10-Day Holy Land Tour April 29 - May 8, 2019 with Dr
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10-Day Holy Land Tour April 29 - May 8, 2019 with Dr. Todd Still DAY 1, MON, APRIL 29 USA/TEL AVIV Peter memorably proclaimed Jesus to be "the Messiah, the Today we depart from the USA on our overnight journey to the Son of the living God" and Jesus affirmed this by declaring Holy Land. (meals aloft) "...on this rock I will build my church...” From there we drive back through the Golan Heights and past Kursi, where a herd DAY 2, TUE, APRIL 30 TEL AVIV/NETANYA of demon-possessed pigs rushed into the Sea of Galilee We arrive in Tel Aviv and drive towards the coast to Netanya and drowned after Jesus cast the demons out of a man. for dinner and overnight at the Leonardo Plaza Hotel We continue along the eastern shore of the sea to Ein Gev, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. (meals aloft,D) where we enjoy a traditional lunch of St. Peter's fish. After a memorable boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, we visit the ruins DAY 3, WED, MAY 1 CAESAREA/MEGIDDO/ of ancient Capernaum. Jesus came here after being rejected MT. CARMEL/NETANYA by his hometown of Nazareth and adopted Capernaum as "his This morning we drive a few miles north along the coast own town." Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew all lived to Caesarea, constructed by Herod the Great several here, and this area became the center of Jesus' ministry in the years before the birth of Jesus. The massive harbor could Galilee. We proceed to Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. accommodate 300 ships, and the hippodrome could seat over When excavating the synagogue, archaeologists found a coin 20,000 people at chariot races. It was in Caesarea that Peter minted in Tiberias in 29 A.D., indicating that the synagogue baptized Cornelius the centurion and his household, the first dates back to the time of Jesus' ministry here in the Galilee. known baptism of a gentile convert to Christianity. Paul visited We conclude our afternoon atop Mount Arbel, taking in the here between his second and third missionary journeys and breathtaking view of the Galilee, and then we return to our was later imprisoned here before being sent to Rome. We hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) travel on to the ruins of Megiddo, the Biblical Armageddon, where we see Ahab’s stables and the famous water system. DAY 6, SAT, MAY 4 JERICHO/QUMRAN/ We conclude our afternoon at Mount Carmel where we visit MASADA/BEDOUIN EXPERIENCE/JERUSALEM the traditional site of Elijah’s dramatic confrontation with the After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive south prophets of Baal. From the summit we take in the sweeping through the Jordan valley to the oasis of Jericho, the world's panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley, and then we return to our oldest continually inhabited city. Jesus restored sight to hotel in Netanya for dinner and overnight. (B,D) blind Bartemaeus here, and the tax collector Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus in Jericho. We view DAY 4, THU, MAY 2 NAZARETH/MT. PRECIPICE/ the traditional Mount of Temptation, and then we drive past SEPPHORIS/BEIT SHE'AN/JORDAN RIVER/TIBERIAS Qumran, pausing to view caves where some of the Dead Sea After breakfast, we check out of our hotel and drive inland to Scrolls were found. This afternoon we continue to the majestic Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus. There we visit Mary’s Well fortress of Masada, constructed by Herod the Great on top of at St. Gabriel's Church, the traditional site where the Angel a rocky plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. We ride the cable Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she would bear car to the top to explore the ruins and learn about the huge the Son of God. Following our time here, we drive to the top of storerooms and cisterns that enabled Jewish defenders to Mount Precipice, traditional site where an angry mob tried to stay well-provisioned for several years while under siege by throw Jesus off a cliff following his Messianic proclamation in the Romans following the destruction of the Second Temple in Luke 4. From this windswept hilltop, we take in the spectacular 70 AD. We walk down alongside the ramp built by the Romans views of Mount Tabor and the Jezreel Valley, and then we and then enjoy Bedouin hospitality with refreshments and a continue to Sepphoris, traditional home of Mary, mother of camel ride in the desert. From there we drive up to Jerusalem, Jesus. From there, we travel south to Beit She'an, perhaps the "Holy City," for dinner and overnight at the Leonardo best known as the site where King Saul and his sons were Plaza Hotel. (B,D) hung from the city walls by the triumphant Philistines. During the Roman era, it was renamed Scythopolis and