tour the holy land of israel

a Life-Changing

Journey to the Holy Land.

Featured tours, click on the date above to view tour info., private tours, group tours.

Explore beautiful Israel with one of our group tours, and experience the historic sites with other travelers like you. Travel with us to places like Caesarea to the Garden Tomb on an immersive, unforgettable tour of Israel. Take a look at the current tours we have available, and check back often as more are regularly added.

Interested in hosting a tour for your church or organization? PREMIER Israel will work with you to customize a trip that best fits your group. Please contact us for more information: [email protected]. We can't wait for you to join us!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

As you explore Israel, there are some basics we would like to cover to make sure you have the best trip possible. What to know before you go!

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Foodies Tours for Catholic Pilgrims

Holy Land Pilgrimages & Israel Tours 2024 & 2025

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Holy Land Pilgrimage 2024 or 2025 with Bethlehem Stay

Holy land pilgrimage with jordan and petra tour – 12 day, holy land & jerusalem pilgrimage tour.

Holy Land Pilgrimages to Israel featuring Foodies Tours
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Holy Land and Jordan with Petra Fr. David Ducote November 2024
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Our Lady of Guadlupe Pilgrimage with Fr. Doyle January 2025
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Holy Land Tours 2025 – Pilgrimage Tours to Israel – Israel Pilgrimage

Catholic Holy Land pilgrimages, Holy Land tours, and Pilgrimages to Israel in 2024 or 2025. Starting at $2,595 for land only. Only $3,595 with airfare. We offer 4 different Catholic Holy Land Pilgrimages to Israel.

Our traditional Holy Land pilgrimage tour is the Holy Land and Jerusalem Pilgrimage which stays overnight in Jerusalem. We have offered this Catholic pilgrimage for over 20 years and is a tried and true Holy Land Pilgrimage with 4-star hotels.

The Holy Land Pilgrimage with Jordan and Petra Tour stays overnight in Bethlehem instead of Jerusalem and also has a fantastic visit to Petra in Jordan. We have great prices on this Holy Land tour for 2024 starting at $3,195 for land only with 4-star hotels.

Our newest Holy Land Pilgrimage Tour stays overnight in Bethlehem. This is our lowest-priced Holy Land Pilgrimage starting at $2,595 for land-only and features 4-star hotels.

Catholic Foodies will be tempted by our Holy Land Pilgrimages to Israel featuring Foodies Tours. This premium pilgrimage to Israel and the Holy Land focuses on Food and Faith to feed the body and soul in the Holy Land. For this Catholic pilgrimage, we stay at the very best hotels.

All of our Holy Land Tours 2024 are excellent and are suitable Holy Land Tours for Seniors. We offer Holy Land Tours from Canada for each pilgrimage. Join us on any of our pilgrimage tours to Israel.

We have over 20 years of experience in pilgrimage tours to the Holy Land and Israel.

Holy Land Pilgrimage 2024 – Holy Land Tours 2024 – Israel Pilgrimages

Why Book With Catholic Journeys?

20+ years experience
Excellent customer care —- Simply chat or call Marcelle at 800-715-6670
Easy online booking 24/7/365
Catholic guides – not merely Christian or no mention
Unique Food and Faith Pilgrimage Tours to Mexico, Peru, Holy Land, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, and New Orleans
Inspiring Pilgrimage Tours with a Catholic Priest Chaplain and daily mass
Travel Insurance Available from one of the Best Rated Companies
Low everyday prices & price match
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No group contracts! We trust you and you can trust us.
The only pilgrimage tour company 100% Catholic owned and operated with a priest on staff.

Marcelle — call 800-715-6670 or chat!

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Do not hesitage to give us a call. Ask for Marcelle from 9 am to 3pm CST.

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Tours to the Holy Land: Trips & Israel Tour Packages 2024, 2025

"Every place we visited was breathtakingly beautiful, with stunning landscapes and rich historical and cultural heritage. We highly recommend visiting Israel to anyone who wants to experience an unforgettable journey. We had a life-changing time there and are already planning to return." Simon L. and Beatriz G. – Tour to Israel/Egypt/Jordan February 2024 "I had a wonderful time in Israel. I felt while I was there the precautions that were taken for our safety were well in hand. I still got to experience many holy sites and be blessed by walking the path that Jesus walked. Every day was started in prayer, singing, or scripture reading which also extended the blessing of the trip." Quincie L. – Tour to Israel/Egypt/Jordan February 2024

Our Israel tours & Holy Land tours of 9-24 days for the Evangelical Protestant Bible believer are what Pilgrim Tours does best. Prepare yourself for a life-changing journey to walk where Jesus walked and visit Jerusalem, Galilee, & Samaria. Each of our Israel tours is led by a local guide who is an experienced expert on the historical, cultural, scenic, and spiritual history of the Holy Land. If you travel with 10 or more people, a private group tour can easily be arranged. Pilgrim Tours can customize an itinerary to fit your group needs with many options to choose from.

Concerned about safety? As a Christian tour operator, the staff at Pilgrim Tours takes a Biblical perspective regarding the current situation in the Middle East. We do not believe that peace in Israel is something that will occur until the Prince of Peace comes to restore His kingdom. Please do not make a reservation with us based on the hopes of a calm future. If you long for the special blessings only available in Israel, we will take you there. An expert driver and guide will carefully keep you from any areas that could present a problem and treat you to the riches of Israel as our special guest.

Below is a large variety of Israel tour packages departing in 2024 and 2025 year-round.

View Our New Israel Tour Highlights Video! Click Here

Reserve your tour at least 6 months in advance for an early booking discount, groups and parties of 6 or more click here for special rates, scheduled 2024 & 2025 israel tours.

View our Israel tours ranging from 9-24 days.

Take a tour of a lifetime and bring the Bible to life.

Featured Sites in Israel

Explore a vast selection of beautiful historical and Biblical locations throughout Israel with our Israel Holy Land tour. You can visit Jerusalem, Galilee, and parts of Samaria, getting the life-changing opportunity to see where Jesus and many other Biblical figures lived and walked. We even offer Holy Land tours that allow you to see the Dead Sea, the Garden Tomb, and the Jordan River Baptism Site. Like all of our Europe tours , our Israel Holy Land tours are led by local guides who have extensive knowledge of the area and its history. If you want to experience the history of Israel and see the Bible come to life, our Holy Land tours give you that opportunity.

The city of Jerusalem offers a unique convergence of Judaism, Christianity, and the Muslim faith. For Christians who visit Jerusalem, you will learn about many stories of the Bible while walking her streets. Many actors in the Bible such as Abraham, King David, King Solomon, the twelve disciples and Jesus all lived, visited, or spent time there. The Passion week of Christ will be highlighted during our stay as we visit the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Western Wall, the Way of Suffering, and the Garden Tomb.

Sea of Galilee

Nowhere in Israel does the Bible come to life more than along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Pilgrims who visit the Galilee region have the opportunity to imagine what life was like 2,000 years ago and what Jesus and the twelve disciples experienced while fishing on the Sea of Galilee. The peaceful setting and the natural wonders of the Golan Heights to the east and Mt. Arbel to the west make for a great way to start your morning in quiet reflection. During our tour, we explore the Biblical towns of Capernaum, Magdala, and Nazareth and take a meaningful cruise on the Sea of Galilee.

The Dead Sea is not only the lowest and most lifeless lake in the world, but also nearly 10 times saltier than the ocean. Travelers will enjoy the beautiful colors of the blue water and the red mountains of Jordan to the east. Take time to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime Dead Sea “float” either in the sea itself or at one of the warm salt water pools at our hotel. The Dead Sea experience is truly a bucket list visit you won’t want to miss!

Garden Tomb

Our visit to the Garden Tomb and its surrounding gardens is normally one of the highlights of our tour to Israel. The Garden Tomb is a rock-cut tomb in Jerusalem that was unearthed in 1867 and is considered by some Protestants to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. Our visit offers a unique time of prayer, reflection, communion, and praise, which will be a special life-long memory for many travelers.

Jordan River Baptism Site

The Jordan River Baptist Site or “Yardenit” is a baptism site located along the Jordan River just south of the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel. This site is frequented by Christian Pilgrims who enjoy imagining the setting of the baptism of Jesus. For anyone who would like to be baptized in the Jordan River, Yardenit has been developed to be a peaceful setting with beautiful gardens, clean colored water, changing facilities, showers, and a nice souvenir shop.

Caesarea Philippi

To many Pilgrim travelers, Caesarea Philippi is a special surprise while on their tour. Located along the rushing springs of Mt. Hermon, the beautiful and natural setting is where Jesus asked his disciples “Who do men say that I am?” He asked this question while observing the pagan worship of the god Pan as worshipers offered their sacrifice at the “Gates of Hell.” Our time at Caesarea Philippi is one of many opportunities throughout our tour to see the lessons and message of the Bible come to light in a special way.

Israel Tours: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month for the Holy Land tour?

Taking a trip to Israel during the spring or fall offers the most enjoyable weather of the year but normally has the largest crowds. If you want to enjoy a peaceful tour with fewer crowds, consider visiting between December and February or June and August. We offer Israel and Jordan tours throughout the year, so you can select a trip that works for your schedule.

How many days do you need for a Holy Land tour?

We offer several types of tours of the Holy Land, so the duration of your tour depends on the tour package you choose. The Best of Israel Tour is our most basic offering and includes a Sea of Galilee boat ride, a trip to the Jordan River Baptism Site, the Dead Sea, and many opportunities to walk on the same land Jesus walked on. This is our shortest trip at just 9 or 10 days. Our most involved trips allow you to experience a wide range of historical locations over the course of a few weeks. Egypt tours are included in some of these packages, as well as tours in Greece and other countries. These tours can take up to 24 days, giving you the chance to spend an extended period of time learning about and visiting different parts of the world. From our Turkey tours to all of our Israel Christian tours, all of our tours feature a first-class hotel rating for the country you visit. We do offer some upgraded tours that offer better lodging options. You can review our hotel categories at https://www.pilgrimtours.com/company/hotelcomparison.htm . Check out any of our tours to view a day-by-day itinerary and see what amenities are included with each tour.

What is the dress code in Israel?

The dress code in Israel is different from other parts of the world. There are a few dress code basics you should understand before booking Israel tours: When you’re in Israel, there is no strict dress code. You can wear what you feel comfortable wearing. However, both men and women should try to dress conservatively and cover their shoulders and knees when visiting any of the religious sites throughout Israel. Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid tank tops and shorts. Men need to cover their heads when visiting the Western Wall. Pilgrim Tours provides a Pilgrim Tours ball cap upon arrival in Israel, but you might consider purchasing an affordable kippa that you can bring when you visit Jewish sites. Some places may offer a free kippa, but these are generally low quality. (Women are not required to cover their heads at any sight.) You can figure out what you need to pack and how to dress each day by looking at the itinerary for our Holy Land tours. Guides normally offer guidance on how to dress for the next day while on tour. We also suggest looking at the extended weather forecast as you prepare and pack for your trip.

Is there a lot of walking involved on an Israel Tour?

Our Israel tours do require a significant amount of walking each day and you should be able to walk unassisted 3-4 miles per day on average. Make sure you have a comfortable pair of shoes that provide adequate support. While there are bus and boat rides during these tours, you have to walk quite a bit to explore some of the Biblical sites. Our tour guides normally give the group a few options at sites for those that have physical limitations. One thing to keep in mind is that there are many hills and valleys in Israel which can make walking even more taxing. The amount of walking you have to do may vary based on the tour you take, so look at the itinerary before choosing your tour. The good news is that Israel is a beautiful country to see on foot, and you’ll have several opportunities to sit down and give your feet a rest. As long as you have a good pair of shoes and comfortable clothes, it’s easy to forget about all the walking you’re doing and enjoy the tour.

What passport & visa information do I need for your Israel tours?

U.S. citizens need a valid U.S. passport with at least six months validity beyond their intended stay to enter Israel. Make two photocopies of your passport. Leave one copy at home and carry the other separately from your original. Israel: U.S. and Canadian Citizens do not need a Visa when entering Israel. Non U. S. /Canadian Citizens are responsible to fulfill appropriate entry requirements of destination. Contact your Consulate office for requirements.

What common languages will be spoken during your Israel tours?

Hebrew, Arabic and English.

What currency can I use on your Israel tours?

The U.S. dollar is widely accepted across Israel, and we suggest bringing about $30 for each day you’ll be on tour. U.S. dollars are recommended for use for small purchases and lunches. Lunches typically cost $15-20. It is important to bring about 20 $1 bills as some bathrooms charge a small fee for use. Credit cards may also be used for larger purchases. ATMs in Israel are all connected to European and American banking systems. Please be advised that the ATM machines dispense money in SHEKELS – NOT U.S. DOLLARS. Please notify your bank before traveling overseas.

Do I need to bring a converter for the Israel tour?

Israel uses the European plug with two round pins. You will need to bring along the necessary converters and adapters to operate any 120 volt appliances such as hair dryers and electric razors as well as camera and cell phone chargers. Electricity in Israel is 220 volts 50 Hz.

What is the time zone for your Israel tours?

The time zone for Israel is seven hours ahead of EST and two hours ahead of GMT.

What climate should I expect during your Israel tours?

In Israel the climate is temperate, and temperatures all year-round are reasonable. Israel has two main seasons: winter (from November to March) is cold and rainy in most parts of the country; summer (from April to October) is hot and dry with little or no rainfall. The desert areas can be extremely hot in summer time.

Recent Reviews on Trustpilot, BBB, & Google

View what others are saying about our Israel tours on Trustpilot , BBB , and Google !

"Pilgrim tours is who I'll be recommending people to travel with. We've been trying to get to Israel for two years and finally made it!! Great company from booking to on the ground with great guides. All details taken care of with great hotels, bus, and the best guides!! Wonderful experience!"

