February 20 - March 4, 2008
TOUR ITINERARY
Day one, Wednesday, February 20
Depart Chicago, meals and beverages enroute.
Day two, Thursday, February 21
Arrive Ben Gurion Airport in Israel. First stop, Israel's Biblical Landscape Reserve, Neot Kedumim. Then on to Tel Aviv. Brief orientation lecture by professor Randy Smith, of the Christian Travel Study Program. Overnight TEL AVIV.
Day three, Friday, February 22
Caesarea Maritima, Megiddo, Church of the Annunciation and Nazareth Village. Overnight NAZARETH.
Day four, Saturday, February 23
Zippori (Sepphoris), Kibbutz Ginosar, Capernaum, Mt. of the Beatitudes, Galilee boat ride, Overnight KIBBUTZ EN GEV.
Day five, Sunday, February 24
Hippos/Sussita, Bethsaida, Hazor, Dan, Banias (Caesarea Philippi), Golan Heights, Overnight KIBBUTZ EN GEV.
Day six, Monday, February 25
Tiberias, Bet Shean, Jericho, Qumran, Dead Sea Swim, overnight KIBBUTZ KALIA, next to Qumran.
Day seven, Tuesday, February 26
Masada, En Gedi, Tel Arad and Tel Beersheva. Overnight BEERSHEVA.
Day eight, Wednesday, February 27
Lachish, Tel Azekah and the Elah Valley, Bet Shemesh, plus Maresha & Bet Guvrin. Dinner & overnight Grand Court Jerusalem.
Day nine, Thursday, February 28
Bethlehem, the Shepherd's Field, Herodion, Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, overnight JERUSALEM.
Day ten, Friday, February 29
City of David excavation areas including the Pool of Siloam, Hezekiah's Tunnel, Herodian Quarter, Cardo, Garden Tomb, Tomb of the Kings, overnight JERUSALEM.
Day eleven, Saturday, March 1
The Shrine of the Book and the Israel Museum Model of Jerusalem, the Rockefeller Museum, Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, overnight JERUSALEM.
Day twelve, Sunday, March 2
Ecole Biblique, The Jewish Quarter and the Western Wall plaza, the Western Wall Tunnel, the Citadel Museum, Ramat Rachel, overnight JERUSALEM.
Day thirteen, Monday, March 3
Day at leisure with optional opportunity to join the Temple Mount sifting project, overnight JERUSALEM.
Day fourteen, Tuesday, March 4
Final stops in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem, Tel es Safi/Gath, and/or Tel Gezer, Ashkelon. To airport for evening boarding for our flight home.
Day fifteen, Wednesday, March 5
Morning arrival in Chicago, catch the bus and return home.
THE BOOK & THE SPADE TOURS: THE BACK STORY
* Don’t be intimidated by the term “study tour.” All that means is that we are committed to making this trip as meaningful as possible for people who love the Bible. There are no tests and no pre-requisites. But we recognize the fact that your mind can only handle so much of a new experience so we work to help you prepare for the tour, and provide in-depth resources during the tour. We want to give you the best tour possible with a small, flexible tour group along with top quality guides and resources. We believe a tour like ours is a cost-effective investment in your spiritual growth as a believer and an experience you will remember and cherish for the rest of your life.