Holy Land Pilgrimage

Transcription

1 Holy Land Pilgrimage 14 DAY TOUR FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 11, 2016 TOUR HOSTS: Ven John & Brenda Bailey & Rev Steve Bailey & Pamela McElheran FEATURING: JAFFA CAESAREA MEGIDDO MT CARMEL GALILEE CAESAREA PHILIPI CAPERNAUM SEPPHORIS NAZARETH MT TABOR JERASH AMMAN WADI RUM PETRA MT NEBO BETHANY DEAD SEA JERICHO MASADA JERUSALEM BETHLEHEM

2 Holy Land Pilgrimage Rostad Tours invites you to discover one of the most interesting regions in the world. For Christians, visiting the Holy Land can make events that were long ago and far away seem like recent history. Familiar stories from the Bible become brilliantly clear once we have seen where they took place. This tour gives you the opportunity to "walk in the footsteps of history" as you journey through the Holy Land. Nazareth Akko Megiddo 3 ISRAEL Caesarea Philippi 3 = overnights Petra 2 Capernaum Sea of Galilee Gadara Mount Caesarea Tabor Bethany Jerash 1 Beyond Tel Aviv the Jordan 1 Amman Jericho Jerusalem 4 1 Madaba Bethlehem Qumran Dead Sea Masada Wadi Rum JORDAN SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Day 1 Depart to Holy Land Today we meet at the airport to begin a wonderful journey. Our experiences in the Holy Land will educate and enrich our lives as we watch the stories in the Bible come to life. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28 D Day 2 Arrive Tel Aviv - Jaffa An overnight flight brings us to Ben Gurion Airport where we meet our guide and driver. They take us for a short tour of Jaffa - one of the oldest towns in the world and mentioned in both the Old and New Testament. Then we travel north through the modern city of Tel Aviv - a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), to our hotel. Before dinner we may want to take a stroll along the beach and dip our toes in the Mediterranean. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 BD Day 3 Caesarea - Megiddo - Mt Carmel - Akko Our morning departure takes us north to Caesarea, the former Roman capital founded by King Herod to honour Caesar Augustus. This is where Peter baptized the first Gentile convert and where Paul was held awaiting his trial in Rome. Excavated ruins of this seaside town include an amphitheatre, a hippodrome and an aqueduct. Then we proceed to Megiddo, where some believe the last battle, or Armageddon, will be fought. We'll see the ruins of Solomon's chariot stables, a Canaanite temple, and a water storage tunnel. Then we travel to Mount Carmel, where Elijah challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal. After a view of the picturesque city of Haifa, we continue to Akko - the Crusader capital - then turn inland and proceed to our hotel in Nazareth. TUESDAY, MARCH 1 BD Day 4 Galilee - Caesarea Philippi - Capernaum This morning we visit the museum that houses the 2000 year old "Jesus Boat". Then we travel north to Upper Galilee and visit Dan, the largest of four sources of the Jordan River and the city that used to define the northern border of Israel. Next we visit Banias, previously known as Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus told Simon, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church." This afternoon we will enjoy an inspirational boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. On board we have time for a short service as we contemplate stories from the Bible that relate to this area. Afterwards we'll visit Capernaum, where Jesus spent several years preaching. Next is Tabgha, where He performed the miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. Then we visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2 BLD Day 5 Sepphoris - Nazareth - Mt Tabor Our day starts with the impressive ruins at Sepphoris, formerly a city of great wealth and beauty, and believed to be the birthplace of Mary. Next is Nazareth, Jesus childhood home, to see the Church of the Annunciation and the beautiful mosaics of the "Madonna and Child", created by artists from around the world. Then we visit Nazareth Village, a recreation of what a Galilean farm and village would have been like 2000 years ago. Our visit here will include a Biblical meal as served in the first century for lunch. Our final stop is Mount Tabor, believed to be the site of Christ s Transfiguration. After an exciting taxi ride to the summit, we can enjoy the commanding view across the Jezreel Valley before return to our hotel. THURSDAY, MARCH 3 BD Day 6 Jerash - Amman Today we leave Galilee and travel east across the Jordan River into Jordan. We stop at the site of ancient Gadara where, at 1240 feet above sea level, we enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding area including Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee. We continue to Jerash, the best preserved Roman city of Jesus' era to be found in the Eastern Mediterranean region - untouched, except by time. It is one of the ten "Cities of the Decapolis" that are often mentioned in the Bible. We walk through the gate of the city into the beautifully preserved Oval Forum, then along the amazing and spectacular "Street of Columns" where the tracks made by chariot wheels in days long gone by can still be seen. We also see beautiful Byzantine mosaics from early Christian churches, well-preserved amphitheatres and ruins of pagan temples. After this incredible visit we travel south to nearby Amman, Jordan's capital city. FRIDAY, MARCH 4 BD Day 7 Wadi Rum - Petra This morning we travel to Wadi Rum, acclaimed by many as one

