Israel Tour 2020

Mark Wessner, MB Seminary President and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, will be leading a tour in Israel from February 8-18, 2020. This “Panim el-Panim” Tour will focus on various “face-to-face” encounters that God had with his people that are recorded in Scripture.  

Sunworld Tours will manage all of the trip’s administrative details and Mark will lead the teaching components. Mark has previously worked with both the tour company and the tour guide.

The itinerary is listed below and it includes an option to extend your trip into Egypt.

Day 1 – Travel from Canada to Israel (Sat, Feb 8)

• Depart Vancouver, BC to Israel. Meals will be served on board.
• Overnight en route. 

Day 2 – Tel Aviv

• Arrive at Ben Gurion airport.
• Drive to the port city of Jaffa, for centuries the main entrance to the land and associated with many biblical stories.
• Walk around the renovated artist’s quarter and have a breathtaking view of the city of Tel Aviv.
• Transfer to your hotel, then have the afternoon to spend at the beach.
• Return to the hotel for a welcome dinner.
• Overnight in Tel Aviv area.

Day 3 – Sea of Galilee (Mon, Feb 10)

• Drive along the Mediterranean Coast to Caesarea the ancient Roman and Crusader Port City, with layers of the different civilizations uncovered.
• Proceed to travel through Mt. Carmel to visit the Muhraqa and view the Jezreel Valley where the final Battle of Armageddon is said to take place.
• Travel through Galilee to visit Nazareth Village. Continue for a view of Nazareth and the area from Mount Precipice.
• Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Day 4 – Sea of Galilee

• 

  Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee with music and worship.

• Visit the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee.
• Travel north to visit the biblical city of Tel Dan with the Old Testament Gate that was uncovered.
• Travel back to the Sea of Galilee to visit the ancient synagogue at Capernaum and the newly excavated synagogue and the Bima uncovered at Magdala.
• Dinner and overnight in Galilee.

Day 5 – Jerusalem (Wed, Feb 12)

• Travel to Mt. Gilboa and visit Gideon’s spring for a teaching (Judg. 6:22).
• Travel south, through the Jordan Valley, with views of both sides of the Jordan. Visit the reconstructed Roman Decapolis city of Beit Shean.
• Stop for a view and teaching at Moshav Argaman – from Sandal Mt. (Gen. 32:30). Penuel not far from Succoth, on the east of the Jordan River and south of the river Jabbok.
• Visit Kaser El Yehud, the baptism site on the Jordan River. Travel up to Jerusalem via the Judean Wilderness. Enter Jerusalem for a first view of the Holy City.
• Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 6 – Jerusalem

• 

  Visit Masada, the mountain fortress built by King Herod.

• Stop at Qumran, the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
• Travel to Genesis Land in the Judean Wilderness.
• Travel up to Jerusalem via the Judean Wilderness as pilgrims have done for centuries.
• Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 7 – Jerusalem (Fri, Feb 14)

• Drive to the Mount of Olives for a view of the Old City.
• Visit the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Walk through the Kidron Valley and ancient monuments to the City of David. Visit the City of David including Hezekiah’s Tunnel or the Canaanite Tunnel. Visit the Christian quarter including St. Anne’s Church and the Ecce Homo. End the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb.
• Dinner and Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 8 – Jerusalem

• Travel through the Judean Hills to the Valley of Ellah, where David and Goliath met.
• Travel up to Kibbutz Ramat Rachel for a view of the Bethlehem’s Shepherd Fields.
• End the day with a visit to the Israel Museum exhibits.
• Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 9 – Jerusalem (Sun, Feb 16)

• Leave Jerusalem to visit the lowest area in the world, the Dead Sea.
• Stop at Qumran for a view to Mt. Nebo and teaching (Ezek. 20:35).
• Continue for a visit to the Oasis of Ein Gedi, where David hid from King Saul.
• Ascend to the top of the world heritage site of Massada, King Herod’s Fortress.
• Travel south along the Arava to the Red Sea Resort of Eilat.
• Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 10 – Jerusalem

• 

  Travel to Timna National Park site of King Solomon’s copper mines (Ex. 33:11).

• Visit the Tabernacle in the wilderness.
• Travel along highway 12 on the Sinai Desert border for a view and teaching (Deut. 34:20).
• Travel via the Southern Desert to Jerusalem.
• Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 11 – Return to Canada or Transfer to Egypt

• Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Canada OR transfer to the airport to extend your tour to Egypt.

Egypt Extension: Feb 18-21

Day 11 – Cairo (Tues, Feb 18)

• You will be met at Cairo Airport by a Sunworld Tours Representative and transferred to your hotel.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Day 12 – Cairo

• Breakfast and departure to visit the famous Pyramids and Sphinx.
• Soon after, we will leave for the Cairo Museum, where we will visit the archaeological relics of Ancient Egypt, from the First Dynasty, more than 4,000 years ago, going through the riches discovered in the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
• There is also an optional tour of the famous Mummies Hall, where you can see, among others, the body of Pharaoh Ramses II, ruler of Egypt when Moses freed the people from captivity.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo. 

Day 13 – Cairo 

• Explore Memphis, the capital of Ancient Egypt.
• Tour Sakkara.
• Visit the Solar Boat Museum.
• Visit the old Cairo churches, including the hanging church.
• End the day at the Big Bazaar.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Day 14 – Return to Canada (Fri, Feb 21)

• Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Canada.

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[Mark Wessner is the President of MB Seminary and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies for Leadership.
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