Special 11 day tour

 

Israel, Egypt & Jordan

With

Manuel Escorcio

Departure date: 4 June 2013

Special tour price:  R21 990pp

 

Day 1: JOHANNESBURG  

Meet and Greet at Egypt Airlines check-in counter at the International Departures Hall of the Johannesburg O.R.Tambo International Airport. Depart to Cairo and enjoy dinner nad breakfast on board.

Day 2: -Cairo

Meet the tour guide and enjoy a tour of the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx  in Giza. Sunset Felucca sailing on the Nile River. Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

 

Day 3– Cairo – Taba

After breakfast depart through the Sahara desert, via the Suez Canal to Sinai view Mount Sinai. Overnight in Taba.

 

Day 4 – Taba

Meet the Israeli guide in  Eilat – The Red Sea. A great opportunity to visit the Eilat underwater observatory. For the swimmers on tour, it is the ideal place for snorkelling and diving in the Red Sea. Dinner and overnight in Taba.

 

Day 5:  MASADA – DEAD SEA

Today’s itinerary explores the southern part of Israel starting with the fortress of Masada. Ascend the mountain by means of a cable car to view the remains of the once luxurious palace of Herod the Great. This is the place that Eleazer Ben Yair and his 959 Jewish followers committed mass-suicide, rather than to surrender to the Roman legion which they kept at bay for three years. The view of the desert of Judea is out of this world. Continue to the Dead Sea where there is time to float on the salty waters. This sea is formed by the waters of the River Jordan and several smaller tributaries entering it, but has no outflow. The waters contain tons of valuable chemicals and are five times saltier than the ocean. In the Bible it was known as the “Salt Sea”. Unique healing qualities are found in the mud along the shore. Dinner and overnight at the hotel at the Dead Sea (Breakfast and dinner included)

Day 6 Jericho – Jerusalem

Today’s visit is to the oldest known city in the world, Jericho. It was once destroyed by Joshua and is the city where two blind men and Bartimaeus were healed (Matt. 20:29-34).  The cable-way takes us to the Mount of Temptation from where a magnificent view of Jericho and the Jordan River awaits us. Visit Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. A short bus ride takes us to Beit Shean where excavations of the city can be seen. In Bethlehem we can see the birthplace of Jesus and of King David as well as the shepherds’ fields before a visit to the “Birth Church”, regarded as one of the oldest in history. It was built on the cave where it is believed Jesus was born.  Time for shopping at a large Curio shop where the popular olive wood carvings are made. Return to the Old City of Jerusalem for a tour of the Wailing Wall. The Western Wall “underground tunnel” tour is part of the programme. Lunch is included. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

 

Day 7 JERUSALEM

Visit the Mount of Olives from where Christ sent his disciples to get the donkey on which He rode into Jerusalem (Luke 19:28-44). From the summit one has a wonderful view of the old city of Jerusalem and the temple area. Spend some time in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed (Luke 22:39-44) and Judas betrayed Him. The Church of All Nations is in this garden and Olive trees still grow here, as it is part of the mount of Olives. Visit the house of Kajafas, also known as St. Peter in Gallicantu. It is here that Peter denied Christ three times (Matt. 26:57 – 27:2). Gallicantu means “the crowing of the cock”. Visit the Old City of Jerusalem for a walking tour. Walk to the house of Antonio where Jesus’ hearing was held.  Follow the 14 stations of the “Via Dolorosa” to the traditional Golgotha and tomb in the Holy Sepulchre. In the Jewish Quarter we visit Cardo, Bath of Bethesda, David’s Tomb and the Upper Room where the Last Supper was held.  Visit the Garden Tomb. A Christian Embassy guide will assist in a tour of the grounds which has a beautiful view of Golgotha, also known as Gordon’s Calvary. Holy Communion will be served in the grounds of the Garden Tomb as one of the highlights of the tour. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

Day 8 CAESAREA-CARMEL –NASARETH- TIBERIAS

Travel to Ceasarea and visit the ancient Harbour City. It is here where Cornelius send for Paul. (Acts 10:1-48). In Carmel we see how the prophet Elijah was victorious.  We accend  Mount Tabor in taxis. Continue to the Sea of Galilee via, Cana, where Jesus’ first miracle was performed when He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11), In Nazareth a visit to the “Church of Annunciation”, Joseph’s Grotto and Mary’s Well. Jesus lived here for about 30 years. Overnight in Tiberias. (Breakfast and Dinner included)

 

Day 9 GALILEE

Enjoy a morning boat trip on the Sea of Galilee with time for reflection. Visit the so called “Jesus boat” museum. This boat was only recently discovered in some shallow water on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was preached. Visit the Church of Beatitudes and Tabga, where the multiplication of the bread and fish took place. Continue to Mensa Christi where Jesus appeared to his disciples and they had a meal together (John 21:1). At Capernaum we see the ruins of a second-century Synagogue, as well as the excavations of St. Peter’s house. Drive via the traditional baptismal site of Yardenit back to our hotel.  Included today is a typical “St Peters” fish-lunch. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

 

Day 10 Tiberias- Nebo- Cairo

After breakfast, travel to Jordan to visit the Mount of Nebo where Moses stood to see the Promised Land. On route to the airport, have a quick drive through Amman. Fly from Amman in Jordan to Johannesburg through Cairo. Overnight on the plane. Dinner and breakfast served on board.

 

Day 11: JOHANNESBURG

Early morning touchdown at Johannesburg’s O.R.Tambo International Airport