Tuesday 14th March
We leave on our flight to Tel Aviv, where we will be met on arrival by our guide for transfer to our hotel in Jerusalem.

Wednesday 15th March
We begin our tour with a visit to Bethany, the site of Lazarus’ tomb, where we may take the opportunity to scramble down into this breath-taking burial chamber. Continue to the top of the Mount of Olives, for a wonderful vantage point for a spectacular view over the Old City of Jerusalem. We visit the church of the Ascension and then trace the Palm Sunday path down from the Mount of Olives into the city, pausing at the Dominus Flavit church (recalling Jesus weeping over Jerusalem). We visit Gethsemane. Continue to the Tomb of Absalom. We walk through the Kidron valley, and visit the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu (reputedly the site of Caiaphas’ House, where Peter denied Jesus). Visit Mount Zion, the Upper Room and King David’s Tomb. Our final visit of the day will be to the Davidson Centre Archaeological Park with finds from the 1st and 2nd temple period.
Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday 16th March
Today we explore the city of Jerusalem in the Old Testament, and in the time of Jesus. We see the Western Wall, and the Western Wall Excavations (some remains from the time of the second Temple), and the Western Wall tunnels. We see David’s City; walking through Hezekiah’s Tunnel (constructed in the 8th century BC to ensure a safe water supply); and see the recently uncovered Pool of Siloam, and a newly discovered paved street from the Pool to the Temple. Visit Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum) before concluding the day with a drive the Shepherds’ Fields; and the Church of the Nativity.
Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem.

Friday 17th March
Returning to the Old City, we first walk across the Temple Mount to view the Dome of the Rock and then the Pool of Bethesda (where Jesus healed a crippled man). We follow part of the Via Dolorosa (the approximate route Jesus took to his death on the cross). We see flagstones thought to be from the Antonia Fortress (the Roman barracks, where Jesus was tried); on these can be seen an engraving known as the King Game, perhaps related to the mocking of Jesus. At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre we see the traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. We visit the ancient Taxation Museum and end the afternoon viewing Gordon’s Calvary, and with a time of quiet reflection and communion at the Garden Tomb (possible alternative locations for Jesus’ death and resurrection).
Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday 18th March
In the morning we travel to Herodian, one of Herod’s many palaces and believed to contain Herod’s tomb and then drive into the Negev Desert to the ancient city of Beersheba (founded in 4,000BC), visiting the recently excavated 2,000 year old cistern containing ancient graffiti. Finally, we have the unique opportunity to “float” in the Dead Sea (bring your own beach towel and costume).
Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem.

Sunday 19th March
We visit the Israel Museum to see the “Shrine of the Book” which contains the wonderfully presented Dead Sea Scrolls. We then set off towards Jericho, the ancient city captured by Joshua. We recall the temptation of Jesus and reflect on His encounters with Bartimaeus. We continue North to Beit Sh’an. This was one of the thriving ‘Ten Cities’ (Decapolis) of Roman times. It collapsed in the great earthquake of AD 749 and was buried in sand. Now fully excavated, it presents an amazing insight into how it would have been.
We spend plenty of time examining this unusually well-preserved ruined city before proceeding to our hotel, the Kibbutz Ma’agan, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Monday 20th March
We visit the 2000 year old “Jesus Boat” at a nearby kibbutz, and then sail across the Sea of Galilee on a replica of this fishing boat - pausing during this for a time of worship. We visit sites associated with Jesus’ ministry: Migdal (the home of Mary Magdalene, with a synagogue from the time of Jesus); Kursi (a possible location for the Gadarene swine); Capernaum (Jesus’ home-town, with its ancient synagogue and Peter’s house); and Tabgha (a possible site of the feeding of the 5000, and of a lakeside resurrection appearance of Jesus). We celebrate communion by the lakeside. We visit the magnificent, newly built Magdala Church and end the day on the hillside of the Mount of Beatitudes (the setting for the Sermon on the Mount).
Dinner & overnight at Kibbutz Ma’agan.

Tuesday 21st March
We start the day passing Mount Tabor (a possible site of the Transfiguration) to visit Cana (where Jesus turned water into wine), and continue to Nazareth - where we see a church built around Mary’s Well, and Jesus’ reputed childhood home (at the Church of the Annunciation). We visit Nazareth Village (depicting life in the time of Jesus), and the place where grapes were trodden. We call on the Edinburgh Medical Mission Hospital which treats mainly Palestinian patients. We have the opportunity of making donations of baby clothes, toiletries and soft toys. We will be greeted by the senior staff at the hospital: the longest established Christian charity in Israel. We continue to the Mount of the Precipice (believed by some to be where Jesus was taken by the angry crowd after preaching at the Nazareth Synagogue) – from which we view the Jezreel Valley, the Biblical location for Armageddon.
Dinner & overnight at Kibbutz Ma’agan.

