Holy Land to Holy Land Tours
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HOLY LAND TOURS 12 DAYS of the most meaningful, spiritual, well deserved, once in a lifetime tour of ISRAEL Program Includes: Accommodations: 1 night hotel in Tel Aviv 2 nights at hotel in Galilee 4 nights hotel in Jerusalem 2 nights hotel in Eilat 1 night hotel in Tel Aviv Tours and guiding: Touring in a Deluxe motor-coach A professional licensed English speaking guide Entrance fees to all sites and parks All guide's and driver expenses Meet, assist and transfers: Meet & assist at Ben Gurion Airport, immediately after passport control Transfer on a arrival from Ben Gurion Airport to hotel in Tel Aviv Transfer on departure with guide (night transfer) Meals included: Israeli style buffet breakfast daily Everyday dinners at hotels Other services also included: Hotel taxes and service charges Cruise on the Sea of Galilee Portfolio of travel documents Maps, pens and luggage tags th 160 E 38 Street, Suite 35G New York, NY 10016 | 866-592-1818 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.shalomjourneys.com Highlights and summary of program Regions: The Mediterranean Coast The Galilee, Golan and the Sea of Galilee Jerusalem, including Old City and Bethlehem Judean Wilderness and the Dead Sea Eilat, the the Red Sea, Petra Tour Highlights: Caesarea Megiddo Akko (Acre) Cana and Nazareth Cruise on the Sea of Galilee Capernaum, Mount of the Beatitudes Tabgah Caesarea Phillipi and the Golan Heights Baptismal site (optional Baptism in the Jordan River) Beit Shean Qumran Masada Bedouin Hospitality Garden Tomb Church of the Holy Seplechre Upper Room (Last Supper) Bethlehem Garden of Gethenamy Negev Desert Eilat Petra extension (additional cost) Underwater observatory and much much more Not included: Airfare from city of your choice Tips to guide and driver Travel insurance (optional) Lunch daily th 160 E 38 Street, Suite 35G New York, NY 10016 | 866-592-1818 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.shalomjourneys.com Itinerary (12 days) Saturday, Day 1: Departure to Israel We will depart from a North American gateways on a trans-Atlantic flight to Israel (bought separately). We will enjoy on-board flight entertainment and meals. European participants would leave the following day. Sunday, Day 2: Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, transfer to Tel Aviv Welcome to Israel. We will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and will be met by a Shalom Journeys representative, immediately after passport control. He will assist us in the terminal and will escort us through customs and outside the terminal to meet our driver with vehicle. We will have a short ride to our hotel, in the beautiful coastal City of Tel Aviv for check-in. The remainder of the day or evening will be at leisure (depending on flight time arrivals). Suggested stroll in the ocean front promenade of Tel Aviv, before our relaxing dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Tel Aviv. Monday, Day 3: Caesarea, Megiddo, Haifa, Acre (Akko) to the Galilee Following our delicious Israeli buffet breakfast, our guide will meet us at the lobby of the hotel and introduce himself, as well as introduce us to the group. We will leave Tel Aviv and drive north along the Plain of Sharon, the old Mediterranean coastal road (Via Maris), which linked Egypt and Babylon to Caesarea. We will see the ancient Roman theatre, built by Herod and once; the capital of Judea. Here Paul embarked on his journey to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and where Cornelius and his family (the first Gentile believers) lived. Caesarea is also where Pontius Pilate had his base; and where Paul embarked to Tarsus (Acts 9:30 Acts 10 24-48) and where Philip preached (Acts 8:40). We will explore the restored Roman amphitheater, with its acoustic and theatrical sound. It was used for many performances throughout the centuries. Today, it draws major venue attractions, for concerts and festivals. We will walk through the excavated fortress and view the aqueduct, once used for conveying water to the city. We proceed inland to Megiddo, one of King Solomon's walled, fortified cities (1st Kings 9:15; 10:26), with the ruins of 20 levels of civilization, including the well-preserved water supply system. From here, the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as we read about the final Battle of Armageddon, while viewing the Plains of Jezreel. We will drive to Haifa and ascend Mt. Carmel for a beautiful panoramic view of Haifa Bay and the Botanical Gardens below. From here, we will continue with our journey north along the coast and stop at the crusader city of Acre (Micah 1.10) to see the ancient fortress, with its underground passages and secret rooms. Here we will visit the prison where members of