14 Day Israel, Egypt & Jordan

Day 1: Fri. March 18:Today we fly from our various USA cities to Amman, the capital of Jordan.

Day 2: Sat: March 19:We arrive in Jordan, the ancient land of Moab, home of Ruth. It was here that David sent Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband, to his death. We will head directly south to Petra, the Rose-Red City. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel in Petra.

Day 3: Sun. March 20:This morning we explore Petra, the newly voted “Wonder of the World.” We will walk down the narrow canyon to the breathtaking view of the Treasury, Petra’s most famous landmark. You will have time to visit this fascinating city carved from the cliffs of the canyon and experience some of the best ruins found anywhere in the world. We will then head back to Amman to overnight.

Day 4: Mon: March 21:Today we will experience the view from Mt. Nebo as Moses saw it before the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River into Israel. We will also visit the real baptismal site where it is believed Jesus was baptized on the Jordan side of the Jordan river near the dead Sea. Located near by is a wonderful beach resort on the Dead Sea. You will have time to float in the dead sea before we head for the ruins of Jerash, possible the best Roman Ruins out side of Rome. After our tour we travel north to the border with Israel and then on to the Sea of Galilee. We check into our hotel for the next three nights.

Day 5: Tues. March 22: This morning we will also travel to Ein Harod, the spring where Gideon chose his three hundred men before routing the Midianites. Then it is on to the top of Mt Carmel where Elijah had his historic confrontation with the priests of Baal with its dramatic conclusion. We travel on to Nazareth, home of the Savior for thirty years of his life. Our day ends with a sweeping view of the Jezreel Valley from Nazareth dominated by Mt. Tabor where we will discuss the transfiguration of the Savior. Deborah and Barak gathered their forces at Mt Tabor and defeated Sisera’s iron chariots. We will also visit today the Arbel Cliff for a fantastic overview of the Sea of Galilee. Our day would not be complete without a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where we can discuss Jesus walking on the water and stilling the storm.

Day 6: Wed. March 23: Our journey today takes us north of the Sea of Galilee. We begin by visiting Capernaum where so many wonderful events and teachings of the Savior took place. We then stop at the Mount of Beatitudes where we will ponder the great truths delivered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Driving to the far north of Israel we pass the Canaanite city of Hazor on our way to Tel Dan. Here Jeroboam erected a golden calf for the Israelites to worship, marking the beginning of a road that would end with the “lost ten tribes.” The restored walls and gates give us an excellent idea of the fortifications Joshua would have faced as he conquered the land. We will visit Banias, known as Caesarea Philippi in the days of Jesus where he asked his disciples, “Whom do ye say that I am?” At the end of the day we will return to our hotel on the Galilee.

Day 7: Thurs. March 24:This morning we turn west to the Mediterranean Sea. Our focus shifts now to the Apostles Peter and Paul as we discover Caesarea, Here the Roman centurion, Cornelius, became the first gentile convert to Christianity and Paul related his account of his vision on the road to Damascus to King Agrippa. We will visit the picturesque old Roman aqueduct and let you wade in the Mediterranean Sea. We conclude our visit to Caesarea at the Roman theatre, and hippodrome where chariot races were held. Time permitting we will stop in Netanya where the Presidents of the LDS Church and those who dedicated the Holy Land are honored in a special memorial. We then travel to the new city of Jerusalem and visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are located, and the Model City, a reproduction of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. The day will end at your hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 8: Fri. March 25: Today we drive a few miles to Bethlehem where we will remember the wondrous account of the Savior’s birth as recorded in Mathew and Luke and retold each Christmas. We will walk through the Church of the Nativity and sing Christmas Carols. We will then drive south for our unique visit at Beit Lehi to experience an archeological dig firsthand. We will stop at the Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath then continue on to the dig. Our visit to Beit Lehi includes beautiful early Christian mosaics, oil presses, a mikvah (a ritual bath) and the recently discovered columbary where doves were raised by the thousands for sacrifice at the Temple. There is also a New Testament period stable which will give you one of the best settings for the birth of the Savior. You can explore a remarkable site few get to visit. This is also the area where Samson roamed and fought his foes, the Philistines. Keep your eyes open for foxes which Samson used to burn the Philistine crops. We will then return to Jerusalem to overnight.

