Our next upcoming Holy Land tour is set for
March 6 - March 18, 2018
Additional Option
Jordan March 18 - March 22, 2018
We will be typically fly El Al Airlines, which is a cultural experience that starts the moment we enter the aircraft. Our land operator, IGT, has been rated #1 for many years in Israel. Luxury air-conditioned motor coaches will transport us around this small country. In Jerusalem, the first class hotel has a very unique atmosphere and ambience. Three nights at the Ein Gev Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee will give enhanced meaning to the word ‘peaceful.’ We will also spend one night at the Dead Sea Kibbutz Kaliya. We have secured Ami Segal again as our guide. You will come to love him, just as we do. We include 2 meals per day. (Breakfast/dinner) The all you can eat buffet style, ensures that we will be properly fed and cared for. The detailed itinerary is listed below for you to enjoy! We have added a FM communication system and headsets for each person. This will ensure that you won’t miss a single word.
The following is a sample itinerary of our tour of the Holy Land. Some items may be changed or experienced in a different order as necessary but rest assured we will try and experience as much as we can while in Israel. As arrangements are confirmed we will update the itinerary with additional details and information.
Day 1: Departing from your home and typically fly a morning flight to Toronto or other el Al hub city. We will then transfer to El AL for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.
(11 hours and 8 time zones)
Tel Aviv beaches
Day 2: Tel Aviv: Our flight will touch down at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. We will pass through immigration and customs and meet our Israeli guide Ami Segal and bus driver. We will then transfer to our hotel on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea for a good rest. Maybe even a walk-about the Market and catch the flavour of Tel Aviv. Maybe even a walk to Jaffa. (Joppa)
Overnight Tel Aviv
Caesarea
Day 3: Tel Aviv – The Mediterranean: This morning we will continue up the Mediterranean coast, we encounter CAESAREA, with its ruins of Turkish, Roman, and Crusader civilizations. We will then ascend up to the top of MOUNT CARMEL and view the traditional site of the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. We will see a breath-taking view of the JEZREEL VALLEY and Israel’s largest harbour located at HAIFA. We will then visit the ruins at TEL MEGGIDO and view the ultimate battlefield ARMAGEDDON. From here we will pass the village of CANA on our way to the SEA OF GALILEE to our accommodations on its beautiful shoreline. Overnight Galilee
Day 4 – “THE GALILEE”: We will have an early departure today, as we want to be one of the first groups to ascend, by taxi, to the top of MOUNT TABOR. The peaceful, quiet spirit you will feel here only be surpasses by the incredible view from the Mount of Transfiguration. Then we will drive to NAZARETH and view ancient sites and an ominous rock quarry. In the afternoon, we will visit ZIPORRI and see the headwaters of the Jordan River in the park at TEL DAN. Overnight Galilee
Breath-taking view from Mt. Tabor
Galilee from Tiberius Building
Day 5 - "The Galilee": After a Sacrament meeting at the new building in TIBERIAS, which overlooks the Sea of Galilee, we will drive up to and through the GOLAN HEIGHTS. We will visit a DRUZE village and many strategic military stations. On this excursion, we will stop at CAESAREA PHILLIPPI and have an awesome view of NIMRODS CASTLE. Then, we will go to CAPERNAUM, where 1st century ruins still remain at the place where Jesus lived and performed most of his miracles. We will visit the MOUNT OF BEATITUDES and enjoy a quiet, spirit filled setting that overlooks the Galilee. At dusk, we will then board replicated fishing boats and sail across the fresh waters of Galilee and dock at EIN GEV for a traditional evening dinner of St. Peters’ fish. Overnight Galilee
Day 6 – “THE JORDAN VALLEY” -Today, we will pass to the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee and stop at YARDAININE, which features a beautiful baptismal site on the JORDAN RIVER. Our next stop will be BET SHEAN, which dates back 5000 years and 18 civilizations and reveals the most spectacular Roman/Byzantine city in Israel. We will then wind our way down, passing the ancient city of JERICHO and the traditional site of the MOUNT OF TEMPTATION. Then, on to the lowest place on earth, the DEAD SEA.
