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14 day tour, hotels, two meals a day, private motor coach, and Israeli guide. Since most who go to Israel can do it only once in their lifetime, see basically all Biblical related sites that are accessible. After creating and successfully leading this tour 12 times from 2005-2015, once again this will be led by John Hodges (Van), an experienced traveler who has visited Israel 19 times in the last 18 years, plus much of the Middle East. He is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, and has been a student and teacher of the Bible, Israel, Biblical history, and Bible prophecy for many years. This is an excellent tour for laypersons, retirees, students (high school, college, seminary), and pastors. |
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Day 1, Sat. May 14 – Departure from USA
Depart the USA for an overnight flight to Israel.
Day 2, Sun. May 15 - Arrive In Israel, Lydda,
Emmaus, Aijalon Valley, Jerusalem
Tour members arrive in Tel Aviv at Ben Gurion Airport, then by motor coach we drive past Lydda, Emmaus, and the Aijalon Valley on a scenic drive up to Jerusalem and arrive at our hotel for our first dinner together and a six-night stay.
Day 3, Mon. May 16 - City of David, Judean Wilderness, Jericho
We begin the day by touring the City of David to see a film, its Canaanite and Israelite ruins, Jeremiah’s Cistern, an optional walk thru Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel, view recently discovered 2nd Temple road, finishing at the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed a blind man. For lunch we have a Biblical type dinner in Abraham’s Tent. We drive further east thru the West Bank and Judean Wilderness to stop for a scenic view of the Wadi Qelt, St. George’ Monastery, and ancient Jericho Road. We continue on past Bedouin camps to Jericho to see Herod’s winter palace, Zaccheus’ sycamore fig tree, Elisha’s Spring, then enter ancient Tel Jericho to see remains of fallen walls, and view the Mount of Temptation where Satan tempted Jesus.
Day 4, Tue. May 17 - West Jerusalem, Emmaus,
Joppa, Holocaust Museum, Israel Museum
This day begins with travel to West Jerusalem to the tomb of the prophet Samuel and a view of his hometown Ramah, and the high place at Gibeon where the Lord appeared to King Solomon before he built the Temple. We continue westward to visit a possible location of Emmaus where Jesus appeared to two disciples. We walk to a scenic view of the Aijalon Valley where Joshua prayed for the sun and moon to remain still. We drive past Lydda where Peter healed a paralyzed man and arrive at the ancient port of Joppa where Jonah and Peter spent time. We return to Jerusalem and pass under the Harp Bridge, then take a somber tour of the Holocaust museum at Yad Vashem. We end the day by going past the Knesset to visit the Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls), plus see a model of1st Century Jerusalem.
Day 5, Wed. May 18 - Jerusalem, Temple Mount,
Via Dolorosa, Promenade, Bethlehem
We ascend on top the Temple Mount to observe columns and steps from the Temple where Jesus taught, Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock shrine, the Golden Gate, then exit to the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a paralyzed man. We see a stone pavement from the Roman times then walk the 14 stations of the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Our next stop is at the Promenade for the view that Abraham first had of Mt. Moriah. We then drive to Rachel’s tomb, as we enter into Bethlehem to tour the Church of the Nativity that displays where Jesus was born, shop at the olive wood factory, then by bus we visit, David’s well, the Shepherd’s Field, ending at Herod’s palace and tomb at Herodium.
Day 6, Thu. May 19- Jerusalem, Wailing Wall,
Temple Mount Steps, Jewish Quarter, Mount Zion
With excitement we begin our extensive tour of the Old City of Jerusalem by visiting the Wailing or Western Wall and walk thru the excavated Rabbinical Tunnel to see a massive Herodian stone wall and street from the time of Jesus. We then witness the busy activity at the outside wall and have opportunity to pray there. Strolling to the Archaeological Park we see a film, original 2nd Temple stones, and southern steps that Jesus walked on. Ascending up to the Jewish Quarter we see the gold Menorah built for the next Temple, the Temple Institute, the Burnt House, a 1st Temple period model of Jerusalem, a wall built by King Hezekiah, and the Roman Cardo. The rest of our day is at Mt. Zion to see the Upper Room, David’s Tomb, and the first Church Grotto. We then walk to visit David’s Citadel and go inside to climb the tower for a view of Old Jerusalem and to see the remains of Herod’s palace and possible place of Pilate’s trial of Jesus.
