TOURS
We believe that meaningful travel occurs best in small groups, and we anticipate a maximum of 12-14 guests on each tour. We offered our first tour in December 2022 with 11 guests, and we are planning our next two tours in November and December 2023. Below is a general itinerary of the sights and activities included; keep in mind that the although the order of the days may change, we will always start in Jerusalem and finish in Nazareth. We stay in historic hotels in the heart of each of these cities, so that you will feel especially connected with this special land and its people. We are always open to suggestions and comments and are happy to consider specific requests for things to do and see.
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For information on specific dates and pricing, please click below.
Day 2
Arrival at Ben Gurion, Jerusalem
After arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, we will use Israel’s efficient public transportation system to reach Jerusalem: first by train to Jerusalem’s Yitzhak Navon Train Station and then by streetcar to the Jerusalem Hotel in East Jerusalem. (Arrivals to Ben Gurion after 7 PM will need to take a private taxi to Jerusalem; if needed, we can help with those arrangements.)
Day 7
Bethlehem, Jericho, Jordan River Valley, Nazareth
We will check out of our hotel early, and travel to Bethlehem in the West Bank, where we will learn more about the Palestinian people. We will visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd’s Fields, with a quick stop at an olive wood workshop. We will then drive to Jericho, through the Judean Wilderness along the Good Samaritan Road. After a brief visit to the site of the ancient city of Jericho, we will head north along the Jordan River Valley to Nazareth.
Day 6
Jerusalem: Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Machane Yehuda Market
We will start our day taking public transportation to Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial and museum of the Holocaust. We will then head to the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls and some recent discoveries in Biblical archaeology. On the way back to the hotel we will tour the colorful Machane Yehuda market and have dinner.
Day 8
Nazareth
Today we will explore the charming city of Nazareth, starting with the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation and then the Basilica of the Annunciation. We will enjoy a local culinary delight called kenafe, and we will learn about Middle Eastern spices at a local emporium.
Day 9
Mt. Tabor, Megiddo, Mt. Carmel, Akko
Today we head toward the coast through the Jezreel Valley, stopping first at Mt. Tabor, a possible site for the Mount of Transfiguration. We will then pass the ancient ruin of Megiddo, and stop at Mount Carmel, the traditional location of Elijah's encounter with the priests of Baal. We will enjoy lunch in an Arab Druze village, and then explore the Unesco World Heritage City of Akko.
Day 10
Galilee: Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Taghba, Magdala
This morning we will descend to the Sea of Galilee, where we will tour places prominent in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ: Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Taghba, Church of Peter Primacy, and Magdala.
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Day 11
Caesarea Phillipi, Tel Dan, Galilee, Jordan River Baptismal Site
We will depart early to drive north to the sites of Caesarea Phillipi, the place where Peter testified that Jesus was the Christ, and Tel Dan, where the earliest record of King David has been found. We will return to the Sea of Galilee in time for a boat ride, followed by a fish lunch. We will then head south to Yardenit, a peaceful spot on the Jordan River commonly used for baptisms today.
Day 12
Caesarea, Jaffa, Departure from Ben Gurion
On our final day in Israel, we will visit the ancient New Testament Roman city of Caesarea Maritima, built by Herod the Great, stopping first at the Roman Aquaduct. Before heading to Ben Gurion Airport we will visit the Port of Jaffa (Joppa) and the traditional site of the Apostle Peter's vision. Please schedule flights to depart no earlier than 9 PM.
Day 13
Arrival in the U.S.
FALL/DECEMBER 2023 ITINERARY
Day 1
Departure from the U.S.
Day 3
Masada, Qumran, Dead Sea
As we travel today from Jerusalem eastward towards the Dead Sea we will gain a better understanding of Biblical geography and the diversity of the Holy Land. We will walk up the Romans Ramp to the ancient fortress of Masada, and then descend over 1,000 feet to the elevation of the Dead Sea. A visit to this area wouldn't be complete without a stop at Qumran, followed by a swim in the Dead Sea.
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Day 4
Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane
We will start our day at the Garden Tomb, followed by a church service at BYU's Jerusalem Center. We will walk from the Jerusalem Center along the Mount of Olives to the Orson Hyde Park, for a picnic lunch. We will continue down the Mount of Olives to the Garden Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, and then ascend the Temple Mount through Lion's Gate to the Pool of Bethesda, where we will follow the Via Dolorosa through the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Day 5
Jerusalem: The Old City
This morning, we will head back into the Old City of Jerusalem, through the Damascus Gate, to the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. We will then explore the archaeological excavations on the southern side the Temple Mount. After lunch in the Old City, we will continue our walk to the original site of Jerusalem, the City of David, where we'll also have the opportunity to wade through Hezekiah's historic tunnel.