May I invite you to join us on the Virginia Water Tour to the Holy Land. We will visit many of the famous sites as well as meet people from the various communities who live in the Holy Land. The tour is for 9 days from 5th-13th November 1998. The weather then should be sunny and mild. We will be flying on scheduled flights with British Airways. Our tour will be based at two excellent hotels in Jerusalem and Tiberius. Here is a taster.

Day 1: Thursday 5th November: The Journey of a Lifetime
We meet at Gatwick Airport, for the scheduled day time BA flight to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv. Meals and in flight services offered en-route. Transfer by coach to our hotel in Jerusalem. The evening is free to relax or explore.

Day 2: Friday 6th November: Setting the Scene in Jerusalem and Bethlehem
We begin the tour by driving to the Mount of Olives to view the city. Here we shall also see the Ascension site and Paternoster Church, then walk down the hill to Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemane. We will visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the possible Palace of Caiphas. In the afternoon we shall drive to Bethlehem for lunch and to visit Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. We shall view the Shepherds Fields returning to Jerusalem via Bethany and the church associated with the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. We plan to end the day at the model of Ist Century Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 3: Saturday 7th November: Hebrew Roots and the Dead Sea
An early morning departure for Massada, the Zealot fortress by the Dead Sea, and ascent to the summit by cable car. Excavations reveal dramatic events in Jewish history and the panorama of the Mountains of Moab is quite stunning. Then we drive to En Gedi where there is the opportunity for a paddle before lunch. On the way home we shall stop at Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 4: Sunday 8th November:
Jerusalem : A New Testament Focus
After breakfast we join the congregation at St George's Cathedral for their morning service. Then a walking tour of Jerusalem. From the Damascus Gate we shall visit the Western Wailing Wall, the Dome of the Rock and El Aksa mosque on the Temple Mount. Lunch in the Old City. In the afternoon we follow the Via Dolorosa through the lanes of the Old City from the simple Crusader Church of St. Anne by the Pool of Bethesda, to the Sisters of Zion convent and the Lithostros, and then on to the possible sight of Calvary and the Tomb, now within the Church of the Resurrection. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 5: Monday 9th November: A Free Day in Jerusalem
A free day in Jerusalem to relax or explore before our departure for Galilee tomorrow. (There are many other sites to see and we shall suggest some options such as the Garden Tomb, the Shrine of the Book and Yad Vashem) There will be a late afternoon visit to Sabeel to meet Canon Naim Ateek and hear a Palestinian Christian perspective. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 6: Tuesday 10th November: A Journey through the West Bank
We travel down to Jericho via the old Roman road through the Wadi Kelt for a view of St George's Monastery and the Mount of Temptation. Then into Jericho to see the excavations of the oldest walled city in the world. We then travel up through the West Bank to the well of Samaria and the remains of Sebaste. After lunch we visit Bet Shean, an important Old Testament city, to view the Roman Theatre. In New Testament times it was the largest city in the Decapolis. In the afternoon we arrive at our hotel by the lake side of Galilee, home for three nights. Overnight in Tiberius.

Day 7: Wednesday 11th November: Nazareth and the Valley of Jezreel
We begin the day at Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle. Then we travel to Nazareth where we shall stop at the Basilica of the Annunciation, and see the remains of the original village underneath. We shall also visit an old Synagogue in the city, possibly the site where Jesus began His ministry. Lunch in Nazareth. We hope to visit the local Anglican school and church. In the afternoon we will travel through the Valley of Jezreel and to the summit of Mount Tabor by taxi. An evening presentation at the Galilee Experience and a chance to meet some Messianic Christians. Overnight in Tiberius.

Day 8: Thursday 12th November: The Sea of Galilee
Perhaps an early rise to see the sunrise over the Sea of Galilee and the fishermen landing their catch. After breakfast, we will drive to Capernaum to see the Synagogue and site of Peter's house. We shall visit the Church at Tabgha possible site of the feeding of the 5000, with its famous early mosaics, then its up the hill to the Mount of Beatitudes, to meditate on the view across the Sea of Galilee. We shall take a walk through the fields back down to the lakeside to Mensa Christi traditional site of Jesus lakeside resurrection appearance. Then in the afternoon we shall take a boat from Capernaum across the Sea of Galilee back to Tiberius . The rest of the afternoon is free to relax by the lakeside or for some last minute shopping in town. Overnight in Tiberius.

Day 9: Friday 13th November: A Day by the Mediterranean
We leave Tiberias early, travelling through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo and then to Muhraqi on Mount Carmel, traditional site of Elijah's contest with the prophets of Baal. Then its on to Caesarea where Paul spent much time in prison to view the amphitheatre, the extensive excavations and also the aqueduct by the Mediterranean Sea. We end our Holy Land journey in Joppa, scene of Jonah's call, and Peter's vision. It is just a short ride to the airport for our return flight home to Gatwick.

If you would like more information please contact me.

I will be happy to send you a brochure and booking form. The price of the tour is £883 + insurance and gratuities. Places are limited so book early.

For information on alternative tourism to Israel and Palestine http://www.patg.com/