| 17 Days Tour Program - Egypt / Jordan / Israel |
Day 1 - Depart USA to Cairo
Day 2 - Welcome to Egypt
Arrival in Cairo where you will be met by our representative to assist you through security & customs and provide transfer to your hotel. Evening introduction, orientation & Dinner. Overnight: Cairo
Day 3 - Cairo Tour
After breakfast we will start our Egypt tour and visit the Egyptian Museum and Old Cairo. Afternoon trip to Citadel of Saladin, Sultan Hassan Mosque and the Khan Khalil Bazaars. In the evening we will have a Cruise-Dinner on the Nile. Return to the Hotel and overnight. Overnight: Cairo
Day 4 - Luxor
Morning flight to Luxor. Transfer to hotel. Afternoon visit Karnak and Luxor Temples. Enjoy a Sound & Light show in Luxor. Dinner at hotel. Overnight: Luxor
Day 5 - Luxor /Cairo
Morning ferry crossing to West Bank, to see the Valley of the Kings, Deir-el-Bahari, Medinet, Habu, Ramesseum and Colossi of Memnon, Afternoon flight to Cairo; transfer to hotel for dinner and overnight .
Overnight: Cairo.
Day 6 - Sinai
Morning drive to Pyramids and Sphinx. Leave Cairo and travel east toward Sinai, going through the tunnel under the Suez Canal. Drive along the west branch of the Red Sea, following what is thought to be the route of the Exodus. Oasis of Paran (Faran). Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery.
Dinner and Overnight: near Mt. Sinai.
Day 7 - From Sinai to Israel
If you wish, climb Mt. Sinai in the early early morning (3 am), renting a camel for assistance and fun for the first 2/3 of the way up to see the sunrise. After late breakfast we Visit St. Catherine's Monastery which was constructed by the Roman Emperor Justinian (527 and 565 AD). It is built around what was thought to be Moses' Burning Bush. The Greek Orthodox church building is the oldest continuously used church building in the world. Leaving St. Catherine's we drive to the Taba border and cross to Eilat. Fly to Tel Aviv. Meet your Israeli guide and drive to Tel Aviv hote for check in and dinnerl. Overnigh:Tel Aviv
Day 8 - From the coast to the Gallilee
After breakfast, travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. See the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct. Then journey on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah hid from King Ahab, and through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. In the afternoon, continue on to Cana and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus and then via Mt. Tabor the site of the transfiguration, from here we will view the geographic layout of Jesus' early ministry. Drive to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for check in and dinner. Overnight: Sea of Galilee
Day 9 - Sea of Galilee and Golan Heights
Following breakfast, travel to Caesarea Philippi, site of Peter’s Confession. A relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee with easy viewing of the nearby Golan Heights brings to life the experiences of the fishermen disciples. In Capernaum visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter’s home. Then travel on to the site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes and the Mount of the Beatitudes overlooking the Sea where our guide will reenact Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount”. Also visit the ruins of the ancient Capernaum. This evening we will take in the multi-media presentation of the “Galilee Experience”, an entertaining, educational and enriching experience not to be missed. Overnight: Sea of Galilee
Day 10 - Jordan River, Beit-Shean, Jerash, Amman
Begin our sightseeing with a visit to the Jordan River Baptismal site, and then turn southward to Beit-Shean /Scythopolis -- The most magnificent archeological site in Israel .Departure for the Jordanian – Israeli border at Sheik Hussein . Cross the Jordan river and drive to Jerash- Gerasha of ancient times, one of the best preserved and most complete of the cities of the Decapolis . Proceed to Amman, capital of modern Jordan. Short city tour of the old & new city. Overnight: Amman
Day 11- Mount Nebo, Madaba, Petra
Early departure form Amman to Visit Mount Nebo – Moses, the “friend of God” looked from here into the promised land. Next we will continue on to Madaba and visit the Mosaic map of the Holy Land from 4th century found in an ancient Byzantine church. Continue south to visit Petra – the spectacular Rose Red capital of the Nabateans. Overnight: Petra
Day 12 - Petra, Qumran, Dead Sea
After breakfast we will drive to the Allenby bridge and re cross back to Israel. We'll visit Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Free Afternoon to enjoy the Dead Sea and the Spa at our hotel. Spa treatments are available. Overnight: Dead Sea
Day 13 - Dead Sea, Massada, Ein Gedi, Jerusalem
Drive along the west coast of the Dead Sea to Massada, take a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress. Here our guide will treat us to the history of the famous zealot stand. Afterwards proceed to Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Because of its warm climate and abundant supply of water, the site developed a reputation for its fragrant plants and date palm groves. This is where King David hid from Saul, and where God defeated the enemies of the Israelites by praise and worship led by King Jehoshaphat. (1 Sam 23:29; 24 Song of Songs 1:14). Drive up to Jerusalem for check in and dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem.
Day 14 - Old City Jerusalem
Following breakfast we begin our first day of touring by boarding our motor coaches and head to the top of the Mount of Olives and stand where our Lord ascended into heaven (Acts 1). See olive trees on the Mount of Olives (Luke 19, 2 Samuel 15) that date back to the time of Christ. From the Mt of Olives is an outstanding breathtaking view of the city across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate, see Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit. We'll take the historic Palm Sunday road down to the Garden of Gethsemane (John 18). After lunch we will take a walk up on the ancient walls of Jerusalem, ending at the Upper Room welcoming a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. 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. Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight:Jerusalem.
Day 15 - Old City Jerusalem
Drive through Ramat Rachel “Rachel heights” to see the Shepherd's Fields and than visit Bethlehem, the site of the nativity. Continue through the picturesque market streets past the Citadel of David and exit through the Jaffa Gate, passing the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the way. Free afternoon and evening to enjoy the old city markets and for shopping Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 16 - Old & New City Jerusalem
Begin the day in the new part of Jerusalem by visiting a scale model of the city set in New Testament Times, including the Second Temple. Continue via the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and downtown Jerusalem. We will visit the Holocaust Museum -Yad Vashem and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls collection displays the authenticity of God's eternal Word. Following lunch, we will visit the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. (*Visit to the Temple Mount subject to change) We will continue through the Western Wall Tunnels, running along the base of the Western Wall. We continue to the Southern Steps, the archaeological reconstruction of the Temple Steps where Jesus walked so often. At the Davison center, we will see a 3D presentation of the second temple period. We will end the tour with a unique visit to the Garden Tomb, where we will have a quiet prayer and share the Lord ’s Supper. Return to the hotel for a Farewell Dinner. Overnight:Jerusalem
Day 17 - Departure from Israel - arrival in the U.S.A
After breakfast transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your transatlantic flight back to the U.S.A
Take home your fond memories of Israel that will last a lifetime & start planning your next trip to Israel.....
