Israel & Jordan Tour w/ Egypt Extension

14 day - April 12, 2013

Israel & Jordan Tour with Optional Egypt Extension - NEW!

Elder John M. Madsen

Special Guest Educator

This once in a lifetime tour of Israel will visit many sites that other tours miss, some even leave off Bethlehem.

Our special tour includes all of the important sites in Israel such as Jerusalem, Garden Tomb, Galilee, Bethlehem, Masada, the Dead Sea and more. It also includes Petra, Mt. Nebo & Christ’s baptismal site in Jordan PLUS the Pyramids, Sphinx and King Tut’s Treasure in Egypt. This special tour includes 8 full days of touring in Israel.

This once in a lifetime tour will visit many sites that others are not able to see when they go to Israel. For example: The City of Lehi excavations, located a short distance down from Jerusalem. This is where caves were discovered with writings on the inside walls. It was determined that the writings were by a prophet in hiding that date approx. 600 BC. The Arabs have considered the hill above the cave to be a sacred place. As they put it – “before Mohamed there was a great prophet named Lehi and he taught from that hill." Even the archeologists in Jerusalem now call the area Beit Lehi. With the Lehi excavations being on an army base, we are the only ones that have received permission to visit the site.

Visiting the Holy Land is a life changing experience. You will never read the scriptures in quite the same way after walking in the footsteps of prophets, apostles, and the Savior. The men and women whose stories have inspired us since childhood come to life in a manner that is remarkable and penetrating. When Jesus walked to Emmaus with two of his disciples they later remarked, “Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” We feel confident you too will feel the power of the Bible’s familiar stories as you experience the sights and sounds of the land that gave to us our shared spiritual heritage. After visiting the lands of the scriptures you will always feel a certain unique homesickness for them and a longing to return.

About Elder John M. Madsen:

Elder Madsen is an Emeritus General Authority, a former associate professor of Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He has participated in 9 tours to the Holy Land before being called as a General Authority. He has led many tours to Israel since being granted Emeritus status. We don’t just send a name, with no experience, we send the best in Educators and those with the most experience!

Whisper Perfect - Headset Receivers

Everyone on this tour will have their own individual “whisper perfect” headset receiver. You will be able to hear every word clearly spoken by our guides and educators, even when you step away from the group to take that important picture.

Pricing Information

Member Package Price: $2,995*

Call for Discounted Air
*Cash discount price per person, double occupancy.

Does not include airfare, visas, Nile River Cruise Pre-Tour, taxes, tips and fees.

Optional Egypt Extension

Optional Egypt Nile Cruise Extension: Our four day three night Nile cruise pre-tour includes 3 nights on a luxury 5 star Nile cruise ship. All Tours in Aswan, Luxor, Valley of the Kings and all shore excursions! It also includes airfare Cairo to Aswan and airfare Luxor to Cairo. You are already there. Do not miss out on this option!!! Option Price: $699 (includes ship, tours, airfare, taxes and fees)

Day to Day Itinerary

Since 90% do the Egypt extension, it is included in the itinerary below.

Your day by day itinerary is a partial list of your tour. The itinerary below is subject to change as needed at any time to accomplish everything we can in each area we visit. We will have local guides who will make sure we see the very best in the time we have.

Day 1: April 12 Fri: Fly to Amman
Today everyone will fly to JFK New York to make your international flight to Amman Jordan.

Day 2: April 13 Sat: Amman

This evening we will arrive into Amman, and then transfer to your 5 star Hotel.

Day 3: April 14 Sun: Amman - Galilee

This morning we will see Mount Nebo on our way to Christ’s Baptismal site on the Jordan side of the Jordan River. We also plan to swim in the Dead Sea before crossing into Israel. After crossing into Israel we will drive to Galilee where we will overnight for the next three nights.

Day 4: April 15 Mon: Nazareth – Galilee

This morning we will travel to Ein Harod, the spring where Gideon chose his three hundred men before routing the Midianites. Then it is on to the top of Mt Carmel where Elijah had his historic confrontation with the priests of Baal with its dramatic conclusion. We travel on to Nazareth, home of the Savior for thirty years of his life. Our day ends with a sweeping view of the Jezreel Valley from Nazareth dominated by Mt. Tabor where we will discuss the transfiguration of the Savior. Deborah and Barak gathered their forces at Mt Tabor and defeated Sisera’s iron chariots. We will also visit today the Arbel Cliff for a fantastic overview of the Sea of Galilee. Our day would not be complete without a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where we can discuss Jesus walking on the water and stilling the storm.

Day 5: April 16 Tue: Galilee

Our journey today takes us north of the Sea of Galilee. We begin by visiting Capernaum where so many wonderful events and teachings of the Savior took place. We then stop at the Mount of Beatitudes where we will ponder the great truths delivered by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Driving to the far north of Israel we pass the Canaanite city of Hazor on our way to Tel Dan. Here Jeroboam erected a golden calf for the Israelites to worship, marking the beginning of a road that would end with the “lost ten tribes.” The restored walls and gates give us an excellent idea of the fortifications Joshua would have faced as he conquered the land. We will visit Banias, known as Caesarea Philippi in the days of Jesus where he asked his disciples, “Whom do ye say that I am?” At the end of the day we will return to our hotel in Galilee.

