Israel Tours


Maps of Hotels
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Assemble at Changi International Airport on 26 October, Sunday at 10.30pm for the beginning of an incredibly moving and enriching journey that follows the ministry and life of Jesus, taking you to the many places mentioned in the Bible.

Flight will touch down at Amman's Queen Alia International Airport in the morning.

Mount Nebo is where according to the Bible in the book of Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 32:49, 34:1). Moses was given a view of the promised land that God had promised the Children of Israel. Here you will have a panoramic view of the Holy Land of Israel and the River Jordan to the north. According to tradition, Moses was also buried on this mountain. Here you will also see the brazen serpent sculpture and an ancient church.

Petra (Rose-Red City), is a spectacular ancient city nestled away in mountains south of the Dead Sea and made famous for having many stone structures carved into the rock. Ain Mousa (Spring of Moses), is the area's principal water source and also thought to be the place where Moses struck a rock to extract water as mentioned in Numbers 20. Petra was also used in the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" as the hiding site of the Holy Grail. Here, when you enter the entrance to Petra, you will take either a horse or donkey to transport you down the valley leading to Petra where you will see all the magnificent structures. This area is also the ancient land of the Edomites, the descendants of Esau (Gen 36:9).

Early morning, drive to Arava border between Jordan and Israel and cross over at the Red Sea.

Timna National Park. The Wilderness Tabernacle in Aravah is located within the grounds of TimnaNational Park. Take a guided tour of the reconstruction of the Tabernacle, near the lake. Learn about the roots of the Israelites in the desert. The other sites of Timna include King Solomon's Pillars, the Mushroom, the Arches, the ancient mines.

Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and also the lowest at 290 meters below sea level. It is an oasis in a dry and desolate area northwest of the Dead Sea. In biblical times it controlled the intersection of major trade routes, north/south along the Jordan Valley and east/west from Judah to Ammon (modern day Jordan). It was the first city conquered by Joshua and the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land (Joshua 6:12-21). Jesus healed Bartimaeus, the blind man who cried out for healing, near Jericho (Mark 10:46-52) and went to the home of the tax collector, Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10). (Please bring your passport.)

Mount of Temptation (By Cable Car). Standing northwest of Jericho, the Mount of Temptation overlooks the world's most ancient city. It was here that the devil tried to tempt Jesus after His baptism by John in the Jordan River (Matthew 4:1-4).

Qumran. The 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in a cave here by a Bedouin shepherd chasing a stray sheep in 1947. Consolidated from scrolls found in some eleven caves, every Old Testament book is represented except Esther.

Holyland Model. A complete scale model of Jerusalem during Jesus' time, this is a great visual aid for visitors. Examine the miniature of the Second Temple of Jerusalem.

The Israel Museum houses some of the most amazing pieces of archaeological artefacts ever uncovered, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls which are the oldest known copies of the Old Testament books.

Mount Scopus. Lying just within the official borders of the city of Jerusalem, this place is famous for its panoramic view of the holy city.

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum commemorates the Holocaust of European Jewry perpetrated by the Nazis before and during World War II.

Visit Bethlehem translated as "House of Bread" (Hebrew) or "House of Meat" (Arabic), is a city in the West Bank where many significant events in the Bible occurred. Believed to be the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem is also where David was born and where the tomb of Jacob's beloved wife Rachelcan be found. The city is home to one of the largest Palestinian Christian communities in the Middle East and special arrangements have to be made to enter this city. Note: Please bring passport.

Church of the Nativity is the oldest surviving church in the Middle East. When all other churches were destroyed by Persian invaders in 614 AD, this church was spared. The current church was built in 530 to replace the smaller, original church built in 339 reportedly over the cave where Jesus was born. The site is also significant because in 405 Jerome, who had spent over 20 years in another cave below the original church, produced the Vulgate, a translation in Latin based on Greek and Hebrew. This was used by many until the Reformation.

