Tour Israel

BIBLICAL ENCOUNTERS in partnership with OAK HILLS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
STUDY TOUR TO ISRAEL
Make the Bible come alive!   Walk where Jesus walked!
Tour Leaders
Dr. Dale and Tara Pederson-McDonnell ~ Biblical Encounters, Hughson, CA
Dr. Gale Struthers ~ Oak Hills Christian College, Bemidji, MN

Sample Itinerary

Day 1:  Depart from US.

Day 2:  After arriving at Ben Gurion airport we begin our Biblical journey in the ancient port city of Jaffa (Joppa), significant in several Old and New Testament accounts. Then on to our Hotel in Tel Aviv, for some time to relax and enjoy our first Israeli dinner and overnight.

Day 3:  Caesarea, Acre, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo. As our day closes we drive through Nazareth and Tiberias, arriving at our hotel, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, for dinner and overnight.

Day 4:  Today we start the day early at the Mount of Beatitudes, the location of Jesus’ “sermon on the mount”. Then north to Mount Hermon and the fascinating ancient sites of Dan and Caesarea Philippi (Banias). We return south through the Golan Heights, back to the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus caused the miraculous catch of fish and restored Peter as recorded in John 21. We visit the sites at the ruins of Capernaum, and then take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee back to Nof Ginosar where we’ll see an authentic Sea of Galilee first century fishing boat before enjoying dinner and a night of rest.

Day 5:  Our day opens on the Jordan River where members of our group have the opportunity to be baptized. On to Beit She’an, Qumran, and Ein Gedi, arriving early at the Daniel Hotel on the Dead Sea in time for leisure, dinner, and overnight.

Day 6:  Our day begins on top of the fortress of Masada,where Jewish zealots made their last stand against Rome in A.D. 73. Travel to Arad and Beer Sheva en route to Jerusalem ending at our Jerusalem Hotel, where we will stay for the remainder of our time in Israel.

Day 7:  Our morning will focus on sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the southern temple steps in the archaeological park and the hidden rabbinic tunnels behind the Western Wall. In the afternoon we’ll visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and the Shepherds’ fields in nearby Beit Sahour. Here we’ll visit a wonderful olive wood and gift store, operated by a co-op of Palestinian Christian families. Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 8:  Our morning will take us to the Holocaust Memorial Museum at Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum, and other sites in Jerusalem’s new city. We return to Old City Christian quarter for lunch, a walk through the Via Dolorosa and a number of other significant Biblical Jerusalem sites. End the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb.

Day 9:  Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem or join your tour host who will escort you to the Garden tomb for a special time of worship and communion. Leisure day in Jerusalem for last minute shopping and, perhaps, an opportunity to visit some of the many wonderful parts of the city which we were not able to include on the scheduled tour.

Day 10:  Your last day in the Holy City for independent activities. Check out of your hotel at noon, and then, later this evening, join your fellow group members for a farewell dinner before boarding the bus for the transfer to Ben Gurion airport.

Day 11:  Very early departure from Israel, arriving back in the USA later this morning.