12 Day Tour To Egypt ,Jordan & Israel
A Tour designed for Theology students, or people interested in the subject. It contains the different geographical areas of Old & New Testament, in a peace-encouraging cross-border way. Wherever possible we sleep in Christian sites from all denominations: Orthodox, Catholic & Protestant, in order to promote understanding and peace.
Day 1:
Start in Cairo with the Grand Pyramides & the Sphinx, then drive to Memphis through the "Land of Goshen", where the Children of Israel dwelt during their Exile in Egypt. In the afternoon we shall visit the Coptic Nighbourhood in Cairo, to experience the way of life of one of the oldest Christian communities. Ovenight in Cairo.
Day 2:
Past the St. Bishoi Monastery we will cross the Suez Canal into the Sinai Desert. We will drive by Uyun Moussa (Moses Springs) where traditionally Moses hit the Rock and water came out of it (Exodus 17:6). We will stop at "The 1000 Palm Oasis" Feiran, look at a few of its monasterial remnants and, if open to visitors, visit Deir el Banat, the women-monastery that is connected to the more famous St. Cathrine Monastery. Overnight at the St. Cathrine Monastery.
Day 3:
Visit the St. Cathrine Monastery, the oldest active monastery in the world! See the "Burning Bush" (Exodus 3:2) Jethro's Well (Exodus 2:15-19) and the ancient church, built by the Emperor Justinian and never destroyed! In the afternoon, before sunset, we will climb to the top of Mt. Moses, traditionally the Biblical Mt. Sinai or Mt. Horeb, where the Ten Commandments were given. Overnight at the St. Cathrine's Monastery.
Day 4: Egypt- israel
Drive through the Sinai Desert to the Taba Border Crossing, where we cross to modern Israel. An Israeli bus will wait for us to take us through the resort city Eilat and down to the Dead Sea, the deepest point on Earth! After a short stop to swim (or rather float!) on it's healthy water, we continue to Qumran, were the famous "Dead Sea Scrolls" were found. Then we visit the first city conquered by the Children of Israel – Jericho. In Jericho we visit the "Tell" with the remnants of ancient Jericho, which walls came falling down (Joshua 6:20), the Bad Water Well which Elisha the Prophet healed (2 Kings 2:19). We will also ascend by cable-car to the Monastery of Qarantal (Mt. of Temptation), where the Devil tempted Jesus (Luke 4:1-8) and stop by Zacchareus' Sycamore Tree (Luke 19). (Important Remark: As Jericho is in an area controlled by the Palestinian Authority, visit can be cancelled without prior notice for security, political, or other reasons). Enter Jerusalem triumphantly, like Jesus, through the Mt. of Olives. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 5:
We start the day with the "holiest of holy": Mt. Moriah (The Temple Mount) were we visit "The Wailing Wall" – last remnant of the Temple, and if open to visitors, the mountain itself, with the Dome of the Rock and Al Aqsa Mosque (no entering into mosques). We then visit the "City of David" with Hezekiah's Tunnel (2Kings 20:20). We continue on the "Way of the Cross" (Via Dolorosa) to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In the afternoon we visit the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem. (Important Remark: As Bethlehem is in an area controlled by the Palestinian Authority, visit can be cancelled without prior notice for security, political, or other reasons). Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 6:
Descend the Judean Hills through Emmaus (Luke 24:13), drive along the Mediterraenian Coast and cross the ridge of Mt. Carmel, where the Prophet Elijah fought the Baal prophets (1 Kings 18). We then descend to the Valley of Meggido (Armaggedon) where we visit the ancient Tell (1 Kings 10:26 / REV 16:14-16). Then we drive to Nazareth through the Jezreel Valley. In the afternoon we visit Nazareth, with its Basilica of the Annunciation, and other sites of interest. Overnight in Tiberius.
Day 7: Israel-Jordan
In specially reserved vehicles we drive a steep road up to Mt. Tabor (Judges 4:6) also traditionally identified as the Mt. of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2) to see the majestic church built there by the Italian architect Berluzzi with its view over the Jezreel Valley and towards the Gilboa and Hermon Mt. (the real place of Transfiguration?). Then we visit Capernaum "The Town of Jesus", The Mt. of Beatitudes, where "The Sermon on the Mount" was given (Mathew 5:1-14) and Tabgha, with the Church of Multiplication (Mat. 14: 17-21) and the Church of Primacy (John 25), We stop shortly in Yardenit, the Baptismal site by the Jordan River, and continue to the Jordan River Border Crossing, at the foot of the Gilboa Mountains (2 Samuel 1) where we cross the border to Jordan. Once over the border, a Jordanian bus will take us to Amman, where we spend the night.
Day 8:
After a short drive through Amman, the biblical Capital of the Ammonites, we drive on the "Desert Highway" to Madaba. Here we look at the famous mosaic at the St. George Church that shows the Holy Land as it was in the 6th Century. Continue to Mt. Nebo (Deut. 34: 1) from which Moses saw the Promised Land before he was burried. Except for the wide view into Israel, we can also enjoy the ancient mosaic at the site. We continue along the biblical "Kings Highway" (Numbers 21: 22) across the Canyon of Wadi Mujib (Biblical Arnon) to the town Wadi Moussa (named after Moses) where we spend the night.
Day 9: jordan - Israel
We spend most of the day in the mysterious Nabathean city of Petra, from where the biblical caravans with the Myrrh & Frankencise crossed the desert. At Petra we can take a look from a distance at Mt. Hor, where Aaron was buried, and see the Rock which Moses hit and water came out of it – (also NUMBERS 20). Continue on the "Kings Highway" (Numbers 21: 22) to the Arava Border Crossing, where we cross back to Israel. An Israeli bus will wait for us at the Israeli side of the border, and take us to King Salomons port city, Eilat (1 Kings 9: 26) were we spend the night.
Day 10: Israel - Egypt
Cross the border to Egypt and drive back to Cairo.
For Best Possible Rates For Groups / FIT - Contact Us!
