Best of Israel

Price Per person double occupancy

Date	Price	Single Supplement
June 16-29, 2024	$4,709*	$1,345
*Includes airfare from Denver. Reservation Due: March 8, 2024 Final Payment Due: April 17, 2024

Included

Roundtrip airfare from Denver including taxes and fees, (air taxes and fuel surcharges are subject to change), 12 nights lodging at 4-star hotels, Breakfast & dinner daily at hotels, Full time English-speaking tour guide, 1 group arrival transfer and 1 group departure transfer, Porterage at hotels (1 piece), Services of long-distance deluxe motor coach as appearing on itinerary, All entrances and transportation as appearing on itinerary, Whisper/Listening devices – currently $28 per person, Tips to drivers, guides, and hotel staff, Pilgrim Payment Processing for check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover

Not Included

All lunches and drinks with meals, Optional Travel Insurance

Day 1 (Sunday, June 16): Departure

We depart from Denver on our afternoon flight to Tel Aviv.

Day 2 (Monday, June 17): Arrive Israel

We arrive in Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport and board a comfortable air-conditioned bus for our short trip through Tel Aviv to a hotel on the beach in Netanya. If time allows, we will first enjoy a brief trip to Joppa, the port from which Jonah sailed and where Peter saw a vision. We will stay in Netanya two nights.

Day 3 (Tuesday, June 18): Coastal Plains

Making our way North along the Coastal Plain this morning, we make our first major stop at Caesarea Maritima. Cornelius and his Gentile household heard the gospel from Peter here, and Paul was imprisoned here for years as well. This afternoon, we are free to relax enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean beach.

Day 4 (Wednesday, June 19): Coastal Plains & The Jezreel Valley

This morning we continue our journey north to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged King Ahab and the prophets of Baal. From there we go to Megiddo where we can overlook the Jezreel Valley, also known as the valley of Armageddon. This amazing archaeological site contains at least 26 layers of ancient cities. We then drive up Mt. Gilboa to where King Saul was killed, to take pictures of the fertile Beth Shean Valley. Next, it is on through the valley up to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home, where we will have dinner and overnight lodging tonight in Nazareth.

Day 5 (Thursday, June 20): Sea of Galilee

We start the day at Mt. Arbel for a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee. Our day will be spent absorbing the impressive ancient towns of Magdala, Capernaum and Tabgha to get a sense of what life was like in the First Century in these places. Next we visit the Church of the Beatitudes and envision what it must have been like to see the crowds and hear Jesus teach. A great highlight of the trip will be ending our day with a relaxing and impactful ride on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. We will stay for two nights on the shores of this lovely body of water that was the scene for so much of Jesus’ ministry.

Day 6 (Friday, June 21): Northern Galilee

Following a visit to Chorazin, we make a stop at Tel Hazor, seeing mud brick ruins from Canaanite times, stone structures built by King Solomon, and a huge water well built by King Ahab. Now we travel to the farthest northern reaches of the country through the lush Huleh Valley on to Tel Dan, an ancient and important city from the OT. Then we head to Caesarea Philippi near where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” You will get a sense of the great variety of topography in this tiny Holy Land that God used in big ways as the setting for so much biblical revelation.

Day 7 (Saturday, June 22): Negev/Shephelah

From the furthest northern parts yesterday, to the extreme east and south of the land we will experience the Jordan Rift Valley on Day 7. We start at Beth Shean, which gives a sense of what it would have been like to walk the streets of a Roman City in the First Century. We then visit ancient Jericho (the lowest city on the face of the earth) to take in the remains of the famous walls, and then we stop by the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. After a visit to Ein Gedi where David hid from King Saul, we end our day with the indescribable sensation of floating in the Dead Sea which is just a short stroll from our comfy hotel rooms on its banks.

Day 8 (Sunday, June 23): Negev/Shephelah

In the morning we will take a cable car up to Masada to see the remains of this famous fortress on top of a high desert bluff. We will then drive nearly the entire width of the country to the Shephelah where the strategic fortress of Lachish guarded the entrance to the Hill Country of Judea. The Shephelah is also home to Tel Azekah and the Elah Valley, where the clash between David and Goliath occurred. We will stop to read the story in that valley (and maybe find some smooth stones) before continuing to nearby Beth Shemesh in the Sorek Valley where the Ark of the Covenant came when returned by the Philistines. We then make a stop where battles were fought at Lachish. Next we make our way into Old Jerusalem at last, making our way to the Western Wall for an unforgettable experience watching the worshippers there. From there we make our way to our lovely hotel in Jerusalem to check in for the last six nights of our tour.

Day 9 (Monday, June 24): Introduction to Jerusalem

Today will be an extensive introduction to the city of Jerusalem. We will start by overlooking it from the Mount of Olives. Then we head to the Haas Promenade to take in the unique view from the South of the Old City. Finally, we head to the Israel Museum to see an impressive scale model of what the city would have look like in Jesus’ day. In the afternoon we should have some free time for souvenir shopping and exploring more of the Old City.

Day 10 (Tuesday, June 25): Ephraim/Samaria

From our new base in Jerusalem we once again head north into the Ephraim/Samaria region. First, we go to Shechem, an important Old Testament site. From there we drive to Sychar to the very well where Jesus met the Samaritan woman. Next we go to Shiloh where the tabernacle sat for over 300 years to read the story of Hannah and her son Samuel, followed by a drive to what is believed to be the sites of Bethel and Ai, also cities that are very prominent in Scripture.

Day 11 (Wednesday, June 26): Old Testament Jerusalem

Explore Old Testament Jerusalem today beginning at the Broad Wall of King Hezekiah. We continue our sightseeing just outside the Dung Gate on the southeastern hill below the Temple Mount in the City of David. It was during the time of Solomon that the city limits extended past this part of Jerusalem. We visit Gihon Springs, the original water source for Jerusalem, view new excavations including a typical Israelite four-room house, and the lower city wall. A highlight today will be a water walk through the incredible Hezekiah's Tunnel to the Pool of Siloam, the place of Jesus' miracle in John 9. The remainder of our day is free to relax.

Day 12 (Thursday, June 27): New Testament Jerusalem

We begin our day with a visit to the Davidson Center where we’ll view a high-definition film that depicts an ancient pilgrimage to the Temple. Conditions permitting, we will visit the Temple Mount, with commentary on the Temple Periods, and the variety of belief systems past and present that make this area so valuable. Next we will walk the fascinating Rabbinical Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era. The tunnel and exhibit give a clear understanding of the amazing construction of the Temple Mount, giant stones, water supply and Roman street where our Lord was led to judgment. Before exiting the tunnel we see the immense cornerstone rejected by the builders. This afternoon is again free to rest, sightsee on your own or do a bit of shopping.

Day 13 (Friday, June 28): Jesus’ Final Hours

Today we head to the space of the Upper Room where the disciples and Jesus shared the Last Supper. We move on to the Judgment Hall of Pilate, hearing of those who conspired against Him and are reminded of His brutal beating and humiliation. Finally, continue on to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which marks the spot of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ. Our last visit is to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of the Mount of Olives. It is a wonderful time of reflection on what you have seen and experienced in the Holy Land over these past days. Finally, we will head to the airport for our trip back to LAX arriving on June 29th.

Day 14 (Saturday, June 29): Travel Home

Depart Tel Aviv

Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group.