became the DAY 7, SUN, MAY 5 DEAD SEA SCROLLS/ capital city of the Decapolis - the only one of the 10 cities CAIAPHAS' HOUSE/CITY OF DAVID/ on the west side of the Jordan River. The site offers some MT. ZION/WESTERN WALL/CITADEL SHOW of the best-preserved ruins in the Middle East, including the This morning we drive past the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament second-century Roman theater. We continue to a baptismal building, and visit the Shrine of the Book, which houses the site on the River Jordan and then proceed to Tiberias and the original Dead Sea Scrolls. We also view the scale model of Leonardo Plaza Hotel along the shore of the Sea of Galilee Jerusalem in the 1st century. Then we go to Caiaphas' palace, for dinner and overnight. (B,D) where Jesus was first brought before the high priest. We visit the nearby City of David, the original core of the ancient city DAY 5, FRI, MAY 3 MOUNT OF BEATITUDES/ where Jerusalem was born. Here we explore ancient shafts, CAESAREA PHILIPPI/SEA OF GALILEE/ view walls and fortresses that protected ancient Israelites, CAPERNAUM/MAGDALA/MT.ARBEL/TIBERIAS and see the Gihon Spring, a vitally important water source that We begin our day on the Mount of Beatitudes. Somewhere fed the Pool of Siloam. Then we go to Mount Zion, where we on this green hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Jesus see the traditional Room of the Last Supper. This afternoon we delivered the Sermon on the Mount. From there we drive continue to the Western Wall, the most holy place accessible north into the foothills of Mount Hermon to Banias (Caesarea to the Jewish people, and pass through its tunnels, taking an Philippi) near the headwaters of the Jordan River. In this area, awe-inspiring journey through time and gaining further insight into the complexities inherent in the relationship between Jews Sites visited, sequence and days may be altered to adjust to religious and Muslims. Nearby we visit Jerusalem Archaeological Park, holidays, special closings of sites, air schedules, etc. Hotels listed subject to confirmation. This tour is not recommended for those who have mobility where we climb the “Southern Steps” leading to the original limitations since it includes significant amounts of rigorous walking on uneven main entrance of the Temple Mount in the Second Temple terrain. If a passenger is unable to get on and off the bus and walk without period - stairs that Jesus would have climbed when he visited the assistance of another individual, the passenger must bring someone the temple in Jerusalem. From here we return to our hotel with them to assist them. Please note that the Americans With Disabilities Act is not applicable outside the USA and facilities in other countries may for dinner. This evening we take in the "Night Spectacular" be sharply limited. sound and light show at the Tower of David, where the story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant breathtaking, virtual reality TOUR CONDITIONS images projected onto the walls of the Citadel. After the show, we are taken back to our hotel. (B,D) INCLUSIVE PRICE OF 10-DAY ISRAEL TOUR FROM DALLAS or HOUSTON: DAY 8, MON, MAY 6 HERODION/BETHLEHEM $4,749 per person (double occupancy) This morning we take an excursion south from Jerusalem to EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT: To help ensure smooth operation of Herodion, a cone-shaped hill near Bethlehem where Herod this program, we are pleased to offer a $100 discount on the trip the Great built a fortress and palace, and where he was buried. cost for your $500 deposit received by October 31, 2018. At the base of the hill, Herod built a kind of royal "country club," including a large pool, a bathhouse, and a roofed pool, NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE: Supplement for departure surrounded by magnificent gardens. From here we go to from cities other than Dallas or Houston. Most lunches; passport Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus. First we drive along the wall fees; any fees required by the airline for reserving seat assignments; that separates the West Bank from Israel and see some of single room supplement ($1,260); excess baggage and forwarding of baggage; personal items such as laundry or tips for personal the poignant artwork that sheds light on the Israeli-Palestinian favors; travel protection plan; any costs resulting from absence conflict. Then we go to a wood-carving workshop to watch or deviation from the itinerary; and any items not shown herein as craftsmen fashion beautiful nativity scenes, figurines, and being included. pieces of jewelry from olive wood. From there we continue to the Church of the Nativity, built over the traditional site of the TOUR DOCUMENTS: The name on your air ticket must exactly birth of Christ and recently renovated to highlight the vibrant match your name as it appears on your passport.