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Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Jordan and Egypt
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The Holy City and the Old City of Jerusalem, Petra, Mt. Nebo, Mt. Sinai and the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
October 12- 25, 2010 (14 Day Journey)
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ITINERARY:
Day 1, Tuesday, October 12 (USA/Tel Aviv)
Overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Meals aboard.
Day 2, Wednesday, October 13 (Israel)
Welcome to the "Holyland" - footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ. Meeting, assistance and transfer to our hotel in Nethanya - located on the Israeli Coastal Plain. Thanksgiving Mass followed by our welcome dinner.
Day 3, Thursday, October 14 (Caesarea/Haifa/Mt. Carmel/Nazareth)
Early drive along the Via Maris and on the way we stop at the ancient Roman city of Caesarea - the Christian springboard to the West and the Roman bridgehead to the East. We continue along the coastal highway to Haifa - on the western outskirts of Haifa is the Carmelite Monastery that lies close to Stella Maris (star of the sea) lighthouse. It is the home of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the sight of Prophet Elijah's Grotto. Continue to Nazareth. (Breakfast/Dinner)
"And the angel Gabriel was sent unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth. To a virgin... and the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name Jesus." (Luke 1:26-31)
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Day 4, Friday, October 15 (Galilee)
"Footsteps of Our Lord" - We drive to the Sea of Galilee and first stop is Cana.
"There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee... and both Jesus was called and his disciples... and when they wanted wine... there were set there six waterpots of stone. Jesus saith unto them. fill the waterpots with water... the water...was made wine." (John 2:1-9)
We'll sail across the Sea of Galilee, then visit the Church of St. Peter's Primacy. We explore Capernaum and see the new church built on St. Peter's house and visit Chorazim, cursed by our Lord because the people did not follow His teachings.
"And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick... The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way, thy son liveth." (John 4:46-50)
We then drive to the Mount of Beatitudes -
"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek for tehy shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:1-12)
We'll have the opportunity to taste "St. Peter's Fish" for lunch today.
"And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude. And he commanded the multitude to sit... and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and... blessed... and they did all eat and were filled. And they that had eaten were about five thousand." (Matthew 14:14-21)
We proceed to Tabgha. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 5, Saturday, October 16 (Mt. Tabor/Jericho/Jerusalem)
We drive down into the Jezreel Valley and head to Mt. Tabor and the Church of Transfiguration -
"And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John and leadeth them up into a high mountain apart by themselves.... and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow... so as no fuller on earth can white them." (Mark 9:2-4)
After we descend Mt. Tabor, reboard our bus and drive through the Jezreel Valley south to Tel Jezreel - that has a fantastic view of Harod's Valley. Continue through the Jordan Valley to Jericho - the oldest and lowest known city. We'll pass the Good Samaritan Inn on our way to Jerusalem. On top of Mt. Scopus, we'll have the chance to view the magnificence of Jerusalem. (Breakfast/Dinner)
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Day 6, Sunday, October 17 (Jerusalem/the Holy City)
Today's visit starts in the Mount of Olives. The Church of the Pater Noster - here Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's prayer and the Chapel of The Ascension. We walk down the Palm Sunday road, stopping at the Chapel of Dominus Flevit (the teardrop). Then on to the Church of All Nations in the tranquil Garden of Gethsemane. Descend across the Kidron Valley, to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu where the apostle denied Christ three times. We continue on to Mt. Zion to visit the room of the Last Supper, King David's Tomb and the Church of the Dormition. End the day in Bethany, site of the house of Mary and Lazarus. (Breakfast/Dinner)
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Day 7, Monday, October 18 (Jerusalem/Old City)
Early visit of the Old City,. We pray the Stations of the Cross as we carry the Holy Cross along the Via Dolorosa, walking to the place of Crucifixion, at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Continue with our visit including the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount, the Pool of Bethesda, St. Anne's Chruch (birthplace of Mary), the Chapel of Flagellation and Condemnation. The Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) Arch and the Convent of the Sister of Zion. (Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 8, Tuesday, October 19 (Bethlehem/Ein Karem/New City/Qumran/Dead Sea)
