This is the 20th year for this tour which has been designed to include EGYPT, JORDAN and ISRAEL for 17 days or you have the option of taking the tour to ISRAEL ONLY for 11 days. (See Tour #6) Learn about the activity of early Christians as you journey back in time following the route of the “Exodus” with your Bible in hand. Follow in the steps of the Israelites to Mt. Sinai and to the Promised Land. Visit Jerusalem, sail on the Sea of Galilee and climb Mount Siani where Moses received the Ten Commandments. See events in the “Greatest Man that Ever Lived” book come alive. (Insight, Vol. 1, p. 536 and Vol. 2, p. 947) Breakfast and dinner are included daily. Everyone will be given a headset to hear all the commentary by your tour guide, Brother Emmanuel Zervides, from England.

THE ITINERARY WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:
Aug. 30 Depart from your hometown and fly to New York to board our overnight flight to Cairo, Egypt. Enjoy dinner, a movie and some rest.

Aug. 31 Arrive Cairo and transfer to your hotel. Tonight there will be a “Welcome Dinner” so you can meet all the friends from various countries.

Sept. 1 Today you will visit the famous Cairo Museum to admire the glory of ancient Egypt. See the only archeological discovery that mentions Israel. The museum houses collections dating back thousands of years, including King Tut’s gold treasures. In the afternoon you’ll visit the pharaonic village which is a recreation of what Egypt was like centuries ago.

Sept. 2 The Exodus started at Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt. See the step pyramid at Sakkara that existed in Jacob’s day. (Insight, Vol. 1, p. 530) Next, visit the majestic Pyramids and the Sphinx, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and is where you can ride a camel.

Sept. 3 Today your Exodus tour begins as you cross the Suez Canal to Sinai. This is a truly moving experience to stand at the possible location where the Red Sea parted, and the possible sites where the Israelites camped. (Insight, Vol. 1, p. 780-783 and “See the Good Land,” p. 9) Next, arrive Mount Sinai where you can climb or ride a camel up Mount Sinai to see either the sunset or sunrise for a view of the land Moses saw over 3,500 years ago. Today’s journey ends at the foothills of Mount Sinai, the Israelites rested and made the golden calf. (Insight, Vol. 1 inside cover and p. 540) Your hotel is “Wadi El Raha” meaning “Plain of Rest.”

Sept. 4 Continue on the Exodus tour where Miriam was struck with leprosy. Next, you’ll take a hovercraft boat to Aqaba, Jordan, and then travel through the land of Edom to Petra in Jordan for two nights.

Sept. 5 Another exciting day as you explore the “Red Rose” city of Petra that was sculptured from a mountain range. The Edomites lived here. (See Awake 3/22/00, p. 18) You can walk or ride a horse through the winding canyon which is an experience you will not forget. (This is where the movie “Indiana Jones” was filmed.)

Sept. 6 See the “Land of Promise” from Mount Nebo as Moses did before he died. The Plains of Moab stand in silent testimony as a sad reminder to what happened here. See Jericho and nearby is Gilgal, the site of Israel’s first encampment after crossing the Jordan River. Continue to Bethlehem, our home for the next five nights where so many Biblical events took place.

Sept. 7 Learn how the Bedouins live as we journey to Masada. A cable car ride to the top of the fortress gives us a view of the amazing Dead Sea. (Awake 1/08, p. 25) The highlight will be taking a swim and a mud bath in the Dead Sea where you are guaranteed to float even if you cannot swim, as this is the saltiest water in the world. This is the area where Sodom and Gomorrah were located, and where the Dead Sea Scrolls were recently discovered. (Insight, Vol. 2, p. 844) Be sure to bring a swimsuit.

Sept. 8 Today’s tour will make the Bible come alive as you tour Jerusalem. (Insight, Vol. 2, p. 538, 745, 948) You can read about these places, but it’s another to see 3,000 years of history unfold before your eyes! Imagine standing on the Mount of Olives, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. See the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna in the area where Solomon’s Temple once stood. Next, visit the museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and the model of Jerusalem.

Sept. 9 Free to shop or explore more of Jerusalem.

Sept. 10 Walk through the old streets of Jerusalem. See the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall known as the “Wailing Wall” where people write prayers on paper to be placed in between the stones. The highlight will be walking through Hezekiah’s tunnel, another thrilling experience.

Sept. 11 Visit Joppa where Jonah tried to escape his assignment and Peter had a vision instructing him to visit Cornelius in Caesarea. You end the day in Nazareth, your home until the end of this upbuilding and spiritual Biblelands tour.

Sept. 12 Visit Nazareth, Jesus’ home. At Megiddo you will appreciate the value in keeping our “Outer Garments” for survival. (Rev. 16:16)

Sept. 13 Today, you’ll sail on the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat similar to the fishing boats of Jesus’ time which is an experience you will not forget! (WT, 11/1/93, p. 24) Visit Capernaum, the likely spot of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Tonight, there will be a special “Farewell Dinner.”

Sept. 14 Free day before departing to Tel Aviv for the overnight flight.

Sept. 15 Arrive New York this morning to board your return flight home.