Egypt & Israel

 Arrival in the Land of the Pharaohs. At Cairo International airport you will be welcomed and assisted through immigration and customs by our representative, then escorted to your hotel. Freshen up and enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Check into rooms and later proceed to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Later visit an Oriental perfumery. Return to the hotel. (Overnight: Cairo **Meal plan: Breakfast /Dinner)

After breakfast check out of the hotel and depart on a morning visit to the Old Cairo to visit: The hanging church (AL MUALLAQA) – was built in the 4 century over southern gate of the fortress of Babylon. Dedicated to Virgin Mary, its treasures includes a 14th century wall painting of the Nativity, Church of (ABU SERGA) A 5th century basilica built over crypt where the Holy Family is believed to have stayed during their flight into Egypt, Church of St.Mercurius (ABU SEFEIN) – boasts a unique collection of Coptic art including 175 icons that depict scenes from the old and new testaments, wall paintings, etching and stained glass, Transfer to Nuweiba (approx 6 hrs) Arrive Nuweiba, check in the hotel. Rest of the evening at leisure (Overnight: Nuweiba **Meal plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

After breakfast, transfer to the border town of Taba (30 mins) and cross over to Eilat to enter Israel. Cross through the border- check and immigration. Meet our guide in Israel. Welcome to ISRAEL…. …Land of the Bible…. Land of the faith…. the Holy Land, revered throughout recorded history as the cradle of monotheistic religion. For a person of faith whose beliefs are rooted in the Bible there is no place on earth like the Holy Land –Israel. We will drive to KibbutzYotvata which is the biggest kibbutz in Israel where the milk and cheese are produced by goats they breed there, in addition to their experience in deserted organic agriculture. Where we shall be given an educational tour to learn how the ecological vegetables are cultivated. We drive down to the Dead Sea, the deepest place on earth – to float on and enjoy the saline waters. We walk through the Oasis of Ein Gedi, known since the days of King David. Ein Gedi, where four springs with fresh water meet the desert sun, the place to enjoy the rich and unique flora and fauna that such an oasis can offer. Continue to visit Jericho the Oldest city in the word. Then we go to Jerusalem to see it at night from Mount Olives. (Overnight: Bethlehem **Meal plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure for the dayat7:30for the Garden of Gethsemane, and also visit the “Wailing Wall”, the last remnants of the Temple in Jerusalem. If the current situation allows it, visit the Temple Mount. Continue in the footsteps of Jesus along the Stations of the Via Dolorosa, Jesus’ “Way of Suffering”, and onto the Church of the Holy Sepultures, where Jesus was crucified and buried. Continue to the Via Dolorosa that passes through the Old City’s oriental “Suq” (Bazaar). (Overnight: Bethlehem. **Meal plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel Departure for the day at 7:30AM for visit of the ancient Church of the Nativity, where one can actually touch the very place where Jesus was born. Built by St. Helena already in the 4th century has been an active church and never destroyed ever since! Here St. Heronymus wrote the first Latin translation of the Bible – the “Volgata”. Visit the “Milk Grotto” and, the “Shepherds Fields” in Beth-Sahour.After noon drive; visit Ein Karem the place where John the Baptist was born. Visit the “St. John in the Mountains” church, built on the place where the house of St. John was standing. Also visit the Church of Visitation, Where St. Mary visited Elisabeth, and continue to visit the new city Jerusalem. Transfer to hotel. (Over night: Bethlehem. **plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel for the day at 07:00AM to visit the old city of Jaffa, one of the ancient gateways to the Holy Land: Through its port the Cedar trees for Salomon’s Temple were brought, the prophet Jonas tried to flee God, but most important: It was in Jaffa where Christianity began to be spread among the nations. Here St. Peter lived in the house of Simon the Tanner and had the “Vision of the Flesh”, and here he made his first miracle by healing the little girl. Today Jaffa’s renovated alley-ways attract many artists, who have their galleries there. Drive to Caesarea, the magnificent port-city built by King Herod the Great. From here St. Peter went to Rome and started with his first miracles. In Caesarea’s well-preserved theater an inscription of the procurator Pontius Pilate was found. We continue to Haifa Mt. Carmel. Stella Mary’s and afternoon drive to visit Moshav Zeppori where one can learn about the dairy farming. Poultry farming, and crops and marketing the aquarium’s plants, thento Nazareth, and visit the basilica and the Grotto of the Annunciation- the old Synaqoque and Mary’s Well. to hotel. (Overnight: Nazareth ** Meal plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel, departure for the day at 7:30AM to visit the places where Jesus preached around the Sea of Galilee: Capernaum, with Peters House and the famous Synagogue, enjoy the view from Mt. of the Beatitudes, where the “Sermon on the Mount” was given, and the reconstructed church in Tabgha, where tradition puts the miracle of the Bread and The Fish. Drive to visit KibbutzGinosar – the biggest and oldest banana plantations in Israel , which in the last decades, show impressive agriculture results , both for Israel and worldwide. Sail on the Galilee sea in a boat similar to the boat used by Jesus and his disciples. Continue to the Baptismal Site of Yardeniton the Holy River Jordan. , Final visit will be to learn about the open-pound fish breeding to hotel. (Overnight: Nazareth**Meal plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

Breakfast at the hotel At 6:30AM check out of the hotel and proceed to visit Qumran Continue to visit Kibbutz Ein Yahav, there will be full lesson on both agriculture and organic agriculture of the greenhouse which grow 40 species of tomatoes, 20 species of peppers and more products. Continue to visit the official Aloe Vera farm. The tour includes learning about water supply, community life and the plan for the development of the Central Arava, as well as a breathtaking view of the area and the border of Peace with Jordan. During the tour we will learn about the Aloe Vera plant and about the natural products of Ein Yahav where 39 products are produced from the Aloe Vera plant whose unique qualities are preserved in the production process. Continue to Eilat border. At 16:00 we will arrive to Taba Border to enter into Egypt. Continue to St Catherine’s Arrive St, Catharine check in hotel. Have an early dinner and retire early to be ready for the early morning climb. (Overnight: St. Catherine ** plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

At 02:00 hrs start the climb of Mountain St, Catherine. Return to hotel for rest and breakfast. Check out then visit sites in St. Catherine, which is the place where Moses climbed up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. In the same area, there is the famous Greek Orthodox Monastery, which is built around the Burning Bush and the well where Moses met his wife Zebura (daughter of Jethro, the priest of Median). Visit the place where the Israelites camped when Moses went to receive the Ten Commandments. There will be an optional Walking tour around the mountain in the valley of Arbien.

Heading to the Springs of Moses where Moses hit the rock and twelve water springs appeared. Here, there are remnants of the springs and a group of Bedouins still lives there. Continue to the Wilderness of Sin where the miracle of Manna and Quails took place and view the seventy-two palm trees. Next stop is in Rephidim where the Israelites fought the Amalekites. During this battle, whenever Moses put his arms down, the Israelites lost and whenever he put his arms up, the Israelites were winning. (Aaron and Hur held Moses’ arms up as he started getting tired.).Then cross the famous Suez Canal that separates Asia and Africa .This tunnel is under the sea and an adventure in itself. Sometimes the huge ships crossing the canal can be seen Continue to Cairo and check in the hotel. (Overnight: Cairo ** plan: Breakfast/Dinner)

Breakfast in the hotel. Rest of day at leisure. At 20:00 hrs transfer to airport for final departure (Meal plan: Breakfast) END OF SERVICES