11 Days
Specific Tour
50 people
English
Day 1: Departure from USA
Depart for your overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.
Day 2: Arrival Hotel Transfer
Arrive at Tel Aviv Airport meet your guide at the Airport, and drive to your Hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight in Tiberius. (D)
Day 3: Nazareth/ Cana/Mount Tabor
Start our visit to the Church of Annunciation and Cana of Galilee, remembering Christ’s blessing for families. A visit to Mt. Tabor, the Mt of Transfiguration follows. Dinner and overnight in Tiberius. (B, L, D)
Day 4: Golan Heights/ Sea of Galilee
On a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee where we will mark a time of worship and prayer. We will visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the church of Multiplications of Fish & Loaves, and Capernaum, then drive to Golan Heights to visit Caesarea Philippi. Dinner and overnight in Tiberius. (B, L, D)
Day 5: Haifa/ Caesarea
Depart the Galilee area via the coastal plains, visit Meggido, then we drive to Stella Marris at Mount Carmel to visit the church of Prophet Elijah, after lunch we continue south to visit Caesarea Maritima with its well-maintained Roman ruins, from there we continue our way to Jerusalem. Continue to Bethlehem through Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Dead Sea area
Full Day Tour in the Dead Sea area, River Jordan, Qumran, and float in the Dead Sea, view the Good Samaritan Inn, St. George in the Judean Wilderness. Visit the old city of Jericho Elisha Spring and view Mount Temptation Monastery. Chance to meet with the ELCA YAGM (Young Adults in Global Mission). Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Shepherd’s Field/ Bethlehem
Start the day with worship with the local ELCJHL congregation. Visit the shepherd’s field, the church of Nativity, the old city of Bethlehem, and Mount Herodian. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)
Day 8: Mount of Olives/ Mount Zion
Start our day visiting Augusta Victoria and Lutheran World Federation on top of Mount of Olives, Walk the Palm Sunday Path, the church of Gethsemane, and the Kedron Valley. Visit the last Supper room, Mount Zion, Saint Peter in Gallicantu, and the Shrine of the Book & Model of Jerusalem time of Jesus. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem (B, L, D)
Day 9: Old City of Jerusalem
Visit the Wailing Wall, Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock & Al Aqsa Mosque, then visit the church of St. Anne and Pool of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa, and Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will meet with ELCA and ELCJHL leaders at Redeemer Lutheran Church. We will enjoy some free time in Jerusalem. Dinner at a Tent restaurant and enjoy traditional Palestinian folklore music and dance, overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)
Day 10: Bethlehem, ELCJHL School
Today we will visit the local ELCJHL school. In the afternoon we will visit the Tent of Nations, have lunch, and chance for planting trees. Visit the Walled off hotel, and walk by Bethlehem Refugee Camp. Optional dinner with local Christian families or dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)
Day 11: Departure
After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our flight home or take the optional extension to Egypt.
We will arrive home on the same day. (B)
Day 11: Red Sea & Mt. Sinai
This morning we depart Jerusalem and travel southward to the Red Sea resort city of Eilat for lunch. This afternoon we retrace the route of the Exodus, the land of the Pharaohs, Jacob, Joseph, and Israel during the famine. We cross the Sinai and learn of the terrain and the history of this region en route. Arriving in the late afternoon at the hotel situated below the St Catherine Monastery at Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb), we have dinner and rest for our early morning activity.
Day 12: Sinai, Suez Canal, Cairo
Just into the new day, those who desire and are physically capable will depart for a memorable early morning walk up Mt. Moses. You may choose to ride a camel part-way or stop at one of the stations to take in the scenery along the climb to the summit (750 steps) for a sunrise to remember. Once at the top, enjoy a time of praise and then depart down the mountain for breakfast. A visit to St. Catherine’s Monastery claimed to be built around the area of Moses’ Burning Bush, is a highlight today. We learn of the terrain and the history of this region en route as we stop at the Oasis of Feiran. For those who are able, we climb a small hill to the ruins of an ancient chapel that overlooks the palm tree valley where Israel battled with the people of Amalek. Have your picture taken with arms raised in remembrance of God’s victory as Moses’ arms were held high by Aaron and Hur. Marah (Springs of Moses), the Wilderness of Sin, and further to the north, passes through the southern edge of the “Land of Goshen” before we arrive in Cairo, our place of lodging for the next three nights.
Day 13: Cairo- Pyramids and Museum
An entire day of exploring the ancient treasures of Egypt awaits us today. We spend time at one of the seven wonders of the world- the pyramids. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. Today, we will also see the Sphinx and tour the Egyptian Museum, the location of Tutankhamon’s treasures and ancient remains.
Day 14: Khan El-Khalili (bazaar) and Free time
Today we will explore more of Cairo and embrace the culture and the people including the Coptic community traditionally founded by St Mark. We will the opportunity to visit the famed Khan El-Khalili (bazaar). Afternoon at leisure for personal reflection.
Day 15: Homeward
Early today we depart Cairo Airport for our flight home.
