Holy Land / Petra / Egypt Tour Itinerary--March 16 - 30, 2009
* The Mysterious Petra pre-Israel tour starts with blue THE “MYSTERIOUS PETRA” PRE-ISRAEL TOUR begins here: DAY 1 – Monday, March 16, 2009 -- NEW YORK / ISTANBUL Tour members are welcomed at JFK International Airport by Dr. & Mrs. Kroll for our flight to Istanbul via widebody aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board. DAY 2 – Tuesday, March 17 -- ISTANBUL / AMMAN / PETRA We arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our flight to Amman . Much shorter than the international flight, we arrive in Amman in the afternoon, are met by our Jordanian guide and take our motor coach to Petra, arriving in time for dinner and overnight at our hotel. DAY 3 – Wednesday, March 18 -- PETRA This morning we awake and look out at Petra , one of the most scenic places in the world. We’ll walk (or ride a horse) through the narrow siq into the dreamlike “ Rose-Red City " of Petra with its incredibly beautiful temples, carved into solid rock and forgotten for 500 years. This is the Mount Seir and the Selah of the Old Testament. We will view the places of sacrifice, old tombs dating back to 100 B.C., El Deir Monastery, the Tomb of Aaron and the royal palaces. This afternoon we board our motor coach for a panoramic ride of the outer environs of Petra , the desert areas of the ancient Nabataeans. See the land of the desert nomads. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 4 – Thursday, March 19 -- MT. NEBO / JORDAN RIVER / TIBERIAS This morning we drive north to Medaba to see an ancient map of the Middle East done in the floor mosaics of a church built during the reign of the emperor Justinian (527-565). Then it’s on to Mount Nebo , from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. We’ll have a look ourselves. This afternoon we continue north to the traditional site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Continue to King Hussein Bridge where we cross the Jordan River , enter Israel and drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. THE “MAJESTIC ISRAEL” BASIC TOUR begins here: DAY 1 -- Wednesday, March 18 -- NEW YORK / ISTANBUL Tour members are welcomed at JFK International Airport for our departing flight to Istanbul via widebody aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board. DAY 2 -- Thursday, March 19 -- ISTANBUL / TEL AVIV / TIBERIAS This morning we arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our flight to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide, board our air-conditioned motor coach and travel through Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel , then up the coast to the famous Sea of Galilee where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight. The folks who have been to Petra will join us at dinner. We’ll have a brief “get acquainted” party before turning in for the night. DAY 3 -- Friday, March 20 -- BET SHEAN / SEA OF GALILEE / CAPERNAUM
This morning we follow the Rift Valley down the Jordan Valley along the route Jesus most frequently traveled to Jerusalem . We visit Bet Shean at the foot of Mt. Gilboa , where King Saul was slain, and view the ancient tel, Roman theater, church mosaics, and more. After lunch we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee . We’ll stop in the middle of the sea for a time of worship and a study in the Word. When we dock we’ll proceed to Capernaum , Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes and the River Jordan before returning to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight. DAY 4 -- Saturday, March 21 -- NAZARETH / CAESAREA / JERUSALEM Our first stop today is Nazareth , boyhood home of Jesus. Then we’ll cross the Plain of Jezreel (where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought) to Megiddo to visit the excavations of over 20 different civilizations. It’s on to Muhraka on Mount Carmel where Elijah battled the prophets of Baal. In the afternoon we visit Caesarea on the Mediterranean , the Roman aqueduct and port, Crusader's Moat, and the famous Roman theater. We pass through Tel Aviv on our way to Jaffa (Joppa), the city of Jonah , where Peter had his housetop experience at the home of Simon the Tanner (Acts 10). Proceed by way of the Aijalon Valley to Jerusalem for check-in and dinner at our hotel. DAY 5 -- Sunday, March 22 -- MASADA / QUMRAN / JERICHO We begin our day by descending into the Jordan Valley and driving south along the Dead Sea to Masada . Here we ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from 70 to 73 AD, Jewish defenders made their last stand in the Judean revolt against Rome . We see the remains of storehouses, cisterns and a sixth-century Byzantine church. Retracing our steps alongside the Dead Sea , 1300 ft. below sea level -- the lowest spot on earth -- we proceed to Ein Gedi. Here we will have a stop for lunch and swim in the Dead Sea . Don’t miss this. It’s the most unique experience you’ll ever have. You must swim in the Dead Sea . This afternoon we continue to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. After this we travel to Jericho , the world's oldest city. From the excavated tel atop the ruins of ancient Jericho we view the lush green Jordan Valley , Elisha's spring and the Mount of Temptation. Finally we’ll ascend the hills of Judea up to Jerusalem and return to the hotel for dinner. Our “Sunday Night Service” in the hotel will feature singing, a Q & A session and a time in the Word. DAY 6 -- Monday, March 23 -- NEW CITY / BETHLEHEM This morning we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion , the Upper Room and the tomb of King David. We enter the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to visit the Wohl Archaeological Museum , displaying remains of Jerusalem dating back to the time of the Herodian Dynasty (37 BC to 70 AD). Proceed to the Shrine of the Book where we see the Dead Sea Scrolls on display, view the Knesset (Israeli parliament), visit Yad Vashem, a memorial of the Holocaust, and then the fascinating Model City of the Jerusalem of Jesus’ day. This afternoon we continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Manger, Crusader's Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome. We then go to the cave in Shepherds' Field and view the Fields of Boaz before returning to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner. DAY 7 -- Tuesday, March 24 -- RABBI TUNNEL / SOUTHERNWALL / DAVID’S CITY This morning we take an exciting tour to the famous Rabbi Tunnel. Here we will enter by the Western wall and go down to the foundation of the Second Temple . We will walk through the tunnel to the entry way to the Holy of Holies. After this we continue to the Temple Institute where they are making the instruments for the new temple, following the Bible specifications exactly. We’ll also view a film explaining where many rabbis believe the Ark of the Covenant is hidden. This afternoon we will head to the Southern Wall and the steps where Christ taught and would have entered the Temple area. Then we cross the road to the excavations of David’s City , Israel ’s first capital. We’ll end our day at the recent excavations near the Pool of Siloam before we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. After dinner, we’ll have another Q & A session in the hotel. DAY 8 -- Wednesday, March 25 – JERUSALEM / MOUNT OF OLIVES / OLD CITY We begin this glorious day on the Mount of Olives with a panoramic view of Jerusalem and then proceed down the Palm Sunday Street to Dominus Flevit Chapel, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem , and to the Garden of Gethsemane . Crossing the Kidron Valley , we visit the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (Caiaphas' House). We enter the Old City this afternoon to visit the Church of St. Anne , the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo ("Behold the Man"). We follow the Via Dolorosa and end our day with a communion service in the Garden Tomb. This will be the highlight of your tour. DAY 9 -- Thursday, March 26 -- JERUSALEM / NEW YORK Those going home today will transfer to the airport for their flight to NYC with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus in majestic Israel will bring new meaning to our Bible reading. Those wishing to add more value to their tour will begin to follow the trail of the Israelites through the wilderness to Egypt THE “MONUMENTAL EGYPT” POST ISRAEL TOUR begins here: DAY 9 – Thursday, March 26 -- EILAT / TABA / RAS SADR Today all who have chosen to continue their tour to Egypt will head south to Solomon’s Quarries. We will see a replica of the tabernacle that housed the Ark of the Covenant. Then on to Eilat on the Red Sea and cross into Egypt at Taba. We transfer to Egypt and meet our bus and guide to take us through the Sinai to the desert city of Ras Sadr . Check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 10 – Friday, March 27 – THE WILDERNESS JOURNEY / ELIM / VALLEY OF SIN / MARAH / CAIRO Today you will visit places you’ve read about but never dreamed you would ever see with your own eyes. First stop is Elim (Exodus 15.27; Numbers 33.9) the place where "there were twelve wells of water, and seventy date palms," and the Israelites "camped there near the water." From Exodus 15.23;16.1 and Numbers 33.9-11 we learn that it was here, in the Valley of Sin , the Israelites wandered for 40 years. And here’s where it really gets exciting. We will take 4 x 4 wheel drive vehicles, six of us in each vehicle, to go where not many have gone before. We’ll see Egyptian mines, rock carvings and numerous Sinaitic inscriptions few have ever seen. This afternoon we leave the Valley of Sin and go to Marah (Exodus 15:23 ) where the water was bitter and God told Moses to throw a branch into the water and it turned sweet. After seeing these major wilderness sites, we’ll take a ferry across the Suez Canal and continue on to Cairo , where we check into our hotel for dinner. DAY 11 – Saturday, March 28 -- CAIRO / MEMPHIS This morning we visit the Egyptian Museum with its priceless gems including the tomb of Tutankhamen and other world-famous relics. Then we tour Old Cairo, including the Coptic Abu Serga Church dating from the early fourth century. This afternoon we drive to Memphis , the ancient capital of Egypt . Here we visit the necropolis of Sakkara , the ancient Step Pyramid of King Zoser and the Imhotep Museum before returning to Cairo and our hotel for dinner. DAY 12 -- Sunday, March 29 -- PYRAMIDS / SPHINX / PHARAONIC VILLAGE Today we journey just outside of Cairo to see one of the seven wonders of the ancient world – the Pyramids of Giza. We’ll view the three most famous pyramids, the colossal sphinx and the Solar Boat Museum . Are you up for a camel ride? After lunch we’ll head to the Pharaonic Village where visitors sail on comfortable barges down a network of canals and view incredibly accurate tableaux recreations of ancient Egyptian life. The village is a living museum to the ancient past where you will see exhibits of ancient art and belief, mummification and medicine, a reconstruction of King Tut’s tomb and more. Visit a papyrus institute on our way back to our hotel. What a way to end our tour to monumental Egypt ! DAY 13 -- Monday, March 30 -- CAIRO / NEW YORK This morning we will transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories of the Ancient Near East. Now when we read our Bibles, we’ll not only be able to say “I was there,” but we’ll be able to “see” the places and events on the pages of God’s Word through the magic of our memories. |
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