"We had a great experience in Israel with Pilgrim Tours. Everything went very well and there were no glitches or problems of any kind. The bus and driver were top notch as were the hotels and daily breakfast buffets. Our tour guide was great as his depth of knowledge of the people, history and languages Israel was quite amazing. We will very likely use Pilgrim again in the future."

"We have toured with Pilgrim Tours three times and what a blessing. Accommodations, excursions, information and food were all high quality. Post pandemic, we were so thankful to return to Israel."

"I couldn't have asked for more for a trip to the Holy Land than what Pilgrim Tours provided me. It was the perfect balance of spiritual reverence, history, geography, and social issues. I am so grateful for the experience that I had on this trip."

"Our church group just returned from taking a "Best of Israel" ten day tour. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I am so glad we chose Pilgrim tours. From our excellent hotel accommodations, to our wonderful tour guide, we enjoyed everything. Our trip exceeded our expectations. I would recommend Pilgrim Tours to anyone who is planning a trip to the Holy Land. We definitely plan to travel with them again."

View some of the sites from our Israel tours!

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Holy Land Tours & Trips

Holy Land Budget
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Holy Land from Tel Aviv
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56 Holy Land tour packages with 1,026 reviews

In-depth Cultural
Christmas & New Year

Highlights of the Holy Land Best Experience - 8 Days

"Coach transfer was excellent. Other hotels were excellent." OMOLARA, traveled in January 2023

Sightseeing

Heritage of the Holyland Tour - 8 days

"This was a holiday, an experience and a pathway to new friendships like no other I could have imagined." Amanda, traveled in January 2023

10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Totally Jordan - 8 Days

"A fully comprehensive experience of Jordan. Each day of the tour gets better and better until the end." Azam, traveled in April 2022

Premium Jordan

"Unforgettable stories, interesting history and context shared!" Dory, traveled in March 2022

Coach / Bus

Heritage & Holy Land - 8 days

"We packed an enormous amount into the 8 days, and saw Christian, Jewish, Roman and Byzantine places of great interest." Trenna, traveled in August 2016

Heritage of the Holy Land

"Good itinerary, interesting and great guide. Nice group of people too" Joanna, traveled in February 2019

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Israel and Jordan - 11 Days

"All 5 star except tour guide Naomi was atheist, and didn't mind holes in my faith...IN ISRAEL!!!" Edwin, traveled in August 2023

River Cruise

Egypt & Jordan Jewel with Nile Boat Cruise

"This is the first tour I have been on where admission prices have not been included." David, traveled in March 2023

Israel the Holy Land

"It was all relevant and interesting but simply too much for one day." William, traveled in July 2022

Hiking & Trekking
Walking Adventure
Desert Hikes

Petra & Wadi Rum Trek

"The tour was very good. I'm not saying I wouldn't have tipped, the driver and the bedouin family more than deserved their money." Radu, traveled in September 2018

What people love about Holy Land Tours

We had the most amazing guide Leah Dor and the best driver Hassan they both was so lovely, accomodating and went out their way to be so helpful and gave us some extra nice suprises throughout the tour. Everything was a good pace, never rushed and saw so much place and Leah was an expert with knowledge. Transfer drivers was on time when arrived plus to leave. Reliable company and organised well. Only thing, if you want to visit where Jesus was born inside the church, there is a big que and it is not part of this tour as this is just the highlights, they visit the church but not to que for certain things like that which many was not aware of so read the intinary clearly

I loved the Heritage of the Holy Land tour. Our tour guide Leah was very knowledgeable and informative. Our bus driver Hassam was very good about navigating the narrow streets with a tour bus. We all became like family by the end of the week.

Totally Jordan ON THE GO Tours was truly Amazing. Despite the conflict in Israel, NOTHING was happening in Jordan at the time I went, so I'm grateful I didn't cancel the trip and miss this awesome experience. This was my 6th Tour with ON THE GO Tours - and again, it made me see why I keep coming back. I really love the vibe of Jordan, there's just a relaxed energy that feels good. I felt safe, welcomed and enjoyed my time here. ⭐⭐ I thought we'd be driving on dirt roads and be very bumpy - but it was freeways all the way to every destination. We had a massive Bus so we could all spread out - with charging points on board, and plenty of room. We had a group of 19 people, with 17 of that group just coming from Egypt with ON THE GO Tours. They said they loved there time there also, felt super safe, Loved the tour and never felt uneasy - despite the Israel unrest. Some tour Site highlights included the AMAZING Petra, Wadi Rum Desert and the Dead Sea. ?️⭐? Petra was beautiful - we got a fabulous weather day to see the treasury and monastery. With tourism being down in the region, it was quiet and peaceful, very rare. It is such a site to see. Not only the treasury, but also what's around, old amphitheater, rock houses, old temples, very cool to see. There is a lot of walking on this day, not complaining at all - just a heads up. To see the monastery, you can do the 1400 round trip of steps, or hire a donkey to take you one way, or both. The Monastery's size is something to be in awe of - just WOW. photos don't do it justice. I'm 6ft 3in height, and the front step was as tall as me, clearly built for Giants, lol ? in Wadi Rum, we did a desert Safari on the back of Utes out in the open. If you prefer to sit inside the car cabin, you can for sure, but to get that 360 view, best to be on the back. We did a few stops to take in the sites, but driving through the desert was a massive highlight, beautiful colours and lookouts, with nothing but sand, cliffs, rocks and mountains for miles. That night, some of us upgraded our rooms to sleep in the luxury Dome glamping tents. These tents were gorgeous, all you could need, and had a massive window opposite the bed, so at night you could stare gaze, and in the morning, see the amazing mountains and desert. ?️? The Dead Sea and the resort were brilliant to chill and relax. You don't swim here; you float on your back. The water itself almost feels oily, but in a good way. The mud is like silk when you put it on your skin. When you wash it off, I noticed blemishes were gone, my skin felt silky smooth, it was great. The resort Itself was great - HUGE, and cause tourism is down, one of the nights, after my group had gone their own ways, I ended up being the ONLY PERSON staying at the resort - it was epic. This stay saw us staying opposite Isarel, where we could clearly see Jericho and Jerusalem. During my 5 days there, I never saw any rockets, or heard conflict of any sort. I felt completely safe the entire time. Another massive Highlight was our guide "G". He was amazing. So knowledgeable, fun, easy going, approachable. Everything with him was flawless, so much wisdom and information about everything we saw, and he made it so interesting. He was sweet, kind and caring and made sure we were all enjoying ourselves. One of the best guides I've had on a tour. Really loved this tour and hope people go and visit Jordan to see all its amazing sites. Despite the Israel Unrest, Jordan is not wanting involvement and staying out of the conflict - so i urge people to go here cause it is safe. ON THE GO Tours wouldn't run tours here, or anywhere if it was unsafe - so don't cancel - book that ticket and see the amazing place Jordan is.

Top operators

"The 5 day Holy Tour of Jerusalem booked with Click Tours was the worst tour I have ever booked. I take tours 3-4 times a year, so have many tour group comparisons. Although asked, Click Tours would not advise hotel locations until a few days before the tour commenced. I should have used that as a sign and gone elsewhere… I had accomodation booked near Jaffa Gate prior to the tour commencing, thinking easy for pickup with the tour group as I had such limited information from them about the process. The hotel used by Click Tours as part of their package (Prima Park) was on the outskirts of the city with no restaurants etc nearby. Nice hotels if you have a car, but not otherwise. As we were provided “vouchers” a few days before the commencement of the tour, I messaged Click Tours and asked if we were just meeting different day tour groups each day. I was told the booking is a tour group and not private. As I tour often, private usually means just the person booking and their guide, so found this statement quite misleading later, since this was definitely NOT a tour group booking and was exactly what I thought when getting the vouchers, just day tours with a 3rd party. No representative for Click Tours ever contacted us (other than basic info via Tour Radar) or spoke with us. We were left to our own devices and just picked up by a 3rd party company who Click Tours use for day tours. We had to walk 4 mins from our hotel to a different hotel for pickup each morning by a taxi, who dropped us to a secondary location with no explanation!! Eventually we discovered we had to walk down a hill to a cafe, (cannot see cafe from drop-off spot) find someone from the 3rd party group, who looked up our name on a board to find the day tour we were on. Appalling organisation from the 3rd party, but also from Click Tours who provided zero information about this process. At the close of each day tour, other parties would get dropped to their hotel, whilst the 3rd party would drop everyone and then get us a taxi since our hotel was so far from everyone else. This wasted an hour or so of our time everyday. In the advertising, it stipulates “we” will go to… and very much applies the tour is an organised tour and does not mention just vouchers provided to join different day tour groups with a 3rd party. I enjoy tour groups for the camaraderie you build with your group over the time of the tour. Due to solely being day tours with different people everyday, you could not do that. My father is 78 (and fit) but the structure left no room for rest for him, which normal tours allow for. (Note - I checked age rating for the tour before booking). The tours are 12 hours or more every day. In addition, a number of things advised in the advertising we did not get to go to. I.e., holocaust museum, whilst other places we went to twice (Garden of Gethsemane, Via Dolorosa) wasting precious holiday time. Would suggest care dealing with Click Tours for tours of Israel.

Click Tours is an expert in:

"I loved the Heritage of the Holy Land tour. Our tour guide Leah was very knowledgeable and informative. Our bus driver Hassam was very good about navigating the narrow streets with a tour bus. We all became like family by the end of the week.

Consolidated Tour Operators is an expert in:

"Totally Jordan ON THE GO Tours was truly Amazing. Despite the conflict in Israel, NOTHING was happening in Jordan at the time I went, so I'm grateful I didn't cancel the trip and miss this awesome experience. This was my 6th Tour with ON THE GO Tours - and again, it made me see why I keep coming back. I really love the vibe of Jordan, there's just a relaxed energy that feels good. I felt safe, welcomed and enjoyed my time here. ⭐⭐ I thought we'd be driving on dirt roads and be very bumpy - but it was freeways all the way to every destination. We had a massive Bus so we could all spread out - with charging points on board, and plenty of room. We had a group of 19 people, with 17 of that group just coming from Egypt with ON THE GO Tours. They said they loved there time there also, felt super safe, Loved the tour and never felt uneasy - despite the Israel unrest. Some tour Site highlights included the AMAZING Petra, Wadi Rum Desert and the Dead Sea. ?️⭐? Petra was beautiful - we got a fabulous weather day to see the treasury and monastery. With tourism being down in the region, it was quiet and peaceful, very rare. It is such a site to see. Not only the treasury, but also what's around, old amphitheater, rock houses, old temples, very cool to see. There is a lot of walking on this day, not complaining at all - just a heads up. To see the monastery, you can do the 1400 round trip of steps, or hire a donkey to take you one way, or both. The Monastery's size is something to be in awe of - just WOW. photos don't do it justice. I'm 6ft 3in height, and the front step was as tall as me, clearly built for Giants, lol ? in Wadi Rum, we did a desert Safari on the back of Utes out in the open. If you prefer to sit inside the car cabin, you can for sure, but to get that 360 view, best to be on the back. We did a few stops to take in the sites, but driving through the desert was a massive highlight, beautiful colours and lookouts, with nothing but sand, cliffs, rocks and mountains for miles. That night, some of us upgraded our rooms to sleep in the luxury Dome glamping tents. These tents were gorgeous, all you could need, and had a massive window opposite the bed, so at night you could stare gaze, and in the morning, see the amazing mountains and desert. ?️? The Dead Sea and the resort were brilliant to chill and relax. You don't swim here; you float on your back. The water itself almost feels oily, but in a good way. The mud is like silk when you put it on your skin. When you wash it off, I noticed blemishes were gone, my skin felt silky smooth, it was great. The resort Itself was great - HUGE, and cause tourism is down, one of the nights, after my group had gone their own ways, I ended up being the ONLY PERSON staying at the resort - it was epic. This stay saw us staying opposite Isarel, where we could clearly see Jericho and Jerusalem. During my 5 days there, I never saw any rockets, or heard conflict of any sort. I felt completely safe the entire time. Another massive Highlight was our guide "G". He was amazing. So knowledgeable, fun, easy going, approachable. Everything with him was flawless, so much wisdom and information about everything we saw, and he made it so interesting. He was sweet, kind and caring and made sure we were all enjoying ourselves. One of the best guides I've had on a tour. Really loved this tour and hope people go and visit Jordan to see all its amazing sites. Despite the Israel Unrest, Jordan is not wanting involvement and staying out of the conflict - so i urge people to go here cause it is safe. ON THE GO Tours wouldn't run tours here, or anywhere if it was unsafe - so don't cancel - book that ticket and see the amazing place Jordan is.

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Loving the Holy Land with Rabbi Gary Alon Rogoff

+972 58 6931844

Your adventure awaits

At Loving the Holy Land, we take you on a spiritual journey through time and space,

exploring Israel's history and its people.

Our authentic rabbi-led tours are tailored to meet your specific needs.

Join us today to experience the beauty and wonder of Israel.

Discover the beauty and history of Israel with Loving the Holy Land.

Our custom-tailored tours take you to the most iconic locations,

our turnkey approach means we take care of all the details, from planning your itinerary to providing a hassle-free experience.

Book your journey today and get ready for an experience of a lifetime!

Planning

Let us take care of all your tour planning needs for an unforgettable experience in the Holy Land. Our team will create a fully customized itinerary for you, tailored to your specific tour requirements. We'll handle all the details including booking accommodations, sites, restaurants, wineries, and more.

Guiding

Experience the Holy Land like never before with our expert licensed Tour Guide. Rav Alon, armed with his Tanach (Bible), will take you on a journey to the very places where the events of Torah took place. With his authentic love & passion of the Holy Land, Rav Rogoff brings the biblical text to life in a truly unique way.

Transport

See Israel like never before with our luxury Transport service. Our Land Rover Defender 2020 is designed to take you on an adventure that goes way beyond where you have gone before. With room for up to 6 people plus a guide, we can go off-road and take you to the most breathtaking locations that most tourists never get to see.

