SEPTEMBER 30 - OCTOBER 10, 2023

river lake church

11-Day "Life and times of jesus" tour in israel

Book Now
Book Now

Prepare to Be Inspired

We’re glad you are considering this tour. Our hope is that it is an experience of a lifetime.

OVERVIEW

Throughout the Bible, the land of Israel served as God’s testing ground of faith. It is here where personal and national existence were threated, that Israel’s leaders and people were called upon to learn the true meaning of security and wellbeing while learning to trust in the Lord their God.  A pilgrimage to Israel will make a profound impact on your life as you view God’s Word through a new set of geographical lenses. See the events of Biblical history unfold as you travel, walk, experience, see, and learn in the very areas that were significant to the foundation of faith we have today in Jesus Christ.  

DATES:

LED BY:

LODGING:
Tel Aviv
Tiberias
Dead Sea
Jerusalem

PRICING:
Land Only
Land and Air

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
September 30 - October 10, 2023

Pastor Nic Smith


Dan Panorama Hotel
Leonardo Plaza Hotel
Vert Dead Sea
Grand Court Hotel


$3,875 per person
$5,450 per person

+ $1,495 per person

ITINERARY

Overnight flight from the US to Tel Aviv, Israel

Our flight arrives at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) where we are greeted by our guide and assisted with arrival procedures. Dinner and overnight beside the beautiful Mediterranean Sea.

Dinner

 

Today we depart for the Galilee enjoying stops at the extensive ruins of Caesarea Maritima, an ancient port city, built by King Herod and later becoming the seat of government of the Roman governors, and where Peter proclaimed the Good News to the Roman centurion (Acts 9 & 25). We continue to Megiddo (the valley of Armageddon) and Mt. Carmel, where Elijah prayed, and God defeated 450 prophets of Baal with fire from heaven (1 Kings 18). We end our journey at “Nazareth Village”, a re-created village offering detailed explanation of life during the time of Jesus. Leaving Nazareth, we take a short ride to Mount Precipice, the traditional site believed to be where an angry mob attempted to throw Jesus off the cliff after his bold proclamation in the Nazareth synagogue. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
 

We begin our special time in the Galilee, rich in memories of the life of Jesus, with a short drive to Mt. Arbel for an incredible panorama view of the Sea of Galilee. We continue along the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Mark 1: 31-­38), the base of Jesus’ early ministry, the home of Peter, and the site of many healings.  From here we make a stop at Tabgha, the traditional site of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes followed by a short walk to visit Peter’s Primacy - located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee - where we remember the resurrected Jesus preparing breakfast for His disciples and telling Peter to “feed My sheep”.  Soon we ascend to the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5:1-15). The group will have a special treat as we walk down the Mt. of Beatitudes while listening to and reflecting on this message.  We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we travel north into the Golan Heights to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked His disciples “who do men say that I am?” (Mark 8: 27-30, Matt. 16:13).  We will enjoy a short hike through the beautiful nature reserve of Tel Dan (named for the tribe of Dan) where we will see the gate of Jeroboam.  We return to the Sea of Galilee to board a replica “Jesus Boat”, a fishing boat of the kind used by the disciples of Jesus, for our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We end our day with a visit to the Yardenit on the Jordan River, for baptisms (A white robe must be worn over clothes or swimwear for baptism.  Robe and towel are rented on site for approx. $10). We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Galilee this morning, we will travel through the Judean Wilderness passing by Jericho, the most ancient city in the world on our way to the Dead Sea for the night! After passing by Jericho, we head to Bethany Beyond Jordan for a short visit. This site is believed to be the location where John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  We then continue south along the Dead Sea to Ein Gedi, a lovely oasis in the desert and believed to be where David hid from King Saul- cutting off a piece of his garment.  We continue along the Dead Sea to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin our day with a visit to Masada, the fortress built by King Herod and site of the last Jewish resistance against the Romans in 73 AD. Ascending the area by cable car, visitors can survey the ruins of the fortifications, waterworks, synagogue, temples and palaces.  We return to our hotel on the Dead Sea for a time of rest and the opportunity to float in the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
 
 

Following breakfast, we begin our journey to Jerusalem with stops at Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were written over 2000 years ago and discovered in 1947.  Continuing north, we soon ascend to the magnificent city of Jerusalem.  Before checking in to our hotel, we will visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, and Caiaphas’s House followed by the Upper Room, where Jesus shared His last meal with His disciples.   Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.                                                   

