a tour of israel & jordan

TORONTO

Departure from Toronto on Air Canada at 4:50pm flying non-stop to Tel Aviv from Terminal 1.

TEL AVIV / JAFFA

Arrive in Tel Aviv at 10:15am where we will be met by our tour guide and bus driver. We start the day by driving to Jaffa which affords us a breathtaking view of the city of Tel Aviv. At this picturesque port city of winding alleys, art galleries and crafts boutiques, King Solomon had the cedars of Lebanon rafted for the building of the First Temple in Jerusalem. You will view the spot of the House of Simon the Tanner. We continue to our hotel for check-in and the balance of the day will be at leisure. Walk along the Mediterranean promenade to see the sunset before dinner. Dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv at the Grand Beach Hotel

CAESAREA / MT. CARMEL / MEGIDDO

After breakfast we drive north along the Plain of Sharon, the Mediterranean and the old coastal road- the Via Maris which linked Egypt and Babylon as we journey towards Galilee. We stop at Caesarea the incredible fortress city built by King Herod the Great. Here, Pontius Pilate had his base; where Cornelius lived and was baptized (Acts 10); where Paul embarked to Tarsus (Acts 9:30) and where Philip preached (Acts 8:40). Visit the Roman Theatre, the Hippodrome, and the Crusader City. We then travel north towards Haifa and ascend Mt. Carmel the site where the prophet Elijah fought the 400 false prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:30). We will stop for an incredible panoramic view of Haifa and the Bahai Gardens. We turn inland and proceed to Megiddo, one of King Solomon’s walled fortified cities (1 Kings 9:15; 10:26), with ruins of 20 levels of civilization. From here the Books of Daniel and Revelation will come alive as we read about the final Battle of Armageddon, while viewing the Plains of Jezreel. Continue to Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Nof Ginossar Guest House on the Sea of Galilee

JESUS MINISTRY IN THE GALILEE

After breakfast, we will depart our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Ginossar where we meet our bus and travel to Capernaum, the centre of Jesus’ Galilean ministry and the site of many of his miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt.8:5; 14-7; 9;1-7;17:18). We will see the remains of Peter’s house and the synagogue site where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 1:21; Luke 4:31). Continue to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered what is perhaps the most famous sermon ever preached – “The Sermon On the Mount” (Matt.5). We will drive north to Tel Dan one of the most important sites for the archaeological and historical recovery of ancient Israel. The city of Dan represented the northern border of the biblical kingdom of Israel. Continue to Banias, one of the sources of the Jordan River and the site of ancient “Caesarea Philipi”, where Peter made the confession of faith in Christ (Matt; 16:16). We finish the day with a visit to Yardenit, the Baptismal Centre on the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight at Kibbutz Nof Ginossar on the Sea of Galilee

JORDAN - MADABA / MT. NEBO / PETRA

Drive to Beit Shean, where we will walk through the incredible excavations of the largest ongoing archaeological dig in the land of Israel with its Roman theatre, colonnaded Roman streets, mosaics and Roman bathhouses. It is also the city where the body of King Saul and his sons were nailed to the walls by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10). We drive to the Israeli/Jordanian border crossing the Jordan River where our Jordanian guide and driver will meet us. We drive south to Madaba an ancient town in Jordan known for its 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. The Madaba Archaeological Park preserves the mosaic-rich Church of the Virgin Mary and artifacts from the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic eras. Continue to Mt Nebo. Mt Nebo is where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land, a land he was himself forbidden to enter. It's believed that he died aged 120 and was later buried in the area, although the exact location of the burial site is the subject of conjecture. We finish the day at Petra. Dinner and overnight at the P. Quattro Relax hotel, Petra.

PETRA / AMMAN

This morning you will visit the breathtaking “Rose-red” city of Petra built by the Nabateans 2,000 years ago. You start by horseback and foot which begins at the “Siq”, a winding canyon road. At the end of the passage you will see Petra’s most beautiful monument, “The Treasury”, carved out of the solid rock from the side of the mountain. Beyond the Treasury you will discover soaring temples; elaborate royal tombs, a theatre, burial chambers and water channels. Drive to the capital of Jordan, Amman. Dinner and overnight at the Harir Palace Hotel, Amman.

QUMRAN / MASADA / DEAD SEA / EIN GEDI

Depart Amman and driver to the Jordanian/Israeli border at the Allenby Bridge. After crossing the Jordan River we meet our Israeli guide and driver and we drive south to Masada. You will take a cable car to the summit of this magnificent fortress built by King Herod the Great and the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots. You will walk around these historic ruins you will see the palaces, bath houses, swimming pool, the oldest synagogue in the world on this mountain in the middle of the desert. After descending this mountain by cable car we travel to the shores of the Dead Sea where you will have time to take a float in the saltiest body of water in world. Continue to Ein Gedi nature reserve to see the springs and waterfalls in this beautiful oasis that David hid from King Saul. We will stop at Qumran for a visit where a young shepherd boy discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 in the cave, which you will see. These scrolls are the oldest scriptures of the Bible ever found. Return to Jerusalem Dinner and overnight at the Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem

OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM

We start the day at the top of the Mt. of Olives, for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Tracing the footsteps of Jesus, we will stroll down the Palm Sunday Route on the Mount of Olives to the Garden of Gethsemane. Continue to Mt Zion to visit the traditional site of the Upper Room (Room of the Last Supper), King David’s Tomb. View the Temple Mount before continuing to the Davidson Center to visit the Southern Wall excavations. Continue to the City of David and explore the excavations from the time of King David and see the Hezekiah Tunnel & Pool of Siloam. Continue to the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest spot. Visit the ancient Western Wall Tunnels. We continue our walk along the Via Dolorosa to visit the Pools of Bethesda passing through the colourful bazaars, alleyways and market places and reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a brief visit. Walk through the alleyways of the Old City and exit from the Jaffa Gate where our bus will be waiting for us. Finish the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb or Gordon’s Calvary for a communion service before returning to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem at the Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem

JERUSALEM AT LEISURE

After breakfast, enjoy a day of leisure. Perhaps re-visit the Old City for shopping in the bazaars. Visit many of the Museums that Jerusalem has to offer that you did not see on the tour. Dinner and overnight at the Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem

JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM

We start the day in the New city of Jerusalem by visiting Yad Veshem, Israel’s memorial to the Holocaust commemorating the six million Jews who perished. Visit and walk through the newly opened Museum, visit the Children’s Memorial, walk along the Avenue of the Righteous Gentiles for those who risked their lives to save Jewish lives. Continue to the Israel Museum and visit the Shrine of the Book housing the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest manuscripts of the Bible ever found. Visit the model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Period as it looked from the time of Jesus. Drive to Bethlehem for a visit to the Church of the Nativity, the oldest church in the world and the birthplace of Jesus. Return to Jerusalem Dinner and overnight at the Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem

TORONTO

We depart Tel Aviv at 10:55am on Air Canada flying non-stop to Toronto. Arrive in Toronto at 5:00pm at Terminal 1.