| 15 Days Israel & Turkey Program |
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Day 1 - Departure
Depart USA to Israel
Day 2 - Arrival in Israel - Bruchim Haba'aim - Welcome to Israel
Arrival in Israel where you will be met by our representative to assist you through security & customs and provide transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem. Evening introduction and orientation. Welcome dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 3 - Old City Jerusalem
After breakfast we start our journey in the Holy Land and celebrate the beauty of Jerusalem on top the Mount of Olives where our Lord ascended into heaven (Acts 1). We walk down the Palm Sunday path past Dominus Flevit Chapel, a view of the Russian Church of Mary Magdalene, and a visit to the ancient olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18). We continue with a walking tour of the Old City, visiting sites along the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Continue to a remarkable tour of the City of David - the most ancient section of Jerusalem, built by King David, including new discoveries and the Hezekiah Tunnel - built 2,700 years ago to secure Jerusalem's water supply from invading armies. Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 4 - Old City Jerusalem
We head for the Old City inside the walls to resume our touring. Than we will continue to the Southern Steps that lead to the original Temple Mount, where Herod's temple stood. We will visit the Western Wall and the Western Wall Tunnels. If condition permits, we will visit the Temple Mount. After lunch we will take a walk up on the ancient walls of Jerusalem and continue to Mount Zion and visit the Upper Room and the Tomb of King David. We will worship in the Upper Room (Luke 22) and tour St. Peter in Gallicantu, site of Caiaphas the high priest's house (John 18). Then we will travel through the Jewish Quarter, walking through some of the ancient city and view the shops and unique way that the ancient customs and lifestyles maintained. We continue on to the Pool of Bethesda (John 4) and to the Sisters of Zion Church, where Jesus was whipped before mockers. Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 5 - New City Jerusalem
This morning we visit the newly-expanded Yad Vashem Holocaust complex. Drive via the Israel Supreme Court and the Knesset- the Israel Parliament to visit the Israel Museum and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Continue to the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls collection displays the authenticity of God's eternal Word. Proceed to Bethlehem * to visit the Church of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7) and the Shepherd's Field (Luke 2: 8-20). We will end the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb, where we will have a quiet prayer to remember Jesus Christ (Luke 23) Return to our hotel for dinner.Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 6 - Jerusalem - Dead Sea - Sea of Galilee
Following breakfast, we will then leave Jerusalem and travel to the lowest place on earth ג €“ the Dead Sea. One of our stops will be Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and an ancient Essene community. We will continue past the shores of the Dead Sea and arrive at Masada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by Herod, famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. From the top of the Masada, the Roman camps and siege ramps can be seen. Than we will visit the oasis of Ein Gedi, where David hid in a cave when running from Saul (1 Samuel 23). It was here that David composed several of the Psalms. Through the Jordanian valley and the city of Jericho to the ancient city of Beth Shean for an overview of this remarkable archeological site. It was here that after defeating Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beth Shean (1 Samuel 31). Continue on to Tiberia on the Sea of Galilee for check in and dinner. Overnight: Sea of Galilee
Day 7- Sea of Galilee