3 of the most stunning desert-scapes in the world, where we will enjoy a four-wheel drive excursion into the desert. This is where many scenes from the film "Lawrence of Arabia" were shot with local Bedouin families taking part. Then we travel to Petra (WHS), a rare find of antiquity and considered to be one of the wonders of the ancient world. Petra was the capital of the Nabateans, a nomadic people that settled here more than two thousand years ago. They controlled the trade routes of ancient Arabia and the city became wellknown for its refined culture and massive architecture. We'll spend two nights here so we may fully explore this incredible place. SATURDAY, MARCH 5 BD Day 8 Petra Sightseeing Today we visit the remarkable rose-red city of Petra. First we enjoy a short ride on horseback to the entrance. Then a mile-long canyon, with walls up to 200 meters high, leads us into the city. The Treasury, Petra s most famous monument, suddenly appears before us in all its splendour. This is the first of many visually stunning buildings we'll see carved out of the brilliant sandstone. Our tour shows us the highlights of the city, and then free time gives the more adventurous the opportunity to hike and discover all manner of archaeological wonders. SUNDAY, MARCH 6 BLD Day 9 Mount Nebo - Madaba - Bethany - Dead Sea This morning we travel north and stop at Mount Nebo from where Moses surveyed the Promised Land after forty years in the wilderness. From here the views of the Dead Sea (4000 feet below) and the Jordan Valley are spectacular, and on a clear day the church spires of Jerusalem are visible. Then we visit the City of Mosaics - Madaba - to see the 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land, made from over two million stones. We continue along the Desert Highway to visit 'Bethany beyond the Jordan', believed to be the site where John the Baptist lived and where Jesus was baptized. We will have boxed lunches on board the SPECIAL INCLUSIONS bus so that we can get to our special hotel, right on the Dead Sea in Jordan fairly early. After checking in to our rooms, we have free time to enjoy the Dead Sea or the pools at the hotel. MONDAY, MARCH 7 BD Day 10 Jericho - Masada - Qumran An exciting day lies ahead as we leave Jordan and travel to Jericho, considered to be the oldest and lowest city on earth. After a brief visit to the ruins of the ancient city we'll drive through the desolate Judean wilderness and arrive at Masada (WHS). A cable-car will take us to the top of the mountain where we see the remarkable fortress built by Herod the Great. Afterwards we stop to see the ruins at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls - the oldest biblical documents ever found - were discovered hidden in the caves in clay jars. Afterwards our coach climbs the Judean hills and brings us to our hotel in Jerusalem. TUESDAY, MARCH 8 BD Day 11 Mount of Olives - Bethlehem We start the day with a visit to the Mount of Olives, associated with several very important events in the life of Jesus, and where we enjoy an incredible view of Jerusalem. We walk down the hill, stopping at Dominus Flevit Church ("The Lord Wept") then pass through the Garden of Gethsemane to the Church of All Nations. Afterwards we drive to Bethlehem to visit one of Christianity s most sacred sites - the Church of the Nativity - and the nearby Shepherd's Fields. Returning to Jerusalem we stop at Mount Zion to visit the Room of the Last Supper and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 BLD Day 12 Old City of Jerusalem Our tour of the Old City of Jerusalem (WHS) starts at the Western Wall, where Jews come to pray. This is part of the original retaining wall of the Second Temple, built by Herod the Great in 20 BC. Boat ride on Sea of Galilee Biblical Meal Taxi ride up Mount Tabor Wadi Rum four-wheel drive excursion Overnight at Dead Sea Resort Cable-car ride to Masada TOUR HOSTS Ven John & Brenda Bailey 653 Sydney Avenue Coquitlam, BC V3K 3K3 Home: (604) Cell: (778) jb_bailey@telus.net On the Temple Mount we see the beautiful golden domed architectural treasure - the Dome of the Rock. We stop at St. Anne's Church, (listen to the beautiful acoustics), and see the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man. Then we travel the "Way of the Cross" on the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After lunch, a walk through the Jewish Quarter brings us to the Cardo - the reconstructed main street from Roman times. We have free time the rest of the afternoon