The Shepherds' Field (Drive By) is an area east of Bethlehem, believed to be where the angels appeared to the shepherds in the field and announced the birth of Jesus. (Luke 2:8-10) Several churches were built in this area to commemorate the event. You can still see local shepherds tending their flocks here. Nearby is a fertile plain called the Field of Ruth.

The Garden Tomb (Holy Communion). Located outside the walls of Jerusalem, this garden is also believed to be the tomb and site of Christ's resurrection. The large cistern located underneath the garden indicates that this could be the garden of Joseph of Arimathea. The Garden Tomb was discovered by General Charles Gordon in 1884 when he identified a prominent rocky crag, which looked like a skull, as Golgotha, or literally "place of a skull". In the midst of the garden lies a tomb whose interior meets all the requirements for the seating of the two angels who spoke with Mary of Magdala. (John 20:10-18) A place of peace and tranquility, the Garden Tomb is ideal to reflect and worship.

The Mount of Olives lies to the east of Jerusalem and is named after the olive trees which grow on its slopes. The Kidron Valley separates the mount from the Eastern Gate, the Temple Mount and the City of David. At the foot of the mount is the garden of Gethsemane. The Mount of Olives is where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:37-41), and where He ascended to heaven after His resurrection (Acts 1:9-12). The Jews, and many Christians, believe that when the Messiah returns, He will descend on the Mount of Olives and enter Jerusalem through the Eastern gate (Zechariah 14:1-4; Ezekiel 44:1-3; 46:1-2, 8).

Dominus Flevit (Latin for "The Lord Wept") is a small church located on the Mount of Olives, and is believed to be where Jesus wept when he arrived in Jerusalem as He foresaw the tragic events that would occur after His death (Luke 19:37-42). The church, built by the Franciscan order in 1954, is in the unique shape of a teardrop, representing Christ's tears. It commands an inspiring view.

Garden of Gethsemane contains ancient olive trees and is situated at the bottom of the Mount of Olives and opposite the Temple Mount. "Gethsemane" also means "olive press", an appropriate name for the spot where Jesus was so hard pressed as He prayed that He sweated great drops of blood (Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:44). This is also where Jesus was betrayed and arrested (Mark 14:43-50).

Church of All Nations, also known as the Church of Agony, is located on the Mount of Olives within the vicinity of Gethsemane. The church property includes a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed. The stone is said to form a direct line with the Eastern Gate and where the entrance to the Holy of Holies in the Second Temple is believed to have stood before.

The Pool of Bethesda ("House of Mercy") was where a large number of infirmed people waited to be cured by the waters which were believed to have miraculous healing properties. It was here that Jesus healed a paralytic of 38 years (John 5:1-15). The pool is located within the grounds of the Crusader Church of St Anne, built on the site where the home of Anne, the mother of Mary, is believed to have stood. Designed for Gregorian chant, the acoustics of the church's interior are phenomenal.

The Via Dolorosa (The Way of Suffering) is the name of a street in the Old City of Jerusalem, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to His crucifixion. There are 14 stations, each signifying a certain point in Christ's journey with the last five stations situated inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Lithostratos ("The Pavement") is located at the third station of the Via Dolorosa and is where Pilate heard and sought to release Jesus (John 19:13). The reconstructed ruins of Ecco Homo Arch, with its three openings, can be seen as you move from the second to the third station of the Via Dolorosa. This spot is named for Pilate's presentation of Jesus to the Jews after He was scourged, where he said, "Ecce Homo!" or "Behold the man!" (John 19:1-5).

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre was originally built in 330 AD by Queen Helena over the site identified as Golgotha and tomb (sepulcher) of Jesus. The current building was built in 1048 with a number of later additions. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher has been an important pilgrimage destination since the 4th century.

