Footsteps of Jesus ISRAEL, PALESTINE AND JORDAN 2017 DEPARTURES TOLL FREE 1300 554 654 MORE INFORMATION www.missiontravel.com.au
Footsteps of Jesus The Footsteps of Jesus is a wonderful two-week discovery to the places where Jesus lived and ministered. The trip begins at the Sea of Galilee, to the north of Israel, and then to Jerusalem for re-tracing the steps of Christ s passion. Travel south to the Red Sea and enjoy the amazing desert sights before crossing over to Jordan to enjoy some leisure time in the land of Lawrence of Arabia and the spectacular Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world. Visit the sites with the greatest historical significance that illuminate the biblical account of Jesus life. At each site we will offer an overview of the history and archaeology and then conclude with a time of quite reflection and prayer. The group will be limited, small and intimate so we can get to know each other and to facilitate more flexible movement in one coach. Stay in quality accommodation within walking distance of the ancient walled city of Jerusalem and on the peaceful shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Itiner ary DAY 1 FRIDAY: Sea of Galilee Upon arrival at Queen Alia Airport, Amman, you will be met and assisted by your tour representative and transferred to the Sheikh Hussein border where you will cross from Jordan Israel. We will stop for lunch en route. Change buses at the Israeli border and travel to Tiberias where you will check into Nof Ginosar on the Sea of Galilee for the next 4 nights. MEALS: Lunch & Dinner DAY 2 SATURDAY: Sea of Galilee Capernaum Tabgha After breakfast visit the 1st century Jesus Boat housed at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar that was recently excavated from the muddy shores of the Galilee. From there we take a wooden boat and sail across the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Capernaum. There you will see the synagogue site where Jesus taught and worshipped (Mark 3:1-6) and St. Peter s house which was later converted into a church. We then visit Tabgha - site of the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (Luke 9:10-17). Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached to crowds, referred to as the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7). Driving around the Sea of Galilee we will visit the House of Anchors Museum at Ein Gev kibbutz followed by a traditional St Peter s fish lunch. End the day with a splendid view of the Sea of Galilee from the Golan Heights beside the Yarmuk River. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner DAY 3 SUNDAY: Sepphoris Cana-Nazareth Mt Tabor Start with a visit to Magdala, the home town of Mary Magdalene and a most recently archaeological site. Continue to Sepphoris (Zippori) midway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee. It was considered to be the home town Mary, Jesus mother, and was at the time the largest city in Galilee. View the mosaics named the Mona Lisa of Galilee. Continue to Cana, the town where Jesus performed his first miracle (John 2:2-11) and visit the Church of the Wedding. We then go to Nazareth the boyhood home of Jesus and see the Church of the Annunciation and Mary s Well. Go back in time with a visit to Nazareth Village, an excavated village dating from around 1 AD. The excavations have carefully renovated the synagogue and houses to give a unique insight into village life and agriculture, as it would have been at the time of Jesus. On our way back to the Galilee, we visit Mt Tabor, where it is believed the Transfiguration of Christ occurred. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. DAY 4 MONDAY: Golan Heights Caesarea Philippi Today we enjoy a wonderful day in the outdoors. Drive up the Golan Heights to the Springs of Banias, also known as Caesarea Philippi where Peter confessed Thou art the Christ (Matt 16:13-20). Continue to Tel Dan National Park to see the Canaanite ruins and the altar built by King Jeroboam (1Kings 12:25-30). Returning towards the Sea of Galilee we will visit the towns of Kursi and Korazim.
DAY 5 TUESDAY: Megiddo Haifa Caesarea Jerusalem Farewell the Galilee as we drive to Megiddo overlooking the Jezreel Valley and considered the Armageddon of the New Testament (Rev 16:6), including a visit to Ahab s tunnel. Then on to Mukhraka for a spectacular view of the northern region. Continue to Haifa and from Mount Carmel (1Kings 18:16-24) have a wonderful view of the Mediterranean and the Jezreel Valley. Stop at Caesarea, once the capital of the Roman province, and see the harbour from which St. Paul was taken to Rome (Acts 25-26). Drive up the Judean hills to the holy city of Jerusalem. DAY 6 WEDNESDAY: Jerusalem Start our day with a spectacular view of Jerusalem from Mt. of Olives. We walk in the footsteps of Jesus down Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane (John 12:13-15). Enter the Old City walls through St Stephens Gate, also known as Lion Gate. Visit the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic (John 5) and St. Anne s Church, traditional birthplace of Mary s mother. Pass through Ecce Homo Arch, visit the Convent (and the museum below it) believed to be the site of the public flogging and trial of Jesus. Follow the Via Dolorosa, passing the Stations of the Cross to the Church of The Holy Sepulchre. Conclude the day with a time of reflection at the Garden Tomb to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. DAY 7 THURSDAY: Jerusalem This morning we will have an early start to visit the Wailing Wall and Western Wall Tunnels. Today we will also visit the City of David and Hezekiah s Tunnel (2Kings 20:20), and explore under the city. Drive to the Tomb of the Kings on Mount Zion: visit the tomb of David, the Upper Room (Luke 22) and the Church of the Dormition. Continue to the New City and, passing the Hebrew University and the Knesset, visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea scrolls) and then to the 2nd Temple Model of Jerusalem. Continue to Yad Vashem also known as the Museum of the Holocaust. