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In the Footsteps of Jesus and Paul - Israel & Turkey - Christian Program  Year round  Itinerary: Day 1 USA/TEL AVIV Depart the USA to begin your spiritual journey to the Holy Land. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board your trans-Atlantic overnight flight. Day 2 TEL AVIV Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, an Altura representative will meet and assist you. Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. Welcome Dinner. D Day 3 JAFFA/CAESAREA/MEGGIDO/MUHRAKA/TIBERIAS Drive through Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv to Jaffa , the ancient Joppa, city of Jonah and Simon the Tanner. See the restored Old City and continue along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea , Old Crusader City and the Capital of the Roman Province. See the Amphitheater, the impressive Aqueduct and the harbor from which the St.Paul was taken prisoner to Rome. Proceed to Tel Meggido, site of the final battle of Armageddon, where excavations have revealed a millennium of history. Then onto Haifa and Mount Carmel, Muhraka where Elijah confronted the profhets of Baal. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Mediterranean and the Persian Gardens. Continue to Acre, famous old Crusader stronghold and the biblical city of Tiberias for overnight. B,D Day 4 UPPER GALILEE Today drive to the Mount of Beatitudes , site of the Sermon on the Mount. Then to Tabgha, to view a beautiful mosaic depicting the scene of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. See Capernaum and the ancient synagogue, and Chorazim which along with Capernaum was cursed by Jesus for spurning His teaching. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee then drive up to Dan in the Golan Heights to visit Banias , the ancient Christian city of Caesarea Phillipi at the southern base of Mt. Hermon. Proceed later to the River Jordan where it flows out of the Sea of Galilee, for a Baptism ceremony and return to Tiberias. B,D Day 5 NAZARETH/JORDAN VALLEY/JERICHO/JERUSALEM Leave Tiberias for Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle and Nazareth where Our Lord spend His childhood and early years. Continue through the Jezreel Valley to Beit Shean, ancient Scythopolis, to see the Roman Theater and archelogical site. Proceed to the scenic Jordan Valley towards Jericho, the oldest known inhabited city in the World. Tour the ruins and archelogical site. See Elisha’s Fountain , Qarandal and Mount of Temptation to the west. Then continue south to the Dead Sea, with a stop in Qumran, site of the Dead sea Scrolls discovery. View Mt.Nebo and follow the ancient Roman route through the Judean Desert, via the Good Samaritan Inn and Bethany, where Jesus raise Lazarus, before arriving in Jerusalem. B,D Day 6 JERUSALEM: MT OF OLIVES/GETHSEMANE/KIDRON VALLEY/BETHLEHEM Drive to the Mount of Olives and the place of Ascension for a wonderful view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem. See the Pater Noster Church, the Chapel of Ascension and the Palm Sunday road, on which Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Drive to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Then through the Kidron Valley to the Church of St.Peter in Gallicantu, built over the Palace of the High Priest Caiaphas. Proceed to Mount Zion and visit the Room of the Last Supper and King David’s Tomb. Continue to Bethlehem to see the Church of Nativity, built over the stable where Jesus was born. Visit the plains of Boaz and Shepherd’s Fields. Return to Jerusalem. B,D. Day 7 JERUSALEM: EIN KAREM/NEW AND OLD CITY This morning drive pass the Knesset tothe Israel Museum. Visit the Shrine of the Book and see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then to the Model of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus and Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist. Continue to Yad Vashem for a visit to the Memorial of the Holocaust. In the afternoon, enter the Old City of Jerusalem to see the Western Wall, the Temple Area with the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Pool of Bethesda, St.Anne’s Church, Arc of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man), the Via Dolorosa , Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb. Stroll through the Bazaars before returning to your hotel. B,D. Day 8 JERUSALEM/LOD/ISTANBUL Transfer to the airport for your flight to Istambul, ancient Byzantium and Constantinople. An Altura representative will meet and assist you. Transfer to your hotel. Remainder of day is at leisure. B,D Day 9 ISTANBUL First, visit the magnificent 17th century Blue Mosque and St.Sophia, masterpiece of