Holy Land Tours

Complete 12 Day Biblical Tour of Israel & Turkey

featuring Istanbul & Ephesus

Featuing An Optional Egypt Extension
via Turkish Airlines

DAY 1 – DEPART NORTH AMERICA
Tour members depart from Chicago International Airport for our flight to Israel After take-off enroute to the Holy Land, we will be served dinner.

DAY 2 – ARRIVE TEL AVIV
After a brief touchdown in Istanbul, we arrive in Tel Aviv where we are met by our agent who assists us through customs and security. We are then transferred to Tiberias (Galilee Area) for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 – GALILEE / CANA / NAZARETH/ MEGIDDO / CAESAREA / TIBERIAS
Today we visit the following biblical sites: Cana (John 2), where we will have church service for those wishing to renew their wedding vows, before continuing on to Nazareth (Luke 1 & 2), Megiddo (Armageddon; 1 Kgs 9:15; Rev. 16:16). Caesarea (Acts 9 & 25), Mt. Carmel (I Kgs 18) and Tiberias (John 6:23). Dinner and overnight Tiberias.

DAY 4 – GALILEE AREA / CAPERNAUM / MT. OF BEATITUDES / CAESAREA PHILIPPI
There is nothing like watching the sunrise on the Sea of Galilee from our hotel. Today will include many biblical sites along the shore of the Sea of Galilee and in the Upper Jordan Valley: e.g. Capernaum (Matt. 4:13), Mount of Beatitudes (Matt. 5 - 7), Tabgha (Feeding of 5000: Mark 6), Church of Peter of Primacy (John 21), Magdala (Matt, 15:39; Luke 8:2); Caesarea Philippi (Paneas; Mark 8:27), view Mt. Hermon (Deut. 3:8). Border of Lebanon (Josh. 11:17), and Hazor (Josh. 11:10; I Kgs. 9:15). Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

DAY 5 – BETH SHAN / JERICHO / JERUSALEM
Today we go up to Jerusalem. The highway will take us to many of the following biblical sites: Mt Tabor (Judges 4); Ein Harod (Judg. 7:1); Beth Shan (I Sam, 31:10); and Jericho (Josh. 2 - 6; Mark 10:46; Luke 19:1). The road from Jericho to Jerusalem is an ascent of 4,000 feet in 13 miles. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 6 – MT. OF OLIVES / TEMPLE MOUNT/ RABBINICAL TUNNEL / VIA DOLOROSA / HOLY SEPULCHRE
We begin our explorations with a drive to the beautiful Mt. Of Olives to behold the breath-taking panorama of the Holy City. Our pilgrimage will proceed to the Church of Ascension, descend to Gethsemane with its ancient olive grove, and there visit the Church of Agony, where tradition holds that Jesus prayed. We will enter Jerusalem through the Dung Gate, and walk to the holiest site in the whole Jewish world, the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) of Herod's Temple. From here we will visit the Rabbinical Tunnel, beyond the wall lies the 35-acre temple area purchased by King David (2 Sam, 24:18-25). On this site now stands the magnificent Dome of the Rock (the third holiest shrine in all Islam) and the El-Ask Mosque. From the temple area, we make our way to St. Stephen's Gate, St. Anne's Crusader Church, Pools of Bethesda, the Sister of Zion Convent (to see the Pavement where Jesus stood as he was being tried by Pilate), Ecco Homo Arch, and then follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the ancient Cardo. This afternoon you will be fascinated by your visit to the model of Jerusalem near the Holyland Hotel (1 to 50 scale model of Herodian Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus' time), we drive by Israel's Knesset, the huge bronze Menorah, and finish our day with a visit to Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Memorial. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 7 – QUMRAN / EIN GEDI / DEAD SEA / MASADA / JERUSALEM
Leaving Jerusalem, we will descend down to the Dead Sea and the wilderness of Judah. Our first stop will be Qumran and the possible settlement of the first century sect known as the Essenes, the authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Following the road south along the western shore of the Dead Sea, we will stop at Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul, and everyone will have an opportunity to enjoy a mud bath ($8.00 per person additional charge) or you can enjoy floating/swim in the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on the earth. After stopping for a brief lunch, we continue south, for Masada, where we will ascend high upon the wilderness mountain by way of the cable car to the fortress built by King Herod. Here we survey the ruins of the fortifications, waterworks, synagogue, temples and palaces. We return to Jerusalem for a late dinner and overnight.

