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Extended Christian Tour - By Benayah Blum

Day 1:

Arrive at the Ben-Gurion Airport by Tel Aviv, where your Guide will meet you. Transfer to your Hotel. Dinner and Introduction to your tour by your guide.

O/N in or by Tel-Aviv.

 

Day 2:

We shall start the first Sunday of our tour with a tour of the old city of Jaffa, one of the ancient gateways to the Holy Land: Through it's port the Cedar trees for Salomon's Temple were brought, the prophet Jonas tried to flee God, but most important: It was in Jaffa where Christianity began to be spread among the nations. Here St. Peter lived in the house of Simon the Tanner and had the "Vision of the Flesh", and here he made his first miracle by healing the little girl. Today Jaffa's renovated alley-ways attract many artists, who have their galleries there. We drive to Caesarea Maritima, the magnificent port-city built by King Herod the Great. From here St. Peter went to Rome and started with his first miracles. In Caesarea's well-preserved theater an inscription of the procurator Pontius Pilate was found. We continue our drive along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea to the modern port-city Haifa, situated on the slopes of the evergreen Mt. Carmel. The view from this mountain is famous for its beauty, and time permitting, we can also visit the Carmelite monastery Stella Marris, where "Elijah's Cave" can be seen. Drive to the oriental city of Akko (Acre), where the Crusaders built their most important port. We can still visit the very well-preserved "Knights Halls" under the living oriental Bazaar with its colors and odors of the East. In the late afternoon we drive through the hills of Galilee to Tiberias, where we will spend the night. O/N Tiberias.

 

Day 3:

Today we visit the places where Jesus acted around the Sea of Galilee: Capernaum, with Peters House and the famous Synagogue, enjoy the view from Mt. of the Beatitudes, where the "Sermon on the Mount" was given, and the reconstructed church at Tabgha, where tradition puts the miracle of the Bread and The Fish. We will also sail on the sea in a boat similar to the boat used by Jesus and his disciples. In the afternoon we make a short drive along the Golan Heights, and end the day at the Baptismal Site on the Holy River Jordan. O/N in Tiberias.

 

Day 4:

We start the day in Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water to wine at a wedding, and continue to Nazareth, where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Greek-Orthodox St. Raphael church near Mary's Well. We Continue to Mt. Tabor with its scenic Church of the Transfiguration. After descending the mountain, we travel in Jesus' footsteps to enter Jerusalem via the Mount of Olives. On Mount Scopus, at a point viewing the Holy City, we will step out of the bus for a Welcome Ceremony to Jerusalem. O/N Jerusalem.

 

Day 5:

We start with an introduction to the city from the top of The Mount of Olives, and then walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane. We also visit the "Wailing Wall", the last remnants of the Temple in Jerusalem. If the current situation allows it, we will try to visit the Temple Mount as well. We continue in the footsteps of Jesus along the Stations of the Via Dolorosa, Jesus' "Way of Suffering", and unto the Church of the Holy Sepulcure, where Jesus was crucified and buried. The Via Dolorosa also passes through the Old City's oriental "Suq" (Bazaar). At the end of the day we visit King David's Tomb and the "Room of the Last Supper". O/N Jerusalem.

 

Day 6:

This day is dedicated to Jerusalem's New City: We visit the "Chagall Windows", a famous piece of art, describing the 12 tribes of Israel. We also visit "Yad Vashem", the holocaust memorial, and then the famous "Menorah" (Candelabra) situated outside the "Knesset", Israel's parliament. The afternoon is intended to be at leisure. We can also organize some activities such as some free time in the Arab Market, a visit at the "Shrine of the Book", where the "Dead Sea Scrolls" are exhibited, and more…

 

Day 7:

Today we are southwards bound, into the desert! We walk through the Oasis of Ein Gedi, known since the days of King David. Ein Gedi, where four springs with fresh water meet the desert sun, is a place to enjoy the rich and unique flora and fauna that such an oasis can offer. We walk to the waterfall and back to the bus. We climb (by cable-car…) the famous cliff-fortress of Massada, where Herod the Great built a magnificent palace in the middle of the desert. Massada was then used as a fortress by the Jewish "Zealots" who fought, few against many, against the pagan Roman Empire. Their heroic struggle became a symbol for the modern State of Israel. We will not miss, of course, some floating (not swimming!) on the Dead Sea, the deepest point on earth!

After experiencing all this, we continue along the Arava-Highway to Eilat. O/N Eilat.

 

Day 8:

Today will not be a regular sightseeing day. Today we start an expedition to Mt. Karkom, the real Mt. Sinai, where the Ten Commandments were given, according to some recent researches. This mountain is located in a very desolate desert region, only accessible by jeeps. Once our jeeps arrive at the mountain, we take a hike along the different altars and ancient, mysterious rock-inscriptions, which are characteristic to this mountain. We will have a picnic-lunch (included) in the desert.

 

Day 9:

We visit the Underwater Observatory to take a close look at the colorful underwater-world of the Red Sea Coral Reef. Then we have the afternoon at leisure. In the evening we drive to the "Camel Ranch" just outside Eilat, where we have a biblical-style "Bedouin" Farewell-Dinner. O/N in Eilat.

 

Day 10:

Transfer to Eilat Airport and flight back home via Ben-Gurion Airport.

 

 For booking and information, contact 00-972-8-6347022

e-mail: benayah@salamat.co.il