Today we will experience the area of Jesus early ministry around the Sea of Galilee. Drive along the western shore of the Sea of Galilee to the ancient boat from the time of Jesus at Kibbutz Ginosar. We will conduct a worship service on the Sermon on the Mount - the Mount of Beatitudes. We continue to Tabgha - the site of the Feeding of the 5,000 & Primacy of Peter. And than on to the 2000 year old remains of Capernaum (Luke 4). Stand in what is left of the synagogue in which Jesus ministered. It was from this city that Jesus did most of his Galilean ministry, where he performed many miracles, and where Peter's mother-in-law lived and was healed. We'll see Kursi where Jesus cast the demons into pigs that ran into the sea (Matt.8:28-33). Drive to Ein Gev for a great St. Peter fish lunch. We will board our wooden boat and sail on the Sea of Galilee back to Tiberia. We will end this remarkable day at Yardenit - the Jordan River baptismal site. Drive back to the hotel for Dinner. Overnight: Sea of Galilee
Day 8 -Golan Heights
Today we travel up to the Golan Heights with a stop at the fortress of Gamla. We drive up through the Golan Height to the peak of Har Bental, where you can enter army bunkers and take in a panoramic view at the crossroads of three countries. From this point we can see across the Golan Plateau bordering with Syria and observe the abandoned Syrian city of Kuneitra and the U.N. outpost located nearby. Visit Baniasג €“ancient Caesarea Philippiג €“where Jesus declared “I will build my church.” Continue our drive up to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian fortifications. A fascinating look at the ancient city of Dan gives us an opportunity to view the high place of the city, condemned by the Hebrew prophets of old. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Sea of Galilee
Day 9 -Sea of Galilee - Nazareth - Megiddo - Mount Carmel - Caesaria - Tel-Aviv - Departure
Our final day in Israel begins with a visit to the city of Nazareth. Than on to Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon (Revelation 16), site of the final battle. After exploring magnificent archaeological excavations at Megiddo and restoration of Biblical significance, we go through the famous water tunnel through the mount to our bus which awaits us at the other side. Than visit the Muhraka, site of Elijah’s prayer and fire from heaven on the top of Mount Carmel. Proceed to Caesaria - the remnants of the city and ancient port built by Herods the Great. It is here that Cornelius the Centurion and his household were saved and baptized (Acts 10), and it was also where Paul made his defense before Festus and King Agrippa prior to his final journey to Rome (Acts 25 & 26). We will arrive to Tel-Aviv in the afternoon for a great farewell dinner at a Middle Easern restaurant. Overnight:Tel Aviv
Day 10 - Israel - Turkey
Fly early this morning to Istanbul. Continue domestic flights to Adana. Welcome and transfer to Antakya the ancient Antioch on the Orontes.
Day 11 - Antakya - Seleucia Pieria - Adana
We visit the place where Paul entered the ship for his first journey ‘the port of Seleucia’ and visit the historical Titus Tunnel nearby. We see the most varied collection of Greek and Roman mosaics in Turkey at the Hatay Museum and drive on to visit a grotto known as the Church of St. Peter. It is identified as the place where early Christians met secretly.
Day 12 - Tarsus - Derbe - Lystra
In the morning we see the birthplace of St. Paul - Tarsus. We visit the Cleopatra’s Gate, a part of the ancient Kingsroad and St. Paul’s well. Then we drive on to visit the areas where Derbe and Lystra had been.
Day 13 - Iconium (Konya) - Antioch in Pisidia
Konya has a reputation as the country’s most religious and conservative city and is placed on the area of ancient Iconium. We visit a mosque and the tomb of Mevlana. Mevlana was the founder of the derwish orders, in his times Konya was the capital of the Selcuk Empire. We drive to Antioch in Pisidia and visit the ancient ruins of St. Paul’s church – a basilica which was build on the synagogue where Paul was speaking, a Roman bathhouse, the Temple of Augustus and more.
Day 14 - Antalya - Perge
We drive to Antalya where Paul was probably landing when he came from Cyprus. Antalya was founded by Attalus II, King of Pergamum between 160 and 139 BC, it was called then Attalia. We visit the triple–arched gate, which was built to commemorate the Emperor Hadrian who visited the town in 130 AD. We see the Yivli Minare the symbol of the city and more. We go on to visit Perge where John Mark left Paul and Barnabas to return to Jerusalem. We see a Stadium, a theater, Hellenistic and Roman gates, the Agora and the baths. Ruins of a system of large public fountains give an idea how the people were trying to lower the summer heat. Transfer to the airport and fly back to Istanbul.
Day 15 - Istanbul departure - USA arrival
Transfer to Istanbul airport. Continue with transatlantic flight to U.S.A