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 8 FRIDAY: Jerusalem Enter the old city through the Dung Gate to visit the Western Wall, the Temple Area including the Al-Aksa mosque (security access permitting) and the Dome of the Rock where Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his son. Enjoy some extended time in the Jewish Quarter. See the Cardo, the Burnt House and the Herodian Mansion. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. DAY 9 SATURDAY: Jerusalem At Leisure Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the Old City or relax and rest. DAY 10 SUNDAY: Jericho Bethlehem After breakfast leave Jerusalem to Jericho, the oldest city on the earth. Ascend by cable car to the Mount of Temptation and monastery. We then travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and visit the Church of the Nativity and on to the Shepherd s Field. Enjoy a traditional Palestinian lunch at the Panorama Tent and shop for Olive wood handicrafts. Continue to Herodian, Herod s dramatic Palace fortress, considered to be after the Temple, the second most important building in Jerusalem. MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DAY 11 MONDAY: Gumran Masada Dead Sea Eilat Today we travel through the Judean hills to visit Qumran where the Jewish Essene community lived and see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden. Drive along the shore of the Dead Sea onto Ein Gedi spring where David hid in a cave from Saul (1 Sam 23) and then to Masada, the fortress stronghold of Jewish resistance to the Romans. Have a float in the Dead Sea at the lowest point on earth. Late this afternoon we will drive south through the arid Negev desert to the resort city of Eilat by the Red Sea for our overnight. HOTEL: Leonardo Privilege Hotel - Eilat DAY 12 TUESDAY: Eilat Wadi Rum Petra Depart Eilat for a short drive to the Arava border where we will cross into Jordan and continue to Wadi Rum (Wadi means valley). This valley is spectacular with an expanse of pink sandy desert and a whole network of wadis which you will recognize from the best known scenes in Lawrence of Arabia. There will be a chance to see some of the wildlife that still inhabits this strange terrain and to see the village of Wadi Rum, Jabal Burdah, and Jabal Kharaz. We will pick up 4 wheel drive vehicles and tour more of this beautiful landscape. Continue to Petra for dinner and overnight. HOTEL: Petra Marriott - Petra DAY 13 WEDNESDAY: Petra Enjoy a full day to explore the rose-red city of Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Inhabited since prehistoric times, this caravan-city, situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Petra is half-built, half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges which from 300 BC was inhabited by Nabateans. Take a horse ride through the dramatic siq or canyon. See the Treasury, carved in the pink stone, and continue past the Roman theatre, the Corinthian Tomb and Palace Tomb to the Roman road. If time permits, climb up to the High Place or the Deir or Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Petra. HOTEL: Petra Marriott - Petra DAY 14 THURSDAY: Petra Amman We depart Petra and drive north along the Kings Highway mentioned both in Genesis and Exodus as the routes of Abraham and Moses. We will visit Karak s impressive Crusader Castle with its many dark passages, deep holes and sheer drops. We will pass through the impressive Wadi Mujib and on to Madaba where we will see the remains of the mosaic map of the Middle East and Jerusalem. We will visit Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land and we can see the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Judean Hills beyond. Tonight we will enjoy our farewell dinner in a lovely restaurant with a Bedouin theme. HOTEL: Cham Palace - Amman DAY 15 FRIDAY: Amman End Of Tour Enjoy a brief orientation tour of Amman including the Roman Theatre and Museum. Transfer to the airport for your flight home or your onward journey. MEALS: Breakfast
Tou r Cos ts TOUR COST (Based on a minimum of 8 passengers) SCHEDULED DEPARTURES IN 2017 TWIN SHARE SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT Friday, 03 March 2017 $5,350 $2,150 Friday, 07 April 2017 $5,399 $2,193 Friday, 05 May 2017 $5,350 $2,150 Friday, 02 June 2017 $5,175 $1,965 Friday, 07 July 2017 $5,175 $1,965 Friday, 04 August 2017 $5,399 $2,193 Friday, 01 September 2017 $5,175 $1,965 Friday, 06 October 2017 $5,399 $2,193 Friday, 03 November 2017 $5,375 $2,150 Friday, 01 December 2017 $4,899 $1,718 Inclusions 14 nights accommodation in 4 star hotels Breakfast & dinner daily per the itinerary Air conditioned motor coach Licenced guides and drivers in Israel, Palestine & Jordan Sightseeing/entrance fees for the sites mentioned in the itinerary Visa on arrival for Jordan Not included International airfares to Amman Meals not listed on the itinerary Drinks Tips for guides/drivers/porters/waiters (budget USD10/day) Travel insurance TOLL FREE 1300 554 654 MORE INFORMATION www.missiontravel.com.au