Day 1: Departure
Our life-changing journey begins this evening as we board our overnight flight to Cairo, Egypt.
Day 2: Arrival Cairo
Upon arrival in Cairo we meet our guide and driver who will transport us to the hotel for dinner and rest for the remainder of the evening. We relax tonight as we prepare for the adventurous travel ahead.
Dinner and Overnight Cairo
Day 3: Cairo
Today we travel back to ancient Egypt with a full day of touring to the wonders of the ancient world, some of which date back to 1000+ years prior to Abraham. We spend time at one of the seven wonders of the world- the pyramids. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. Today, we will also see the Sphinx and tour the Egyptian Museum, location of Tutankhamen’s treasures and ancient remains.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner cruise on the Nile River. Overnight Cairo.
Day 4: Mt. Sinai
This morning we visit Old Cairo , the Synagogues and Old Churches . At noon we leave Cairo and pass through the “Land of Goshen” and travel the southward route of the Exodus through the Wilderness of Shur. We learn of the terrain and the history of this region en-route as we pass Marah (Springs of Moses) and further to the south, the oasis of Elim. Arriving in the late afternoon to the hotel, the St Catherine Monastery at Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb), we have dinner and rest for our early morning activity.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner and overnight Mt Sinai
Day 5: Taba, Timna, Aqaba
Just into the new day, those who desire and are physically capable will depart for a memorable very early morning walk up Mt Moses. You may choose to ride a camel part way, stop at one of the stations to take in the scenery along the climb to the summit (750 steps) for a sunrise to remember. Once at the top, enjoy a time of praise and then depart down the mountain for breakfast. Now we will visit the 1500 years old Monastery of St. Catharine and see the burning bush . After a short ride to the Red Sea, while gazing across the Gulf of Aqaba, we can begin to imagine the miracle of the parting of the sea. Cross into Israel at the Taba border crossing, and drive through Eilat to Timna Park where we will visit the site of the Tabernacle and then enjoy a Bedouin tea and hospitality experience. Afterwards we will the Arava border crossing with Jordan and enter Jordan.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner and overnight at the Jordanian city of Aqaba along the Red Sea.
Day 6: Petra
This morning we check out and turn north driving toward the amazing mountain fortress of Petra, known to be inhabited by the Edomites – the descendents of Esau. Begin the tour with a walk through the “Siq,” an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone, to the city of Petra carved out of the rose red rock. The Treasury, El Khazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity. Beyond El Khazneh we are surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures. After lunch we will depart from Petra and drive northward to Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site of the tomb of Moses, commands a spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. The drive continues to the town of Madaba, the biblical Medeba, 30 kilometers south of Amman. Madaba is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George we may view the earliest surveying original map of the Holy Land, from here we drive to Amman.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight in Amman.
Day 7: Amman –border point with Israel – Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee
We travel north to the Sheik Hussein bridge crossing into Israel , along the Jordan Valley highway and arrive at the Galilee region. This is the region where Jesus spend the first 30 years of His life. We will first stop briefly at Beit Shean before driving north to view the model 1st century village of Nazareth Village and enjoy a biblical lunch. We will see and learn what life was like during this period. We will walk through Nazareth and visit the Church of Annunciation. Our day will end at the top of Mt. Precipace for a viewpoint over the entire Jezreel valley and enjoy praise and worship.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight, Tiberias
Day 8: Cana, Caesarea Philipi and the Golan Heights, the Mt. of Beatitudes
Today spend the day literally in His footsteps. Our day will begin our day at Cana to visit the Wedding Church, site of Jesus’ first miracle. There will be an opportunity for couples to renew their marriage vows. Then, we will drive north to Caesarea Philipi in the Golan Heights. We will also visit the Banias waterfalls, one of the three fresh water sources that join together to form the Jordan River. We will up to Mt. Bental for a geopolitical overview and enjoy a Druze lunch en route (not included) before continuing south to the Mt. of Beatitudes, where we will end our day.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner and overnight, Tiberias
Day 9 – Magdala, Boat Ride and Sea of Galilee sites, Baptism
Our day will begin with a visit to the synagogue at Magdala where we will visit the new excavations of the Biblical town of Magdala where the Archaeologists have found the ruins of a Synagogue from Jesus times. From here we will See the “Jesus Boat” uncovered recently from the bed of the Sea of Galilee and then enjoy a festive sail along the Sea of Galilee. We will visit other important sites, including Peters Primacy, Capernaum (where we will see Peters House), and enjoy a lunch of St. Peters Fish along the way. Our day will end with baptism at the Jordan River.
