ISRAEL AND PETRA WITH PASTOR DOUG DELONG

Day 1 - Sunday - October 31st, 2021 - (D)

• 21:50 – Depart from Newark on a direct flight to Israel with El Al Airlines LY26.

Day 1 - Monday - November 1st, 2021 - (B/D)

• 14:15 - Arrival to Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel.
• Immediately after passport control, our representative will assist you through luggage, customs and to your private, transfer vehicle.
• Time permitting, we’ll have a short tour of Jaffa before checking into our hotel
• In the evening, we’ll have a “welcome home” dinner at our hotel and have a short kick-off meeting to prepare for the days to come.
• Overnight & dinner:  Leonardo Plaza (Netanya, Mediterranean Sea)

Day 2 - Monday - November th, 0000 - (B/D)

• This morning, we’ll visit the site of Caesarea (Acts 10, 12, 23), Rest, relax and have a stroll along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea
• Next, we’ll drive to Haifa to see the beautiful Bahai Gardens and Elijah’s Cave.
• Ascending Mt. Carmel, we’ll come to the site of Muhraka, where Elijah fought the prophets of Baal.
• We’ll then make our way to the biblical city of Megiddo (Armageddon; 1 Kings 9:15; Rev. 16:16), where more battles have been fought throughout history.
• We complete our tour overlooking the Jezreel Valley at Mt. Precipice, the traditional site for Jesus being chased out of Nazareth (Luke 4) and make our way to visit the Nazareth Village
• Dinner and overnight: Leonardo Tiberias

Day 3 - Wednesday - November 3rd, 2021 - (B/D)

• After breakfast, we make our way north through the Hula Valley stopping first at Tel Hazor, a city taken by Joshua (Joshua 11:10-14). 
• We then head to Tel Dan where we will tour extensively and include a visit at the Canaanite – Bronze era mud brick gate that has been nicknamed the "Gate of Abraham".
• At the foot of Mt Hermon we will visit the springs of Banias and the site of Caesarea Philippi. This is where Peter made his declaration about Jesus (Matt. 16).
• Next we will visit one of the Druze villages perched on the Golan heights where we will have a stop for lunch.
• After enjoying the tastes and spices of this Syrian/Lebanese cuisine we will visit the Mt. Bental overlook. From this former military base, we can look into Syrian territory and learn about the ancient Damascus Road as well as modern military history in this region.
• We conclude our day with an amazing boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where we will have time for worship. Afterwards, we visit the “Jesus boat" from the first century, a vessel found here along the shores of Galilee in 1986.
• Dinner and overnight: Leonardo Tiberias

Day 4 - Thursday - November 4th, 2021 - (B/D)

• We start our day atop the Mount of Beatitudes and read from Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount.
• We continue on to Capernaum, the center of ministry for Jesus in Galilee.
• Next, we visit Tabgha, remembering the story of the feeding of the 5,000 and John 21 with Jesus calling out to Peter to cast the fishing net on the right side.
• Following our stop for a St. Peters Fish style lunch with other options as well (included!), we will conclude touring around the Sea of Galilee.
• First visiting the 1^st Century remains of Magdala including the greatest highlight of all: a 2000-year-old synagogue.
• We continue to travel to Mt. Arbel to enjoy the view of the Sea of Galilee (John 6:23) and connect with the footsteps of having been chased out of Nazareth. 
• We travel to a special overview of the Valley of Bethsaida, which is the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip.
• We will end our day at the Jordan River where you have an option for baptism and renewal.
• We return to the hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight.
• Dinner and overnight: Leonardo Tiberias

Day 5 - Friday - November 5th, 2021 - (B/D)

• After breakfast, we leave the Galilee and make our way along the Jordan Valley. The highway takes us to the Biblical site of Beit Shean, a well-preserved Decapolis Roman city. Here the bodies of King Saul and his sons were displayed upon the city walls after they were defeated by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10-12). 
• We then continue to Kaser-El Yahud Baptismal site where tradition believes Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
• We continue our drive through the Wilderness of Judah for Jericho, where we view from outside the ancient city where the wall came tumbling down (Joshua 2-6; Mark 10:46; Luke 19:1). 
• Then we continue to the site of the Dead Sea Scroll community and view some of the most important caves that this ancient treasure of a library was hidden for two millennia at the site known as Qumran.
• A short drive away is Ein Gedi, where David hid from the wrath of King Saul. We enjoy a walk up to the flowing and lush oasis waterfalls, hopefully seeing Ibex along the way.
• We will enjoy the rest of our afternoon at our hotel at the Dead Sea, where we have an opportunity to go swim/float (included) or treat yourself to a spa treatment or massage (at your own expense). 
• Dinner and overnight: Prima Oasis, Ein Bokek, Dead Sea

Day 6 - Saturday - November 6th, 2021 - (B/D)

• Petra Day. Today we will rise early and cross the border with Jordan to visit the Rose-colored city of Petra. The trip will include a horse ride and lunch inside Petra. NOTE: You also have the option to remain at the hotel in Israel and enjoy the spa amenities and relaxation.
• Dinner and overnight are at the Prima Oasis, Ein Bokek, Dead Sea

Day 7 - Sunday - November 7th, 2021 - (B/D)

