Thursday, Feb 12th: En
route
Today
we leave the U.S. on our overnight flight to Israel
Friday, Feb 13th: Tel
Aviv
Welcome to Israel! Upon our early afternoon
arrival, we will head toward our hotel, with a stop to see the ancient seaport
of Jaffa (or Joppa). We will
overnight at The Island Hotel in Netanya. http://www.islandsuites.co.il/
Saturday, Feb 14th: Coastal Route
After enjoying a delicious Israeli breakfast, we’ll
drive northwards up the Mediterranean coast. First we’ll visit ancient Caesarea,
site of Paul and Peter’s experiences on the Mediterranean Coast. From there
we’ll visit Mount Carmel and Muhraka to witness the location of
Elijah’s contest with Jezebel’s false prophets of Ba’al. Here we’ll be
able to view the Jezreel Valley. We’ll then travel past Meggido,
the site of 21 battles from the Old Testament and where it says in the Book of
Revelation the final battle between good and evil will take place. We’ll
continue on to visit Nazareth, Jesus’ childhood home. We’ll see the
ancient synagogue and a special surprise.
We will pass Cana on our way to the Sea of Galilee and the Scots
Hotel, our home for three nights. http://www.scotshotels.co.il/?categoryId=75026
Sunday, Feb 15th: Sea
of Galilee/The Foot-Steps of Jesus
After
breakfast we’ll depart for Tiberias where we’ll take a morning Boat Tour
of the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. We’ll visit Migdal, the home
of Mary Magdalene and see the “Jesus Boat” at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar. We’ll
then drive the plain of Ginosar to Tabgha where Jesus “multiplied the
loaves and fish.” Next on our stop is the Mount of Beatitudes for Sunday
Worship. We’ll proceed to the basalt synagogue at Chorazin to see where
Jesus taught and see the “Seat of Moses.” We’ll also view the Natural
Amphitheater where Jesus also taught, we’ll visit Capernaum, home of
the synagogue of Jesus’ ministry and miracles. Next we’ll cross the Jordan
River and visit Bethsaida, home of Peter, Andrea, James and John.
We’ll also see the Decapolis and Kursi where Jesus cast the
demons out of a man into a heard of swine.
We will probably do our
baptismal service at Yardenit before returning to The Scots for the night.
Monday, Feb 16th: Northern
Galilee
After breakfast we’ll have a full day to tour the
lovely North of Israel. First we’ll visit the tomb of Honi the Circle Maker,
mentioned in Mark Batterson’s book by that name. Next will visit the
archeological site of Tel Dan before moving onto the famous city of Caesarea
Philippi located about 25 miles north-east of the Sea of Galilee. Here,
Jesus could be alone with His disciples and pass along His teachings. Next
we’ll take a drive through the Golan
Heights. Afterwards we’ll return to The Scots for dinner and overnight. This is our last night here before
heading south.
Tuesday, Feb 17st: Jordan
Valley/Dead Sea
After breakfast we’ll drive down the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean, an amazing New
Testament Roman city with temples, baths, and a black basalt theater..Drive
along the Jordan Valley, with Jordan on our east and the Mountains of Samaria
on our west, past the oasis of Old Testament Jericho where Joshua led Israel in the siege of the city, and down
to the Dead Sea. This is the lowest
place on Earth and the site where John was baptized in Jordan at the mouth of
the Sea. We will view and discuss the location of ancient Gilgal, Israel’s largest all Jewish city in history; on our right
will be the awesome Wilderness of Judea.
Skirting the west side of the Dead Sea, we’ll note the cave where archeologist
Vendyl Jones is excavating in search of the Ashes of the Red Heifer and Temple
Treasures. We will then visit Qumran
where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a Bedouin boy. Our guide will
share discoveries relating to Essene
Qumran and our Jewish/Christian heritage. We’ll overlook the
ancient oasis of Ein Gedi (the Goat’s Rocks), where David hid from
King Saul in the caves.. Drive south along the Dead Sea to the Royal Rimonim
Hotel. http://english.rimonim.com/dead-sea-hotels/royal-dead-sea-hotel
Wednesday, Feb 18nd:
Wilderness
of Judea/Massada
This
morning we depart and head to Masada to take the cable car and ride to
top. Masada is the most important mountain in Israel’s history. Learn the
incredible story of the Jewish Freedom Fighters who held out against the Romans
in 73A.D. The story of the
struggle, the excavations, and the view from the top is one unforgettable
highlight of our tour. We will drive through Gat, Valley of Ellah,
up onto the Golden City, Jerusalem.
