Tour Director: Stewart Glazier
Late Spring Bible Lands Tour
Egypt and Israel
April 26–May 11, 2010
Faculty Director: Stewart E. Glazier
New reduced price!
Cost: $3998 for the land based on double occupancy (for Egypt and Israel)
(See available group air price at end of itinerary)
Days 1–2: Monday and Tuesday, April 26 and 27 U.S.A. • Cairo, Egypt
We will take a flight from our various home cities, change planes in , and arrive in Cairo the following afternoon. We will then check in to the Heliopolis Hotel for two nights.
Day 3: Wednesday, April 28 Cairo • Giza
This morning we will first visit the Giza area to ride a camel and visit the world-famous pyramids, classified among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We will stand in awe of their size and magnificent engineering. We will see the spectacular 135-foot-long solar boat, constructed over 4,500 years ago with lumber from the cedars of Lebanon. We will also encounter the world-famous Sphinx. We will next visit a papyrus factory. After lunch, which will be provided as part of the tour, we will visit Memphis, capital of the Pyramid Age, and Saqqara (site of Zoser’s famous step pyramid).
Day 4: Thursday, April 29 Cairo • Luxor
We will take a morning flight to Luxor, arriving around 7:30. We probably won’t check in to the hotel at this time, since we need to go directly to the west bank and begin our tour. Later we will check in to the Etap Hotel. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided today at the hotel as part of the tour. After our arrival, we’ll visit the west bank of the Nile River and the Valley of the Kings. There the tombs and mortuary temples of the famous kings and queens of the New Kingdom (when Egypt ruled the East) are located. We will visit the tomb of King Tutankhamen (Tut) as well as two others, including the location of the recently discovered tombs of the sons of Rameses II. Next we will drive by Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple. We will also see Pit Tomb 33, believed by some to be the place from which Joseph Smith’s Abraham papyri came. Next we will visit the Ramesseum and Medinet Habu. After lunch and a short rest at the hotel, we will visit the Temple of Luxor before enjoying a felucca (sailboat) ride on the Nile. Attending the light and sound show at the Karnak Temple or shopping in the bazaar will be options for this evening. Another option will be to take an “Egyptian Cadillac” (horse and buggy) ride through the local marketplace to see life as it exists in these smaller towns.
Day 5: Friday, April 30 Luxor • Cairo
We will begin this day by visiting the largest temple complex in the world, the famous Temple of Karnak, followed by an opportunity to sit (in the shade) and review what you have seen and experienced thus far in Egypt and its relationship to you and the gospel currently. Later that afternoon, we will leave for the airport for our return flight to Cairo. Upon arriving in Cairo we will check in to our hotel, the Heliopolis for two nights.
Day 6: Saturday, May 1 Cairo
We begin this day with our visit to the Cairo Museum, where the discoveries from King Tut’s Tomb are on display, along with many other interesting exhibits from the various periods of ancient Egyptian history. After lunch, our next visit will be to the Citadel of Saladin and the Mohammed Ali Mosque (the Alabaster Mosque). As time permits, we will visit the bazaar for last-minute shopping before leaving this remarkable country tomorrow.
Day 7: Sunday, May 2 Cairo • Jaffa, Israel • Caesarea
We will take an Air Sinai flight at 9:30 a.m., arriving at 11:10 at the Ben Gurion Airport, which is located near New Testament Lydda, where Peter healed Aeneas. Our first stop today will be Jaffa, where Peter received his important revelation about the gospel going to the Gentiles at the home of Simon the tanner. We will then drive through Tel Aviv (the largest all-Jewish city in the world) and then along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea (the ancient port city of Herod the Great), where Paul was tried and then sent to Rome. We then go to the beautiful overlook above Haifa (modern port of Israel and center of the Baha’i faith). Time allowing, we will visit a cemetery where two LDS missionaries from the late 1800s are buried. Tonight we will stay at the beautiful Le Meridien Hotel on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
Day 8: Monday, May 3 Mount Carmel • Mount Tabor • Galilee
We will begin our day driving along the top of Mount Carmel to Muhraka (the traditional site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal), where we will have a magnificent overview of the Jezreel Valley. Our next stop will be at Tel Megiddo, where we will see the remarkable ruins of at least 22 levels of occupation. Our last touring experience of the day will be to take taxis to the top of Mount Tabor to see the possible site where the Savior took Peter, James, and John and was transfigured before them. Time allowing, we will then go to the Arbel, with its commanding view of the Sea of Galilee, and from there to the Gai Beach Hotel, located on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, where we will stay for the next three nights.