Bizantine Christianity. Continue to the Hippodrome, ancient scene of the Roman Games. Later , enter the spectacular Topkapi Palace and stand in awe at the incredible collection of Jewels and treasures. End the day with a visit to the Grand Bazzar containing more than 4.000 shops. B,D Day 10 ISTANBUL/TROY/CANAKKALE Depart Istambul driving along the Sea of Marmara and then ferry across the Dardanelles to Troas. Here Paul on his second missionary journey , saw the vision of the man from Macedonia. His response marked the beginning of his ministry to the West. Continue to legendary Troy famous by Homer in the Illiad and later to historic Canakkale for overnight. B,D Day 11 PERGAMUN/THYATIRA/IZMIR Drive south along the Agean coast to Bergama, ancient Pergamun (Rev. 2:12-17) city of parchment and learning center. Visit the Acropolis, Temple of Athena and famous Asklepleion ruins. The largest building of the Roman period is the Red Court (Red Basilica), used later as a church dedicated to St.John the Apostle. Continue to Thyatira (Akhisar) , site of one of the 7 Churches (Rev. 2:18-29). Paul first convert in Europe was from here (Acts 16:14). Visit the remains of the Church and Roman ruins. Proceed then to Izmir (Smyrna) birthplace of Homer, for overnight. B,D Day 12 SARDIS/PHILADELPHIA/IZMIR Depart for Sardis, ancient capital of Croesus whose King minted the first coins in history. Sardis was the site of another of the seven Churches to which letters are addressed in the Book of Revelation (3:1-6). See the temple of Artemis and other Bizantine and Roman remains. Continue to Philadelphia ( Alashehir) where many of its early Christians were martyred and the only Church of the seven who was not condemned (3:7-13). See the Byzantine Basilica with its 11th century frescos and return to Izmir for overnight. B,D Day 13 EPHESUS/KUSADASI Drive to the ancient Agora of Izmir, one of the Seven Churches, the Church of Polycarp was here. Continue to Ephesus, in Paul’s days , Capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor. Here was located one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the temple of Diana. Visit the impressive excavations of the marble streets with splendid buildings and see the Great Amphitheater. Paul spend a period of two years here in his third journey (Acts 19: 1-7), preaching to Ephesians the Word of God (Acts 20:17-38). The Apostol John is believed to have brought here Mary, the mother of Jesus, where she lived and spend her last days. Visit the Chapel believed to be built on the site of her home. Also see the Basilica of St.John and the Church of Virgen Mary where the Third Ecumenical Council was held in 431. Overnight in Kusadasi. B,D Day 14 APHRODISIAS/LAODICEA/PAMUKKALE Morning departure to Aphrodisias to visit its beautiful archaeological area revealing a near-perfect stadium, theater, odeon and temple. Continue to Loadicea , ancient seat of a Christian Church who was destroyed by an earthquake in the first century and rebuilt by Marcus Aurelio. It was the last of the Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 3:14-22). Visit the remains and on to Pamukkale (Cotton-Castle) to see the natural phenomenom of white limestone terraces. Proceed then to visit the ruins of the ancient city , the necropolis and the Great Baths. Overnight. B,D Day 15 ANTALYA/ISTAMBUL Today depart Pamukkale to the port city of Antalya (Attalia) , capital of the Turquoise coast and from where Paul and Barnabas sailed back to Syria (Acts 14:25-26). Afternoon transfer to the airport for your local flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival , meeting by an Altura representative and transfer to your hotel for overnight. B,D Day 16 ISTANBUL/USA Transfer to the airport for your return flight(s) home as your journey comes to an end. B The Turkey portion of this itinerary can be operated as an independent program with optional extra nights.  Every Spiritual Journey includes: · Roundtrip air transportation via the finest scheduled service airlines · Meeting and assistance service at airports · First class and/or first class superior hotel accommodations at selected hotels · Breakfast and dinner daily · Sightseeing by deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach including entrance fees · Professional English – speaking tour guides/escorts · Roundtrip transfers including baggage handling · Hotel taxes and service charges · Travel documents · Assistance by local Altura Representative FREE TRIP INCENTIVE PROGRAM · One free journey for every five paying passengers · Travel credits for very odd-paying passenger · Assistance with creating your program brochure |
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