Best of Israel

Price Per person double occupancy

Date	Price	Single Supplement
June 13-26, 2025	$5,459*	$1,465
*Includes roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles. Airfare to be confirmed in June 2025. Reservation Due: January 2, 2026 Final Payment Due: February 12, 2026

Included

Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles 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, Services of long-distance deluxe motor coach as appearing on itinerary, All entrances and transportation as appearing on itinerary, Porterage at hotels (1 piece), 1 group arrival transfer and 1 group departure transfer, Whisper/Listening devices, Tips to drivers, guides, and hotel staff, Pilgrim Payment Processing for check, Visa, MasterCard or Discover

Not Included

All lunches and drinks with meals except as noted in itinerary, Optional Travel Insurance – 7.95% or 10.85% of tour cost (rates current as of quote date), Israel VAT tax (missing passport fee) - $160 fee waived upon receipt of valid passport(s), ETA-IL Entry Permit: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il (valid for 2 years after purchase)

Day 1 – Friday, Apr. 24: Depart Home

We depart from the USA on our flight to Tel Aviv.

Day 2 – Saturday, Apr. 25: Arrive Tel Aviv

We arrive in Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport in the early afternoon and board a comfortable air-conditioned bus for our short trip through Tel Aviv to a hotel on the beach in Netanya. We will stay two nights at this hotel to enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean.

Day 3 – Sunday, Apr. 26: Caesarea Maritima, Free Time

This morning we make our way north along the Coastal Plain to visit Caesarea Maritima. Cornelius and his Gentile household heard the gospel from Peter here, and Paul was imprisoned here for years as well. We will return to our hotel for a free afternoon to spend relaxing and enjoying the beach. Those that wish may make a short visit to Joppa, the port from which Jonah sailed and where Peter saw a vision.

Day 4 – Monday, Apr. 27: Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Jezreel Valley, Nazareth

We begin our journey north today and make our first stop at Mt. Carmel where Elijah defeated the priests 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. Next, it is on through the valley up to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home. We will stay overnight in Nazareth.

Day 5 – Tuesday, Apr. 28: Mt. Arbel, Migdol/Magdala, Church Beatitudes, Capernaum, Boat Ride

Today we make our way to the Sea of Galilee where 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. We will take our time absorbing the impressive ancient towns of Magdala and Capernaum to get a sense of what life was like in the First Century in these places. 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.

Day 6 – Wednesday, Apr. 29: Hazor, Huleh Valley, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi

Now we travel to the farthest northern reaches of the country through the lush Huleh Valley stopping at ancient Hazor, the largest Tel in Israel. Next, 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 – Thursday, Apr. 30: Beth Shean, Jericho, Dead Sea Scrolls, En Gedi, Dead Sea Swim

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. Next a scenic hike up to the falls at En Gedi. 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 – Friday, May 1: Masada, Lachish, Elah Valley/Azekah, Western Wall

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 the Elah Valley, where the clash between David and Goliath occurred. We will stop to read the story overlooking that valley from Azekah. Arriving in Jerusalem, we make our way to the Western Wall for an unforgettable experience watching worshippers joyfully approach at the beginning of the Sabbath. From there we make our way to our lovely hotel in Jerusalem to check in for the last five nights of our tour.

Day 9 – Saturday, May 2: Mt. of Olives, Haas Promenade, Israel Museum

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; while there we will see an impressive scale model of what the city would have looked like in Jesus’ day and visit the Shrine of the Book. In the afternoon we should have some free time for souvenir shopping and exploring more of the Old City.

Day 10 – Sunday, May 3: Shiloh, Ai, Bethel

From our new base in Jerusalem, we once again head north to Shiloh where the tabernacle sat for over 300 years where we read the story of Hannah and her son Samuel. As we begin to make our way back in the direction of Jerusalem, we come to the area of Ai, an ancient Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua, and Bethel, where we make a stop. Bethel, meaning “house of God,” was named by Jacob following his vision of a stairway reaching to Heaven and angels walking up and down. Later, God would again appear to him here and change his name from Jacob to Israel.

Day 11 – Monday, May 4: City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Hezekiah’s Broad Wall, Free Afternoon

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. Ascending to the Jewish Quarter we see the gold Menorah built for the next Temple, the Temple Institute, the Burnt House, a wall built by King Hezekiah, and the Roman Cardo. The remainder of our day is free to spend as we choose.

Day 12 – Tuesday, May 5: Davidson Center, Temple Mount, Western Wall Tunnel, Free Afternoon

Our tour begins today at the Davidson Center, an archaeological park that showcases discoveries from both the First and Second Temple periods. 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 visit the Wailing Wall and then the fascinating Rabbinical Tunnels leading us through the Second Temple era. Our afternoon is free for further exploring on our own and any shopping we may wish to do yet.

Day 13 – Wednesday, May 6: Upper Room, Pilate’s Porch, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Gethsemane

Our last full day gives us an opportunity to visit 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. From here 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, hear of those who conspired against Him and are reminded of His brutal beating and humiliation. Finally, we come to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which marks the spot of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ. We transfer back to the airport for a late night flight home.

Day 14 – Thursday, May 7: Arrive Home

We transfer to the airport for our flight home.

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