Holy Land Tours

Day 1 & 2

Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight. You will be welcomed at the Tel Aviv airport by our representative and transferred to your hotel to enjoy dinner before retiring for the night.

Day 3

Worship as you sail across the Sea of Galilee. Visit Capernaum, center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee, and visit the synagogue built on the site where Jesus taught (Matthew 4:13, 23). On the Mount of Beatitudes, contemplate the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7). Explore the Church of the Fish and the Loaves at Tabgha, traditional site of the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17). See theChapel of the Primacy, where Peter professed his devotion three times to the risen Christ (John 21). In Magdala, once home to Mary Magdalene, visit a recently discovered first-century synagogue. Recall Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist at the Jordan River.

Day 4

Visit the Franciscan Wedding Chapel in Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle, before continuing on to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23). Look out over Tel Megiddo, known as the site of Armageddon, to view one of the most important archaeological sites in Israel. Today’s last stop is Caesarea, a center of the early Christians where an angel visited Cornelius, the first Gentile believer (Acts 10), and where Paul was imprisoned for two years before appealing to Caesar.

Day 5

As you stop in Jericho to view the ruins of the city conquered by Joshua (Joshua 6:1, 2, 20), in the distance you can also see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). Continue to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. End your day with a group picture taken from the Mount of Olives, where Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-12).

Day 6

In Bethlehem, visit the cave revered as Jesus’ birthplace and see the Church of the Nativity constructed over the site (Matthew 1:18- 25). Gaze out over Shepherds Field before returning to Jerusalem. Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane and envision the scenes of the night before Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 26:36 - 44). Continue to Mount Zion to visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was questioned the night of His betrayal (Matthew 26:57). Meditate on the events of the Last Supper as you visit the traditional location of the Upper Room (Mark 14:12-26).

Day 7

Walk the Cardo, the ancient main street of the Old City. Explore ancient Jerusalem at the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. View the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle (John 5:1-18). Sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne and experience its rich acoustics. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress, where Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1), and follow in Christ’s steps on the Via Dolorosa (“the Way of the Cross”). At the church of the Holy Sepulchre, take time to reflect on His sacrificial love.

Day 8

Today you have free time to explore on your own or you may choose to visit Masada and the Dead Sea (additional charge). Ascend by cable car to Masada, Herod’s legendary mountaintop fortress which became the last desperate stronghold of the Jewish Zealots against the Romans. You can still look down on the remains of the Roman camps and the siege ramp below. End your day with a dip in the salt and mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea.

Day 9

Travel to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist and where Mary visited Elisabeth (Luke 1:26-40). Explore the poignant exhibits of Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial. Visit the Garden Tomb for a time of reflection and communion.

Day 10

Flight back to the USA

- or -

Extend your journey with a Post-Tour

• Cairo & the Route of the Exodus from $1,398

• Nile Cruise from $2,498

• Wonders of Petra & the Dead Sea from $1,098

Optional Extension

Day 10 – Jerash
This morning you will journey across the Allenby Bridge on your way to Jerash, one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world. Stroll through the oval piazza and wander along colonnaded streets etched by the wheels of ancient chariots. Stand in the grand theatre where an onstage whisper can be heard in the top row. Continue to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

​

Day 11 – Petra 
Begin your journey south towards Petra today. Explore the city of Petra. Its entrance passes through a long, narrow gorge known as the Siq and can only be accessed by carriage, horseback or on foot. Once inside the city, marvel at the intricate detail of a city that was cut into the cliff sides of rose-colored rock. Travel to your hotel at the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight.

​

Day 12 – Madaba & Mt. Nebo
Travel to Madaba, the City of Mosaics, to visit the Church of Saint George with its sixth-century, Byzantine, mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. Continue to Mount Nebo, where Moses caught a glimpse of the Promised Land (Deut. 34). On a clear day, you can see all the way across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 13 – Free Morning at the Dead Sea
Enjoy a free morning at your hotel. Cross the border back into Israel and enjoy dinner in Jerusalem. Afterwards, you will travel to the airport in Tel Aviv to begin your journey home.

Day 14 – Return to USA

Optional Extension

Day 10 – Jerusalem to Mount Sinai
Travel in the footsteps of the Holy family as you travel along the ancient caravan route from Jerusalem to the Sinai desert. Cross the border and check in to your hotel near Mt. Sinai for dinner and rest.

Day 11 – St. Catherine’s Monastery
This morning you can opt to climb Mt. Sinai, where tradition says that Moses received the Ten Commandments. Everyone will experience a visit to fortified St. Catherine's Monastery, built in the 6th century, and one of the oldest working monasteries in the world with the world's oldest continually operating library. Both the Codex Sinaiticus and Syriac Sinaiticus, important early Biblical manuscripts were discovered here. Even Mohammed found refuge here, and the site is sacred to all three monothesitic religions. Remember the story of Moses and the burning bush which tradition places inside the monastery. Continue to Sharm el Sheik for dinner and overnight at your hotel located on the shores of the Red Sea.

