Seeing the Bible in Full Color
On your trip to the Holy Land, two things will be forever changed: you and your connection to the Bible. Visiting places you've only read about before will be like seeing the Bible in full color for the first time.
The experience of standing where Jesus stood, touching waters that He touched and seeing the land where His miracles were performed will help you have a deeper understanding of what you know to be true.
This trip is designed to inspire, renew, and revive. With 20 years of experience guiding customized tips, our hope is to create a safe experience that leaves you refreshed and inspired. This trip is meant to connect you to the Bible in a different way and bring a new perspective to your teachings once you're back home.
Louie, Founder and CEO
EXPERT LEADER,
QUALIFIED TEAM
A Jerusalem native, Louie Dajani has been leading tours in the Holy Land for over 20 years.
“Jerusalem is not only where I was born and raised, it is who I am. My family has been here for over 800 years, and my life’s work has been authentically sharing this sacred place with thousands of Christians.”
- Louie Dajani, Founder and CEO
Passionate about sharing the Holy Land with congregations, Louie has spent his career fine- tuning travel in the Holy Land. With a carefully selected team of tour guides, Friends Tours & Travel has left thousands of people in awe of the birthplace of their faith. Louie has a unique ability to connect with groups by catering to each group’s needs. His qualified tour guides mirror his belief that travel is essential to living life with a strong faith.
Louie has been guiding tours for over 20 years. He is well connected in the Holy Land and his experience and education make your travels with Friends Tours & Travel authentic and unique. Louie earned his degree in Business and Political Science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and he received his masters degree in Archeology and Tourism from Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
SPEAKING WITH EXPERIENCE
When you travel with Friends Tours & Travel, make sure your time in the Holy Land reflects your idea of a meaningful and life-changing trip.
“
As a pastor taking his first group to the Holy Land, I was so thankful to have the Friends Tours & Travel team helping me every step of the way. They were amazing from the day that we picked the date to the day we returned. We loved the support staff, the guides, the accommodations and the travel arrangements. Highly recommended!
”
Allen Morton
|
Pastor
“
All of our questions leading up to the trip were thoughtfully and completely answered. The tour guides were knowledgeable, experienced and personable. There is no one word to sum the experience up; it was meaningful and spiritual. If you have the chance to travel with Friends, do not pass it up.
”
Mittie Wilkes
|
Traveler
FRIENDS TOURS & TRAVELInclusions
Favorable Compensation Ratio
Friends Tours & Travel offers the strongest compensation ratio in the industry. Contact us for more details.
Group Travel Accessories
Friends Tours & Travel wants to offer as much support as possible, which is why we make sure you have everything you need before you start your trip. We give every traveler a custom name tag and ID holder, two luggage tags, a power adapter, a baseball cap and backpack, a travel journal, a flight itinerary, as well as travel tips and information on how to navigate the region.
Transparent, All-Inclusive Pricing
The total cost of the Holy Land tour includes everything you will need on your trip — even gratuity. There are no hidden fees.
Airfare
Friends Tours & Travel works with your group to secure air travel that is convenient and comfortable. Our goal is to choose times that work well for your group and allow you to enjoy the experience from beginning to end. Should there be any unplanned issues with your travels, Friends Tours & Travel will be available any time of day to reschedule flights or help with airline negotiations.
Transportation
When you arrive in the Holy Land, you’ll be met by a transportation guide who will stay with you throughout your trip. Our travelers are driven by carefully selected individuals who know both the itinerary and how to navigate the area.
Baggage Handling
Your baggage will be tagged with custom tags for your group and will be handled by your transportation team. You won’t have to handle your own baggage. It will be delivered to the hotel when you arrive.
Daily Breakfast and Dinner
Our travelers enjoy authentic, local food for breakfast and dinner every day. Our guides are an important part of Jerusalem, so they’re able to offer you the best cuisine in the area, no matter your craving or curiosity.
Entrance Fees
All fees required for specific experiences are included in your tour cost.
Premium Accommodations
Friends Tours & Travel carefully selects the finest hotels with the best quality staff and amenities. When you schedule your trip, you will receive detailed information on the hotels we’ve chosen for your group.
Gratuity
We ask that you do not offer gratuity during your stay. We offer gratuity on your behalf, and the cost is included in the tour pricing.
