Day 1: Monday, October 28, 2024 (On Board Meal)

Our tour to Jordan and Israel, the Holy Land Experience starts today with our overnight flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight.

 

Day 2: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 (On Board Meal, D)

Arrive at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, where we will be met by our Jordanian tour guide and transferred to our hotel for check in and dinner.

Overnight In Jordan

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Day 3: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 (B, D)

Amman/Madaba/Mt. Nebo/Kerak/Petra

After breakfast, depart through the King’s Highway, an ancient route that still has marks left from traders, armies and pilgrims who crossed it centuries ago, which was once part of the ancient Silk Road. Visit the Christian Town of Madaba, which is known as ‘The City of Mosaics’. A visit to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church to see the masterpiece of Madaba (a Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land that goes back to the 6th century, showing Jerusalem and other cities), a visit the Archaeological Park, which houses the remains of several Byzantine churches, including the amazing mosaics of the Church of the Virgin. Will also visit Mt. Nebo, which is considered to be one of the most important holy sites in Jordan, as it is believed to be the place where Moses climbed from the Valley of Moab, and from where God showed him the Promised Land, as well as Moses’ last resting place. Proceed via Wadi Al Mujib, a deep valley holding one of Jordan’s most breathtaking views. The journey to the city of Kerak is next, to visit the Crusader’s Castle, with its diverse history dated from the Byzantine to the Mamluk period and getto know the architectural military brilliance of the Crusaders. Overnight in Petra

 Transfer back to the hotel.  Overnight in Cairo.

 

Day 4: Thursday, October 31, 2024 (B, D)

Petra and return to Amman

After breakfast, the journey to explore Petra will begin, aptly described as the “rose-red city, half as old as time”. This ancient city was founded by the Nabateans 2000 years ago. Its massive architectural structure and its multicolored stones are an incredible attraction. The visit of the ancient Nabatean capital starts on horseback, followed by a walk through the Siq, a long narrow fissure between two overhanging cliffs.

Towards the end of the Siq, be spellbound by Petra’s most famous monument, the Treasury.

Overnight in Amman

 

Day 5: Friday, November 1, 2024 (B, D)

From Jordan to Israel
Jerash /Border Crossing into Israel /Beth Shean /Sea of Galilee

After breakfast, checkout of hotel and drive north to visit Jerash, the city of the Decapolis- located about 28 miles north of Amman in the fertile heights of the Gilead. The Greco-Roman City of Jerash is the best preserved of its kind in the world. See the colonnaded streets, the baths and the temple as the drive north takes you to the Sheikh Hussein Border. After crossing procedures into Israel, be met by the Israeli tour guide and bus driver, both of whom will be with you for the remainder of our tour. After introductions it’s on to the remarkable archeological site of the ancient city of Beth Shean (Mark 5:20;7:31), where after defeating Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beth Shean (1 Samuel 31). Continue north to the town of Tiberias to the centrally located hotel is situated right in the town’s center. Remainder of the day at your leisure to enjoy a free evening walk along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and explore the old town of Tiberias.

Overnight in Tiberia

 

Day 6: Saturday, November 2, 2024 (B, D)

Jesus’ Early Ministry along the Sea of Galilee
Sail on the Sea of Galilee/"Jesus Boat"/Magdala Mount of Beatitudes/Tabgha /Capernaum/ Yardenit

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After breakfast, experience the area of Jesus’ early ministry around the Sea of Galilee. Board a wooden boat and sail on the Sea of Galilee just like Jesus and His disciples. Dock at Kibbutz Nof Geonsar to visit the “Ancient Jesus Boat” - the remains of a 2,000-year-old boat (the type used by Jesus and His disciples) that was discovered in 1986. Visit Magdala, best known as the home of Mary Magdalene. Walk through the ruins of a first century Jewish town where a synagogue from the time of Christ's ministry was found. A drive along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12), where Jesus preached his Sermon on the Mount. After enjoying the breathtaking view, enjoy a drive to Tabgha, the site of the Feeding of the 5,000 and Primacy of Peter (Matthew 13; Mark 33:45 and John 21) and the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. The next stop is a visit to the 2,000 year old remains of Capernaum (Matthew 4:13; 13:54; 17:24; Luke 7, Mark 1:2: John 4:46-54) to stand in what is left of the synagogue in which Jesus ministered. In this city Jesus did most of his Galilean ministry and performed many miracles, and where Peter's mother-in-law lived and was healed. End the day with a remarkable visit to Yardenit – the wonderful baptismal

site on the Jordan River for a special time of baptism.