Wednesday 22nd March
We drive to Caesarea Philippi, Banyas, the source of the River Jordan. It was here that Jesus challenged his disciples with the words, “Who do you say I am?” with Peter’s response, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” We continue to the Golan Heights and then travel along the Jordan Valley to the place on the River Jordan where Jesus was baptised. We will have the opportunity to conduct baptisms, or reaffirm baptismal vows, in the river.
Dinner & overnight at Kibbutz Ma’agan.

Thursday 23rd March
We leave Tiberias and drive to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah challenged the Prophets of Baal.
In the afternoon we visit Caesarea and explore the ancient Amphitheatre and Aqueduct. We may paddle (or swim!) in the Mediterranean Sea.
Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem.

Friday 24th March
Completely free day in Jerusalem.
Dinner & overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday 25th March
We depart from Jerusalem and travel to Tel Aviv for our flight home.

Itinerary subject to change.

Price £2370 per person

What the price includes

• Return flights from London Luton to Tel Aviv
• Accommodation in good hotels in twin bedded rooms with private facilities on half board basis
• Services of a fully qualified English speaking guide throughout
• Entrance fees, service charges, porterage and gratuities
• Tours and transfers in deluxe air-conditioned coaches
• Airport taxes
• ATOL Protection Contribution*

Not included in the price

• Items of a personal nature, drinks & lunches
• Travel from home to UK airport
• Single supplement £675 per person
• Travel insurance including COVID 19 cover. Staysure have a range of suitable policies
• Any costs related to COVID19 testing

Please note that the cost of the tour may be subject to surcharges - please see the booking conditions. Currency exchange rates used £1 = US$1.3098 as published in the Financial Times on the 8th March 2022. APC (ATOL Protection Contribution) provides passenger protection via the ATTF (Air Travel Trust Fund). For further information visit www.caa.co.uk

* APC (ATOL Protection Contribution) provides passenger protection via the ATTF (Air Travel Trust Fund). For further information visit www.caa.co.uk

HOW TO BOOK

Either click 'Book' at the top of this page or download, complete and return the booking form to:

Worldwide Christian Travel 36 Coldharbour Road, Bristol, BS6 7NA UK

Tel: 0117 973 1840

Worldwide Christian Travel has been organising Christian holidays and tours, mainly to the Holy Land, for over 50 years. We cover all aspects of travel and are one of the most comprehensive Christian travel organisers in the country. Worldwide Christian Travel is a trading name of Hadler Tours Limited.

General Information

Fitness
People of all ages are welcome, but, whatever your age, we must insist on a reasonable level of fitness. A number of sites involve rough walking.

Your Protection
Hadler Tours Limited is a member of ABTA with membership numbers 93522 & V2096. ABTA and ABTA Members help holidaymakers to get the most from their travel and assist them when things do not go according to plan. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. For further information about ABTA, the Code of Conduct and the arbitration scheme available to you or if you have a complaint, contact ABTA, 68-71 Newman Street London W1T 3AH Tel: 020 7637 2444 or visit www.abta.com.

All monies paid by you for the air holiday package shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 3078. For more information see our booking terms and conditions.

Passports, Visas and Vaccinations
Travellers are responsible for ensuring that they have a valid passport for travel to the relevant countries and that it is valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. Latest entry requirements can be found here www.israelsafe.com. A visa is not required for British Passport holders visiting Israel and no inoculations are required for travel but you may wish to consult your own doctor for advice concerning this. If you have any queries regarding the above, we will be happy to help.

Travel Advice
For the latest travel advice please visit www.fco.gov.uk or call 0870 606 0290.

Further Information and Paying The Balance
Further information will be sent to you regarding any action that may be required approximately 12 weeks before departure. A final invoice will also be sent at this time and the balance for the tour must be paid at least 10 weeks before departure.

Travel Information
Full travel information, including details of meeting points, flight times, accommodation and travel information, will be sent to you approximately 2 weeks before departure. Normally, tickets are not issued but are handed to you at the airport or departure point by our representative who will be there to ensure that you depart without a hitch and to deal with any last minute difficulties.

Travel Insurance
It is compulsory to have travel insurance for your booking. Staysure have a range of policies available at very competitive prices. You can obtain a quote online by clicking here.

Gratuities
Our normal procedure is to deal with tips on a group basis and if these are included in the price the tour leader will distribute them to the guide, driver and hotels on your behalf. Individual tipping is not recommended unless the circumstances are exceptional.

Room Check In and Check Out Times
The standard international practice is to let rooms from midday to midday. However times do vary. Check-in times are usually between 2pm and 3pm, check-out times between 11am and 12 noon on the day of departure. Therefore, if you check-in immediately after a night flight this would normally count as one night’s accommodation. Similarly if your return flight is at night you will normally be required to vacate your room at 12 noon prior to leaving for the airport. Day rooms are subject to availability/cost and should be arranged locally with the accommodation management.

Page published October 2022