June Holy Land Tour - SOLD OUT!

June Holy Land Tour 

June 11–20, 2010

Faculty Director: Wayne E. Brickey

Cost: $2300 based on double occupancy, does not include transatlantic air

(see available group air price at the end of the itinerary or call Karen)

                                            Tentative Itinerary

Days 1–2: Friday and Saturday, June 11–12 U.S.A. • Transatlantic Flight • Jerusalem

We will take flights from our various home cities, change planes in Atlanta, (if possible) and arrive the following late afternoon at the Ben Gurion Airport. This airport is near New Testament Lydda, where Peter healed Aeneas and then went to Jaffa, where he raised Tabitha from the dead. Entering the historic city of Jerusalem will be a highlight. We’ll check in to the Olive Tree Hotel for four nights. We will have dinner at the hotel and a get-acquainted meeting.

Day 3: Sunday, June 13                            Masada • Dead Sea • Qumran • Judean Wilderness

We will have an early departure from Jerusalem to Masada. A cable car will take us to the top, where we will see the ruins of the palace‑fortress built by King Herod and recall the story of the Zealots’ last stand against the Romans. Afterward, we will drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface.  After stopping for a float in the Dead Sea, we will drive on to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, beginning in 1947. We will ascend to Jerusalem through the Judean Wilderness (where Jesus went to be with His Father), partly following the old Roman Road along the Wadi Kelt. If time allows, we will stop in Bethany to discuss Lazarus and other events related to Jesus.

Day 3: Monday, June 14                           Old City of Jerusalem

We will enter the Old City through the Dung Gate to tour the Temple Mount or Mount Moriah¾site of the temples of Solomon and Herod, the magnificent Dome of the Rock, and the El Aksa Mosque (if conditions permit). Then we will visit the Western Wall, a site sacred to Jews today, before visiting the Mount Ophel ruins. We will then visit the Jewish Quarter, including the Roman Cardo, and Hezekiah’s eighth-century BC Broad Wall.  We will go down to the City of David that includes Hezekiah’s Tunnel wading through this exciting third-of-a-mile historic marvel, and then visiting the true Pool of Siloam.

Day 4: Tuesday, June 15                          New City of Jerusalem • Bethlehem

To understand the connection between biblical and modern Jerusalem, we will visit the famous Model City of Jerusalem at the Israel Museum, 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). We will drive by the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on the way to visit the display. We will drive to Bethlehem (conditions permitting) to see the Church of the Nativity¾including St. Jerome’s Grotto, where the Latin Vulgate Bible was completed. We will stop at Shepherds’ Field to recall the events of the Nativity and the scriptural events that occurred in the area and sing some Christmas hymns. Before ending the day, we will stop at the Hass pavilion to get another perspective of Old Jerusalem.

Day 6: Wednesday, June 16                      Jericho • Beit Shean • Megiddo • Nazareth • Galilee

After checking out of the hotel, we will drive east down to the Jordan River Valley. If conditions permit, we will see the tel of Old Testament Jericho, where we will discuss the prophets Joshua and Elisha. We will then drive north up the Jordan River Valley to Beit Shean, where we will see the impressive ruins of the New Testament and later periods as well as an Old Testament tel. We will then drive up the Ein Herod Valley to visit Megiddo with its 22 levels of occupation. Our tour then takes us across the historic Jezreel Valley on our way to Nazareth¾the boyhood home of Jesus¾where we will reflect on the Savior’s early life as we visit the Nazareth Village. Departing from Nazareth, we will travel through the hill country of Galilee, passing Cana on our way to the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) area. We will pass through Tiberias¾ built by Herod Antipas and named in honor of the Roman emperor¾on our way to Kibbutz Ein Gev, where we will stay for the next two nights. Those who so desire may enjoy a swim in the Sea of Galilee.

