Tour to Israel
with Mike and Debbie Riddle
This trip was originally planned for Fall 2009 and has been postponed. The original tour schedule is posted here for your reference and may change.
DAY 1 ?
Depart Houston International on your international flight to Tel Aviv.
DAY 2 ?
Morning arrival into Israel. We will be met by our guide and bus driver. Then board
our air conditioned bus and travel north along the Mediterranean Coast to Caesarea,
the beautiful port city built by Herod the Great. This is the city Paul would have set
sail from on his missionary journeys and where Cornelius became a believer. We’ll
continue east through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo. This is a city situated on a
major crossroad that has seen war throughout the centuries and overlooks the valley
of “Armegeddon.” Traveling north we’ll stop at Mt. Carmel where Elijah fought the
false prophets of Baal. Overnight for the next three nights in our hotel next to the Sea
of Galilee.
DAY 3 ?
A morning drive up to the Golan Heights then on to the northern border of Israel to
the Dan Nature Reserve. We’ll stop at Caesarea Philippi the headwaters of the
Jordan River where Peter declared Jesus to be the Son of God. Then travel through
the city of Safed. If there is time we’ll stop at an artist colony here and overnight in
our hotel by the Sea of Galilee.
DAY 4 ?
After our breakfast we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee then visit
Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry and to Tabgha, the traditional place where
Jesus fed the multitude. We’ll travel to the Mt. of Beatitudes for a time of reflection
and prayer. A St. Peter’s Fish lunch will be included in your day. We’ll stop at the
Jordan River for a baptismal ceremony.
DAY 5 ?
After breakfast we will travel to Nazareth to visit the boyhood home of Jesus. We’ll
visit Nazareth Village a replica of a Galilean town 2000 year ago. Next to Beit
She’an, one of the cities of the decapolis and largest Roman archeological find
outside of Rome. This is where the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were nailed to a
city wall. We will travel south through the Jordan River Valley. This afternoon we
begin the Feast of Tabernacles celebration on the shore of the Dead Sea at Ein
Gedi. Paul Wilbur will be the guest worship leader. After this outdoor event we will
ascend the Judean Hills to our Jerusalem hotel where we will overnight for the rest of
our tour.
DAY 6 ?
Our morning begins at the Mount of Olives and walk down the hill to the Garden of
Gethsemene. We’ll walk through the Lion’s Gate to the Old City and visit St. Anne’s
Church and the Pools of Bethesda. We’ll be able to do a little shopping the Old
City Shuk and Christian Quarter. After lunch in the Old City we will visit Mt. Zion
and go to the Upper Room. This will be our first night to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles
at Jerusalem’s convention center. It is a night filled with praise and worship where the
nations will come up to Jerusalem.
DAY 7 ?
After breakfast we will travel to the City of David and see a multi-media presentation
which will give you an understanding of where King David lived. Then on to the
archaeological ruins of the city of Jerusalem. Here we will be able to walk up to the
steps leading up to the Temple during Jesus’ time. We’ll visit the Jewish Quarter of the
Old City and have time to pray at the Western Wall. Walk through the Cardo and do
some shopping in the Jewish Quarter. We’ll continue our Feast celebration with praise
in the city of Jerusalem at the Convention Center.
DAY 8 ?
Our morning begins at the port city of Jaffa This is where Simon the Tanner lived. Then
travel to Tel Aviv. This is the city’s 100th anniversary and we’ll begin at the Palmach
Museum, a museum which tells the story of the Palmach, an elite group of the Haganah,
and its history in establishing the State of Israel. Then on to Independence Hall. This is
where David Ben Gurion announced the State of Israel on May 14, 1948. We’ll ascend
the hills of Jerusalem to our evening of praise and worship at the Christian Celebration
of the Feast of Tabernacles.
DAY 9 ?
There are morning seminars to chose from. This afternoon we will join hundreds of
Israelis in the streets for their Jerusalem March. (This is not a definite date, as the
municipality of Jerusalem sets the date.) This evening we will celebrate with hundreds
of Christians from around the world at the Convention Center.
DAY 10 ?
This morning we’ll travel to Shiloh to the spot where the Tabernacle rested for hundreds
of years. In the early afternoon we will go to the Garden Tomb for an early afternoon
communion service. Another night of praise and worship in Jerusalem.
DAY 11 ?
Today is a free day to explore Jerusalem on your own. You may want to just walk the
streets and experience day-to-day life, or you may want to visit a museum. This is a day
where morning seminars are available to chose from and tonight is the Grand Finale of
the Christian Celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles.
DAY 12 ?
This morning we will drive through the Judean Hills to visit Qumran the site where the
Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Travel south beside the Dead Sea and see the hills
of Ammon and Moab. Ascend Masada by cable car and explore this palace in the
desert built by King Herod the Great. We’ll stop at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and
walk up to the waterfall. This oasis is the area that David hid from Saul. We’ll head back
to Jerusalem for dinner and depart for the airport late this evening.
DAY 13 ?
Arrive back in the United States.
Itinerary is subject to change.
