This tour will be led by John Hodges (Van), who has traveled extensively, and visited much of the Middle East the last 15 years, including numerous visits to Jordan and Egypt. He has created and led 7 tours to these areas. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, and has been a student and teacher of the Bible, Biblical history, and Bible prophecy for 39 years. This is a great tour for laypersons, retirees, students (high school, college, seminary), and pastors.

Many call Jordan and Egypt part of The Holy Land as the Israelites, and Abraham, Ishmael, Joseph, Jacob, Esau, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, Jeroboam, Elijah, Elisha, Jehoshaphat, Joahaz, Jeremiah, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, John the Baptist, and the Apostle Paul all spent time in these lands. Besides studying the ancient history and ruins of these two countries on this tour, there will be a focus on seeing the places where the Israelites traveled and at times inhabited. These places played a major role in their Biblical history, but most are not part of the “Promised Land” they will inherit in the future for eternity.

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Day 1, June 6: Departure from US
Today we embark on our overnight flight. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience, as tomorrow you will be arriving in the Holy Land.

Day 2, June 7: Arrival
We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Our transportation takes us north thru the Biblical Sharon Valley to our hotel in Netanya, perched on beach sand cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. There we enjoy dinner and overnight stay.  
              
Day 3, June 8: Pella, Gadara, Jerash, Amman, Bethany beyond the Jordan 
An early departure from our hotel takes us to Sheikh Hussein Bridge. After meeting our guide and completing passport formalities, we enter the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. By motor coach we travel to a scenic overlook of Pella, where the Jerusalem Church fled in 65 A.D. We then continue to Jordan’s northern border to visit the ancient ruins of Gadara, the mountain top city center of the Gadarene Demoniacs, and from there we will be able to view the nearby Sea of Galilee where Jesus had His encounter with them. We head back south to Jerash, ancient Gerasa of Roman Times, the city center of the Gerasenes, one of the best-preserved and most complete provincial Roman cities. Gerasa was one of the cities of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Graeco-Roman cities dating from the 1st century BC situated in Jordan, Syria and Israel. Known for its extraordinary state of preservation, the ruins indicate human occupations at this location for more than 2,500 years. The most well known monuments include the colonnaded street with sewers, the Temple of Zeus, the theatre, the Forum, and Hadrian’s Arch. Next, we drive further south thru the area that once was settled by the ancient Ammonites and Amorites, but later became part of ancient Israel where 2½ tribes settled. We cross over the Jabbok River where Jacob wrestled with God, then past the present capital of Amman, which once was the Decapolis city of Philadelphia and Old Testament Ammonite city of Rabbah. We finish the day with a visit to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where John The Baptist did some baptizing and possibly where he baptized Jesus. It was in this vicinity that the Prophets Elijah and Elisha did some ministry, and where Joshua and the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land thru the parted Jordan River. We arrive at our luxurious hotel by the Dead Sea with an optional swim in the Sea or hotel pools.

Day 4, June 9: Mt Nebo, Medeba, Arnon River, Petra 
This day follows the reverse path of the Israelites on their way from the wilderness to the promised land. We ascend to Mt. Nebo where it is believed Moses saw the Promised Land and was buried in the adjacent valley. The mountain commands a spectacular view of Jericho, the Jordan Valley, and the Dead Sea. Our drive continues to the town of Madaba, the biblical Medeba. Madaba is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, where the earliest original surveying map of the Holy Land is pictured on a mosaic floor. Next we drive south onto the Biblical King’s Highway to the ancient border of Moab at the Arnon River canyons for a scenic view, and then on to the Desert Highway traveling thru ancient Edom. We pass Moses’ Springs and arrive at Petra where we walk or take optional carriages thru the “Siq”, an immense colorful sandstone canyon, to the city of ancient Petra. Over 2000 years ago the Nabateans carved this city out of the rose red rock. The Treasury or El Khazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity. The canyon walls on both sides have hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures, and further in the conquering Romans also added structures to the city. We overnight in Petra.

Day 5, June 10: Aqaba, Tabernacle, Eilat, Taba, Red Sea, Nuweiba
Our time in Jordan soon ends as we head south from Petra into ancient Midian, where the fugitive Moses settled for forty years. We arrive near the Red Sea or Gulf of Aqaba at the outskirts of Aqaba, Biblical Ezion Geber, where King Solomon based his fleet of ships. We cross the Arava boarder into Israel and visit a nearby life-size Biblical Tabernacle model, view a film, and see beautiful formations in the area of closed copper mines from the times of King Solomon and the ancient Egyptians. We drive to Eilat on the Red Sea, which is Biblical Elath, and cross the border near Taba, Egypt. We meet our Egyptian guide and travel by bus south along the shores of the Sea to Nuweiba to enjoy a relaxing time at our beach hotel and optional swim in the Red Sea. It is possible the Israelites crossed the Red Sea from this beach and where Pharaoh’s army drowned over three millennia ago. Many call Egypt part of The Holy Land as Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, Israelites, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Jeroboam, Joahaz, Jeremiah, Joseph, Mary and Jesus all lived there.

