Holy Land Tours

A 10 Day Complete Biblical Tour to Israel

with Optional Extension to Egypt

Optional "Wonders of Cairo" Extension including Nile Cruise
via EL AL Israel Airlines

DAY 01 – DEPART NORTH AMERICA
Tour members depart from cities listed on brochure via Chicago International airport on our non-stop flight to Israel. After take-off enroute to the Holy Land, we will be served dinner.

DAY 02 – ARRIVE TEL AVIV
We arrive in Tel Aviv where we are met by our agent who assists us through customs and security. We are then transferred to our hotel right on the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

DAY 03 – CAESAREA / MEGIDDO / NAZARETH / TIBERIAS
Today we depart for Galilee, visiting the following biblical sites: Caesarea (Acts 9 & 25), Mt. Carmel (1 Kgs. 18), Megiddo (Armageddon; 1 Kgs. 9:15; Rev. 16:16), Nazareth (Luke 1 & 2), Cana (John 2) and Tiberias (John 6:23). Optional: Baptism in the River Jordan.

DAY 04 – GALILEE / UPPER JORDAN / GOLAN HEIGHTS
There is nothing quite like watching a sunrise on the Sea of Galilee from your guest house or from a boat. 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; 1 Kgs. 9:15). Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

DAY 05 – 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 (1 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 06 – MT. OF OLIVES / TEMPLE MOUNT / VIA DOLOROSA / BETHLEHEM
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. 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-Aksa 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 we will pass by Rachel's tomb on the outskirts of Bethlehem, and visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd's Field. You will be fascinated by your visit to a model of Jerusalem near the Holyland Hotel (1 to 50 scale model of Herodian Jerusalem as it would have appeared in Jesus' time), Israel's Knesset, the huge bronze Menorah, and Yad Vashem.

DAY 07 – QUMRAN / EIN GEDI / MASADA
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 put her/his foot (probably too cold to swim) in the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on the earth. Continuing south, the next stop is 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.

DAY 08 – THE UPPER ROOM / ISRAEL MUSEUM / GARDEN TOMB
We begin the day by driving 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 come 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. Late in the afternoon we will visit the Garden Tomb with an optional communion service.

DAY 09 – JERUSALEM / U.S.A.
Day without a planned program. Time to collect your thoughts; indulge your whims. Revisit the places of most interest. The Rockefeller and Hebrew Museums display a wealth of archeological treasure. Return for a last look within the walls of the Old City where bargaining is a must. Dinner and late evening transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight to U. S. A. Optional Egypt Extension. Late evening flight to Cairo. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel in Cairo for overnight.

DAY 10 – ARRIVAL U.S.A.

DAY 09 – JERUSALEM / CAIRO
Day without a planned program. Time to collect your thoughts; indulge your whims. Revisit the places of most interest. The Rockefeller and Hebrew Museums display a wealth of archeological treasure. Return for a last look within the walls of the Old City where bargaining is a must. Dinner and late evening flight to Cairo. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel in Cairo for overnight.

DAY 10 – CAIRO / MUSEUM / PYRAMIDS / SPHINX / CITADEL
Your sightseeing tour will begin with a visit to the world famous Egyptian Museum. There will be sufficient time for a brief visit to the museum containing the treasures of King Tutankhamen. Next, you will visit the Pyramids of Giza. In Giza you will see the Great Pyramids and Sphinx. Our sightseeing excursion will include the Citadel, Mohammed Ali-Mosque, called Alabaster Mosque, offering a beautiful view of Cairo and the Nile, the historical dwellings and mosques and the picturesque Khan El Khalili bazaars. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

DAY 11 – CAIRO / MEMPHIS / SAKKARA
Sightseeing tour of Memphis and Sakkara. You will touch the earliest history of Egypt as you visit the ancient capital of Memphis. You will see the Alabaster Sphinx and the statue of Ramesis II, then proceed to 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 Diah which are among the finest ever excavated. Time permitting, we will visit the Papyrus Factory. Dinner, late evening transfer to Cairo airport for our return flight to Tel Aviv.

DAY 12 – TEL AVIV/U.S.A.
Arrive U.S.A. same day.

DAY 9 – JERUSALEM / CAIRO
Day without a planned program. Time to collect your thoughts; indulge your whims. Revisit the places of most interest. The Rockefeller and Hebrew Museums display a wealth of archeological treasure. Return for a last look within the walls of the old City where bargaining is a must. Evening transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our short flight to Cairo. Arrive Cairo, where we are met by our agent who assists us through customs and security and transfers us to our hotel. Overnight in Cairo.

DAY 10 – CAIRO/LUXOR/NILE CRUISE
Today we fly to Luxor for our enjoyable three day cruise on the Nile. Visit the Temple of Karnak and Luxor sightseeing. Dinner and overnight aboard ship.

DAY 11 – CRUISE / ESNA & EDFU
After breakfast aboard our ship, visit the West Bank to see the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens and the Temple of Haishepsut. Lunch aboard ship while we sail to Esna, cross the lock, and sail to Edfu. Dinner and overnight aboard our ship.

DAY 12 – CRUISE / KOMOMBO
After breakfast we will visit the Temple of Horus. Then sail to Komombo to visit the Temple of Komombo. Continue our cruise to Aswan.

DAY 13 – CRUISE / CAIRO
This morning after breakfast we disembark our ship and visit the High Dam, the Old Dam and the Granite Quarries in Aswan. In the afternoon depart from Aswan Airport on our flight to Cairo for overnight and dinner in Cairo.

DAY 14 – CAIRO
Morning visit to the Egyptian Museum to view the many specimens of finest antiquities, including precious collections from the Tombs of Tut-Ankh-Amon. Then drive through the city past Cairo University to Giza Plateau. Visit Cheops Pyramid and the Sphinx. Camels or horses will be available to ride to the Pyramid Plateau. After sightseeing drive along the Nile Corniche, past East El Ainin Hospital to "Old Cairo" to visit the Coptic Churches of Abu Sarga associated with the Flight of the Christ Child to Egypt; Ben Ezra Synagogue and Mar Mosque. Drive via Republic Square, past Abdin Palace to Sultan Mosque, the Citadel, El Azhas University to the native bazaars of Khan El Kahalili where time is allowed for browsing and shopping (where bargaining is a must). Farewell dinner tonight, before we transfer to Cairo Airport for our return flight to Tel Aviv for our early A.M. return flight homeward.

DAY 15 – TEL AVIV / U.S.A.
We return back to the USA, same day.

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