May I invite you to join us on a very special tour of the Holy Land during the celebrations marking the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. We shall visit many of the famous sites associated with his life and teaching as well as meet some of the Living Stones who live in the Holy Land today. The tour is for 9 days from Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th October 2000.

Coinciding with the school half term, it is ideal for families and teachers. The weather then should be sunny and mild. We will be flying on scheduled flights with British Airways. We hope to have Oliver Miller as our Guide once again. Oliver is quite superb and among the best English speaking guides available.

Our tour will be based at two excellent hotels in Jerusalem (the Seven Arches overlooking the old city from the Mount of Olives) and Tiberius (the Ron Beach, literally on the lakeside of Galilee).

Day 1: Saturday 21st October : The Journey of a Lifetime
We meet at Gatwick Airport, for the scheduled morning 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 impressive 7 Arches, situated on the Mount of Olives overlooking the old city of Jerusalem. The evening is free to relax or explore.

Day 2: Sunday 22nd October : Setting the Scene in Jerusalem and Bethlehem
After breakfast we join the congregation at St George's Cathedral for their morning service. We then return to the Mount of Olives to view the city. Here we shall also see the Ascension site, then walk down the hill to Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemane. After lunch we shall drive to Bethlehem and 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 the tomb of Lazarus.

Day 3: Monday 23rd October 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 swim before lunch. On the way home we shall stop at Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. There will be a late afternoon visit to Sabeel to meet Canon Naim Ateek and hear a Palestinian Christian perspective.

Day 4: Tuesday 24th October Jerusalem : A New Testament Focus
A walking tour of the old city 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. We plan to end the day at the model of Ist Century Jerusalem.

Day 5: Wednesday 25th October : A Free Day!
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 Paternoster Church, the Garden Tomb, the Shrine of the Book and Yad Vashem)

Day 6: Thursday 26th October : 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 where we shall enjoy our lunch overlooking the ruins. In the afternoon we shall visit Bet Shean, an important Old Testament city, to view the archaeological site of what was, in New Testament times, the largest city in the Decapolis. We should arrive at our hotel, the Ron Beach, literally on the lake side of Galilee, in time for a swim before supper.

Day 7: Friday 27th October : 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.

Day 8: Saturday 28th October : 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 take a boat across 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 drive up to Banias and Caesarea Philippi in the Golan Heights to see the source of the River Jordan and view Syria.

Day 9: Sunday 29th October 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 afternoon return flight home to Gatwick.

If you would like a brochure or booking form, please email me.


The price of the tour is £930 (single room supplement £145). All you will need to allow for as extras are lunches, gifts to bring home and gratuities of £30 which are paid to hotel staff, the guide and driver on your behalf. Places are limited so book early.

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