At Loving the Holy Land, safety comes first. Our expert guide Rav Alon is not only licensed to carry a firearm, but he also has experience as a community security officer. Additionally, Rabbi Sensai Alon is a martial arts instructor and can provide an extra level of protection during your tour. Rest easy knowing your safety is our top priority.

A Taste of our tours

VIP Gaza Envelope Reality Check Tour

Support our family's in South, deep dive into the history, unpacking 7...

600p.p MAX 6 people

Judean Desert Adventure

Tour and Adventure in the Judea Desert

Jerusalem - Old City Tour

Myth buster - The Holy City - Jerusalem - The quest for Truth

₪ 1800 per group

Israel Chizuk Mission

Contribute to strength the War effort and Support Am Yisrael in Eretz ...

Judean Forest Adventure

Ir David & Davidson center

Archeology meets Tanach in King Davids Jerusalem

₪1800 per group

Real Testimonials

Words from Previous Clients

“deep love and connection to Israel”

“ Gary is far more than a tour guide. His vast knowledge of the land of Israel, Judaism and history is astounding! Aside from going places, He takes you on an emotional journey wherever you go and through his deep love and connection to Israel and fellow travelers- he inspires you to really connect and feel the culture, history, wisdom and warmth of Israel. His fun, intellect, passion, humor and kindness made my experience touring with him unforgettable and left a lasting impact on me. Thank you Gary! You are a true light. ."

Bella S, NY

If you’d like to read more testimonials, visit Tripadvisor or just get in touch.

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Evangelica Itinerary – 9 days, 8 nights DAY ONE: ARRIVE IN ISRAEL, Our representatives will met you and walk you through customs. We’ll then drive you to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight stay DAY TWO: NAZARETH, GOSPEL TRAIL, SEA OF GALILEE, On this day we will start with the Gospel Trail at the Mt of Precipice at Nazareth. The Gospel Trail offers the opportunity to discover the cradle of Christianity by experiencing both…

Christian Tours to Israel Israel Holyland Travel offers an array of Christian Tours to Israel to satisfy every curiosity. Travel through the Holy Land to explore the sites of the Bible or combine it with a regional tour. From Israel, continue on to see the sites in Bethlehem and Jericho, Jordan, or Egypt. Israel Holyland Travel has different packages so you can see them all. Christian Tours offered by Israel Holyland Travel include: Holy Land Pilgrimage…

Israel Holyland Travel

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“Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain.” Zecharia 14/16 JOIN US and register now for The Feast of Tabernacles, an opportunity to be part of unique…

Jewish State 14 Day Tour

Past to the Future The Highlights of the Jewish State 14 nights Day 1 – Thursday, Arrival Our representative will meet you after passport control upon your arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, assisting as you pick up your luggage and head out for the transfer to your hotel. Check in at the hotel in Tel Aviv. Overnight: Tel Aviv Day 2 – Friday, Tel Aviv tour Our first day of touring will begin immediately after breakfast. An…

Jewish State 12 Day Tour

Past to the Future The Highlights of the Jewish State 12 nights Day 1 – Thursday, Arrival Our representative will meet you after passport control upon your arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, assisting as you pick up your luggage and head out for the transfer to your hotel. Check in at the hotel in Tel Aviv. Overnight: Tel Aviv Day 2 – Friday, Tel Aviv tour Our first day of touring will begin immediately after…

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Tour the holy land.

Welcome to Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours

Shalom ! Thank you so much for visiting our web site. We are so very humbled to be able to share our ministry and unique teaching / tours with you! We are an evangelical / Bible-based non-profit ministry that is dedicated and committed to offering two primary things:

We offer unique, in-depth, “non-touristy,” and highly biblical tours to Israel (& other lands of the Bible)

We offer unique & life-transforming biblical teaching that focuses upon learning the Bible in the context of the land of Israel.

** UPDATE ON TRAVEL: We have now resumed our Israel trips! Our recent March and May trips went very well! It was very safe and now is the IDEAL time to travel! We anticipate all our 2024 trips to happen!

** A BIMT STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL & CONDEMNATION OF ANTISEMITISM: Go HERE to read this “Statement” Go HERE to watch a personal 10 minute video from Director Dr. John DeLancey (on our Youtube Channel)

QUICK LINKS :

Go HERE if you are interested in our Upcoming Israel tours in 2024-2026 led by Dr. John DeLancey.
Go HER E to follow our latest May, 2024 Israel-Greece Trip (May 4-18, 2024)
Go HERE to see our latest Greece-Turkey-Rome trip (Sept 10-24, 2023).
Go HERE to download our free new BIMT iPhone/iPAd app! Go HERE for Google/Android.
Go HERE to watch (& subscribe to) our teaching videos on our YouTube Channel (we have 28.5K subscribers!)
Go HERE if would like to have one of our “ Bringing the Bible to Life ” (BBL) or “ Life of Christ in Context ” seminars in your church.
Go HERE to check out our resources page (e.g. drone video, books, topography maps)
Go HERE to register for our on-line video courses at The Institute of Biblical Israel . For an overview, go HERE .
Dr. John DeLancey’s email: [email protected] . Phone number: 412-999-5697 (NOTE: new BIMT Address: PO Box 220, Sugar Grove, PA 16350)

Personal Greeting from Dr. John DeLancey

Watch, listen, and enjoy a personal greeting from Israel from Dr. John DeLancey, Director of BIMT . This brief three minute greeting was recently recorded at the lower level of the northern palace of Herod the Great at Masada (Hebrew metzada, or “fortress” – Psalm 18:1-2).

We hope this word of greeting gives you a good sense of the types of Israel trips and the in-depth teaching we offer. We love unfolding the context of the Bible for you in a way that brings the Bible alive ! Thanks and blessings for visiting us today! We are so very thankful for the opportunity to share our ministry and personal friendship with you We are here to serve and help you grow in your understand of God’s Word “ in context ” and to inspire your faith walk with Christ!

As stated above, we have now resumed ALL our Israel trips! Israel is safe for traveling. So are the other biblical lands of the Bible (i.e. Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Italy).

To date, Dr. John has led 88 Israel tours in addition to his one year of study as an archaeology and historical geography student at JUC in Jerusalem in 1981-82. He has also led 15 Greece & Turkey and countless other trip extensions to Jordan and Egypt. He has excavated at 7 archaeological sites in Israel to date. He brings his passion, experience and expertise to every trip he leads.

We welcome you to join Dr. John for a life-changing BIMT study tour to Israel and other biblical lands! Not only will the Bible come to life in amazing ways, but your walk of faith and discipleship will be inspired to a new level!

"Life-transforming Israel tours & teaching in the context of the land of the Bible"

Join an israel tour.

Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours (BIMT) offers some of the most unique Christian Israel tours on the market. What sets us apart are the many more biblical sites (vs. “traditional” sites & churches) we visit (many are off-the-beaten-path sites that other groups don’t go), the in-depth biblical teaching Dr. DeLancey offers at each site, and the spiritual formational / discipleship lessons we encounter on the way. We also uniquely include optional hikes into each Israel program, allowing you to experience “walking the land” firsthand. We also take time for reflection and worship. Gleaning from Dr. DeLancey’s unique itineraries and his vast experience and expertise sets each of our tours apart from average “touristy tour!” We aim to offer the best evangelically-based biblical tour in the market! So as God leads, we warmly welcome you on one of our trips! Go HERE if you are interested in any of our upcoming Israel tours.

“ I feel so blessed that the Lord led me to Biblical Israel Ministries and Tours while looking for a guide for my first trip to Israel. I have dreamed of visiting the land of the Bible for over twenty years and wanted to go with someone who is passionate about God’s Word, well trained in the areas of archeology and geography, and committed to the spiritual growth of those they lead. Dr. John Delancey checks all of the boxes. With his extensive knowledge of the Bible and the land, his obvious interest and experience in archeology, and his pastor’s heart, Dr. John led our group on a trip that was both incredibly informative and deeply life changing. The Lord used my time in Israel to deepen my love for and understanding of His Word, and to minister to my soul in ways I did not expect. If you are considering a trip to the land of the Bible, I highly recommend Dr. Delancey and Biblical Israel Ministries and Tours! ” Pastor Chris (June 2022, ME)

Life Impact

Every Israel trip is the ultimate discipleship program that will help you go deeper and grow stronger in your spiritual walk with God! Your excitement for reading God’s Word will reach new heights and your heart will be touched beyond imagination! Simply put, a trip to Israel is a lifetime investment in your “faith journey.”

Host a “BBL” Seminar for your church!

One way for us to bring “Israel” to churches around the country is through our “ Bringing the Bible to Life” ( BBL ) seminars! This seminar includes about 7.5 hours of unique biblical teaching. Our aim is to bring the Bible to life through the teaching of the physical settings of the Bible. We do this through teaching biblical archaeology, historical geography, the Hebraic background of the life & ministry of Jesus, and the customs & culture of the Bible. NEW: We are now offering a second weekend seminar: “The Life of Christ in Context.” Ask Dr. John for further details!

A Discipleship Encounter

The BBL seminar includes seven power point presentations, aerial / drone videos and footage, and detailed teaching that will help you “ connect the dots ” between the many stories from the Bible and the land. Specifically, the Bible will be opened in “3-D color,” including the history and stories of the OT to the life of Jesus! While the seminar is geared towards helping you understand what we like to call the “playing board” (the “land”) of the Bible, there are also many life-lessons and spiritual formational applications to be gleaned! Other than picking up the transportation cost (airfare or mileage in a car) for Dr. DeLancey to your church or conference, and taking up a free-will offering for BIMT, there are no other costs for hosting a seminar! Go HERE to learn more about our BBL seminars. Dr. DeLancey is also available to speak to pastors’ groups and pastor/church conferences. NOTE: We are now able to offer the same BBL seminar but through the Zoom platform! This works best for churches outside of the U.S. Contact Dr. John to set this up!

Free On-line “Trip Preparation” Course

We are pleased to share Pre-trip Zoom session (about 1.5 hours) of on-line teaching to help you prepare for the your trip. This will be through the Zoom video platform . Dr. DeLancey will personally teach this class and walk you through a series of helpful trip and travel suggestions and many of the biblical connections in advance of your trip. These will be offered about 4 weeks prior to your tour. We cover trip suggestions as well as biblical connections. We want you to be prepared for a trip that is filled with countless biblical connections and heart-transforming experiences!

Meet our Director & Primary Tour Leader/Teacher

Rev. Dr. John DeLancey serves as the Director of BIMT. Dr. John studied in Jerusalem as an archaeology & historical geography student for one year (1981-82), pastored for 26 years (churches in MN & PA), excavated at 7 archaeological sites (City of David, Kh. Nysia, Abel Beit Maacah, Gezer, Gath, Tel Burnah/Libnah, and Dan), and to date has lead 88 Israel trips (and many dozens of these included extensions to Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Italy). He brings a unique wealth of knowledge and experience to every trip he leads. He has also led 15 separate Greece & Turkey “ Footsteps of Paul ” trips.

Pastor John writes his own itineraries for all his trips. They are not cookie-cutter and touristy trips like 90% + Israel tours! His passion is to teach the Bible in the context of the land of Israel and to lead people to a life-transforming faith experience! His expertise is historical geography and biblical archaeology of Israel! He will take you to places not visited by most groups. He will share up-to-date information and many biblical connections at each site. Each day will be like a “Bible study” in 3-D color, with the biblical narratives from both the OT and NT coming to life in real ways!

Dr. DeLancey is married (Sue) and they have three children and three grandchildren. They also have two golden retrievers and five cats. He has enjoyed 30 years of ultra-marathon trail running, biking, and kayaking. He has authored two books: Devotional Treasures from the Holyland and Connecting the Dots Between the Bible and the Land of Israel.

“ The May 2022 biblical Israel tour was everything! It’s going to take some time for this spiritual experience to sink in. There was not a single second of any moment I would have changed. Dr. John DeLancey is an amazing human being who commits his time, sharing his love and passion for Jesus Christ and the land of Israel. From caves, tunnels, hikes, off-beat paths, scripture, songs and prayer, Dr. John knew how to guide us to the sites and spiritual breakthroughs of a lifetime! I have a renewed spirit for bible reading and for the rededication of my life to Jesus Christ. Thank you .” Dana (May 2022, NJ).

Support BIMT

Biblical Israel Ministries & Tours (BIMT) is a support-based ministry. We depend upon the contributions for our ministry. We are so thankful for the faithfulness and blessing of God seen through the generous donations since our beginning year of ministry (2016).

While our Support Page offers the details of the various ways we receive financial contributions, the button below provides a quick and safe way to donate to our ministry. As God leads you, we welcome monthly support and/or one-time donations to our ministry.

This is a safe and easy way to financially support the ministry of BIMT! As God leads, thank you for your donation.

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By proceeding you authorize Biblical Israel Tours to debit the bank account specified above for any amount owed for charges arising from your use of Biblical Israel Tours services and/or purchase of products from Biblical Israel Tours, pursuant to Biblical Israel Tours website and terms, until this authorization is revoked. You may amend or cancel this authorization at any time by providing notice to Biblical Israel Tours with 30 (thirty) days notice.

If you use Biblical Israel Tours services or purchase additional products periodically pursuant to Biblical Israel Tours terms, you authorize Biblical Israel Tours to debit your bank account periodically. Payments that fall outside of the regular debits authorized above will only be debited after your authorization is obtained.

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12 Minute Virtual Tour of Israel

Dr. DeLancey put together this 12 minute virtual tour of Israel that takes you to many biblical sites. From Old Testament sites to locations where Jesus walked, you will get a good sense of the unique regions of the land of Israel. The tour ends in Jerusalem, Israel’s historic and biblical capital.