Day 6: April 17 Wed: Caesarea – Bethlehem – Jerusalem
This morning we turn west to the Mediterranean Sea. Our focus shifts now to the Apostles Peter and Paul as we discover Caesarea. Here the Roman centurion, Cornelius, became the first gentile convert to Christianity and Paul related his account of his vision on the road to Damascus to King Agrippa. We will visit the picturesque old Roman aqueduct and let you wade in the Mediterranean Sea. We conclude our visit to Caesarea at the Roman theatre, and hippodrome where chariot races were held. We will then continue on to Bethlehem where we will remember the wondrous account of the Savior’s birth as recorded in Mathew and Luke and retold each Christmas. We will walk through the Church of the Nativity and sing Christmas Carols. We will have time to shop in the best Olive Wood store in Israel, Nissan Brother in Bethlehem. Tonight we overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 7: April 18 Thu: Jerusalem

Our attention today is drawn to the Old City of Jerusalem. We will explore the ruins located south oftheTemple Mount where you can walkthesidewalks and stairs of Jesus’ time. We will climbthe Temple Mount where both Solomon’s and Herod’s temples oncestood and where the magnificent Dome of the Rock and Al Aksa Mosques now stand. We will stop at the Western Wall, the most sacred site for the Jewish faith. You can write a prayer on a piece of paper and place it into the cracks of the wall as millions have done before you. We will then travel to the new city of Jerusalem and visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are located, and the Model City, a reproduction of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. We will also have time to visit the Jerusalem Museum, recently opened after a 2 year renovation. The day will end at your hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 8: April 19 Fri: Beit Lehi
We will walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, built over 2500 years ago to secure the water supply of Jerusalem during the Assyrian siege. You will need a flashlight for the tunnel. At its end we find the Pool of Siloam where the man born blind washed as instructed by Jesus and came away seeing. We will then head to Beit Lehi to experience an archeological dig firsthand. Our visit to Beit Lehi includes beautiful early Christian mosaics, oil presses, a mikvah (a ritual bath) and the recently discovered columbary where doves were raised by the thousands for sacrifice at the Temple. There is also a New Testament period stable which will give you one of the best settings for the birth of the Savior. We will also stop at the Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath on our way back to Jerusalem.

Day 9: April 20 Sat: Jerusalem
Today we reach the spiritual pinnacle of our pilgrimage as we retrace the footsteps of our Savior during the last hours of his life and feel the deep appreciation these places create for the sacrifice of the Son of God. We begin on Mt. Zion at the traditional site of the Upper Room where the Last Supper was shared with devoted apostles. We visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, the possible site of the cock’s crowing and the Palace of Caiaphas where Jesus was tried. From there we descend into the Kidron Valley to visit Gethsemane, the Garden of the Savior’s deepest prayers. In the afternoon we will enter the Old City and continue the last hours of the Savior’s life. We will visit The Church of St Anne where the Pools of Bethesda were located. Here Jesus commanded the impotent man to take up his bed and walk. We visit the Convent of the Sisters of Zion, the location of the Antonia Fortress where Pilate tried the Savior. Our highlight day concludes at Golgotha and the Garden Tomb where we will have time to ponder the Resurrection and final triumph of Christ.

Day 10: April 21 Sun: Jerusalem – Masada - Taba

This morning we will drive through the Judean Wilderness to Taba, Egypt. We will make a quick stopforaphotoof the QumranCaves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Rising above the desert floor is Herod the Great’s fortress of Masada which we will visit via cable car. During the Jewish revolt in 70 C.E. Masada’s defenders committed suicide rather than be taken prisoner by the Romans. We will then Continue onto Taba. After crossing the border we will transfer to our 5-star luxury resort Marriott on the Red Sea.

Day 11: April 22 Mon: Taba – Aswan

Today you will have a free day to enjoy the beautiful resort before our late afternoon flight to Aswan. Upon arrival into Aswan you will be transferred to your 5-star luxury cruise ship on the Nile River.

Day 12: April 23 Tue: Aswan – Kom Ombo – Edfu

Today you will visit Aswan’s High Dam. You will take a boat ride to the Philae Islands with its temple dedicated to Isis. We will then set sail on the Nile heading to Luxor. This afternoon you will visit Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples. Youwill sailthroughthe night before reaching Luxor.

Day 13: April 24 Wed: Luxor

Luxor is more impressive than Cairo and the Pyramids! You will marvel at its sheer grandeur and its monumental architectureand excellentstate of preservation. This morningwe willvisitthe Valley ofthe Kings, site of the tombs of thePharaoh’s. In theafternoon we will visit the best ruins in Egypt – Karnack! We will also visit Luxor Temple before returning to your cruise ship.

Day 14: April 25 Thu: Luxor – Cairo

Today we will fly to Cairo. Upon arrival we will visit the Cairo Museum, which housesthegreatest collectionof Egyptianartifacts anywhere in the world, including King Tut’s Treasures. Then we will visit the citadel. At the end of the day you will be transferred to your 5-star luxury Intercontinental City Stars Hotel.

Day 15: April 26 Fri: Cairo

Today we will be touring the Pyramids built over four thousand years ago and the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. We will also visit the Sphinx and visit a Papyrus institute where we will learn about the ancient skill and where you can purchase a beautiful example of hieroglyphics. Later this afternoon we will fly to Amman Jordan and be transferred to your 5-star Hotel.

Day 16: April 27 Sat: Petra

This morning we will travel to Petra, the newly voted “ Wonder of the World.” We will walk down the narrow canyon to the breathtaking view of the Treasury, Petra’s most famous landmark. You will have time to visit this fascinating city carved from the cliffs of the canyon and experience some of the best ruins found anywhere in the world. We will then head back to Amman to overnight.

Day 17: April 28 Sun: Fly Home
This morning we will fly from Amman back to the US and home