Day 9: Sat. March 26: In Israel, today is the Sabbath. We will start the day with the stunning view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. We then visit the Jerusalem Center. Today we reach the spiritual pinnacle of our pilgrimage as we retrace the footsteps of our Savior during the last hours of his life and feel the deep appreciation these places create for the sacrifice of the Son of God. We begin on Mt. Zion at the traditional site of the Upper Room where the Last Supper was shared with devoted apostles. We visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the possible site of the cock’s crowing and the Palace of Caiaphas where Jesus was tried. From there we descend into the Kidron Valley to visit Gethsemane, the Garden of the Savior’s deepest prayers. In the afternoon we will enter the Old City and continue the last hours of the Savior’s life. We will visit The Church of St Anne where the Pools of Bethesda were located. Here Jesus commanded the impotent man to take up his bed and walk. We visit the Convent of the Sisters of Sion, the location of the Antonia Fortress where Pilate tried the Savior. Our highlight day concludes at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb where we will have time to ponder the Resurrection and final triumph of Christ.

Day 10: Sun. March 27: Our attention today is drawn to the Old City of Jerusalem. We will explore the ruins located south of the Temple Mound where you can walk the sidewalks and stairs of Jesus’ time. We will climb the Temple Mount where both Solomon’s and Herod’s temples once stood and where the magnificent Dome of the Rock and Al Aksa Mosques now stand. We will stop at the Western Wall, the most sacred site for the Jewish faith. You can write a prayer on a piece of paper and place it into the cracks of the wall as millions have done before you. We will walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, built over 2500 years ago to secure the water supply of Jerusalem during the Assyrian siege. You will need a flashlight for the tunnel. At its end we find the Pool of Siloam where the man born blind washed as instructed by Jesus and came away seeing. You will have time today to explore the old city and shop before returning to your hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 11: Mon. March 28: This Morning early we drive through the Judean Wilderness to the Dead Sea. The Judean Wilderness was the home of John the Baptist and the place Jesus went to prepare for his ministry and where he was tempted of the Devil. Passing along the shores of the Dead Sea we will make a quick stop for a photo of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will stop at Ein Gedi, the natural springs where David cut off the hem of Saul’s robe while hiding in a cave. Rising above the desert floor is Herod the Great’s fortress of Masada which we will visit via cable car. During the Jewish revolt in 70 C.E. Masada’s defenders committed suicide rather than be taken prisoner by the Romans. We will then travel through the wilderness arriving at Eilat, where we cross the border with Egypt We will continue directly to our 5 star luxury Marriott resort located on the Red Sea.

Day 12: Tues. March 29: Red Sea – Marriott Resort– Cairo
Today we enjoy a well deserved rest at the resort. You can snorkel in the Red Sea which has beautiful coral reefs, sit on the beach, relax by the pools or take a nap. Later this afternoon you will drive through the Sinai Desert to Cairo where you will overnight in the 5 Star Intercontinental City Stars Hotel.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Those doing the Egypt Extension will separate today from those going home. The Egypt Extension group will not drive to Cairo, they will overnight again in the Marriott 5 star resort. See the itinerary under Egypt Extension!

Day 13: Wed. March 30: Cairo – Pyramids - Airport
We will spend the day doing a city tour visiting the Pyramids, built over four thousand years ago and the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. Next to the Pyramids we find the Sphinx. We will visit the papyrus institute where we will learn about this ancient skill and where you can purchase a beautiful example of Egyptian hieroglyphics. This evening you will travel to the airport for you flight back to the US & home.

Day 14: Thurs. March 31: Arrive home
We arrive back in the United States filled with memories of these wonderful lands where the scriptures, the greatest books ever written, were created.