10 DAY TOUR OF THE HOLY LAND
HOSTED BY PASTOR BUD & KEREN STONEBRAKER 
MAY 17-27, 2024 - $2,900 (ground only)

MAY 17—FRIDAY – DAY 1:  Please schedule your airfare and arrival in Israel (airport code TLV for Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel) for this afternoon.  Today your journey begins to the land where the Bible will unfold before our eyes.  We will walk, see, feel and touch the roots of our faith, encounter the divine and sense His presence. You will have the remainder of the day at your leisure and then your first wonderful Shabbat dinner/buffet dinner in Israel. 

MAY 18 – SATURDAY - DAY 2:   ELIJAH AND ARMAGEDDON
After a rich Israeli breakfast, we will begin our tour of Israel at Caesarea, city of Cornelius the Centurion, the first Gentile to convert (Acts 10). We will visit the Roman theatre, walk on the pier used by the apostle Paul on his way to Rome and see the impressive water aqueduct built by Herod the Great. Leaving the Mediterranean, we will travel north to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah held the contest with 450 prophets of Baal (I Kings 18). Then we will head through the Valley of Jezreel. At Megiddo we will view the excavations of 21 superimposed cities, the remains from Solomon's days (I Kings 9). At the end of the day we will drive past Nazareth, where Jesus spent most of His life and Cana where Jesus turned water into wine (John 2).  We will arrive at our hotel in the beautiful region of Galilee for dinner. 

MAY 19 – SUNDAY - DAY 3:   THE SEA OF GALILEE 
After an early hike down the cliffs of Arbel on the western side of the Sea of Galilee (optional) we will have breakfast at the hotel and head to Capernaum where Jesus taught in the synagogue and spent much of His ministry (Matthew 4). Using a replica of the wooden fishing boat from the disciples’ time, we will sail on the Sea of Galilee and recall Jesus’ experiences with the fishermen. Then we will continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Christ preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Driving around the lake we will visit Tabgha place of the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14). If possible in the afternoon, we will visit some relatives at Kibbutz Gvat to experience what it was like for early Zionists when they arrived in the Holy Land a century ago. 

MAY 20 – MONDAY - DAY 4:  THE HULA VALLEY
Today is dedicated to the spectacular northern part of Israel. Following the accounts described in the Gospel of Luke chapter 9, we will drive through the Hula Valley to reach Mt. Hermon, where the miracle of Transfiguration occurred. We will visit the Banias, one of the headwaters of the Jordan River and site of Caesarea Philippi, where Peter confessed Christ's divinity. From there, we will continue to the Dan Nature Reserve. After a refreshing walk through the beautiful reserve and a taste from the cool water, we will discover Jeroboam's Altar (I Kings 12). We will also see a city gate from the time of Abraham the Patriarch and learn about the importance of the gate in the social life of the city in Old Testament times. 
After lunch we will jump into the upper headwaters of the Jordan River for some Kayaking.  In the afternoon we will have a Baptism service in the Jordan near the shores of Galilee where Jesus called His Disciples to be fishers of men.   

MAY 21 – TUESDAY - DAY 5:   THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT 
We will leave the beautiful Galilee area heading south past Mount Gilboa (where Saul fought the Philistines -2 Samuel 1) and Ein Harod where Gideon staged his battle with the Midianites (Judges 6). Arriving at Beth Shean (I Samuel 31), a Decapolis Capital mentioned in the Gospels, we will stop here to walk on the ancient streets, view the steam Roman baths, the theatre, coliseum, market and temples. We will continue down the Jordan Valley past Jericho, the oldest city in the world and a beautiful oasis, (Joshua 3).  At the end of the day we will see Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery and view the Dead Sea as we arrive at our hotel, located in the lowest place in the world, 1300 ft. below sea level!  

MAY 22 – WEDNESDAY - DAY 6:   DAVID’S DEAD SEA OASIS 
We will start our morning at the “Rocks of the Wild Goats” -Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul and wrote some of his beautiful psalms. After a short hike we will reach the waterfall where David cut off Saul's skirt (I Samuel 24). Today we will have our sack lunch in this desert oasis and spend time enjoying the nature preserve overlooking the Dead Sea. Heading back to the hotel you have the option to visit the astonishing ruins of Masada.  This is the magnificent desert fortress where the Jews made their last stand against Rome in the first century. Well preserved storehouses, cisterns and palaces will be among the features to visit. We will enjoy the rest of the day swimming in the Dead Sea. Those who wish will be able to enjoy the hotel’s spa as well.