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and overnight, Tiberias.
Day 10 : The Road from the Galilee to Jerusalem
Today we leave the Galilee and drive south towards Jerusalem. Drive to Megiddo to see the ancient tel that documents 20 layers of previous civilizations and is considered the site of biblical Armegeddon . Continue to Mount Carmel where we will visit the Muchraka the site where Elijah confronted the 400 false Baal Prophets and proved to all who is the true G-d Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Jezreel Valley and the lower Galilee. Continue up the coastline to the ancient Roman city of Caesarea on the Mediterranean Sea. We will view the Roman aqueduct and port, Crusader’s Moat and the famous Roman Theater. It was in Caesarea
where Paul was imprisoned. From here we continue to Jerusalem.
Breakfast, Dinner and overnight Jerusalem
Day 11: Jerusalem, In Jesus’ Steps
Today we walk where Jesus walked. Begin the day with a panoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives. From here we will drive down to visit the Garden of Gethsemane and see the Church of Agony . We will enjoy time to read scripture inside the garden between the ancient olive trees. Next, we enter the Old City through Stephen’s Gate and visit the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus cured a cripple. We move on to the Judgment Hall of Pilate, hear of those who conspired against Him and are reminded of His brutal beating and humiliation. While walking along the Via Dolorosa, we are reminded of His way of suffering, and visit the Church of the Sepulcher.
From here we will visit the ancient City of David and visit the Hezekiah’s tunnel ending with readings at the Pool of Siloam.
Breakfast, Dinner at leisure, overnight Jerusalem
Day 12: Around Jerusalem
An inspiring day of touring awaits us today as we begin our day at the Israel Museum to view the Dead Sea Scrolls, and a guided walk through an accurately detailed model of Biblical Jerusalem from the Second Temple period. We will continue to the Old City where we will walk through the “Eye of the Needle” (Jaffa Gate) and into the Jewish Quarter and enjoy time for lunch on own and shopping. We will see the ancient Roman Cardo and visit the Western Wall, the remaining portion of the original Temple plaza. For those that wish, we will end our day with a walk inside the Western Wall tunnels.
Breakfast, Dinner and overnight Jerusalem
Day 13 Masada, Qumran, Dead Sea, Shabbat dinner
Today we drive from Jerusalem towards the Judean wilderness , beginning at Masada, we will take a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress of Masada. Here our guide will treat us to the history of the famous zealot stand. Then onto Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were written 2000 years ago and were discovered in 1948. We will then have an opportunity to swim at the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem, to rest and change for Shabbat dinner with local hosts.
Breakfast, lunch, and enjoy a Shabbat dinner with a local Jewish family and overnight Jerusalem
Day 14: Garden Tomb, Mt Zion, Bethlehem
We will begin with a late morning checkout before heading out for a communion service at the Garden Tomb. Next we drive over to Mount Zion , we visit the house of Caiaphas and the “Upper Room” where the disciple whom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and where later Thomas cried; “my Lord & my God.” Here we will also visit the Tomb of King David and the Dormition Abbey.
From here we will travel to Shepherds Fields and onto Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity. Farewell dinner en route to the airport.
Included: Breakfast, Dinner and transfer to the airport.
Sunday Day 15: Arrival to USA
This morning we will arrive in the US.
