Best of Israel

Price Per person double occupancy

Date	Price	Single Supplement
May 15-26, 2025	$4,500*	$1,250
*Airfare included from Seattle Reservation Due: January 24, 2025 Final Payment Due: March 14, 2025

Included

Roundtrip airfare from Seattle including taxes and fees (air taxes and fuel surcharges are subject to change), 10 nights lodging at 5-star hotels, Breakfast & dinner daily at hotels, 1 lunch at Abraham’s Tent, Full time English-speaking tour guide, Services of long-distance deluxe motor coach as appearing on itinerary, All entrances and transportation as appearing on itinerary, Porterage at hotels (1 piece), 1 group arrival transfer and 1 group departure transfer, Whisper/Listening devices, Tips to drivers, guides, and hotel staff, Pilgrim Payment Processing for check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover

Not Included

All lunches and drinks with meals except as noted in itinerary, Optional Travel Insurance – 7.95% or 10.85% of tour cost (rates current as of quote date), Israel VAT tax (missing passport fee) - $160 fee waived upon receipt of valid passport(s)

Day 1 – Thursday, May 15: Departure

Today we embark on our Journey to the Holy Land. Prepare yourself for a life-changing experience. Get some rest on the flight…tomorrow you will be walking where Jesus walked!

Day 2 – Friday, May 16: Arrive Israel, Jaffa

Arriving in the Tel Aviv Airport, we are met by our guide and driver and make a short visit to Jaffa (ancient Joppa) and see the port from which Jonah sailed and where cedar trees from Lebanon were received for the building of Solomon’s house and the temple. See the house of Simon the Tanner before transferring to our Tel Aviv hotel for the evening. The remainder of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean, relax, and have dinner. The time is right for a personal devotional with the sunset over the “Great Sea.” Meet your Israeli guide, enjoy a time of prayer of thanks for safety and the special blessings ahead, a prayer for the people of the "Promised Land," and a good night’s rest.

Day 3 – Saturday, May 17: Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Nazareth, Galilee

After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We’ll see the Roman Amphitheatre, hippodrome, a film on history and remains of this famous port city, and aqueduct, and then journey on to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. Next we travel through the Jezreel Valley to Megiddo, the Armageddon Battlefield, where archaeologists have unearthed 20 levels of civilization. We drive through the area of Cana and Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we visit the Nazareth Village – a wonderful recreation of Biblical times with costumed guides – and then view the Jezreel Valley from atop Mount Precipice. We will have dinner and overnight lodging for the next two nights in the Tiberias area on the Sea of Galilee.

Day 4 – Sunday, May 18: Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Sea of Galilee Boat Ride, Capernaum, Baptisms

Following breakfast, our morning travels take us to two valuable northern sites. Dan is where the children of Israel fell to the depths of alternative sacrifice and Caesarea Philippi, the site of Peter’s Confession and pagan worship. As we return southward along the base of the Golan Heights, we pass the possible site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes in Bethsaida and the Mount of the Beatitudes. Returning to Tiberias, we enjoy a St. Peter’s Fish Lunch (other options available) followed by a visit to the ancient Jesus boat and then a relaxing cruise on the Sea of Galilee. We then view the excavations of the seaside village of Capernaum and Peter’s home. We end the day with the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River at the Yar Denit baptism site.

Day 5 – Monday, May 19: Beth Shean, Jericho, Jerusalem

We begin our day traveling southward to Beit-Shean/Scythopolis. Like Jericho, it has been almost continuously occupied throughout history. After defeating Saul and his sons on Mt. Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beit-Shean. During the time of Jesus, Scythopolis was one of the chief cities of the Decapolis - a league of ten cities sharing Greek culture and government. Following the fertile Jordan Valley southward, your guide will point out the agricultural restoration of the “Land of Milk and Honey” and Israel’s intricate irrigation development. Arriving in ancient Jericho, the oldest city in the world, we will visit Elisha’s Spring and view the Mount of Temptation. To the east of Jericho along the Jordan River Valley (Queser El Yehud) is the Israeli side of Bethany Beyond the Jordan. In this area Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan, as well as where the children of Israel, led by Joshua, entered the Promised Land. We arrive this evening in the holy city of Jerusalem where we will lodge for the next six evenings.

