Grand Tour of
Egypt and The Holy Land
19 Days/ 18 nights
May 3 – May 22
Holy Land: May 3- 11
DAY 1 May 4: Arrival to Ben Gurion
Airport (Tel Aviv Airport). Meet & Assist by the tour guide and the bus
driver. Drive to Galilee area to check in our hotel in Tiberias. In our way,
we'll go to visit Tel Aviv by night and to enjoy having a dinner there. After
dinner we'll drive to our hotel (Golan Hotel which has a very beautiful panoramic
view of the Sea Of Galilee).
Arrival to Tiberias. Check in hotel. Staying for
2 nights.
DAY 2 May 5: After breakfast we'll
start our tour in Nazareth. We are going to visit the Church Of Annunciation
(Orthodox) which is built on Mary's Spring Of Water where St. Mary, St.Joseph
and Jesus used to drink from that mineral water. Later on we will continue
walking towards the house of St. Mary (Annunciation church according to
Catholics) and the church of St. Joseph the carpenter where Jesus spent his
childhood and where he grew up. Continue to the Sea Of Galilee area to visit
Mt. Of Beatitudes where Jesus had the sermon of the mount, Capernaum the town of
Jesus , Tabgha church where Jesus multiplied the fish and loaves , St. Peter
Primacy church and Yardenit the baptismal site (not the real one...the real one
is in Qaser El-Yahood). Today we are going to experience sailing on the Sea Of
Galilee on board "Jesus Boat Replica". Back to our hotel
in Tiberias for dinner and over night.
DAY 3 May 6: Check out our hotel in Tiberias. Drive to Mt.
Tabor to visit the Transfiguration site inside the church which is located on
the top of the Mountain. Later on we'll continue to the city of Haifa to visit
Stella Maris church which
is built over the cave of prophet Elijah. Nearby
that cave Elijah prayed and asked God to end the drought. We'll visit the
panoramic site of the Bahai Gardens and the German Colony in Haifa. Continue to
Caesarea Maritime ancient city built in the year 22 BC by King Herod the great
according to the Roman style cities. In Caesarea the first gentile the
Centurion Cornelius was baptized with his family members by Peter. Continue
driving to Jerusalem the holy city. Check in hotel for 5 nights.
DAY 4 May 7: After breakfast .we'll visit Mount Of Olives
holy sites starting with the Ascension chapel where Jesus Ascended to heaven,
Pater Noster church where Jesus taught his disciples the "OUR FATHER IN
HEAVEN" Prayer. We'll walk down towards the panoramic view of the Holy
City and then we'll start walikng into the "PaLm Sunday Route". In
our way we'll visit two churches the "Dominus Flevit" church where
Jest wept over Jerusalem and the beautiful Russian Orthodox church of "Mary
Magdalene". Arriving to Gethsemane Garden and church where Jesus Agony
happened. After that we'll visit the
cave of the disciples and the tomb of mother
"Mary" and her parents and also St. Joseph. Meeting the bus and drive
to Bethlehem to visit the Nativity church (the birth place of Jesus), the Milk
Grotto church and the Shepherds field. Back to
hotel in Jerusalem.
DAY 5 May 8: After breakfast, we'll
walk the via dolorosa (the way of the grieve of Jesus). We are going to enter
from the Lions Gate. We are going to see in our way the birth place of Mother
Mary and also the pools of Beit Hesda where Jesus met the paralytic man who was
waiting for 38 years for a miracle. The last 5 stations in the via Dolorosa
will be inside the compound
of the Holy Sepulchre church. Exactly on the 9th
station the Coptic church of queen Helen is located there. Arriving to the Holy
Sepulchre church and will be visiting the Golgotha and the tomb of Jesus and
other things. Continue walking to the
Christian Quarter & the Armenian Quarter
heading to the Syriac Orthodox church believed to be the place of the upper room
according to the Orthodox faith. The church
also displays a painting on leather of Mary and Jesus. It is said
to have been painted by St Luke. Continue
walking down towards the Cardo the Roman road with pillars and shops. Continue walking towards the Western Wall (Wailing
Wall) the last remnant from the temple mount era. It is a sacred place for the Jews. Meeting with our bus driver
and drive to "St. Peter Ingallicantu" church where is the location of Caipha's house and where Peter denied
Jesus. Visiting the tomb of King David on Mount Zion and the last supper room (the cenacle according to the
Catholic faith) and the Dormition church.
Back to hotel.
