|
DAY 1: USA/ EUROPE—Depart
USA for your flight to Cairo with overnight on board
DAY 2: CAIRO—Arrive
at Cairo’s International Airport where you will be met and assisted
through customs an passport control formalities. Enjoy your drive
through the streets of Cairo to your hotel for overnight.
 DAY 3: ASWAN / CRUISE SHIP—After
an American-style buffet breakfast, we begin our tour of fabulous Egypt
(Africa.) We will be transferred to the airport for our flight to
Aswan, the Pearl of the Nile. We arrive in Aswan and on our way to the
cruise ship, we will stop by the High Dam—the pride of modern Egypt.
The unfinished obelisk will be our next stop where we will see how the
ancient Egyptians made such a huge stone stand on one edge. We will
have lunch on board the cruise ship and then cross by ferry boat to the
Isis Island where we will see the Phaile temple that was saved from the
rising waters of the Nile. Back to the ship for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4: CRUISE SHIP—Today,
we sail to the temple of Kom Umbo, shared by the two gods Sobek and
Haroeris. Returning to our ship, we relax until after lunch. We then
disembark and ride in a horse drawn cart to visit one of the best kept
and preserved temples in Egypt—the temple of Edfu, dedicated to the god
Horus. This visit will take about two hours while we see intact stones
and colors that will leave memories never to be forgotten. Returning to
our ship, we sail for Luxor. Sunset, tea and fresh breezes await you
tonight before the Galabyia part where we will see some Egyptian
folklore shows with Nubian shows. Dinner and overnight on board.
 DAY 05: CRUISE SHIP.
While
we sail to Luxor we enjoy the scenery along the sugar cane fields.
Arrival in Luxor – appearing as an open museum which takes you back to a
beautiful era of solemnity and productivity. Visit the Temple of Luxor
and Karnack Temple, surrounded by the Sacred Lake. Qebash Avenue is the
road which leads us to the holy of holiest. Dinner and overnight aboard
ship.
DAY 06: CRUISE / CAIRO.
After breakfast we
will cross by ferry to the West Bank (city of the dead) to vist the
Deir el bahari Temple dedicated to Hatshepsut, the first female ruler
in the history of mankind. Continue to the Valley of Kings – the most
famous site all over the world with its colors and carvings intact. On
the way to the airport, we will stop at the two Colossi of Memnon. Then
fly back to Cairo for dinner and overnight at our hotel.
 DAY 07: CAIRO / GIZA.
Morning
visit to the Egyptian Museum to view many specimens of finest
antiquities including precious collections from the tomb of
Tut-Ankh-Amon. Then, drive through the city past Cairo University to
Giza. Visit Cheops Pyramid and the Sphinx. Camels or horses will be
available to ride to the Pyramid Plateau. This afternoon we visit a
carpet weaving school and learn the ancient art of making papyrus before
returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 08: CAIRO / DEAD SEA.
Departure from Cairo early this morning over the Suez Canal and then
south through the Sinai to Taba, on the border of Egypt and Israel. We
proceed northward to the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. You may
take advantage of the lovely spa facilities of the Dead Sea. Dinner and
overnight at our hotel.
 DAY 09: DEAD SEA / MASADA / QUMRAN /
JERICHO / JERUSALEM.
This
morning we continue to Masada where we will ascend by cable car to visit
the remarkable ruins of the Fortress, built by Herod the Great, and
where from 70-73 AD Jewish Zealots made their last stand in the Judean
Revolt against the Roman Legions. See the remains of Herod's Palace;
the apartments, baths, storehouses and water cisterns - all used by the
Jewish Defenders who took refuge here. We travel onward to Qumran, the
site where a shepherd boy found the Dead Sea Scrolls in caves. Drive
through Jericho to Old Jericho. We will continue on the Jericho Road
viewing the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Then we visit
Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1-46) en route to
Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
DAY 10: GALILEE / CAPERNAUM /
JERUSALEM.
This morning we drive north to Tiberias,
and the Sea of Galilee. We board our boat for a morning devotional
service on the Sea of Galilee. After our cruise, we continue to the
ruins of Capernaum (John 6:24) to visit the ancient ruins of the first
century synagogue where Jesus preached (Matt. 4:13-17). View the Mt. of
Beatitudes - site of the "Sermon on the Mount" (Matt. 5-7). Visit Tabgha
- the chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes
(Mark 6:34-44). After lunch we depart to Bethshean and continue to
Dothan, Samaria and then on to Jerusalem to our hotel for dinner and
overnight.
 DAY 11: MT. SCOPUS / THE MT. OF OLIVES
/ GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE / ST. STEPHENS GATE / POOL OF BETHESDA / THE WAY
OF THE CROSS / THE OLD CITY/ GOLGOTHA / THE GARDEN TOMB.
After
a good night of rest and a hearty breakfast, this exciting day will
begin with a drive to Mt. Scopus and the Mt. of Olives (Matthew 24:3)
for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem (Mark 14:32-26) and
the Church of Agony where Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Matthew
26:36-57), we will proceed to St. Stephens Gate (Acts 7:51-60) from
whence we will visit the Five Porch Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-16) and
the Church of Saint Anne. Then we will follow in the footsteps of Jesus
through the Old City to Pilate's Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the
Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch (John 19:13) where Jesus was tried
before Pilate (Mark 15:6). We then will traverse the Via Dolorosa to
Golgotha, the Place of the Skull (John 19:17), where they crucified our
Lord. Then on to a victory celebration at the Resurrection Tomb and
Garden (John 20:1-18). Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
 DAY 12: THE NEW CITY / THE MODEL CITY
/ BETHLEHEM/ THE KIDRON VALLEY / THE HOUSE OF CAIPHAS / MT. ZION / THE
UPPER ROOM / THE WESTERN WALL / THE TEMPLE MOUNT.
We
will begin the day with a trip to New Jerusalem and enjoy a brief visit
to the outdoor walking mall. Proceed to view the Model City of
Jerusalem, which depicts in miniature the Holy City as it appeared in
the first century. Onward to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the
Nativity and the birthplace of Jesus, observing Rachel's tomb, the
Shepherd's Field (Luke 2:1-20) and the Field of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth
1:16-17 and 4:13). The afternoon drive will take us through the Kidron
Valley to the Pool of Siloam. Viewing the House of Caiphas, the High
Priest, and the first century steps of stone that our Lord climbed, we
will continue to the Room of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20) on the
summit of Mt. Zion where the tomb of King David is memorialized. On to
the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall) where the faithful Jews cry their
petitions to God and to the Dome of the Rock which is built on the
ancient site of Solomon's Temple (Genesis 22:9-14) and over the Rock of
Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) and the ceremonial
sacrifice of animals took place. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
DAY 13: TEL AVIV/ FRANKFURT / NORTH
AMERICA. This morning after
breakfast, we will be transferred to the Tel Aviv Airport for our return
flight to North America. The end of an unforgettable tour. |
