Focus Travel Club

(Tel Aviv, Haifa, Tiberias, Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Bethlehem & The Dead Sea)

Customized Private Tour Program Prepared For Ellie Leinaweaver & Focus Travelers

Holyland program: cost $4,890.00 per person in double from Denver
Syria extension - 10 days / 09 nights cost: $3,128.00 per person in double

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:

ISRAEL:

Tel Aviv:
Oct 28 - 29 One (1) night at Dan Panorama hotel

Haifa:
Oct 29 - 30 One (1) night at Le Meridian hotel

Tiberias (Galilee):
Oct 30 – Nov 1 Two (2) nights at Gai Beach Resort

Jerusalem:
Nov 1 - 6 Five (5) nights at Dan Panorama hotel (Deluxe Rooms)

Note: Those who are doing the pre-extension tour of Syria will already be in Tel Aviv to join with those who are doing only the Israel portion of this tour, on Oct 28. SYRIA EXTENSION AIR TRANSPORTATION: (Please see Syria itinerary for more details)

Day 01 OCT 27 MON DEPART USA. DENVER / TEL AVIV
PM: Depart from Denver to Newark, Liberty International airport by Continental airlines to connect with your Continental direct flight to Tel Aviv (Israel). Dinner and breakfast served on board. D, B

Day 02 OCT 28 TUES TEL AVIV
PM: Arrive at Ben Gurion International airport, where you will be met and assisted by HLO Tours representative then proceed with your English speaking guide to the Dan Panorama hotel. Dan Panorama hotel is an upscale, full service hotel across the street from the blue water of the Mediterranean. There are 500 rooms on 18 floors. All rooms are attractive, modern décor and include the following amenities: TV, non-smoking rooms, safe, coffee maker, mini-bar, high speed internet and private bath. Hotel offers: dry cleaning, health spa and massage and outdoor swimming pool. Eve: Light supper and a restful & overnight in Tel Aviv. D

Day 03 OCT 29 WED TEL AVIV / Caesarea / Megiddo / HAIFA
AM: Following a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast we will enjoy a brief city tour of Tel Aviv, Israel’s largest city, including Jaffa – the oldest suburb of the city, now a major tourist attraction. We will also be sure to stop at Nahalat Binyamin – a crafts market featuring original Israeli handmade items. We drive north along the coastal road to Caesarea (Acts 9:30 and10:24 – 48), capital of Judea under the Romans. We visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct, the crusader city, and the newly built multi-media museum, recently opened. Lunch in Caesarea

After lunch, we continue to Megiddo(1 Kings 4.28 and 9,15. 2 Kings23, 29 and Revel. 16.16). known as the site of Armageddon. We visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well preserved water supply system. We then continue onto visit Elijah’s Cave – long a pilgrimage site, and the Druze villages. Then we proceed driving to the beautiful port city of Haifasituated on the Mediterranean Sea where we check-into our seaside hotel for dinner & overnight.

Tonight we will enjoy a festive Welcome Dinner & overnight in Haifa. IB, L, D

Day 04 OCT 30 THUR HAIFA / ACRE / TIBERIAS
AM: Israeli buffet breakfast at the hotel, then, we start our day in Haifa at the summit of Mount Carmel where we can enjoy a breathtaking view of Haifa Bay and Western Galilee. Then we continue to the golden dome of the Bahai Shrine to visit the world famous Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. We then drive to Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism, to visit the artist colony. We continue on to Acre(Micah 1.10) capital of the Crusaders for more than a century. Here we will walk along the old harbor and visit the underground knights halls and the ancient city before continuing eastwards across the plans of the Galilee to Tiberias. IB, D

Day 05 OCT 31 FRI TIBERIAS
AM: Israeli buffet breakfast. Following a short tour of Tiberias, capital of the Galilee, we enjoy a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Matt. 4.13; 13.54, 17.24, Luke 7, Mark1.2, John 4. 46-54). Here we visit the remains of the second century synagogue before proceeding to Tabgha(Matt. 13, Mark 33 -45 & John 21), the site of the miracle of fish and loaves. We visit the Church of Multiplication with its beautiful 14th century mosaic floor before continuing to the Mount of the Beatitudes(Matt. 5,6,7,8) where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