The Upper Room, also known as the Room of the Last Supper, is believed to be where Jesus shared His last Passover meal with his disciples before His death (Matthew 26:26-35; Luke 22:7-38). This was also where the disciples were gathered together praying when the Holy Spirit descended upon them on Pentecost after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus (Acts 1:13-16). Located on Mount Zion just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, the Upper Room was rebuilt by the Crusaders after it was razed to the ground by the Muslims. On the floor below the Upper Room is the traditional burial place of King David, known as King David's Tomb.

Church of St Peter in Gallicantu is one of the traditional locations for the house of Caiaphas where Jesus appeared before Caiaphas and the religious leaders, and where Peter denied the Lord three times (Mark 14:53-65). The name Gallicantu means "cock crowing" and the site is built atop the ruins of a Byzantine church and monastery.

The Temple Mount is one of the most controversial and hotly contested sites in the world. Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, it has special significance to the Jews as it was the site of both the First and Second Temples. Many Jews also believe that the Temple Mount is the site of the third and final Temple, to be built in the time of the Messiah. The Temple Mount was built on Mount Moriah, where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice Isaac. It wss also where Jesus was presented in the Temple by His earthly parents Joseph and Mary and afterwards stayed behind to debate with the teachers (Luke 2:22-50). The veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom when Jesus died at the cross (Matthew 27:51). The Temple Mount also has great significance to the Muslims. The Dome of the Rock, believed to be the spot from which the prophet Muhammad ascended through the heavens to God accompanied by the archangel Gabriel, and the Al-Aqsa Mosque are located here.

The Dome of the Tablets/Spirits is located on the Temple Mount, just north of the Dome of the Rock. There is a theory by Dr Asher Kaufman that this dome marks the site of the Holy of Holies in the Second Temple, as the east-west line aligning the Mount of Olives with the Eastern Gate and the Temple cuts through this very location.

The Western Wall is part of the retaining wall from the time of the Second Temple and is the most sacred structure in Judaism. Jews have been praying at the Western Wall for centuries believing that the

spot is the holiest site on earth after the Holy of Holies. Your friends can see you live at the wall via the Internet when you are there as there are 24-hour video webcams and live cameras installed there.

The Southern Temple Mount. Excavations here have unearthed the southern steps, a flight of stairs that led to the main entrances of the Temple Mount. Other interesting finds here include a first-century street, a series of public ritual bathing wells (mikveh) for pilgrims to purify themselves before entering holy places and the ruins of Solomon's stables.

The Jewish Quarter, in the southwest corner of the Old City, is where the remains of a north-south colonnaded street called the Cardo, complete with some of the original Roman columns, can be found. Just beyond the columns is an underground mall where you will find Jewish stores and art galleries.

Dead Sea Visitor Centre (Ahava) offers a variety of reasonably priced Ahava Dead Sea products that are ideally suited to your skin's condition.

Check-in at Dead Sea hotel. Rest and relax at hotel with swim and spa facilities.

Dead Sea ("Float"). Biblically known as the Sea of the Arabah or the SaltSea, its mineral content is so high that nothing lives in it. With a salt concentration many times higher than that of the world's oceans. the density of the water in the Dead Sea is so high that anyone can float in it. With its unique concentration of minerals, Dead Sea waters and mud have long been known to have health and cosmetic benefits.

Caesarea Maritima is where Peter preached the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ to Cornelius' household (Acts 10), placing them among the earliest Gentile believers of the New Covenant. This paved the way for Christianity to spread to all nations. The apostle Paul often travelled here (Acts 9:30; 18:22; 21:8). He was also imprisoned here for two years before being taken to Rome to stand trial (Acts 23:23; 25:1-13). Built by Herod, Caesarea Maritima was also a great harbour city with an ancient Roman aqueduct and theatre.

