Holy Land Pilgrimage:
A biblical scholar once said that if you haven’t been to the Holy Land, reading the Bible like watching a movie without any scenery, where actors have no costumes and read lines on an empty stage. But after a tour of the Holy Land, the Bible literally comes to life, like a big-budget movie. Walk where the Savior would have walked, see Bedouins on the side of the road that dress and live much like they did 2000 years ago, and smell and eat foods that the Savior and his Apostles would have eaten.
With a group of 10 travelers, see these places with a tour director of your choosing. If you belong to a church, bring your minister, pastor, or priest as a director. Add a theme twist with Christian groups of artists, photographers, doctors, & businessmen. Hold workshops on your topic in these fantastic & stunning settings.
Tour Description:
This tour combines a full Israel tour with Add Ons to Egypt and Jordan (Petra). You can do Israel alone, or with Egypt and/or Jordan. This particular tour is our economy version, with comfortable and trusted economically priced hotels.
- Feel the sacred spirit at the Sea of Galilee where the Savior calmed seas, walked on water, and delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Take a boat ride on the serene waters of this place.
- Visit Bethlehem, birth place of the Savior on April 6th, His actual birthday, and sing Christmas carols at Shepherds’ field. See Nazareth and other locations of His youth.
- Stop at Bethsaida, home of Peter, James, John, and other “fishermen” apostles, and Capernaum ruins, a location where these apostles and Jesus actually walked.
- Ride up Mount Tabor, where Jesus was transfigured, saw Moses & Elijah, and spoke with God.
- Explore fantastic ruins like Massada, Meggido, Beit She’an, Qumran (Dead Sea Scrolls) and others, and swim and enjoy a mud- bath at the Dead Sea. Drive by Jericho and learn of its deep history.
- Feel the power of the scriptures on-site with the re-telling of the most sacred events of the Savior’s life at Jerusalem at such locations as Gethsemane, the Temple Mount, Calvary, and the Garden Tomb.
Optional Add-Ons
Since you have traveled all this way, why not extend your stay? Instead of coming back later to places like Egypt and Petra, why not kill three birds with one stone and see them all together? Both of these locations include old and new Seven Wonders of the World!
EGYPT: TBD
- Sail on the Nile at Cairo and explore the Valley of the Kings (where King Tut was discovered) and Queens, with its many tombs.
- See the temples at Luxor and Karnak, and the stepped pyramid of Saqqara. Shop at the papyrus store and for other Egyptian crafts.
- Take a camel ride and view the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) at Giza, the only one of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World still standing.
JORDAN: TBD
- Explore Jerash ruins, one of the most important and best preserved Roman cities in the Near East.
- See Petra ruins, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and one of the most amazing ruins in the world, a magnificent city carved out of solid stone cliff walls, built by the Nabateans.
- View the Holy Land from Mount Nebo as Moses did, overlooking Jericho (with views to Jerusalem on a clear day).
A detailed day-by-day itinerary will be included in your welcome packet when you sign up for the tour.
Included in This Tour
- A superbly crafted travel experience to the best locations in the Holy Land, with arrangements made by a company with 10 years and over 80 tours experience.
- Detailed information on all sites visited by our excellent staff of local guides.
- Crash course and/or workshops from the director of your choosing in the theme area of your choosing.
- All land transportation included in the itinerary (new model luxury or best available motor coaches).
- All water transportation included in the itinerary.
- Economy category three star hotels (expectations should be geared towards a lower-cost hotel experience. We have selected hotels that provide clean rooms and friendly service, and that are tried and trusted, but that are also lower priced).
- Entry fees for all activities included in the itinerary (not including entry fees for optional activities not done together as a group).
- Tips (baggage handlers, maids, local guides, bus drivers, and waiters for pre-paid group meals, see recommendations on tipping below).
- Border crossing fees
- Airport fees, visa fees, and departure taxes
- Professional Tour Director/Escort. A professional Company Tour Director will guide and assist this group for the entire tour. His costs are included in the tour price.
