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Israel
"Deluxe"
17 Exciting,
Life-Changing Days
Day 1 DEPART USA FOR ISRAEL
We'll depart for
Tel-Aviv. Enjoy dinner and relax on our
overnight flight.
Day 2 ARRIVAL IN ISRAEL
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, we'll be met by Halvor Ronning our
Israeli guide, who will escort us throughout our entire stay in the Holy
Land. On the way tou our hotel in Haifa, we'll see the ancient port of
Joppa where Jonah fled the presence of the Lord, as well as Caesarea
Maritime that is rich in Biblical history. Dinner and overnight at the Dan
Panorama Hotel in Haifa.
Day 3 MT. CARMEL, MEGIDDO,
NAZARETH
We start this morning atop Mt. Carmel, where we'll see where the prophet
Elijah battled the Baal prophets, and we'll overview the Valley of
Armageddon. In Nazareth we'll visit the boyhood home of Jesus, the Church
of the Annunciation, and Mary's well. At Kefar Kedem, a recreated Biblical
village, we'll participate in the ancient past, wearing custom clothes,
riding a donkey, harvesting wheat and making bread, sheering sheep, making
wine, and pressing olive oil. When the work is done we'll have lunch in a
shepherd's tent with an Oriental feast, stories, and music. After lunch,
we head for Megiddo and the gathering place of Biblical Armageddon.
Megiddo abounds with architectural monuments, temples, palaces, and mighty
fortifications. Dinner and overnight at the Dan Panorama in Haifa.
Day 4 ACCO, MT. OF BEATITUDES
& GALILEE
We'll visit 4000-year-old Acco, also called Acre, an important site in the
Middle Ages when the Crusaders invaded Palestine. We'll see the Knights'
Hall and the Al Jazaar mosque that was built on the remains of a Crusader
monastery. Excavations continue today in this Crusader City. We continue
on to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave His "Sermon on the
Mount", and to Tabgha, where Jesus fed the multitudes. Dinner and
overnight in Nof Ginnosar, a kibbutz guesthouse.
Day 5 CAPERNAUM, TIBERIAS,
BET SHEAN
In the city of Capernaum we'll visit the house of St. Peter, an ancient
synagogue and view a stone with the Ark of the Covenant engraved in it.
We'll also visit the site of the miracle of the Gaderene Swine at Kursi.
After enjoying a fish lunch, we'll relax on a cruise on the Sea of
Galilee. After a short visit in Tiberias, we'll journey through the Jordan
Valley to see the recently excavated discoveries at Beit Shean. At the
foot of Mt. Gilboa, we'll view the springs where Gideon's men were chosen
to fight the Midianites. At Yardenit, we'll view the traditional baptismal
site on the Jordan River where you'll have an opportunity for baptism.
We'll return to Nof Ginnosar for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 KORAZIM, TEL DAN &
GOLAN HEIGHTS
Following breakfast, we'll travel to the ancient city of Korazim,
mentioned in both the Talmud and the New Testament. We'll see the basalt
stone synagogue adorned with attractive carvings of flora and fauna.
Traveling north to Tel Dan, we'll take a nature walk along the Dan
springs, a source of the Jordan River, and explore the ancient city of
Dan. At Caesarea Philippi, we'll visit the place where Peter made his
great confession of Christ. We'll then overlook the Israeli/Syrian border
town of Kuneytra. We'll have dinner and overnight once more at Nof
Ginnosar.
Day 7 QUMRAN, MASADA, &
DEAD SEA
Today we'll travel south to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were
discovered. Next we'll climb to Ein Gedi, where David cut off a piece of
Saul's garment while hiding from his wrath there. At Masada, we'll travel
by cable car to the site where Jewish zealots held out against the Roman
Empire. Dinner and overnight at the Hyatt Hotel near the Dead Sea.
Day 8 AT LEISURE
Today will be free to float on the waters of the Dead Sea where the
water's mineral content assures that you won't sink. The room sized
"icebergs" floating are actually pure salt. Some may choose to
pamper at the hotel's spa facilities or to enjoy other hotel amenities.
Overnight Dead Sea Hyatt Hotel.