• We Begin our day at Masada and ascend high upon the wilderness mountain, by way of the cable car, to the fortress built by King Herod. We survey the ruins of the fortifications, waterworks, the synagogue, temples and palaces. We then walk down the ancient and preserved relic of the Roman Ramp (easy walk on a downwards moderate incline) to meet our awaiting transport that will drive us deep into the Judean Wilderness where we dine for lunch (INCLUDED) and then have the option of riding a camel!
• We will descend by the Roman Rampart.
• We continue to the southern border of ancient Judea and arrive at Tel Arad, one of the earliest examples of fortified city life from the dawn of the Bronze Era and settlement civilizations, as well as an Israelite era fortress and a temple to Jehovah! This is a unique site and window opener into the ancient Judean Kingdom on the brink of destruction and also the book of Numbers with the wanderings of the Israelites for forty years in the Exodus!
• Continuing to Beer Sheva, in the Negev Desert, a city named after an oath and water well that was named by Abraham 4000 years ago. Since then, Beer Sheva has held an important place in the history of both modern and ancient Israel. Tel Sheva is where archaeologists have uncovered two-thirds of a city dating from the early Israelite period (10th century BCE.) This city is located on the edge of the wilderness near the confluence of the Beer Sheva and Hebron Streams. The meticulously planned water system of this city demonstrates impressive engineering expertise. Connecting between ancient and modern Israel with desert water systems and engineering which are today at the core of modern Israel and its founding fathers' vision - that saw the Negev desert as the true testing ground for the modern Israeli chapter of Zionist History.
• The declaration of the state of Israel was made by David Ben Gurion - and we will visit that site in Tel Aviv during our tour – however, Ben Gurion wanted people to "rise to the Negev" to visit him for eternity! As such he chose the site of his burial on the banks of the Tzin Valley adjacent to his beloved Kibbutz and home Sde Boker. From this vantage point we can reflect on the wonderings of the tribes of Israel in days of Exodus and the meaning of making a nation out of tribes in the modern context with biblical prophecy that was at the heart of Israel's founding fathers.
• We’ll end our day at the Cave of the Machpelah in Hebron, and then make our way along the Way of the Patriarchs to Jerusalem
• Dinner and Overnight: Lady Stern, Jerusalem - a lovely new boutique hotel on Jaffa Street and all the New Jerusalem highlights

Day 8 - Monday - November 8th, 2021 - (B/D)

• We’ll begin our day on the Mt. of Olives.
• Walking the Palm Sunday Road we will descent through the commemorative sites and the Jewish cemetery till we reach the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer and reflection.
• We’ll then make our way to the House of Caiaphas, also known as St. Peter In Gallicantu and the Upper Room on Mt. Zion.
• For lunch and the remainder of the day we will travel to Bethlehem and visit the sites of Pilgrimage while meeting the local Palestinian Christian population.
• Return to our hotel again for another lovely overnight and dinner at the Lady Stern, Jerusalem

Day 9 - Tuesday - November 9th, 2021 - (B/D)

• First thing in the morning is to rise up and onto the Temple Mount, visiting the site of where the Temple once stood. Outside of the Temple Mount, and outside the city in the context of John 5, is the relics of the Bethesda pools!
• From here, we’ll pick up the Via Dolorosa and make our way to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
• Our tour has led us through the historical and traditional sites of Second Temple Era Jerusalem, and to conclude we will take our own footsteps to the climax of our Pilgrimage at Calvary and celebrate together at the empty tomb, known as the ‘Garden Tomb’ or Gordon’s Calvary!  
• We then enter the Old city and tour the Jewish Quarter including the Southern Steps, Robinson Arch and Ophel excavations to see the original entranceways Jesus took to enter the temple mount, even money changers tables discovered there!
• Next up is a fabulous tour of the Western Wall Tunnel - where we will witness the prophecy of destruction, as not one stone will be left upon another.
• We will continue to the excavations that have unearthed the City of David and will ultimately arrive at the Pool of Siloam (John 9).
• Return to our hotel for dinner and another night’s rest at the Lady Stern, Jerusalem

Day 10 - Wednesday - November 10th, 2021 - (B/D)

• This morning we’ll head up into the norther hill country and Samaria.
• We’ll first visit Shilo, where the ark of the covenant rested for 369 years.
• Next we’ll make our way up to Mt. Gerizim to see the ancient and modern Samaritan temples, where they sacrifice to this day.
• We’ll look out over modern Shechem, an amazing site between the Hill of Blessings over the Hill of Curses.
• You’ll then have the option with the driver to enter the Palestinian town of Shechem to visit Jacob’s Well, and other sites of interest.
• After a short break, we’ll visit the ancient site of Aphek (Antipatris), where the ark was stolen in battle.
• We’ll then make our way into the lower hill country, or Shephelah Region
• We’ll visit the Elah Valley sets the scene for David and Goliath and also stand on Beth Shemesh where the ark was returned by the Phillistines.
• We’ll return to Jerusalem for a final night at the Lady Stern, Jerusalem

Day 11 - Thursday - November 11th, 2021 - (B/D)

• Morning of leisure and packing
• We will then continue to the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition and the model of the 2^nd Temple Era.
• Upon leaving Jerusalem we will visit the Children's Memorial and the Avenue of the righteous amongst the Nations at Yad Vashem to reflect on the victims of the holocaust and some messages from history for humanity to never forget.
• We’ll have a short visit to the town of Ein Kerem, where tradition holds that John the Baptist was from.
• We’ll end our tour with a farewell dinner on the Road to Emmaus.
• After dinner, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your flight home.

Day 12 - Friday - November 12th, 2021 - (B/D)

• 01:00 – Depart on El Al Airlines LY27 on a direct flight for Newark (EWR)
• 06:00 - Arrive at Newark