Lunch will be provided at Kibbutz Ein Gev. After lunch we continue our journey to visit the Banias Spring and waterfall (Matt. 16. 13 & Mark 8.27) where Jesus was recognized as The Messiah by His disciples. Time permitting we tour the Golan Heights before our return to our hotel in Tiberias. IB, L, D

Day 06 NOV 1 SAT TIBERIAS / NAZARETH / JERUSALEM

AM: Following breakfast we depart for Nazareth(Luke 1.26, 4.16-29,Matt 2.23) via Cana of Galilee (John 2.1-11). In Nazareth we visit the Church of the Annunciation as well as St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. On we drive to Beit Shean, one of the ancient Decapolis cities (Mark 5.20, 7.31) where we visit the Roman theatre. This is the city where Saul and his son, Jonathan, were nailed to the walls (1st Samuel 31.10). Judges 1.27 also mentions Beit Shean. We continue south along the shores of the River Jordan to the Baptismal site. Lunch will be included in one of the local restaurants.

BAPTISM: For those who would like to rededicate their baptism, we will be driving to Yardenit, on the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee. Gowns will be rented, and then you will immerse yourself into the water of the Jordan River. After our Baptism ceremony, we will continue westward passing Jericho to climb to the Golden City of Jerusalem to spend the next five nights. Dinner & overnight. IB, D

Day 07 NOV 2 SUN JERUSALEM - Old City / Bethlehem
AM: Israeli breakfast, followed by a drive first to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view over the city; then down to the Garden of Gethsemane and the church of all nations. Where we have time to wander before we start our exploration of the Old City. Drive to Mount Zion to view the Room of the Last Supper (Mark 14.13, Luke 22, 10-38, Matt 26. 17-29, Acts 1.13 & act 2 thePentecost) and King David’s traditional tomb. On we go through the renovated Jewish Quarter, the Cardo, which was the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago.We will visit the Davidson Center with its scale model of Jerusalem, view the Temple Mount area and the Western Wall, and then we continue to visit the Dome of the Rock and El Aqsa Mosque, and walk through the Western Wall Tunnel. Lunch will be served in the Old City.

After lunch we walk along part of the Via Dolorosa, where Christ carried his cross. We visit the convent of Ecce Homo to view the Lithostrotos (The actual stones on which Jesus was scourged) and then continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site which tradition says marks the spot where Christ was both crucified and rose from the dead (Matt 27.33-57, 28.10). Finally, no visit to Jerusalem would be complete without time spent in the colorful Arab Bazaars. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Jerusalem. IB, L, D

Day 08 NOV 3 MON JERUSALEM - NEW CITY
AM: Israeli breakfast, followed by your tour of New Jerusalem, past the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament), the New Supreme Court Building and to the Israel Museum to view the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibited in the Shrine of the Book. Drive past Mount Herzl, to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial.  Drive to village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist (Luke1.39-80). This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth. Continue on to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. Return to our hotel.

Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem.IB, D

Day 09 NOV 4 TUES JERUSALEM / DEAD SEA / MASSADA /JERUSALEM
AM: Israeli breakfast, then drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth – where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered at Qumran caves in 1947 by a Bedouin boy. We will visit the ancient city of Qumran and drive along the shores of the Dead Sea, to visit Massada, high above the Judean wilderness.

Massada was the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. We will ascent Massada by cable car to tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 A.D.   Enjoy your lunch at one of the hotels and your swim on the Dead Sea. We return to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner & overnight. IB, L, D

Day 10 NOV 5 WED JERUSALEM / USA
AM: Israeli buffet breakfast. Day at leisure to do whatever you like, go around Jerusalem to enjoy some of the biblical sites on your own, shopping or just relax around the hotel or those who wish may join an excursion to see the Chagall windows at the Hadassah Medical Center.

Dinner & overnight.   IB, D

Day 11 NOV 6 THUR DENVER (USA)
AM: Early morning, arrive Newark, Liberty International airport where you will connect with your domestic flight back home.

AM: Arrive Denver and welcome back home.

ISRAEL AND SYRIA

Your Adventure Awaits