15 Day Inspirational Tour
led by Dr. Ernie Schmidt
 

Day 1: Depart USA
This afternoon we embark on our journey to the Holy Lands, a life changing experience. Our night flight begins with dinner service and time to fellowship with friends new and old, meditate on the treasures ahead, and catch some shut-eye in route to Cairo.

Day 2: Arrive Cairo
We arrive in Cairo, check into our hotel for the next two nights and enjoy dinner and an introductory fellowship before a good night's sleep.

Day 3: Cairo- Pyramids, Sphinx, and Museum
An entire day of exploring the ancient treasures of Egypt awaits us today. We spend time at one of the seven wonders of the world - the pyramids. Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. Today, we will also see the Sphinx and tour the Egyptian Museum, location of Tutankhamon's treasures and ancient remains. We will enjoy dinner and fellowship with new friends at our hotel this evening.

Day 4: Sinai and Eilat
After a hot buffet breakfast at our hotel we will board an air conditioned bus and travel eastward under the Suez Canal and through the wilderness of the Sinai. Since today is a long journey across Sinai, there will be ample time to rest and catch up on jet lag on our modern motor coach. Upon our arrival at the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat, time permitting, you may want to visit the famous underground aquarium of Eilat (tranporation and admission not included).

Day 5: Tabernacle and Petra
After an early morning visit to the model of the Tabernacle, we cross the border into Jordan and drive to Petra. Begin the tour with a walk through the "Siq," an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone, to the city of Petra carved out of the rose red rock. The Treasury, El Khazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity. Beyond El Khazneh we are surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra's carved and built structures. We overnight in Petra.

Day 6: Mt Nebo, Mabada, Tiberias
On the King's Highway, we travel to Madaba - best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George we view the earliest surviving map of the Holy Land. We continue on to Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site of the "tomb of Moses," it commands a spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. We cross the Jordan River into Israel and check into our lodging for the next three evenings on the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias.

Day 7: Safed, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi & The Golan
Following breakfast we will visit Safed which is a unique community and shopping opportunity. We continue to Tel Dan (ancient Leshem) and Caesarea Philippi, site of Peter's confession of Jesus as Messiah. Next we drive through the Golan Heights and breifly stop at Kubbutz Haon,and the office of Baptists for Israel. We end our day with a visit to the Jordan Baptism site.

Day 8: Beit- Shean, Capernaum, & Mt. of Beatitudes
We begin our day with a visit to Beit-Shean/Scythopolis - the most magnificent archeological site in Israel, located at the strategic juncture of the Jezreel and Jordan valleys. Like Jericho, it has been almost continuously occupied throughout history. After defeating Saul and his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines hung his body on the walls of Beit-Shean. (1 Sam 31:10-12) During the intertestamental period, the city was renamed the "Scythopolis". Archaeologists have uncovered a huge number of ruins of the Roman/Byzantine Scythopolis. During the time of Jesus, Scythopolis was one of the chief cities of the Decapolis--a league of ten cities sharing Greek culture and government. We continue with a visit to the Nof Ginosar Kibbutz which houses the fascinating Jesus Boat exhibit. This ancient boat from the time of Christ was uncovered as the Sea receded during a recent drought. We travel on to visit the site of the multiplication and the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea, concluding our day in Capernum and visiting the ruins of an ancient synagogue and Peter's home.

Day 9: Sea of Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea
A relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee with easy viewing of the nearby Golan Heights brings to life the experiences of the fishermen disciples. We drive through Cana and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. Then we'll journey through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization and on to Mt. Carmel, where God defeated the prophets of Baal. This afternoon we travel to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We will see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct before we turn toward Jerusalem and our lodging for the next six nights.

Day 10: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Upper Room,
Hezekiah's Tunnel
Begin the day with a panoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives and then the Garden of Gethsemane. Walking between the ancient olive trees, reading the Scriptures of Jesus' prayer and taking time for personal reflection will be impacting. Next we visit the house of Caiaphas and the "Upper Room" where the disciple whom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and where later Thomas cried; "my Lord & my God." Our next stop is the steep slope and the Gihon Spring referenced in the OT City of David. We finish the day with exploration of the amazing underground excavations of Warren's Shaft and Hezekiah's Tunnel.

Day 11: Masada, Qumran Caves, Ein Gedi
Our day begins with a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress of Masada. Here our guide will treat us to the history of the famous zealot stand. We will hike to Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. This is where King David hid from Saul. (1 Sam 23:29-24:22) We'll visit Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and then take some time to float in the Dead Sea..

Day 12: Bethlehem, Shrine of the Book, and Bible Lands Exhibit
If we are permitted, we begin our day visiting Bethlehem, the Church of the Nativity and the burial place of Jerome. We will view the Knesset and The Holocaust Memorial before we travel to the Shrine of the Book with time to enjoy the museum, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and the absolute miracle of God's preserved Word. We will conclude our day will a visit to the Bible Lands Exhibit in Ein Karem.

Day 13: Rabbinical Tunnel, Temple Mount, Via Dolorosa
This morning we visit the Western Wall and the nearby Rabbinical Tunnel leading us through the Second Temple era and visit the Temple Institute. Continuing in the Old City we view the Temple mount and the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus cured a cripple. Following our visit to Bathesda we will walk the Via Dolorosa ending at the church of the Sepulchre.

Day 14: Old City , Southern Wall Excavation, and Garden Tomb
This morning will be a shopping day with an optional tour of the Old City Wall. After lunch we will tour the southern wall excavation and conclude with a visit to the Garden Tomb before we enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 15: Home
A very early morning departure for the Tel Aviv Airport for our flight homeward will allow for arrival home by late afternoon.

Price Includes:  Superior tourist class and 1st class lodging, roundtrip air fare form NYC (discount airfare available nationwide), expert Biblical guides, admissions, sightseeing, breakfast & dinner daily, visa, border taxes, gratuities.

Not Included:  air taxes, lunches, optional travel insurance.

Deposit Required: $300 per person will reserve your place.  A $100 service fee will be charged for cancellation at any time in addition to our normal payment and cancellation policy.  Pilgrim Policies  Insurance Info