to add any other sites of personal interest. THURSDAY, MARCH 10 BD Day 13 Ein Karem - New City We start the day with a stroll through Ein Karem, the traditional birthplace of John the Baptist, to see the Church of the Visitation and St. John's Church. Next we stop at Yad Vashem, a museum dedicated to the memory of Holocaust victims. Then we visit the Shrine of the Book Museum - where the Dead Sea Scrolls are preserved - and also the impressive model of ancient Jerusalem, which gives us insight into what the city was like in the first century AD. The rest of the day the driver and guide are available to take us to whatever sites interest the group. Tonight we will celebrate the success of our pilgrimage at our farewell dinner. FRIDAY, MARCH 11 B Day 14 Return Home This morning we are taken to the airport for our return trip home where family and friends are eager to hear about our experiences. TOUR ACTIVITY LEVEL Active Able to walk 4 km on uneven surfaces such as cobblestone streets and be able to climb stairs or steep inclines unassisted. Rev Steve Bailey & Pamela McElheran 1047 Winslow Avenue Coquitlam, BC V3J 2G2 Home: (604) sbailey1047@shaw.ca PRICES Vancouver $5895 Victoria $5895 Calgary $5895 Toronto $5695 Prices from other cities available upon request. Prices are per person based on double occupancy. The supplement for a single room is $1095per person. This tour is not subject to GST/HST. PRICE INCLUDES Return economy class airfare Current airline taxes, fuel surcharges and airport fees ($700) Religious Guesthouse and First class hotels First class motorcoach Meals as shown (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) Professional tour guides Sightseeing tours including entrance fees Luggage handling at hotels Tipping for all included services Any visas required All foreign taxes Rostad Tours travel gift Comprehensive and personalized tour documentation Not Included: Meals not shown, Beverages, Items of a personal nature, Any airline luggage fees, Increases to surcharges, taxes or fees, Insurance. SAVE UP TO $500 PER PERSON Ask us about our Early Booking and Rostad Frequent Traveller discounts DEPOSIT INFORMATION Deposit of $300 is fully refundable until 90 days before departure Make cheques payable to Rostad Tours Ltd. Visa or MasterCard accepted Call

4 Tour Conditions & Information RESERVATIONS A deposit of $300 per person is required to make a reservation on this tour. This deposit is completely refundable up to 90 days prior to departure. A confirmation of your reservation will be forwarded to you after the deposit is received. FINAL PAYMENT The final payment is due no later than 90 days before departure. A reminder will be sent to passengers in advance of this date. If you are joining the tour within 90 days of departure, full payment is required. CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS For payments made by credit card, we reserve the right to have credit card charges processed by the suppliers of travel services such as the airline, cruise line, etc. If this occurs, your payment will be split between Rostad Tours and the other suppliers and will appear as separate payments on your credit card statement. All credit card payments will be processed in Canadian dollars. SHARED & SINGLE ACCOMMODATION Passengers must indicate at the time of booking whether they want to share a room or if they prefer a single room. Your roommate, if known, should also be indicated. If you do not have a roommate we will attempt to find a suitable travelling companion to share a room with you. If you join the tour by September 30, 2015 and we are unable to find a roommate, you will only be charged one-half of the single supplement. If you join the tour after September 30, 2015 and we are not able to find a roommate, you will be charged the full single supplement. Triple rooms, while not recommended, can be arranged. RESERVATION CHANGES If you want to change your reservation, such as change your departure city or plan an extended stay, you must submit your request to Rostad Tours in writing via mail or (flights@rostad.com) at least 90 day prior to departure. Please note that your airfare may increase if you travel on different dates than the group or if you travel to a different city. Any subsequent changes, cancellations of extension arrangements or changes requested within 90 days of departure are subject to a service fee of $100 per person in addition to any fees charged by the various travel suppliers. TOUR PRICE Prices are based on currency levels, airfares, fuel surcharges and taxes valid as of July 3, Although unlikely, we reserve the right to adjust prices if there are significant changes to any of the above elements. CANCELLATIONS Your deposit is fully refundable for any reason up to 90 days prior to departure. Cancellations after this date are subject to the following maximum cancellation charges: 90 to 61 days prior to $ 2000 departure 60 to 31 days $ to 0 days $ 4000 If you cancel, you will receive back all money paid