“ Traveling to the Holy Land was a trip that truly changed my perspective. The trip brought the Bible to life for me and I better understand God’s story. As I read the Bible now in the comfort of my own home, I am able to picture the places I am reading about. It’s incredible to read stories of Jesus’ ministry and connect the dots with the places we traveled to. Dr. John DeLancey was a wonderful tour guide. He has a great knowledge of the land of Israel, archeology, and the Bible. At every site, he read a passage of scripture, explained the importance of the site, and then left our group with an applicable challenge. If you are thinking about traveling to Israel, travel with BIMT. ” (Teirrah, MN, Jan 2022)

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Best Christian Holy Land Tours 2023

Apr 14, 2023
Israel, Travel

Geoff Kullman

Book your guide for the best Christian Holy Land tours

Whether you’re a pastor beginning to organize a group tour to the Holy Land or you’re a church small group leader researching ideas for your congregation, this travel guide is for you. We’ll show you the best Christian Holy Land tours, answer some important FAQs, and much more.

After you’ve read this travel guide, you’ll be ready to narrow down your destination options and confirm important decisions. Whether you want to follow the mission trips of the Apostle Paul, visit the seven churches of Revelation, or experience the Holy Land and Middle East, you’ll learn about some of our most popular tours and destinations.

You’ll also learn about passport and visa requirements for US citizens, which languages are spoken during the tour, and answer questions about which currency to use on the tour.

With each popular tour, we’ll give you the link to the daily itinerary and the phone number to call if you want to get the planning process started.

Christian Holy Land Foundations

Experience the passion and feel the power of the Bible as you embark on a remarkable and unforgettable adventure through the life and history of Jesus.

This 10-day Christian Foundations tour will transport you back to the days of Jesus and allow you to feel the power of his life and spirit. Your journey begins when you arrive in Israel. You will immediately feel the ancient, mystical powers surrounding the land’s architecture and design.

Your tour will start in Tel Aviv, where cobbled streets and old-world charm mix with modern-day skyscrapers and cutting-edge architecture. As soon as you step foot in Israel, travelers tell us they experience an incredible sensation of feeling “home.” Your spiritual home.

After a day in Tel Aviv, you’ll explore the ancient cities of Caesarea and Tiberias. You’ll visit the places where many of Jesus’ miracles happened, as well as numerous ancient ruins, archeological digs, and religious sites.

You’ll see Nazareth, Cana, and Capernaum, as well as Jericho, on your way to Jerusalem.

When you’re in the Old City, you’ll walk along the 2000-year-old main street known as The Cardo and head to The Western/Wailing Wall and The Temple Mount. No stop to the Old City is complete without a walk down the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried his cross. You can also stop for a visit at the Church of The Holy Sepulcher.

When you’re on Mount Zion, you can visit The Room of The Last Supper. In Jerusalem, the stories you’ve read for decades and the faith you’ve lived from childhood will come to life in a brand new way.

With a few days left on your trip, you’ll go to the New City of Jerusalem as well as Bethlehem, the Dead Sea, and Qumran. You’ll take a cable car up a mountain and walk around an ancient fortress built by King Herod.

Tour Details: Christian Foundations daily itinerary Call Now: [1-855-958-6877](tel: 1-855-958-6877)

Traditions of Apostle Paul in Greece

Be immersed in Christian history, culture, and Greek cuisine, while you travel in the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and follow his journey through ancient Greece visiting the sites of Corinth, Veria, and so much more.

You’ll start your tour in historic Athens . There’s so much to see that we’ll plan a few days there. Your Athens highlights include the Parthenon, the Athenian Temple of the goddess of wisdom, and the Temple of Zeus.

A few days into your Athens adventure, you’ll take a trip to Corinth, where Paul met Aquilla and Pricilla and spent 18 months working and preaching. You’ll see where Paul preached the gospel and then return to Athens for dinnertime.

Your tour will also include trips to Thessaloniki as well as Philippi, where you’ll see the Baptistery of Lydia (Paul’s first convert).

Tour Details: Traditions of Paul in Greece daily itinerary Call Now: [1-855-958-6877](tel: 1-855-958-6877)

Apostle Paul Missions Tour

On this Tradition Tour, you will be immersed in Christian history, culture, and Greek cuisine, while you travel in the footsteps of Apostle Paul and follow his journey through ancient Greece visiting the sites of Corinth, Veria, and so much more.

Your tour will start in Athens, where you’ll experience the Acropolis and Parthenon. Consider Athens your home base for the next few days as you take daily excursions to Corinth and Thessaloniki, among other historical sites.

Also, travel to Delphi, an ancient city once called the “hub” or “naval” of the world. You’ll visit the Delphi Archeological Museum to experience its splendid collection of ancient works of art. More than that, you’ll visit the Temple of Apollo (built in the 7th century BC).

Finally, return to Athens before your departure home, where you’ll reflect on all of the new insights you’ve gained into Paul and John’s prosperous teachings.

Tour details: Apostle Paul Mission Tour daily itinerary Call Now:[1-855-958-6577](te: 1-855-958-6577)

The Seven Churches of Revelation Tour

Begin your tour in Istanbul, Turkey, a city of timeless charm.

You’ll spend a couple of days exploring Istanbul, including the Spice Bazaar, one of the oldest (and largest) shopping complexes in the world. Be stunned by Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.

On your final day in the city, you’ll hop on a boat along the waterway separating Asia and Europe. Along the way, you’ll see ancient Ottoman palaces, old architectural villas, and more.

After Istanbul, you’ll begin your journey to the seven churches, starting with Pergamum.

You’ll see the Altar of Zeus, also known as the “Throne of Satan” in Revelation. Continue to Thyatira (church two) and Smyrna (church three). The next day, you’ll visit Philadelphia, Sardis, Hierapolis, and Laodicea. Your tour will also visit Ephesus and Kusadasi before returning to Istanbul.

Tour details: The Seven Churches of Revelation Tour Call Now: [1-855-958-6877](tel: 1-855-958-6877)

Holy Land, Jordan, and Egypt Tour

Very few people are privileged enough to experience Israel, Egypt, and Jordan all in one vacation. Tradition Tours makes that possible with this life-changing tour of the most prominent sites of the Bible.

During your 12-night adventure, you’ll always have an experienced travel consultant ready to handle all your tour needs. As you make your way around the sacred lands, the stories of the Bible will come to life.

The tour starts in Tel Aviv, a city that combines the ancient world (cobblestone streets) with the modern day (skyscrapers) before heading to the Judean capital of Caesarea and heading to Mount Carmel as well as numerous other biblical sites in Israel.

One of the many highlights of the tour is a boat ride on the Sea of Gaililee where you’ll stop to see an ancient fishing boat from the tme of Jesus.

Explore Cana and the Wedding Church, where Jesus turned water into wine. Then travel to Nazareth, where Jesus spent most of his life on earth.

Of course, you’ll spend a couple of days in Jerusalem, both the Old City and New, as well as Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus. We include the Dead Sea and Qumran (location of the Dead Sea Scrolls).

Expereince Petra, an unbelievable ancient city carved into the mountains. Marvel as we explore the treasury, a Nabatean king’s tomb, obelisks and so much more! You’ll see many amazing sights on this tour, but Petra may well be your favorite.

From Mount Nebo, you’ll see the vantage point from which Moses viewed the promised land.

You’ll head to Cairo where you’ll see the Egyptian Museum, home to the treasures of Tutankhamen’s tomb, including his marvelous gold mask as well as thousands of other ancient Egyptian relics.

You’ll see the Nile River and experience enough adventures and have enough stories to last a lifetime.

Tour details: Holy Land, Jordan, Egypt Tour itinerary Call Now: [1-855-958-6877](tel: 1-855-958-6877)

Holy Land Tour FAQ

Passport and visa requirements for us citizens.

General Requirements: According to the State Department, US citizens traveling internationally must have passports that are valid for at least 6 months past the date you return to the USA.

Country-Specific Requirements: Some of our tour destinations that do not require a visa or border fees for US Passport holders include: ✓ Greece ✓ Israel ✓ Italy

Some of our tour destinations that do require a visa include: ✓ Greece ✓ Jordan

Countires not listed above may have additional visa or border fee requirements. Give us a call if you need any help sorting through the passport requirements. [1-855-958-6877](tel: 1-855-958-6877).

What languages are spoken during the tour?

Lanuages spoken in Israel.

While Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages of Israel, English is spoken (or understood) by much, if not most, of the population. \

Languages spoken in Egypt.

Many Egyptians are fluent in both Arabic and English, especially if they are educated. Many also speak French.

Languages spoken in Jordan.

While Arabic is the official language of the country, English is spoken by many people, especially in the cities. Many Jordanians have travelled or were educated abroad, so they may also speak French, German, Italian, or Spanish.

Languages spoken in Greece.

While the official language of Greece is Greek, much of the population also speaks English.

Languages spoken in Turkey.

Turkish is the native language of most of the population of Turkey, while much of the population also speaks various dialects. Many people will also speak or understand English, but perhaps not as much as the other countries you may visit.

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns about the languages spoken in the countries you plan to visit, please call Tradition Tours. [1-855-958-6877](tel: 1-855-958-6877).

What currency to use on the tour?

Currencies used in Israel.

The official currency of Israel is the NIS (New Israel Shekel). Most local businesses will not accept US Dollars in Israel, so it’s best to bring the local currency along with you. Ask your local bank if they’re able to order NIS a few weeks before your journey.

Currencies used in Egypt.

The Egyptian Pound is the official currency of Egypt. In many cases, locals may accept US Dollars, but you will tend to overpay if you use non-local currency.

Currencies used in Jordan.

The Jordanian Dinar has long been one of the world’s strongest currencies. Foreign currencies are generally not accepted in Jordan and it is primarily a cash society. Again, ask your local bank numerous weeks before you travel if they’re able to order Dinar.

Currencies used in Greece.

The official currency of Greece is the Euro. Do not bring US Dollars as most businesses will only accept the local currency (Euros).

Currencies used in Turkey.

The official currency of Turkey is the Lira. You can use Euros in Turkey, however many vendors may quote a higher price is not in Lira. Many ATMs are available in Turkey that can dispense Liras at a responsible exchange rate.

As always, if you have any questions about best practices or how to plan for currencies across multiple countries, please give us a call. [1-855-958-6877](tel: 1-855-958-6877).

Call us at Tradition Tours to talk about your Holy Land tour.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Geoff Kullman is a freelance copywriter and former pastor. Geoff traveled to the Middle East (and Holy Land) in 2007 and has been an avid researcher and writer of history and archeology since. He has traveled to 5 continents and loves learning about the world's cultures.

A Gateway Between Continents

Istanbul's unique position as a bridge between two continents has made it a melting pot of cultures, cuisines, and traditions. The Bosphorus Strait, which runs through the city, splitting the city between Europe and Asia, offers breathtaking views and reminds us of Istanbul's strategic importance throughout history as the crossroads of the world.

Historical Marvels and Architectural Splendor

As it was known in the past, Constantinople, now Istanbul, is dotted with architectural masterpieces that tell the tales of empires that ruled this land and early Christianity. From the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia to the majestic Blue Mosque, Istanbul's buildings are a testament to its rich history and cultural diversity. Tradition Tours offers luxury private tours that allow travelers to explore these marvels in comfort and style, providing in-depth insights into the city's past and present.

The Vibrant Pulse of the Bazaars

The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar are not just markets but the beating heart of Istanbul's bustling life. Tradition Tours will guide you through narrow lanes filled with various goods, from spices to textiles, offering a glimpse into the vibrant local life and commerce, creating an immersive experience regardless of whether you are on a guided church tour or private tour, allowing you to delve deeper into Istanbul's religious and cultural heritage.

Culinary Delights: A Feast for the Senses

Istanbul's cuisine is as diverse as its history, with influences from the Mediterranean, Central Asia, and the Middle East. The city's food scene, from street vendors to high-end restaurants, offers an array of flavors that promise a culinary adventure for every palate.

Embracing the Future

In response to its growing popularity as a travel destination, Istanbul has been enhancing its tourism infrastructure and promoting sustainable travel initiatives. These efforts aim to ensure that the city can accommodate its increasing number of visitors while preserving its natural and historical treasures. Like Constantinople of old, Istanbul is the most connected city in the world, with flights to more international destinations than any other city. It makes this city a truly global gateway to start your tour. With that being said, Tradition Tours remains at the forefront, offering customized Istanbul tours for the seven churches of Revelation and Istanbul to Ephesus Footsteps of Paul tour packages, catering to those seeking a deeper historical and spiritual connection to these biblical areas.

Istanbul's position as the most visited city in 2023 is a testament to its timeless allure and capacity to enchant visitors with its blend of historical grandeur and contemporary dynamism. Whether it's the city's rich history, vibrant markets, delicious cuisine, or the warmth of its people, Istanbul offers an unforgettable experience to all who walk its streets. As we conclude our journey through Istanbul's enchanting narrative, let Tradition Tours be your compass to the city's wonders. Reach out for an immersive experience tailored by experts, and let your Istanbul adventure begin. Share your thoughts or contact Tradition Tours to transform your travel dreams into reality.

Uncovering Izmir's Ancient Wonders with Tradition Tours | Tradition Tours

Have you ever wondered about the tales hidden within Izmir's age-old ruins? Join us on an enthralling tour, where we reveal the rich tapestry of history and the stunning vistas of Izmir's archaeological marvels and its surrounding area. Prepare for an unforgettable journey into history, tailored just for you with our customized private tours, including options perfect for senior travelers and those interested in spiritual paths, such as our guided private church tours. Izmir, cradled by Turkey's western shores, offers a unique blend of the contemporary and the historical. This city, steeped in history, invites you on a personalized voyage through epochs past, making it ideal for those captivated by the remnants of ancient civilizations. Our private tours ensure a comfortable and enriching experience, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

Ephesus: A Glimpse into Roman Grandeur

Ephesus, a cornerstone of our "Footsteps of Paul Ephesus travel packages," is a marvel of Roman engineering. It was once a bustling metropolis and is a testament to ancient architectural prowess. Stroll down its marble pathways on a private tour, immersing yourself in the city's storied past, from the grand Library of Celsus to the awe-inspiring Great Theatre.

