Day 1: April 24: Fly
Today we fly from our various USA cities to Amman, the capital of Jordan.
Day 2: April 25: Amman – Petra
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: April 26: Petra – Amman
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 north to Mt. Nebo and Amman. We will overnight in an Amman deluxe hotel.
Day 4: April 27: Amman – Bethlehem – Galilee
This morning early we will cross the border into Israel and head directly to 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. We then 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 finish our day by driving to the Sea of Galilee where we will overnight.
Day 5: April 28: Galilee Area
This is only a partial list of all we will do in the Galilee area. We will visit 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. We will also travel to Nazareth, home of the Savior for thirty years of his life. We will enjoy a sweeping view of the Jezreel Valley from Nazareth dominated by Mt. Tabor where we will discuss the transfiguration of the Savior. Our day ends at Yardenit on the Jordan River. Tonight we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and retell the stories of Jesus walking on the water and stilling the storm
Day 6: April 29: Galilee – Caesarea - Jerusalem
This morning we head east to the Mediterranean Sea, on our way we will visit Haifa and the top of Mt Carmel where Elijah had his historic confrontation with the priests of Baal with its dramatic conclusion. 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 will then continue on to Jerusalem where we overnight.
Day 7: April 30: Beit Lehi Excavations – Jerusalem
We 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. Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 8: May 01: Jerusalem
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. We will then have the opportunity of visiting the Jerusalem Center with its commanding views of the Old City of Jerusalem. In the afternoon we will visit Golgotha and the Garden Tomb where we will have time to ponder the Resurrection and final triumph of Christ. Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 9: May 02: Jerusalem – Dead Sea Resort
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. Our day in the Old City continues with a visit at 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. We will stop again 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. There will be some free time to explore the Old City before we end our day with a 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.
We leave Jerusalem late this afternoon and descend through the Judean Wilderness, home of John the Baptist and the place Jesus went to prepare for his ministry and where he was tempted of the Devil. We will overnight in a resort on the Dead Sea.
Day 10: May 03: Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Taba
This morning you will have time to swim in the Dead Sea before visiting Masada. 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 stop at the Dead Sea for a quick float before traveling to Eilat and the Taba Border. After crossing the border into Egypt’s Sinai, you will drop the extension group at the airport and then travel to the beautiful Marriott Resort located on the Red Sea.
NILE CRUISE EXTENSION GROUP:
After crossing the border into Egypt’s Sinai, you will go directly to the airport and fly to Aswan where you will board your 5 star luxury cruise ship. The itinerary for the Nile Cruise Extension (Day 11 – Day 16) can be found under OPTIONAL NILE CRUISE EXTENSION.
Day 11: May 04: Red Sea – Taba Marriott – 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. This afternoon you will drive through the Sinai Desert to Cairo where you will overnight in the 5 Star Intercontinental City Stars hotel.
Day 12: May 05: Cairo – Pyramids
We will spend the day doing a city tour and 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 afternoon you will return to your 5 star hotel.
Day 13: May 06: Cairo - Airport
Today is a free day to relax, shop and pack for your flight home. Later this evening you will transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Day 14: May 07: Fly 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.
Day 10: May 03: Jerusalem – Taba – Aswan – 5 Star Luxury Cruise Ship
After crossing into Taba in the early evening, you will fly from Taba to Aswan. You will immediately transfer to your luxury 5 star Nile cruise ship.
Day 11 & 12: May 04 & 05: 5 Star Luxury Nile Cruise
From your cruise ship you will visit Aswan, Aswan Dam, Edifu, Philae Island, Kom Ombo and Esna before arriving into Luxor.
Day 13: May 06: 5 Star Luxury Nile Cruise – Luxor – Cairo
This morning we will depart our Luxury 5 star cruise ship and begin our tour around the Luxor Area. Luxor was one of the great capitals of ancient Egypt. We will enjoy a full day of touring, visiting the Valley of the Kings, Medinet Habu, a spectacular funeral temple built for Ramases III, the huge temple complex of Karnak and the beautiful temple of Luxor. This evening we will fly to Cairo and check into our 5 star luxury hotel, Intercontinental City Stars.
Day 14: May 07: Cairo – Pyramids
We will spend the day touring the important sites around Cairo. Foremost are 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. We will also visit the Alabaster Mosque and explore the world of the Muslim faith, before retuning to our 5 star hotel.
Day 15: May 08: Cairo
Today you will have some free time to relax, shop and pack for your flight home. Today will also be one of your highlight days as you visit the famous archeological museum in Cairo which houses the world’s greatest collection of Egyptian artifacts including King Tutankhamen’s treasures. Late this evening we transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
Day 16: May 09: US & 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.
