Trans-Atlantic flight to Amman, Jordan. Arrive at our lovely hotel and receive a welcome and attend our group orientation. Get a good night's rest tonight!

Today we will start our exploring by visiting the ancient city of Jerash, which boast of an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years.  Jerash lies on a plain surrounded by hilly wooded areas and fertile basins.  This afternoon we will return to the modern city of Amman to see the Citadel and Kind Abdullah Mosque during our city highlight tour.  Tonight we'll have our welcome dinner to get to know each other better.

Traveling south from Amman we pass Mt. Nebo where, like Moses, we get a sweeping view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the Promised Land. Then we spend the day in Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, where the Nabataea’s carved magnificent buildings out of red sandstone, (You've seen it in the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade movie). We will walk through an immense crack in the stone along a pathway that will take you to Petra's most impressive monument—the Treasury. You walk along the Street of Facades, see the Royal Tombs and more. That night we dine and stay in the 7 Wonders Bedouin Camp where red cliffs soar and the stars shine. We eat and dance around the fire and feel a little like both Nephi and the Children of Israel. This is really unforgettable. (You may get a lesson in nighttime photography.)

Drive to Wadi Rum, associated with Lawrence of Arabia, where we will four-wheel out into the desert to see one of the most impressive desert landscapes in the world. The scenery here is almost beyond imagination! We then cross the border into Israel at Eilat and begin our journey north towards the Dead Sea. Later this afternoon we float in the Dead Sea and demonstrate how you can do perfect water ballet without sinking! Stay that evening at the base of impressive Masada. 

This morning we will take a Gondola ride to the top of Masada!  You will never forget the views of the Dead Sea while exploring one of Herod's grand palaces, but also the last stand of the Jewish resistance when they were overrun by the Romans in 73 AD.  It is an amazing and heartbreaking story.  We visit Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, then drive through the wilderness of Judea to Jesus's baptismal site on the Jordan River then past Jericho and the Mt. of Temptation. This afternoon we are reminded how the Romans lived during Jesus' time as we visit Beit Shean, impressive Roman city, which was one of the Decapolis where Christ's apostles preached. Stay tonight by the Sea of Galilee.

Today we walk where Jesus walked in the Valley of the Doves, followed by a visit to the Mt. of Beatitudes where He gave his Sermon on the Mount and you will be able to see how he could address so many people at once. This is always a highlight of the tour. Then it is on to Banias, a place of natural beauty and a cascading waterfall. We come to the origins of the Jordan River. This is also the site of Caesarea Philippi, where Peter declared that Christ was the “Son of the living God.” We will also see Mt. Hermon, a candidate for the Mt. of Transfiguration.

In first light we sail today where Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee. We stop by the Boat Museum, to see a boat that was discovered from the time of Jesus. We next visit the newly excavated ruins of Magdahla where Mary Magdalene called home. Then it is on to the town where Peter lived and where Jesus ministered for three years, Capernaum. Here Christ performed so many miracles and taught in the synagogue. You can close your eyes and almost be in the scene at the healing of the daughter of Jairus. At St. Peter’s Primacy on the Galilee we remember both the miracle of the loaves and the fishes and also the resurrected Jesus preparing fish on the seashore for his hungry apostles. We will eat St. Peter’s fish today. Late this afternoon, we will go to the top of the Mt. Arbell, overlooking the Galilee for the best view in the region, a place so beautiful we made it the cover of one of our books.

We are on to Nazareth today, first to Mt. Precipice overlooking the Jezreel Valley. When the people of Nazareth rejected the Savior, this is where they tried to kill him. Below is also the scene of the last battle of Armageddon and to the east Mt. Tabor,another candidate for the Mt of Transfiguration. Then it is on to one of our favorite stops,Nazareth Village where you see what Nazareth would have looked like in the time of Christ, including villagers and shepherds who are dressed up as in the period to enhance the scene. Next, we go to Caesarea Maritima, which was once a grand Roman city with a beautiful aqueduct that is still standing. It is also the site of Paul’s trial before King Agrippa. Tonight we visit Jerusalem’s Western Wall and see how the Jews celebrate Shabbat. We stay tonight (for four nights) in Jerusalem. 

Shabbat Shalom. Today we attend sacrament meeting at the unforgettable BYU Jerusalem Center. We will arrive early to see the magnificent views from the center. Following this, we will head to a wonderful lunch in Bethlehem’s Tent Restaurant. Then we see Shepherd’s Fields, where we celebrate Christmas once again. Next we visit the Church of the Nativity, which has been standing since 330 AD over a cave where many believe Christ was born. Tonight, when Shabbat is over, we visit Jimmy’s Olive wood shop to look for treasures.

Arise early because we are going to the Temple Mount, a sacred place to Jews, Muslims and Christians, a place some believe is the very origin of creation. We will see the Dome of the Rock, Al Aqsa mosque and more. Then we go to the Pool of Bethesda, where Christ healed a paralytic man and to St. Anne's Church where the acoustics make us all sound like angels when we sing. We will stop at Pilate's Judgment Hall, Chapel of Flagellation and show you where Antonia's Fortress was that housed the Roman soldiers who scourged Christ. We then follow the Via Dolorosa (the way of the Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site believed by many Christians to be where Christ was crucified and resurrected. This afternoon we visit Yad Vashem, the vivid Holocaust museum, followed by a visit to the Dead Sea Scrolls Museum, and the Second Temple Model of Jerusalem. This gives you a picture of what Jerusalem once looked like and helps you understand today's layout.

Antiquities Day! This is a favorite since you will do things you would never get to do. We begin on Mt. Scopus, just below the BYU Jerusalem Center, working with archaeologists to sift some layers of material that came from the Temple Mount looking for shards, pottery, coins etc. You will feel like an explorer and a treasure hunter all at once. Next we go to the City of David, the most ancient area of Jerusalem. We will walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel, one of the most outstanding engineering feats of the ancient world. Then we head to the Archaeological Park that is part of the temple complex where you will learn about the temple Jesus knew and walked on the very steps he walked on that once led into the temple. Finally, Joseph Zanbil, an antiquities dealer will teach us about the antiquities of Israel—how he has found them and what they are. This afternoon you’ll have free time to explore the Old City on your own. 

Our last day in the Holy Land is the highlight of the tour. We start at the top of the Mt. of Olives and then walk down the route Jesus may have come on his last week. We have a special meeting in the Garden of Gethsemane and see olive trees that are at least one thousand years old.  Then we visit the Orson Hyde gardens and talk about the dedication of Israel for the gathering of the Jews. Next, we visit the Upper Room, believed to have been built on the site of the Last Supper, then move to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built on Caiaphas’s palace where Jesus was tried. Our tour is capped with a visit to the Garden Tomb where we will remember that “He is not here for he has risen.” . Here will have a testimony meeting. We end with our final feast together and go on to the airport.

Transatlantic flight and arrive home.