TAKE AN OPTIONAL POST EXTENSION TO EGYPT & ST. KATHERINES
DAY 1 -- JERUSALEM / TABA / ST. KATHERINE'S Today we pass through the Valley of Elah, the site of David and Goliath's battle, through the region of Adullom, where David took refuge from Saul, and on to Beersheba, ancient city of Judah, a watering hole and trading post for thousands of years. It is the center of desert traffic, located on the edge of the vast Negev Desert. Here we catch a glimpse of Bedouin life. Then on to Eilat on the Red Sea, and cross into Egypt at Taba. Continuing through the desert, we come to St. Catherine's Monastery and Mt. Sinai, traditional site of Moses' receiving the 10 Commandments. We check in to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 2 -- ST. KATHERINE'S / MT. SINAI / CAIRO Those who desire, may climb Mount Sinai for the sunrise. Continue to St. Katherine's Monastery, where we visit the Chapel, then go to the traditional site of the Burning Bush and the Chamber of the Skulls. We then head north to the Suez Canal and cross it to Ismailia and the desert route to Cairo, where we check into our hotel for dinner.
DAY 3 -- CAIRO- MUSEUM & PYRAMIDS This morning we visit the Egyptian Museum with its priceless gems from the tomb of Tutankhamen and other world-famous relics. We tour Old Cairo, including the Coptic church of "El Moallaka", dating from the early fourth century and the Mohamed Ali Mosque. This afternoon's excursion includes an exciting camel ride to the Pyramids and visit the Sphinx. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 -- Friday: November 17, 2006 - CAIRO / NEW YORKThis morning we will transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.
BASIC TOUR BEGINS HERE
THE HOLY LAND
DAY 1 -- 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 -- ISTANBUL / TEL AVIV / TEL AVIV / TIBERIAS Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. We board our bus and travel through Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel. We proceed up the coast and go to the famous Sea of Galilee where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3 -- TIBERIAS / UPPER GALILEE This morning we leave Tiberias and head north via Magdala into the valley of Gennesareth to Ginossar to view the New Testament boat found below the sea and to visit the kibbutz. Then on to Chorazin, through the Hula Valley to Hazor, ruins of the powerful Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua and rebuilt by Solomon to command upper Galilee. We continue to the northern limits of Jesus' travel as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan and Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan, Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds; here Peter made his great profession of faith. Driving to the foot of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4 -- TIBERIAS / BET SHEAN / SEA OF GALILEE / TIBERIAS This morning we follow the Rift Valley running parallel to the Jordan, along the route Jesus most frequently traveled to Jerusalem. We visit Bet Shean at the foot of Mt. Gilboa, where King Saul was slain, see the evidences of Egyptian, Roman and Byzantine occupations, and view the ancient tel, Roman Theater and church mosaics.In the afternoon we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, then visit Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. Our last stop today will be at the River Jordan then transfer to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 -- TIBERIAS / SEA OF GALILEE / BET SHEAN / JERUSALEM This morning we take a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where we will be able to look to the shore where so many miracles occured. We continue to Capernaum and see first century ruins, then visit Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes. Continue to the River Jordan where those that wish may be baptized. This afternoon we travel via the Crusader fortress of Belvoir along the Rift Valley to Bet Shean, where King Saul and his sons were pinned to the walls. It became the Decapolis Capital and was traveled by Jesus and known as Scythopolis. See the ancient theater, Circus Maximus and Cardo Maximo. We head down the Jordan River Road and head to the Judean wilderness on our way up to Jerusalem. We will enter the Holy City via the Mount of Olives with the beauty of Jerusalem before us. Continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6 -- TIBERIAS / NAZARETH / CAESAREA / JERUSALEM We leave Tiberias for Jerusalem, on the way visiting Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. We pass through Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle, then proceed across the Plain of Jezreel to Megiddo to visit the excavations of over 20 different civilizations. Visit Muhraka on Mount Carmel. 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 7 -- JERUSALEM / NEW CITY / BETHLEHEM This morning we visit the New City of Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the Upper Room, the tomb of King David and Dormition Abbey. We enter the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to visit the Wohl Archaeological Museum, displaying the newly restored Herodian Quarter. Remains of this area of Jerusalem date 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 then view the Knesset (Israeli parliament) building. Continue to visit Yad Vashem, a memorial of the Holocaust then visit the Model City. 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 visit the cave in Shepherds' Field and view the Fields of Boaz. En route to Jerusalem we see the Tomb of Rachel and other antiquities before returning to the hotel for dinner.
