Duration: 12 Days
Dates: February 26 - March 8, 2023
Departure City: Newark, New Jersey
Spiritual Directors:  Rev. Garry Koch and Rev. 'JM' Patilla
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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Sunday, February 26
Depart on your flight from Newark to Cairo, Egypt

Day 2 - Monday, February 27 - Egypt Arrival 
Welcome to Egypt, upon arrival you will be greeted outside customs by our representative for private transfer to your hotel in Cario for an evening at leisure and overnight. (D)

Day 3 – Tuesday, February 28 - Egypt
After your buffet breakfast meet your Egyptologist guide to begin our Journey. We begin with a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World, the three Pyramids of Giza. Next is the Pyramids of Chefren and visit the majestic Great Sphinx, which is the largest single block sculpture located at the foot of the grand Pyramid Chefren. In the area of the Pyramids making for a great picture take an opportunity to ride a camel with the Pyramids in the background. Continue to visit the famous Egyptian Museum and afterwards we visit Old Cairo, and the City’s cultural landmarks that span three millennium of Egyptian history. We begin with Coptic Church, where you will visit the Hanging Church, dating to the late 4th and early 5th century. This basilica was named "Al-Mu'allaqah" because it was built atop the south gate of the Babylon Fortress. Continue to the Church of St. Sergius, a 5th century Coptic Church. This basilica is built on the cave in which the Holy Family stayed and is regarded by visitors as a source of blessing. As we stroll along, we'll come to the recently restored Synagogue of Ben Ezra - the oldest Jewish synagogue in Egypt built in 882 AC. Next, we'll explore the spices and silks in the medieval bazaar of Khan el-Khalili, one of the biggest bazaars in the Middle East and North Africa’s most famous bazaar. Return to your hotel in Cairo for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 4 – Wednesday, March 1 - Egypt
After breakfast departure to Saint Catherine Monastery via the tunnel underneath the Suez Cannel to the west branch of the Red Sea, following what is thought to be the route of the Biblical Exodus (Genesis 16-18). Continue to Alim visit the desert oasis continue to Wadi Feiran (Rephidim), the desert valley where the children of Israel fought against Amalekites. Then to Mount Serbal, the possible site where Moses held his arms up for victory we continue inland heading towards the granite mountain of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) and Wadi El Raha where according to traditions is the area where the Israelites camped and the golden calf was forged (Exodus 32) Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B, D)

Day 5 – Thursday, March 2 - Egypt / Jordan
We begin our journey after breakfast when we will tour the Saint Catherine Monastery with its History, constructed at the foot of Mt. Sinai the oldest working Christian Monastery. St. Catherine Monastery was built in (527 and 565 AC) by the Roman Emperor Justinian, and where it’s believed God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush. Lunch will be provided in Taba at local restaurant prior to crossing border into Israel. Leaving Mount Sinai area toward the eastern shores of Sinai Peninsula and on the Red Sea north to Taba Border Crossing (Egypt Israel border). After crossing meet our Israeli representative and welcome to Israel. We will take short city tour in Eilat Israel’s southernmost town on the Red Sea. We'll arrive at the Araba Border (Israel Jordan southern border). Cross to Jordan and meet with our Jordanian tour guide, Welcome to Jordan, visit the city and port of Aqaba along the King’ Highway to Wadi Musa then to the ancient city of Petra. Dinner at the hotel. (B, L, D)

Day 6 – Friday, March 4 - Exploring the Nabatean Treasure City of Petra
A short drive from our hotel lays the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites – the 2,000-year old city of Petra, known as the red rock city. From the entrance to the Siq there is a 1,250 meters walk to the 1st monument “The treasury”. Throughout most of the day we will explore Petra’s incredible structures; Bab Al Siq the Treasury, the Royal Tombs, the obelisks and the High Place of Sacrifice, the Theatre carved into the side of the mountain, the Church built in the 5th century AD, the Colonnaded Street, the Lion Triclinium with its two lions on its entrance, Ad Deir the large monastery monument, the Great Temple complex, and much more. In the late afternoon we'll drive north to Amman- Jordan’s capital and largest city. (B, D)

Day 7 – Saturday, March 4 - Jordan / Israel
After breakfast we head to the biblical town of Madaba. The town is best known for its Byzantine and mosaics and for its Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Here we'll view the earliest original map of the Holy Land. We continue to the biblical Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34) from which Moses viewed the Promise Land. Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site of the tomb of Moses, commands a spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. (B, D)

Day 8 – Sunday, March 5 - Israel
In the morning visit the town of Nazareth we will take a beautiful view from the top of Mount Precipice. It's believed to be the site of the rejection of Jesus (Luke 4:29 Luke 4:30), continue to the Basilica of Annunciation the church and site that celebrates the news from Gabriel that Mary would give birth to Jesus (Luke 1). If time permits, and we'll drive to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first public miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding feast, and the Lower Galilee region to the beautiful Sea of Galilee to the town of Tiberias, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. (B, D)

Day 9 - Monday. March 6 – Israel
Today we'll visit early Jesus Ministry sites around the Sea of Galilee, visiting Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, see the famous Church of the Beatitudes chapel. Visit Capernaum where is believed to have been Jesus' home and the center of his ministry, here we can stand in what is left of the synagogue in which Jesus ministered, and where he performed many miracles. Continue to the Church of the Primacy of Peter and the Church of the Multiplications of the Loaves and Fishes. After we board a wooden boat and sail on the Sea of Galilee. (B, L, D)

Day 10 - Tuesday, March 7 – Israel
This morning we will walk the Stations of the Cross- the Via Dolorosa. In the afternoon, begin from the top of Mount of Olives where we will have a view across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate where the prince of Peace will enter (Ezekiel 43) and visit Dominus Flevit where "The Lord wept" as he beheld the Holy City (Luke 19:41-44). Through Palm Sunday Road proceed down to the Gethsemane Then to the Western Wall- The holiest site in Judaism and one of the original walls that retained the Temple. (B, D) 
Optional Excursion: Western Wall Tunnels - This is an option in the evening after dinner. Entrance fee is not included in the overall price of the pilgrimage.

Day 11 - Wednesday. March 8 – Israel
We begin the day going to Mount Zion, visit the Upper room (Luke 22), Lord’s Supper, visit King David Tomb, and walk through the Jewish Quarter. Drive through the New City and pass the Knesset (Israel Parliament) and continue to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80), the one to announce the coming of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3). Visit the Church of the Visitation which commemorates the visit made by Mary the mother of Jesus', to Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-56), then continue to Bethlehem where Joseph traveled there (Luke 2:1-7) with Mary whom was pregnant, and where Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1-5), and visit the Church of Nativity. Proceed to see the Shepherd’s Field where an angel appeared to announce the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8-20). Depart this evening on our return flight.

Day 12 – Thursday, March 9 - Arrive Home

Buffet Breakfast (B); Lunch (L); Dinner (D)

* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.*