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* The ITINERARY FOR THE 15 DAY JORDAN / ISRAEL TOUR!
November 3-17. Click HERE for a COLOR BROCHURE (PDF). Click HERE for the REGISTRATION FORM
(This tour's itinerary previously included Egypt. The program is now currently being revised to include only an expanded Jordan and Israel tour. This tour will sell out at 45!
This tour features over 60+ sites in 6 countries. We spend 1 night in Amman, 2 nights in Petra, 1 night in Aqaba on the Red Sea; 1 night on the Dead Sea, and 3 nights in Tiberias, and 5 nights in Jerusalem. A free day will be enjoyed our our last day!
Day 1 – NOV 3 – SAT: DEPART NORTH AMERICA
We arrive from various cities at the Washington , DC "Dulles Airport" meet the tour members as we prepare to board our flights to Amman. After take off, dinner will be served and we can sit back, relax for the night. A brief stop and change of planes in Vienna Austria to stretch our legs and then re-board en route to Amman.
DAY 2 –NOV 4 – SUN : ARRIVE IN JORDAN
We arrive in Amman in the afternoon, where we are met by our agents, driver, and guide. We travel to our first night’s hotel in this ancient city. An orientation meeting takes place after dinner, with an optional walk after the meeting.
DAY 3 – NOV 5 – MON: JERASH - MT. NEBO – MEDEBA - PETRA
After an abundant breakfast we begin our at Jerash, one of the most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy. History here is a blend of the Greco- Roman world of the Mediterranean basin and the ancient traditions of the Arab Orient. Heading south we travel to Madaba to view the famous and splendid mosaic map of the Holyland housed in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George built in 1884 over the remains of a Byzantine church, that dates the map around 560AD. From here we visit the nearby Moses Memorial Church on Mount Nebo. From here we lookout into the "Promised Land" as Moses did when was not allowed to enter. A breathtaking view! Finally, we travel the Desert Highway to Petra,
arriving for a late dinner and our first overnight here. An optional walk takes place after dinner.
DAY 4 – NOV 6 –TUES: ALL DAY – PETRA"
Today we spend the entire day in the city that is over 2,000 year – old carved into rose-colored stone, and hidden from view by the mountains. This magnificent Edomite and Nabatean capital was re-discovered in 1812 A.D and will be an amazing experience to en- counter. The beauty and grandeur will stun you from the imposing al-Khazna (treasury carved out of solid rock) to the High Place of sacrifice above Petra, to the theater, seating 8000 people, to the lofty Dayr (monastery)at the top of the hills. An optional walk up to the High Place and/or the famous "Monastery" tomb will be made available. We return for our hotel for dinner. Tonight (if available), you may choose to return for the optional "luminary night walk" back into the Siq as you walk and enjoy the haunting music of the Bedouins at the Treasury. Overnight #2 in Petra.
DAY 5 – NOV 7 – WED: WADI RUM – RED SEA – AQABA
After breakfast and loading in the bus, we continue driving south to Wadi Rum, made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. Here we do some very unique – jeep rides. We will spend a few hours exploring this beautiful canyon and sand dunes. After a late lunch, we continue an hour south along the Desert Highway to Aqaba. Our hotel is located right on the Red Sea. We get some time to enjoy the warm weather and a swim in the beautiful waters of the sea.
DAY 6 – NOV 8 – THURS: CROSS INTO ISRAEL – TIMNAH – MACHTESH RAMON – ARAD – DEAD SEA
We cross into Israel early in the morning, meeting Shlomo, our Israeli guide. We head north along the Arava valley to Timnah, the ancient copper mines of the Egyptians. Here we will see a full scale model of the Old Testament Tabernacle. We also will climb up and down Solomon’s Pillar. Next, we head through the Machtesh Ramon, Israeli’s “Grand Canyon.” Arad is next, an ancient Canaanite / Israelite city. The impressive archaeological remains, particularly from the day of Hezekiah and Josiah (who brought reform here) reveal the accuracy of Scripture. Finally, we arrive at the Dead Sea for a late afternoon “float” in it’s salty waters. After dinner, we overnight here.
DAY 7 – NOV 9 – FRI: MASADA – ENGEDI – QUMRAN - JERICHO - TIBERIAS
We begin the day at the impressive site of Masada. We cable-car to the top, seeing the ruins built by Herod and Great. We hear the remarkable story of the Jewish zealots who sought refuge here from the Romans. Driving north along the Dead Sea, our next stop is Engedi. We will walk to the water falls here, enjoying the beautiful canyon, and hopefully see both the ibex and the coney. Further north is the site of Qumran. It is here that the Essene community penned the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Our last stop of the day is Jericho, where the "walls came tumblin' down." We head north through the Jordan Valley until we arrive in Tiberias along the Sea of Galilee for the first of three nights here.