Pergamon: Where Culture and Healing Meet

Our guided private church tours often include Pergamon, which is renowned for its cultural and scientific achievements. Explore the Acropolis and the Asklepieion at your leisure, delving into ancient healing practices and the city's role as a significant cultural hub. These personalized tours are designed to offer deep insights into the intellectual life of the ancient world.

Smyrna Agora: Reliving Ancient Market Days

In the heart of modern Izmir lies the Agora of Smyrna, once the city's bustling marketplace. Today, it's an open-air museum where you can explore ancient shops and public buildings. Our customized private tours allow you to relive the vibrant market days of old, providing a tangible connection to daily life in ancient Smyrna.

Teos: A Sanctuary for Artists

Teos, an ancient Ionian port, was celebrated for its contributions to art and literature. The remains of its grand theatre and the temple of Dionysus highlight the city's cultural significance. Our customized private tours to Teos offer a serene backdrop for those wishing to reflect on the artistic endeavors of ancient times, making it a perfect addition to any cultural itinerary.

Let's Journey Together

With Tradition Tours, Izmir's historical tapestry comes to life, offering a deep dive into the annals of time. From the grandeur of Ephesus and the intellectual might of Pergamon to the lively Agora of Smyrna and Teos's creative spirit, our tours provide an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in history. Whether you're interested in our "Footsteps of Paul Ephesus travel packages" or seeking a customized experience tailored to your pace and interests, we're here to guide you. Ready to explore these wonders yourself? Contact Tradition Tours to embark on your adventure.

The Adventure of a Lifetime

Our goal is to help as many people as possible experience the life-changing journey to the land of the Bible. We know that for most travelers, this will be a once in a lifetime trip. Whether you’re a group of 50 or a single traveler, we will do all we can to make your trip an experience you’ll never forget.

Higher Quality at a Lower Price

We provide the experience of a lifetime without spending your life savings.

More Nights in Israel

Although a tour maybe advertised as 9, 10, or 11 days, check how many nights you actually spend in Israel. Many times, it will only be seven. All our tours spend eight nights at beautiful, four-star hotels and full touring on the last day.

Friendly Flights

Why be forced to spend the extra $300-400 to travel to New York? In many cases, we can arrange for you to depart from a nearby, major airport for little or no extra cost.

No Hidden Costs

Tips? Personal listening device? Airport taxes? Fuel surcharges ? Admission to ALL sites you’ll visit? Yep, it’s all included.

Amazing and Affordable

All without breaking the bank.

Starting From $3899

roundtrip, international airfare from a nearby major airport (select markets; subject to availability)
deluxe, air-conditioned bus, with WiFi
four-star hotel accommodations
buffet breakfast and dinner
entrance fees to all sites visited
professional, English-speaking guide
ALL tips are included!

Learn From Men Who Love Jesus

Travel the world with people who love the Word.

One of the greatest joys of my life has been to visit the country of Israel! Passages I had studied in the Bible suddenly came to life. Things that I thought I understood were clarified in a fresh way. The reality of who Jesus is and how he lived captured me in a unique way as I literally walked where He walked.

Join us! Take it from me, you won’t regret it.

Kurt Skelly

Got Questions?

Here are the things we get asked the most. If this doesn’t answer your question, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.

Is it safe?

Yes! Millions of visitors travel to Israel each year, amazed and inspired! In fact you’ll feel just as safe (or safer) in Israel then any major city in the US. When visiting take the usual tourist precautions; don’t leave personal items unattended, use the safe deposit box at your hotels, be more mindful where you go at night, travel in groups and accompanied when possible.

Is it affordable?

One of the main reasons we started Land of the Bible Tours was to allow people to see Israel who thought they never could afford to! Our trips include just about everything–flights, hotels, land transportations, professional guide, tips, buffet breakfast/dinner, and all site admission fees. Going to Israel is probably easier and less expensive than you think!

How taxing is it physically?

We do a lot of walking! But with a little preparation, you’ll be good to go. An average day is about 10,000-12,000 steps. If you have a concern about being able to handle the trip physically, let us know!

What about insurance?

We strongly recommend travel insurance! It is relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain. See our Insurance page to learn more and purchase travel insurance.

How much money should I bring?

The only thing that you’ll need money for is lunches and souvenirs/gifts. Lunches average $15-18 per day, and there are LOTS of opportunities for shopping. Most locations in Israel will accept credit cards and the overwhelming majority will take American money. There will be changes to exchange for local currency.

Do I need a visa?

For stays of up to three months, you don’t need a visa. The only travel document you need is your passport. Just be sure that it is valid for at least six months after your trip.

Can I buy my own plane ticket?

We do provide a land-only version of the trip. Contact us for more information.

Should I go?

A trip to the Holy Land is life-changing! As you read your Bible, you’ll find yourself saying “I’ve been there!” or “I know exactly what that looks like!” Every Christian should travel to Israel at least once!

Still have questions?

Testimonials

You are going to love touring the land of the Bible with us. But, don’t take our word for it.

It’ll bring the Bible to life. You’ll be able to see it when you preach. Your Bible reading and imagination of the Biblical landscapes where Christ ministered will go from black and white to vibrant color. You need to go.

Baltimore, MD

Word cannot express how grateful I am to have first visited the Holy Land with Land of the Bible Tours. Their attention to detail and excellence at such an affordable rate made the trip not only accessible but a truly transformative experience for my walk with and ministry for the Lord. I cannot wait to return with many in our church and community.

Wooster, OH

Every part of the trip was packed with enjoyable and inspirational truth. Seeing Israel in person gave structure and perspective to the Bible in a way that you have never seen it before. You won’t regret the investment in your own personal understanding and growth.

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

What are you waiting for?

9 DAY GREECE TOUR with PASTOR BEN GRAHAM

March 19-28, 2024 | $4099

11 DAY ISRAEL TOUR with TROY DORRELL

September 9-19, 2024 | $3899

11 DAY ISRAEL TOUR with DENNIS FOUNTAIN

September 10-20, 2024 | $3899

11 DAY ISRAEL TOUR with DERIK LAWRENCE

11 day israel tour with scott gray, 11 day israel tour with travis burkett, 11 day israel tour with isaac davis, 11 day israel tour with cody kuehl, 11 day israel tour with steve cox, 11 day israel tour with nick hardy.

September 16-26, 2024 | $3999

11 DAY ISRAEL TOUR with DENNIS WATSON

October 23-November 4, 2024 | $4549

10 DAY JOURNEYS OF PAUL (GREECE) with DUSTON MOORE

10 day journeys of paul (greece) with dan fleet, 10 day journeys of paul (greece) with kurt skelly, 10 day journeys of paul (greece) with kurt skelly and morris henriquez, 10 day journeys of paul (greece) with kurt skelly and tj wilder, 10 day journeys of paul (greece) with kurt skelly and noel cwenar, 10 day journeys of paul (greece) with george ross, 11 day israel tour with david martin.

December 2-12, 2024 | $3899

Several trips have filled up already.

10 DAY ISRAEL TOUR with SHANNON FOOTE

January 6-16, 2025 | $3899

11 DAY ISRAEL TOUR for PASTORS with KURT SKELLY

January 14-24, 2025 | $1500 for Pastors, $1800 for spouses; Airfare not included

Group of 25 or more? Contact us to choose your own dates.

Israel Overview Tour of All Biblical Sites

Israel – God’s Chosen Land

Israel . . . Land of the Bible . . . Land of Faith . . . the Holy Land, revered throughout recorded history as the cradle of monotheistic religion. For a person of faith whose beliefs are rooted in the Bible, there is no place on earth like the Holy Land. In this narrow strip of land lies the source of religious belief of much of mankind. Here, amongst the barren hills and fertile plains, man’s spirit learned to soar and from here a new message went out to all the world: “. . . and many peoples shall come, and say, “Come, let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the House of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths. For out of Zion (Hill next to Jerusalem) will go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isaiah 2:3,4).

The unique factor about the Holy Land is its special location in the World. Situated as it is, straddling the divide between Africa and Asia, the area has almost always been a battleground. Wave after wave of conquerors poured into it, anxious to control the strategic trade routes linking the centers of the ancient world. It’s not by accident that it’s virtually in the center of the world. In God’s master plan of creation, He decided to place Israel exactly in the center of His creation. Located on a tiny land bridge between Africa and Asia, there is no other way to get between the two of them except through Israel. It’s located on the crossroads of the world. Whoever wanted to trade between the two continents, or control the known world, had to conquer and control Israel. For this reason, there have been more wars and events that have taken place in Israel than any other country on earth. God positioned Israel in its unique location in order to influence the world and be on “Center Stage” so all of creation would know that He alone is God.

For nearly 2,000 years, Christian visitors from all over the world have come to the Holy Land, the land of their spiritual heritage. With Bible in hand, they have walked the places Jesus walked and prayed in the places He preached and prayed. For Christians, Israel is a place like no other. It provides them a one of a kind opportunity to experience the land of the Bible, to deepen their faith, and to be spiritually transformed for a lifetime.

Holy La nd Site

Bringing the Bible to Life b y Seeing Wh ere It Took Place !

Digital Book Cover Front - Israel Book (

Travel Guide Book 664 Pages

Israel Biblical Sites Bible Companion (L

Bible Companion Book 654 Pages

Check out our holy land site youtube channel.

Biblical Sites

Jerusalem sites.

Jerusalem Overview

Jerusalem Holy Sites Overview

Antonia Fortress

Bethany: Tomb of Lazarus

Chapel of the Ascension: Ascension & Return of Christ

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Church of Mary Magdalene

City of David Overview

Death, Burial, Resurrection of Christ

Dominus Flevit Church

Eastern Gate

Garden of Gethsemane: Church of All Nations

Gordon's Garden Tomb

Gethsemane to Golgotha:

Christ's Path to the Cross

Hezekiah's Broad Wall

Hezekiah's Water Tunnel

Hinnom Valley Overview

History Of Jerusalem's Walls and Gates

House of Caiaphas: Peter's Denial of Christ

Kidron Valley: Judgment of God

Mary's Tomb & Gethsemane Cave

Mount of Olives Overview

Pater Noster Church: Lord's Prayer, Olivet Discourse

Pilate's Palace: Trial of Jesus

Pools of Bethesda & St. Anne

Pool of Siloam

Prophecy, Proof t he Bible Is True: Mount of Olives

Solomon's Temple

Southern Stairs/Davidson Archaeological Site

Temple Mount Overview

Temple Location

Temple Mount: Pentecost

Temple Cleansing by Jesus

Temple & the Early Church

Tomb of King David

Tombs of the Prophets

The Old Testament Feasts & Jesus

The Upper Room

Triumphal Entry

Via Dolorosa

Western Wall & Tunnels Tour

Other Sites In Jerusalem

Sea of Galilee Sites

Sea of Galilee Overview

Calling of the Disciples

Capernaum: Jesus' Ministry Base

Feeding the 5,000

Gennesaret, Ginosar: Jesus Boat

Jesus Walks on Water, Calms the Sea

Kursi: Demonic Man Healed

Magdala: Mary Magdalene

Mount Arbel: The Great Commission

Mount of Beatitudes

Sower's Cove: Parables of the Kingdom

Tabgha: Restoration of Peter

Yardenit Baptismal Site

Other Sites Around the Sea of Galilee

Northern Israel Sites

Beth Shean Amphitheater

Caesarea Maritima Overview

Caesarea Maritima: Holy Spirit Given to the Gentiles

Caesarea Philippi

Cana: First Miracle of Jesus

Church of the Annunciation & St. Joseph Church

Dan (City of Dan)

Gideon's Spring

J ezreel Overview

Jordan River Overview

Megiddo: Armageddon

Mount Carmel & Elijah

Mount Tabor: Transfiguration of Christ

Nazareth Overview

Nazareth: Mt. Precipice

Sepphoris (Tsipori, Zippori)

Other Sites In Northern Israel

Central Israel Sites

Beth-Shemesh

Ein Karem (Kerem)

Emmaus Road

Gezer: On Crossroads of the World

Gibeon - Nabi Samwil

Inn of the Good Samaritan

Jericho ~ Tell Es-Sultan

Joppa (Jaffa, Yafo) Overview

Jordan River: Crossing into the Promised Land

Jordan River Baptismal Site of Jesus (Qsar al-Yahud)

Judean Wilderness

Judean Wilderness: Testing of Jesus

M oun t Nebo & Moses

Philistine Cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod, Gaza, Ekron, Gath

Qumran: Dead Sea Scrolls

Samaria (Sabastia)

Shechem: Jacob's Well

Shiloh: Center of Worship

St. George's Monastery (Wadi Qelt)

Timnah: Life of Samson

Valley of Elah: David & Goliath

Other Sites In Central Israel

Southern Israel Sites

Beer Sheba: The Patriarchs

Bethlehem Overview

Bethlehem: Church of Nativity

Bethlehem: David & the Psalms

Bethlehem: Naomi, Ruth, Boaz

Bethlehem: Shepherds' Field

Dead Sea Area

En-Gedi: Living Waters

Exodus, Red Sea Crossing, Mt. Sinai

Tel Hebron Overview

Hebron Caves of Machpelah

Herodian (Herodiu m) Fortress

Oaks of Mamre, Hebron

Kadesh Barnea

Mount Sinai

Sodom & Gomorrah

The Philistines & Their City Strongholds

Timna Park: Tabernacle, Moses

Other Sites In Southern Israel

Other Biblical Sites

Garden of Eden Location

Madaba ( Map), Jordan

Mount Nebo & Moses

Noah's Ark & the Great Flood

Noah's Ark Location

Petra, Jordan

VOLUNTEERING

In israel our founder in israel.

