2025 & 2026 DATES -
January 2-15, 2025 (Egypt & Nile Cruise)
February 2-13, 2025 (Israel & Petra)
February 17-28, 2025 (Greece & Turkey)
Other Israel Dates:
October 27- November 5, 2025
January 5-14, 2026
January 12-21, 2026
January 19-28, 2026
January 26-Feb 4, 2026
February 9-18, 2026
April 14-25, 2026 (Footstep of Paul - Greece & Turkey)
NOTE: email pe@lifewaycc.com for more information.
Suggested ISRAEL Itinerary:
Day 1 – (USA to Israel) - Depart from the USA on our flight to Tel Aviv, Israel. Two meals will be served on-board. After dinner, relax and enjoy the on-board entertainment.
Day 2 – (Tel Aviv, Joppa) - Arrive at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport and meet our tour guide, who will welcome us to the Land of the Bible and escort us throughout our stay in Israel. Israeli guides are legendary for their knowledge and dedication. Our tour begins in ancient Joppa (Jaffa). Joppa was an important seaport for Solomon. (Ezra 3:7), The cedars from Lebanon were floated down from Phoenicia to Joppa and then transported to Jerusalem for building the palace and temple. (Jonah 1:3), Jonah sailed from Joppa to Tarshish. Here was the house of Simon the Tanner (Acts 10:9-23) and the place of the Miracle of the resurrection of Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43). We will proceed to Tel Aviv to check in to the hotel to rest and prepare spiritually for the special touring days to follow.
Day 3 - (Caesarea, Mount Tabor, Mt. Carmel, Nazareth) – After an abundant breakfast buffet, we journey north along the coast to Caesarea (Acts 10), built over 2000 years ago by King Herod. The Apostle Paul was imprisoned at Caesarea, and Pontius Pilate also lived there. Cornelius the Centurion and his family, the first Gentile Christians, were filled with the Holy Spirit in Caesarea as well. From here we depart to Mount Tabor for an incredible view of the Jezreel Valley and believed by many to be the site of the transfiguration found in Matthew 17. We then drive to Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18), site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. We end the day by driving to the Nazareth Village to experience what life would have been like for Jesus 2000 years ago. From here we make our way to Tiberias and arrive at our hotel located on the Sea of Galilee.
Day 4 - (Sea of Galilee) – This day alone is worth the trip! We begin the day by visiting the Arbel cliffs, a mountain on the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. We may have the option to hike to the top of this 800-foot cliff (the bus will take others to the top from the other side). The view from the top is the best there is of the whole Sea of Galilee below! Then we continue to Capernaum, the home center of ministry for Jesus here in Galilee. Next, we enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, with a quiet and peaceful worship service. Upon landing, we also see the “Jesus boat” from the first century, a vessel found here along the shores of Galilee in 1986. Next, we read from Matthew 5 on the Mount of Beatitudes. We walk down the pathway, recollecting the transforming words of Jesus shared and end up at Saint Peters Primacy, the location where Jesus ministered to his disciples in John 21. From here we drive to Magdala the hometown of Mary Magdalene. We will see a first century synagogue where Jesus no doubt taught. We conclude our day at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee and enjoy optional baptism service in the Jordan River at Yardenit. We return to our hotel for dinner and an evening reflection.
Day 5 – (Chorazim, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Mount Bental) – We will start our day visiting the New Testament city of Chorazim. This was one of the three cities condemned by Jesus (Matthew 11). We visit the third-century synagogue here, built out of basaltic rock. Next, we will visit Tel Dan for a walk through a quiet national park and impressive Old Testament city and hear the stories of the consequences of the disobedience that took place here (Judges 18, 1 Kings 12). We will also see one of the main sources of the headwaters of the Jordan River. We will then visit Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” It was Simon Peter who was inspired to answer: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16). We will then visit Mount Bental for a spectacular view of Mount Hermon.
Day 6 - (Beit She’an, Gideon’s Spring, Shiloh, Dead Sea) – We begin the day by driving south to the Jordan Valley to the site of Beit She’an (1 Sam. 31), an impressive Roman city of the Decapolis. Our next stop is at the foot of Mount Gilboa is Ein Harod, (Gideon’s Spring). Judges 7 describes Gideon’s actions in thinning his army down to 300 before God gave him a mighty victory over the Midianites. In the afternoon, we drive to the ancient city of Shiloh for lunch. This was the first capital of Israel where the Tabernacle of God stood for 369 years. We drive to our hotel on the Dead Sea where we will enjoy dinner and free time with an optional float in the Dead Sea or a treatment at the spa.
