem

Have your last Breakfast with the family in Bethlehem then prepare everything for leaving for Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport!

Exchange contact to be in touch in the future!!