Israel and the Holy Land including Petra (2024) | Christian Tours – Motorcoach/Bus charters, rentals & vacations. Cruises, International tours, Christian travel (2024)

FLIGHT TO ISRAEL:

This afternoon we meet our Christian Tours’ tour director and are transferred to the Charlotte airport for our overnight trans- Atlantic flight to Israel.

TEL AVIV:

Upon arrival to Tel Aviv, we clear customs and meet our guide. We board our coach and as time allows we will drive to the port of Jaffa/ Tel Aviv. We overnight in the coastal area. (D)

CAESAREA • ROMAN AMPHITHEATRE • MT. CARMEL • MEGIDDO • NAZARETH VILLAGE • TIBERIAS:

After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct, and then journey on to Mt. Carmel,where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal.Next we travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, theArmageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed20 levels of civilization. We drive through the area of Canaand Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. While in Nazarethwe shall also visit Nazareth Village, a replica of how the area would have looked in the time of Jesus with people in the dress of the times. We will have dinner and overnight lodging for the next two nights in the Tiberias area on the Sea of Galilee. (B, D)

DAN • CAESAREA PHILIPPI • CRUISE SEA OF GALILEE • CAPERNAUM • MOUNT ARBEL:

Following breakfast, we begin our day by heading North to Dan, where the children of Israel fell to the depths of alternative sacrifice and then to Caesarea Philippi, the site of Peter’s Confession and pagan worship. We pass the possible site of the multiplication ofloaves and fishes in Bethsaida and the Mount of the Beatitudes.We then visit the ancient Fisherman Boat followed by a relaxingcruise on the Sea of Galilee. A brief scripture reading anddevotional on board brings to life the experiences of Jesus and the fishermen disciples. In Capernaum we view the excavations of the sea-side village and Peter’s home, followedby a visit to Mount Arbel, where Jesus delivered the Great Commission. (B, D)

JORDAN RIVER BAPTISMAL • BEIT-SHEAN/ SCYTHOPOLIS• JORDAN VALLEY • JERICHO:

We begin our day with the opportunity to be baptized at the Jordan River Baptismal site.Upon departing the area of Tiberias we head south for Ein Harod. Next we travel southward to Beit-Shean/Scythopolis, the most magnificent archaeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. After defeating Saul and his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines hung their bodies on the walls of Beit-Shean. During the time of Jesus, Scythopolis was one of the chief cities of the Decapolis - a league of ten cities sharing Greek culture and government. Following the fertile Jordan Valley southward, your guide will point out the agricultural restoration of the “Land of Milk and Honey” and Israel’s intricate irrigation development. We pass ancient Jericho and view from a distancethis city famed as the oldest in the world. To the east of Jerichoalong the Jordan River Valley (Queser El Yehud) is the Israeli side of Bethany Beyond the Jordan. In this area Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Elijah and Elisha crossed theJordan, as well as where the children of Israel, led by Joshua, entered the Promised Land. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalemfor a 4 night stay. (B, D)

MOUNT OF OLIVES • GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE • TEMPLE MOUNT • DOME OF THE ROCK-WAILING WALL •RABBINICAL TUNNELS • UPPER ROOM • ST. PETER IN GALLICANTU • GARDEN TOMB:

We start our day on the Mountof Olives for a sightseeing tour of the city. We descend the traditional Palm Sunday Road to the Kidron Valley. We stop in the Garden of Gethsemane. We then ascend, as Jesus did,to the traditional site of the Temple Mount and view the Domeof the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Next we will visit the Wailing Wall and then the fascinating Rabbinical Tunnels leadingus through the Second Temple era. After lunch, we proceed to the Upper Room on Mt. Zion, where we remember theLast Supper. Our next visit will be to St. Peter in Gallicantu,possibly the site of Caiaphas’ house, where Jesus was triedand kept overnight. We will end our day with a visit to theGarden Tomb, where we will hold a communion service. (B, D)

VIA DOLOROSA • CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER •SHRINE OF THE BOOK • HOLOCAUST MUSEUM • EINKEREM:

