It’s weird how my sleeping lifelong dream had been awaken yesterday. I can no longer remember how it happened. All I know is it didn’t make me sleep last night. It consumed every inch of me and every ounce of emotion I have.
Since I was little, I have a thing for storybooks. I would love to spend a time alone with the books at our family library. There were two types of books that I usually had at my lap… Bible Storybooks and geography books. The story of Joseph is my favorite. I went over that book a hundred times! Then after I would get tired from reading stories, I would pick a geograpy book and be amazed when I see the actual maps and picture of places from the Bible storybooks. It was like magical for me!
A little few years after, I learned to read longer stories. I went into classical. My favorite is Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain. I find it unparalled up to this time. What captivated me so much from that book was the part where Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn rode a hot air balloon and went all around Africa. The deserts, Pyramids and all the adventure stuff were brilliantly illustrated into words which instantly brought me into different dimension. From then on, it has become my wildest dream …to go to Egypt and ride a hot air balloon upon touring around!
With my growing desire to be more passionate with God combined with my love for books and adventure, I resolved that I am going to Holy Land! And I am taking my family with me:) I still don’t know when I’ll be able to do this but this is definitely included in my Bucket List! I did some research and this is the best deal I found:
Tour Itinerary:Day 1: Arrive Cairo. Upon arrival, our local representative will take you to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Park Pyramids Inter-Continental Hotel. (D)
Day 2: Cairo. Full-day tour features the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Memphis (ancient capital of Egypt and believed to be the site visited by Abraham to address the Pharoah of Egypt), and the Step Pyramid of Sakkara (the oldest stone structure in the world). (B, D)
Day 3: Cairo. This morning, you visit the famous Egyptian Museum and to the old section of Cairo to visit a Jewish synagogue built on the site where Moses was found in a basket. Nearby is the San Serguis Church, the traditional site where Jesus was sheltered during the Holy fl ight. (B, D)
Day 4: Cairo / Goshen / Ismailia. Depart for the land of Goshen where you visit the cities of Ramses and Pithom. In middle kingdom times, the reigning pharaoh gave this land to Jacob. Jacob in turn blessed the pharaoh for his generosity and he called the area “the land of Goshen.” Moses was born and raised here. Overnight at Mercure Ismailia Forsan Island Hotel. (B, D)
Day 5: Ismailia / St. Catherine. This morning, you start at Succoth where Israelites gathered the day before the Exodus. From there, drive to Marah which overlooks the Bitter Lakes. Crossing the Suez Canal you arrive at the Springs of Moses where Moses hit the rock and twelve water springs appeared. Continue to the Wilderness of Sin (site of the miracle of Manna and Quails) and Rephidim where the Israelites fought the Amalekites. Arrive at Morgenloand Village Hotel. (B, D)
Day 6: St. Catherine / Nuwieba. This morning, you visit St. Catherine Monastery (built in 5 A.D. on the site of the Burning Bush) and the well where Moses met his wife Zebura (daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian). We drive to Nuweiba where you check in at the Sonesta Beach Resort on the Red Sea. Relax this afternoon at the beach or by the pool. (Optional sunrise hike to the top of Mt. Sinai available.) (B, D)
Day 7: Nuweiba / Aqaba / Petra. Morning is free. This afternoon, you take a thrilling one-hour high-speed ferry ride on the Red Sea to Aqaba, Jordan. Your Jordanian guide will meet you and take you to Petra through the ancient Edomite and Moabite territories. Dinner and overnight at Petra Panorama Hotel. (B, D)
Day 8: Petra / Amman. This morning, you visit Petra, the ancient Nabatean city built entirely by hewing out the rose-red rock mountains, where you see the Treasury, temples and more. Driving along the King’s Highway, you visit Karak, the imposing Crusader castle, before going to Mt. Nebo for a breathtaking view of the Jordan Valley and Jericho. Dinner and overnight at Golden Tulip Grand Palace Hotel in Amman. (B, D)
Day 9: Amman / Dead Sea. This morning, you cross the Israeli border at Allenby Bridge and drive past Jericho to the Dead Sea. Here you visit Qumran to see the Cave where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and the Masada fortress. Overnight at Novotel on the shores of the Dead Sea. (B, D)
Day 10: Dead Sea / Jerusalem. Leaving the Dead Sea area, you drive via Old Jericho Road with a view of the Mount of Temptation before arriving in Jerusalem atop the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the Old City. Stroll down the Triumphal Entry road to the Garden of Gethsemane. You cross Kidron Valley to Mt. Zion where you visit the Upper Room, David’s tomb, and the Church of St. Peter at Gallicantu. You also visit the Tower of David and the Shrine of the Book before fi nishing at Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist. Check in at Grand Court or Ambassador Hotel. (B, D)
Day 11: Jerusalem. Today we visit the Old City including Western Wall, Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock, Pilate’s Judgment Hall, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb at Calvary. This afternoon, we will visit Bethlehem and the Sherpherds’ Field. Our fi nal stop is at the scale model of ancient Jerusalem. (B, D)
Day 12: Jerusalem / Tiberias. We drive north along the West Bank. Stop at Beit Shean, Meggido, Nazareth, Cana and at the Yardenit Baptismal Center. Overnight at Kibbutz Ma’agan (or similar) by the shores of the Sea of Galilee. (B, D)
Day 13: Tiberias. We drive along the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, where we visit the synagogue and Peter’s house. We continue to Tabgha with the Church of Multiplication and the Mount of Beatitudes. On an ancient trade route, we pass Hazor and then go on to Dan. Here we do a nature walk and visit the high place where Jeroboam son of Nebat set up a golden calf. We continue to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), where Peter made his great confession. Our route then takes us over the Golan Heights, skirting Mt. Hermon, with a view toward Damascus. We end the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. (B, D)
Day 14: Tiberias / Tel Aviv. Leaving Tiberias, we drive to Mt. Carmel to see the site of Elijah’s great triumph over the priests of Baal. Continue south along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, the seat of Roman government, to see the Roman Amphitheatre and the Roman Aqueduct. Arrive in Tel Aviv. Balance of the day is free. (B, D)
Day 15: Depart Tel Aviv. You will be transferred to airport for departure. (B)
Land Package Includes:
• Hotel accommodations sharing double occupancy.
• Buffet breakfast and dinner daily except in Tiberias where St. Peter fish lunch is included
• Sightseeing as shown in the itinerary with knowledgeable English-speaking guide
• One-way speed ferry from Taba to Aqaba
• Exclusive air-conditioned touring vehicle for all services
• All entrance fees
• Airport transfers upon arrival in Cairo and departure from Tel Aviv, and transfers between hotel and the borders and the piers
• Personal meet-and-greet service for airport
transfers and at the international borders
• All local taxes and service charges for meals, accommodations and transportation.
