Best of Israel & Egypt Slower Paced Special - September 2024

Tour members are welcomed to New York for our departing flight to Istanbul via wide-body aircraft arriving the next day. Meals served on board.

This afternoon we will arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our flight to Israel. 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. Continue past Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel, to the famous Sea of Galilee in Tiberias where we check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we enjoy a relaxing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, landing at Nof Ginosar where we will see the New Testament Boat found below the sea. Continue our morning tour with a visit to Capernaum, Tabgha and the Mount of Beatitudes.

In the afternoon we stop at Magdala, one of the oldest synagogues dating back to the first century AD. Home of Mary Magdalena and was the fishing center where Peter would have brought his catch to be sold or processed. Our last stop today will be at the Jordan River where we may have the opportunity to be baptized (provided a pastor is traveleing on the tour), then return to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

“We are going up to Jerusalem.” (Matt. 20:18).This morning we drive west , traveling through Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first Miracle, turning water into wine (John 2). We proceed to Nazareth and ascend the Mount of the Precipice at the brow of Nazareth overlooking the Valley of Jezreel, synonymous with Armageddon.We then drive through the valley to the mound of Megiddo, Har Megiddo in Hebrew, which gave its name to Armageddon. We then ascend Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal.

From there we drive towards the Mediterranean coast traveling south along the coastal highway to Caesarea by the Sea. We enter Caesarea Maritima to explore this Roman bridgehead to the east, which became the Christian springboard to the west. After the visit to this ancient harbor, we board our bus and head south to the city of Bethlehem, where we check in to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11). We begin our day with a visit of Bethlehem itself, walking through the restored old town to the Church of the Nativity and visiting the manger and see the cave of St. Jerome. We then drive to one of the possible sites for Shepherds' Fields. Continue on for a hilltop for a view of Bethlehem, noting its relation to the rest of the central mountain range, including Jerusalem, as well as to the desert and the area of ancient Moab. This is Herodium, the palace set in a conical mountain built by Herod to mark his tomb. Note the juxtaposition of the two Kings of the Jews. The King Herod buried in great opulence and the King of the Jews born in a humble manger in Bethlehem sitting in the background of the Herodium. Return to Bethlehem where we have time for shopping before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we 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 stop at Ein Gedi. Here we will have time to walk to the water falls that David would have used while he was fleeing from Saul. Next we proceed to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will have time for those wishing to swim in the Dead Sea before we head up to Jerusalem. We stop on Mt. Scopus for a panoramic view of the Golden City before we continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

"If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace." (Luke 19:42) Our drive this morning takes us past the Chapel of Ascension and Paternoster to the Mt. of Olives for an orientation view of Jerusalem and the opportunity of a group photograph overlooking Jerusalem. We then walk the traditional Passion walk. We descend to the church known as Dominus Flevit ("Our Lord weeps"). After viewing the Golden Gate, we walk downhill to Gethsemane, where we take time to meditate on the Gospel text and view the Church of All Nations. Continuing to Mt Zion to visit the Upper Room and the Tomb of King David and then on to the grounds of a church called Peter in Gallicantu, which affords the best view of early Jerusalem from the west. Here, the Assumptions Fathers suggest, was the house where the High Priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus. Enter the Old City and make our way to the Western Wall Tunnel where we see a model that will demonstrate where we are in location to the Temple in the time of Christ. Continue along the tunnel as we proceed to the Gateway of the Priests entry to the Holy of Holies. Next we proceed to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park where we see the Steps that entered the temple and the Southern Wall. It was here that Jesus would have taught the disciples. See a video that shows the temple as it was at Herod's (or Jesus') time. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

“He has risen!” (Mark 16:6) After breakfast we transfer to the Dung Gate, where we ascend to the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque, considered the third holiest site of Islam, located on the site of the ancient Temple Mount. Here the first and second Temples once stood. Just to the north we find the Pools of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church. The church is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period – with remarkable acoustics. Continuing on we see Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, and the Arch of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man). We then follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) through the bazaars as far as the Holy Sepulcher. We board our bus to the Garden Tomb where we will end our day with a special visit and the possibility of having a private communion on the grounds outside the city walls. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

We transfer to the Ben Gurion 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

We begin our tour on an overnight flight to Istanbul, a city founded in the 7th century BC. Meals served on board.

From Istanbul we transfer to our flight to Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel. Upon arrival, we clear passport control, meet our guide, and travel by private motorcoach northeast across Israel to the famous Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18-10; Mark 7:31-32). Here in the ancient city of Tiberias (John 21:1-3) we enjoy dinner and retire for our first night in the Holy Land. Tomorrow is a big day!

This morning our drive takes us to the northern limits of Jesus’s travels as we cross the River Hatzbani to Dan, the Sources of the Jordan. Here we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of the ancient ruins, topped by the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf. Then a short drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), where Peter made his great profession of faith and recognition of Christ Jesus. Driving along the foot of Mount Hermon, we ascend to the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. On our return we will stop at Chorazin and then on to our hotel to join the rest of the group for dinner and overnight.

We will head to the Tel Aviv airport later this afternoon after lunch for our short flight to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo we will board out flight to Luxor. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we begin our at the Luxor Temple on the bank of the Nile as well as the complex of temples at Karnak -- including Amun Temple, the largest columnar structure ever raised. Continue our exploration amid massive columns and inscrutable statues at Luxor's fertility shrine of the sun god. Then horse-drawn caleches continue to the Avenue of the Sphinxes and Karnak's colossal wonders. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

We then continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt's only female pharaoh, and the Valley of the Kings, where we step from a dramatic landscape of sun, sand and rugged mountain peaks into the dark silence of some of the sixty-four tombs discovered here to date. Return to the airport where we board our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we drive to Memphis to see The Colossus of Ramses and alabaster Sphinx. When Memphis was the capital of Ancient Egypt, Saqqara served as its necropolis. There we’ll see a burial complex that goes back more than 3,000 years. The step pyramid at Saqqara was designed by Imhotep for King Djoser (c.2667-2648 BC). It is the oldest complete hewn-stone building complex known in history. We’ll also visit the newly opened Imhotep Museum which we’ll see before our lunch break.

This afternoon we go to the Giza Plateau to explore the area around the ancient Pyramids, one of the wonders of the ancient world. We’ll even enjoy a camel ride and see the Sphinx up close and personal. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning we visit the Egyptian Museum with its priceless gems including the tomb of Tutankhamen and other world-famous relics. We will visit the Nile and take a felucca ride before our lunch break.

This afternoon we tour Old Cairo, including the principal Coptic church in Cairo, Abu Serga (St Sergius). The crypt dates from the 6th century and is the traditional site where Joseph, Mary and the Christ child rested on their flight into Egypt. We tour Old Cairo, including the Coptic church of "Al-Mu'allaqah", dating from the early fourth century and the Mohamed Ali Mosque. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

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.