15 Day Israel and Jordan Experience

June 8 – 22, 2023

 

Day 1 – Thursday, June 8: Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport

We have finally arrived in the Promised Land after our overnight flight from home. We are met at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport and escorted to our transportation. We visit the world’s oldest port city, Jaffa, where Jonah tried to flee from God. Orientation Meeting, dinner and overnight in Netanya

 

 Day 2 – Friday, June 9: Along the Cost

We are drive up the coast where we will spend time at King Herod’s amazing port city of Caesarea. What Herod accomplished here on the sand dunes of the Mediterranean Sea is more than astonishing. Our bus will climb Mount Carmel where we will observe the Valley of Armageddon as we read of the battle between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. We now travel to Rosh Hanikra, with beautiful grottoes, situated on the Lebanese border at the extreme northwestern corner of the country. We will take “the world’s shortest cable car” to the fabulous sea-level grottos and the historic tunnels carved into the soft rock. We continue to  Keshet Cave  one of the most awesome views in the entire Western Galilee. This is a rare treat as this location is known only to locals and rappelling enthusiasts and is not a usual stop for visitors. Keshet Cave has been called “one of the 100 places to visit before you die.”  We cross the Galilee to our hotel. Dinner and overnight at Mary’s Well Hotel in Nazareth

 

Day 3 – Saturday, June 10:

This morning we see the archaeological site of Tzipori, which was built by King Herod Antipas and, most certainly, constructed with the labor of Jesus, His father and brothers. We continue for a visit a reconstruction of Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth. Located within sight of the original village of Nazareth, this reconstructed village is exactly as Jesus would have known it in His day. Dinner and overnight at Mary’s Well Hotel in Nazareth

 

Day 4 – Sunday, June 11

Today we climb Mount Bental, a former bunker and overlook into Syria. Then we travel to Caesarea Philippi (where a most important biblical event took place and where we will learn what “the gates of Hell” actually were). This is one of our traveler’s favorite places to visit and it will also be yours! In the late afternoon we can have a rafting trip on the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight at the Karie Deshe Guest House

 

Day 5 – Monday, June 12: Ministry of Jesus

After breakfast we follow Jesus where He traveled, ministered, and taught in the areas around the Sea of Galilee. This will include the village of Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived with Peter’s family; Peter’s Primacy, here He healed and fed multitudes. We will also visit the Mount of Beatitudes. We will spend time on a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Dinner in a local restaurant on the Sea, overnight at Karie Deshe Guest House.

 

Day 6 – Tuesday, June 13: Jordan River Valley

After breakfast we will spend time rafting the Jordan River. On our way south we detour a little to Gideon’s spring where Gideon the Judge chose 300 devout men for his night battle against the Midianites. As we travel south along the Jordan River Valley, we can hear the wonderful stories relating to the city of Jericho, allow time for water baptisms in the very location in the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized by John. We end our day entering a Bedouin encampment and being treated to their famous hospitality which will include the history of the Bedouin people and a camel ride into the desert. After a wonderful Bedouin supper, we all bed down in a Bedouin hut. Dinner and sleeping in a Bedouin tent in the Negev Desert

 

Day 7 – Wednesday, June 14: Dead Sea

We awake before sunrise and hike Masada’s siege ramp to watch the sun rise from behind the Mountains of Edom, across the Dead Sea. Then our guide shares the story of the building of Masada and its eventual fall to the Romans in 72 AD. Next is a swim (float) in the Dead Sea followed by the oasis of Ein Gedi to retell the story of David’s flight from King Saul. Dinner and Overnight at the Masada Guest House

 

Day 8 – Thursday, June 15

We will hear the stories of Abraham’s desire to spread the good news of his discovery of the one true God as we stand at the entrance to Tel Beer Sheva and the well Abraham dug 4,000 years ago. Driving south we experience the Ramon Crater, which is the largest geological formation of its kind in the world. At 25 miles in length, this is one of the largest and most spectacular craters in the world. You might see one of the Ibex or wild leopards living in the area. Dinner and overnight at the Mitzphe Ramon Guest House

 Day 9 – Friday, June 16

We rise early and are driven to the border of Jordan we cross the border. We to that ancient “rose red city half as old as time”: Petra, lay hidden in the mountains. We travel part of the way on horseback and the rest on foot through the deep and narrow passages. The Treasury finally appears magnificently and immediately in front of us after we emerge from what seems like a hundred turns in the ravine. The most adventurous will be invited to hike up to the spiritual “High Place”, site of the sacrificial alter which offers a spectacular view of the ancient city and environs. We are treated to Petra’s lunch before returning to our hotel on the Red Sea. Dinner and overnight in Aqaba

Day 10 – Saturday, June 17

We drive to Wadi Ram to enjoy a jeep tour in the desert, then back to Aqaba to enjoy the Red Sea. Dinner and overnight in Aqaba

 

