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DAY 01 Tue . Feb . 21
Depart the USA · Overnight Flight
Today we depart from Dallas/Ft. Worth for an overnight international flight to Tel Aviv, with a connection in Newark.
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DAY 02 Wed . Feb . 22
Arrive Tel Aviv · Tiberias
We arrive into Tel Aviv this morning. Here you will meet your English speaking tour guide, after going through Passport Control, and collecting your luggage. We begin our tour by heading North and stopping at Caesarea Maritima. Here we view the sunken harbor, the hippodrome, the theatre, and the Roman aqueduct. We then make our way to our hotel located on the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias where we spend the next three nights.
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DAY 03 Thu . Feb . 23
Around the Sea of Galilee
We begin our day by heading towards Tel Hazor where we observe the largest Canaanite city of the Old Testament. We travel to Dan where we combine a nature walk beside the upper Jordan River and a visit to more ancient ruins, including the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf (I Kings 12). Afterwards, we take a brief ride to the spring of Caesarea Philippi (Banias) where Peter confessed his recognition of Jesus as The Christ (Matthew 16). We end our day at Ben Tal or Tel Fakhr before heading back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
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DAY 04 Fri . Feb . 24
In and Around the Sea of Galilee
Today begins with a drive toward Mt. Carmel where we have a panoramic view of the Plain of Jezreel. We stop at the Monastery at Mt. Carmel before heading to the ruins of Tel Megiddo. We visit Capernaum, where Franciscan archaeologists believe they have uncovered the house of Peter (Mark 1 and 2). Our next stop will be at the Yardenit Baptismal Site before ending the day with a Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee.
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DAY 05 Sat . Feb . 25
Masada · Ein Gedi · Qumran
After breakfast we drive south to the fortress of Masada rising 1,200 feet above the desert plain. We see the restoration efforts of the remains of buildings dating back to the fourth and fifth centuries AD. We then drive to Ein Gedi and climb a mountain path to the waterfall where David may have hidden when he was running from Saul (1 Samuel 24). We continue to Qumran, once home to a Hebrew sect known as the Essenes. Close by overlooking a cave, we see where a Bedouin shepherd discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1948. We then make our way towards the top of Mt. Scopus and behold majestic Jerusalem. Proceed to our hotel for dinner and the next four overnights.
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DAY 06 Sun . Feb . 26
Bethlehem
This morning we head to Bethlehem. Here we walk through the town making our way along its alleys and markets to the Manger Square, where we visit the Church of the Nativity and Jerome’s Cave. We then visit the Shepherds’ Field where the angels announced the birth of the Holy Child. We will enjoy a Lunch at The Grotto restaurant before an afternoon of shopping at the Three Arches. We then head back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
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DAY 07 Mon . Feb . 27
Jerusalem
We start our day at the Upper City of David where we will have the opportunity to walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Just to the north we find the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church, perfectly preserved from the Crusader period with remarkable acoustics. Then on to Sisters of Zion (Praetorium) where we follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa). Then on to the Garden of Gethsemane, where we view olive trees that are said to have existed during the time of Jesus. We end our day at the Garden Tomb and Gordon’s Calvary.
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DAY 8 Tue . Feb . 28
Jerusalem
We begin our day by ascending to the Temple Mount. Here we view the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites of Islam. Next we visit the Western Wall, Jerusalem’s holiest site. We walk through the Rabbinical Tunnel and examine two stone blocks each weighing about 600 tons. We visit the Southern Wall Excavations by the Dung Gate and examine ruins that include steps where we may be certain Jesus and the disciples walked. Walk through the Jewish Quarter where we view Hezekiah’s Wall on our way to the Herodian Museum. We enjoy Lunch at the Quarter Café before visiting the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. This church stands over what is believed to be the house of Caiaphas where Jesus was kept prior to His crucifixion. We end our day at The Shrine of the Book where we view the Dead Sea Scrolls, ancient artifacts, and an outdoor model of Jerusalem as the city may have looked in 66 AD--built to scale!
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DAY 9 Wed . Mar . 01
Jerusalem · Allenby Bridge · Petra
Today we travel to the Allenby Border and cross over to Jordan. We will make a stop and take in the view at Mt. Nebo before a lovely lunch at the Haret Jdoudna Restaurant. We then make our way to Petra where will spend the next two nights.
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DAY 10 Thu . Mar . 02
Petra
Today we tour Petra, the ancient Edomite and Nabatean capital, and “Rose Red City half as old as time.” We’ll see the spectacular “city of the dead,” with its famed gorge, ancient streets, temples, dwelling places and tombs carved in solid rock. Our visit includes a two-mile journey on horseback or a walk through the famous Siq (the natural gorge) to arrive at the Treasury. We can see Roman temple ruins of the Roman city, the Nabatean Judgement Hall, palace tombs, famous Urn Temple and the Roman Amphitheater. A climb of several hundred steps to the “high places” might appeal to the adventurous.
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DAY 11 Fri . Mar . 03
Petra · Dead Sea · Afternoon at Leisure
We travel to the Dead Sea where we can enjoy a day of leisure.
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DAY 12 Sat . Mar . 04
Amman City Tour · Airport· Departure
This morning we check out of our hotel and make our way towards Amman for a city tour and nearby sites including the Citadel, the Old Souk and the Jordan Museum. We will have a chance to freshen up at the hotel prior to dinner. This evening we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner in Amman before we drive to the airport for our late evening check in for our flight home.
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DAY 13 Sun . Mar . 05
Arrive U.S.A.
Today we arrive back in the USA on our flight from Amman.