OUR SERVICES

ISRAEL TOUR INTEREST MEETINGS

Our Israel Tour Interest Meetings serve as an educational tool on the significance of Israel, the Jewish People, and the Land of Israel to Gentile Believers.

These meetings present the Biblical narrative of Israel's redemption and reveal the true purpose of our visit.

ISRAEL TOURS

We offer a new and unique tour itinerary for our participants. Few tour companies combine historical, Biblical, modern and authentic sites on their itineraries.

The Holy Land Tour Co. personalizes each tour itinerary according to the group and the Holy Spirit's leading.

Our Interest Meetings, Pre-Trip Meetings, Israel Tours and Hebrew Holiday Teachings help our participants stay connected and informed on all things Israel.

We believe every Believer should receive true and accurate information on the Land, People and Nation of Israel.

Since 2018, we have made it possible for Believers to learn about Israel and discover how they can visit the Holy Land.

Our vision is to see Believers of all ages walk the Holy Land.

2023 ISRAEL TOUR

Susie on Mount Carmel

Or teaching at Beit Shean

2022 ISRAEL TOUR

TOUR REVIEWS

"And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people." -Matthew 4:23

The Holy Land Tour | Israel 2017 Highlights

The Holy Land Tour | Capernaum

The Holy Land Tour | Jerusalem

The Holy Land Tour | Matt Lindsey Testimonial

Before you go, check this out!

We have lots more on the site to show you. You've only seen one page. Check out this post which is one of the most popular of all time.

How to tour Israel on your own: A step-by-step guide (with itinerary and maps)

If you are looking to tour Israel on your own, then you are in the right place. Whether its just wanting to go alone or a group tour timeline doesn’t fit your schedule. Or you’re in Israel on a business trip. Touring on your own doesn’t have to be difficult.

In a previous post I talked about visiting Jerusalem on your own. Traveling the whole country is going to be a little different. Everything you want to see in Jerusalem is packed into a small area. Everything outside Jerusalem is not.

Below is a how-to guide to traveling Israel on your own. At the bottom is an itinerary with maps. Here are the topics we are going to cover.

Can you travel Israel on your own?

When is the best time to go to israel, getting to israel..

Getting around Israel.

Hotels in Israel

Hostels in israel, air bnb in israel, are tour guides available in israel, how much do private tours cost, how much do biblical sites in israel cost, is israel cheap to visit, can you swim in the dead sea, what should i buy in israel, what should i pack for a trip to israel, 2-week holy site itinerary..

All links are direct.

All currency is in US Dollars, unless otherwise specified.

Absolutely. People travel to Israel all the time on their own. But a lot of those people aren’t doing an intentional tour of biblical sites. If you want to do your own Holy Land tour through Israel, you can more than easily accomplish it though.

Jerusalem, can be done in 2 or 3 days. The rest of the country can take anywhere from 7 to 12 days. Tour groups normally split the country into areas. Eleven to be specific: 1) the coast; 2) Nazareth; 3) Galilee; 4) Golan; 5) Samaria; 6) Jerusalem; 7) the Shephelah; 8) Bethlehem; 9) Jericho; 10) the Dead Sea; and if you want the full tour 11) the Negev.

On a typical Holy Land tour of Israel, you would get on a bus and let the tour leader and staff plan everything out. Park passes, transportation, lodging, and even a few meals will be part of the trip cost. The group leader and/or tour guide will provide the itinerary and what-to-know about each site.

Because the industry of Holy Land tourism is such a big thing in Israel, hotels and transportation is rather abundant. There are a plethora of hotels, kibbutz (travel lodges), hostels, and Air BnB offerings. Which means that you have plenty of options. The down side is that, depending on the season, you may be competing with group reservations.

Although a rental car is going to be the most convenient for this kind of tour, there are other options. Israel has public transportation and there is even a biking path if that’s your thing.

You could even do a mixture of it all.

The best time to visit Israel is in April/May and October/November. There are a couple variables that go into this. For a full discussion on timing, check out my post on the topic right here .

Airfare fluctuates during the year due to global travel seasons. The highest airfare tends to be in the summer months, (June, July, and August) and December. This makes sense because the summer is typically when people travel due to the US school calendar.

December has started to become a bigger travel month over the years because of Christmas.

The weather is also a factor. The summer have zero precipitation. And the average temperature countrywide is 84 deg F with highs surging into the 90s and 100s F.

The winter months have high precipitation. With lows being in the 40s and 50s F. This makes the spring and late fall optimal for the weather.

Crowds are another problem. Unfortunately, there is no data on crowds, but there is data on tourist arrivals. Israel’s peak arrival month is October. This is due to the Jewish Holiday Yom Kippur. The spring is the next high. The summer months are a lull between spring and October. January is the slowest month.

One thing to note here. Travel is highest in October because of Yom Kippur. But this doesn’t mean tourist sites are going to be packed. And low travel in the summer doesn’t mean that sites won’t be packed.

Because of the nature of Israel, Jewish families are spread across Israel, Europe, and the United States. So, there is a lot of travel to and from Israel to visit family. And not to tour. Arrival numbers do not differentiate this.

At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong visiting in the spring or fall.

As noted above, airfare fluctuates. Prices are highest in June at the beginning of the summer tourist season. Prices are lowest from October through March . Average Airfare in 2020 before COVID was between $650 in the low months and $1,300 in the high months. With spikes up around $3,400.

International air travel has 1 major port of entry, Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv sits on the Mediterranean Coast and is pretty central in terms of not being too far north or south. It’s roughly an hour or so drive from Jerusalem.

There are a couple other “international” airports around the country. But they are small, mostly used for regional international traffic and don’t support the major airlines.

Your best bet is to fly though Tel Aviv. Its central, and all your follow-on transportation services are well established there. Like rental cars, airport shuttles, buses, city transportation, and more.

Can you enter Israel by boat? Yes, the main passenger port is Haifa. In the south on the Red Sea is the Port of Eilat. Both offer 24/7 customs services. Along the western Mediterranean Coast there are several marina’s which offer customs services on call.

Are there any border crossings on land? Yes, there are crossing points with Jordan and Egypt. In Eilat , use the Rabin crossing point to go to and from Jordan. And the Taba crossing point for Egypt. On the eastern border with Jordan, the Sheikh Hussein crossing point is the primary one for foreigners and Israeli citizens. The Allenby Bridge is primarily for the Palestinian population going to and from Jordan, but foreigners can use it too.

For an exhaustive list of border crossings and customs checkpoints, check out what the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to say right here .

Getting around Israel .

If you follow the itinerary below then the most convenient option is to rent a car. Most of the major rental companies are in Israel. Avis . Budget . Hertz . But there are also some competitive options native to Israel and the region. The problem with renting is the usual suspects: cost, gas, and parking. Check your favorite travel booking site for prices as they fluctuate like any other location.

The average cost of fuel in Israel over the last 2 years has fluctuated between $6 and $6.81 per gallon. In New Israeli Shekels (NIS) per liter that comes out to 5.38NIS and 6.05NIS per liter.

Something to note about fuel grades. In most countries outside the US, the fuel grade is higher, usually in the 90s (93, 95, or 97). Whereas, in the US its in the 80s (87, 89, 93). This means the fuel has been refined more and therefore more expensive.

The next option is public transportation. All the major cities have some sort of public bus or tram system. There are a few options for traveling between cities on public transportation though. Egged buses facilitate travel throughout the country and Dan Buses travel in and around the Tel Aviv area.

Bus fares vary based on the city and distance. For example, an Egged bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is around $5. A bus from Tel Aviv to Nazareth is around $20.

Although taxis are an option here, you’re going to spend a lot of money.

Uber is present, but only cabs are allowed to provide the service. Ridesharing in general is very limited. Scooter-sharing services, Bird (US), Lime (US), and Wind (German) are available in both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Other options include biking and hiking, which will not be covered here.

The big thing to keep in mind is that many of the churches that were built to commemorate something in the Bible are in towns. So, public transportation and walking is doable. But archaeological and historical sites, such as Dan and Caesarea Philippi, are often well outside the public transportation routes.

To really see the Holy Land on your own, a rental car is your best option.

Lodging in Israel

When it comes to lodging, there are several options. Hotels, hostels, kibbutz (travel lodges), and Air BnB to name the major ones. The driving factor here will be whether you prefer ‘crawling’ or ‘basing.’ What I mean by ‘crawling’ is that you stay at a different place each night while you go. And ‘basing’ means you get a room in an area to stay for several days and go out from there each day.

The way I’ve set up the itinerary below, both crawling and basing are utilized.

Because of the nature of Israel’s tourist industry, many hotels, hostels, and lodges provide meals. And some of those layouts are extensive. But not all locations do this, so make sure to verify when you book your stay.

Hotels in Israel aren’t all that different than the United States when it comes to cost. In general, they run from about $100 all the way up to $1,000 per night for a room. Prices fluctuate with the seasons. But you can expect places charging around $100 for the 2- or 3-star level. And the upper $100 and $200 range for the 4- and 5-star level.

Luxury hotels, like the King David Hotel and the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem are upwards to $1,000 per night. They come with all the bells and whistles.

When you travel with a tour group, lodging costs are included in your group travel. That’s the benefit of doing a group tour. Another benefit is that most group tours will choose decent hotels. You won’t be staying in low-end places unless there is no other choice. Usually a poor hotel choice is a result of traveling in a saturated tourist season.

What is a kibbutz? Technically a kibbutz is a collectivist commune that shares the burden of tending crops. Kibbutz literally means ‘gather.’ They started in the early 20th century in Galilee.

There are lodging locations around Israel that call themselves kibbutz, but really they are kind of like a resort. They have large dining rooms and offer buffets as part of the stay. They may or may not be associated with an actual kibbutz. If they are it’s part of their economy. The quality ranges.

Hostels are another option. They charge by person. What you can expect with a hostel is a bed, a social atmosphere, and meals.

If you’ve never stayed in a hostel before, they are basically bunk houses. Rooms can have anywhere from 4 to 10 beds, or more. Community lounges allow you to relax or socialize. Bathrooms are common spaces as well.

The price range for a bed at a hostel is between $20 and $80. With the higher end offering more amenities or possibly a private room. No private bathroom though.

Hostels are generally geared towards young solo travelers who want to meet new people. However, all ages are welcome, and so are groups.

Amenities can vary widely as well. For example, Capsuleinn in Jerusalem has enclosed bunks with lights, electrical outlets, TV screens, and air vents. Other hostels are merely bunk rooms.

Some hostels have kitchens so you can cook your own food. And some offer nightlife and social activities.

To book, check prices, and find availability of hostels check out these websites or go to booking.com.

hostelworld.com

hihostels.com

hostels-israel.com

Air BnB is the third option. If you aren’t familiar with the latest craze in lodging, Air BnB is an online hospitality marketplace. For the most part, listings are often for full houses, apartments, or condos. But sometimes people will list rooms or granny flats.

All listings are facilitated by Air BnB but listed by the property owner.

For owners listing their properties, Air BnB is essentially a small business. As a result, customer service and amenities vary greatly!

Air BnB is basically like having your own apartment in the city for a couple of days. And you won’t get bothered by maid service.

Although, Air BnB is huge in the US, Israel has a rather large inventory of listings.

For the most part, scams on Air BnB hit the property owners, but there are some issues to be aware of.

1. Never pay for an Air BnB stay in cash or off the website. [ Article ]

2. Be cautious if your host wants to transfer you to another listing. [ Article ]

Yes, there are tour companies in Israel that offer day trips as well as multi-day trips. The most well-known are Abraham Tours and Sandemans New Europe Tours .

Abraham Tours has hubs in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Eilat. The company is run by the Abraham Hostel company. Most of their tours leave from their hostels. This is a good thing; you won’t be riding around town picking people up at other hotels. You meet up, start the tour and finish.

Single day trips with Abraham Tours range from around $40 to $100. That is mostly dependent on the distance to the destination.

Sandemans offers a free tour of Jerusalem that last about 2 hours. It’s advertised as free because its tip based. It’s used to train new guides and give them experience. Sandemans offers a few other day-tours in Jerusalem and also in Tel Aviv. Average cost is around $25. They are walking tours, which means they leave from a specific starting point. So, no time wasted picking up other tourists.

When looking for a tour company, watch out for tours that pick you up at your hotel. There is nothing nefarious about it, but time is wasted. Sometimes upwards to 2 hours each way. These companies tend to charge a little more as well for the door to door service.

The other issue that you may encounter with any of these companies is frequent shopping stops. Some tourists like to shop their way through a destination. Also, tour guides sometimes get kickbacks for stopping.

With the day tours mentioned above, shopping is going to be rather limited.

One last thing to note, these are not theologically based tours. You will get religious history, but you aren’t going to get Christian theology.

Maybe the day tour isn’t your thing. Or, you are fine setting up your lodging, but you want to combine your touring and your transportation. A private tour is a good option.

Private, or luxury, tour guides in Israel cost around $200-$300 a day. But this isn’t necessarily per person. And it isn’t expensive by any means. With more people in the group, the per-person cost goes down.

If your timing doesn’t fit with a group tour from your church or community, this might be the route for you.

The plus side with this option is that you can plan out your trip with the tour company.

Private tours vary in terms of theology. If you go with a church group from home, you’re going to get lead by a seminary trained leader. With a private tour, most likely you are going to get a professionally trained tour guide. They may or may not be adequately prepared with theological learning points.

I believe that any Holy Land tour should also be theologically based in order for a traveler to get the most out of their time. However, if you have a small window of opportunity, then a private tour might be the answer.

Both Abraham and Sandemans offer private tours. Shin Luxury Tours is another option. They only do private tours and are staffed with more experienced guides.