DAY 6 May 9: Drive to
Jericho the oldest city in the world. In our way we'll stop in Bethany to visit
the tomb of Lazarus and the house where he and his
sisters used to live. In Jericho We'll
visit the Orthodox church which is built on Mount Quarantal commerating
the 3rd temptation. We'll ascend by a
cable car and then walk up the stairs to reach the church. In Jericho Jesus met Zacchaeus the tax collector who
was a short man and climbed up the Sycamore tree in
order to see Jesus. We are
going to visit the remains of the house of Zacchaeus and we'll see the Sycamore tree. In Jericho area Jesus healed the blind man Bartimaeus
(Mark 10:46). Later on we will continue to the real site of Baptism
where Jesus himself was baptized by John the baptist (Qaser El-Yahood). We'll
stop by the ancient Monastery of St. Gerasimos who used to
live there with other Hermits during the Byzantine period. Later on we'll
continue to Qumran the place where the scrolls of the holy bible
were found in 1947 by a Beduin young man. In our way to Jerusalem we'll stop by "Wadi
Qelt" area to visit St. George monastery (panoramic view from above) which
is built in the "Valley Of Shadows" which is
mentioned in the book of Psalms. In this site ,Elijah the prophet was fed by
Ravens. Back to the hotel in Jerusalem.
DAY 7 May 10: Today
we'll be heading to the western region of Jerusalem like Ein Karem to visit the
church of the birth place of St. John the baptist and the
church of visitation (Mary meets her cousin Elizabeth). After that we'll
continue to
Abu Gosh village which was
named Emaus during Jesus times and was named also Kiryat Ya'arim during King
David time. We are going to visit the Crusader church and
"Our Lady Of the Arch Of Covenant" church. Our next stop will be the church of St.
George in Lydda (Called Lod Today). St. George is immortalized in the tale of St. George and the Dragon and is one of the
Fourteen Holy Helpers. After that we'll continue to the beautiful and active city Tel Aviv. We are going to
visit St. Peter church in Jaffa-Tel Aviv where Peter
had that vision. In Jaffa
(Joppa) Peter ressurected Dorcas (Thabita) from death. Jonah sailed from here
to Tarshis (Jonah and the whale story). Back to Jerusalem to
visit the Israeli museum with it's marvelous Jerusalem model and
the shrine of the book where
the scrolls are hidden. Back to hotel for dinner and over night.
Day 8 May 11: We will
check out the hotel in the early morning and transfer to the airport for your
flight back to USA.
Egypt May 11-22:
Egypt
is one of the most popular travel destinations for Christians due to its
ancient Coptic Monasteries and Churches. Also known for itÕs luxurious Red Sea
resorts and beautiful beaches by the Mediterranean Sea in Alexandria.
Day 1 Monday, May 11th:
Arrival at Cairo
airport, then visit St. Mary in Zayton on our way to the hotel.
At night (Optional
)Mattareya, Pope Kyrillos Windmill (Tahouna) and St. Mary in Maadi.
Day 2 Tuesday, May 12th:
Will start with visiting
Wadi El Natroun Monasteries
Dinner at Fish Market in
Alexandria
Day 3 Wednesday, May 13th:
Start the day with
Liturgy,
Relax and enjoy a day by
the Mediterranean Sea.
At night, will visit St.
Mark Cathedral and St. George Church in Sporting.
Day 4 Thursday, May 14th:
Will Start by Visiting
St. Mina Monastery in Alexandria (Maryot) and St. Abou Siefain Convent in Sidi
Krier/Alexandria.
Day 5 Friday, May 15th:
Start with the
Monasteries and Churches in Old Cairo, including the crypt where the Holy
Family stayed, also the Hanging Church (MuÕallaqa) and the Jewish Synagogue.
Dinner and back to hotel for lodging –
(Also Mokattem and
Citadel visits are possible if time permit)
Day 6 Saturday, May 16th:
Start by visiting St.
Paul and St. Antony Monasteries by the Red Sea and climb the mountain to visit
the cave of St. Antony. Will then travel to the Luxury Club Paradisio Resort in
El Gouna/Hurgada for Dinner and lodging
Day 7 Sunday, May 17th:
Start with Liturgy, then
enjoy the day at the all-inclusive resort by the beautiful red Sea shoreline
(includes everything from soft drinks to food)
Day 8 Monday, May 18th:
Relax and enjoy your
all-inclusive stay at the Club Paradisio Resort
Day 9 Tuesday, May 19th:
Back to Cairo for
lodging at the Fairmont Hotel
Day 10 Wednesday, May 20th:
We will start by
visiting Haret Zewela and El Rome Monasteries and Churches.Will end the day
visiting St. Rewies Cathedral in Abbasia to Attend H.H. Pope TawadrousÕs
Sermon. Dinner and back to the hotel.
