Tour of the Holyland, Egypt, Sinai & Jordan
13 Day Tour
DAY 01:
BEGINNING OUR EXPLORING TOUR
Depart New York via Royal Jordanian non stop jet service to Amman, Jordan. Meals will be served on board.
DAY 02:
INTO THE LAND OF THE BIBLE
Upon arrival in the afternoon, local time, our agent will meet you at the airport and then transfer by private motorcoach to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 03:
AMMAN / MADABA /MT.NEBO / KERAK / PETRA
Fortress of Kerak, Jordan
Depart from Amman this morning to Madaba, the biblical Medeba, for a visit to the Greek Orthodox Church which houses the 6th century mosaics. Drive to Mount Nebo commemorating the site where Moses saw the Promised Land and died. Continue your drive via Wadi El Mujeb to Kerak, visit the magnificent Crusader fortress of Kerak. But Kerak's origins go back long before the Crusaders; the earliest remains are Iron Age, shortly after the Exodus, when this was a part of Moab and its doom was prophesied by Isaiah (16:7), who mentions its 'raisin-cakes', presumably a local specialty.Continue on to Petra for dinner and overnight.
DAY 04:
PETRA, THE REDROCKCITY / AQABA / EILAT
Petra, Jordan
This morning, visit Petra, the Red Rock City. It is considered the eighth wonder of the world, a complete city carved in colored sandstone, rediscovered in 1812. An unforgettable experience on horseback through a narrow canyon, you will enter the Nabatean city of Petra to visit the Treasury, the theater, the Palace of Justice and other marvels. Refresh yourself at the Fountain of Moses from the fatigue of exploring as you proceed to Aqaba and Cross into Israel. Transfer to your hotel in Eilat on the Red Sea for dinner and overnight. (NIGHT DIVE IN THE REDSEA CAN BE ARRANGED).
DAY 05:
EILAT / MASADA / JERUSALEM
Masada Fortress
Drive through the Arava Valley to Masada where you will ascend by cable car to visit the remarkable ruins of the Fortress, built by Herod the Great, and where from 70 to 73 A.D., Jewish Zealots made their last stand in the Judean Revolt against the Roman Legions. See the remains of Herod's Palace; the Apartments, Baths, Storehouses and cisterns - all used by the Jewish Defenders who took refuge here. Drive on a beautiful new road along the Dead Sea, which takes you along the shores to Ein Gedi where a precipitous cliff, filled with caves, rises some 2,000 feet. Continue to Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in a cave by a shepherd boy. Continue for a visit to the Dead Sea and with time allowed for a swim. Ascend to Jerusalem and transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 06:
THE MOUNTAINS OF JERUSALEM AND BETHLEHEM
Chapel of the Ascension
Drive to the Mount of Olives with its outstanding view of the city. Visit the Chapel of Ascension, Church of Pater Noster, Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations. View the Kidron Valley. Drive to Bethlehem for a visit to the Church of Nativity, visit the Shepherd's Fields and the Fields of Boaz and Ruth. An afternoon drive to visit Mount Zion, the site where Jesus accomplished His Ministry. Visit the room of the Last Supper. Visit the Tomb of King David and the House of Caiaphas; proceed to the Knesset, or the House of Parliament. Visit the Shrine of the Book enclosing the Scrolls of the Dead Sea; visit the National Museum. Return to your hotel.
DAY 07:
JERUSALEM THE HOLYCITY
Damascus Gate, Jerusalem
Visit the Garden Tomb and Gordon's Calvary, the site where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. A service can be arranged at the Garden Tomb. Proceed towards the city walls built by Solomon the Magnificent enclosing the most Holy sites. Walk into the city through Damascus Gate and through the picturesque colorful bazaars to the superb Temple Area, where Solomon's Temple was built on Mount Moriah. Visit the Dome of the Rock enclosing the Rock of Sacrifice; the Mosque of Al Aksa, further south, the Pinnacle of the Temple and the Western Wall or the Wailing Wall.
In the afternoon, start at Saint Stephen's Gate and into the Old City to visit the Church of Saint Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, the Lithostrotos, Pilate's Judgment Hall and walk through the bazaar to the Citadel and take the bus from Jaffa Gate back to the hote.
DAY 08:
THE WILDERNESS OF JUDEA
Morning drive Bethany to visit the tomb of Lazarus continue into the wilderness of Judea and stop at and the Inn of the Good Samaritan Drive along the Roman Road to Jericho and visit Tel El Sultan, ruins of one of the oldest cities in the world. From Jericho, you can see the Mount of Temptation where Satan tempted Jesus when he fasted for 40 days. Visit Elijah's Fountain and return to Jerusalem service at the Jerusalem Biblical College. Return to your hotel.
DAY 09:
OLD JERUSALEM
Morning visit to the Temple Institute where garments and other instruments are being made for the New Temple. Continue through the Jewish Quarter of the city to see Nehmiah’s Wall (Broad Wall) that the Jews fortified during the first Temple period (586 BC) to protect the city from the Assyrians that were led by Nabechadnazzar that destroyed the Temple. Visit the Burnt House as it existed in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem during the first Jewish revolt. Visit the model of Jerusalem as it was laid out at the time of Christ. Return to your hotel. Balance of the day at leisure.
DAY 10:
ALL THE PAST YEARS WITH HISTORY
Fortress at Megiddo
Drive to Caesarea to visit the ruins of the Crusader's City. Visit the Roman Theater. Continue to Haifa and see Elijah's Cave and enjoy the view of the city from Mt. Carmel. Continue to Megiddo, Armageddon, a very important strategic point on the Via Maris connecting Egypt and Damascus. Proceed to Nazareth to visit Mary's Well and the Church of the Annunciation, built in 1960-68 enclosing the crypt, which is one of the largest Christian sanctuaries in the Middle East. Drive to Cana to visit the site where the first miracle took place. Proceed to your hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11:
GALILEE & UPPER GALILEE
The Jordan River
This morning board a boat on the calm surface of the sea, cruising toward Capernaum. Upon landing, visit the site where Jesus started His Ministry, the house of Peter and the Synagogue where Jesus was teaching. Continue to Tabgha, the site of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish. See the 4th century mosaics. Drive to the top of the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea and surrounding area. In the afternoon drive to the Golan Heights in Upper Galilee. Visit the Sources of the Jordan River. View Tel Dan. Return to the exit of the Jordan River from the Sea of Galilee where a Baptismal Service can be arranged. Return to your hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight.
DAY 12:
TIBERIAS / JERASH / AMMAN
Drive to Beit Shean, an ancient city with extensive excavations have uncovered eighteen layers of habitation in Beit Shean. The Roman Amphitheater is one of the best-preserved in Israel. Proceed tothe Nothern Bridge of Sheik Hussein and cross into Jordan. Continue to Jerash, the "Pompeii of the Middle East” Visit the most beautifully preserved Graeco-Roman city in existence, the grand ruins - temples to Artemis and Zeus, a vast Roman Forum, Hadrian's Triumphal Arch and a mile long Street of Whispering Columns. At Jerash, the newly restored hippodrome, Circus Gerasa, with its original stone seating and carceres (starting gates) provides an ideal arena for a thrilling spectacle such as the citizens of the Roman Empire would have been able to see some twenty centuries ago Transfer to your hotel in Amman for dinner and overnight.
DAY 13:
AMMAN/ NEW YORK
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to New York.