Day 9 TIMNA & EILAT
Today we'll drive through the Dead Sea region along the Arava Valley. We
will visit Timna National Park, where we'll see the famous "Solomon
Pillars", the ancient copper mines built by Solomon, and an ancient
Egyptian Temple that served the slaves who have worked in the mines.
You'll see a replica of the tabernacle built by the children of Israel in
the desert. We'll continue on to Eilat, which is known the world over as
one of the best spots for snorkeling and scuba diving, Eilat features a
wonderful underwater observatory. Dinner tonight is at the Eilat Princess
Hotel.
Days 10 & 11 AT LEISURE
Nature lovers will find no shortage of activities in Eilat. Those wishing
to do more sightseeing have several options to do on your own.Tour Petra
in Jordan, take a flight to Mt.Sinai and St. Catherine's monastery or see
the sights around the Red Sea in a jeep. Dinner and overnight at the
Princess in Eilat.
Day 12 MITSPEH RAMON, SDE
BOKER & JERUSALEM
Today we'll travel to the Visitor's Center at Mitzpeh Ramon overlooking
the magnificent Ramon Crater. At Sde Boker, we'll visit Ben Gurion's
(Israel's George Washington) hut at a kibbutz before driving to Beersheba,
where we'll see some of the archaeological sites. We'll arrive at the
Hilton Hotel in Jerusalem in time for dinner and overnight.
Day 13 MOUNT OF OLIVES &
OLD CITY
Our first day of sightseeing in Jerusalem begins with a a splendid
panoramic view of the city of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives and a
passion walk down the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane, the
site of Christ's agony. We'll enter the Old City through Stephen's Gate
and visit the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the cripple. We'll then
walk to the Judgment Hall of Pilate and hear of those who conspired
against, and then eat and humiliated Him. As we walk along the Via
Dolorosa, we'll be reminded of His suffering. We'll visit the Church of
the Holy Sepulcher and the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight at the Hilton
Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 14 BIBLICAL TIMES IN
ISRAEL & THE NEW CITY
Our group will study a magnificent scale model of the ancient city of
Jerusalem. We'll hear the amazingly intricate details of the temple décor
as well as its surrounding buildings. At the Biblical Resource Scriptural
Gardens, we'll see the many plants of Biblical times as well as a
threshing floor, olive and wine presses and a sheepfold. We'll then visit
Yad Vashem - the Chamber of Martyrs memorial to the victims of the
Holocaust. A highlight awaits as we explore the Rabbinical Tunnel and then
enjoy dinner at the Roman Cardo, a first century Roman restaurant that
serves food of that era. Overnight at the Hilton Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 15 WESTERN WALL, CITY OF
DAVID & TUNNELS
Today we'll witness the absolute miracle of God's preserved Word at the
Israel Museum as we view the Dead Sea Scrolls. We'll visit the Western
Wall, southern excavations, City of David, and Hezekiah's Tunnel. We'll
visit the Valley of the Shadow of Death and the Church of the Cock Crow.
Dinner and overnight at the Hilton Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 16 AT LEISURE
If Israel consisted only of Jerusalem, it would still be worth the visit.
Take some time to explore the city on your own. You'll make some
magnificent discoveries. Return to our hotel for a farewell dinner and
overnight.
Day 17 DEPARTURE
En route back to Ben Gurion airport, we'll make stops at Bet Shemesh, the
Valley of Elah where David slew Goliath, the Bell Caves and Marisha.
Departure for Home.
Itinerary:
This brochure includes only a partial listing of the sight's we'll visit.
Before departure, we'll provide you with a book we've compiled from many
trips to Israel. We've both studied historical geography of the first and
second temple periods in Israel, and our guide was one of our instructors.
Price Per Person:
$2975.00 per person, double occupancy (single supplement $900 additional)
Deposit:
$200 per person is required to secure a reservation.
Final Payment: 60 days before departure.
Price Includes:
Round-trip air from NYC, super deluxe 5 star hotels, motorcoach, guides,
taxes, gratuities, transfers, sightseeing, and two meals a day.
Not Included:
Lunches, drinks, optional tours, and personal items.
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