Tour is full. Call Kristy to be added to the wait list: (636) 386-9266.
Update as of 2/24/22: Vaccine mandate and quarantine restrictions have been dropped in Israel.
Please note that Biblos tours are geared for Christian Scientists. Feel free to call Kristy with any tour questions: 636.386.9266.
Join us as we walk the land that Jesus traversed, from the bustling city of Jerusalem to the peaceful shores of Galilee. The Scriptures will come alive with their inspired Word, as we visit significant Old and New Testament sites, and study God’s Word.
• Visit Tel Megiddo where many believe the last battle, “Armageddon,” will take place.
• Engage with the unforgettable New Testament healings of Jesus’ ministry, as we visit sites throughout Jerusalem, Capernaum, and the Galilee region.
• Participants should anticipate a physically active tour. This program involves a lot of walking (3-6 miles every day), often on uneven surfaces and up and down terrain. If you have any questions about the activity level of this tour, please contact Kristy Christian at kchristian@biblosfoundation.org.
Connect to Global Travel to sign up for this tour (or call: 866.313.2577)
Step 1. https://portal.globaltravelalliance.com/enrollment
Step 2. Set up user account, or Log in if you already have an account
Step 3. Leader: Christian / Trip ID: 23011
Step 4. Place a $200 non-refundable deposit to secure your spot (applies towards total payment)
Israel – September 1-13, 2023
Friday, September 1 – Depart USA
Saturday, September 2 - Arrive Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv. Drive to Jerusalem.
Rest of the day free.
Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem (Dinner included)
Sunday, September 3 – Temple Mount, Western Wall, Southern Wall, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam
We will arrive early on the Temple Mount, a site sacred to three religions. Here, Abraham almost sacrificed his son Isaac; it is also the location where Solomon built the first temple, and the place where Herod the Great built the second temple. We will then walk to the Western Wall. Next, we will go to the Southern Wall Excavations and walk up the 1st-century steps of the Temple Mount. Afterwards, we will walk to the City of David and walk in Hezekiah’s Tunnel to reach the ruins of the Pool of Siloam.
Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Monday, September 4 - Mount of Olives, Dominus Flevit, Garden of Gethsemane, St. Peter en Gallicantu, Pool of Bethesda, Ecco Homo, Lithostrotos
We begin our day by seeing a panoramic view of the Temple Mount and the Old City of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. Then we will walk down to the site where Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem: Dominus Flevit. A little further down the mount is the site known as the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed and was arrested. Here, we will see some very ancient olive trees which have survived the centuries. Next, we will take a short bus drive to St. Peter en Gallicantu, the traditional site of Peter’s denials of Jesus during his trial with the high priest. After a brief talk at the site, we will drive to the Jaffa gate and walk through the Old City to the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the lame man.
Finally, if time, we walk underneath the Ecce Homo Arch – where, far beneath our feet will be extensive remains of first-century Jerusalem. Though Christians believe this is where Pontius Pilate displayed Jesus, crowned with thorns and clothed in a purple robe, to the hostile Jewish crowds, it is actually the arch which stood on a great plaza constructed by the emperor Hadrian when he rebuilt the city in 135 CE – 100 years after Jesus’ crucifixion. Many believe it was originally a city gate from the time of Herod Agrippa I (41-44 CE).
The Roman flagstones of Hadrian’s plaza were once believed to be the Stone Pavement (Lithrostrotos in Greek; Gabbatha in Aramaic) identified in John’s Gospel as the location where Jesus was condemned by Pilate. But today some believe Pilate judged Jesus at Herod the Great’s palace – the site of the modern Citadel inside the Jaffa Gate. In various parts of the pavement, off-duty soldiers carved the lines and squares of the games they played in their idle moments.
One set of marks, with a crude crown and the initial B in the center (for basileus, the Greek word for king), has been identified as the King’s Game, which soldiers played with dice. In the past, the presence of the soldiers’ games added weight to the mistaken assumption that this was the location where Jesus appeared before Pilate, was flogged, mocked as “King of the Jews” and crowned with thorns. (from: seetheholyland.net)
Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Tuesday, September 5 - Golgotha, Garden Tomb, Emmaus, Israel Museum
We will begin our day at the Protestant site for Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection: The Garden Tomb. Then, we will drive to Abu Ghosh, a traditional site for Emmaus. It is about 6 miles west of Jerusalem on the main road to Joppa. Crusaders built a church here in 1140 CE. and called the place “Castellum Emmaus.” It was not identified with Luke’s Emmaus until the 12th century.
Our next visit will be the Israel Museum to view some of the Dead Sea scrolls. We will also see a 50:1 scale model of a reconstruction of Jerusalem in the year 66 CE, the time of the Second Temple. The model covers nearly one acre and illustrates one of the most formative periods in the history of the Jewish people.