Day 11 Thursday, May 21th:
Visit the Pyramids and
Sphinx (No dinner will be offered that night)
Day 12, Friday, May
22:
End of trip, will transfer to Cairo Airport for departure to USA
Price/ Payment: full payment to be made no later than Feb 15 2015
- Option #1*: Holy Land and
Egypt from May 3 - 22 (19 days/ 18 nights);
- $2495.00
per person based on double occupancy
- Single
Supplement add $1125.00
- Option #2*: Holy Land only May 3-11
(8 days/ 7 nights)
- $1395.00
per person based on double occupancy
- Single
supplement add $525.00
- Option #3*: Egypt only May 11-
22 (12 days / 11 nights)
- $1395.00
per person based on double occupancy
- Single
supplement add $600.00
Trip includes;
- We
offer all Luxurious Hotels in Egypt and Holy Land
- http://www.golanhotel.com in
Natherath/ Taberia area
- http://www.stgeorgehoteljerusalem.com/ in
Jerusalem
- http://www.fairmont.com/nile-city-cairo/ in
Cairo
- http://www.helnan.com/HelnanPalestineHotel=_17=-74.htm in
Alexandria
- http://hotels.elgouna.com/club-paradisio-el-gouna/
- Transportation
with luxurious bus
- English/Arabic
Tour Guide
- Half
board (two meals/ day) except in El Gouna Resort (all inclusive)
-
Bottled water will be available in the bus for free
- Entrance
fee for all sites per itinerary
- Sailing
On Board Jesus Boat Replica On The Sea Of Galilee
- Ascending
To The Top Of Mt. Tabor By Mini Vans To Visit The Church Of Transfiguration.
- A
Map Of The Holy Land For Each Passenger.
- A
Souvenir Gift For Each Passenger (Given On Last Day).
- A
Pilgrim Certificate Provided By The Israeli Ministry Of Tourism.
Trip Excludes:
- Travel
insurance * (strongly recommended) http://www.travelguard.com/
- Airfare
to/ from USA to Tel Aviv and Cairo
- Any
Medical expenses
- Any
meals other than breakfast and dinner
- Any
drinks with meals
- Any
personal expenses
- Tourist
Visas
REFUNDS, CHANGES, & CANCELLATIONS
Deposit of $250 per person is non-refundable and non-transferable.
Up to 60 days prior to departure: $250 penalty (deposit)
59 to 45 days prior to departure: $500 penalty
44 to 30 days prior to departure: $1,000 penalty
29 to 0 days to departure: 100% non-refundable
- Credit Card payment refunds made 60 days after the
original payment date are subject to 3% merchant fee.
- No refunds will be made for any unused services including hotels,
sightseeing, transfers, meals.
-
Programs of the guaranteed departure tours are operated Òas is.Ó However, a
day-by-day program may be amended due to local conditions. There is a strict NO
REFUND policy for unused services
Terms and Conditions:
- VISAS
/ TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
All travelers are responsible to check the Visa
Requirements for the countries they are visiting or passing through prior to
departure. Passports, Visas, and other travel documents must be valid for the
dates of travel. US citizens do not require a visa to visit Israel. For all
other destinations, it is the travelersÕ responsibility to check the visa
requirements. All travelersÕ passports must be valid for at least SIX (6)
months from the departure date.
- IMPORTANT
For security reasons and due to measures taken
by the authorities, all airlines require that the passengerÕs name on the AIR
ticket MUST match the passenger name as it appears on the passport. Church is
not responsible for denied boarding or re-issue costs due to an incorrect name
provided by the passenger or a third party acting on the passengerÕs behalf.
- LIABILITY
To protect yourself against cancellation
charges, we highly recommend that you purchase adequate Travel Insurance. If
you have credit card coverage, it is important to confirm that it covers
cancellation penalties. Church will not assume liability for any loss, damage,
delay, or for an accident of any kind that may occur due to the negligence of
any company, hotel proprietor or other person responsible for the provision of
services.
- ACCOMMODATIONS
All hotel and government taxes are included
unless otherwise specified. Accommodation is based on two people sharing a
room. Single room supplement cost applies when requesting a room for single
occupancy. Room upgrade requests are subject to additional charges and
availability. Where possible, handicapped or non-smoking rooms may be requested
and are subject to availability. The right is reserved by the supplier to
substitute a hotel from those listed in the brochure/website due to
availability or for client comfort and/or for reasons beyond their control.
Hoteliers are solely responsible for room allocation, in accommodation with the
category as booked and reserved by travelers. International standards apply for
check-in (3:00pm) and check-out (noon). In Israel there are no official ratings
for hotels, therefore Categories of Hotels are displayed as an indication only.
- Restrictions This
tour is not recommended for those guests with mobility concernsThere is
approximately 2 hours of daily walking, some of it with steep steps, uphill
walking and over cobblestone surfaces. Participants with mobility concerns
must be accompanied at their own expense by their own companion. Group leaders
and tour guides cannot be responsible for assisting with walker/wheelchair.
- Clothing
We recommend layered,
easy care, loose-fitting, conservative clothing. A note about
summer attire: shorts (or mini- skirts) and bare shoulders are considered
inappropriate at all religious sites.
General Clothing for Men:
Jeans, casual slacks, short and/or long sleeve shirts, socks, and light jacket.
General Clothing for Women:
Jeans, long skirts, casual dresses, casual slacks, short and/or long sleeve,
socks, stockings, and a light jacket or sweater is suggested. We recommend that
women bring a shawl or scarf which can be placed conveniently in their day bag,
so that they may drape their shoulders, or over their heads at religious
sites. Remember we are going to visit a lot of churches
and monasteries and itÕs very important as Christians to show respect.
*For more information please call Tasony
Suzy (321-377-2548) or email at suzyfk@aol.com
Click Here for the Registration Form
