|
Tour ID: TS2D33 |
Graph Definitions(?)
Religious Focus:
Sightseeing:
Activity Level:
Included:
• Deluxe motor coach transportation
• Local guide
• Hotel accommodations in moderate-class hotels
• Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary
• Entrance fees and gratuities
• Holy Land books
• Headsets
• Medical & Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
• All breakfasts and dinners in country
Jordan Option:
• Deluxe motor coach transportation
• Local guide
• Hotel accommodations in moderate-class hotels
• Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary
• Entrance fees and gratuities
• Group Visa
• Medical & Emergency Medical Evacuation Coverage
• All breakfasts and dinners in country
|
Not Included:
• Round-trip airfare from Salt Lake City–Tel Aviv–Salt Lake City: Call for airfare
• Additional possible airfare from cities other than Salt Lake City
• Sightseeing not included on the itinerary
• Additional hotel accommodations
• Items of a personal nature (i.e., phone calls, room service, e-mails, etc.)
• Additional travel insurance and cancellation waiver
• Lunches
• Single supplement for Israel $945
|
Optional Pricing:
Jordan price - $1240 per person, based on double
Jordan price - single occupancy, $160
Cash discount is available
|
Payment Terms:
$500 deposit due at the time of booking
Final payment due 90 days prior to departure
|
Contact Information:
Questions on air and payments:
Karen Gerlach
Toll Free 866-277-0900 or 801-363-4497
Fax 801-364-4330
Questions related to land itinerary:
Haws Marble, 801-815-1387
|
|
|
|
|
Day 1: Saturday, April 14
U.S.A.-Tel Aviv, Israel
We will take a morning flight from our various U.S.A. homes and change planes at the JFK International Airport in New York City.
Day 2: Sunday, April 15
Tel Aviv, Israel
We will arrive the following early afternoon at the Ben Gurion Airport—which is near New Testament Lydda, where Peter healed Aeneas. We will visit Jaffa, where Peter received the important revelation about taking the gospel to the Gentiles. We will check in to the Metropolitan Hotel, where we will have our group meeting before retiring for the night.
Day 3: Monday, April 16
Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Haifa, Muhraka, Nazareth
We will drive through Tel Aviv, the largest Jewish metropolitan area in the world, and then north along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to the Roman New Testament seaside capital, Caesarea. Here in the ancient Roman theater, we will study the biblical events that happened in this place. We will then drive to Haifa (modern port of Israel and center of the Baha’i faith), stop for a view, and recount some LDS Church history related to this area. We will drive along the top of Mount Carmel to Muhraka, the traditional site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal, to enjoy a view of the Jezreel Valley and talk about the importance of this valley both anciently and now. We will then drive to the lovely city of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we will visit the Nazareth Village (developed to show life as it existed at the time of Jesus) and briefly reflect on His early life. Passing through the Beit Netofa Valley and the remains of biblical Cana, we will drive to the western shore of the Sea of Galilee for a two nights’ stay at Nof Ginosar Kibbutz in the very area of Jesus’ Galilean ministry.
Day 4: Tuesday, April 17
Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Tel Dan, Banias, Golan Heights
We will begin our day by having an exhilarating boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. Then we will visit Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ Galilean ministry, where He performed many miracles and gave many teachings, including His “Bread of Life” sermon. We will pass St. Peter’s Primacy on our way to the Mount of Beatitudes, where the important Sermon on the Mount will be discussed. We will pass Hazor on our way to Tel Dan, the ancient northern limits of Israel (“from Dan to Beersheba”), to enjoy a beautiful nature walk and to see this historic tel. We’ll continue on to Banias at the foot of Mount Hermon, which is ancient Caesarea Philippi, the site of Peter’s testimony of the Savior. This is where one of the sources of the Jordan River emerges from the foothills of Mount Hermon. We will then drive up on the Golan Heights—home of many Druze people as well as the scene of fierce fighting between Israel and Syria in 1967 and again in 1973—to enjoy a view of Mount Hermon near Har Bental. We will return to Nof Ginosar to enjoy dinner and an evening on the lakeshore.
Day 5: Wednesday, April 18
Galilee, Mount Tabor, Beth Shean, Jericho, Jerusalem
Today begins with our first stop at Mount Tabor. From this high point we will discuss biblical events associated with Gideon, Deborah, King Saul, and the Savior’s Transfiguration and His visit to the village of Nain at the foot of Mount Moreh. Next we will see the impressive ruins of Beth Shean and experience the splendor of Roman life and Hellenistic culture. We will then continue south down the Jordan Valley and view the meandering Jordan River and the Jordan Plateau to the east with its interesting biblical history. We will stop at Qasr El Yehud, the possible site of Jesus’ baptism, and review some important scriptural events that took place in this area. Next we will visit Old Testament Jericho before going up into the Judean hills to Jerusalem. As we enter Jerusalem for the first time, we will behold a most fascinating city. We will check in to the Olive Tree Hotel for our nights in Jerusalem.
Day 6: Thursday, April 19
Jerusalem
Our first full day in Jerusalem will begin on the Mount of Olives, where we can view and discuss the history of the Old City of Jerusalem. Then we will begin a walking tour of the Old City through the Dung Gate to visit the Holy Mount and to see the outside of the Dome of the Rock, built to honor Mohammed, Islam’s founder. Later we will stop at the Western Wall, where we will observe Jews as they participate in morning prayers at Judaism’s holiest shrine. We will visit the Ophel to examine how it looked at the time of the Savior. In the afternoon we will visit the Jewish Quarter to see the Broad Wall and the Cardo. There will also be time spent in the Christian Quarter as we visit the major shrine of Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Leaving the Old City through the Damascus Gate, we will make our first visit to Golgotha and the Garden Tomb. Following dinner at the hotel, we will have an evening lecture.