Itinerary
The itinerary will reflect your group’s desired locations for sightseeing. In our experience, we know that most groups want flexibility and choices for their free time. We will work with you to create a trip that not only allows you to see the region but also live enough like a local that you truly experience the essence of the Holy Land.
Professional Tour Guides
Our guides are knowledgeable, courteous, and in love with their job. They speak English and Hebrew, allowing them to communicate clearly with both travelers and residents of Jerusalem. One of the biggest things that sets Friends Tours & Travel guides apart from others in the industry is their love of their jobs. They cherish the region and the history it offers.
CULTURALLY UNIQUE,
LOCALLY CONNECTED
What draws you to a trip to the Holy Land is likely a desire to experience the Bible in person. What may surprise you on your trip is exposure to a host of culinary and sight-seeing delights you never expected.
The Holy Land is a historic and delicious place to visit. It’s important that travelers live like a local and feel the pulse of The Holy Land —even if it’s only for a short time. We believe that food teaches culture and is important to understand the essence of any destination. You’ll get to taste the local flavor like traditional slow-roasted meats, hummus and zalatimo. Travelers love to visit the local shops and bustling open-air markets full of vendors offering handmade clothing, jewelry and art.
Safety is a concern that sometimes arises with our travelers, and we like to address it clearly with each group. As with any international travel, it’s important to practice sensible precautions while in the Holy Land. When traveling with Friends Tours & Travel, you’re aligned with locally connected tour guides who will stay with you every step of your trip so that you have local knowledge on how to navigate any situation.
Friends Tours & Travel has offices in both the United States and the Holy Land, available to you if an emergency arises. In 20 years of practice, we have never had a single negative safety incident. We discuss all safety measures transparently during our initial meetings. We believe that talking openly about safety on the front end makes travelers more relaxed once they arrive.
Spice Market
Via Dolorosa
Jerusalem
The Old City
EXPECTED SIGHTS,
UNEXPECTED EXPERIENCES
Example Holy Land Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart USA
Relax and rest on your flight from the USA.
Day 2 - Arrive in Israel
You will be landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Afterwards, we board our motor coach and go to our hotel on the beautiful Sea of Galilee. After we have checked into our hotel, we enjoy a dinner together and time to relax.
Day 3 - Sea of Galilee/ Boat Ride/ Capernaum/ Jordan River
Lead worship as you take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Travel to Capernaum. (Matt. 4: 13,23) Recall the sermon on the Mount of Beatitudes. (Matt. 5-7) Tour Tabgha, Church of the Fish and the Loaves. (Luke 9: 10-17) Visit the Chapel of the Primacy. (John 21) Get baptized in the Jordan River. (Mark 1:5)
Day 4 - Caesarea/ Megiddo/ Nazareth/ Cana
Visit Caesarea where Paul was imprisoned. (Acts 10, 23) Travel to Megiddo also known as Armageddon. (Rev. 16). Visit Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home. (Matt. 2:23) Read scripture in Cana, the site of Christ’s first miracle. (John 2) Spend the night in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. (John 6:1)
Day 5 - Beit Shean/ Jericho/ Jerusalem
Travel to Beit Shean. (1 Sam. 31) Travel to Jericho and see the site of the temptation of Jesus. (Josh. 6; Matt.4) Travel to Jerusalem.
Day 6 - Jerusalem/ Bethlehem
Stand atop the Mt. of Olives. (Acts 1:9-12) Visit the Garden of Gethsemane. (Matt. 26: 36-44) Visit Mt. Zion and the House of Caiaphas. (Matt. 26: 57-65) Read the Last Supper in the Upper Room. (Matt 14: 12-26) Visit Bethlehem, and see the Church of the Nativity. (Matt. 1:8-25, Luke 2:1-7)
Day 7 - Old City of Jerusalem
Visit the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Pray at the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. Tour the Old City of Jerusalem and walk the Cardo. View the Pool of Bethsada. (John 5:1-31) Visit the Church of St. Anne. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress. (Luke 23: 1-11) Walk the Via Dolorosa, “the Way of the Cross.” Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Day 8 - Masada/ Dead Sea/ Qumran
Visit Masada and the Dead Sea. Travel to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scroll discovery.
Day 9 - Jerusalem
Travel to Ein Karam. (Luke 1:26-40) Celebrate Communion at the Garden Tomb. (John 19:40)
Day 10 - Return to USA
Relax and reflect on your flight home.
Interested in other itineraries?
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