An unlimited Park Pass from the Israeli Nature and Parks Authority is about $45. You can access around 70 sites with it. All of the archaeological sites will be on the pass. Churches, lookouts and most everything in Jerusalem are not. But they’re free anyway.

The pass is good for 2 weeks starting on the day of its initial use.

In Jerusalem, the pass is only good for the City of David Archaeological site.

Other locations in Jerusalem that require an entrance fee are:

The Western Wall Tunnel Tour – Adults $11. Seniors, disabled, and children are $6.

The Church of the Redeemer Tower – Everyone $5.

The Israel Museum – Adults $16. Students and Seniors $12. Other discounts $8.

The Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum – Entrance to the museum and grounds is free. A guided tour for 2 people will run you around $150. An audio tour is $18 a headset.

The Western Wall, Temple Mount, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Old City Wall walk, and other sites in Jerusalem are free of charge.

The cost of travel in Israel is on par with the cost of travel in the United States. This is true when it comes to hotels, food and souvenirs. The only exception is gas, as noted above.

Travel costs stack up due to eating out, hotels, transportation, and site-seeing. However, visiting Israel is not like visiting Disneyland. Overall, visiting Israel can be done on any budget.

If a hotel offers food with your stay, then you’ve already saved money.

In my post about the cost of a Holy Land tour , I stated that a standard tour averages at around $300 per day per traveler. This is a great number to work with. If you are traveling on your own with a spouse or friend you can easily bring this number down with your transportation and lodging choices.

Yes, you most certainly can swim in the Dead Sea. There are 7 beaches where you can wade into the water. Or you can just plunge in.

The salt content of the Dead Sea is 9 times higher than the ocean. This means 2 things.

1. You will float high. It will actually be difficult to go underwater. The reason for this is that the salt content makes the density higher. If you’re a nerd like me that means the water has more weight (technically it’s mass but weight is more understandable), per volume than ocean water. When you get in any liquid, the weight of the volume displaced is equal to your weight. So, when you get in the Dead Sea less volume needs to be displaced.

2. The higher salt content will start to sting after about 6 or 7 minutes. So, don’t stay in too long. And don’t open your eyes underwater. Get in, do your mud thing, get out, and take a shower. Take a break and get back in if you want.

For a great discussion on souvenirs to buy in Israel check out my post on the topic right here .

Here is the list of things I cover in that post.

Ahava mineral lotion from the Dead Sea.
Widow’s Mite
Olive wood carvings
Historical photographs – Elia Photo Service
Charm jewelry from Magdala
A Kippah from the Western Wall (FREE)
Your pictures (FREE)

For a discussion on buying antiquities, check out my post on the topic right here .

And guidance for bringing back sand is here . Spoiler alert, I don’t recommend it.

For a discussion on how to prepare for your Holy Land tour, check out my post on the topic here .

In it, I cover the following topics:

The paperwork
Preparing for your flight.
What to pack.
Non-clothing gear.
Determining your gadget requirements.
Stay connected.
A picture plan.
Make a commitment to have fun.
Jewish Holidays.
A money plan.
A souvenir plan.

Also, check these other posts to get clothing recommendations.

What to wear.

Types of shoes that work best.

Best styles of hats to protect your head.

And, a discussion on pockets . This post is geared towards security and preventing pickpockets from taking advantage of you.

If you want to use your own phone, or rent one, check out this post on the topic right here .

And lastly, for information on power needs, such as adapters and converters check out this post .

There are 11 areas that we’ll hit. This list is predicated on the assumption that you will be landing in Tel Aviv.

1. Coast (1 night)– After a night or two in Tel Aviv, we’ll head south to Ashkelon (30-40 miles). Then head back north, stopping in Caesarea (60 miles) and then Haifa-Acre area (20 miles). Stay the night.

2. Jezreel Valley (Nazareth) (1 night)– We’ll get up early and head to the Jezreel Valley (20 miles). It’s up to you to choose where to go first. If you want to hit Megiddo , Nain and Mount Tabor you can (optional). Or you can go directly to Nazareth and start. But don’t forget the Wedding Church in Cana and the ruins of Sepphoris in Zippori (both within 5 miles of Nazareth). Sepphoris is where scholars believed Joseph took Jesus to teach him the craft of carpentry. Stay the night in Nazareth or head to Tiberias.

3. Galilee (3 nights)– Head to The Sea of Galilee (15 miles). We’re going to stay here for a few days. There are a ton of sites to visit, such as Capernaum , Magdala , and the Mount of Beatitudes . Don’t forget to get a boat ride on the sea. The Galilee and Golan areas are best done over 3 days, but you can take whatever time you want. Stay a few nights in Tiberias .

4. Golan (part of Galilee stay) (90-100 mile day) – Take a day trip away from Galilee to go north. At first glance it might appear to be boring. But the archaeological sites at Dan and Chorazim are large and provide a window into life in the Old Testament. At Dan, parts of the alter were found and scholars created a mockup 1:1 scale altar. It’s huge. Head back to Tiberias for the night.

5. Samaria (1 Day)– on your way to Jerusalem you will travel through the West Bank and Samaria (100 mile day). Notable sites include Jacob’s Well , Mount Gerazim (this has a fascinating history), and Shiloh (the religious capital of the ancient Israelites). There Sebaste and Nablus are noted for reference, I recommend driving through due to safety concerns.

6. Jerusalem (4-5 nights) – For an exhaustive itinerary of Jerusalem check out my post on how to tour Jerusalem on your own . The ancient city can be done in as many days as you like, I suggest 3 days. We’ll stay here for a bit longer than that though, since we have some other sites to see in the area.

8. Shephelah (1 Day) (40-50 mile day)– The Shephelah is the region between the coastal plain on the Mediterranean coast and the Judean hills. Here you will find the archaeological sites at Gezer , Beth Shemesh , and Lachish . On your drive you can make a stop to overlook the Valley of Elah , where David defeated Goliath. Head back to Jerusalem.

9. Bethlehem (1 Day) (20-30 mile day) – In Palestinian controlled territory, Bethlehem is full of interesting things. The Church of the Nativity is the traditional site of the birth of Christ. Its gaudy accoutrement is shocking. The Shepherds Field Chapel is more soothing and less stressful. Hit the Fields of Boaz on the way out of town and head south to the Herodium . This is a fortress Herod had built for him inside of a hill. Head back to Jerusalem.

7. Jericho (1 Day) (40-50 mile day)– Take an excursion out to Jericho for the day. On the way stop at the Inn of the Good Samaritan , Dani Lookout (great view of the Judean Wilderness), The Monastery of St. George and the archaeological site at Jericho . Head back to Jerusalem.

10. Dead Sea (1 Day) (90-100 mile day) – Leave Jerusalem behind and head east to the Dead Sea. First stop is the Baptism site on the Jordan River . Then head down to Qumran . There are 7 beaches on the Dead Sea. Kalia Beach , Neve Midbar Beach , and Biankini Siesta Beach are the farthest north. Mineral Beach is on the way to Ein Gedi where you’ll find a trail hike and the Ein Gedi Beach . Ein Gedi is where David hid out from Saul. Continue south and stop at Masada . Further to the south are the Ein Bokek Beach , the Segregated Beach and the Zohar Beach . Cut to the west and arrive in Arad where you’ll stay the night.

11. The Negev (Southern Desert) (1 Day) (160-180 mile day) – The Negev is the most overlooked part of Israel. It’s hot and seemingly devoid of sites. But the archaeological site at Arad gives us insight into how the Nabateans lived. The Nabateans are known for Petra in Jordan. Head west to Be’ersheva and then south to Avdat and Makhtesh Ramon . This is pretty far south, but is a must-see. It’s called the Super Bowl and it’s comparable to the Grand Canyon. It’s 25 miles long and 5 miles wide. Head to Tel Aviv

This turns out to be about a 14 to 15-day trek. You can shorten or lengthen it however you see fit. In the coming weeks I’ll be posting info on each site so you can find out more information. Or if you are traveling on your own you can tailor your journey.

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Where are all the pilgrims? The current state of religious tourism in the Holy Land

By Marinella Bandini

Jerusalem, Jun 4, 2024 / 07:00 am

During the month of May in Jerusalem, the major holidays of the three major religions — Christian Easter, Jewish Passover, and the month of Ramadan — passed with an almost total absence of pilgrims from abroad.

The holy sites and the streets of the Old City are usually crowded with tourists and pilgrims at this time of year, but they have been empty for the past eight months due to the Israel-Hamas war.

Muslims orderly make their way to the entrances of the Al-Aqsa mosque compound for noon prayer, but otherwise, the Via Dolorosa is completely empty. There are no pilgrims ascending to the Holy Sepulcher. The Sanctuary of the Flagellation, maintained by the Franciscans at the starting point of the Via Crucis path, is always open — but that is empty, too.

Things aren’t any better at Gethsemane.

“Before the war, we had more than a hundred groups a day. Today, we welcome two or three groups on a good day,” Brother Siniša Srebrenović, the guardian of the Franciscan Convent of the Agony (Gethsemane), told CNA. “They mostly come from Asia or South America. Some come from Eastern Europe, mainly Orthodox Christians.”

The absence of pilgrims also means the absence of income.

“We friars sustain ourselves with the offerings of the pilgrims. The charity of the pilgrims also helps cover the maintenance expenses of the sanctuary and some development projects,” Srebrenović explained. “Today, everything is at a standstill. Workers from the Palestinian Territories do not have permission to come, and the financial resources are only enough for the ordinary. Despite this, the custody continues to financially support its workers and has not laid off any of them.”

At the Holy Sepulcher, the waiting time to enter the edicule (where Jesus’ tomb is kept) is just a few minutes, compared with up to two hours last year. The daily procession of the Franciscan friars inside the basilica is attended by only a handful of faithful — mostly residents of Jerusalem.

The Via Dolorosa, at the location of the Church of the Flagellation, is completely deserted in the afternoon of Friday, May 24, 2024. Usually, Friday is the day when many Christian pilgrims walk the Via Dolorosa in the footsteps of Jesus to the Holy Sepulcher. Credit: Marinella Bandini

Even Bethlehem is empty

“Tourism in Palestine is effectively zeroed out. Every day we lose $2.5 million,” lamented Majed Ishaq, director general of the marketing department of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Palestine.

He described to CNA a dramatic situation: “Tourist facilities are closed; people working in the sector — including many Christians — have had no income for months. People are trying to sell houses, cars, furniture, to survive.”

“International tourism passes through Israel; they control our borders. We are under a kind of siege,” Ishaq continued. “Reaching Bethlehem is still possible, but cities in the north, like Nablus or Jenin, and also Hebron further south, are almost unreachable. Even local tourism and internal travel are severely affected due to attacks by settlers.”

Some groups arrive, especially via Jordan. The hope is that something will move at least by the end of the year, especially for the Christmas holidays.

According to data from the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, just over 80,000 people (tourists and pilgrims combined) entered the country in April — a decrease of 77% compared with April 2023 and 80% compared with April 2019, the peak year before the pandemic.

Cumulatively, from January through April, about 285,000 tourist arrivals were recorded, a decrease of about 78% in relation to the corresponding period in 2023.

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“The decline is attributed to the impact of the ‘Iron Swords’ war [the name Israel has given to the campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the events of Oct. 7, 2023] although in the months that have passed since the outbreak of the war, there has been a certain increase in the number of tourist arrivals to Israel, but it is not yet possible to identify any trend.”

A small group of Orthodox Christians from Romania inside the Basilica of Gethsemane kiss the stone on which, according to tradition, Jesus sweated blood during the night of Holy Thursday. May 2024. Credit: Marinella Bandini

Dr. Yaron Ergas, director of research, statistics, and information management at the Israeli Ministry of Tourism, told CNA that “the Ministry of Tourism conducts a survey among incoming tourists, where they are asked several questions including the main purpose of their visit. Tourists choosing ‘pilgrimage/faith based tour’ are considered religious tourists. That percentage, in 2019, was 16.6%” out of about 5 million entries.

At the outbreak of the war, in October 2023, “we stopped the surveys,” Ergas explained, so there is no useful data on religious tourism since then.

“Recovery is not expected until late 2025,” he added.

Other statistics, focused on Christian pilgrims, were provided to CNA by the Christian Information Centre (CIC), sponsored by the Custody of the Holy Land. CIC has been providing information about Christianity and on the Holy Land, including shrines, holy places, and liturgies, for more than 50 years. Additionally, it is the only official channel for booking Masses in the holy sites.

From October to December 2023, approximately 2,800 groups (107,000 individuals) had booked at least one celebration through the CIC, and they all canceled as soon as the war broke out. Of these, 95% were Catholics and 4% were Protestants. Ninety percent were groups from abroad. From January to April of this year, the groups registered by the CIC ranged from 100 to 200 per month (averaging 5,000 to 6,000 individuals per month).

(Story continues below)

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The lack of Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land is especially due to the fact that many companies are unwilling to issue insurance policies for those heading to a territory considered dangerous and risky.

A group of Christian pilgrims from the Philippines at the Gethsemane sanctuary. In these months of war, arrivals from Southeast Asia and South America continue. This is largely due — as the pilgrims themselves recount — to the fact that agencies do not refund prepaid trips, which many have invested their life savings in. This compels people to travel despite everything. Credit: Marinella Bandini

Arrivals from Southeast Asia and South America continue, however (while the United States remains the top country for entries, the second group surprisingly comprises Indonesians). This is largely due — as the pilgrims themselves admit — to the fact that agencies do not refund prepaid trips, which many have invested their life savings in. This compels people to travel despite everything.

“We want to encourage Jews and Christians leaders to push their believers to come on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We assume, and I think it is correct, that there’s a desire to come and visit,” Pini Shani, deputy director general and head of marketing administration of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, shared with CNA.

Hopes for the 2025 Jubilee

In 2025 there will be two interesting events for religious tourism in the Holy Land.