Day 9: Tuesday, May 4 Capernaum • Mount of Beatitudes • Nazareth
We will begin the day with a morning cruise on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to the new dock near Capernaum. Our first visit today will be Capernaum—the home of the Savior during His three-year ministry—where He performed many miracles and gave many teachings, including His “Bread of Life” sermon. Then we will go to the Mount of Beatitudes, where the important “Sermon on the Mount” was given. In the lovely city of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, we will reflect on the Savior’s early life and have a better understanding of the customs of that time as we visit the Nazareth Village.
Day 10: Wednesday, May 5 Tel Dan • Banias • Golan Heights
Our first stop will be Tel Dan, the ancient northern limits of Israel (“from Dan to Beersheba”), where we will walk through a beautiful nature reserve to the headwaters of the Jordan River. We will also see the High Place of Dan and the ancient gate dating to Abraham’s time. A high point of the day will be at Banias, ancient Caesarea Philippi—which is not only one of the sources of the Jordan River but also the location where the Savior promised the Twelve the keys of the kingdom. We will then continue on to the Golan Heights (home of many Druze people and scene of fierce fighting between Israel and Syria in 1967 and again in 1973). We should have a beautiful view of Mount Hermon, a possible location for the Transfiguration. On the way back to the hotel, we will drive around the Sea of Galilee. We will pass Gergessa, where the Savior confronted the evil spirits. Our last visit will be to Yardenit to see the exit of the Jordan River from the Sea of Galilee. (We may also see people being baptized at this popular baptismal place.)
Day 11: Thursday, May 6 Ein Harod • Beth Shean • Jordan Valley • Jericho • Qumran
We will begin today’s touring with a visit to Ein Harod, where a great lesson was taught the children of Israel about trusting the Savior instead of the arm of flesh. Next we will visit one of the most impressive archaeological excavations in the Holy Land—Beit Shean. (The bodies of Saul and Jonathan hung upon the walls of this city.) We then travel down the Jordan Valley on our way to Jericho, where we will spend the night at the Intercontinental Jericho Hotel.
After lunch we will visit ancient Tel Jericho, and then Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and conclude our experience here with our swim in the Dead Sea. If time permits we might take the tram up to the Mount of Transfiguration for a beautiful overview of the Jordan valley.
Day 12: Friday, May 7 Masada • Ein Gedi • Bethany • Jerusalem
We will begin today’s touring with an early morning drive (leave at 7:30) to Masada. Before we take the cable car to the top, we will visit the new Museum and view the film to give us an overview of the story that transpired on top, where today remains only the ruins of the palace-fortress built by King Herod. We will also recall the story of the Zealots’ last stand against the Romans. We will then drive to an overlook and see the area of Ein Gedi, where David of old teaches a great principle. After Ein Gedi we continue our drive through the Judean Wilderness and stop at an overlook where we can view the Wadi Kelt and the old Roman Road that led from Jerusalem to the Jericho area in the parable of the Good Samaritan and where the Savior had His 40-day spiritual experience., On the way to Jerusalem, time permitting, we will visit Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—where we will see the traditional tomb of Lazarus. The day will end in Jerusalem with a visit to the Western Wall (6:00 p.m.) to watch the Jewish people celebrate the beginning of Shabbat. We will then return through the Old City to our hotel for dinner. The remaining nights of our tour in the Holy Land will be spent in Jerusalem at the Olive Tree Hotel, which is convenient to sites and shopping near the Old City of Jerusalem.
