March 5-16, 2012 with Optional 4-day Extension Tour
Hosted by Pastor Rick & Cheryl Crawford
Download Crawford Registration Form
Tour Price:
$3135 per person* — Optional 4-day extension tour is $840*
Price of tour includes:
Round trip airfare from Seattle ● Full Israeli breakfast and dinner daily ● Full sightseeing program and all entrance fees on itinerary ● All transfers and porters at hotels ● Gratuities to driver, guide and hotel staff ● Deluxe air conditioned motor coach ● English speaking Licensed Israeli guide ● 8 days of sightseeing ● 1 free day in Jerusalem ● 9 nights, first class hotel accommodations, double occupancy ● Tour price is cash/check discount rate
Not included:
Airlie tax and fuel surcharge* (see below) ● Charges for passport ● Bottled water or beverages ● Room service, items from room mini-fridge, or personal items ● Single Room ● Lunches unless noted on itinerary ● Travel Insurance ● Use of credit cards for tour payments*
Airline Taxes and Fuel Surcharge is included in the tour price. The current rate is $500 for Tel Aviv departure and $350 for Amman departure. The airline will not guarantee the tax and fuel surcharge and this fee may change. If the airlines impose an increase, the difference will be collected before departure.
Itinerary
Day 1, Mon, Mar 5 Depart Seattle at 1:40 p.m. on Lufthansa #491 via Frankfurt for your overnight flight to Tel Aviv.
Day 2, Tues, Mar 6 Arrive in Tel Aviv in the afternoon and begin your Israel journey at Jaffa, one of the oldest cities in the world and the port where the prophet Jonah set sail for Tar Shish. Drive to the HaSharon Hotel in Hertzilia with time to enjoy the picturesque Mediterranean Sea.
Day 3, Wed, Mar 7 Begin the day at Caesarea Maritima. See the well-preserved aqueducts, hippodrome and theatre. We then visit Mt. Carmel, the site where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal. We stop for a falafel lunch before continuing to Megiddo to view the Plains of Jezreel where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought. Then, driving through Nazareth, we will visit a replica village from the time of Christ built on remains from 2,000 years ago. Walk through a working farm, ancient winepress and stone quarries. See replica homes, a synagogue and ancient handcrafts. Overnight at the Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel on the shores of Galilee.
Day 4, Thurs, Mar 8 Start the day sailing across the Sea of Galilee in a 2,000 year old replica boat. Visit the ancient boat consistent with boats built from Jesus’ time. Next, travel to Capernaum, to see the Apostle Peter’s home and the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. Walk on the Mount of Beatitudes, site of Sermon on the Mount. We stop for lunch and enjoy St. Peter’s fish. At Gadera, visit the site of the natural hot springs used by the Romans and where the Jesus healed the demon possessed. You will have an opportunity to be baptized at Yardenit in the Jordan River. We end today at Mt. Arbel for a magnificent view of the Sea of Galilee.
Day 5, Fri, Mar 9 Today we explore the northern part of Israel. We drive to Banias, the site of ancient Caesarea Philippi. Then, walking through the beautiful nature reserve of Tel Dan, we will see Jeroboam’s Altar and an ancient Canaanite mud gate. Then to Kibbutz Kfar Blum for lunch. We drive on the Golan Heights to look into Syria and see remains from the Six Day War on Mt. Bental. We end the day with a four-wheel jeep ride adventure.
Day 6, Sat, Mar 10 Leaving the Galilee area, we drive down the Jordan Valley to explore Beit Shean. Walk through this the ancient city and see gymnasium, bathhouse, theatre, public toilets, shops and temples. Driving by Mt. Gilboa, site of Saul’s death, we visit the natural springs where Gideon brought ten thousand to be tested. We stop at Sachne for picnic lunch and time to swim and relax in the natural hot springs. Drive by the Mount of Temptation and Jericho and enter Jerusalem at Mt Scopus for magnificent views of the City. Continue to the Jerusalem Dan Panorama hotel.