We will get our initial view of the Old City from the Mt. Of
Olives. We then head to the King
Solomon Hotel. http://www.kingsolomonjer.com/
Thursday, Feb 19rd: Jerusalem
Old City
Today
we’ll discover more of the Old City of Jerusalem. First we’ll explore the Rabbinical
Tunnels behind the Western Wall. We’ll then see the Temple Mount and
(if politically possible), the El Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock,
and the Dome of the Spirits.
Visit the Lions’ Gate and the
Pools of Bethesda We’ll then visit
the Tower of Antonia, the Praetorium, and Pilate’s Judgement Hall. Here our Lord was tried by Pilate, beaten
by the Roman Cohort, and took up His Cross for Calvary. The Ecce Homo begins the traditional Via Dolorosa leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic
site of Jesus Crucifixion and Resurrection). Here we’ll have time to shop in
the Old City. We’ll then reconvene to visit the Jewish Quarter including the Cardo, th the Herodian Quarter, and Nehemiah’s
Wall. Afterwards we’ll explore the Southern
Wall Excavations and depart the old city by the Dung Gate.
Back to the King Solomon.
Friday, Feb 20th: Jerusalem-New
City- PM Bethlehem
This morning we’ll be
exploring the New City of Jerusalem. First we’ll see Yad Vashem the Shoa
Museum. Visit the Israel Museum; See the Shrine of the Book,
home to the Dead Sea Scrolls We’ll also see the Model of First Century
Jerusalem. After Lunch drive to Shepherds Fields and cross over to Bethlehem
to visit the Church of Nativity.
Back to King Solomon.
Saturday,
Feb 21th: The Holy City of Jerusalem
Mount of
Olives our guide will share the geography and history of
Jerusalem. This vivid lecture overlooks where it happened, the Kidron Valley,
the Temple Area, and The Holy City. Descending the Mount of
Olives by the path of Jesus’ Triumphant Entry into the Kidron Valley, we
worship in the lovely Garden of Gethsemane discussing Jesus’ suffering
and his “Passion Week.” Before us is the Golden Gate of the Temple Area,
as when Jesus gave the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. We’ll then visit the House
of Caiphas, the place of Jesus’ early trials when Peter denied him and
Jesus was “caned.” We’ll then view the Valley of the Cheesemaker, the Valley
of Hinnon, the
Field
of Blood,
where Judas took his life, Gehennah, and the
Ophel, King David’s capital city. We’ll then visit Mount
Zion, to the Upper Room, the traditional site of Jesus’ last Passover
meal, or the Lord’s Supper. We will end the tour with a visit to the Garden
Tomb.
Sunday, Feb 22th: A
Day of Leisure In Jerusalem
Those returning home
today will have the morning and early afternoon to walk back to the Old City or
enjoy the park across from the hotel or take a taxi to revisit one of the
sites. You will be taken for your final meal (not included) and then to the airport for your
journey home. You will arrive back
in the US early Monday morning.
Those
staying for the extension will leave mid-morning and travel by bus down through
the desert to Eilat, the resort town on the Red Sea, the southern most
point of Israel. Along the way we
will stop by Timna Park to visit Solomon’s Colonnade and the Tabernacle. The area where the Tabernacle is set up
is in one of the deserts the Israelites traveled during their forty years
of wandering. The area was also mined by the
Egyptians millennia ago We will
then arrive at our hotel, the Prima Music. http://www.prima-hotels-israel.com/eilat-hotels/prima-music-eilat-hotel
Monday, Feb 23th: Trip to Petra
This day will begin early as the bus will pick us up at the hotel at 7:00 a.m. We will cross the border into Jordan, driving through Aqaba and the desert on the 2 ½ hour ride to Petra. This stronghold was the center of the Nabatean kingdom. Some people continued to live in caves here until the last decade. Considered to be a possible place where Israel will flee to during the later part of the Tribulation.
We will stop for lunch, tour Petra, and enjoy a dinner on the way home. This long day will return us back to the Prima Music early evening. We will need to know ahead of time the number of people going on this trip. For those who don’t, you will have a day of leisure in Eilat.
Tuesday, Feb. 24th: A Day of Fun in the Sun
Take a ride on a camel into the desert with the Bedouins; walk along the shores of the Red Sea; visit the underwater Aquarium; snorkel; snuba; scuba dive. These are the options for our day of fun. It will be nice to soak up some more warmth and sun before returning to winter. We will work out our schedule that day. We will need to know the number of camel riders and divers ahead of time to make a reservation.
Wednesday, Feb. 25th: Heading
Home
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