Fresno, CA Classic Highlights of Israel Itinerary & Planner

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 — Day 0

• Depart from Fresno, California (USA) for Israel

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 — Day 1 (Shabbat)

• Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) – 4:30 PM
• Bus departs airport for Jerusalem – 5:30 PM
• Arrive at hotel & settle into rooms – 6:30 PM
• Dinner: Olive Tree Hotel, 23 Saint George St, Jerusalem Israel
• Evening walk to the Western Wall for prayer
• Visit Jaffar Sweets near Damascus Gate
• Early night / rest

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 — Day 2

• Meet our guides at the Olive Tree Hotel
  Guide: Allan Younger
  • Distribution of travel cards and Whispers headsets
• Light Rail to Jaffa Gate (Whispers District)
• Ramparts Walk – Entrance 9:00 AM
• Mount Zion
  • Upper Room (Speaker: Kendrick)
  • King David's Tomb
  • St. Peter in Gallicantu
    • Sacred Pit (Speaker: Richard Cantu)
    • Teaching (Speaker: Sammy Sanchez)
• Lunch: Western Wall Plaza
• Visit Azarat Israel (near Western Wall Plaza)
• City of David Tour – approx. 2:30 PM
• Western Wall Tunnel Tour – 4:40 PM (appointment)
• Dinner: Olive Tree Hotel
• Adventures After Dark: Zion Square & David Street

MONDAY, JANUARY 26 — Day 3

• Early departure from hotel – 7:00 AM
• Sea Level Stop (Group Photo Shoot Opportunity)
• Masada National Park*
• Lunch: Qumran National Park* (Leonard Contreras)
• Dead Sea experience – Kalia Beach
• Jericho
  • Shopping
  • Elisha’s Spring (Speaker: Carlos Esparza)
  • Mount of Temptation (Luke Miraflor)
• Dinner: Olive Tree Hotel
• Adventures After Dark: Prayer at the Western Wall

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 — Day 4

• Depart Jerusalem – 7:30 AM
• Jordan River (Qasr el Yahud) – 8:30 AM appointment
• Beit She’an National Park*
• Lunch: St. Peter’s Fish, seaside at Allie’s
• Boat Cruise on the Sea of Galilee – 1:30 PM
  (Ginosar – Jesus Boat experience | Miraflor / Kendrick)
• Capernaum – Jesus’ hometown (Speaker: Nate Sosa)
• Magdala – possible visit (~2:45 PM) (Speaker: Traven Mantooth)
• Late arrival at hotel & Dinner

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 — Day 5

• Jaffa (Joppa)
  • House of Simon the Tanner
• Caesarea Maritima National Park*
  • Aqueducts & Museum (Contreras)
• Lunch: Caesarea
• Return to Jerusalem
• Dinner: Olive Tree Hotel

THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 — Day 6

• Temple Mount Entrance (early)
• Walk to:
  • Pools of Bethesda (Melena)
  • St. Anne’s Church (Miraflor Gals)
  • Eastern Gate
• Via Dolorosa
• Church of the Holy Sepulcher
• Lunch: Old City (Muslim Quarter) — 1:00–2:00 PM
• Walk to Tower of David – 2:00 PM
• Tram to Jaffa Gate
• Tower of David 360° View
• Free Time or Yad Vashem Tour – 3:00 PM
• Dinner: Olive Tree Hotel
• Adventures After Dark: Machane Yehuda Market

FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 — Day 7 (Shabbat Shalom)

• Garden Tomb – 9:00 AM (Pastor Stephen Miraflor)
• Zedekiah’s Cave (Damascus Gate) (Miller)
• Temple Institute (Jewish Quarter) – 11:00 AM
• Lunch: Jewish Quarter
• Western Wall Plaza – Historical overview
• Our guide Allan exits for Shabbat (Guide-Driver TIP today)
• Shabbat Celebration: Sunset at the Western Wall
• Farewell Dinner: Rooftop terrace at Casa Nova
• Please make sure you return your Whispers headsets. Thank you.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 — Transition Day

• USA group departs for Tel Aviv Airport – 4:15 AM
• Rome group departs for airport – 11:00 AM
• Travel to Rome – AZ807 2:55pm arrive into Rome at 5:40 PM
• IQ Hotel check-in, Via Firenze 8, 00184 Roma RM Italy
• Dinner: A local trattoria near our hotel

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1

• First Sunday of the month, all museums are free day
• Hop-On / Hop-Off Bus
• Open access to museums & city exploration

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2

• Vatican Museums (Audio Self Guide)– 9:00 AM
• St. Peter’s Basilica (Audio Self Guide) – 7:00 AM
• Afternoon Exploration on the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3

• High-speed rail departure, train 9520 – departing at 9:10 AM
• Full day in Florence (If you desire to see "The David" at The Academy Museum, you will need to make advance reservations on the website, The Academy in Florence, Italy)
• Return to Rome on train 9555 at 7:14 PM

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

• Early hotel check-out
• Depart Rome for the USA