Day 7, Sun, Mar 11 Today we travel to the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea. At Masada, the famous archaeological site, we see where Jewish Zealots made their last stand against Rome in AD 73. We then stop at Ein Gedi to hike to the waterfalls where David cut off Saul’s skirt. We will continue on to Qumran where we see the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We will take time for a “float” in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. Before returning to Jerusalem, experience life as in Biblical times in the Judean desert at Genesis Land, with a traditional meal from Abraham’s time.
Day 8, Mon, Mar 12 We begin at the Mt. of Olives and then walk down the road where Jesus made his triumphal entry into the city. Next we visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where He spent that agonizing night of prayer before His arrest. We will visit Caiaphas’ House where Jesus was held before trial. Then to the traditional Upper Room of the Last Supper and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We then enter the Jewish Quarters to see the ancient Roman Cardo and the remains of Hezikiah’s Wall. We will visit the Herodian Mansions, a sixhouse compound, homes of Aristocratic families and Temple priests that was destroyed in 70 AD. At the Burnt House, we see a moving video presentation of the destruction of Jerusalem. Visit the Temple Institute, the organization preparing for the future Temple.
Day 9, Tues, Mar 13 Our day begins with a visit to the Southern Steps. The only entrance to the Temple during the time of Christ. We enjoy a personal time at the Western Wall then walk through the underground tunnels. Next we visit the City of David, located just outside the Old City walls. See the exciting discoveries of original Jerusalem, walk through a 1700 foot tunnel dug during the reign of Hezekiah, and see the recently discovered Pools of Siloam. Next we visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum.
Day 10, Wed, Mar 14 A free day with time to explore on your own, shop or relax.
Day 11, Thurs Mar 15 We explore the Temple Mount this morning, then see the Pools of Bethesda and enjoy a time of singing at the Church of St. Anne’s. We visit Antonia’s Fortress to see markings of a cruel game used by the Roman soldiers. We will walk through the Old City following the Via Dolorosa through the Old Arab markets to the Church of the Holy Sepluchre. We end the day with worship and communion at one of the sites believed to be the burial site of Jesus, the Garden Tomb. We enjoy a farewell dinner as we reflect on our time together in Israel. Return to our hotel to prepare for our flight home.
Day 12, Fri, Mar 16 Transfer to the airport, depart Tel Aviv at 5:30 a.m. and arrive in Seattle at 12:55 p.m. via Frankfurt on Lufthansa #490. We arrive home with a lifetime of memories from our journey to the Holy Land
Optional Extension Tour
Optional 4–day Extension Tour to Eilat, Petra, Mt. Nebo and Amman
March 15–19, 2012
Tour Price: $840 per person
After the farewell dinner following the Israel Tour, return to the Dan Panorama hotel in Jerusalem for overnight.
Day 1, Fri, Mar 16 – Drive south through the Negev desert to Eilat, the southernmost city in Israel. Enjoy free time with suggested activities in this resort city located on the Red Sea. In the evening, cross into Jordan and drive to Petra. Overnight at the Kings Way hotel in Petra.
Day 2, Sat, Mar 17 – Today we visit the ancient city of Petra, the Red Rose City. This unique Nabatean city is hidden in the rugged mountains and carved
entirely into the naturally red rocks. It includes temples, theaters, monasteries, houses and roads. Petra was an important junction for the silk and spice trade routes linking China and India and southern Arabia. Lunch is included. Following our tour, we will drive up the Kings Highway to Amman for overnight.
Day 3, Sun, Mar 18 – Enjoy a morning of leisure before visiting the sites around Amman, Jordan. We visit the mosaic city of Madaba. Here we see a 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Lands, including a fascinating plan of Jerusalem. We ascend Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the Promise Land. Then we continue to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the site believed to be where John the Baptist lived and baptized Jesus. We end our journey with a lovely
farewell dinner as we reflect on our journey through Israel and Jordan. Transfer to the airport for departure.
Day 4, Mon, Mar 19 – We depart Amman at 2:35 a.m. and arrive in Seattle at 12:55 p.m.
Flight schedules are subject to be changed by the airline.
Itinerary sequence can be changed at the discretion of your local guides and leaders.