Day 7, Fri. May 20 - Mount of Olives, Bethany,
Kidron Valley, Hinnom Valley, Garden Tomb
This final day in Jerusalem begins with an ascent to the top of the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of the Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, Bethphage, and Bethany. We view the large Jewish cemetery and tomb of the prophets Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi located on the mountain in expectation the Messiah will come there. We remember the last week of Jesus’ life on earth and descend the Messianic path where He rode on a donkey, visiting where He wept over Jerusalem, then tour the Garden of Gethsemane where He was arrested, then walk across the Kidron Valley to ancient tombs. We continue up to the Temple Mount and high Pinnacle Wall where Satan tempted Jesus when He began His ministry; then on to Caiaphas’ House to see a 1st Century road and prison where traditionally Jesus was put on trial by the high priest and where Peter denied knowing Him. We overlook the Hinnom Valley, also called Gehenna, and the Potter’s Field where Judas was buried. The afternoon finishes with a quiet visit, tour, and communion together at the Garden Tomb and Place of the Skull called Golgotha or Calvary.
Day 8, Sat. May 21 - Beth Shemesh, Elah Valley,
Philistia, Beersheba, Negev Desert, Dead Sea
Leaving Jerusalem we drive thru Ein Kerem the traditional birthplace of John The Baptist, then past Hadassah Hospital named after Biblical Esther, we travel west thru beautiful mountains and the Sorek Valley to Beth Shemesh where the Ark of the Covenant was carried from the Philistines by two cows pulling a cart. The next stop is Tel Azekah and the Valley of Elah, where David defeated Goliath. We then make stops where battles were fought at Mareshah and Lachish, then we drive thru the land of the Philistines, passing the city of Gath. We continue on to Beersheba and see Abraham’s well. We then go east with a drive thru the Negev contrasted with Bedouin tents and herds of camels, donkeys, sheep, and blossoms of the Israeli desert agriculture that is fulfilling prophesy from Isaiah. Our desert tour then stops at the traditional locations of Biblical Arad, Zoar, Sodom, and salt stone of Lot’s wife, then a relaxing swim in the Dead Sea by our luxurious hotel.
Day 9, Sun. May 22 - Masada, Engedi,
Qumran, Jordan River, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias
We see a film and ascend by cable car to the ancient fortress of Masada. After digesting its history and viewing ancient Gomorrah, we drive to the oasis of Engedi where David hid from King Saul, then on to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We head north and stop at the Baptismal Site where Jesus was probably baptized at Bethany Beyond The Jordan, we then continue thru the Jordan Valley and Samaria, to visit Belvoir Fortress. After we get our first view of the Sea of Galilee, water baptisms are done at the Jordan River baptismal site. We begin a four-night stay in Tiberias (known for its Roman hot springs which still exist today).
Day 10, Mon. May 23 - Northern Galilee, Hazor,
Hula, Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Mt. Hermon, Golan Heights
We go north today thru the Hula Valley with a stop at Tel Hazor, seeing mud brick ruins from Canaanite times, stone structures built by King Solomon, and a huge water well built by King Ahab. Next we see a film about migrating birds at the Hula Nature Reserve. We continue north to see the headwaters of the Jordan River at Tel Dan, plus we see the ancient Israelite city of Dan. Back on the bus, we visit Banias and its Hermon Stream (Biblical Caesarea Philippi where Jesus visited), then we ascend up Mt. Hermon to tour Nimrod’s Castle with a beautiful view of the Hula Valley. Our bus continues on to the picturesque volcanic crater at Lake Ram and then ascends up Mt. Bental with a magnificent view of snowcapped Mt. Hermon, Lebanon and Syria. The day ends by driving thru the Golan Heights of ancient Bashan with a stop at a high observation point for a complete panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee. We arrive back at Tiberias to see a film about Galilee’s Biblical history.
