9-Day Tour: The Holy Land and Petra

DAY 01: ARRIVAL AMMAN
Upon arrival at Queen Alia International airport, you will be met by our travel representative and transferred to your hotel in Amman the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Jordan for dinner and overnight.

DAY 02: PETRA/AMMAN
Early departure to Petra justifiably referred to as one of the wonders of the world. Drive on the King’s Highway till you reach Wadi Musa. A half hour horseback ride reveals the Rose-Red City, “half as old as time”. Lost to human knowledge until 150 years ago, it is now available to explore all its beauty. Visit the Treasury, amphitheater, royal tombs, street of columns, and the Monastery. Return to Amman in time for dinner and overnight.

DAY 03: AMMAN/TIBERIAS
Depart Amman to Allenby Bridge for crossing into the West Bank of the Jordan River. Stop at Bethany Beyond the Jordan River to see the acceptable site of the Baptism of Christ. At Jericho, visit the ruins of one of the oldest cities in the world. View Mount of Temptation and Elisha’s fountain. Drive the Jordan valley route to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, in time for dinner.

DAY 04: THE GALILEE
Your day begins with a visit to Mount Beatitudes, revered by Christians as the site where Jesus preached His immortal Sermon on the Mount and Tabgha, the chapel dedicated to the feeding of the multitude. A short drive takes you to Capernaum visiting the area where Jesus lived, the house of Simon Peter and the Synagogue. Visit Tiberias before boarding a launch cruise that will take you across the tranquil Sea of Galilee. Drive to the River Jordan as you head in the direction of the Golan Heights to visit Banyas (Caesarea Philippi. Descending 636 feet below sea level, arrive in Tiberias for dinner and overnight at your hotel.

DAY 05: GALILEE/JERUSALEM
Depart Tiberias to Cana of Galilee where the first Miracle took place the transformation of water into wine. Continue to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. Visit the Church of the Annunciation, the Synagogue and Mary’s well. At Megiddo visit the excavations and the water Tunnel. Continue to Haifa on the slopes of Mount Carmel. Visit the site where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal. View the Bahai Temple. Drive along the Mediterranean to Caesarea, the provincial capital of the Roman procurators to visit the ruins of the fortifications, the moat, harbor, amphitheater, and Roman aqueduct. Drive through the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel’s modern day Metropolis. At Joppa visit the old town. Continue to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

DAY 06: THE HOLY CITY
In the morning visit the Garden Tomb and the hill of Golgotha. The Mount of Olives is located to the East of the Old city of Jerusalem across the Kidron Valley. Stop at the lookout point to view the Holy City of today. From Bethphage, walk the Hosanna road to the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, and the Church of Nations. At Bethany visit the site of the house of Mary and Martha, and the tomb of Lazarus. This afternoon begin a walking tour of the Old City where a thousand and one sights and sounds greet you. Visit the Pool of Bethesda, the Ecce Homo Arch, and walk the Via Dolorosa. Continue to the temple area on Mount Moriah. Visit the Dome of the Rock erected in 691 around the rock upon which Abraham is believed to have intended to sacrifice Isaac. Both Solomon’s Temple and the Second Temple stood here. Visit the Wailing (Western) Wall, before continuing to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Leave the old city through Jaffa gate. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Jerusalem.

DAY 07: MOUNT ZION/BETHLEHEM/HEBRON
Drive the Kidron Valley to see the Pool of Siloam. On to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room, the Tomb of King David, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu and the remains of the House of Caiphas. Continue to tour the new part of Jerusalem, and Ein Karem the home of John the Baptist. Afternoon sightseeing includes the Pools of Solomon and Philip’s Fountain. Visit the Mosque of Abraham built over the Cave of Macpelah. In Bethlehem, visit the Shepherd’s Fields and the Church of the Nativity. Stop at Rachel’s Tomb on the way back to Jerusalem for dinner.

DAY 08: MOUNT NEBO/JERASH
Depart Jerusalem to Allenby Bridge. After crossing we stop at the Dead Sea. Continue to Mount Nebo from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. See the map of Jerusalem in colorful mosaics at Madaba. Continue to Jerash on the hills of Gilead to visit the ruins of the best preserved city of the Decapolis. Returning to Amman, visit the highlights of the old Philadelphia before dinner.

DAY 09: NORTH AMERICA
After breakfast, our group will be transferred to Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport for our departing flight, arriving the same day, carrying memories that will last for a lifetime.
This brings to a close an unforgettable pilgrimage to the Lands of the Bible, to have walked in the footsteps of the Master and the apostles of Christ.