Overnight in Tiberia

 

Day 7: Sunday, November 3, 2024 (B, D)

Visit Aswan, where the temple of Goddess of Love, Isis, enjoys a beautiful island on the Nile. This temple is one of the best preserved temples of ancient Egypt.  Arrive at the temple by Nubian motorboat and visit the High Dam and Aswan school.  Return to the cruise ship to relax for the remainder of the day.  Enjoy dinner on the Nile cruise ship and a Belly Dance show.  Overnight on Nile cruise ship.

 

Day 8: Monday, November 4, 2024 (B, D)

Exploring the Dead Sea and the Judean Desert
Free Morning to enjoy the resort/Masada/Ein Gedi/Qumran
After breakfast, enjoy free time at the wonderful Dead Sea resort hotel. Walk to the beach and float in the salty water of the Dead Sea. This is also a great opportunity to enjoy the Dead Sea famous mud and mineral treatments at the hotel's spa. In the afternoon, enjoy a drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to visit one of the most spectacular sites in Israel – the 1,500 feet mountaintop fortress of Masada - which was built by King Herod and is famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. Ascend to Masada by cable car and discover the 1st century synagogue, Herod’s bathhouse and the remains of this fortress. Continue along the shores of the Dead Sea for a look out on the oasis of Ein Gedi, where David hid in a cave when running from Saul (1 Samuel 23) and composed several of his Psalms. Next enjoy a visit to the Qumran and walk through the ruins of this ancient Essene community, where close to this spot an amazing cache of ancient biblical texts were discovered in 1947 - commonly called the Dead Sea Scrolls. Will end the day with a drive to Jerusalem and visit the Western Wall (“Wailing Wall”) - the holiest site in Judaism and one of the original ancient walls that retained the Temple.

Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 9: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 (B, D)

Jerusalem Old City
Mount of Olives/Garden of Gethsemane/Via Delarosa/St. Anne Church/Pool of Bethesda/Judgment Hall of Pilate/Church of the Holy Sepulcher/Christian Quarter/ Garden Tomb

Today walk where Jesus walked. After breakfast, enjoy the drive to the top of the Mount of Olives to stand where the Lord ascended into heaven (Acts 1), to take in a breathtaking panoramic view of the city across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate where the Prince of Peace will enter (Ezekiel 44). Pass by Pater Noster Church and visit Dominus Flevit where “the Lord wept” as he beheld the Holy City and take the Palm Sunday Road down to the Garden of Gethsemane where we will see 2,000-year-old olive trees that date back to the time of Christ. Enter the Old City via the Lions’ Gate, located in the eastern wall which marks the beginning of the last walk of Jesus from prison to the crucifixion - the Via Delarosa. Begin the walk along the Stations of the Cross to visit the St. Anne Church (incredible acoustics) and the Pool of Bethesda, and then continue to the Judgment Hall of Pilate, all the way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Matthew 27:33-57; 28:10). The day will end

visiting the Garden Tomb, where we will celebrate the resurrection with a time of prayer (Luke 23).

Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 10: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 (B, D)

Jerusalem Old City
Temple Mount/Southern Wall & Steps/Davidson Center/Western Wall/Jewish Quarter/Mt. Zion/Upper Room/Tomb of King David/Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu

After breakfast, enter the Old City of Jerusalem via the Dung Gate and visit the Temple Mount (*visit is subject to change). The next visit will be at the Southern Temple Mount archeological excavations and the “Southern Steps” - the archaeological reconstruction of the Temple steps where Jesus walked so often. It is from here Jesus entered the Temple Mount and drove out the vendors and the money changers who were exploiting the people. A visit to the unearthed southern end of the Western Wall, the paved street and the Robinson’s arch, and at the Davidson Center Museum to view a fascinating documentary on the excavation and 10 minute film describing a visit of a pilgrim to the second temple. Continue to the Old City exploration through the historic Jewish Quarter all the way to Mt. Zion. A visit the Tomb of King David and worship in the Upper Room (Luke 22) - the traditional site where Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper and where later Thomas cried, My Lord and my God” is next. The stop is the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu where, according to tradition, was the place of the palace of the high priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was brought to jail after his arrest (Mark 14:72).

Return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 11: Thursday, November 7, 2024 (B, D)

Jerusalem & Bethlehem
Bethlehem/Church of the Nativity/Shepherd’s Field/Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

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This is the last day of the Holy Land Experience. After breakfast, enjoy the drive through the new city of Jerusalem and pass by the Knesset - Israel’s parliament and continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7). Our venture will include the Shepherd’s Field, referenced in Luke 2:8-20, where an angel appeared to announce the birth of Jesus. After lunch, a drive to Mt. Herzl area of Jerusalem for an emotional visit of the newly renovated Holocaust Museum - "Yad Vashem".

Ending the day, at the hotel for a farewell dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem

 

Day 12: Friday, November 8, 2024

Departure flight to the US
Prepare for an early transfer back to the airport.

 

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