Day 11, Tue. May 24 - Sea of Galilee,
Capernaum, Bethsaida, Kursi, Gadara
Today we concentrate on the primary places of Jesus’ ministry. We take a quiet cruise on the Sea of Galilee in the Jesus Boat, and then disembark to tour the Boat Museum. Next, we visit Magdala, the Mount of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, Capernaum, Chorazin, Bethsaida, the miracle feedings of the multitudes and the place of the demoniacs and pigs at Kursi, Hippos, Gadara, and finish circling the lake by arriving back at Tiberias,
Day 12, Wed. May 25 - Central Galilee, Beth Shan, Mt. Gilboa,
Harod Springs, Jezreel Valley, Jezreel, Nazareth, Sepphoris, Cana, Mt. Arbel
We begin by heading south to visit the extensive Roman ruins and Tel of the ancient city of Beth Shan. We then drive up Mt. Gilboa to where King Saul was killed, to take pictures of the fertile Beth Shan Valley. We descend to Harod Springs where Gideon downsized his army to 300. Our next stop is at Tel Jezreel, the city of Ahab and Jezebel. We drive thru the Jezreel Valley passing by Shunem where Elisha raised a boy from the dead, and by Ophrah where Gideon resided. We ascend Mt. Precipice for a view of Nazareth, Mt. Tabor where Deborah defeated the Canaanites, and northern Armageddon. After driving by the Church of the Annunciation, we have a guided tour of Nazareth Village. Next, we go to the close by ancient city of Sepphoris where likely Joseph and Jesus worked as builders. We drive thru Cana where Jesus turned the water into wine, and end the day at Mt. Arbel for a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee.
Day 13, Thu. May 26 - Western Galilee, Mt. Tabor,
Megiddo, Armageddon, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea
On our last day in Galilee, by bus we pass thru the Biblical places of Kadesh, Mt. Moreh, Mt. Tabor, Endor, and Nain. We continue to travel west to take a tour of ancient Tel Megiddo, overlooking southern Armageddon. We then ascend to Elijah’s Mt. Carmel where he dueled with the 450 prophets of Baal. We have a wonderful western view of the Jezreel Valley. We descend back down the mountain to our last stop at the ancient seaport and Roman Capital of Biblical Caesarea, where Pontius Pilate resided. This was also where Peter preached to the Roman Centurion Cornelius and saw the entire household believe. Paul was put on trial here before sailing for Rome. We drive outside the city to take pictures of its ancient Herodian Roman aqueduct. We then drive thru the Sharon Plain to our hotel perched on cliffs overlooking the beach and Mediterranean Sea for one last night in Israel and for reflections about everything that we have seen and heard.
Day 14, Fri. May 27 - Tel Aviv
Some members leave from Ben Gurion airport on their return flight home with lots of great memories and information, while others will continue on the Jordan Extension.
Click here to read testimonials from past tours
Price Per Person
Double Occupancy |
Land Only |
$2,601.00 |
Single Supplement: $998.00 |
Airfare Available Nationwide. Contact Pilgrim Tours for Pricing. 800 322 0788 |
Deposit:
$300 per person is required to secure a reservation.
Final Payment: 60 days before departure.
Price Includes: 12 nights lodging in 4 star hotels, breakfast and dinner daily, Abrahamic lunch, full time English speaking Israeli tour guide, ear whisper systems, porterage (1 Bag), services of long distance deluxe motorcoach as appear on itinerary, all guides, entrances and transportation as appear on itinerary, group arrival and departure transfer (approximate 4:30pm arrival group transfer scheduled from the airport).
Not Included: Flight arrangements (low cost fares available nationwide) lunches, optional Travel Insurance, optional credit card payments (additional 3% of total bill), Gratuities will be paid in advance ($144.00 per person will be added to your final invoice for gratuities to be paid to driver, guide, and hotel staff while in Israel).
Available Extensions:
Jordan, Southern Israel 4 Day Extension Add-on (May 27- 30)
Samaria 3 Day Extension Add-on (May 31 - June 2)
