Christian Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho, 3 Days

 Day 1: Jerusalem Old and New

We take in the panoramic views of Jerusalem from the top of Mount of Scopus then travel down the mount passing the biblical Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations, and Kidron Valley which holds monumental Jewish tombs. In the Jewish Quarter, we see the Cardo; the Byzantine-era main street of Jerusalem. We stop at the sacred Western Wall to place a prayer note between the ancient stones of the wall. The tour follows part of the Via Dolorosa to the stunning Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here we see the site of Christ’s crucifixion and his burial tomb. After a lunch break and walk through the Old City bazaar we travel to new Jerusalem. Driving through the modern city we reach Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. The museum’s exhibits include authentic artifacts, original documents, photos, and video testimonials of Holocaust survivors.

 Day 2: Bethlehem, Jericho and Qasr el Yahud

Take this Bethlehem and Jericho tour past the Inn of the Good Samaritan and descend beneath sea level to the ancient city of Jericho. In Jericho see the sycamore tree climbed by Zacchaeus when he tried to get a better look at Jesus. Recall the biblical tale of Joshua marching his troops around Jericho’s city walls until they fell. The tour leaves Jericho passing the Mount of Temptation and continues to Qasr al-Yahud on the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. Then the tour visits Bethlehem where Jesus was born just over 2,000 years ago. The Bethlehem tour stops in Manger Square and we enter the Church of the Nativity which holds the Holy Grotto where the nativity took place. The tour visits the adjacent Church of St. Catherine and its subterranean caves holding ancient tombs and shrines. From here the tour passes Shepherds Field and returns to Jerusalem.

Day 3: Jerusalem In the Footsteps of Jesus

We follow in the footsteps of Jesus on the Mount of Olives visiting the Church of the Ascension where Christ ascended to heaven, and the nearby Church of the Pater Noster, where Christ taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

See the Dominus Flevit - the place Jesus looked out over Jerusalem and wept as he foresaw its destruction. We visit the Church of all Nations and the adjacent Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested on the eve of his crucifixion.

We view the Pools of Bethesda then go into the Old City where we stop at the Church of Saint Anne plus the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. From there we walk to the 3d Station of the Cross on Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus would have taken carrying his cross toward his crucifixion on Calvary.

Note that this unforgettable tour includes over 5 Miles in a hilly city area - which might not be suitable for people with difficulty walking long distances.