the Hagana and Irgun were held captive during Israel's fight for Independence. This is also where Leon Uris's famous novel “Exodus” was filmed. We will conclude our day with a drive through the Pastoral Hills of the Galilee and to our kibbutz for check-in. Enjoy a relaxing dinner and explore the kibbutz and its ambiance. Overnight in the Galilee. Tuesday, Day 4: Tiberias, Western Galilee, Banias Springs (Caesarea Philippi) After breakfast, we will start our day with a short tour of Tiberias. We will board a boat cruise for a journey on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, the center of Jesus' Galilean ministry and the site of many of His miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt. 8:5; 14-17; 9:1-7; 17:18). We will also see the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. We will continue to Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of the "Loaves and Fishes" and to see the Church of the multiplication (John 6:1-14), with its 4th century mosaic floor. We proceed to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered what is perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached - "The Sermon On The Mount" (Matt. 5). We will drive north to the Golan Heights and visit Banias, one of the sources of the River Jordan and the site of ancient Caesaria Philippi, where it is believed Peter made his confession of faith in Christ (Matt. 16:16). We will return back to our kibbutz for dinner and for the remainder of the evening at leisure. Overnight in the Galilee. th 160 E 38 Street, Suite 35G New York, NY 10016 | 866-592-1818 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.shalomjourneys.com Itinerary (page 2) Wednesday, Day 5: Nazareth / Beit Shean After breakfast, we leave the upper Galilee area and drive southeast to visit Cana of Galilee. Here we will visit the site where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine (John 2:1). We will continue to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. Here we will visit the Grotto of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph. These churches are located over the traditional site where Mary and Joseph lived. We will also visit the site of the ancient City Well, believed to be the site, where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. We will return back towards Tiberias and drive to Yardenit, a Baptismal site in the Jordan River. Here we will have the chance of being Baptized. We will leave the Galilee area and proceed south towards the Jordan Valley to visit the city of Beit Shean. We will have time to wander the newly excavated city, one of the largest ongoing archaeological dig in the land of Israel with its amphitheater, colonnaded Roman streets, mosaics and Roman bathhouses (1st Samuel 31:10). We will continue south along the lush Jordan Valley, where the dessert now blooms with flowers and vegetation of every description (Isaiah 35:1-2) towards the mountains of Judea. We will arrive to Jerusalem and check in to our hotel. Enjoy another relaxing dinner at our hotel. After dinner, suggested stroll around the city center of Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem. Thursday, Day 6: Jerusalem: The Old City After breakfast, we will start the day with a visit to Mount of Olives for an awesome panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem and the Golden Gates of the Old City. We will drive or stroll down to the bottom of the mountain to visit the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed in many occasions and where Jesus was arrested. We proceed by bus across the Kidron Valley, passing the tombs of Absolom, Zacharias, James and King Jehoshaphat to Mt. Zion. Here we will visit the site of David’s tomb and the Upper Room, where the Last Supper was held (Mark 14.13, Luke 22. 10-38, Matt 26 17-29, Acts 1.13 and Acts 2). We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem to visit the Jewish Quarter, which was reconstructed after the city was unified at the conclusion of the Six-Day War in 1967. A special point of interest in the restored Jewish Quarter is the "Cardo", meaning the "heart" of this ancient Byzantine City. View the unearthed main Roman thoroughfare and ancient marketplace lined with columns. We will continue to the Temple Mount (entry to Mosque not included) and continue down to the Western Wall - the "Kotel", which is considered the most Holiest place for the Jews. We begin at the passageways and retrace the steps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa (the way of the cross), while experiencing the colorful bazaars, alleyways and marketplaces (a chance to test our negotiating skills) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. It is believed by many Christians, this was the site of Golgotha; where Jesus was crucified and where he resurrected.