Day 11 – Sunday, June 18

Then we cross the border back into Israel and continue north to the battlefield where David defeated Goliath. We will have time to pick up our own 5 smooth stones from the very same brook where David took the stones he put into his pouch before facing Goliath. We continue to Jerusalem, (the “City of Gold”), atop the Mount of Olives, with its expansive view of the entire Ancient/Modern city. Jesus spent much of his time in and around Jerusalem. We will visit the biblical sites of His ministry: The Garden of Gethsemane and the Pool of Bethesda. Dinner and overnight at the Rabin Guest House in Jerusalem

 

Day 12 – Monday, June 19: Jerusalem

We will walk the traditional Via Dolorosa and eat lunch in the Arab Quarter of the Old City. We then walk through the Arab Market to the Garden Tomb. At Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Museum, for a sobering and enlightening understanding of what forced the establishment of the modern State of Israel. Our next stop of the day is the Friends of Zion Museum brings stories of love and heroism to the world. Visitors meet the biblical figures, academics, businessmen, and military officials who, through their faith, have forged an everlasting bond between the Jewish and Christina people. Now we drive to the area of Bethlehem to view the Shepherds fields and see hillside stables of the type where Jesus was born. We will have the opportunity to shop in Manger Square. On the way to our dinner, with a Christian couple and several of Israel’s “Lone Soldiers”. This experience is not available on any ordinary “tour” and has been one of the highlights for all of our groups, we visit a unique place which was Abraham’s first connection with biblical Mount Moriah. Overnight at the Rabin Guest House in Jerusalem

 

Day 13 – Tuesday, June 20: Jerusalem

We begin our day with a visit to the Israel Museum we will walk through the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and the scale model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus. We continue to the Great Jerusalem Market, called “The Shuk”, where we see and sniff at the aromas from this fresh fruit and produce market. Next we see the Jerusalem of King David’s time, at the City of David, where we will walk along the recently discovered ruins of the palace of the kings of Judah, including Kings David and Solomon. One of Jerusalem’s greatest adventures is walking through King Hezekiah’s underground water tunnel, the ancient world’s greatest water project. Upon leaving the tunnel, we will see the recently discovered Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed a blind man. Leaving the City of David, we are invited to work alongside archaeologists as we help find ancient treasures from beneath the Temple Mount. Our groups have found everything from ancient coins to Herodian mosaic tiles. This piece of land is the most holy place to the Jewish people. Dinner and overnight at the Rabin Guest House in Jerusalem

 

Day 14 – Wednesday, June 21

This morning we hope to be able to ascend the Temple Mount and to stand on the platform built by King Herod. Here, in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City, we will visit the Cardo (heart) of Jerusalem and Hezekiah’s Broad Wall, a testament of the past. Along the way, we will meet some friends at the Shorashim Gift Shop who will answer many of our questions about Jewish life and we will have some really great shopping opportunities! Before tunneling deep underneath the city along the Western Wall Tunnels. Dinner and overnight at the Rabin Guest House in Jerusalem

 

Day 15 – Thursday, June 22: Samaria

We travel into Samaria where our bus climbs the hill to the Mountain of Blessings (Mt. Gerizim) which stands across from the Mountain of Curses (Mt. Eval) where the remnants of the Samaritan people still live today. From  here we can look over the Valley of Alon Moreh, the first location mentioned in the Bible in the Promised Land. Here Abraham first beheld God’s promised inheritance. At Shiloh the wilderness Tabernacle of Moses finally found its resting place after the Land was subdued by Joshua. Leaving Shiloh, we have the unique privilege of being invited to visit the Orthodox Jewish Community (and home) of our Tour Operator where we will be treated to some snacks. At our final dinner and share with one another our impressions of our time together. We will now say our “goodbyes” as we are taken to the airport for our trips home. 

When you arrive home, people will ask about your trip to Israel. You will have had such a spiritual experience, you will have difficulty responding…

 

PRICES FOR LAND PACKAGE: $2,618.00 BASED ON 2 PEOPLE PER ROOM

PRICES FOR LAND PACKAGE: $2,589.00 BASED ON 3 PEOPLE PER ROOM

PRICES FOR LAND PACKAGE: $2,500.00 BASED ON 4 PEOPLE PER ROOM

When you have decided to join this group let us know by emailing us at: danny@experiencingisrael.com

Price Includes:

• Accommodations

• Transportation within the Land

• Breakfasts & dinners

• Experienced tour guides

• Admission fees to all sites and attractions in the itinerary

• Meetings with Israeli Jewish & Christian families

• Riding Bedouin camels

• Sleeping in a Bedouin Tent

• Working alongside archaeologists

• Petra; Wadi Ram; Aqaba

Price does NOT include:

• R-T flight to Tel Aviv

• Lunches (we are on the road and stop where various choices are available)

• Personal items (i.e. bottled water)

• Souvenirs

• Trip Interruption and/or Trip Health Insurance (if desired)