Today we depart PNS on an overnight journey to Jordan.
Today we arrive in Jordan at Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport. Upon arrival we will be met by our guide who will bring us to our hotel.
Overnight Amman. Amman International or similar. D.
This morning we visit the Amman Citadel, an archaeological site containing the remains of a Bronze Age wall, a Temple to Hercules and the Umayyad Palace. During the Iron Age, this area was inhabited by the Ammonites. We visit Madaba, the “City of Mosaics,” and Mount Nebo from which Moses saw the Promised Land.
Overnight Petra area. Petra Moon or similar. B, L, D.
This morning we visit Petra. Our tour begins at the “Siq,” a winding canyon road. At the end of the passage, you’ll see Petra’s most beautiful monument – the Treasury – carved out of solid rock from the side of the mountain. Beyond the Treasury, you’ll discover soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a theatre, burial chambers and water channels. We move on to Wadi Rum, an otherworldy desert area containing gorges, natural arches, and towering cliffs, where we will enjoy a 4 x 4 tour.
Overnight Petra area. Petra Moon or similar. B, L, D.
After breakfast we cross the border into Israel and make our way to the Tel Aviv area, where we meet the rest of our group.
Overnight Tel Aviv area. Herods Tel Aviv or similar. B, L, D.
The day has arrived and we depart PNS on an overnight journey to Israel.
Today we arrive at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. We meet our guide and driver, and board our modern deluxe bus. Time permitting, we visit the ancient town of Jaffa where Peter had his vision on the roof top of the house of Simon the Tanner.
Overnight Tel Aviv area. Herods Tel Aviv or similar. D.
(Please note that we will seek to obtain space at a hotel that is closer to Jaffa.)
Today we travel to Caesarea Maritima (entrance included), where we will have a brief visit to the magnificent city with Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader ruins. Here we will elaborate on the story of the baptism of Cornelius, the first gentile convert to Christianity, and on the travels of Paul. We continue to Mount Carmel (entrance included) and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal, discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story. Then we depart to Megiddo (included) before traveling on to Nazareth. In Nazareth we climb the Mount of Precipice, the brow of the hill on which the city was built. Also, while overlooking the Armageddon Valley, we will also discuss the reasons why we believe this will be the setting for the final battle between good and evil mentioned in Revelation 16:16. We visit Nazareth Village, where we experience life during the time of Jesus. We depart to Sea of Galilee passing Cana of Galilee where Jesus preformed his first miracle, changing water into wine.
Overnight Sea of Galilee area. Caesar Club or similar. B, L, D.
This morning we visit the ancient boat museum containing a recently-discovered 2000-year-old fishing boat (entrance included). We sail on the Sea of Galilee on a replica of that boat (included). Afterwards, we will drive to Magdala (entrance included) the hometown of Mary Magdalena. Then we will visit the Mt. of Beatitudes and discuss the sermon on the Mount before moving on to visit Capernaum (entrance included), Jesus’ Galilean ministry base. We drive to Tabgha and see the Primacy of Peter where Jesus appeared to the disciples for the third time after the resurrection. Our last stop of the day will be to the Jordan River where you will get a chance to renew your baptismal vows before we return to our hotel.
Overnight Sea of Galilee area. Caesar Club or similar. B, L, D.
We leave the area of Galilee, following the Jordan Valley Road to Beit Shean (entrance included), the capital of the Decapolis. There we see the ruins of the Roman and Byzantine cities. We also discuss the demise of King Saul and his sons, whose bodies were hanged on the walls of Beit Shean. We continue traveling south to Beit Arabah where John the Baptist was baptizing on the Jordan River. We visit the Tel of Jericho (entrance included) with its ancient ruins, pointing out what possibly could be the foundations of the ramparts that Joshua and the Israelites brought down. En route to Jerusalem we stop and Wadi Qelt.
Overnight Jerusalem. Leonardo or similar. B, L, D.
We begin our day driving to Masada (entrance and cable car included); the fortress built by King Herod the Great and made famous by the Zealots in 73/74 AD with the standoff against the Romans. We visit the fortress and see the ruins that are considered a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. We then continue to Ein Gedi, the oasis in the desert where the meeting between David and King Saul took places and where many of the psalms were written by David. This afternoon we visit Qumran (entrance included), the location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. There we will see the caves and other buildings that the Essenes, the group of Jews who wrote the scrolls, lived. You will also be able to experience floating in the Dead Sea (entrance included).
Overnight Jerusalem. Leonardo or similar. B, L, D.
We begin our day with a panoramic view over the holy city from the Mount of Olives, pointing out important locations within the Old City, connecting them with biblical stories and prophecies about the return of Jesus. We walk down the Palm Sunday Procession Road to the Garden of Gethsemane, where the passion of Jesus began. We visit the Southern Wall excavations (entrance included) where ruins of the retaining walls of the Temple Mount are still visible. We travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We begin with a visit to the Shepherds fields where the angels appeared to the shepherds and announced the birth of Our Lord. These fields are also the setting of some of the events of the Book of Ruth. We travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the actual place where, according to ancient tradition, Our Lord was born.
Overnight in Jerusalem. Leonardo or similar. B, L, D.
We begin our day entering the Old City and with a visit to the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, and Judaism’s holiest site. We ascend the Temple Mount, discussing its connection to both the Old and New Testaments. On to visit St Anne’s church (entrance included) and the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where the healing at the pool took place. This afternoon we travel to the Israel Museum (entrance included), where we visit the Second Temple Period Model of Jerusalem, a 1:50 scaled model of the city from the 1st century AD, followed by a visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on exhibit, in addition to the archeological section where many artifacts are displayed. We will pay special attention to those items that relate to Bible history.
Overnight in Jerusalem. Leonardo or similar. B, L, D.
We begin our day with a visit to the Upper Room, the traditional place of the Last Supper, followed by a visit to nearby location of the home of the High Priest, Caiaphas (entrance included). We walk the Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that Jesus took from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We visit the Garden Tomb (entrance included), where we worship together and celebrate communion. The balance of the day will be spent at leisure in Jerusalem.
Your flight home may depart either tonight or the next day. If an overnight is required, overnight Jerusalem. Leonardo or similar. B, L, D.
Your flight home may depart either the previous night or today. If today and time allow, breakfast is included. Either way, today we arrive back at PNS.