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"Journey the Holy Land as We Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus"
March 9-18, 2009
Your Day-to-Day Itinerary
| Meal Codes | |
|---|---|
| B | Breakfast |
| L | Lunch |
| D | Dinner |
Day 1 - Mon, Mar 9 - New York, NY / Across the Atlantic. Depart from a New York area gateway to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2 - Tue, Mar 10 - Tiberias. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we transfer to our bus for our journey toward Tiberias. Already we begin to feel the spirit of this land enchanting us, as we visit sites from the Bible and share the experience of walking in the footsteps of Jesus. Dinner and overnight. (D)
Day 3 - Wed, Mar 11 - Tiberias. Drive along the Mediterranean coast to the ruins of the ancient Roman capital - Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in 22 B.C. Visit the Roman Theater, the Aqueduct and the Herodian Port. Continue up to Mt. Carmel to see the magnificent panoramic view. Visit Muchraka, the location of Elijah's altar during his confrontation with the false prophets of Baal. Continue via the Valley of Armageddon to the excavation at Tel Megiddo. Continue up the mountains of the lower Galilee, to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and Mary's Well. One of highlights of the day will be our visit to the Nazareth Village where we will be transported back in time. We will see how people lived, dressed and worked. Lunch will be served. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B,L,D)
Day 4 - Thu, Mar 12 - Tiberias. Take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Ginnosar where we visit the fisherman's boat found here and dating to the time of Jesus. Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. On to Tabgha, site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes and to Capernaum, the city of Jesus and Peter. Cross the Jordan River to the land of Gadarenes. This afternoon visit Caesarea Philippi, now called Banias - one of the main sources of the Jordan River. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 5 - Fri, Mar 13 - Jerusalem. This morning we drive along the Sea of Galilee and arrive at Yardenit, the Baptismal Center on the Jordan River. On to Kursi, site of the Miracle of Demons and Swine, and from here up to the Golan Heights to the Peace Observatory for an impressive view of the Sea of Galilee. Continue to the old Roman city of Beit Shean to explore the impressive ruins. Drive along the Gilboa mountain range to Prophet Gideon's Spring and on to the Tel of Jezreel, the location of Queen Jezebel's summer palace where we hear about the site's intimate connection with Old Testament events. From here we venture south towards the holy city of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B,D)
Day 6 - Sat, Mar 14 - Jerusalem. We start the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb, followed by an orientation beside Calvary. Travel to the Old City, through St. Stephen's Gate to the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of the Flagellation, and the Ecce Homo Arch. View the Gabbatha, and then proceed to the Temple area and Mt. Moriah to visit the Western Wall, the Ophel Archaeological Park, where we see the pinnacle and stop at the new visitors' center dedicated to research of the Biblical Temple. Continue through the Bazaar to the last stations of the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. On an afternoon drive to Bethlehem we view the Shepherds' Fields and the Fields of Boaz and Ruth. Visit the church of the Nativity, the Milk Grotto and the Cave of St. Jerome. (B,D)
Day 7 - Sun, Mar 15 - Masada. Leave Jerusalem. After stopping at the Inn of the "Good Samaritan" we arrive at the shores of the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth. We drive along the Dead Sea to Masada, the fortress where the Jewish Zealots held off the armies of the Roman Empire before choosing suicide over surrender. Continue to Ein Gedi, where King David found shelter from the wrath of King Saul. After lunch, we enjoy a short "float" in the Dead Sea. Continue to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947 in a cave. Then return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight (B,D)
Day 8 - Mon, Mar 16 - Jerusalem. Full day of leisure to pursue personal interests or to shop. (B,D)
Day 9 - Tue, Mar 17 - Tel Aviv. Drive to Mount Scopus to view the impressive home of the Hebrew University. Then drive to the Mt. of Olives for an outstanding view of Jerusalem. Visit the Chapel of the Ascension, Garden of Gethsemane, and the Church of All Nations. See the Kidron Valley and Tomb of Absalom, Zechariah and James. We continue to Mount Zion, the Room of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb, and pass the Knesset and the Israel Museum. Next visit the recently constructed Model of Ancient Jerusalem. Time permitting, visit the recently excavated archaeological site in the Jewish quarter - the Cardo, the "Wide" wall built by King Hezekiah and the Herodian mansion. Enjoy a farewell dinner before being transferred to the airport. (B,D)
Day 10 - Wed, Mar 18 - New York, NY. Today our journey ends with good memories as we head home. Arrival the same day.
Day 9 - Tue, Mar 17 - Jerusalem. Those passengers going on the extension, after a full day of sightseeing, will return to Jerusalem for overnight. Those returning home will be transferred to the airport, arriving home on the morning of March 19th (Day 10) (B,D)
Day 10 - Wed, Mar 18 - Amman/Jerash. After breakfast we will have a morning transfer to the Sheik Hussein Bridge. After crossing, we drive to Jerash, known as the Pompeii of the East and the city of a thousand pillars. Visit the triple-arched gate, the high hippodrome, the theater and the Roman Forum. Drive to Amman for dinner and overnight. (B,D)
Day 11 - Thu, Mar 19 - Amman/Mt. Nebo/Petra. We depart for Madaba where we will see some of the finest Byzantine mosaics, and we visit historic Mount Nebo with its remarkable view of the Jordan River where we can see the Dead Sea and Jerusalem on a clear day. It was here at Mount Nebo where Moses stood looking over at the Promised Land. We then drive down to Petra, the lost city, hidden for 300 years. This city, with its rose colored Temples and Amphitheatre, Palace Tomb, Treasury and Monastery, was carved out of the multihued rocks. The Apostle Paul studied here for three years, and Herod the Great came from this city. We will have time to explore the city. Overnight in Petra. (B,D)
Day 12 - Fri, Mar 20 - Petra/Jerusalem/Tel Aviv. Today we bid farewell to Jordan, and cross the Allenby Bridge to Israel. We will stop at the Habimah National Theater, the Museum of Modern Art and Tel Aviv University. Then we drive to Joppa to see its flea Market and the artist colony. Drive to Ashdod to see the newly built city and harbor. Continue to Ashkelon and visit the National Parkland and the antiquities. Drive to Kibbutz Mordechai to see the reconstruction of the 1948 battle. We have dinner and then transfer to the airport for our flight home. (B,D)
Day 13 - Sat, Mar 21 - USA. Today we arrive home with memories and blessings to last a lifetime.