This morning we start quite early, walking the ViaDolorosa - the Way of the Cross - to the Church of the HolySepulcher. We next travel to the Shrine of the Book, containingthe Dead Sea Scrolls, and survey an amazing outdoor modelof Jerusalem as the city may have looked in 66 AD. Our coachcontinues to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, for a neededreminder of what the Jews have suffered as a people. Our finalstop on our pilgrimage is at Ein Kerem, the traditional birthplaceof John the Baptist. Late today we return to our hotel. (B, D)

POOL OF BETHESDA • SOUTHERN WALL • BETHLEHEM• CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY:

Its another busy day ofsightseeing and learning. We visit the Pool of Bethesda,Stephen’s Gate and St. Ann’s Church and visit the SouthernWall Excavations. This southern side of The Temple was themain entrance for the common folk, whereas the Priestsand Levites had their own entrance from the higher easternside. Parts of the giant stairs, which led to the Temple Mountfrom the courtyard, have been unearthed along with thepurification pools. From here Jesus entered the Temple Mountand drove out the vendors and money exchangers. After ahilltop view of Bethlehem, we drive to one of the possible sitesof the Shepherds’ Fields. We continue into Bethlehem, walkingthrough the restored old town to the Church of the Nativityand visit the manger. We return to Jerusalem for the evening. (B, D)

DEAD SEA • MASADA • EIN GEDI • QUMRAN CAVES •ALLENBY • JORDAN:

We depart from Jerusalem andhead for the area of the Dead Sea (the lowest point on earth)and begin our day with a cable car ride to the mountain topfortress of Masada. Our guide will treat us to the history ofthe famous zealot stand. Afterwards we proceed to Ein Gedi,“Spring of the Goat,” an oasis on the western shore of theDead Sea. Because of its warm climate and abundant supplyof water, the site developed a reputation for its fragrant plantsand date palm groves. This is where King David hid from Saul,and where God defeated the enemies of the Israelites bypraise and worship led by King Jehoshaphat. Next, we visitQumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.We cross the border this afternoon into Jordan, and travel toAmman for the night. (B, D)

JORDAN • JERASH • PETRA:

This morning we travel toJerash, one of the best preserved and most completeprovincial Roman cities. Jerash, Gerasa of Roman Times, wasone of the cities of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Graeco-Roman cities dating from the 1st century BC situated in Jordan,Syria and Israel. Known as the Pompeii of the East for itsextraordinary state of preservation, the ruins indicate humanoccupations at this location for more than 2,500 years. Fromhere, we continue on to our lodging for the evening in Petra. (B, D)

PETRA • AMMAN:

Today we visit the amazing mountainfortress of Petra, known to be inhabited by the Edomitesthedescendants of Esau. Begin the tour with a walk throughthe “Siq,” an immense crack in the Nabatean sandstone, tothe city of Petra carved out of the rose red rock. The Treasury,El Khazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity.Beyond El Khazneh we are surrounded on both sides byhundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures. DepartingPetra, we travel northward on the King’s Highway where to thewest we view the hills bordering the Dead Sea. This is the areaof the hilltop palace/fortress of Machaerus, where John theBaptist was beheaded. We overnight in Amman this evening. (B, D)

MADABA • NEBO • ISRAEL:

Today we visit Madaba,a city known for its mosaics. The most popular andnoteworthy discovery is the ancient and most complete MosaicMap of Jordan and the Holy Land which dates back to the 6thcentury located in the Orthodox Church of St. George. Noticeimportant points of interest marked out on the map withrelation to historical events and stories recorded in the Bible.Our last visit is to Mount Nebo where you will climb to the top.Here, you will see the placewhere Moses was said to havedied. Enjoy the panoramicviews over the Holy Land andsee mosaics of different animalsand figures with a visit insidethe church of Mount Nebo.Late today we cross the Allenbyborder and travel to Tel Avivfor our overnight. (B, D)

TEL AVIV • HOME:

Thismorning we transfer toTel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport forour return flight home.

Tour arranged by: Christian Tours