Day 13: Saturday, May 8 Gethsemane • St. Peter’s in Gallicantu • Garden Tomb
Leaving our hotel at 7:30 this morning, we will visit places significant during the last week of Jesus’ life. First we’ll see the traditional Upper Room, possible scene of the Last Supper, washing of feet, and the last teachings of Jesus to His disciples, followed by our visit to Gethsemane (9:00), where the great atoning sacrifice took place as well as the arrest of Jesus. After sacrament meeting our next stop is at St. Peter’s in Gallicantu, possible site of the cock’s crowing and palace of Caiaphas. After lunch on our own, we will then go to Golgotha and the Garden Tomb (2:30).
Day 14: Sunday, May 9 New City of Jerusalem • Bethlehem
Our first stop will be at the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem and to briefly discuss its history. To further understand the connection between biblical and modern Jerusalem, we will visit the famous Model City of Jerusalem, which is a scale model of Jerusalem as it looked near the time of the Savior, and then visit the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls). Next is a drive by the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on our way to the Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem (11:00). After lunch in Bethlehem, we then visit the Church of the Nativity, including St. Jerome’s Grotto, where the Latin Vulgate Bible was completed. On our return we will stop at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel, where we will have an overview of Bethlehem and Shepherd’s Field.
Day 15: Monday, May 10 Old City of Jerusalem
Leaving at 7:30 a.m., we will enter the Old City through the Dung Gate to see the Western Wall. Following that, we will tour the Holy Mount (or Mount Moriah), ancient site of the temples of Solomon and Herod, now occupied by the Dome of the Rock and El Aksa Mosque. Next is the Church of St. Anne, where the Pool of Bethesda is located, to recall the events recorded in John 5. Walking along the Via Dolorosa, we will proceed to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher through the Arab bazaar. Leaving the Holy Sepulcher we will then proceed on to the Jewish Quarter, along the Roman Cardo, and view Hezekiah’s eighth-century–BC Broad Wall. If time permits, we will also tour the magnificent Wohl Museum, where we will see some of the actual remains of New Testament Jerusalem. After lunch in the Jewish Quarter, we will end the day at the City of David and at Hezekiah’s Tunnel, discussing its historical setting as Jerusalem felt the Assyrian threat. We will preview our walk by seeing a wonderful ten-minute 3-D presentation on the historical setting of the city of David and Hezekiah’s Tunnel where we will wade through this exciting third-of-a-mile historic marvel, and ending at the Pool of Siloam. There is also a “dry” tunnel for those not desiring to get wet, but which is not quite as exciting. We will do our final packing and leave for the airport for our fights home.
Day 16: Tuesday, May 11 Jerusalem • Ben Gurion Airport • U.S.A.
We will have a flight from the Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv to the U.S.A., where we will arrive home in the afternoon.
Price includes:
· Deluxe motor coach transportation
· Local guides
· Hotel accommodations in moderate-class hotels
· Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary
· Entrance fees
· Gratuities
· Travel insurance
Price does not include:
· Round-trip airfare from Salt Lake City–Cairo and Tel Aviv–Salt Lake City for $1419 (may be subject to fuel surcharges) Note: Do not purchase airline tickets without consulting LDS Travel Study.There is a minimum amount of passengers needed to operate this tour.
- Additional possible airfare from cities other than Salt Lake City
- Sightseeing not included on the itinerary
- Additional hotel accommodations
- Items of a personal nature (e.g., phone calls, room service, e-mails, etc.)
- Additional travel insurance and cancellation waiver
- Lunches
- Single supplement, $930
7/8/09
LDS TRAVEL STUDY TOURS
Questions on money and air—contact Karen: 515 S. 700 E. Suite 1B, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Toll Free 866-277-0900—801-483-6152—Fax 801-483-6366
kgerlach@ldstravelstudy.com
Questions on the land itinerary: call Haws Marble: 801-815-1387
hmarble@ldstravelstudy.com
Find us on the Web at www.ldstravelstudy.org
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