“A special exhibition of the Isahia scrolls will be held in 2025 at the Israel Museum to commemorate its 60th anniversary. We are confident that many people will show interest. We will try to engage people who come on pilgrimage to the Holy Land to visit this special exhibition,” Shani said.

Furthermore, in 2025, Catholics will celebrate a jubilee year.

“We were very encouraged by the pope’s call for the jubilee,” Shani said. “The churches of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the Annunciation in Nazareth, and the Nativity in Bethlehem will be jubilee places; people will be encouraged to visit them, and we’re sure it will help to recover tourism.”

Some pilgrims pray at the eighth station of the Via Crucis. The holy sites and the streets of the Old City, usually crowded with tourists and pilgrims at this time of year, have been empty for the past eight months due to the war. “We want to encourage Jews and Christians leaders to push their believers to come on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land,” Pini Shani, deputy director general and head of marketing administration of the Israel Ministry of Tourism, told CNA. May 2024. Credit: Marinella Bandini

The main Christian religious leaders in the Holy Land have never stopped issuing appeals to pilgrims to return to the holy places. “Do not be afraid, return to Jerusalem and to the Holy Land! Your presence is always a presence of peace, and we sincerely need peace today; may you come and bring us your peace,” said the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, at the end of the Palm Sunday procession.

An echo of those words is found in the message released by the Dicastery for Evangelization on May 28, on the occasion of the 45th World Tourism Day, to be held on Sept. 27 on the theme “Tourism and Peace.”

“The interest that moves millions of tourists can easily be linked with the commitment to brotherhood, so as to constitute a network of ‘messengers of peace’ who speak to the entire world to invoke the end of all war and the reopening of territories full of history, culture, and faith. ... Being peace-builders is not only possible; it is required of those who embark on a journey,” the dicastery’s message said.

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Archaeological discovery sheds light on Christian pilgrimages to Holy Land 1,500 years ago

Archaeologists from the Israel Antiquities Authority have discovered a Byzantine-period church in the northern Negev desert with wall art displaying ships.

Cardinal Pizzaballa: Peace in Holy Land built on dialogue, action

“Peace needs the testimony of clear and strong gestures on the part of all believers, but it also needs to be announced and defended by equally clear words.”

Palestinian Christians carried a statue of Mary through the streets of Jerusalem to ask Our Lady of Palestine to intercede for peace in the Holy Land.

'Jerusalem Through the Ages': A new detailed look at the city's history, archaeology

J odi Magness, a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and professor at the University of North Carolina, is an archaeologist specializing in ancient Palestine – the area covered by modern Jordan, Israel, and the so-called “occupied” territories.

“I have participated in over 20 excavations in Israel and Greece,” she writes, “including co-directing the 1995 excavations in the Roman siege works at Masada.”

In the preface to her new book, Jerusalem through the Ages , Magness asks and answers the obvious question: Why is another book on Jerusalem needed? She points out that most of the books covering the city’s pre-modern history and archaeology are broad surveys written by non-specialists, or are edited volumes containing chapters by multiple specialists, or are studies by individual specialists focusing on a specific time frame or topic.

Why do we need another book about Jerusalem?

This volume differs because it presents a broad survey authored by a single specialist. She believes she has a responsibility to share with the public – as objectively as possible – the detailed and scientific information about Jerusalem’s history and archaeology that she has uncovered, or been given access to, and that this is what differentiates this book and gives it unique value.

She hopes that every reader will learn something new about Jerusalem, not only because of the broad but detailed coverage but also because it includes the most recent archaeological discoveries, as well as her own original research. In Jerusalem through the Ages , she fully lives up to her aspirations.

By tracing the history of Jerusalem back to its very origins, Magness ventures far beyond the bounds of her normal specialty. After a brief description of the geological processes, starting millions of years ago, that resulted in the geographic features surrounding the current city, Magness places the first arrivals to Jerusalem at over 5,000 years ago. They settled, she tells us, on a small hill that forms a spur to the south of the Temple Mount.

Her first, rather surprising, revelation is that the name “Jerusalem” does not mean “city of peace,” as it has come to be assumed, but rather “foundation of the god Shalem.”

Shalem was a pagan god in the Canaanite religion, mentioned in inscriptions and identified as the god of the dusk (Shahar was the god of the dawn). His name derives from the Semitic root S-L-M, which does include “peace” among its broad meanings.

Shalem was perhaps worshiped on the rocky outcrop in the center of the Temple Mount, now enshrined as the Foundation Stone in the Dome of the Rock.

BEFORE GETTING down to a detailed archaeology-based history of the city, epoch by epoch, Magness turns to the sudden upsurge of scientific exploration into Jerusalem and its origins that followed Napoleon’s failed siege of Acre in 1799.

From the 1830s onward, Western explorers and scholars started producing accurate maps, surveys, and drawings, as well as paintings and photographs, often impeded by local Arabs who resented their intrusion into holy places. Magness examines the work of a succession of 19th-century scientists who made the study of Jerusalem their specialty.

The main body of the book then follows the successive periods in Jerusalem’s history uncovered by modern archaeology: the Jebusite period a thousand years before the start of the Common Era, then King David’s Israelite Jerusalem, to be followed by the Judahite era, after which came the Jerusalem of the returned exiles from Babylon.

Next came Jerusalem’s brief Hasmonean period, followed by Herod’s rule. Then, after the Roman conquest, came the Byzantine era, the early Islamic Jerusalem around 800 CE, and finally the Jerusalem of the Crusades. On September 30, 1187, Saladin, leading his Muslim army, broke into Jerusalem, which had been ruled by the Christians for nearly a century, and soon conquered it.

Though quite inconsistent with her subtitle – From its beginnings to the Crusades – Magness cannot resist appending a final chapter, an epilogue, covering the transfer of Jerusalem’s governance to Great Britain.

“On 11 December 1917,” she writes, “following the withdrawal of Ottoman forces, Gen. Edmund Allenby dismounted from his horse and entered the Jaffa Gate on foot to formally accept Jerusalem’s surrender to the British Crown.” The event was captured in iconic photographs, one of which is part of the chapter.

Indeed, the book as a whole is lavishly illustrated. Numerous photographs, maps, charts, and drawings accompany Magness’s quite fascinating journey through Jerusalem’s long and convoluted history. She further embellishes the volume with four suggested walking tours through modern Jerusalem that feature the many sites she has referred to.

She also includes a detailed historical timeline, starting with the Early Bronze Age when Jerusalem was first settled, to the end of the British Mandate in 1948.

Jerusalem through the Ages is a wonderful survey of what became, uniquely, a holy city to three of the world’s major religions. Magness recounts her story through the fascinating prism of archaeology – and what a story she has to tell. This is a book to cherish. 

The writer is the Middle East correspondent for Eurasia Review. His latest book is Trump and the Holy Land: 2016-2020 . Follow him at: a-mid-east-journal.blogspot.com.

JERUSALEM THROUGH THE AGES: FROM ITS BEGINNINGS TO THE CRUSADES
By Jodi Magness
Oxford University Press
624 pages; $35

GERMAN SOLDIERS march through Jerusalem, c. 1916-1917.

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Our Christian Holy Land Tour packages include the spiritual, historic, and cultural highlights of Israel, Jordan, and the region beyond. Our packages are available with guaranteed weekly departures or as private tours customized to the needs and beliefs of families, congregations, or other groups. In operating our packages, we aim to offer the highest quality of tour at the most affordable ...
10 Best Holy Land Tours & Trips 2024/2025
Browse 57 tours from the best tour operators in Holy Land with 1,031 reviews visiting places like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Compare & book now! Shop 2,500 operators. 4.5 stars on (6,144 reviews) ... Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Israel and Jordan - 11 Days. 2.7 (3 reviews) ...
Israel Vacation Package & Holy Land Tours
Explore Israel on a Trip to the Holy Land of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Dead Sea. This Israel Vacation Package by National Geographic vacation expeditions also visits the Jordan River Valley.
Best Holy Land Tours
Christian Galilee Tour - Available every Thursday. Starts in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem. Half Day Tour in Bethlehem - Available everyday. Starts in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, great for a quick trip. Christmas in Bethlehem and Jerusalem 2 Day Tour - On December 24th, making the festival of Christmas a little more special.
Tour Guide Israel
Guiding. Experience the Holy Land like never before with our expert licensed Tour Guide. Rav Alon, armed with his Tanach (Bible), will take you on a journey to the very places where the events of Torah took place. With his authentic love & passion of the Holy Land, Rav Rogoff brings the biblical text to life in a truly unique way.
6 Day Christian Holy Land Israel Tour
Our 6 Day Christian Holy Land Israel Tour is the best way to get to know the Christian undercurrent of holiness that rests on the land of Israel. In under a week, you'll travel from the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem up to the winding nature of the Galilee, culminating in a visit to the crucifixion and resurrection sites in ancient Jerusalem.
7 Day Christian Holy Land Israel Tour
Our 7-Day Christian Holy Land Israel Tour is an amazing opportunity to experience the highlights of the Christian sites in Israel. Walk Jesus' footsteps in the Galilee and ancient Jerusalem. Touch the crucifixion and resurrection sites with your own hands. Pray in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Heritage Of The Holy Land Tour
Skip the hassle of planning your own transfers, accommodation, and tours on an 8-day tour of Israel's most significant Christian sites. You'll cover top Holy Land attractions such as Bethlehem; Tiberias and the shores of the Sea of Galilee; Nazareth and Cana; Jerusalem, where Jesus was allegedly betrayed, crucified and resurrected.
Breathtaking Bible Tour of Israel
Israel Bible Tours invites you to experience the land of Israel, the Holy Land, where the patriarchs, the judges, the prophets, and our Lord Jesus walked. Together, we will study how the Word of God, the history, and the archaeology of Israel richly connect. Our desire is that every person whether already a follower of Jesus, or not yet, will ...
Israel Holyland Travel
by Israel Holyland Travel. Past to the Future The Highlights of the Jewish State 12 nights Day 1 - Thursday, Arrival Our representative will meet you after passport control upon your arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, assisting as you pick up your luggage and head out for the transfer to your hotel. Check in at the hotel in Tel Aviv.
13 Day Christian Holy Land Israel and Jordan Tour
Our 13 day Christian Holy Land Tour covers the highlights of Israel and Jordan with a Biblical focus in the content included. As we visit sites including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Galilee, Petra, Madaba, Mount Nebo, and many more, the places of the Bible will be brought to life, and with all arrangements in place, you'll be free to ...
Biblical Israel Tours
From Old Testament sites to locations where Jesus walked, you will get a good sense of the unique regions of the land of Israel. The tour ends in Jerusalem, Israel's historic and biblical capital. "Traveling to the Holy Land was a trip that truly changed my perspective. The trip brought the Bible to life for me and I better understand God ...
Best Christian Holy Land Tours 2023
See our guide for the best Christian Holy Land tours for 2023. Whether you're in the beginning stages of researching for your Israel trip or you're close to confirming your itinerary, Tradition Tours has over 25 years of experience to help you make the best decision for your family or church group trip to the Holy Land. Tradition Tours offers personalized concierge service focusing on ...
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Word cannot express how grateful I am to have first visited the Holy Land with Land of the Bible Tours. Their attention to detail and excellence at such an affordable rate made the trip not only accessible but a truly transformative experience for my walk with and ministry for the Lord. ... 11 DAY ISRAEL TOUR for PASTORS with KURT SKELLY ...
Bible Tour of Israel, the Holy Land: See All the Sites
See all the outstanding major holy sites (over 55) in Israel, the Holy Land in 4K and with a Drone. Amazing, clear footage with a biblical overview of each site. See amazing and interesting facts about Israel, the Holy Land. Videos, maps, books, talks, archaeology, Bible teachings, history, walls, gates, people, and language of the people and places in Israel.
10 Day Christian Holy Land Israel and Jordan Tour
The hotel in Amman is based on a 3 star hotel, and the Bedouin Camp on a standard tent. If you would like to upgrade, please contact us! From. $1,679 /person. Our 10 day Christian Holy Land Tour of Israel and Jordan is a great value touring option, including tons of important sites and experiences. Book now!
Home I The Holy Land Tour
The Holy Land Tour Co. personalizes each tour itinerary according to the group and the Holy Spirit's leading. EQUIPPING Our Interest Meetings, Pre-Trip Meetings, Israel Tours and Hebrew Holiday Teachings help our participants stay connected and informed on all things Israel.
How to tour Israel on your own: A step-by-step ...
Absolutely. People travel to Israel all the time on their own. But a lot of those people aren't doing an intentional tour of biblical sites. If you want to do your own Holy Land tour through Israel, you can more than easily accomplish it though. Jerusalem, can be done in 2 or 3 days. The rest of the country can take anywhere from 7 to 12 days.
Bible Believers Baptist Tours
Bringing the living Word of God to sites across Israel and Jordan. What makes our tour different? Unlike most Holy Land tours, at almost every site we visit, we preach a message specifically pertaining to that site, bringing the Word of God alive. A Bible-Believers Baptist tour, we only visit biblical, prophetic, and historical places.
Where are the pilgrims? Current state of Holy Land religious tourism
"The decline is attributed to the impact of the 'Iron Swords' war [the name Israel has given to the campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip following the events of Oct. 7, 2023] although in ...
'Jerusalem Through the Ages': A new detailed look at the city's ...
Jerusalem through the Ages is a wonderful survey of what became, uniquely, a holy city to three of the world's major religions. Magness recounts her story through the fascinating prism of ...

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Holy Land Tours & Trips

56 Holy Land tour packages with 1,026 reviews

Highlights of the Holy Land Best Experience - 8 Days

Heritage of the Holyland Tour - 8 days

Totally Jordan - 8 Days

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Heritage & Holy Land - 8 days

Heritage of the Holy Land

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Israel and Jordan - 11 Days

Egypt & Jordan Jewel with Nile Boat Cruise

Israel the Holy Land

Petra & Wadi Rum Trek

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