A Stillspeaking Journey Through the Holy Land Itinerary December 29, 2017 January 11, 2018 Day 1-2 / Friday December 29 - Saturday, December 30, 2017 - Depart from the United States and Arrive in Tel Aviv Depart the U.S on individual flights. Group transfer to the Legacy Hotel; check in available as of 2:00 pm Gather for a welcome orientation with your guides Meals: Dinner Day 3 / Sunday, December 31, 2017 - Jerusalem Experience the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim history of Jerusalem and the city through the eyes of your Israeli and Palestinian guides and Rev. Naim Ateek from Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in East Jerusalem http://sabeel.org/. Breakfast at the Legacy Hotel Visit the Temple Mount, where an imam from the mosque will explain the importance of the site to Muslims (FYI Only Muslim can enter the Dome of the Rock) Tour of the Jewish Quarter and Western Wall Lunch in the Old City Tour the Christian Quarter and Via Dolorosa, where a local pastor will lead the group through the incense-filled halls of the Holy Sepulchre Church Return to the hotel for free time, or elect to continue exploring the Old City Dinner at hotel Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 / Monday, January 1, 2018 - Jerusalem / Ramallah See Jerusalem through the eyes of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faiths, and go behind closed doors to meet a Palestinian official. Breakfast at the Legacy Hotel Overview of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives Visit the Garden of Gethsemane where according to the gospels, Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion. Lunch on own Cross the Green Line to the West Bank s de facto political and business capital, Ramallah Visit the Quaker school in Ramallah Meet a local Palestinian politician See other sites in Ramallah, before heading back to the hotel Dinner on own Hotel: Legacy, Jerusalem Meals: Breakfast Day 5 / Tuesday, January 2, 2018 - Jerusalem See the human side of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with visit to the Holocaust Museum, and get special access to an Israeli politician. In the evening, participate in a discussion about prospects for the future in the Middle East. Breakfast at the Legacy Hotel Depart hotel for Yad Vashem Take a sobering journey through Yad Vashem (the Israel Holocaust Museum), and meet with a Holocaust survivor Lunch in Ein Karem and talk about John the Baptist Meet with an Israeli politician Over dinner, enjoy a lecture and discussion with two peacemakers (one Israeli and one Palestinian) from the Parents Circle/Families Forum (Website: http://www.theparentscircle.org) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 6 / Wednesday, January 3, 2018 - Bethlehem / Gush Etzion Bloc Explore the many facets of the West Bank by visiting the Christian community of Bethlehem, a refugee camp, and the Gush Etzion settlement bloc.
Breakfast at the Legacy Hotel Depart hotel for the West Bank Meet with the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) representative at a checkpoint to enter Bethlehem to learn about their work monitoring restrictions on Palestinian access to Jerusalem Travel to a settlement to meet with Israeli settlers living in the West Bank Cross into Bethlehem for a tour of the Church of the Nativity Meet Dr. Mitri Raheb, President of Diyar Consortium and of Dar al-kalima University College in Bethlehem, as well as the president of the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, the Senior Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, and in the leadership of Kairos Palestine. Taste local cuisine at the Tent, a Bedouin-style restaurant overlooking Shepherd s Field Visit a refugee camp on the edge of Bethlehem Dinner with special performance by local musicians Day 7 / Thursday, January 4, 2018 - Jericho / Beit She an Tour the remarkably well-preserved ancient locations in Jericho and Beit She an, and visit the site of Jesus baptism on the Jordan River. Breakfast at the Legacy Hotel Check out of hotel and load luggage on bus Visit the archaeological sites of Tel Jericho and Hisham s Palace near Jericho Quick lunch (at your own expense) on the bus See the amphitheater, baths, and Cardo at ancient Beit Sh ean Stop by the Jordan River Check in to the Ron Beach Hotel along the Sea of Galilee Dinner at hotel Hotel: Ron Beach Hotel, Tiberias Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 8 / Friday, January 5, 2018 - Galilee See the wild beauty of Israel s northern region, including the Sea of Galilee, the northern mountains, and Roman ruins. Breakfast at the Ron Beach Hotel