DAY 8 -- JERUSALEM / MT. OF OLIVES / OLD CITY Today we drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem, visit the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of Ascension, then proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we pass the tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James, then visit the Pool of Siloam and the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu (Caiaphas' House). We enter the Old City this afternoon through the Zion Gate and see the Cardo and the remains of Nehemiah's Wall on the way to the Western (Wailing) Wall. We visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount, 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 (Way of the Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and end our day in the Garden Tomb before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9 -- JERUSALEM / NEW YORK We transfer to the airport for our flight home with unforgettable memories to cherish always. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading.
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7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION IN TURKEY
DAY 9 - 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 10 -- ISTANBUL / IZMIR This morning we will arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our flight to Izmir.Upon arrival in Izmir our guide will meet and transfer to hotel. The remainder of the day is free. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 11 -- IZMIR / PAMMUKALE Today we drive to Sardis, a Lydian capital, where the largest Roman Synagogue ever discovered is visited. We will explore the massive scale of the Temple of Artemis and the white marble royal road, the gymnasium and the synagogue. Then visit to Philadelphia (Alasehir - Rev. 3:7-13), "The City of Brotherly Love", which will always be remembered as the church that kept the faith. In the afternoon we stop at Pamukkale (Hierapolis), a unique, magnificent natural formation, sure to be a highlight of your trip. Over the last fourteen thousand years, calcium rich water from an underground thermal spring has flowed over the mountainside and slowly solidified, creating Shallow White Basins and Twisted Stalagmites. Since antiquity, these thermal pools have been used for their healing powers. Christianity came to Hierapolis via Paul (Colossians 4:13). Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Pamukkale.
DAY 12 -- HIERAPOLIS / LAODICEA / MILETUS / IZMIR / IZMIR The day starts with a visit to Laodicea, another one of the Seven Churches (Rev 3:14-22), chastised for being lukewarm. Continue to Miletus where Paul predicted his own death. Next we visit Izmir, site of another one of the Seven Churches where we visit the Church of St. Polycarp, the oldest church in ancient Smyrna. Continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Izmir.
DAY 13 -- IZMIR / EPHESUS / Kusadasi This morning a short drive takes us to Kusadasi where we explore Ephesus (Rev. 1:11) the crown jewel of the Seven Churches and one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world. Visit the Odeon, the marble street where Paul held daily discussions, the Library of Celcus, the Temple of Hadrian and the great theater where Paul causes a riot. Also visit what’s left of the Temple of Diana. Finally, we’ll visit the House of the Virgin Mary where the Apostle John cared for the mother of Jesus. Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 14 -- PERGAMUM / THYATIRA / BURSA The sun has risen behind Mount Pagus and the citadel of ancient Smyrna dominates the skyline when we leave this landlocked harbor-city for a day-long excursion. Our first stop is Pergamum, modern Bergama. We visit first its majestic Acropolis and remarkable Græco-Roman theater, steepest in the world; then, its famous Aesculapium, antiquity's nearest equivalent to a modern general hospital. We continue southeast to another city singled out in a letter from John: Thyatira (Akhisar); Paul's first European convert, Lydia, who accepted the Lord at Philippi, was a seller of purple from Thyatira. Continue on to Bursa where we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 15 -- BURSA / ISTANBUL Departing Bursa we begin our drive to Nicaea, site of two ecumenical councils in the Byzantine periodand later for its tiles during the Ottoman Empire. Continue on to Bursa, currently the fourth largest city in Turkey and the first capital of the Ottoman Empire in the 14th Century, before the Ottomans took Constantinople. Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 16 -- ISTANBUL / BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN This morning we see the highlights along Istanbul Drive: the Suleymaniye Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar. We go to the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Kariye Mosque and the Archaeological Museum. Continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 17 -- ISTANBUL / TEL AVIV / BAT YAM This morning we will board our bus and transfer to our flight to Tel Aviv.Upon arrival in Tel Aviv we are met by our guide who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. Board our bus and travel through Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel. We proceed to Bat Yam, a suburb of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean to our hotel where we will check in overnight.