- Meals included in the itinerary (see “Meals on This Tour” below)
- Purified water (to put in your personal water containers)
- Detailed itinerary and Tour Manual with trip preparation information
NOT Included in This Tour
- All Airfares (International round trip from your departure city AND any any other flights during the tour, including those required for Add-Ons if any. As airfare pricing can be constantly in flux, it is impossible to keep a tour price stable with any airfares included).
- Travel Insurance.
- Meals not included in the itinerary (see “Meals on This Tour” below).
- Beverages of any kind at meal times (except purified water provided on the bus and those beverages included as courtesy welcome drinks from the hotels or included in breakfast buffets. If you are in doubt, please inquire to your waiter).
- Extra transportation for any arrangements outside of those included in the tour itinerary.
- All incidental charges at hotels such as phone bills, room service, mini-bar/snack bar consumption, fees for damaging or taking hotel property, etc.
- Optional additional tips above the base tips including tip to your Tour Director.
- Souvenir money.
Meals on This Tour
Generally, two meals per day are provided on this tour. This does NOT include the calendar day you fly to the Middle East (no meals included), or other meals as mentioned below. The two meals included each day are usually breakfast and dinner, at the hotels you are staying at. For lunches, each day can be different. If the itinerary allows, the bus will stop at a restaurant and you will have the option to purchase lunch. Otherwise, for lunches you can bring lunch snacks. As a general rule, beverages are NOT INCLUDED. Be prepared to pay your waiter if you purchase a beverage. If your waiter offers you bottled water, do not assume that it is on the house. You will most likely be charged for it. For those doing the Egypt Add On, only one meal is provided on the first day in Cairo. This is because the group arrives in the early A.M. on a flight, and after a long day at the pyramids, some of the group will be tired and will not want a long drawn out dinner. Those who are tired will have a can order room service on their own at the hotel. Those with energy will enjoy a late dinner (not included) with the guide and Tour Director at a more traditional Egyptian fare restaurante in Cairo. Each day below details the meals included in this tour at the end of the daily description according to the following abbreviations:
Meals Included: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Tips for this Tour
The company provides standard base tips for meals included in the itinerary, bell boys, maids, guides, drivers, and other service providers on this tour. Have money to tip accordingly for any extra services you ask of any service provider, including meals not included and all beverages you purchase. The company recommends that you be generous with extra tips to those drivers, guides, and other service providers that work closely with the group (especially the ones that you feel have personally provided excellent service.) As many clients inquire about tips for the Tour Director, these are also not included but are completely up to the discretion of each individual.
Special Items Needed for this Tour
You may want to bring appropriate footwear that can get wet in the case that we are able to hike through Hezekiah’s tunnel. You may also want a small flashlight.
Airfare(s)
Airfare is NOT INCLUDED in the tour price as pricing fluctuates based on supply and demand until the moment of purchase. WE CANNOT GUARANTEE any price for airfare in advance. You should expect the international round-trip airfare from New York City’s JFK to Israel to be over $1000 per person. Starting in other major US Cities like Salt Lake City, for example, and flying through JFK, you should plan on airfare to be more than $1400-1500/person. You should also expect flights around the holidays to be more expensive, and increase in cost drastically as the holidays approach. If you plan on attending the optional Egypt and Jordan Add On’s, you should plan on your total airfare (probably 8 legs of flights) to be more than $2100/person. Once the tour is guaranteed with ten travelers, our flexible plan allows you to:
- use your Frequent Flyer miles for your tickets
- or, purchase your tickets through your own sources
- or, go through our discount ticketing agent who will arrange for you to arrive at our starting destination by the appointed time. Our agents will arrange flights inside the tour for the group, and you will be billed accordingly for the rate extended at the time of booking (can vary). For those interested in travel insurance, our agents will provide detailed information on available policies.
Obviously, the sooner you make your reservation, the better the price and/or availability of flights. However, DO NOT make airline arrangements until you have received confirmation that the tour is guaranteed (with a minimum of 10 participants) and a confirmation that you have a guaranteed spot on the tour (tours are filled on a first-come first-served basis by deposit).
Questions?
If you have any questions about this tour, please call us at 801-737-6496 or email him here, and refer to tour code IL10E11XXCATTBD.
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