From the Old to the New with Rev Mark Lennox

Thursday 6 March 2025

Depart Dublin for your onward journey to Tel Aviv.  Arrive in Tel Aviv at 11pm. Transfer to Nof Ginossar hotel in Galilee for overnight. Depending on arrival time, a light meal or refreshments will be served.

Friday 7 March 2024

After breakfast,  head west towards Caesarea Maritima to visit Herod’s Palace on the shores of the Med.  Here Paul was imprisoned and where Agrippa said to Paul, ‘Almost thou persuadest me to become a Christian.

Proceed to Mount Carmel – what a view! Here Elijah slew the prophets of Baal.  Take a look right across the valley and see the Horns of Hitton rise in the distance, whilst at your back you have the Mediterranean and the city of Caesarea.

Your return journey towards Galilee this afternoon will take you to the city of Cana and on to Nazareth.  In Jesus’ time Nazareth  was such a small village and one that the Jews used to mock Jesus, insinuating that he was ‘King of Nazareth’ when it only had a very small population.  Now it is a major Arab city, but housed within it is a village, depicting life in Jesus times.  You will step back in time into the shepherd’s fields, the synagogue, meet ‘Mary’ and ‘Joseph’ doing what they would have been doing then, yet learning so much about the simplicity of the scriptures and how Jesus’ teaching was so relative to the people and their occupations.

Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Saturday 8 March 2025

Your day starts with an early morning boat trip on Galilee.  He calmed the storms there and tested His disciples’ faith.  As you reflect on the time around Galilee today and the sun sets over Capernaum, your memories of this restful place will stay with you forever. You will have communion on the boat.

Capernaum became Jesus’ home town and the scene of many of his miracles.  It was also the home of the first disciples Jesus called — the fishermen Peter, Andrew, James and John, and the tax collector Matthew (who as Levi collected taxes in the customs office).  Jesus worshipped and taught in the synagogue — where his teaching made a deep impression on the local people because, unlike the scribes, he taught with authority. (Mark 1:21-22).   Jesus healed many people of illness or possession by the devil, including Peter’s mother-in-law and the daughter of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. Visit to Tabgha.

Mount of Beatitudes as we all know was were Jesus’ gave the great Sermon on the Mount and taught many valuable lessons in the book of Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Sunday 9 March  2025

As you depart Galilee today you will travel along the shore to Magdala, a brand new excavation on the shores of Galilee.  Visit the church there and the whole fishing village excavated after the discovery of the mosaic floor of a synagogue. 

As you travel south towards Jerusalem you will have the opportunity to visit Qsar el Yahud.  This is a spot on the Jordan River is close to the road to Jericho, Here, you can have the opportunity to dip in the waters. As you journey south, visit Ein Geddi where David hid from Saul and where Saul sought him ‘even amongst the craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats. 1 Samuel 24 v 2.  1 Samuel 23:29 and 24 v 1:2

Your day finishes at the Dead Sea where you will have the opportunity for an early evening swim and then relax at the David Dead Sea hotel.

Monday 10 March 2025

After breakfast you head south to Timna Park to enjoy a morning at the full size replica of the Tabernacle and Ark of the Covenant. This tabernacle contains every piece of furniture, Brazen Altar, Table of Showbread, Ark of the Covenant, and everything the original tabernacle had. It’s the only life-size model of its kind in Israel that is exactly like the original one. It has been researched extensively and built according to the specifications given to Moses. It gives an interesting insight into the book of Exodus.  The landscape in this area is completely desert and allows you to understand the story of the children of Israel as they travelled from Egypt to the promised land.  Your day finishes in Jerusalem with your first view of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Tuesday 11 March 2025

Today you will head straight to the wonderful Mount of Olives.  Looking across to the Old city you will walk the Palm Sunday walk down to Gethsemane.  On route pass the little Teardrop Church – remember Jesus wept. Luke Chapter 19.  Your path takes you to the Kidron Valley where you find the Garden of Gethsemane.  The old olive trees still grow there. 

