Day 1      Wednesday, 8 December

DEPARTURE FOR THE HOLY LAND

We gather at London Heathrow Airport to join an evening flight to Tel Aviv. The flight is around 4 1/2 long and dinner will be served and a film screened on the board the aircraft. The lights will be switched-off after dinner for those that wish to sleep.

Day 2      Thursday, 9 December

CANA - NAZARETH

We arrive at dawn where we will be met by our Lightline guide and then driven north along the Mediterranean to our hotel in Tiberias by the Sea of Galilee. After breakfast we will have time to relax. In the afternoon we will drive up to Cana, the site of Jesus’ First Miracle, the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast.. Then we continue to Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up, to visit the Church of the Annunciation, Joseph’s Carpentry and the Old Synagogue-Church. Leaving Nazareth return to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 3      Friday, 10 December

GALILEE - GOLAN HEIGHTS - DAN

We begin our day by Sailing across the Sea of Galilee to Ginosar, here view the Ancient boat (from the time of Jesus) and film about its discovery and preservation, then drive to Tabgha to visit the Church of the Loaves and Fishes and the Primacy of Saint Peter. Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes, which overlooks the places where Jesus lived and worked. Drive on to the ancient fishing village of Capernaum, the centre of Jesus Galilean Ministry to view the House of Peter and a partially rebuilt synagogue, probably the site where Jesus often preached. After a break for lunch at the nearby Kibbutz of Ein Gev. In the afternoon we drive up into the Golan Heights to visit the ancient ruins of Dan, the site on the ancient Canaanite town, Lesham). The tribe of Dan took the city, rebuilt it and renamed it Dan. We then continue to Banias (Greek Panias) and Caesarea Philippi in the foothills of Mount Hermon. A spring fed by the melting snow of the mountain forms a source of the River Jordan. It was near here, that Jesus walked with his disciples and where Peter made his great profession of faith in Him. On route to our hotel we will visit the new Jordan River Baptismal site at Yardenit where we will have the opportunity to renew our baptismal vows. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 4      Saturday, 11 December

JERICHO – BETHANY - JERUSALEM

This morning we leave Galilee and travel south along the Jordan Valley. We then continue to Jericho, the city of palms, an oasis city overlooked by the Mount of Temptation. From Jericho we drive up through the hills of the Judean Wilderness towards Jerusalem. On the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives we visit Bethany, the home of Jesus’ friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus, before continuing to the summit for our first breathtaking view of Jerusalem and its beautiful Medieval walls. After a short briefing we then proceed down to our hotel and check-in.

Day 5      Sunday, 12 December

MT OLIVES – MT ZION - BETHLEHEM

After breakfast we return to the summit of the Mount of Olives. View the traditional site of the Dome of the Ascensions (converted to a mosque by Salahadin). We the begin our walk down Olivet visiting the Church of Dominus Flevit, the church which commemorates the site where Jesus wept over the destruction of the Temple, Pater Noster, the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane. We then drive across the Kedron Valley and up Mount Zion to visit the traditional site of the Room of the Last Supper, The tomb of King David, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. View the recently excavated Roman pathway and steps. After a break for lunch we drive to Bethlehem on the outskirts of Jerusalem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Grotto, venerated as the birthplace of Jesus and the Shepherds Fields. Here we will hold our Carol Service, before returning to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6      Monday, 13 December

THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

We begin our day at the Garden Tomb to visit the beautiful landscaped gardens and The Empty Tomb. We then proceed to Zion Gate and continue on foot into the Old Walled city. Visit the Western Wall before proceeding to the beautiful Crusader Church of St. Anne overlooking the Pools of Bethesda. Then on to the Convent of the Sisters of Sion built on the foundations of the Antonia Fortress, the Roman Garrison of Jerusalem. Visit the Ecce Homo Arch, and the pavement (Lithostratos) before we follow the Way of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Return to our hotel for dinner.

Day 7      Tuesday, 14 December

DEAD SEA - NEGEV DESERT - EGYPT

We leave Jerusalem after an early breakfast and drive down to the Dead Sea and south along the coast breaking for coffee and an opportunity to bathe in the unique mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea. We then continue south into the Negev Desert breaking for lunch at Timna. After lunch we proceed to visit Timna National Park: King Solomon's mines, the Shrine of Hathor, and ancient copper furnaces where over 6 millennia ago, ancient Egyptians first began copper mining and discover the unique beauty of the turquoise Eilat stone. Leaving Timna we continue the short distance to the Israel/Egypt border and on completion of cross-border formalities we cross into Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula and continue to our unique desert hotel within a few miles of the Sinai Range of mountains. Dinner and overnight in Sinai.

Day 8      Wednesday, 15 December

ST CATHERINE’S MONASTERY

For the very fit there will be an opportunity of climbing to the summit of Mount Sinai to witness a breathtaking sunrise over Sinai and to visit the Chapel of Moses. After breakfast we will visit the St. Catherine’s Monastery. Situated at the foot of Mount Sinai, this beautiful monastery was built on this site where Moses witnessed the burning bush before receiving the Ten Commandments. If permitted by the monks we will have an opportunity of visiting the monastery and it's priceless collection of icons. In the afternoon we leave Mount Sinai and return to our desert hotel in time to enjoy the spectacular sunset over Sinai. Dinner and overnight in Sharm el Sheikh.

Day 9      Thursday, 16 December

SHARM EL SHEIKH

After a leisurely breakfast we leave Mount Sinai and drive over to the Red Sea and continue south along the coast to the Red Sea beach resort of Sharm el Sheikh. We drive through the area where Moses and his people wondered for 40 years. The Bedouin still live the way of the ancient nomads, their black goat-hair tents sheltering from the intensity of the sun. If we are lucky we may see a caravan or two as the Bedouin 'up camp' with their camels and sheep and travel from oasis to oasis. We plan to arrive in Sharm el Sheikh in the late afternoon. Dinner and overnight stay by the Red Sea.

Day 10      Friday, 17 December

BY THE RED SEA

A full day to relax by the sparkling waters of the Red Sea. For those who love to shop, the Sharm El-Sheikh mall provides shops with both foreign and local products, including jewellery, leather goods, clothing and pottery. Dinner and overnight stay in Sharm el Sheikh.

Day 11      Saturday, 18 December

BY THE RED SEA

Another glorious day of relaxation by the Red Sea and an opportunity to sail on the Red Sea with a glass-bottomed boat to view the coral and exotic fish.

Day 12      Sunday, 196 December

OUR JOURNEY HOME

After breakfast drive the short distance to Sharm el Sheikh airport for our flight to London.