December 2, 2008

Holy Lands Itinerary

dnorth
Friday
May 29		 Leave Dallas/Ft. Worth airport at 4:10 on Lufthansa 439.  Arrive Frankfurt at 9:05 a.m..  Leave Frankfurt at 10:05 on Lufthansa 686. 
Saturday
May 30		 Arrive Tel Aviv 2:20 p.m.  Check into the Sharon Hotel in Herzelia which has direct access to the beach for a walk or swim. 
Sunday
May 31		 Visit Caesarea to see the amphitheater where Paul probably spoke in one of his trials (Acts. 24-26) and where Herod Antipas was stricken with worms (Acts 12).  We will also see other sites in Caesarea.  Lunch stop along the way. Visit Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, the Valley of Jezreel, Nazareth, and Mt. Tabor.  Overnight in Tiberius at the Sheraton otel near the Sea of Galilee.   Church in the evening by the Sea.
Monday
June 1		 Sail on the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to see the remains of the city where Jesus taught and healed.  See other sites along the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee and then visit the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus likely gave the Sermon on the Mount.  After a lunch of fish from the Sea of Galilee (included), see the first century boat.  See the Jordan River and Bet Shean, and then drive to Jerusalem.  Overnight in Jerusalem at the Grand Court Hotel, within walking distance from the Old City. 
Tuesday
June 2		 Visit Bethlehem, then return to Jerusalem to see the Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book which features the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the model of the City of Jerusalem as it was in Jesus’ day.  Late short lunch stop.  Visit Solomon’s Quarry.  Go to Mount Zion to see the old steps and a view of the temple grounds, and then to Ophel Hill to see the Jebusite Shaft, the Burnt House, the ancient walls of Jerusalem, and walk through the 8th century Hezekiah’s tunnel.  Overnight in Jerusalem
Wednesday
June 3		 See the steps and pools at the south end of the Temple Mount.  Visit the Temple Mount including the Dome of the Rock.  See the Western Wall and walk through the Hasmonean Tunnel.  Visit the Pool of Bethesda, and the Fortress Antonia where Jesus was may have been tried by Pilate.   Lunch stop.  In the afternoon, visit the Garden Tomb, the Citadel, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Hezkiah’s wall, the Cardo, and shop in the Old City, and/or take a walk along the upper part of the walls of Jerusalem.  Overnight in Jerusalem.
Thursday
June 4		 Walk down part of the processional way, observe the eastern wall of the Temple Mount and the Kidron Valley, see the Garden of Gethsemene, the Mount of Olives, and Bethany including Lazarus Tomb.  Travel to Jericho and on the way observe the old Jericho road.  Lunch stop in Jericho.  See Jericho then Qumran.  Overnight at the Moriah Plaza on the Dead Sea.  Can swim if you wish.
Friday
June 5		 See Masada and Ein Gedi.  Lunch stop.  Cross the Allenby Bridge (arriving by 1 p.m) and after crossing into Jordan see Mount Nebo and the Madaba map. Then overnight at Petra at the Crown Plaza Hotel.  Internet access in the rooms.
Saturday
June 6		 Early start to visit Petra, riding part of the way in on horseback.  After the visit and lunch (included), drive to Eilat, arriving at the border crossing into Israel at Arava by 3 p.m.  Arrive in Eilat by 5 p.m.  Overnight at the Isrotel Yam Suf (formerly the Ambassador Hotel).
Sunday
June 7		 Morning in Eilat for diving and snorkeling, viewing the Underwater Observation Aquarium or walking along the beach.  These activities are at your own expense.  Leave at 1:30 p.m., crossing into Egypt at Taba.   Box lunch on the bus.  Drive across the Sinai Desert for overnight in Cairo arriving at the Le Meridian Pyramid Hotel about 8 p.m.  Church on the bus.
Monday
June 8		 Pyramids, Sphinx, Cairo Museum including the King Tut finds, and the Papyrus Factory.  See the Sights and Sounds of the Pyramids (included) at 8:30 p.m.  Overnight in Cairo.
Tuesday
June 9		 Drive through the Nile Delta to see Tanis, Pi Ramses, and Avaris.  Overnight in Cairo.   Box lunch included.
Wednesday
June 10		 Memphis, Saqqara, ride a camel and see the Serapium, burial place of embalmed bulls.  Lunch included. Return to Cairo and spend time in the Khan al-Khalili Bazzar or take an optional tour of the Pharonic Village.
Thursday
June 11		 Early flight to Luxor.  See the Valley of the Kings in the morning (including Tombs of Seti I, the Tombs of Ramses sons, and Tutankamun if possible).  Lunch included.  See the Temple of Thebes in the late afternoon.  Overnight in Luxor at the Steigenbergen Luzor Hotel.  Felucca ride in the evening (included).
Friday
June 12		 See Temple at Karnak in the morning. Lunch included.  Fly back to Cairo in the afternoon.  Stay overnight at the Fairmont Heliopolis in Cairo.
Saturday
June 13		 Very early rising to make our flight at 5:25 a.m. on Lufthansa 585.  Arrives Frankfurt at 8:45 a.m.  Depart on Lufthansa 438 at 10:30 p.m. for arrival in DFW at 2:20 p.m.  Return home on your own.