Day 7 - (Masada, Ein Gedi, Genesis Land, Qumran, Jerusalem) - We begin the day
by driving to Masada, an ancient fortress built by Herod on a mountain and later occupied by the Zealots. We then drive to Ein Gedi, an oasis in the desert where David hid from Saul in a cave. Next, we are off to lunch at Genesis Land, situated in the heart of the Judean desert, near the Dead Sea, in the land where the Patriarchs lived. This experience gives hospitality and life as it was during the biblical time of Abraham. Next is Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. This is also the place of the ancient sect of Judaism called the Essenes from whom John the Baptist possibly came. We finish the day ascending 4,000 feet to the holy city of Jerusalem where we see the Valley of the Shadow of Death from Psalm 23 and the Good Samaritan on the way to our hotel where we will enjoy dinner and free time.
Day 8 - (Jerusalem, Bethlehem) – We begin our day with a magnificent view of the Old City from the top of the Mt. of Olives. We get our first glimpse of Jerusalem beholding a breath-taking panorama of the Holy City. We walk down the “Palm Sunday” route to the Garden of Gethsemane. We enter the city through the Lion’s Gate on our way to the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) and begin our journey down the Via Dolorosa (the way of suffering) that our Jesus took on His way to the Cross. We will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher believed to be by many the burial site of Jesus. Next, we visit Bethlehem, the town of Jesus’ birth. Here we visit the Shepherd’s field where we will celebrate Christ’s birth. We will also visit an olive wood factory/store in Bethlehem. We return to Jerusalem with a visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum. We see the Children’s Memorial and walk through a guided tour of the museum. We conclude our day at the Israel Museum and the model of Jerusalem (1:50 scale model of Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus’ time). Afterwards, we return to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and reflection.
Day 9 - (Jerusalem, City of David) – The day starts with a communion service in
the Garden Tomb, a second possible site for the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Following this heart moving worship service, we proceed to Mt. Zion and the site of the Upper Room and the Last Supper. We proceed to the House of Caiaphas where Jesus was taken after his arrest. We then visit the City of David and the new excavations of David’s palace. Those who want to will take an optional adventurous walk through the water of Hezekiah’s Tunnel. We then sit on the steps of the Pool of Siloam and recount the events of John 9. From here, we walk up through an exposed Herodian drainage
channel that takes us to Davidson Archaeological Park where we will visit the
“Robinson’s Arch” and the Southern Wall Excavations a possible location for Peter’s
sermon in Acts 2. We then will pray at the famous Western (Wailing) Wall, the most
holy place in Judaism. After some time for personal prayer and reflection, we walk 400
yards along the retaining wall of the Temple Mount itself through the Western Wall Tunnel. From here we visit the Jewish Quarter for lunch and walk through the Cardo. In the late afternoon, we drive through the Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath and onto Abu Gosh, the biblical city of Kirjath Jearim, from where King David brought the Ark of the Covenant (1 Chronicles 13) back to Jerusalem from the house of Obed-Edom. We will enjoy a Farewell Dinner in a nice restaurant and then transfer to the
Airport for our flight back home.
Day 10 – (Israel to USA) – Our guide will assist us with the check-in procedures as we prepare for our flight to the USA. We arrive home today with wonderful memories of a visit to the Land of the Bible!
Email pe@lifewaycc.com for more information.
Suggested Footsteps of Apostle Paul Tour in GREECE and TURKEY.
Day 1 – Depart U.S.A. for Greece - Embark upon your journey to the lands of ancient treasures and Christian history with an overnight flight to Thessaloniki. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience and get some rest on the flight. Tomorrow we will be walking in the Greek world that the Apostle Paul knew. The world and culture of the New Testament is about to come alive!
Day 2 – Thessaloniki - We arrive in Thessaloniki, the city where Paul was received by Jason. Paul was preaching the Word of God here until he was rushed out of the city. We transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – Amphipolis, Philippi, Kavala, Thessaloniki - This morning we travel east to the amazing site of Philippi. On the way we will make a brief stop at Amphipolis. Paul stopped here on his way to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1). Arriving at Philippi, we visit the Baptistry of Lydia, near the river where Paul baptized her. Lydia was the first convert of Paul on European soil, followed by the conversion of the jailer. We also visit the ruins of the Forum of Philippi, the Christ a Basilicas, the “Prison of Paul” and the Theater. We then drive to the coast, to the port of Kavala (ancient Neapolis). Here, Paul took his first step in bringing the Gospel to present day Europe. It is a picturesque port! We view the Byzantine Castle and the Roman Aqueduct. To end the day, we drive back to Thessaloniki for dinner and our second overnight here.
