THE HOLY LAND AND PETRA
DAY 1 -- Monday, March 24 , 2008 – PHOENIX OR 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 -- Tuesday, March 25 - 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 who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. Board our bus and travel to Jaffa ancient port where Jonah left prior to being swollowed by the whale. Here is where Peter had his house top experience. Continue 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 -- Wednesday, March 26 - 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 4 -- Thursday, March 27 - 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 5 -- Friday, March 28 - JERUSALEM / NEW CITY / BETHLEHEM / JERUSALEM - 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 6 -- Saturday, March 29 - JERUSALEM / MT. OF OLIVES / OLD CITY / JERUSALEM - 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 7 -- Sunday, March 30 - JERUSALEM / MASADA / JERICHO / PETRA - We begin our day with a stop at Bethany, home of Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Drive to Masada and 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. Continuing 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 or walk the path to see the waterfall in the desert. This afternoon we continue to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. 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 Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation. We will continue to the Allenby where we cross into Jordan and drive to Petra. Check into our hotel for dinner overnight.
DAY 8 -- Monday, March 31 - PETRA / MT NEBO / AMMAN - This morning we awake and look out at Petra, one of the most scenic places in the world. Proceed by foot into this dream-like, unreal world: the " 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, the old tombs dating back to 100 B.C., El Deir Monastery, the Tomb of Aaron and the royal palaces. This afternoon we will go to Madaba one of the ancient maps of the Middle East and then on to Mount Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. Late this afternoon we will go to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9 -- Tuesday, April 1 - AMMAN / NEW YORK OR PHOENIX - This 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.
TAKE AN OPTIONAL POST EXTENSION
7 CHURCHES OF REVELATION
DAY 9 -- Tuesday: April 1, 2008 - AMMAN / ISTANBUL / IZMIR - This morning we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival we will be met by our guide and see the highlights of Istanbul. We will view the Blue Mosque and San Sofia. This afternoon we go back to the airport for our flight to Izmir. Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10 -- Wednesday: April 2, 2008 - IZMIR / PERGAMUM / THYATIRA / KUSADASI - Today our first stop is Pergamum where St. Paul advised being faithful under persecution and following the practices of Balaam. If overcome the white stone with secret name is promised. Its impressive temples, library, and medical facilities made Pergamum a renowned cultural and political center. Next stop is Thyatira, where the Christians if they had faith and patience, they would be gratified with power over the nations and the morning star. Drive south to Kusadasi for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11 -- Thursday: April 3, 2008 - KUSADASI / EPHESUS / KUSADASI - Today’s included excursion takes us to Ephesus where Paul warned against evil men and ask the Christians for laboring for Christ, as a result the reward of the action is to eat the tree of life in Ephesus. Finally, we’ll visit the House of the Virgin Mary where the Apostle John cared for the mother of Jesus. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.
DAY 12 -- Friday: April 4, 2008 - KUSADASI / SARDIS / PHILADELPHIA / LAODICEA / PAMUKKALE - Today starts with Sardis, was part of the Roman province of Asia in New Testament times and they were asked to confess the name of God. Next stop is Philadelphia; St. Paul praised the people for keeping his word, with the promise of being a pillar in the temple of God and write them the name of God. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.
DAY 13 -- Saturday: April 5, 2008 - PAMUKKALE / ISTANBUL / NEW YORK OR PHOENIX - After a farewell breakfast, transfer to Denizli Airport for our flight to Istanbul. In Istanbul we will transfer to our flight to New York. We have walked where Paul spread the Gospel and also visited the Churches of Revelation. Upon arrival we will continue to our homes.