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We begin our day on the beautiful Mt. of Olives to behold the breathtaking panorama of the Holy City. Our pilgrimage will proceed down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive grove, and the Church of All Nations, where tradition holds that Jesus prayed on the night of His betrayal (Matt. 26:36, John 18:1).   Entering the Old City of Jerusalem through the Zion Gate, we walk to the most holy site of the Jewish people, the Western (Wailing) Wall of Herod's temple. Beyond the wall lies the 35-acre temple area purchased by King David (2 Samuel. 24:18-25). On this site now stands the golden Dome of the Rock (the third holiest shrine in all Islam) and the El-Aksa Mosque. From the temple area, we make our way along the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) the road which Jesus walked after being sentenced by Pontius Pilate– including stops at St. Anne's Crusader Church, the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a paralytic (John 5:1-15), the Pavement (where Jesus stood while being tried by Pilate), Ecce Homo Arch, and the ancient Cardo-reaching the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We end our day with a visit to Bethlehem visiting the Church of the Nativity-the birthplace of our Lord and Shepherd's Field, where the angel of the Lord proclaimed the Good News of the birth of the Savior (Luke 2:8-18).  Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. 

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Following breakfast, we return to the Old City and enter through the Dung Gate to await entrance to the Temple Mount,one of the most important religious site in the Old City as well as one of the most contested sites in the world!  The 35-acre area for the Temple, purchased by King David (2 Samuel. 24:18-25), lies beyond the Western Wall. This is the site of the First (957 BCE) and Second (516 BCE) Temples as ordained by God.   On this site now stands the golden Dome of the Rock (the third holiest shrine in all Islam) and the El-Aksa Mosque. Following our time on the Temple Mount, we will visit the City of David-excellent archeological remains of David’s period and that of the Kings of Judah (2 Samuel 5: 8-10).  Enjoy the fun experience of walking (potentially wet!) through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the 2,700-year old water tunnel dug during the reign of King Hezekiah (2 Chron. 32:30) and remaining as one of the wonders of early engineering.  Our walk ends at the Pool of Siloam where Jesus healed the blind man by spitting on the ground. 

 

To complete our day, we will drive to the Israel Museum

 

to visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. Additionally, the 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem, as the city would have appeared in Jesus' time, will fascinate you!

 

We end our day at the lovely and quiet Garden Tomb for a time of worship, reflection, and communion.

 

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem (

A flashlight and good water shoes will be helpful should you choose to walk through Hezekiah’s tunnel.)
                                                                                              
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner


Following breakfast, we check out of the hotel by 11:00 AM and depart for airport for return flight to USA.                                               

Breakfast
     

PRICING

Payment Info

PAYMENT SCHEDULEPASSENGERSPAYMENT
At the Time of RegistrationAll Passengers$500/person
Final Due DateAll PassengersJUNE 23, 2023

MAIN TOUR

$3,875 pp - land only
$5,450 pp - Land and air combination

Price Includes

  • Domestic and International air(coach) out of Nashville, TN
  • 4 and 4(+) Star hotel accommodations
  • Travel Insurance for the tour leader and spouse
  • Meeting at the Ben Gurion Airport on arrival and departure for all travelers
  • Ground transfer from the Jerusalem Hotel to the Ben Gurion Airport at the conclusion of the tour
  • All transfers on sightseeing days
  • Gratuity for driver, guide, and hotel staff
  • 8 Lunches and gratuity for lunch unless indicated in the itinerary
  • Luxury air-conditioned motor coach.
  • Entrance fees for sites indicated in the Itinerary
  • Daily buffet breakfast and dinner in hotels as indicated in the itinerary
  • Porterage at hotels
  • Headset for each traveler
  • Group Farewell Dinner

Price DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • Domestic or International airfare for Land Only travelers
  • Hotel cost for any traveler arriving prior to OCTOBER 1, 2023
  • Hotel cost for any traveler staying after 11:00 AM on OCTOBER 10, 2023
  • Optional Travel Protection Insurance for the main tour attendees (excluding the Tour Leader and Spouse)
  • Optional Sites not included in itinerary that have entrance fees
  • All beverages including alcoholic beverages
  • Bottled water on board the motor coach
  • Personal incidentals charged to hotel room
  • Single Supplement Fee for those requesting to room alone or if a roommate cannot be assigned
  • Items of personal nature

Testimonials

You don’t have to take our word for it.