Depart for your overnight flights to Israel.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, you will be met by the 206 Tours representative and transfer to your hotel in Nazareth. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Depending upon time of arrival, join the Candle Light procession in Nazareth this evening.

This morning after breakfast, drive to Nazareth, the site of Mary's home and the town where Jesus lived as a child. At Nazareth visit the Byzantine Church of St. Joseph and Mary's Well. On to Caesarea, which was once the ancient capital of the Roman province. Here you view the impressive archaeological remains of the Roman and Byzantine city that once dominated the region. It was at Caesarea that Peter came to understand that the Good News was not for Jews only, but for the whole world. Here he baptized the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, and his family. It was from Caesarea that Paul set sail for Rome, an event that eventually brought Christianity to the world. Continue north to Haifa to visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery dedicated to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and located over the cave where Elijah lived. In the late afternoon, visit Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle at the request of His mother [John 2:1-11]. Here visit the Franciscan Chapel where those who wish to may renew their wedding vows. Continue to Tiberias to check in to your hotel. Dinner and overnight.

After breakfast we start with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. After this, see the remains of a boat that dates back to the time of Jesus, found buried in mud. Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, scene of Jesus' great Sermon on the Mount. A short drive away is Capernaum, from where Jesus launched His ministry; see the synagogue which dates to the time of Jesus and the Church built over the site of Peter's home. Later on, we will drive to Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration, with time to reflect on Christ's Humanity and Divinity. Mass here will be a good preparation for the journey to Jerusalem where Jesus was to suffer the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast, we will head to Magdala, the birthplace of Mary Magdalene. During the time of Jesus, this village was a prosperous fishing village that exported fish and garum (a fish sauce reduction; popular in Roman cooking). Continue on to visit Tabgha, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 and then move onto the site known as "Peter's Primacy". Here, after His resurrection, Jesus met with His disciples and told Peter to "feed my lambs; feed my sheep." [John 21:9]. After lunch, we will head to visit Caesarea Phillpi (Banias), the source of the river Jordan. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Tiberias.

After breakfast, we will head to Sheikh Hussein Bridge to cross to Jordan. We will visit Jerash, nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead. Outside of Italy, this ancient Roman city is one of the most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world. Currently, its paved and colonnaded streets are home to soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains, and towers. Next, you will visit Mt. Nebo, the most revered Holy site of Jordan. This mountain was mentioned in Deuteronomy 34, "Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah." While here, you will tour the Holy site of where Moses died and was buried. Cross Allenby bridge. Then we will drive to Jerusalem, where you checkin to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Begin the day with a visit to the second temple scale model for an overview of Jerusalem as it was at the time of Jesus. A short drive then takes us to the village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist, to visit the Church that commemorates his memory. Pray the Mystery of the Rosary on the walk up the hill to the Church of the Visitation. In the afternoon, visit Bethlehem to see the cave at the Shepherds' Field. The caves have soot marks of the fires that shepherds lit to keep warm while watching over their flocks. Then we will depart to Bethlehem, beginning at Manger Square, which stands in front of one of the oldest Christian Churches, the Church of the Nativity. Enter the Church and descend to the Grotto of the Nativity which marks the spot of Jesus' birth. Beneath the altar, there is a silver star with the Latin inscription: "HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS" (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary.) After Mass, we visit the Orphanage. Return to the hotel in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight.

This morning, drive down the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, where we view Mt. Temptation and an example of a sycamore tree. Visit the baptismal site on the Jordan River, then onto Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Afterwards there may be time for a dip in the Dead Sea for those who want to. Drive through the Judean Wilderness where Jesus spent 40 days fasting, and in this area is where John the Baptist lived and baptized Christ. Then to Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead to Lazarus Tomb included). Celebrate Mass here before returning to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

From the Mount of Olives, take in the panoramic view of Jerusalem. Then onto the Pater Noster Shrine, where Jesus taught His disciples the Pater Noster - The Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). While walking down the Palm Sunday Road, stop at the beautiful little Church, Dominus Flevit - "The Lord wept." It was here that Jesus wept over Jerusalem [Luke 19:41]. At Gethsemane, reflect on Jesus' final night. The Garden contains trees, whose roots go back to the time of Jesus. Visit the Church of All Nations to pray at the "Rock of Agony," a section of bedrock identified as the place where Jesus prayed alone in the garden on the night of His arrest. Visit the Western Wall to see all that remains of the Temple compound that dates to the time of Jesus. From here we will continue to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas where Jesus was interrogated and imprisoned. Then onto Peter ("crowing rooster"), which commemorates Peter's Denial of Christ. After Mass, we will go up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, which commemorates the Last Supper. Nearby is the Benedictine Church of the Dormition. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.

This morning we start the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. From there He was taken through the city to be crucified. The Stations of the Cross lead, through the markets of the Old City, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here is the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. Mass will be in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After Mass, back to the hotel for breakfast, then visit the Church of St Anne's, the Pool of Bethesda and the Sisters of Zion. This afternoon, there will be free time to revisit the Old City. Dinner and Overnight. *Mass at the Holy Tomb are not available on Sundays.

Transfer to airport for the flight home.