DAY 8 – NOV 10 – SAT: BETHSAIDA –HAZOR – KATZRIN - DAN - CAESAREA PHILIPPI – NIMROD - BENTAL
We start the day by visiting the excavations at Bethsaida, "The House of the Fisherman, hometown of Peter, Andrew and Philip. From here, we drive past Hazor, a city taken by Joshua. (Joshua 11:10 – 14), enroute to a marvelous reconstructed Talmudic village called Katzrin. Here, we see how people lived in the first few centuries. We continue driving north through the Golan Heights to Dan and its refreshing springs, one of the sources of the River Jordan. Close by is Caesarea Philippi. Here Peter made his declaration about Jesus (Mt. 16). Our next stop is Nimrod, a Crusader castle with a great view. Those wanting to hike to the top will be given the opportunity. Finally, we ascend to the eastern heights of the Golan and visit Bental. When we approach Kuneitra, we are only 36 miles from Damascus, on the same road Saul of Tarsus used during his encounter with Christ. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9 – NOV 11 – SUN: SEA OF GALILEE BOAT RIDE –TABGHA – CAPERNAUM - MT. OF BEATITUDES –ARBEL - YARDENIT
We begin the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, enjoying a quiet and peaceful worship service together. Upon landing, we also see the "Jesus boat" from the first century AD. the vessel found here along the shores of Galilee in 1986. Next, we visit Tabgha, remembering the story of the feeding of the 5,000. Reading from Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Mount, we travel to the Mt. of Beatitudes. Close by is Capernaum, the home center of ministry for Jesus here in Galilee. Following lunch, we travel to Chorazin where an impressive synagogue stands. We head to the cliffs of Arbel for a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee. We end the day by renewing baptismal vows in the Jordan River at Yardenit. Dinner and overnight back at our hotel in Tiberias.
DAY 10– NOV 12– MON: TIBERIAS – NAZARETH - MEGIDDO- CARMEL- CAESAREA – JERUSALEM
This morning head to Nazareth where we view the city from the "precipice" from which Jesus was almost thrown. We continue into the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo (har meggido in Hebrew), which gave its name to Armageddon. Our day continues as we ascend Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Descending the mountain, we are on the road again, as we drive to- ward Caesarea, nestled between the banana groves and the sand- skirted sea. We enter Caesarea Maritima to explore this Roman bridgehead to the East, which became the Christian springboard to the West. We end the day by driving to Jerusalem. We enjoy dinner at our hotel in Jerusalem and an optional "orientation walk" of the Old City. The first of five overnights in Jerusalem, with an optional "orientation walk" into the Old City.
DAY 11 – NOV 13 – TUES: JERUSALEM – BETHLEHEM - HERODIUM – JERUSALEM
Following an optional morning walk, we start the day with an orientation to Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives. We then follow the traditional Palm Sunday route to the church known as the Dominus Flevit ("the Lord weeps"). After viewing the Golden Gate, we walk down- hill to Gethsemane, where we take time to meditate on the Gospel text. From here we enter the Old City where we first will visit the Pools of Bethesda and St. Anne's Church, perfectly preserved from the Crusader period – with remarkable acoustics. We then follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) to the Holy Sepulcher, stopping along the way to consider all what Christ endured on his way to His crucifixion. In the afternoon, we visit Herodium located on the edge of the Judean Desert, this is where Herod the Great was buried. We end the day by driving into Bethlehem. We visit Shepherds' Field and the Church of the Nativity. The day ends shopping at an olive wood store. Return to our hotel for dinner. Another optional walk is offered.
DAY 12 – NOV 14 – WED: OLD CITY – WESTERN WALL TUNNEL – ISRAEL MUSEUM – YAD VASHEM
We begin the day by entering the Old City through the Dung Gate. We walk 400 yards to the Western Wall Tunnel along the retaining wall of the Temple Mount itself. From here we visit the Burned House in the Jewish Quarter. This was a house that was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Following this service together we drive out to West Jerusalem were we visit the Israel Museum & the spectacular 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem as it was in the 2nd Temple Period. Our day ends with the visit of Yad Vashem the Holocaust Memorial. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 13 – NOV 15 – THURS: JERUSALEM – TEMPLE MOUNT – CITY OF DAVID – HEZEKIAH'S TUNNEL – SILOAM POOL – GARDEN TOMB
We enter the Old City through the Dung Gate once again. We walk up to the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site. Here, we will be able to spend time praying and reflecting at this most unique location. From here, we then ascend to the Temple Mount, the location of the Dome of the Rock and the al-Aqsa Mosque. Next, we visit the southern wall excavations. We will see the massive stones erected by King Herod as well as sit on the very steps used by Jesus and His disciples. We then will enter the Jewish Quarter of the Old city where will meet Moshe. He will talk about his Jewish faith. We'll also enjoy a quiet lunch here in the Jewish Quarter. Next, we visit the City of David and the new excavations of David's palace. Those who want to will then take an optional adventurous walk through the water of Hezekiah's Tunnel (1,720 feet long). We will then sit on the steps of the Siloam Pool and listen to the story of John 9. To end the day, we visit the Garden Tomb for a Communion Service. We return back to our hotel for dinner and another optional walk.
DAY 14 – NOV 16 – FRI: JERUSALEM – FREE DAY
We enjoy a free day in the Old City today! Pastor DeLancey will help orient you to visit other sites within the Old City. A tour of the Up- per room, Caiphas' House, and Oscar Shindler's grave will be offered. We gather for our final dinner together in Jerusalem, with one more optional walk. We get a few hour’s sleep before our early morning flight out of Tel Aviv.
DAY 15 – NOV 17 – SAT: TEL-AVIV - ARRIVE – U.S.A.
We have a brief layover in Vienna before arriving back at Dulles for customs. The close of an unforgettable tour. Praise be to God for a life-changing experience!
If you have any questions for Pastor DeLancey, about this book, his church or Israel ministry, about the tours he leads, or if you would like to be sent a packet of brochures and other information, please contact Dr. DeLancey:
412-999-5697
"Journey of a Lifetime"