Day 12 – Luxor & Karnak.
This morning fly from Sharm el Sheik to Luxor, ancient Thebes which served as the Egyptian capital during the New Kingdom and time of Moses. Visit the magnificent, Temple of Luxor with its avenue of sphinx statues and mighty monumental columns Continue to the Karnak Temple which was built over 2,000 years and is the largest religious building ever constructed, and see the famed Hypostyle Hall, the Obelisks of Queen Hatshepsut and Tutomosis III, the temple of Amon, the Granite Scarabeus and the Sacred Lake.

Board your Nile cruise ship and enjoy dinner.

Day 13 – Valleys of the Kings & Queens & Esna
This morning enjoy sunrise over the Nile River before your visit to the Valley of the Kings. Tombs were constructed here for the kings and powerful nobles of Egypt for nearly 500 years. The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile, across from Thebes (modern Luxor), within the heart of the Theban Necropolis. See the Colossi of Memnon, made of sandstone brought from Gabal El Silselah. Each colossus, including the pedestal and the crown, is about 21m tall and represents King Amenhotep III. See the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of only a handful of female rulers in Ancient Egypt. Her reign was the longest of all the female pharaohs. Sail to Esna, enjoying afternoon tea before visiting the Temple of Khnum. Dinner & Overnight onboard.

Day 14 – Edfu & Kom Ombo
Visit the Edfu Temple on the west bank of the Nile. Dating to the Ptolemaic period, the temple was dedicated to the worship of god Horus represented as a falcon. It is one of the most beautiful Egyptian temples, distinguished by its huge splendid structure blending Pharaonic and Greek architecture. Enjoy lunch onboard as you sail to Kom Ombo to visit the Kom Ombo Temple. Built on a hillside, this temple was constructed in the Ptolemaic Roman era for the worship of the gods Haroeris and Sobek. It is noted for the relief engravings on its walls which show ancient surgical tools, bone saws and dentistry tools. Nearby, view the three mummified crocodiles in Hathor's chapel.

Day 15 – Aswan
Set sail on a smaller boat across the Nile to visit the temples at Philae including the Temple of Isis, one of the greatest Temples in Egypt occupying a quarter of the island. Next, visit the High Dam, one of the most outstanding architectural achievements of the twentieth century. It was constructed to replace the old Aswan dam built in 1902. The 3600 meter long dam was constructed to protect Egypt from the floods as well as provide irrigation and electricity to its citizens. View the Unfinished Obelisk, made of red granites brought from the quarries of Aswan.

After exploring Aswan, fly to Cairo to check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 16 - Cairo
This morning visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities to view the unique collection of Pharaonic art and the renowned treasures of King Tutankhamen. Afterwards, visit the Pyramids of Giza, constructed over 1,000 years before the birth of Moses. See the Great Sphinx and have the opportunity to ride a camel in the desert near the Pyramids. Tour the Old City and see the Citadel of Saladin, built in 1183 A.D., and view the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. In Old Cairo, visit the Abu Serge Church built over the traditional site of the house where the Holy Family lived during their stay in Egypt. Prepare for your return flight home.

Day 17 - Return to USA

Optional Extension

Day 10 – Jerusalem to Mount Sinai
Travel in the footsteps of the Holy family as you travel along the ancient caravan route from Jerusalem to the Sinai desert. Cross the border and check in to your hotel near Mt. Sinai for dinner and rest.

Day 11 – St. Catherine’s Monastery
This morning you can opt to climb Mt. Sinai, where tradition says that Moses received the Ten Commandments. Everyone will experience a visit to fortified St. Catherine's Monastery, built in the 6th century, and one of the oldest working monasteries in the world with the world's oldest continually operating library. Both the Codex Sinaiticus and Syriac Sinaiticus, important early Biblical manuscripts were discovered here. Even Mohammed found refuge here, and the site is sacred to all three monothesitic religions. Remember the story of Moses and the burning bush which tradition places inside the monastery. Continue to Sharm el Sheik for dinner and overnight at your hotel located on the shores of the Red Sea.

Day 12 – Route of the Exodus
Trace the route of the Exodus along the eastern Sinai coast to Wadi Feiran where the Children of Israel withstood the Amalekites. Travel to Elim where the Children of Israel camped by the oasis of 70 palm trees. Your final stop of the day will be Marah by the Red Sea where the “waters were bitter.” Continue to Cairo for dinner and a four night stay.

Day 13 – Memphis, Saqqara, the Great Pyramids & the Sphinx
Tour the rural region of traditional Egyptian farming. Travel as Abraham did to Memphis (Biblical Noph) and on to Saqqara, where you will see the Step Pyramid, the world’s oldest stone structure. See the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.

Day 14 - Cairo
This morning visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities to view the unique collection of Pharaonic art and the renowned treasures of King Tutankhamen. Tour the Old City and see the Citadel of Saladin, built in 1183 A.D., and view the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali. In Old Cairo, visit the Abu Serge Church built over the traditional site of the house where the Holy Family lived during their stay in Egypt. Prepare for your return flight home.

Day 15 - Return to USA