Istanbul-Ephesus, Greece, and Egypt Verified listing

Day 1 Sat                                 

Depart USA

Depart USA – Please make sure to book flights to arrive in Tel Aviv during the day on Sunday May 5^th to make your own way to the hotel in Tel Aviv before touring in the later afternoon and evening.

Day 2 Sun                             

Arrive Ben Gurion Airport / Tel Aviv

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport and make your way to Hotel in Tel Aviv. Depending on time of arrival there will be a short tour of Jaffa with a focus on the Maine Friendship House. Rest of the day time to relax or enjoy the beach.

Day 3 Mon                             

North Coast and Lower Galilee

After breakfast, we travel to Northwest Israel. Our first stop will be Caesarea Maritima, (9-11) one of the most impressive ancient manmade port cities on the Mediterranean. This is where Peter and Paul interacted with leading political figures of their time. After some time for lunch, we make our way to Nazareth area where Jesus lived as a child and youth for a stop at Nazareth Ridge, Mount Precipice. End the day at the lookout point on Mount Arbel. Here we will soak in the unforgettable view of the entire lake and point out the sites associated with the ministry of Jesus. Dinner and overnight in the Galilee

Day 4 Tue                               

Golan Heights

After breakfast, we travel to the Upper Galilee to visit Tel Dan and then Caesarea Philippi at the Banias National Park Nature Reserve. We will travel past Mount Hermon for a view before we have a stop for lunch.

We continue through the Golan Heights to visit the reconstructed Talmudic Biblical village of Katzrin and a visit to the Olea Essence Olive Oil store. Return to Hotel in the Galilee for dinner and overnight.

Day 5  Wed                             

Galilee

Today we shift our attention to the Galilee and Jesus’ ministry. We will spend most of this day talking about Jesus’ Galilean ministry while walking in his footsteps. We begin our day We will then visit Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene where ruins of a first century synagogue were recently discovered. We will visit the Beit Yigal Museum at Kibbutz Ginosar. For lunch we will have time to enjoy a “Saint Peter’s” fish lunch.  We will visit Capernaum, Jesus hometown after leaving Nazareth. We will visit a little-known church nearby—the Greek Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles—where we will discuss more of Jesus’ activities in the immediate region. We end the day at the Yardenit Baptism site. Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Day 6 Thu                             

Jerusalem

Today we depart to the City of Jerusalem. We travel along the Jordan Valley for our first stop at Qumran (10:00), the location of the Dead Sea Scroll community. Our next stop will be at Jericho for time for shopping and lunch at Jimmy’s (11:30). We will continue to the breathtaking view of Jericho and the Jordan Valley from Mitzpe Yericho Dead Sea Balcony, (13:30). We will then ascend up to Jerusalem for a visit and time of worship at the Garden Omb. (15:00). Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Day 7  Fri                  

City of David, Rampart Walk (SW side), Shabbat Meal

We will explore the outskirts of the city. We will first visit Mount Zion and the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu (08:30) where tradition says that Jesus was tried and where Peter denied Jesus. We will then walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel and then recall Jesus’ healing of the blind man at the Pool of Siloam walking along the Pilgrimage road of the City of David. (9:30). After a lunch break, we will walk on the ramparts of the SW Old City Walls overseeing the Hinnom Valley, an important but dreadful place in the history of ancient Israel and the birthplace of Christian “Hell” imagery. Or take part in the Temple Mount Sifting Project. This evening we will enjoy a Shabbat Meal with Jewish Families in their homes. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 8 Sat                   

BYU Jerusalem Center & Service

Today we will begin our Sabbath with worship at the BYU Jerusalem Center. (900-1200). In the afternoon we will join a service in Jerusalem (TBA). Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Day 9 Sun                  

Old City

This morning (breakfast boxes) we start the day with a special 6:30am stroll down the Kidron Valley, with the Temple Mount up the hill on our right side and the Mount of Olives on our left. This has been a very special activity for many who have toured with Sacred Space Tours. We will then visit some of the most holy sites for Christians, the Church of Holy Sepulchre (0730), The Dome of the Rock Lookout (8:30) and Western Wall Lookout (09:00), the holiest site for Jews, The Western Wall (09:30) and one of the third holiest sites for Muslims (Haram Al-Sharif, or the “Dome of the Rock”) on Temple Mount (10:30). After eating lunch in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City (12:00), we will visit the Davidson Center, where we will see excavations of the southern portion of the Temple Mount. Then we return to the hotel or enjoy some time for shopping. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 10 Mon              

