Israel

Price Per person based on double occupancy and minimum of 20 paying passengers

Date	Price	Single Supplement
May 16 – 27, 2025	$4,234* $4,334**	$1,315
*If paid before or on December 15th, 2024 **If paid after December 15th, 2024 Includes estimated air from Chicago, IL Reservation Due: February 3, 2025 Final Payment Due: March 7, 2025

Included

Estimated air from Chicago, IL including air taxes, 10 nights lodging in 4-star hotels, Breakfast and Dinner Daily (Buffet Style), Full time English speaking Israeli tour guide, Porterage at Hotel (1 Bag), Whisper Headphone Systems, Tips to drivers, guides, and hotel staff, Services of long-distance deluxe motorcoach as appear on itinerary, 1 Group Airport Arrival Transfer / 1 Group Airport Departure Transfer, All guides, entrances and transportation as appear on itinerary., Pilgrim Payment Processing / Including Credit Card Processing

Not Included

Lunches, Additional Private Transfers on Arrival & Departure ($80.00 per person, per transfer), Optional Travel Insurance (US Residence Only)

Friday, May 16: Departure

Depart from Chicago O’Hare via London Heathrow to Tel Aviv this evening.

Saturday, May 17: Arrive Tel Aviv

Arrive in Tel Aviv mid-afternoon today. Drive to Jaffa for a walking tour to see the house of Simon the Tanner where Peter was residing when he had his vision of the white sheet and was commanded to eat. Continue to Nahsholim Seaside Resort Cottages for dinner and overnight.

Sunday, May 18: Caesarea Maritima to the Galilee

Today begins at Caesarea Maritima, the Roman harbor city built by Herod the Great, and the departure point for Paul on his journey to Rome. Continue north to Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal. Drive to Megiddo to see the ruins there and see the valley which is called Armageddon in the book of Revelation. Next, stop in Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation, the Synagogue Church and to see the view from Mt. Precipice where the townsfolk sought to toss Jesus from the cliff. Continue to Magdala to see the excavations of an early synagogue in the hometown of Mary Magdalene. Dinner and overnight will be at Kibbutz Ma’agan Cottages.

Monday, May 19: The Galilee Region

Drive to Yigal Allon Museum to see the “Jesus Boat” found in the lakebed during a severe drought in the 1980s. This boat is the remains of a first century fishing vessel. Next, board a craft modeled after these early fishing vessels and sail on the Sea of Galilee for a time of reflection and meditation. Continue to Capernaum, the town Jesus made His home base during His Galilean ministry. See the remains of an early synagogue and the home of Peter’s mother-in-law. The next stop is the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus spoke at length on the kingdom of God. Walk downhill to Tabgha to see the Church of the Loaves and Fishes and the lovely mosaics found there. Close by is the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy which commemorates the time after Christ’s resurrection when He met the disciples at the shore after their night of fishing and commanded them to cast out their nets. Visit Caesarea Philippi where Jesus retired with His disciples to teach them and where Peter acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah. Continue to Tel Dan to see a mud gate from the time of Abraham and the high place of King Jeroboam. Dinner and overnight are at Kibbutz Ma’agan.

Tuesday, May 20: The Way to Jerusalem

In the Jezreel Valley lies the Spring of Harod, where Gideon chose his army of 300 men, and which flows from Gideon’s Cave, drive to this strategic military gathering point before continuing to Beth Shean. Visit the mound of Beth Shean where the Philistines hung the bodies of King Saul and his sons after defeating the Israelites in battle. Drive through the Jordan Valley to Jericho to visit the tel of the city vanquished by Joshua and the army of the Israelites. View the traditional mountain of the temptation of Christ. Continue to Qasr El-Yehud where those who wish to be baptized in the Jordan River may do so. Arrive in Jerusalem via the town of Bethany, the home of the friends of Jesus, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Continue into the city of Jerusalem, stopping on the Mount of Olives for an overview of the city. Follow the traditional Palm Sunday Route stopping at the Church of Dominus Flevit (“the Lord weeps”), and the Church of All Nations. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane and enjoy time in a private garden area for prayer and meditation. Continue to the Olive Tree Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday, May 21: Bethlehem

Drive through the Valley of Elah where David fought the giant Goliath. See the area of the Shepherd’s Fields where the angels of the Lord proclaimed the birth of Christ to the lowly shepherds. Arrive in Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity marking the traditional spot of Christ’s birth. There will be time to shop for olive wood souvenirs while in Bethlehem. Return to Jerusalem to visit the Garden Tomb and share communion in a private area. Dinner at the Olive Tree Hotel.

Thursday, May 22: Jerusalem

Drive to Mt. Zion this morning, stopping at St. Peter in Gallicantu, this church commemorates the spot where Peter denied knowing Jesus. Visit the traditional site of the Upper Room. Visit the Shrine of the Book where copies of the Dead Sea Scrolls are on display. See the scale model of Jerusalem as it may have appeared around the time of Christ which provides a good understanding of the proximity of locations visited in Jerusalem. Spend time visiting Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial. Return to the Olive Tree Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Friday, May 23: Samaria

Depart Jerusalem this morning for Shiloh, located in the West Bank. Shiloh is where the Israelites housed the Tabernacle until the building of the Temple. Stop in Nablus to see the site of Jacob’s Well, where Jesus asked the woman of Samaria for a drink of water and offered her the living water. Continue to Tel Balata, the site of an ancient Canaanite/Israelite city known as Shechem. See Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal where the Israelites made a covenant with God. Traveling west through the Shechem pass, drive to the site of Ahab’s capital, Samaria, which later became Herod Great’s pagan capital of Sebastia. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at the Olive Tree Hotel.

Saturday, May 24: Dead Sea Area

Journey southwards along the Israeli/Jordan border to the Dead Sea area. Arrive at Masada, the desert fortress built by Herod the Great. This was the site of the last stronghold of the Jewish zealots in their revolt against Rome. Continue to En Gedi, the desert oasis where David hid from King Saul and hike to the waterfalls (swimming if time permits). Afterwards visit Qumran the site of the Essene community responsible for the scrolls found in the desert caves known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. There will be a stop at a public beach along the Dead Sea for a swim in water so saturated with salt and other minerals that it is impossible to sink! Return to the Olive Tree Hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Sunday, May 25: Worship / Free Day

Today is yours to spend time in worship at one of many churches in Jerusalem. Spend the remainder of the day resting, exploring Jerusalem on your own, or shopping. Return to the hotel at the time appointed by your tour host to drive to the Ambassador Hotel for a special Farewell dinner. Return to the Olive Tree Hotel for overnight accommodations.

Monday, May 26: Jerusalem

Explore the Jewish Quarter excavations today beginning in the Old City, including the Byzantine main street and the Broad Wall of King Hezekiah. Visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, and the Southern Steps of the Temple where Jesus would have spoken to His disciples. Walk through the Western Wall Tunnel, where additional portions of the wall, as well as other structures beneath it, have been excavated. Ascend to the Dome of the Rock which sits on top of the Temple Mount. See the Pools of Bethesda and St. Anne’s Church with its excellent acoustics. Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Return to the Olive Tree Hotel for dinner and overnight. We will finish up our tour with a time of reflection and communion at the Garden Tomb.

Tuesday, May 27: Depart for US

Check out of the hotel today and transfer to the airport with some returning to the US.

Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group.