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Start the day by visiting Bethlehem - revered to be the birthplace of David and Jesus. Places of visit includes: the Shepherd's Field and Grotto, the Churches of the Nativity, built over the birthplace of Our Lord, and St. Catherine, built over the tomb of St. Jerome. On our way back to Jerusalem we stop at the village of Ein Karem - birthplace of St. John the Baptist, and see the Church of Visitation where Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. We then drive through the Judean Wilderness down to Qumran - in whose caves the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found, then along the western shores of the Dead Sea south to Ein Gedi and end the day with a swim in the Dead Sea. (Breakfast/Dinner)
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Day 9, Wednesday, October 20 (Baptismal Site/Mt. Nebo/Madaba/Petra)
Early morning drive through the border controls of Jordan. Our first stop on the Jordan Territory> is at the newly opened Christian pilgrimage site: the Baptismal Archeological Park on the east bank of the Jordan River. This is believed to be "Bethany Beyond Jordan", - the site where our Lord was baptized by John the Baptist. Then drive up to the overview of Mt. Nebo - where Moses saw the Promised Land and where he was laid to rest. Continue to Madaba - where we marvel at the oldest known map found on the ancient mosaic floor of St. George's Church. Continue driving along the famed King's Highway and connect to the desert highway to Petra. (Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 10, Thursday, October 21 (Petra/Taba/Mt. Sinai)
Early visit to Petra - the unique Rose-Red City. Experience riding on horseback or walking into this magnificent city, featured in the final sequence of Indiana Jones, the Last Crusade. Then drive south to the city of Aqaba - on the shores of the Red Sea and take a ferry boat to Taba and travel by bus through the Sinai Peninsula, along the ancient caravan routes to Mt. Sinai. (Breakfast/Dinner)
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Day 11, Friday, October 22 (Mt. Sinai)
Very early climb to Moses' Mountain to watch the sunrise. Visit the Monastery of St. Catherine - the smallest diocese in the world and yet the oldest Christian monastery still in existence and houses the rich collection of icons and precious manuscripts. Last stop at Marah "Bitter Water" by the Red Sea. Continue to Cairo, crossing the Suez Canal. (Breakfast/Dinner)
Day 12, Saturday, October 23 (Cairo)
Welcome to the Land of the Prophets and the Pharaohs. Exploration of the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, the Hanging Church and Mohammed Ali Mosque. Free afternoon for shopping as we bargain for treasures at the Grand Bazaar. Tonight's special: memorable dining experience on a cruise boat for sailing trip on the ,Nile with belly dance and folklore show. (Breakfast/Dinner)
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Day 13, Sunday, October 24 (Cairo/Pyramids)
We travel south to view Joseph's River and Lake created by Joseph during the period of the seven years of famine and see the same kind of grain silo as they had in ancient times. We'll tour the rural region of traditional Egyptian farming and stop at an old corn water mill. We'll travel as Abraham did to Memphis (Biblical Noph) and on to Sakkara to see the Step Pyramid, the world's oldest stone structure. Afternoon visit to the amazing Great Pyramid of Giza and Sphinx. (Breakfast/Farewell Dinner)
Day 14, Monday, October 25 (Cairo/USA)
Early departure for our flight back home with memories to cherish and to treasure having experience the BIBLE come to life and having walked in the very footsteps of the prophets, kings and our Lord Jesus.
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Very Important Information
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Tour Cost: US $3,399.00
Plus: US$499.00
US departure, security fees , fuel surcharge and taxes per person (subject to change)
Your 14 Day Tour includes:
- Air fare: USA/Tel Aviv - Cairo/USA
- Hotel Accommodations
- Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach
- Touring and sightseeing as per itinerary
- Christian English speaking guide
- Meals as per itinerary
- All spiritual activities coordinated
- Baggage handling (1 piece per person)
- RTA Travel and more amenities
Reservations and Payments:
A reservation is confirmed only upon receipt of $500.00 deposit. Final payment is usually due 90 days prior to departure.
Cancellations:
All cancellations must be in writing. Deposits are refundable up to 100 days prior to departure with a cancellation charge of US$50.00. Cancellations made after final payment and/or within 90 days of departure are non-refundable. Trip interruptions and no-shows are non-refundable as well.
Insurance:
Trip cancellation insurance and medical coverage is available. We very strongly recommend it.
Not included:
Cost of passport, visas, health documents, insurance, optional sightseeing, items of personal nature such as food and beverage not on the regular d'hote menu.
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Book Now! Seats are Limited!
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