Itinerary
Religions, Rocks and Ages:
Turkey, Jordan and Israel/Palestine
Jan. 11–31, 2009

 

Program description Register


This itinerary is subject to change.

Group meals included: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Sunday, Jan. 11
Group flight departs Minneapolis.

Monday, Jan. 12
Arrive Istanbul (D)
Arrive in Istanbul, probably in the early afternoon. Our guide, Yavuz Ackay, meets us at the airport. Transfer in a private coach to the hotel. (Mr. Ackay accompanies the group throughout Turkey.) Check in to hotel. One hour walking tour of the area around the hotel. Group dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Tuesday, Jan. 13
Istanbul (B, D)
After breakfast, a morning cruise on the Bosporus River. Lunch on your own and afternoon free. Group dinner at a city restaurant with a typical Turkish menu. Overnight in Istanbul.

Wednesday, Jan. 14
Istanbul (B)
Between today and tomorrow we visit Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Archeology Museum, the Grand and Spice Bazaars, Galata Tower, Dolmabache Palace, and if possible, the Suleymaniye Mosque and/or the Kariye Museum (Chora Church).

Lunch and dinner on your own. Possible evening performance of the Whirling Dervishes. Overnight in Istanbul.

Thursday, Jan. 15
Istanbul (B, L or D)
Continue today with visits listed above. Group lunch or dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul.

Friday, Jan. 16
Istanbul — Troy (B, D)
After breakfast, depart for Gallipoli; guided tours of the battlefields/graveyards. Lunch on your own at an appropriate stop. Continue to Troy for a guided visit. Group dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Troy.

Saturday, Jan. 17
Troy — Pergamum (B, D)
After breakfast, travel to Pergamum for a guided tour of the Asclepion and the Acropolis. Lunch on your own at an appropriate stop. Group dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Pergamum.

Sunday, Jan. 18
Pergamum — Ephesus (B, D)
After breakfast, transfer to Ephesus for guided tours of the old city site and the museum, and perhaps the St. John’s ruins or St. Mary’s House. Lunch on your own at an appropriate stop. Group dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Ephesus.

Monday, Jan. 19
Ephesus — Istanbul (B)
After breakfast, return to Istanbul in private coach. Lunch on your own at an appropriate stop. Remainder of the day free with dinner on your own. Late evening transfer to the airport for flight to Tel Aviv.

Tuesday, Jan. 20
Istanbul – Israel/Palestine (B, D)
Early morning arrival, around 2 a.m. Our guide meets us at the airport. Transfer in private coach to Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, a cooperative village of Jews and Palestinian Arabs of Israeli citizenship. After breakfast and a discussion at Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam about this remarkable community, transfer in private coach to Jerusalem.

Between today and tomorrow, we visit the Wailing Wall, Temple Mount (including the Dome of the Rock, if possible), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Via Dolorosa, Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, and, time permitting, Jaffa Gate and the Citadel, St. Anne’s Church, the Pool of Bethesda, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Church of the Dormition, Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, City of David and the Lutheran Hospital on Mount of Olives.

Group dinner at a city restaurant with typical local menu. Overnight at Notre Dame Center.

Wednesday, Jan. 21
Jerusalem (B, D)
Continue visits mentioned above. Free time in the afternoon. Group dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Notre Dame Center.

Thursday, Jan. 22
Jerusalem (B, D)
After breakfast, visit the Nativity Church at Bethlehem and the Herodian. Discussion with Mitri Raheb of the Lutheran Church School. Lunch on your own.

In the afternoon, take a guided tour of the Israel Museum, Yad Vashem and Mea She’arim. Group dinner at a city restaurant. Overnight at Notre Dame Center.

Friday, Jan. 23
Jerusalem — Jericho (B)
Travel in private coach to visit Qumran, the Dead Sea and Masada. Continue to Jericho. Group dinner and overnight at the Intercontinental Hotel.

Saturday, Jan. 24
Jericho — Tiberias (B, D)
After touring Jericho, we travel in private coach to the Sea of Galilee with stops at ancient Shiloh (Sinjil), Megiddo, Nazareth (Basilica of the Annunciation) and Mt. Tabor before arriving in Tiberias before dinner. Lunch on your own at an appropriate stop. Group dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Tiberias.

Sunday, Jan. 25
Tiberias (B, L or D)
Guided tours of Tabgha (the Mt. of Beatitudes, Loaves and Fishes), Capernaum (house of St. Peter, Synagogue), the Jesus Boat Museum, and Mt. Tabor Jordan River baptismal site. Group lunch or dinner. Overnight in Tiberias.

Monday, Jan. 26
Tiberias — Amman (B, D)
Depart for Jordan, stopping on the way at Belvoir Crusaders Castle for a visit. Continue to Amman via the Sheikh Hussein Bridge, where we transfer to a private Jordanian coach. On arrival in Amman, take a guided tour of the Citadel, the Umayyad Palace, and Roman Theater. Lunch on your own. Group dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR).

Tuesday, Jan. 27
Amman/Day Excursion to Jerash (B, D)
Travel by private coach to Jerash for a guided visit. En route, visit the castle of Ajlun. Lunch on your own at an appropriate stop. Dinner at a local restaurant in Amman.

After dinner, our hosts give us a tour of ACOR and a pre-departure presentation on Petra, including excavations at the Petra Great Temple, the Nabataeans and ACOR’s excavations of the Petra Churches. Overnight at ACOR.

Wednesday, Jan. 28
Jerash — Petra (B, D)
Travel by private coach along the King’s Way, an ancient route still bearing marks left by traders, armies and pilgrims who traveled it centuries ago. Stop in Madaba, also known as the “City of Mosaics.” Visit St. George’s Church to see the oldest mosaic map of the Holy Land, which covers current day Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Egypt. Continue to Mt. Nebo, where Moses is thought to be buried. Travel further south to Kerak through Wadi Mujib, a deep valley offering one of Jordan’s most breathtaking views. Visit the Kerak Castle. Lunch on your own at an appropriate point. Continue to Petra. Group dinner and overnight in Petra.

Thursday, Jan. 29
Petra (B, L or D)
Full day guided tours of sites in Petra. We start on horseback, followed by a walk through the Siq, a long, narrow fissure between two overhanging cliffs. Group lunch at a city restaurant. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Petra.

Special Note: No vehicles are allowed at the archaeological and historical sites we will visit. Today’s itinerary involves a great deal of walking. A horse and carriage ride is available for $10 per person as an alternative to the horseback ride. The carriage seats two people. The distance for this segment is about 800 meters. The walk from the mouth of the Siq to the treasury is about 1.5 km and will take about 30 minutes. There are about 800 steps to a monastery on today’s agenda. A donkey can be rented for $30 per person to avoid the steps and ride up the hill. The decision to hire these alternatives can be made and paid for on-site with the help of our national guide.

Friday, Jan. 30
Petra — Amman
Travel by private coach to Amman. Free time. Farewell group dinner at a local restaurant. Late evening transfer to airport.

Saturday, Jan. 31
Depart for United States
Early morning flight from Amman, arriving in Minneapolis same day.

Register
Register online, call toll-free 866-255-6523 or fax 507-786-8232. A deposit of $350 per person guarantees your space.