The Holy Land Tour
May 4th - 14th 2012
11-Days
$1795
per person per double occupancy
Day 1 Depart USA/ Tel Aviv
Day 2 Tel Aviv/ Jaffa/Beit Lehi
Welcome to Israel! Sitting on the edge of the Mediterranean, Jaffa still stands as one of the world oldest ports. Located in one of the small alleyways of this city, we will visit Simon the Tanner’s house that remains a monument to the wonderful revelation Peter the Apostle received to go and preach to all the world. Be one of the first to see the House of Lehi as it is early in its stages of excavation refer to www.beitlehifoundation.org
Day 3: Caesarea/ Mt. Carmel/ Megiddo/ Nazareth/ Cana
Our first stop today will be Ceasarea, a city founded by Herod, residence of Pontius Pilate and a prison for Paul. We will sit in the well-preserved amphitheater overlooking the blue sea and hear the story of Paul’s conversion of the Centurion. We will travel through the hills of the Jezreel Valley as we approach Mt. Carmel, where the prophet Elijah and the priests of Baal contested their faith. Not far from Carmel is the valley of Megiddo, the tragic site of ancient bloody battles and where the future battle of Armageddon will be fought. From there we will journey on to Nazareth, the quaint town where Jesus Christ spent his childhood.
Day 4: Mt. Tabor/Banias/Bet She’an
Mount Tabor is the mountain traditionally claimed to be the site of the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. At the summit of this mountain you will enjoy the scenery of the surrounding valleys as you contemplate the sacredness of this site. Next we will travel to the ancient tel of Bet She’an, believed to be the Bet She’an of the Old Testament. We will end our day at the beautiful state park of En Herod Springs.
Day 5: Sea of Galilee/Capernaum/Mount of Beatitudes/Jordan River
Today we will stand on the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. We will also visit Tabgha, the sited of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and Capernaum, where Jesus and many of his first followers lived. In the afternoon we will sail upon the Sea of Galilee to view the area of Jesus Christ’s early ministry. Our last visit will be the Yardenit Baptismal Site on the banks of the Jordan River.
Day 6: Qumran/Dead Sea/Masada/Jerusalem
Today we will leave the fertile valleys of the northern Israel to visit the barren desert of the Dead Sea. You will see the limestone bluffs where the remains of the ancient city of Qumran are located, made famous for the Dead Sea scrolls that were buried there. Further south is the oasis of En Gedi, where King David hid from Saul.
Day 7: Israel Museum/Yad Vashem/Holy Land Model/Room of the Last Supper
This morning we will begin with the Israel Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls have been preserved and displayed. We will also see the Holy Land Model, a unique scale model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Next we will remember the tragic period of Jewish history when we visit Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the six million Jews who perished during the Holocaust.
We will also see two New Testament sites today in the old quarter of Jerusalem, the site believed to be the room of the Last Supper and the House of Caiaphas, below which is the dungeon that once imprisoned the Savior.
Day 8: Mount of Olives/Garden of Gethsemane/Jerusalem Center/Garden Tomb
We will continue to understand and ponder the last few days of Christ’s life as we visit the Mount of Olives and feel the powerful spirit as we stand in the Garden of Gethsemane. Just up from the garden, lies the remarkable BYU Jerusalem Center, with panoramic views of the Old City and Dome of the Rock. After lunch we will stop at the beautiful Garden Tomb. The limestone hill behind the tomb is believed by many to be Golgotha, the site of the crucifixion. Inside the Garden is the ancient tomb that once held the Savior’s wounded mortal body and but could not contain the glorious Resurrected being.
Day 9: Western Wall/Dome of the Rock/Old City/Bethlehem/Shepherd’s Field
A visit to Jerusalem would not be complete without a visit to the Western Wall, the most historically important Jewish site. This wall is all that is left of the great Second Temple. Above the wall is Mount Moriah, a sacred site for the three great monotheistic religions. The Islamic shrine, Dome of the Rock, is located here. 6 miles from Jerusalem lies the “Little Town of Bethlehem”, the birthplace of the Savior. We will visit the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of the stable where Christ was born. On the hillside overlooking Bethlehem, shepherds still tend their flocks. We will stand in these fields and sing hymns as we reflect on the wondrous night of His birth.
Day 10: Jerusalem
On our last day in Israel will be at our leisure. We will have time to visit the Old City of Jerusalem. You will have time to pick up treasures to take home as memory of your visit to the Holy Land
Day 11: Fly home
Our rate Includes:
- Meeting & assistance upon arrival and departure at Ben-Gurion Airport by Amiel representative
- Porterage at airport and hotels.
- 9 overnights at the above mentioned hotels.
- Guide Escort transfer from/ to Ben Gurion Airport upon arrival and departure
- 8 full days sightseeing as per your program below.
- English speaking Tour guide throughout the entire tour
- Luxury air-conditioned coach
- On free day May 13, 2012 - No bus and guide services.
- Meal arrangement: Half Board including full Israeli buffet breakfast and dinners at hotels daily. Starts with dinner on arrival day and ends with breakfast in hotel on departure day.
- Entrance fees including all sites mentioned in your program below: Caesarea, Megiddo, Taxi ride to Mount Tabor, Beit Shaen, Boat Ride on Sea of Galilee, Masada with 2 ways cable car, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Israel Museum, Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Bethlehem, all relevant churches as mentioned in your program below.
- Pilgrimage Certificate