Day 4 – Berea, Vergina, Meteora, Kalambaka - This morning we tour the city of Thessaloniki. We’ll see the White Tower, the Agora, and the Church of St. Demetrius. We will also gain a panoramic view from the upper part of the city before leaving Thessaloniki. From here, we drive south through the beautiful landscape of inland Greece. We make a brief stop in Berea, visited by Paul (Acts 17:10f). It was here that Paul planted a church that “studied the Scriptures” on a regular basis. Close by is Vergina, the burial place of Philip II (Father of Alexander the great), now a museum. In the afternoon, we drive through the scenic route over the mountains to Kalambaka. Weather permitting, we might see Mt. Olympus, the legendary abode of the Greek gods. In the late afternoon, we arrive at Meteora. Here, we will see the famous Byzantine monasteries that are perched precariously on summits of gray rock pinnacles of varied and beautiful shapes. Their history goes back to the 14th century when the monks sought refuge in the cliff-side caves. Then they fled higher to build the original wooden shelters, which were later transformed into monasteries. We spend the night in Kalambaka, located in the shadows of the unique monasteries of Meteora.
Day 5 – Thermopylae, Delphi, Athens - We leave the hotel after breakfast and drive to Thermopylae. It was here that the famous 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas, fought with an alliance of Greek city-states against the large Persian army in 480 B.C. From here we drive to Delphi, one of the best preserved classic Greek sites in the country! Here we tour the ancient oracle of Apollo at Delphi. We will also visit the local museum with its renown bronze statue of the charioteer. Then, we will see the stadium where the ancient Pythian athletic games were held every four years. Second only to the Olympic games in fame, these games were in honor of Apollo. Next, we see the temple of Apollo where the young priestess Pythia gave her prophecies. In the late afternoon, we drive to Athens, check into our hotel, and enjoy a late dinner together.
Day 6 – Mykonos, Start our 3-night Mediterranean Cruise - We sail this morning from Athens to the quaint isle of Mykonos, called the island of windmills. We arrive at Mykonos, where we disembark and have time to experience the waterfront lined with shops and cafes. We stroll the charming walkways through a maze of white-washed buildings before returning to the ship for dinner and evening activities. No excursions are included today, as we will visit the island at our leisure by foot.
Day 7 – Kusadasi, Patmos - In the morning we arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey. Excursion Included: A short drive takes us to Ephesus, where Paul spent three years during his ministry. The impressive remains of Ephesus include the Agora, the Theater, the Stadium, the Library of Celsus, the ruins of the Temple of Diana (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World) and many more. Later, we sail for the island of Patmos. Excursion Included: Here we visit the Monastery of St. John, on one of the islands highest points. From there, we walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse, the site of the apocalyptic Revelations of St. John the Divine.
Day 8 – Heraklion, Crete / Santorini - In the morning, we arrive at Heraklion, Crete and disembark. Excursion Included: During this excursion, we take a short ride through the town of Heraklion and then arrive at the Knossos excavations. Here, archaeological discoveries revealed a civilization dating back to 4000 B.C., when a great empire flourished on the island of Crete. Paul left Titus in Crete and gave instructions on appointing church leaders in the towns (Titus 1:5ff). In the afternoon, we cruise to the isle of Santorini and disembark. Excursion not included: Santo-rini is often referred to as the most breathtaking of all the Greek islands. The exquisite, whitewashed villages, including the town of Fira, or Thira, cling to volcanic cliffs, accessible by cable-car, or mule. Optional guided excursions are available from the cruise line, but not recommended by the tour host.
Day 9 – Mycenae, Corinth, Athens - We start the day by visiting the site of Mycenae, the legendary city rival of Troy, and described by Homer as “Mycenea rich in Gold.” This city dates back to the late Bronze Age and is famous for the “beehive” Tomb of Agamemnon (Treasury of Atreus) and the gold masks. We then continue to ancient Corinth. This is the once glorious city near the Isthmus, where Paul met Aquila and Priscilla and spent a year and a half preaching the Word of God. We visit the Archaeological Museum, the Forum, the Temple of Apollo, the Roman forum and the famous Bema where Paul stood before Gallio, accused by the Jews of Corinth. We also will try to see the acropolis of the city and the Temple of Aphrodite. Then we drive past Cenchreae, the little harbor from which Paul sailed back to Asia, back to Athens. An optional walk will be offered after dinner.
Day 10 – Athens - Today we admire the architectural wonders of ancient Athens, as we follow our guide to the world-renowned Acropolis, to see the Propylea, the Erechtheum and the Parthenon. We visit Mars Hill, where Paul delivered his speech on the Unknown God. Then we see the Agora, the ancient center of the economic and public life of the city, where Paul preached to the skeptical Athenians. During the bus tour, we also see Constitution Square with the House of Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the Old Olympic Stadium and the Neoclassical Buildings of Athens. The afternoon we will provide an option to walk to the top of Lycabetus, the highest point of Athens. A cable car is also available to take (for an extra cost). From here you will enjoy a panoramic view of Athens below. We return to our hotel for dinner.