Mount of Olives and Shopping

Very few groups spend an entire day on the Mount of Olives. This has been a very powerful day for previous tourists. On one of the holiest places on earth for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, we will discuss the traditions and prophecies of the final judgment and resurrection occurring here. And of course, we will trace Jesus’ last footstep as we recount and discuss his most substantive and meaningful acts and pronouncements during the last week of his life. We will visit Beit Phage, the Mount of Olives lookout, and Dominus Flevit. We continue to the Church of All Nations, the traditional site of Gethsemane for Roman Catholics. After visiting Mary’s Tomb and Grotto, the traditional site for Gethsemane for Eastern Orthodox Christians, we will have time for Lunch at Orson Hyde Park. We end the day with a special Interfaith Dialogue Session or podcast/YouTube episode. Time permitting: more shopping. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 11 Tue                

Bethlehem, Haas Promenade, Israel Museum

After breakfast this morning we will spend time in Bethlehem (8-12), where we will eat at a fabulous Palestinian restaurant (Grotto). Sing in a small grotto, discuss Jesus’ birth story while overlooking the landscape of the “Shepherd’s Field,” and conclude at the oldest church in the Holy Land, the Church of the Nativity (including Saint Jerome’s room and the Chapel of the Holy Innocents – (private area). We will then return to Jerusalem with a stop at Haas Promenade via Highway 60 and Keren HaYesod St. We end the day with a visit to the Israel Museum (1-5) on Government Hill, where the Scroll of the Book, (Dead Sea Scrolls displayed) and Model of First Century Jerusalem is located. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Day 12 Wed           

Shephelah (Judean Foothills)

This day has been a gem for previous tourists with Dr. Hatch. These sites give us a chance to discuss the Old Testament. We will visit Beth Shemesh (key location in the Sampson story), Azekah and the Valley of Elah where David fought Goliath, Tel Lachish (one of the most important and well-fortified cities in Judah at the time of Lehi), and Arad where an Israelite temple was located. We will see the landscape of the Judean foothills (the Shephelah) and the southern desert (Negev). This is a unique day where we will visit sites that tourists rarely visit. We will end the day swimming in the Dead Sea, the lowest area in the world with its unique salt, mineral water. Dinner and overnight by the Dead Sea.

Day 13 Thu 

Masada – Departure / Jordan Extension

This morning we will visit the ancient fortress of Masada and have some time for lunch, (8-12).

Those departing today will be transferred to the airport or to hotel in Tel Aviv (Those requiring hotels that night please contact us for bookings.

Jordan Extension

Day 13 Thu             

Aqaba Jordan

After the tour of Masada we will travel south to the Arava border crossing to enter the Kingdom Of Jordan (time permitting visit a Camel Ranch in Dimona, Israel on the way). After border crossing formalities transfer to Hotel in Aqaba to enjoy the Red Sea Beach. Dinner and overnight in Aqaba / Marina Plaza hotel or similar

Day 14 Fri               

Wadi Rum and Bedouin Lunch

After breakfast transfer to Wadi Rum for a 4×4 – 2 hour excursion in the desert scenery of Lawrence of Arabia.

Then continue through the Jordanian landscape of the Edom Mountains to the Famous site of Petra for dinner and overnight / Elitte Hotel or similar

Day 15 Sat               

Petra

Today we explore the Red Rose Nabatean World Heritage site of Petra. We then travel to Madaba for dinner and overnight / Grand Madaba hotel or similar

Day 16 Sun               

Madaba Map, Mount Nebo, Rabbah Ammon

Today we visit Madaba to see the site of the famous mosaic map of Jerusalem and Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land from the East of the Jordan. Travel to Amman, the capital of Jordan for dinner and overnight / Bristol Hotel or similar

Day 17 Mon             

Jerash and Umm Qais (Ancient Gedara) – Departure

This morning enjoy a panoramic tour of Amman and travel to the renovated ancient Roman site of Jerash. Last site we visit in Jordan will be ancient Gedara before we cross back into Israel at Sheikh Hussein border in the North.

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your flight back home or hotel in Tel Aviv (if hotel needed in Tel Aviv please contact us to book according to your departure flights) – Late night or early morning May 22 if booking your flights back home this day.

** Itinerary subject to change