Journey to the Land of
the Bible
11-day Israel Tour
May 28 – June 7, 2012
with Tour Hosts
Pastor Shane & Lindsey Creech
Grace Community Church Jonesboro, LA
Tour Price $2860 per person plus tax and fuel surcharge*
Price of Tour Includes
Round trip airfare from Jackson, MS, full breakfast and dinner daily, farewell dinner, eight days of sightseeing, all entrance fees on itinerary, airport transfer, porters at hotels, tips to driver, guide and hotel staff, deluxe motor coach, English speaking licensed guide, eight nights first class hotel, tour price is cash/check discount rate.
Not Included
Lunches, bottled water or beverages, single room, travel insurance, personal items, use of credit cards for tour payments, airline tax and fuel surcharge.
Please Note
Airline Taxes and Fuel Surcharge*are not included in the tour price. The current rate is $500. This fee is set by the airline and Madison Tours has no control nor receives advance notice of changes. Due to fluctuating oil prices, the fee may change. The airl ine wi l l only guarantee the fee about six weeks before departure. If the airlines impose an increase, the difference will be collected before departure.
Download The Land of the Bible Brochure, Pastor Shane & Lindsey Creech
Download The Land of The Bible, Terms and Conditions, Pastor Shane & Lindsey Creech
Itinerary
Day 1, Mon, May 28 —Depart from Jackson, MS 10:50 a.m. on US Airways for your overnight flight to Tel Aviv.
Day 2, Tues, May 29 — Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv in the late afternoon where we will be met by our representative and transfer to Metropolitan Hotel in Tel Aviv. After a delicious buffet dinner you can enjoy a walk along the Mediterranean Sea.
Day 3, Wed, May 30—We begin our day at Jaffa, the port where the prophet Jonah set sail for Tar Shish. After a short drive through Tel Aviv we will travel to Caesarea Maritima. We will see a well-preserved Roman Amphitheater, remains from Herod’s Palace and a Hippodrome that seated 10,000 spectators. We will visit Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal. We continue to Megiddo and see the site of 26 superimposed cities, remains from Solomon’s days, and view the Plains of Jezreel where the final Armageddon will be fought. We will drive to Nazareth and visit a replica village built on remains from 2,000 years ago. We continue to Tiberias to the Rimonim Mineral Hotel.
Day 4, Thurs, May 31—We start today with a special time of worship as we sail across the Sea of Galilee in a replica boat of 2,000 years. We visit the ancient boat discovered in 1986. Next we travel to Capernaum, the center of Jesus activities in the Galilee. We will walk on the Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount, and then visit Tabgah where Jesus fed 5,000. We then come to the first century city of Chorazin, one of the “cursed” cities that would not respond to the miracles of Jesus. We end the day at the Yardenit baptismal site where you will have the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River. Return to our hotel in Tiberias.
Day 5, Fri, June 1—Today we explore the northern part of Israel. We drive to Banias, one of the headwaters of the Jordan River and site of ancient Caesarea Philippi where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” Then, walking through the beautiful nature reserve of Tel Dan, we will see the discovery of Jeroboam’s Altar and an ancient Canaanite mud gate. We will visit Tel Hazor that was known in Joshua’s day as the head of all the kingdoms. We drive on the Golan Heights see remains from the Six Day War on Mt. Bental. Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 6, Sat, June 2—Leaving the Galilee area, we drive down the Jordan Valley to explore the largest excavations in Israel, Beit Shean. The city was destroyed in a massive earthquake in 749 AD. It was on the walls of Beit Shean that the Philistines hung the bodies of King Saul and his sons after their defeat. We will drive by Mt. Gilboa, and visit the natural springs where Gideon brought ten thousand to be tested. Continuing down the Jordan Valley, we will drive by Jericho and the Mount of Temptations, to the lowest spot on earth, the Dead Sea. We will visit Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery. We continue to the Leonardo Hotel at the shores of the Dead Sea for an evening of relaxation and to take advantage of the Spa facilities and the therapeutic Dead Sea water.
Day 7, Sun, June 3—Enjoy a morning of leisure before we visit Masada. Ascending by cable car, we will tour the famous archaeological site, an ancient fortress, where Jewish Zealots made their last stand against Rome in 73 CE. We stop an Ein Gedi to see the waterfalls where David hid from Saul. We drive to Jerusalem and stop for a magnificent view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus. We arrive at Leonardo Hotel Jerusalem.
Day 8, Mon, June 4—Today we begin at the Mt. of Olives then walk down the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethsemane. Then to Mt. Zion to visit the Church of St. Peter in Galacantu, Caiaphas’ House where Jesus was held before trial. We will visit the traditional Upper Room and enjoy a time of worship. Then to the new excavations of the City of David revealing some of the most exciting archeological finds of the ancient world. We end today in Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity, the traditional site of the birth of Jesus, and the Shepherds fields where the birth of Jesus was announced. Before returning to Jerusalem, we will stop at a natural cave and enjoy a time of singing and remembering the events of Jesus’ birth in a lowly stable. Return to Jerusalem for overnight.
Day 9, Tues, June 5—This morning we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Visiting the Temple Mount, we see the site of the Jewish Temple. We then see the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man. We will walk through the Old City following the Via Dolorosa, through the Old Arab markets, Jewish Quarters, see the ancient Roman Cardo, and visit the remains from Nehemiah’s Wall. We will visit Antonia’s Fortress and see the original paving believed to be where Christ stood before Pilate. At the Herodian Mansion we will walk through archeological remains of a six-house compound. Next visit the Western Wall for a personal time of reflection and prayer, then walk through the Western Wall Tunnel to see remarkable underground excavation of ancient Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 10, Wed, June 6—Our final day in Jerusalem takes us again into the Old City to visit the Davidson Center where we will enjoy a virtual tour of the Second Temple and explore the Temple Southern Steps. Next we visit areas of New Jerusalem. First we drive by the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, and walk through Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. Then visit the Israel Museum and see the Holy Land Model and the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will end our time in Jerusalem at one of the sites believed to be the burial site of Jesus, the Garden Tomb with a time of worship and communion. Enjoy a farewell dinner before transferring to the airport for a late night departure.
Day 11, Thurs, June 7—Arrive in Jackson, MS at 3:40 p.m. with life changing memories of our Journey through the Land of the Bible.
Download The Land of the Bible Brochure, Pastor Shane & Lindsey Creech
Download The Land of The Bible, Terms and Conditions, Pastor Shane & Lindsey Creech
