14 Days Holy Land & Jordan Journey
DAY 1 DEPART USA
DAY 2 Arrival Tel Aviv Our life-changing journey begins as we arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport. We will be met by our representative. After boarding our bus, we will transfer to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 3 Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo After breakfast, we 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. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct, and then journey on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. Next, we travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. We drive through the area of Cana and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit the Nazareth Village—a wonderful recreation of Biblical times with costumed guides.
DAY 4 Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Baptism Following breakfast, our morning travels take us to two valuable northern sites. Dan is where the children of Israel fell to the depths of alternative sacrifice and Caesarea Philippi, the site of Peter’s Confession and pagan worship. We pass the possible site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes in Bethsaida and the Mount of the Beatitudes. Returning to Tiberias for a St. Peter’s Fish Lunch on own (other selections available), we then visit the ancient Fisherman Boat followed by a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee. In Capernaum we view the excavation of the seaside village and Peter’s home. Finally, we have an opportunity to be baptized at the Jordan River Baptismal site before we return to our hotel.
DAY 5 Magdala – Beth Shean, Border Crossing – Petra Our adventure continues to Magdala, home town of Mary Magdalene. The recent excavation of the First Century Synagogue and well-preserved village makes Magdala one of the most interesting Biblical sites in Israel. Next, we travel southward to Beth Shean/Scythopolis, the most magnificent archeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. Like Jericho, it has been almost continuously occupied throughout history. After defeating Saul and his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beit Shean. During the time of Jesus, Scythopolis was one of the chief cities of the Decapolis—a league of ten cities sharing Greek culture and government. We will cross the border to Jordan and turn southward toward the amazing mountain fortress of Petra, known to be inhabited by the Edomites—the descendants of Esau.
DAY 6 Petra Full Day Sightseeing This morning begins with a 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 the guided part of the tour you will have the afternoon to explore—perhaps you will want to hike up the 822 steps carved out of the mountain to the Monastery building – its large, intricately carved façade and views looking out over the surrounding valleys are stunning. Other things to see include the pillars of the Hadrian Gate and the Cardo beyond it – a long street that was once the ancient city’s main thoroughfare. Our hotel this evening remains in Petra so you can explore at your own leisure.
DAY 7 Mt. Nebo, Madaba Departing Petra, we travel northward on the King’s Highway where to the west we view the hills bordering the Dead Sea. This is the area of the hilltop palace/fortress of Machaerus, where John the Baptist was beheaded. Enjoy our stop at Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site of the tomb of Moses, which commands spectacular views across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. A short drive takes us 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 view the earliest surviving mosaic map of the Holy land. We will drive down the mountains to the Dead Sea where we will check into our hotel for the night.
DAY 8 Jerash, Pompeii of the East – Amman This morning we travel to Jerash, one of the best preserved and most complete provincial Roman cities. Jerash, Gerasa of Roman Times, was one of the cities of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Graeco-Roman cities dating from the 1st century BC situated in Jordan, Syria and Israel. Known as the Pompeii of the East for its extraordinary state of preservation, the ruins indicate human occupations at this location for more than 2,500 years. From here we return to our hotel on the Dead Sea.
DAY 9 Border Crossing, Jericho, Jerusalem We cross the Jordan River into Israel and then stop in the ancient city of Jericho famed as the oldest in the world. To the east of Jericho along the Jordan River Valley (Qaser El Yehud) is the Israeli side of Bethany Beyond the Jordan. In this area Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan, as well as where the children of Israel, led by Joshua, entered the promised Land. We drive to Jerusalem with the remainder of the afternoon/evening free. You may wish to take a time of prayer and thanks for the special blessings ahead, a prayer for the people of this land, and then enjoy a good night’s rest.
DAY 10 Masada, Ein Gedi Qumran Our day begins with a cable car ride to the mount top fortress of Masada. Here our guide will treat us to the history of the famous zealot stand. Afterwards we proceed to Ein Gedi, “Spring of the Goat,” an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. 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. Next, we visit Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
DAY 11 : Around Jerusalem On our way into the city we will visit the Wailing Wall the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Adjacent to the Western Wall, we explore the Southern Wall Excavations. The most exciting findings here are: the walls of the city from the First Temple period, the steps leading up to the Temple, the original street from the time of the Second Temple period. Then we walk tunnels beneath the Western Wall. At that level you are walking under Jerusalem at the level of the city from Jesus Christ’s time. The tunnel and exhibit give a clear understanding of the amazing construction of the Temple Mount, giant stones, water supply and Roman street where our Lord was led to judgment. 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. From here we will also be able to see the Pool of Bethesda, Stephen’s Gate and St. Ann’s Church. A visit to Bethlehem and those sites surrounding the birth of Christ including the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd’s Field is not to be missed.
DAY 12 Jesus’ Steps, Last Days, Way of Suffering, Garden Tomb Today we walk where Jesus walked; beginning the day with a panoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives and then the Garden of Gethsemane. Passing by the Protestant Cemetery, we visit the “Upper Room” just outside the Zion Gate where the disciple whom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and where later Thomas cried, “my Lord & my God.” While walking along the Via Dolorosa, we are reminded of His way of suffering along with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The climax of the day is the area of Golgotha (place of the skull) and the Garden Tomb, where we celebrate the resurrection with communion and a time of praise.
DAY 13 Israel Museum, House of Caiaphas, Yad Vashem An interesting and educational time awaits us today at the Israeli Museum. Walk through collections of century’s old Israeli artifacts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, and then a guided walk through an accurately detailed model of Biblical Jerusalem. This model will help put into perspective all that you have seen over the previous days touring. Next, we visit the House of Caiaphas where Jesus was beaten and spit upon. See a pit where he may have been held for the evening and the ancient hillside steps he walked as he was taken to be condemned. We conclude the day with a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, for a needed reminder of what the Jews have suffered as a people.
DAY 14 DEPARTURE Airport Departure Transfer to Tel Aviv Airport for Departure - the end of a most enjoyable and unforgettable journey.