Overnight Kibbutz Kalyia - Dead Sea
Karen from Masada
Day 7 – “Life in the Desert”: We are now at 1300 ft. below sea level and after breakfast we will continue along the DEAD SEA highway until we come to MASADA; an incredible mountain fortress built by Herod, and later taken over by Jewish Zealots. We will then visit a spa on the DEAD SEA to float and rejuvenate ourselves in its’ healing waters. You will feel much younger after this experience. Then, a stop at QUMRAN will expose us to the site of the discovery of the DEAD SEA SCROLLS. We will then view many BEDOUIN CAMPS on our climb back up to JERUSALEM. Overnight Jerusalem
Dome of the Rock
Day 8 – “Descendants of Ishmael”: Today we will return to the OLD CITY to see what the descendants of Ishmael are doing. We will visit the DOME OF THE ROCK on TEMPLE SQUARE and view the EL AQSA MOSQUE and view Moslem rites in progress. A walk through the ARAB SUK, with all its sights, sounds and smells will take us to the CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE. Orthodox churches reverence this place of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Then, we will go on to BETHLEHEM and SHEPHERD'S FIELDS where Jesus spent his first night in mortality. We will finish out the day at YAD VACHEM, the Holocaust Museum. Overnight Jerusalem
Day 9 - Valley of Elah”: - This morning we will descend down to the VALLEY OF ELAH and BEIT SHEMESH. This valley is well known for the exploits of King David, Goliath, and Sampson. We will then find our way to the new site of Beit Guvrin, home to the BELL CAVES. In the afternoon, we hope to arrange a visit to the WESTERN WALL TUNNELS, that have been recently opened for public viewing. They are magnificent and will give glimpses of how things were 2000 years ago. Overnight Jerusalem
Garden Tomb
Day 10 – “In the Footsteps of Jesus”: This morning we will re-enter the OLD CITY and find our way up to the UPPER ROOM, where the last PASSOVER SUPPER took place. Then we will trace the steps to GETHSAMANAE to gain insight into the atonement and the betrayal, which will then lead us to the HOUSE OF CIAPHAS and the ANOTNIA FORTRESS. From this point we will make our way by foot to the place of the skull, GOLGOTHA and will finish out the day at the GARDEN TOMB, where JESUS was buried only to arise again on the third day. These visits, while following the scriptures, will be a fulfilling experience and the highlight of the tour. Overnight Jerusalem
Day 11 – “Free Day”: This is a free day to revisit some sites that impressed you and catch up some shopping. Some suggestions include visits to the GARDEN TOMB, WESTERN WALL, BEN YEHUDA STREET, OSCAR SCHINDLERS’ GRAVE, a walk on the Old City walls, a stroll through the ARAB MARKET, a visit to the ISRAELI MUSEUM, explore the TUNNEL OF HEZEKIAH or just gather in the sounds, sights, and atmosphere of Jerusalem. “Carpae Diam” in Latin means, “Seize the day!” Our hotel is very near the Orthodox neighbourhood of Jerusalem and one can watch as they prepare for a truly restful Sabbath. Overnight Jerusalem
BYU Jerusalem Center
Saturday, Day 12 – “SHABBAT SHALOM”: This too will truly be our day of rest and worship. This is a free day to attend Sabbath services at the JERUSALEM CENTRE for NEAR EASTERN STUDIES on MOUNT SCOPUS. (BYU) Our bus will pick us up at 9:00 a.m. from the hotel and return again at 1:45 pm. The balance of the day is free to rest and bask in the true Sabbath feelings that permeate the City of Jerusalem. We will regroup for a pre-checkout at the hotel at 4:30 p.m. We will board the bus at 6:30 pm and make our way to ABU GOSH for a farewell dinner, and then afterwards, a quiet thought provoking ride to Tel Aviv to catch our return flight home. Shalom…
Day 13 – “Going Home”: We will board our EL AL flight to depart for home.
SHALOM, May peace be with you as memories and the spirit remind you to return
Reservation form and Package details will be available for download when final arrangements have been confirmed.