Depart hotel for Capernaum Tour Capernaum, the town where Jesus lived and preached Drive north to Caesarea Philippi Tour the Roman ruins at Caesarea Philippi Hike the trail to the Banias waterfall Lunch Sail across the Sea of Galilee on a boat ride from Ginosaur to Tiberias Return to the hotel Briefing session about the Jordanian portion of the trip Dinner at hotel Hotel: Ron Beach Hotel, Tiberias Day 9 / Saturday, January 6, 2018 - Nazareth / Tel Aviv Tour historic Nazareth, visit the birthplace of the Virgin Mary, and discover the artist s quarter and markets of the port of Jaffa. Breakfast at the Ron Beach Hotel Check out of hotel and load luggage on bus Leave hotel for Nazareth Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, meet with a local Pastor, and tour the city of Nazareth Drive to Tzippori and visit the birthplace of the Virgin Mary Lunch on rout Travel south to Tel Aviv and Jaffa Tour the port and artist s quarter of Jaffa Farwell peace discussion with your Israeli and Palestinian guides in Rabin Square Check in to the Tal Hotel Dinner on own Hotel: Tal Hotel, Tel Aviv Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Day 10 / Sunday, January 7, 2018 Eilat / Wadi Rum Fly from Tel Aviv to Eilat, where the clear blue water and coral of the Red Sea will invite you for a swim. In the afternoon, take a jeep excursion into the rocky desert valleys of Wadi Rum, Jordan. Check out of the Tal Hotel in Tel Aviv Flight departs Tel Aviv for Eilat Arrive in Eilat
Group splits in two. Choose to visit the Eilat boardwalk with its shops, seaside restaurants, and indoor shopping mall, or go to Coral Beach Nature Reserve for swimming and snorkeling in the Rea Sea (equipment rental not included) Reconvene and leave to the Wadi Araba Border Crossing Exit Israel through customs and enter Jordan Lunch in Wadi Rum Take 4x4 Jeeps into the desert landscapes of Wadi Rum Check in to the Petra Guesthouse in Petra Dinner at the hotel Hotel: Petra Guesthouse, Petra Day 11 / Monday, January 8, 2018 - Petra Travel back in time to the ancient city of Petra, hidden in the deep desert valleys of southern Jordan. Spend the first half of the day learning about the site, then strike out on your own to hike the scenic trails of this expansive national park. Breakfast at the Petra Moon Hotel A local Bedouin guide takes you through the first half of Petra, the legendary city of the Nabataeans Lunch in Petra on your own Return to the hotel or continue exploring Petra on your own by hiking up to the Monastery, climbing up to High Place of Sacrifice, or discovering more of the rock-cut tombs Dinner at the hotel Hotel: Petra Guesthouse, Petra Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Day 12 / Tuesday, January 9, 2018 - Madaba, Mt Nebo / Amman Visit Mt Nebo mentioned in the Bible as the place where Moses viewed the Promised Land and Madaba, a city known for its beautiful Byzantine era Mosaics of the Holy Land.
Breakfast at the hotel Check out of hotel and load luggage on bus Travel the King s Highway Madaba Lunch at Madaba Visit the Church in Madaba and then ascend up Mt. Nebo and take in the breathtaking view of the Holy Land Drive to Amman Check in to the Olive Tree Hotel, Amman Dinner Hotel: Olive Tree Hotel, Amman Day 13 / Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Jerash / Amman Visit one of the best-preserved cities of the Roman Empire, Jerash. Called the Pompeii of the Middle East, walk its colonnaded streets before continuing on to Jordan s capital, Amman. Breakfast at the Olive Tree Hotel Check out of hotel and load luggage on bus Travel to Jerash Discover the beautiful ruins of Jerash, including the Southern Theater, the Temple of Artemis, and the ornate Nymphaeum Lunch on your own at Jerash Have dinner on your own in the First Circle/Rainbow Street/Mango Street area Group transfer to the airport for your flight home Meals: Breakfast Day 14 / Thursday, January 11, 2018 Departure After midnight, fly back to the United States