Day 6 – Tuesday, May 20: Jerusalem, Temple Mount, Abraham’s Tent

Conditions permitting we will visit the Temple Mount, with commentary on the Temple Periods, and the variety of belief systems past and present that make this area so valuable. Next we will visit the Wailing Wall and then the fascinating Rabbinical Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era. The tunnel and exhibit give a clear understanding of the amazing construction of the Temple Mount, giant stones, water supply and Roman street where our Lord was led to judgment. Before exiting the tunnel we see the immense cornerstone rejected by the builders. This afternoon we will take part in the Genesis Land lunch in Abraham's Tent, where we enjoy a trip back in time: a reliving of life in the time of the Patriarchs, complete with costume, dramatic presentation, camel ride and authentic food.

Day 7 – Wednesday, May 21: Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Dead Sea

Our day begins with a cable car ride to the mountain top fortress of Masada. Here our guide will treat us to the history of the famous zealot stand. Afterwards we proceed to Ein Gedi, "Spring of the Goat," an oasis on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Because of its warm climate and abundant supply of water, the site developed a reputation for its fragrant plants and date palm groves. This is where King David hid from Saul and where God defeated the enemies of the Israelites by praise and worship led by King Jehoshaphat. Next, we visit the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. This afternoon we have an opportunity to enjoy a relaxing float in the Dead Sea.

Day 8 – Thursday, May 22: Herodium, Free Time

This morning we visit another impressive fortress built by King Herod – Herodium, a palace and fortress in one, where he is believed to be buried. Returning to Jerusalem, the remainder of our day is free to spend as we choose. Relax, explore on your own, do any needed shopping, and try out some of the local cuisine.

Day 9 – Friday, May 23: Yad Vashem, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Jewish Quarter, Upper Room

This is followed with a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, for a needed reminder of what the Jews have suffered as a people. We visit Gihon Springs, the original water source for Jerusalem, view new excavations including a typical Israelite four-room house, and the lower city wall. A highlight today will be a water walk through the incredible Hezekiah's Tunnel to the pool of Siloam, the place of Jesus' miracle in John 9. Entering the Jewish Quarter, we see the gold Menorah built for the next Temple, a wall built by King Hezekiah, and the Roman Cardo. We end our day with a visit to the "Upper Room" just outside the Zion Gate where the disciple whom Jesus loved laid his head on His breast and where later Thomas cried, "my Lord & my God."

Day 10 – Saturday, May 24: Shrine of the Book, Jesus’ Steps, Garden Tomb

An interesting and educational time awaits us today at the Israeli Museum. Walk through collections of century’s old Israeli artifacts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, and then a guided walk through an accurately detailed model of Biblical Jerusalem. This model will help put into perspective all that you have seen over the previous days of touring. Now we walk where Jesus walked, beginning with a panoramic view of the city, Mount Moriah and the Dome of the Rock from atop the Mount of Olives and then the Garden of Gethsemane. How many have wished to be whisked back in time to get a glimpse of our Lord or hear His voice if only for a moment? To walk between the ancient olive trees, read the scriptures of Jesus' prayer and take time for personal reflection is important here. Re-entering the city via St. Stephen’s Gate, we will visit the nearby Pool of Bethesda and crusader-era St. Anne’s Church. Our guide will explain the differing opinions on the route that Christ was led; the actual place of crucifixion and burial is a very interesting study. The climax of the day is the area of Golgotha (place of the skull) and the Garden Tomb, where we celebrate the resurrection with communion and a time of praise.

Day 11 – Sunday, May 25: Transfer to Jordan, Mt. Nebo

Following breakfast we will transfer to the Allenby Bridge border crossing, where we cross into Jordan. Our Jordan guide and driver will take us to Mt. Nebo which commands a spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Study the panorama as we read the scripture of God showing Moses the "Promised Land" before He brought him home to heaven. See the Brazen Serpent sculpture and visit the Memorial Church of Moses to see the beautifully preserved Byzantine mosaic depicting the King’s Highway, Jordan’s ancient trade route. We then make our way to our hotel in Amman. Rest this afternoon and evening and enjoy dinner at the hotel; we will be transferring to the Amman Airport very late tonight.

Day 12 – Monday, May 26: Return Home

We board our flight in Amman and arrive back home in Seattle around noon today.

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