towards the tour less the applicable cancellation fee. The charges apply to the base price of the tour only and do not include cancellation charges for any extra arrangements such as single supplement, accommodation upgrades, additional tours, etc. INSURANCE We recommend that all passengers buy insurance to protect themselves against any possible cancellation charges or out-of-country medical expenses. An all-inclusive policy which has cancellation, hospital/medical and baggage coverage will be offered to Alberta residents prior to making their final payment. For passengers residing outside of Alberta, we will explain how you can obtain our special group rates for travel insurance direct from Old Republic Insurance Group. As your deposit is fully refundable until 90 days prior to departure, you do not need to purchase insurance until that date. PASSPORTS A passport is required for all tour participants. Some countries require that your passport to be valid for at least three months and some at least six months past your intended return date. If you do not already have a passport, or if your current passport will expire within this period, apply for your new passport at least 125 days before departure. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS During walking tours you will likely experience uneven ground, cobblestone streets and various amounts of steps or stairs. For your enjoyment, and in fairness to your fellow passengers, you should be in good physical condition, with the ability to stand for reasonable periods of time and walk several kilometres easily. Should you feel a particular excursion may be too strenuous, you are welcome to forego the sightseeing tour and rest or explore on your own. At the time of printing, no inoculations are required for this tour. TOUR DOCUMENTS An extensive set of tour documents will be sent approximately 30 days prior to departure. Please notify our office in writing if you require any information in advance of this date. BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE Typically airlines allow you to check one suitcase free of charge but this is subject to change. In order to avoid excess baggage fees, the dimensions of your suitcase should not exceed 60 (i.e. 30 length + 20 height + 10 width) and the weight should not exceed 23 kgs. Your suitcase will be portered at all hotels but tour members are responsible for their flight bags/carry-on luggage at all times. Rostad Tours accepts no responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, any baggage or any tour member s personal belongings. ITINERARY VARIATIONS Rostad Tours reserves the right to change the itinerary of the tour due to airline schedule changes or any other circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to keep the tour as close as possible to the original itinerary. TOUR MEMBERSHIP Rostad Tours reserves the right to reject any person as a tour member and to expel from the tour any person whose actions are deemed to be detrimental to the enjoyment of the tour by the other passengers. Children 6 years of age and under at the time the tour departs are considered too young to travel on tour. RESPONSIBILITY Rostad Tours Ltd. of Calgary, Alberta act as agents for the various owners or contractors providing hotels, means of transportation or other services. Issuance and acceptance of the tour documents shall be deemed to be consent to the condition that Rostad Tours Ltd. shall not become liable or responsible in any way for any personal or property loss, damage or injury, howsoever caused or arising. In the event that we are forced to cancel a tour due to insufficient registrations, Rostad Tours Ltd. s sole responsibility shall be the refund of all monies paid to Rostad Tours by the tour participant Palliser Drive SW, Calgary, AB, Canada T2V 4W5 Toll Free: Phone: (403) Fax: (403) tours@rostad.com

5 Top 10 Reasons to Travel on a Coach Tour 10. Leave the driving to us It may be Greyhound s tag line, but it certainly applies to travelling on a motor coach tour. Forget about the hassles of traffic, reading maps, foreign road signs, parking and back seat drivers. You are going to enjoy your trip a lot more if you are free of distractions and responsibilities. 9. Enjoy the view Sitting in a car often means your sight lines are blocked by other vehicles. Enjoy the panoramic view while sitting in comfortable elevated seats of a modern motor coach. 8. A greater variety of itineraries A motor coach tour can be designed to just about any specification. They are not limited to visiting places along the river (as would be the case for river cruises) or along the coast (like ocean cruises). They can also be scheduled to depart at the ideal time for the destination, while river cruise itineraries tend to operate continually for months, with some departures travelling at less than ideal times. 