Day 11 – Athens, U.S.A - We transfer in the morning to Athens Airport for our return flight back to the U.S.A. We arrive home the same day.
Email pe@lifewaycc.com for more information.
Suggested EGYPT Itinerary with Nile Cruise
Day 1 – Saturday: USA to Cairo - Today, tour members gather at their respective airports for the flight to Cairo. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the onboard entertainment as we journey toward Egypt. Tomorrow, we’ll step into the cradle of civilization and begin our unforgettable adventure.
Day 2 – Sunday: Arrival into Cairo - Welcome to Egypt! Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport, we’ll be greeted by our local representative and transferred to our hotel. After check-in, we’ll enjoy dinner and relax overnight, preparing for the exciting days ahead.
Day 3 – Monday: East Bank of Luxor - After breakfast, we’ll fly to Luxor, where our representative will guide us to our Nile cruise ship for embarkation before noon. Our day will start with a visit to Karnak Temples, the largest religious complex ever built. The primary structure here is dedicated to Amun Ra, the chief god of ancient Egypt, whose name means “hidden”—symbolizing his powerful presence. We’ll continue to Luxor Temple, located in the heart of ancient Thebes, dedicated to Amun Re, further exploring the city’s ancient grandeur. Afterward, we’ll return to the ship for dinner and enjoy an Egyptian folkloric show onboard. Overnight in Luxor.
Day 4 – Tuesday: West Bank of Luxor, Embark on Nile River Cruise - After breakfast, we’ll explore the sacred West Bank of Luxor, including the Valley of the Kings, the burial ground for Egypt’s pharaohs. Here, we’ll see three tombs of famous Pharaohs and feel the weight of history (Note: it will cost extra to see Tutankhamen’s tomb). We’ll also visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahari, a stunning example of ancient Egyptian architecture, carved into the mountainside. Continuing, we’ll explore Medinet Habu, where Ramses III’s victory over the Sea Peoples is depicted. The day ends with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. We’ll return to the ship for lunch, then sail toward Edfu for dinner and overnight on board.
Day 5 – Wednesday: Temples of Horus, Kom Ombo - After breakfast, we’ll visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, dedicated to the falcon-headed god of the sky. This well- preserved temple is a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian architecture. Next, we’ll sail to Kom Ombo to explore its unique dual temple dedicated to the gods Sobek, the crocodile god, and Haroeris, a form of Horus. As we sail toward Aswan, we’ll enjoy the serene landscape of the Nile. Dinner will be served on board as we arrive in Aswan late in the evening.
Day 6 – Thursday: Abu Simbel, Aswan - After breakfast, we’ll journey to Abu Simbel, where we’ll explore the majestic temples built by Ramses II. The Great Temple is dedicated to the sun god Ra-Horakhty, while the smaller temple honors Ramses II and his queen, Nefertari. We’ll return to Aswan in the afternoon, visiting the Unfinished Obelisk. This giant red granite obelisk, dedicated to Amun Ra, gives us insight into the grandeur that was never completed. Later, we’ll return to the ship for tea and enjoy the evening at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Aswan.
Day 7 – Friday: Aswan, Cairo - After breakfast, we’ll visit Aswan’s High Dam, constructed by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1960 to protect Egypt from annual flooding. Next, we’ll take a motorboat ride to Agilika Island, where we’ll explore the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis, known for her association with the legendary tale of Horus’s birth. We’ll then fly back to Cairo, where we’ll have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 8 – Saturday: Old Cairo, Grand Egyptian Museum - Today, we’ll explore Old Cairo, visiting ancient Christian churches and the synagogue that testify to Egypt’s rich, multi-faith heritage. Afterward, we’ll delve into the Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of Egyptian antiquities. From the treasures of Tutankhamun to the grandeur of ancient Egypt’s kings, we’ll see firsthand the artifacts that have shaped our understanding of this remarkable civilization. Later, we’ll return to the hotel for dinner and a restful night.
Day 9 – Sunday: Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakkara - After breakfast, we’ll visit the awe-inspiring Pyramids of Giza, including the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the only remaining wonder of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We’ll also see the enigmatic Sphinx, a symbol of ancient Egyptian mystery and power. In Sakkara, we’ll visit the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the first monumental stone structure in Egypt, and explore the tombs of Ti and Ptah, giving us a glimpse into the burial practices of Egypt’s Old Kingdom. Afterward, we’ll return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 – Monday: Departure -After breakfast, we’ll transfer to Cairo International Airport for our flight home or continue the adventure with a flight to Tel Aviv for the Israel tour. Safe travels!
Email pe@lifewaycc.com for more information.