Day 7: Friday, April 20
Shephelah, Valley of Elah, Tel Mareshah, Tel Lachish
We will drive down the Bab el Wad, passing Kirjath-Jearim as we enter the low hills west of Jerusalem called Shephelah. We will stop atop ancient Beth Shemesh, where Israel received the lost ark of the covenant back from the Philistines. We’ll continue on to the Valley of Elah, where David slew Goliath, and to the ancient Tel Mareshah and the interesting caves and structures in the area. Our next stop is at Tel Lachish, the ancient biblical fort city. We will return to Jerusalem, where in the early evening, before dinner, we will visit the Western Wall to see the Jews usher in the Sabbath.
Day 8: Saturday, April 21
Jerusalem
We will begin our Sabbath by attending sacrament meeting at the BYU Jerusalem Center with the Jerusalem Branch in the center’s beautiful auditorium, with its spectacular view of the Holy City. Following the meetings, we will travel to nearby Bethlehem, site of the Savior’s birth, and visit the Church of the Nativity. We will then visit Shepherds’ Field, overlooking Bethlehem, and review the biblical events connected with this area in a special late afternoon program before returning to the hotel for dinner.
Day 9: Sunday, April 22
Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Bethany, Jerusalem
An early morning drive will take us south along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface. Here we will take the cable car to the top of Masada to see the ruins of the palace-fortress built by King Herod and to recall the story of the Zealots’ last stand against the Romans. Before leaving this desert fortress, we will visit the museum at Masada’s base. As we drive north, we will stop for a quick float in the Dead Sea and lunch at Ein Gedi, one of the areas where David hid from King Saul. Then we’ll drive on to Qumran, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and discuss their importance on the way home. We will next enjoy a brief stop in the historic Judean Wilderness, where we will discuss the Savior’s forty-day experience and temptations. We will make a brief stop in Bethany and talk of events related to Jesus’ raising Lazarus from the dead. Following dinner at the hotel, we will have an evening lecture.
Day 10: Monday, April 23
Jerusalem
As the morning begins, we visit the Yad Vashem Memorial, the Holocaust museum, in West Jerusalem. We will drive by the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on our way to visit the Israel Museum, including the famous Model City of Jerusalem and the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls display). The afternoon will be free for shopping.
Day 11: Tuesday, April 24
Jerusalem: Footsteps of Jesus
Today we will walk from the Mount of Olives down to Bethphage as we focus on the events of the last week of the Savior’s life, beginning with His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We will proceed down the west side of the Mount of Olives and stop at a view point to discuss more of the Savior’s final week. We will continue down the Mount of Olives to Gethsemane on the way to Mount Zion and the location of the Upper Room, a reminder of the Last Supper and the ordinance of the sacrament. At St. Peter’s in Gallicantu, the possible site of the palace of Caiaphas, we will discuss Peter and the trials of Jesus. Our day will conclude at Golgotha, the place of the Crucifixion, and the Garden Tomb—where we will consider the final mortal events in Jesus’ life and His Atonement.
Day 12: Wednesday, April 25
Jerusalem
Our day in Jerusalem will begin as we enter the Old City through Lion’s Gate and go to the site of the Pool of Bethesda and the Church of St. Anne to discuss John 5. We will then proceed to the City of David to see the Jerusalem of Nephi’s time and walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, a hydrological wonder of Isaiah’s time. We will also visit the true Pool of Siloam mentioned in John 9. We will change out of our wet clothes, and the remainder of the day will be free to walk the Old City walls, visit local museums, and visit other places of interest. Following dinner at the hotel, we will have our farewell meeting. The balance of the afternoon will be free to spend in preparation for our departure from the Holy Land.
Day 13: Thursday, April 26
Jerusalem, Ben Gurion Airport
Our final day in Jerusalem will be free for shopping, seeing sights around the city on your own, and packing for our departure. We will have a farewell meeting in the late afternoon. Following dinner at the hotel, those going on to Jordan will overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem. Those not going to Jordan will depart for the airport and the flight home arriving on Friday.
JORDAN OPTION:
Day 14: Friday, April 27
Israel, Jordan-Petra
We will begin our Jordan experience by traveling east, down through the Judean Wilderness, past Jericho to the King Hussien Bridge where will cross the border into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We will turn south along the general route of the Old Testament King’s Highway through the areas of Moab and Edom. We will check into the Taybet Zaman Hotel at Petra for two nights.
Day 15: Saturday, April 28
Petra, Amman
As we drive north toward Amman, the Capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, we will trace the route of Moses and ancient Israel from the Sinai Wilderness. Along the way we will visit Medaba with its interesting mosaic map of the area from the sixth century. We will also make a stop at Mount Nebo to discuss the view that Moses had of the “Promised Land.” In Amman we will visit the Citadel and the Roman Theater and then check into the Geneva Hotel for the night.
Day 17: Monday, April 30
Amman • Ben Gurion Airport
We will begin our day with a visit to the New Testament site of Jerash, one of the ten cities of the Decapolis, and explore its spectacular ruins. We will continue north for a stop at Umm Qais or ancient Gadara which boasts more of examples of the Roman/Byzantine influence in this area. We will stop at Pella, the Christian refuge from the Roman attack on Jerusalem in 70 AD. We will then cross the Jabbok River, near where Jacob wrestled with the angel, on our way to cross back into Israel to catch our flight back to the USA and our homes.
Day 18: Tuesday, May 1
Ben Gurion Airport • U.S.A
Our flight to our homes in the U.S.A will begin early in the morning and we will arrive home sometime in the morning.
|
|
|
|
All pricing and information is subject to change for any reason at any time. |
|
|
|
|
|