MAY 23– THURSDAY- DAY 7:   SAMSON TO DAVID 
We will begin the day crossing part of the Wilderness of Judea, where we will become acquainted with the Bedouin life passing through Beersheba, where Abraham made the covenant with Abimelech (Genesis 21). Then using the ancient Gaza Road, which Philip rode with the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8) we will head through Philistine country and visit Samson’s old stomping grounds where he met Delilah in the Valley of Sorek.  Then it is off to the Elah Valley where you will be able to pick up your own smooth stone from the brook where David slew Goliath (I Samuel 17). Towards the end of the day we will start ascending to the Golden City of the Mighty King: JERUSALEM. 

MAY 24 – FRIDAY - DAY 8:   THE MOUNT OF OLIVES 
We begin the day at the Mt. of Olives with a magnificent overview of Jerusalem and an explanation of its history. Then, walk down the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethsemane, site of Jesus' betrayal (Luke 22). We will continue to visit the City of David, Hezekiah's Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed the blind man, (John 9). In the afternoon we will leave the Old City and visit the modern part of Jerusalem.  We will spend most of the afternoon at the Israel Museum.  Here we will have a chance to visit the Model of Jerusalem during Jesus’ time to obtain an excellent perspective of the city at His time.   We will visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed, and view the ossuary of Caiaphas and Pontius Pilatus stone.  

MAY 25– SATURDAY - DAY 9:   THE CITY OF DAVID
We will begin our visit to the Old City where we will view the Temple Mount and pray at the Western Wall. At the Ofel digs we will go back in time and walk on a street that Jesus walked on in the first century. In this amazing dig we will see the huge stones used to build the Second Temple. We will continue to the Jewish Quarter for lunch and to visit the extensive area uncovered by archaeologists, including the Burnt House and the Herodian Quarter, where we will see the interior of houses from Jesus’ time with ashes indicating Jerusalem’s destruction. We will walk through the Cardo and Hezekiah’s Wall, towards the Arab Market and bazaar and leave the Old City through the Jaffa Gate.    

MAY 26 – SUNDAY - DAY 10:   RETRACING THE STEPS OF JESUS  
We will begin our last touring day in the city by retracing Jesus’ steps in Jerusalem. After a visit to the Upper Room we will enter St. Stephen's Gate and come to the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the lame man (John 5). After a time of singing in St. Anne's Church, we will view the remains of the Antonia Fortress, site of Jesus' trial (Mathew 27). We then will follow the Way of the Cross out of the Damascus Gate and come to the Garden Tomb. Overlooking the site of the crucifixion, this is where we will finish our day with a time of worship and communion at the empty tomb. 

MAY 27 – MONDAY – DAY 11:  THE JOURNEY HOME
We may have some time in the morning for last minute shopping, but this is a free day for your preparation to head home. 

The itinerary is as described but is subject to local conditions at the time of the tour and may change at the discretion of the tour director or land operators. Please note that this trip is highly active and physically demanding. It is not designed for those with medical conditions or young children. 

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INCLUDES:  Hotel Accommodations, 10 Day Tour of Israel with Guide, Breakfast & Dinner Daily, All Entrance Fees, Taxes and Gratuities. Book your air accommodations accordingly.

HOTELS:   1 night Kfar Maccabiah Tel Aviv (5/17), 3 nights Gai Beach Tiberias, 2 nights David Dead Sea, 4 nights Prima Kings Jerusalem

PRICES:  $2,900.00 per person, based on double occupancy.  Single supplement is additional $1150.00 and limited.  
                 
PAYMENT:   Nonrefundable deposit of $500.00 per person is due immediately or before November 1, 2023. The second payment is due by January 1, 2024.  Final payment is due on or before March 31, 2024. Space is limited so reserve your spot early. 

TRAVEL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE: We highly recommend that you purchase Travel and Medical insurance on your own in case of unforeseen circumstances.  

      Tour is subject to all terms and conditions as listed.

Make checks payable to: Mountain Valley Refuge
Mail registration and payments to:  Mountain Valley Refuge c/o Keren Stonebraker  411 Deinhard Ln. F346 McCall, ID 83638
For further information contact:  Keren Stonebraker, office@mountainvalleyrefuge.org