“What a trip! Leading up to visiting Israel we were excited with anticipation, but boy did it exceed anything we had imagined. Our tour guide CJ was outstanding. He broke down the Jewish culture, past and modern history, biblical connections/application, and geography of Israel at every site. It was just so awesome with how many sites and artifacts we were shown and how seamlessly our trip was organized. Throughout the week we were taken well care of. We stayed in very nice hotels, ate great food, and enjoyed a comfortable, air-conditioned bus driven by our expert driver, Happy. Happy made sure we stayed hydrated and took extra special care of us in keeping us safe. CJ and Happy complemented each other wonderfully. With packed days of touring, we enjoyed restful evenings. We also felt safe and secure throughout our travels, allowing us to delve fully into what we were learning and what God was teaching us about Himself.
Besides enjoying CJ and Happys sense of humor, we quickly experienced camaraderie between the rest of our group, which made little things like traveling, eating, and taking pictures fun. Thank you all for loving on us; we thank God for you and this short time we were able to connect. And most importantly we thank God as we recognize all the lessons we learned along the way. He definitely used this trip to reveal new things to us as we learned more about the Bible, God, and ourselves.
Thank you and many Blessings,
Jeanne Jackson
Where scripture comes alive!
What’s Included
- Airfare from group departure city
- All Transfers
- Baggage Handling
- Breakfast & Dinner Daily
- Entrance Fees to all Sites
- Gratuities
- Itinerary as per Description
- Premium Accommodations
- Professional Tour Guides
- Transportation by Deluxe Motor Coach
Schedule
Day 1 Depart USA
Relax and rest on your flight from the USA.
Day 2 Arrive in The Holy Land
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 Galilee
The group will start early in the morning with a view from the breathtaking shore of the Sea of Galilee following breakfast. You will see the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. After that, a motor launch will take us all on a short cruise across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. You will see the ruins of the third-century synagogue before reaching Tabgha, place of multiplication of Loaves and Fishes. The group will visit the Jordan River and have the chance for an optional baptism. We will return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 Valley of Armageddon
The fourth day will begin along the coastal plain and the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea Maritima. We will then visit Mt. Carmel. The tour will continue to Tel Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon. From there, we will go to Nazareth and visit the Nazareth Village. Continuing on to Cana of Galilee, afterwards arriving at Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee where the group will spend the night.
Day 5 Dead Sea
The morning will start with a trip to the Jordan Valley where you will visit Beit Shean, one of the Decapolis cities and largest remains of a complete ancient Roman city. The tour will continue through the valley and on to lunch around the Dead Sea. Afterwards you will check-in to your hotel early; you will have time to relax and enjoy the spa and go for a swim in the Dead Sea.
Day 6 Journey to Jerusalem
The sixth day of the tour starts with a trip to Herod’s ancient fortress of Masada high atop a mountain on the edge of the Dead Sea. In the afternoon, on the way to Jerusalem, your group will visit Ein Gedi, an oasis in the desert and a green Garden of Eden in the wilderness. It is situated on the shore of the Dead Sea the lowest place on Earth - at the feet of majestic mountains and cliffs. Ein Gedi contains the historical and archaeological remains of its first inhabitants, who discovered the magic of the place more than 5,000 years ago. The day will end with an overnight stay in Jerusalem.
Day 7 Mt. of Olives & Bethlehem
First, a tour at Mt. of Olives and journey to the Garden of Gethsemane on foot where you will see ancient olive trees, some of which have been there since Jesus’ time. Visit Dominus Flevit, where Christ wept. That is followed by a visit to the house of Caiaphas, where Jesus was held the night before his crucifixion. Visit Bethlehem, where Christ was born followed by dinner and overnight in Jerusalem
Day 8 Old City of Jerusalem
Tour the Old City of Jerusalem where it all began. We will start at the Lions’ Gate to see the old Crusader’s Church of St. Anne, the pool of Bethesda and the remains of Antonia Fortress, which is believed to be the site of the trial of Jesus. Next will be a walk of the Via Dolorosa and visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and visit the Jewish Quarter and the “Wailing Wall”, followed by Mt. Moriah, also called Temple Mount. It is here at Solomon’s Temple where the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque stand. Mt. Moriah was where Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice, and is the perfect end to a truly memorable day. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Jerusalem.
Day 9 Qumran and Jericho
The tour will travel to Bethany which is recorded in the New Testament as the home of the siblings Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, as well as that of Simon the Leper. Jesus is reported to have lodged there after his entry into Jerusalem, and it could be from Bethany that he parted from his disciples at the Ascension. You will also visit The Tomb of Lazarus in Bethany where a very old staircase leads into what is left of the tomb, of which much has been destroyed through history most likely by past earthquakes. In Qumran you will see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered. You will also travel to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. You will travel to the biblical town of Jericho and see the Tel of Jericho, Mount of Temptation, and view the Valley of the Shadow of Death. In the evening you will enjoy dinner at your hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 10 Garden Tomb
You have the morning to yourself in Jerusalem for a time of reflection before an afternoon visit to Ein Karem “ Spring of the Vineyard”, the home of John the Baptist. The Garden Tomb service will be a truly memorable time on the tour. The group will celebrate Communion in the Garden before a farewell dinner, and travel back to Tel Aviv.
Day 11 Return to USA
Relax and reflect on your flight home.
Contact Information:
Pastor Chris Barbee
478-207-7061
cbarbee@piedmontchurch.net
Travel with Friends
501-379-9226
friends@travelwithfriends.com
Jeanne Jackson
This was my first time to Isreal, and it was such a fantastic trip due to our guide Adam and our driver Money Mike! Adam is so knowledgeable and was really able to make each site come alive for me. We had a really large group, and I am sure that Adam felt like he was “herding cats” all week, but he kept us together and moving through the areas while sharing so much information. With Mike’s driving and sense of humor, I felt very safe even though the streets sometimes seemed way too narrow for all of the buses and cars! The team of Adam and Money Mike were fabulous, and I would highly recommend them!!
Adrienne Carter
If you’re doing the Holy Land Tour, there’s no question in which company to choose - it’s Travel With Friends! The entire trip was very well planned and wasted no time in getting us in and out of sites while beating the crowds. Ibrahim was a phenomenal guide! He was personable, fun, and incredibly knowledgeable in the Bible and history of the land. Will definitely do this trip again and go through Travel With Friends!
Ellie Hill