DAY 8 – GARDEN TOMB / THE UPPER ROOM / ISRAEL MUSEUM / BETHLEHEM
We begin our morning with a visit to the Garden Tomb, where we will have communion service. From here we drive to Ein Karem village, the birthplace of John the Baptist, to see the Church of Visitation, and then go to Mt. Zion, The Upper Room, where Jesus spent those last momentous hours with his disciples before his passion, and it was also here where the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples on Pentecost. From there we will go to the Israel Museum, including the Bronfman Archaeological Museum and the Shrine of the Book Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. We conclude our day with a visit to Bethlehem, with a visit to the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd's Field. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 9 – JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / ISTANBUL
This morning we leave Jerusalem for Ben Gurion Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. We arrive Istanbul in the morning where we will be met by our agent and transferred to our motorcoach. Today we start discovering Istanbul as we drive to the pier to board our motorboat to cruise along the shores of the Bosphorus until it exits the Black Sea. Here we disembark and we board our motorcoach for our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 10 – ISTANBUL / IZMIR / KUSADASI-EPHESUS
Morning transfer to Istanbul Airport for our flight to Izmir. We enjoy a short tour of Smyrna (Izmir), on our way to the town of Selcuk. First we visit the basilica of St. John where he was buried. This church was promoted by Paul and was the head church in Asia Minor. Then we visit the House of Mary where she spent her last days near Ephesus. We will then visit the ancient city of Ephesus where Paul was imprisoned for two years. Walk through these marble streets and see the Temples, fountains, Roman Baths, Agora and the Grand Theater, and the Church of Mary. Dinner and overnight in Izmir.

DAY 11 – IZMIR / ISTANBUL / CHURCH OF HORA / ST. SOPHIA / BLUE MOSQUE / TOPKAPI PALACE / GRAND BAZAAR
This morning we drive to the Izmir Airport where we will board our morning flight back to Istanbul. On this day we will discover the highlights of Istanbul. We will begin our day in the old town where we will visit the Church of Hora, with its remarkable mosaics of the Apocalypse of St. John, St. Sophia of the 6th Century which was the largest of its era, the Hippodrome where once chariots thundered in the skies and finally a brief visit to the famous Blue Mosque with its six minarets. In the afternoon we will visit the Topkapi Palace and see the Ottoman Empire's richness. If time permits we will make some time for shopping at the "World Famous" Grand Bazaar, where bargaining is a must. We conclude our day with a Farewell dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 12 – ISTANBUL / U.S.A.
Morning transfer to Istanbul Airport for our return flight home. The close of an unforgettable trip. The close of an unforgettable tour, to have walked in the footsteps of the Master and the early Christians.

DAY 12 – ISTANBUL / CAIRO
Morning transfer to Istanbul Airport for our Turkish Air flight to Cairo. We arrive Cairo in the afternoon and are transferred to our hotel overlooking the Nile River. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

DAY 13 – CAIRO / MEMPHIS / SAKKARA / EGYPTIAN MUSEUM
Sightseeing tour of the Necropolis of Sakkara containing the funerary monuments from various periods of Egyptian history. View the Step Pyramid of King Zoser. See several mastabas (tombs of nobles), included are the tombs of Ti and Ptah which are among the finest ever excavated. There will be sufficient time for a visit to the fantastic Egyptian Museum containing the treasures of King Tutankhamen. Our sightseeing excursion will include the Citadel and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, offering a beautiful view of Cairo and the Nile, the historical dwellings and mosques. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

DAY 14 – CAIRO / GREAT PYRAMIDS & SPHINX / FELLUCA BOAT RIDE
Today's sightseeing will include a tour of the great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Then we will continue to the Jolie Ville Pyramids area for lunch. After lunch we will visit the famous silk rug carpet-making factory. Late afternoon we enjoy a relaxing 30/45 minute felucca boat ride on the Nile River. Dinner and overnight in Cairo at the Intercontinental Hotel.

DAY 15 – CAIRO / ISTANBUL / U.S.A.
Early morning transfer to Cairo Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. We arrive Istanbul Airport for our connecting return flight back home. Arrive U.S.A. same day.

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