Day 6, June 11: Mount Sinai
As we leave Nuweiba we view the Wadi Watir road where the Israelites might have traveled, and the granite column believed to have been placed by King Solomon to commemorate the Red Sea crossing. We continue driving a short distance to the traditional Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb, the Mountain of God, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, Jewish Laws, and Tabernacle Plans. Elijah fled from Jezebel and King Ahab to a cave there. At its base our tour begins with St. Catherine Monastery that stores some of the oldest manuscript copies of the Greek New Testament in existence today. For those who are able, the group will ascend to the 7,500-foot summit of the second highest mountain in Egypt either by camel or by walking. We get a panoramic view of the mountains that have changing shades of colors as the sun crosses the sky. After a terrific view of the Sinai desert and hidden patches of grass used by grazing flocks, we descend back down the conquered mountain and retire to our nearby hotel.

Day 7, June 12: Sinai Desert, Suez Canal, Cairo, On, Nile River
We leave Mount Sinai for our long drive in an air conditioned motor coach across the Sinai Desert, Wilderness of Paran, Wilderness of Sin, and Wilderness of Shur, the path the Israelites possibly used when fleeing Egypt during the Exodus. Our visits along the way are at the traditional stops of the Israelites at Rephidim where Moses struck the rock to get water and where they battled the Amalekites, the Oasis of Elim along the Gulf of Suez, the site of many springs and palm trees, and Marah Springs, where bitter waters were turned sweet for Israelite consumption. We turn and cross under the manmade Suez Canal connecting the Gulf of Suez with the Mediterranean Sea. Passing thru the Southern edge of the Land of Goshen where Joseph settled his family and Hebrew brethren. We arrive at the capital of Cairo and exit to the old city to see the red granite obelisk of Biblical On, where Joseph’s father-in-law Potiphera was a priest. We drive by Saladin’s fortress, Mohammed Ali mosque, and residences of many government officials, then across the famous Nile River, the centerpiece of Egypt’s long history, flowing thru the middle of the city. We see busy boat traffic, lush vegetation, palm trees and hearty crops created by millenniums of irrigation practices and methods. Our long distance travel ends at our hotel beginning a three nights stay. After dinner we see the Sound and Light Show at the Giza Pyramids.

Day 8, June 13: Memphis, Sakkara, Abusir, Dahshur, El Faiyum
This day where we drive along Nile fed canals and lush vegetation, farms and farm animals. Our first stop brings us to the nearby ancient capital of Memphis that dates back to 3100 BC. We see a female Sphinx carved out of Alabaster Stone and the famous Colossus of Ramses. Our bus then takes us to neighboring Sakkara. Suddenly the vegetation stops and is contrasted by totally barren desert and the presence of the majestic pyramids and tombs. These were built as early as 2560 BC and have intrigued engineers ever since on how they did it. We view the Step Pyramid built in 2650 BC, which is the oldest of the 97 Pyramids found in Egypt. The morning is finished with visits to the many Pyramids and tombs at Abusir, Sakkara, Dahshur, Abu Ghauob, El-Lisht, and Maidum. Our afternoon drive takes us to the pyramids at Hawara and El Lahun, and then we see the water canal, grain storage silos, and Lake Birket believed to be built by Joseph to prepare for the seven years of famine. 

Day 9, June 14: Giza Pyramids, Sphinx, Egypt Museum, Nile River
Our final day of touring is spent around Cairo by driving to see the Giza Pyramid Complex and the Great Pyramid of Khufu, or Cheops, originally at 482 feet, was the tallest human structure on the Earth until the 1800’s AD. It is the only remaining structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Renovations now allow entrance to this ancient tomb in the heart of the Pyramid through original tunnel shafts. Next to the large Giza Pyramids, we visit the famous male Sphinx statue with a lion’s body and human face. This mammoth statue was carved out of the original bedrock as early as 2550 BC. Though the Sphinx has been covered numerous times by the desert sand, it is completely exposed today for our enjoyment. We then drive to the world famous Egyptian Museum that has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world. Realistic statues of Pharaohs, queens, and officials are there with eyes that make them look alive. Ancient weapons of war and expensive items laden with gold, gems and ivory are on display, plus many well preserved mummies. Most of the items were recovered from Pyramids and tombs. Afterward we end the day with a short relaxing sailboat ride on the Nile River.

Day 10, June 15: Return flight home
We leave the ancient sites in our memories as we return to modern times, departing from the Cairo airport for our return flight home.

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For additional information, contact John Hodges (Van) at: hodges777@juno.com or 708- 331- 4440 Limited Space - Reserve Early!   Click here for reservation form

Deposit: $300 per person is required to secure a reservation.
Final Payment: 60 days before departure.

Price Includes: First class lodging, full time tour escort, breakfast & dinner daily, guides, gratuities, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt visa & border taxes, entrance fees, and transportation as appear on itinerary with services of long distance deluxe motorcoach.

Not Included: All air flights and air taxes (based on airfare purchased), Fuel charges and air taxes can be $300 or more, lunches, optional travel insurance, payment by credit card for land portion (additional 3% surcharge.)