Day 7: Thursday, June 17                   Capernaum • Mount of Beatitudes • Banias • Golan Heights

Today begins with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Nof Ginosar. After seeing the Galilee boat, we will visit the ancient city of Capernaum, which Jesus called “his own city” after His rejection in Nazareth. We’ll then drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, where we will give peaceful consideration to the Sermon on the Mount while we overlook the Sea of Galilee. Our next stop will be Tel Dan, where we will walk through a beautiful nature reserve to the headwaters of the Jordan River.  A high point of the day will be at Banias, ancient Caesarea Philippi. Near this site Peter made his dramatic declarations. and the Savior promised to give the “keys of the kingdom” to the Twelve. 

We will then ascend the Golan Heights, home of many Druze people and scene of fierce fighting between Israel and Syria in 1967 and again in 1973. While there, we will view majestic Mount Hermon and then  drive to where we have a view of the border between Israel and Syria. On our return to Ein Gev, we will stop at the possible site of Jesus’ confrontation with evil spirits that entered the swineherd. Dinner and overnight on the shores of the sea will help us remember the peaceful atmosphere of the Galilee. We will have a lecture in the evening.

Day 8: Friday, June 18                             Mount Tabor • Muhraka • Haifa • Caesarea • Jerusalem

After checking out of our lodging, we will circle the southern end of the Sea of Galilee as we drive to Mount Tabor. We will take taxis to the top to hear an account of sacred events of the Transfiguration.  We’ll stop at Nain, where Jesus brought the widow’s son brought back to life. We will then drive to Muhraka, the traditional site of Elijah’s confrontation with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel¾which offers a magnificent overview of the Jezreel Valley, the valley of Armageddon. We will continue along the top of Mount Carmel to Haifa, a modern port of Israel and center of the Baha’i faith. We will discuss some interesting LDS Church historical events that occurred here and enjoy a panoramic view of Haifa and its harbor before going down to the old German Cemetery.  Next we will drive along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, established by Herod the Great and home of Pilate, where Paul was imprisoned for two years before being sent to Rome. We will drive by Tel Aviv, the largest, mostly Jewish city in the world, on our way to Jerusalem. We will check in to the Olive Tree Hotel for our last two nights in the Holy Land. The day will end with a visit to the Western Wall to watch the Jewish people celebrate this holiday.

Day 9: Saturday, June 19                         Jerusalem • Last 24 Hours of the Savior’s Ministry

This morning we will begin to visit places significant during the last week of Jesus’ life. Then we will visit the traditional Upper Room¾possible scene of the Last Supper, washing of feet, and the last teachings of Jesus to His disciples. Our next stop is at St. Peter’s in Gallicantu¾possible site of the cock’s crowing and palace of Caiaphas. After sacrament meeting at the center and lunch on our own, we will visit the beautiful Orson Hyde Memorial Garden for a review of some of the fascinating history of Jerusalem as we look out over the Old City, followed by our visit to Gethsemane, where the great atoning sacrifice took place as well as the arrest of Jesus.  We will pass through Lion’s Gate to visit the Pool of Bethesda, St. Anne’s Church, and the area of the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus may have been questioned by Pilate. We will then walk out the Damascus Gate to Golgotha, where He was crucified, before returning to the hotel. At the Garden Tomb we will discuss the Savior’s appearances following His resurrection.  We will have a late evening departure for the U.S.A. from the Ben Gurion Airport.

Day 10: Sunday, June 20                          Ben Gurion Airport • U.S.A.

Sunday will include our transatlantic flight from Tel Aviv to the U.S.A.  Most of the group should arrive home midday, ending 10 days of travel but taking with us a lifetime of memories and friendships.

Price includes:

·         Deluxe motor coach transportation

·         Local guide

·         Hotel accommodations in moderate-class hotels

·         Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary

·         Entrance fees

·         Gratuities

·         Travel insurance

• Breakfasts and dinners on land portion

Price does not include:

·    Round-trip, group air Salt Lake City -Tel Aviv available at @$1695

• 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 $590

Anyone wishing to add on to the group after the deadlines may do so, pending availability with the airlines and land arrangements.  Rates may be subject to last-minute booking fees.  Tour components and itinerary are subject to change. Package is subject to cancellation and change fees. Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended. For financial or air information, contact Karen at:

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

marble761@comcast.net

web site: www.ldstravelstudy.org

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