The coach will then take you to the House of Caiaphas’ the High Priest.  They took Jesus to the house of the High Priest before He was crucified and here you will also find the area where Peter denied Him.  The steps that remain there are the only remaining original steps into the city and were most certainly where Jesus would have travelled, and Peter would have sat amongst the soldiers.

Here you will also see a model of the area in Biblical times and the guide will talk you through the routes taken to the cross and the area of the High Priests house.

Wednesday 13 March 2025

Today you will experience a bit of Jewish history as you bypass the Parliament and the Menorah.  Yad Vashem is the memorial to the Jewish Holocaust and whilst it is such a sad and terrible piece of history, it is out of respect for the protection of the Jewish nation and their absolute resilience to hatred that we visit this site.  The street of the righteous is lined with trees planted in memory of those who gave their lives to save those who needed it during the terrible period of WW2.  As you walk through the museum a sadness will encompass you but at the end a light shine to show that God still protected His people yet again.  A work ethic, a strong character and a love of life gave the Jewish nation the opportunity to grow again and protect their country from ever having such a disaster again.

This afternoon you  will head to Bethlehem, not only to a church, but to the shepherd’s fields.  From Old Testament to New, Bethlehem was very significant. 1000 years before Christ, Bethlehem was the birthplace of David, Israel’s second king. Here David was anointed as king by the prophet Samuel after being brought in from tending his father’s sheep.  The city of Bethlehem (in Hebrew its name means “house of bread”) perches on a hill at the edge of the Judaean desert. Ruth met Boaz in the fields of Bethlehem and ultimately Jesus was born in the area.  The story of the shepherds and the swaddling bands is so special.

Thursday 14 March 2025

Free day today to relax. Dinner and overnight  at the hotel.

Friday 15 March 2025

After breakfast you will visit the Old city and today walk the journey that Jesus took to the cross.  Sometime will be spent at the Pool of Bethesda on the way.  Pass the hall of flagellation and where Jesus stood before Pontius Pilate when he could find no fault in Him.  Lunch will be taken (at your own expense) in the old city.

Today your tour finishes at the Garden Tomb and Calvary.  What a way to finish a visit to Israel.  ‘He is not here, He is risen’ Matthew 28

The burial of Jesus: Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:38-42

The Resurrection: Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

Saturday 16 March 2025

After early breakfast depart the hotel for your short journey to the airport and homeward flight to Dublin.

Tour Price:  The tour price is based on minimum numbers and places will be offered on a first come first serve basis.

Price per person sharing: 2449pp  Single supplement on request.

Single supplements available on request/Family prices for children up to 11 years old sharing with parents on request.

Payment Plan

Non-refundable deposit                          30 November 2023             £300pp

2nd payment                                          31 May 2024                       £300pp

3rd payment                                           31 July 2024                       £450pp

4th payment                                           14 December 2024             Balance

This tour has been organised with your group leader and the content of the tour has been agreed.  Changes may occur in Israel beyond our control but in all circumstances, we will do our utmost to keep the itinerary as contained herein.  The itinerary may change and will be subject to flight times, Jewish culture and religious days and circumstances beyond our control.  For full booking conditions please contact our office.

Your deposit is non-refundable after booking unless the group doesn’t materialize. 

Cancellation charges will occur right up to the date of departure.  Your tour is 100% non-refundable within 12 weeks of departure. Please ensure payments are made by the date in question. You may pay directly into our bank account Sort Code 90 23 54 Account Number 64837731.  Always put your reference on the payment Surname followed by Lennoxmar24.  Failure to do this may result in us not being able to trace your payment.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate insurance for your trip and a copy must be furnished to your group leader prior to travel.. If you wish to purchase insurance, please call our office and you will be given the details of the insurance and our obligations under the Financial Conduct Authority. 028 38 394489.

Your booking is protected under our ATOL license.

Your tour price may change if there is a significant change in the US dollar rate.

ALL BOOKINGS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED WITH A COMPLETED BOOKING FORM PER PERSON ON THE BOOKING.