7. Socialize and make friends Enjoy the company of your fellow travellers. You can meet some interesting people on a motor coach tour and it s easy to start up a conversation as they are seeking adventure just like you. Who knows you may just start a lasting friendship. It is also comforting travelling with a group of people, as there is safety in numbers. 6. No stress, hassle-free travel Have you ever seen lost tourists in the centre of a city with a map in one hand, a travel book in another, asking themselves where they are? On a coach tour, you can forget about everything and leave the details to us. Don t worry about your suitcase, we ll make sure it gets to your room. Wondering what attractions to visit, what times they are open and where you should eat tonight, when you travel on a group tour you don t have to. In fact, with prepaid tickets and/or reserved entrance times, in many cases groups will be ushered to the front of the line at the most popular attractions. 5. Local guides to share their knowledge Expertly guided tours bring you closer to the art, architecture, history and people in each city. You not only see the sights, you learn about them, making your tour a stimulating and enriching experience. We will forever remember the colours and sounds of India as well as the friendliness of the people. Hans P, West Montrose ON

6 4. Tour Director Not only do you enjoy the benefits of local guides during city tours, but your professional tour director will also provide information about each country s history and points of interest as you travel between cities. They are also great at directing you towards the nearest bathroom or ATM and telling you where it is safe to walk at night. 3. Help whenever you need it Unexpected things can and do happen while travelling. Lost passport? Road closure? Mixed up hotel reservation? When you are on a group tour, you might not even realize there was a problem. If you are on your own in a foreign country, you have to manage the situation by yourself. Not so appealing! If you are on a coach tour, while it is a good idea to learn at least a few basic words of the local language, you certainly don t need to be fluent enough to carry on a conversation. Wonderful trip, great country and wonderful people. It was beyond our expectations. Harriet D, Port Stanley ON Another great Rostad tour. I am enlightening my friends to your way of travel. Catherine C, Richmond BC 2. Great value Travelling as a group typically means lower airfares, hotel prices, meals and even entrance fees into museums and tourist attractions. You are also splitting the cost of guides and transportation between everyone in the group, saving even more money. 1. Rostad Tours is the clear choice Our tours are more all-inclusive than those offered by other companies, saving you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in optional extras. We also send Tour Hosts along to help through airports, provide assistance during the tour, and look after all the tipping on your behalf. Finally, our years of experience allows us to create comprehensive and personalized tour documents that give you all the information you need to get the most out of your trip Palliser Drive SW Calgary, AB T2V 4W5 CANADA Phone Toll Free Fax tours@rostad.com

7 PASSENGER REGISTRATION FORM Please complete this form and mail it to the Tour Host or directly To Rostad Tours If paying by credit card, you may also register by phone or fax this form to Rostad Tours PASSENGER INFORMATION Holy Land Pilgrimage Departs: February 27, 2016 Bailey1602 (1): Date of Birth: 19 / / Title Last Name First Name Year/Month/Day (2): Date of Birth: 19 / / Mailing Address : City/Town: Prov/State: Postal Code/Zip: Phone: Home ( ) - Work: ( ) - Type of Accommodation Requested: Twin/Double or Single Departure City: Roommate (if known): If unknown, would you like us to find you a roommate? Comments: PRIVACY: Rostad Tours is committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. The main purpose of collecting your personal information is to arrange travel products and services for you. Accordingly, personal information required for this purpose may be shared with airlines, hotels, cruise lines, travel insurance companies, tour operators and other travel-related vendors. It may also be used to provide you with information regarding future travel opportunities. We will not sell or trade your personal information with third parties. Our complete Privacy Policy is available at our website at or, if you wish, we can send you a copy via or by postal mail. PAYMENT INFORMATION Deposit Required (per person): $300x = Total: Deposit is fully refundable until November 29, 2015 Payment Method: Visa Mastercard Cheque (made payable to Rostad Tours) Credit Card # Expires: / Month/Year Cardholder Name: Please note that we reserve the right to have credit card payments processed by third parties such as Cardholder Signature: airlines, cruise lines, etc. Mail with payment to Rostad Tours or either address below: Ven John & Brenda Bailey OR Rev Steve Bailey & Pamela McElheran 653 Sydney Ave 1047 Winslow Avenue Coquitlam, BC V3K 3K3 Coquitlam, BC V3J 2G2