DAY
BY DAY ITINERARY
Day 1: November 01: Today you will travel to JFK to catch your international flight to Amman.
Day 2: November 02: We will arrive into Amman this evening and will transfer to your hotel.
Day 3: November 03: Today we will travel approximately 20 miles and cross the Israeli border. We will head directly to Galilee. Along the way we will stop at Ein Harod, the spring at which Gideon chose his 300 warriors and then routed the Midianites. We will then visit the Crusader fortress of Belvoir that has a commanding view of the Jordan River Valley. Our last stop will be Yardenit on the Jordan River where Christian groups today hold baptisms. We will spend the next three nights in Tiberius.
Day 4: November 04: This morning we will drive to Mt. Tabor where we will discuss the Transfiguration of the Savior. Here Deborah and Barak gathered their forces and defeated Sisera’s Iron Chariots. Crossing the Jezreel Valley we will ascend to Nazareth and visit the “Nazareth Village Experience” where we will ponder the early life of Jesus. We will pass Cana, where the Savior performed his first miracle, turning water into wine, and then descend to the Sea of Galilee visiting the Mount of Beatitudes and Capernaum where so many wonderful events and teachings took place. Tonight we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and retell the story of his walking on water and stilling the storm.
Day 5: November 05: Our journey today takes us to the far north regions of Israel. We will pass the Canaanite city of Hazor on our way to Tel Dan. Here Jeroboam erected a golden calf for the Israelites to worship. 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. This is where the Savior asked his disciples, “Whom do ye say that I am?” We then continue on to the Golan Heights, which have been fought over since Old Testament times. Our final stop of the day is Bethsaida. Bethsaida is the home of Peter and Andrew and the site of the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.
Day 6: November 06: This morning we will turn east to Haifa and on to the top of Mt. Carmel to the Mukrakah. Here we will re-examine the story of Elijah’s confrontation with the priests of Baal with its dramatic conclusion. Next our focus shifts from the Old Testament to the Apostles Peter and Paul as we discover Caesarea, located on the Mediterranean coast. Here the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, became the first gentile to convert to Christianity and Paul related his account of his vision on the road to Damascus to King Agrippa. We will stop in Netanya where the Presidents of the LDS Church are honored in a special memorial before ending our day in Jerusalem. We will spend the next five nights in Jerusalem.
Day 7: November 07: We have two important highlights to share today, Bethlehem and the archeological dig at Beit Lehi. We will remember the wondrous account of the Savior’s birth as told in Luke and retold each Christmas, as we walk through the Church of the Nativity and sing Christmas Carols. We then head to the excavations of Beit Lehi. Here we will have an opportunity to explore an actual site under excavation and ponder the beginning of the Book of Mormon.
Day 8: November
08: Today we will focus on the New City visiting Yad Vashem, the very moving tribute to the victims of the Holocaust, and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are located. Our day will end at the Western Wall. We will overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 9: November 09: Our attention today is drawn to the Old City of Jerusalem. We will explore the foundations of the Temple Mount in the Rabbinical Tunnel and climb the Temple Mount where both Solomon and Herod’s temples once stood and where the magnificent Dome of the Rock and Al Aksa Mosques now stand. This afternoon will be free to shop in the many shops in the Old City and for those that want adventure you can visit the City of David located south of the Temple Mount and walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Please note: Hezekiah’s Tunnel is filled with knee to waist high water. You should plan on wearing clothing and shoes that can get wet and will not fall off of your feet (NO flip flops).We will also visit the BYU Jerusalem center either today or tomorrow.
Day 10: November 10: 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. From there we descend into the Kidron Valley to visit Gethsemane, the Garden of the Savior’s deepest prayers. We visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the possible site of the cock’s crowing and the Palace of Caiaphus where Jesus was tried. We then go on to the Sisters of Sion Convent which was built on the site of the Antonia Fortress (the probable site where Pilate questioned Jesus). We will pass through the Damascus Gate to Golgotha and the Garden Tomb where we will have time to ponder the Resurrection in a most beautiful and quiet space. Tonight we will spend our last night in Jerusalem.
Day 11: Novebmer 11: We leave Jerusalem today with many memories 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 by the Devil. Passing along the shores of the Dead Sea we will stop for a photo of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Rising above the desert floor is the fortress of Masada which we will visit via cable car. We will then turn south for the Israel/Egypt border. Along the way we will take a quick float in the Dead Sea. Late this afternoon we will cross into the Sinai region. We will check into the hotel near the Red Sea, where we will spend the next four nights.
Day 12: November
12: Early this morning we will travel by ferry to Jordan and then on to Petra. Later this morning we travel down the narrow canyon entrance to Petra, emerging at the breathtaking view of the treasury. We will spend the day touring Petra and aftarwards we will return to Taba by ferry.
Day 13: November
13: Free Day to enjoy the resort. You will definitely need your swim suit for this beautiful resort with its fantastic swimming pool and private beach right on the RED SEA. It may be a good idea to take a nap today to prepare you for your climb up to Mt Sinai. Later this evening we climb Mt. Sinai by camel arriving at the summit before the sun rises. Please be sure to dress warmly (wear knit hat, gloves and scarf) and bring a flashlight with fresh batteries.
Day 14: November
14: Witness one of the most beautiful sunrises you will see anywhere in the world. After descending from Mt. Sinai we will return to our 5 star luxury resort hotel on the Red Sea.
Day 15: November 15:This morning we will travel to Cairo. If you are doing the Egypt tour you will spend the afternoon touring Cairo and then conclude at the hotel. If you have not signed up for the extension you will be taken directly to the hotel.
Day 16: November 16: If you are not doing the Egypt extension, we will say good-by to you today. Enjoy your flight back to the U.S. and home.
OPTIONAL EGYPT
EXTENSION ITINERARY
Day 16: November
16: We begin the day with an early morning flight to Luxor. We will spend the day visiting the Valley of the Kings, the Luxor and Karnak Temples as well as many other fascinating sights. We will return to Cairo on a late evening flight.
Day 17: November
17: Today we will spend the entire day seeing the important sights of Cairo. We will visit the Pyramids of Giza, the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel as well as taking a Cairo city tour. We will return to the hotel for our final night.
Day 18: November
18: We will fly home today.
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