Day 3 – The Golan Heights and Sacred Sites
The morning begins at the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, where mosaics commemorate one of Jesus’ most famous miracles. A short walk leads you to the adjacent Church of Peter’s Primacy, a tranquil shoreline site where Jesus is believed to have reinstated Peter after the resurrection.
Ascending into the Golan Heights, you will reach the top of Mount Bental, a dormant volcano offering sweeping views of the region and into Syria. Nearby, you will visit the “Valley of Tears” battle site, where a desperate tank battle in 1973 shaped the outcome of the Yom Kippur War.
For lunch, you enjoy an authentic hospitality experience in a Druze village, tasting traditional dishes and learning about Druze culture and beliefs. An optional winery visit can follow, where the volcanic soil of the Golan produces distinctive Israeli wines.
The final stop of your journey is Caesarea Philippi, also known as Banias, at the foot of Mount Hermon. Here you explore the ruins of pagan temples and the flowing springs that feed the Jordan River, a site tied to Jesus’ question to his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?”.