Free afternoon. Shopping in the Old City is an option.
Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Wednesday, September 6 - Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Swim in the Dead Sea
Today we leave early for the hilltop fortress of Masada, built by Herod the Great near the Dead Sea. Next, we drive to Ein Gedi and those who wish, can hike up to the waterfall. This area is an oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea. The area was allotted to the tribe of Judah. Around 1,000 B.C., it served as one of the main places of refuge for David as he fled from Saul.
Then we will drive to Qumran, site of the discovery of the Dead Sea scrolls. Here we will have lunch, then stop at the Dead Sea for a swim.
Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Thursday, September 7 - Shiloh, Herodium, Bethany, Jerusalem
Today, we will drive to Shiloh which was the religious capital of Israel during the time of the Judges. It is mentioned in the Bible as a place of assembly for the people of Israel and where the Ark of the Covenant was placed until it was taken by the Philistines.
If time, we will drive to the hilltop palace of Herodium, built by Herod the Great. We will have a spectacular view of the Judean hills. Our final stop will be Lazarus’ Tomb in Bethany where we will discuss his resurrection.
Overnight: Dan Panorama, Jerusalem (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Friday, September 8 – Wadi Qelt, Jericho, Mt. of Temptation, Baptism Site, Spring of Herod
Our day begins early as we drive to the edge of the Wadi Qelt, a gorge which travels from west to east along the Judean wilderness from Jericho to Jerusalem. A monastery of St. George was built along the cliffs. David fled Jerusalem on this route after his son Absalom made himself king. King Zedekiah escaped from Nebuchadnezzar’s troops on this road. Jesus traveled it many times. Even the 10th Roman Legion marched on it to destroy Jerusalem.
Our next stop is Jericho. Even though Jericho is north of Jerusalem, the phrase going “down” to Jericho is accurate because Jerusalem is 2500 feet above sea level and Jericho is 825 feet below sea level. In less than 20 miles, this drastic gradient change occurs.
Herod the Great had a winter palace in this oasis. At Jericho we will view the traditional site for one of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness.
We then drive to Qasr el Yahud, a possible location for Jesus’ baptism near the Jordan River. If time we will make a brief stop at the Spring of Harod where Gideon chose his 300 men before arriving at the Sea of Galilee.
Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Saturday, September 9 - Caesarea Philippi, Tel Dan, Magdala, Boat Museum, Boat Ride
We will start our morning by traveling north to Caesarea Philippi, at the base of Mt. Hermon, where Jesus asked his disciples, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” (Matt. 16:13). Then, we will drive to Tel Dan which is located next to the Golan Heights. Dan was the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel, known as Laish prior to the conquest by the tribe of Dan. The site’s artifacts date back to 4500 BCE.
On our way back we will visit the recently excavated town of Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene and view a first-century synagogue.
We will make a short visit to the Yigal Allon Museum, located on the grounds of Kibbutz Ginosar. This museum houses the first-century fishing boat discovered in 1986 in the Sea of Galilee. We will also take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Sunday, September 10 - Mount Precipice, Nazareth Village and Lunch, Tel Megiddo, Mount Tabor
Our visit this morning is Tel Megiddo which sits on a strategic location at the head of a pass through the Carmel Range and overlooks the Jezreel Valley. On the Tel are the ruins of a Canaanite Gateway, the Solomonic Gate and Casemate Wall, and “Solomon’s Stables.” As we talk about the last great battle mentioned in the book of Revelation, we will have a spectacular lookout over the Valley of Armageddon.
Lunch included: We will have lunch at Nazareth Village, then visit the traditional site for the “brow of the hill” near Nazareth when Jesus’ hometown tried to throw him over the hillside after his announcement that he was the Messiah of Hebrew prophecy.
After lunch, we drive to Mount Tabor. Here we will take taxis up to the summit, which rises dome-like from the Jezreel Valley. This site is the mountain site where Christian tradition places Jesus’ transfiguration.
Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Monday, September 11 – Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Bethsaida, Kursi
We will begin our day by the Sea of Galilee, with a sunrise talk on John, chapter 21, known as “the Morning Meal.”
Then we will visit the ancient site of Capernaum – the center of Jesus’ ministry where more healings by Jesus occurred than any other location in Israel. Next, we will make our way to the Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Our next stop is a visit to the ruins of Bethsaida. The feeding of the 5,000 likely took place nearby.
Jesus also heals a blind man near the town. Bethsaida was also the hometown of Philip, Andrew, and Peter, according to John 1:44.
Next we visit Kursi, one traditional site for Jesus’ healing of the insane man living in the tombs.
Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Tuesday, September 12 - Caesarea Maritima, Mount Carmel Airport Hotel
This morning we drive to the ancient site of Caesarea Maritima, on the Mediterranean Sea, where we will see the ruins of this ancient Roman port built by Herod the Great to honor the Emperor Augustus Caesar. We will explore the Roman Theater, the Governor’s Palace, the Hippodrome, and the Roman Aqueduct. Caesarea was the home of Pontius Pilate, the site of Cornelius’ baptism by Peter, the location of Paul’s imprisonment, and the port where Paul left for his final missionary journey. Our next visit is Mount Carmel where there is a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding area. This is near the traditional location where Elijah challenged the 450 prophets of Baal.
Overnight: Grand Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv (Breakfast & Dinner included)
Wednesday, September 13 – Depart for Home
The Holy Land has the capability of nourishing us with inspiration. When we learn more about the geographical places where specific events have happened and look beyond the mere physical attributes to the spiritual meaning behind the events in Scripture, are we not able to follow in the biblical pioneers' footsteps and be at one with those spiritual lessons all have left as their rich legacy?
Think of the bold contrasts evident in the geography of Israel – the peaks and valleys, the deserts and mountains, the rich fertile areas in the north and the arid, rocky landscape in the south! The lowest point on the earth’s surface is the Dead Sea. One could be sweltering in the heat of the Dead Sea while gazing at the snow-capped mountain of Hermon.
This land has been divided into a variety of topography, climates, agricultures, altitudes, fauna, and flora. Scholars segregate the territory from the Mediterranean Sea to the desert into seven sections running west to east: (1) the coastal plain of fertile farmland; (2) the low hills or Shephelah; (3) the central range broken up by (4) the Jezreel Valley and running into (5) the Negev Desert; (6) the Jordan Valley, which lies between the mountains of Judea and Samaria; and (7) the Eastern Range.
The traveler is full of wonder and awe as he or she ponders the land's raw characteristics of harshness and turmoil, beauty, and tranquility. It shouldn’t surprise us that this region has captured the hearts and imaginations of so many peoples. Bible scholar, Alfred Edersheim, reiterates: “Events, not places; spiritual realities, not their outward surroundings, have been given to mankind by the land of Palestine.”
Double room occupancy (2 people in a room): $3,590*
*If you want to share a room, but you don't have a roommate, let Kristy know: click here to email her
*Single room occupancy (one person in the room) - $1,300 + 3,590 = $4,890*
*Tour participant minimum: 20 paid travelers
Coming soon . . .
Reservations will be accepted in order of receipt by completed online enrollment and a deposit of $200 of which $100 is non-refundable) per person. The balance of the trip cost is due by July 1, 2023. No further payments are due between the time of the deposit and the final payment date. Travelers may pay their final balance by electronic check, mailed check, or by credit card with a convenience fee of 3%.
Travel protection is optional and any traveler may opt-out of this protection during the enrollment process. Trip protection must be purchased within 30 days of your initial tour deposit. The TPP allows travelers to cancel for any reason (except for things like terrorism, civil unrest, war-declared or not declared) up to 24 hours prior to departure and get a full refund of their trip payments. Things like the non-refundable deposit, late payment fees, returned check fees, and the TPP fee are not refundable.
The TPP also protects travelers during the trip with medical coverage and emergency medical transportation. The cost for the TPP is $279.
In addition, we recommend purchasing insurance from the airlines when purchasing your airline tickets. Please note the TPP is not available to residents outside of the United States.
Any traveler not purchasing the Trip Protection Plan will be subject to the standard cancellation policies that can be found at www.globaltravelalliance.com/bookingconditions
All participants must be in good health. This program is active and involves a lot of walking – sometimes on even surfaces, and a lot of times on up and down terrain. We will walk 3-6 miles every day. All locations may not be handicapped accessible. Any condition that may require special accommodation must be reported at the time of your reservation.
coming soon . . .
1989 Special places of the world, Holy Land Map:
https://www.natgeomaps.com/hm-1989-special-places-of-the-world-holy-land-map
A passport is required for all travelers, which we recommend be valid at least six months past the dates of the trip.
For questions regarding the itinerary, contact:
Kristy L. Christian
196 Spring Oaks Drive
Ballwin, MO 63011-3834
Phone: 636-386-9266
Email: kchristian@biblosfoundation.org
For questions regarding enrollment or payments, contact:
Steve Maehl
Global Travel Alliance
smaehl@globaltravelalliance.com
Phone: 866-313-2577
Click here to access. NOTE: password required.
Check your email for the password, or email Kristy.
196 SPRING OAKS DRIVE, BALLWIN, MO 63011 | 636.386.9266 | INFO@BIBLOSFOUNDATION.ORG