The Sea of Galilee (Boat Ride), also known as the Lake of Gennesaret, Lake Tiberias and Lake Kinneret in the Bible, is a small lake fed by the river Jordan and lying about 180 metres below sea level. Violent storms sometimes rush down from the surrounding mountains causing very rough waters. Here, Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea (Matthew 8:23-27), taught from Peter's boat (Luke 5:3), and walked on water (Mark 6:45-52). You will take a memorable boat ride in a traditional fishing boat of first-century design.

Ancient Boat Museum. The oldest wooden boat in Israel, discovered on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in the winter of 1986, is found in this museum. It has been dated to the first half of the first century.

Mount of Beatitudes. This hill at the north-western point of the Sea of Galilee is where Jesus delivered the famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7; Luke 6). The hill has a hollowed slope that serves as a natural amphitheatre, amplifying any speaker's voice. It also has a view of Capernaum and Tabgha.

Church of St Peter's Primacy is where the resurrected Jesus showed Himself to His disciples as they were fishing and called out to them (John 21). A touching scene followed as Jesus restored Peter, who had denied Him before the crucifixion, and commissioned him to look after His sheep.

Capernaum means "the village of Nahum". It was the centre of Jesus' Galilean ministry (Matthew 4:13) after He left Nazareth. Jesus lived here for a substantial period of time, healing the sick, preaching in the synagogue, and performing many miracles. He delivered a man of unclean spirits (Mark 1:23-26). He healed the paralytic who was lowered through the roof (Mark 2:1-12). Capernaum was also home to Peter and Andrew (Mark 1:29) and Matthew the tax collector. An excavation of Capernaum has revealed a building identified as Peter's house as well as a large fourth-century synagogue, believed to be built by the centurion whose servant Jesus healed (Luke 7:1-10). It is likely that this was the synagogue in which Jesus declared Himself as the bread of life.

Yardenit also known as the Jordan River baptism site, is located at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee where the Jordan River flows out of the sea on its way down to the Dead Sea. This location consists of several baptismal sites, a gift shop and a restaurant serving the popular St Peter's fish.

Golan Heights. In the Old Testament, this area was part of Bashan and known for its cattle and oak trees (Isaiah 2:13; Amos 4:1-2; Zechariah 11:2). It still is a fertile area and well suited for agriculture. Today, this section of Israel borders on Syria, Jordan and Lebanon. From the top of the military bunker (Mount Bental), you can see the borders of all these nations.

Caesarea Philippi (Banias) is located on the lower slopes of Mount Hermon and the source of one of the largest springs feeding the Jordan River. During the Greek and Roman periods, there was a temple here dedicated to the Greek god, Pan. Thus, the area was also known as Panias (known today in Arabic as Banias). Here, Jesus asked Peter, "Who do you say that I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." (Matthew 16:13-20; Mark 8:27-30). If time permits, the Banias waterfall and the Dan River can also be visited.

Nazareth Biblical Village. Although it is not an ancient site, Nazareth Village was constructed based on archaeological and historical research and provides a first-hand experience of daily life at the time of Christ. "Villagers" in replica costumes bring the experience of ancient agricultural, construction, weaving, and daily activities to life. We leave with a deeper understanding of the context for a number of Jesus' parables.

Mount of Precipice. This is where the Gospel of Luke says Jesus was rejected by His fellow Nazarenes after He had preached in the synagogue. Filled with anger they "led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff". (Luke 4:29)

Cana in Galilee (Drive By). Traditionally taken to be the site of Jesus' first and second miracles, the changing of water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11) and the healing of the son of a nobleman living in Capernaum (John 4:43¬54), Cana was also the home of Nathanael. (John 21:2) This site is located on the road that leads from Nazareth to Tiberias.

After breakfast we will cross back to Jordan via Jordan River Crossing and head to Amman airport to reach there by 2pm.

Arrive back in Singapore in the afternoon with many wonderful memories and a deeper revelation and appreciation for the Bible.

* Note that the above Itinerary is subject to changes based on the pace of the group, availability and accessibility of the sites due to unforeseen circumstances.