On Friday, February 17, 2023, between 8:30 and 9:30 AM, we meet at the United Club in the New Orleans (MSY) Airport, Concourse C, between gates C5 and C7.

Our flight, UA 3582 (Embraer 175) departs from MSY at 10:46 AM, with a 3 hour layover in EWR.

UA 84 (Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner) arrives in Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV) on Thursday at 9:30 AM local time (1:30 AM NOLA time)

As you will note, the flight duration to Israel from New Orleans is 15 hours.  There is an 8 hour time difference between the two cities (lunch time in NOLA is dinner time in Jerusalem). So we will arrive the next day at Ben Gurion International Airport.

The current cost for round trip Economy on United is around $1200. Visitrael can make the reservations for you, or you can choose to take different flight arrangements, arriving before or leaving after the Tour dates. The All Inclusive Visitrael Tour price includes transport from the Ben Gurion Airport to our Tel Aviv Hotel, and from the Hotel to the Airport at the conclusion of the Tour.

You are greeted at the airport by your Visitrael representative and shuttled to the 5-star Hotel in Haifa’s Mount Carmel  (about an hour and a half drive time).

Be sure to get to the Welcome Meeting at the Hotel at 5:00PM -  get together with your Visitrael tour director, tour guide and fellow travellers to be oriented on what to expect in the days to come.

The private luxury coach takes us to the lower section of the City where we enjoy our welcome  dinner at Haifa’s iconic restaurant, Fattoush  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293982-d1020765-Reviews-Fattoush-Haifa_Haifa_District.html

Overnight: Dan Carmel  (or similar) https://www.danhotels.com/HaifaHotels/DanCarmelHaifaHotel

Breakfast at Dan Carmel Hotel.

Steps away from our hotel, we walk over to the beautiful Baha’i hanging gardens and the Bahai Temple.

Our Coach takes us to Megiddo where it is believed that the Armageddon will begin.

We continue southward to Caesarea from where the Apostle Paul sailed to Rome.  Extensive ruins of the Roman aqueduct and amphitheater built by King Herod remain.

Drive to Jaffa, the ancient port city. There you will visit the House of Simon the Tanner.

Continue for a tour of Tel Aviv, founded in 1909 and developed as a metropolitan city under the British Mandate in Palestine.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant

Return to our hotel in Haifa overnight.

Breakfast at our  hotel.

We visit Cana, commemorating Jesus' transformation of water into wine.  There will be an opportunity for those who would like to renew their vows to do so here.

Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

Continue to Tabgha and see the mosaic depicts the miracle of the loaves and fish.

Stop at Capernaum and see the ancient synagogue where Jesus preached.

Visit Mount of Beatitudes, the location of the Sermon on the Mount.

Enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Golan Heights from Mount Bental.

Enjoy dinner overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

Return to Dan Carmel hotel overnight.

Breakfast at Dan Carmel hotel.

Pack your stuff and on this Fat Tuesday we make our way to the Holy City of Jerusalem

On our way we stop in Nazareth to see the Church of the Annunciation, Church of St Joseph and Mary's Well.

We visit "Nazareth Village" where you see how the people of Nazareth lived and worked in Biblical times

Southward, via the Jordan Valley, we drive to Qaser El Yahud, the traditional baptism site on Jordan River.

Check into the David Citadel Jerusalem hotel https://www.thedavidcitadel.com/

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Return to the hotel overnight.

Breakfast at hotel.

Begin the day with a panoramic view of the Old City and Temple Mount from Mt. of Olives, one of the most prominent sites in the Jerusalem vicinity mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.

Stop at Dominus Flevit Chapel and enter the Garden of Gethsemane alongside the Church of All Nations.

Enter via the Lions gate to the Old City: Visit the Pool of Bethesda, Ecce Homo, Stations of the Cross stations, Church of Holy Sepulcher.

Participate in an Ash Wednesday service.

After viewing the Western Wall, explore the Western Wall Tunnels, where hidden layers of the Wall are revealed underground.

Visit Mount Zion– Room of the Last Supper and Tomb of King David.

Afterwards visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, also known as the House of Caiaphas, where Jesus was brought after his arrest.

Enjoy a festive dinner at a local restaurant.

Return to our hotel for overnight.

Breakfast at our hotel.

We start the morning with a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum.

We then proceed to the Israel Museum where you will see the Shrine of the Book and the scale Model of Jerusalem from the 2nd temple period.

In the afternoon, enjoy the picturesque village of Ein Karem and visit the Church of St John the Baptist.

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Return to hotel overnight.

Breakfast at hotel

Drive south to visit Masada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by Herod, which is famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans.

Next, visit Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Proceed to Ein Gedi, mentioned several times in the Book of Psalms, the place where King David hid from King Saul.

Before returning to Jerusalem, stop at the Dead Sea where you will have time for a swim (or rather a float) in the mineral-rich waters.

Participate in "Sabbath of a Lifetime" and experience a traditional Friday night dinner in a private home.

Breakfast at our Jerusalem hotel.

Morning visit to Bethlehem where you will visit the Church of Nativity and the Shepherd's Fields.

Afternoon at leisure (late check out at 4:00 PM.)

Transfer to Ben Gurion airport with FAREWELL DINNER  on route.

Assistance upon departure flight

Our flight departs 25 minutes past midnight, so we will need to be at Ben Gurion Airport at 9:00 PM on Friday.

Once you pass through security you are invited to relax at the Dan VIP Lounge located in Terminal 3 Duty Free Compound on the B concourse .

https://www.danhotels.com/AboutDanhotels/DanHotelsLounges

UA 141 (Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner) TLV to ORD departs at 12:25 AM February 26, 2023.

We have a 3 hour layover in Chicago, so we can relax at the United Club in Terminal 1, Concourse B, near Gate B18.  Depart ORD at 9:00 AM

Chicago, IL, US (ORD) to New Orleans, LA, US (MSY)

UA 5466 (Embraer 175) Operated By Skywest Dba United Express arrives in New Orleans on

Sunday, February 26, 2023 at 11:26 AM with memories to last a lifetime.

Welcome back home!  Start planning your next Vacation.

SHALOM!