Overview

Dear friends in Christ,

Come and See the land God has declared Holy! Come and meet the living stones and connect with the stories of our faith! In January 2024, we will tour biblical sites, learn about the work of the Lutheran World Federation, Peace Not Walls, hear from Palestinian Christians, dwell in God’s Word, and most importantly: worship.  During this trip we will remember our baptism at the Jordan River and float on the Dead Sea. We will go to the Sea of Galilee and reflect on the Mount of the Beatitudes. We will journey together on the holy land with eyes to see and ears to hear what this place and its people have to share about a faith that moves mountains and feeds the hungry for food and justice. So join us, dear ones, as we journey together with God’s help and in Jesus’ name.

+Bishop Leila M. Ortiz

 

DETAILS:

  • Trip departs on January 25, 2024 and returns on February 3, 2024

  • Departure Airport: Washington, DC (IAD)

PRICING:

  • $3,890 per person based on double occupancy - space is limited
  • Land arrangements only: $2,740 (if you wish to book your own flight)
  • Single room supplement: $790

PAYMENT PLAN: 

  • Deposit: $300 per person with registration to secure space
  • An additional $1,000 payment is due on or before August 20, 2023
  • Balance due on or before October 20, 2023 
  • Register by mail? please enclose a copy of the passport and a deposit of $300.00 per person made payable to Elias Tours and mail to: Elias Tours  4941 Chalden Ln NE, Marietta, GA 30066

 

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

1 TK   8U 25JAN     IAD - IST     940P  340P  26JAN 
 2 TK 788U 26JAN  IST - TLV    620P  725P 
 3 TK 791U 03FEB  TLV - IST    100A  420A 
 4 TK 187U 03FEB  IST - IAD     940A 1255P 

* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information check the airline website.

 

January 25 - February 3, 2024 Available on request Holy Land
Inclusions/Exclusions

What is included in the tour

  • Airfare from Washington Dulles International Airport, DC - Other cities available
  • 8 nights in 4-star hotels (double occupancy)
  • Breakfast, and dinner daily 
  • Entrance fee to all sites
  • All ground transportation in a private tour bus

What is NOT included in the tour

  • Gratuities for guide and driver
  • Personal expenses
  • Lunch
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through *Travelex Insurance Services. For questions, quotes, or to purchase travel insurance, visit Travelex Insurance or call (800) 228-9792 and use the code 26-0057 for Elias Tours.
Highlights
What makes this tour special

Bishop Leila Ortiz of the Metro DC Synod will be leading the 2024 traveling group as it visits holy sites and gets acquainted with the people in the Lutheran churches, the ministries of the Lutheran World Federation, and many others who will share their stories.

Itinerary

                                 DAILY ITINERARY
                            Metro DC Synod
 - ELCA

                                       

Day 1: Departure from the USA - Washington DC

Depart from Washington DC for your overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.

Day 2: Arrival – Tel Aviv - Galilee

We arrive at Ben Gurion airport and depart northward to our hotelin Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Mt. Carmel –  Nazareth – Cana – Tiberias

After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach, We visit Mount Carmel, Muhraqa (the Place of Fire), and consider the contest between the Prophet Elijah and the false prophets of Baal (I Kings 18), discussing the reasons why the Prophet chose that place for the contest, and the lessons we learn from the story. Afterward, we go to Nazareth where we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, and the Church of St. Joseph. We end our day with a visit to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first miracle. Drive to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Caesarea Philippi – Golan Heights – Mt. Arbel – Valley of Doves – Sea of Galilee

We start our day with a visit to Caesarea Philippi, at the source of the river Jordan, where Peter confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. Then we return to the Sea of Galilee via the Golan Heights with a stop overlooking the Road to Damascus. On to Mount Arbel, where we overlook the ancient road from Nazareth to Galilee with a possible hike on part of the Jesus Trail. We then carry on to the Valley of the Doves and travel along the ancient road that leads from Nazareth to the Sea of Galilee along the Via Maris. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 5: Sea of Galilee – Magdala – Capernaum​ – Mount of Beatitudes​

We start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Then we visit Magdala, the hometown of Mary Magdalene, and see the 1st-century synagogue, the oldest synagogue discovered on the shores of Galilee, with a stone-carved replica of the Temple and Menorah. We then take a short drive to Capernaum, the biblical village and hometown of Jesus. Capernaum is closely associated with Jesus and His ministry as described in the Synoptic Gospels. There we see the house of the mother-in-law of Peter and an ancient synagogue that dates back to the time of Jesus and where much of His teaching took place. After a lunch of St. Peter’s fish, we drive to Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000. We then visit the site known as “Peter’s Primacy” where Jesus appeared to His disciples for the third time after His Resurrection. Later we continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, the scene of Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount. We enjoy the view of the enchanting gardens and reflect on Jesus’ sermon. We also have time for prayer and reflection. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.                                                                                                                    

Day 6: Jordan Valley – Jacob’s Well – Shepherds Field – Bethlehem (ELCJHL)

After breakfast, we drive through the Jordan Valley and on to Nablus, where we visit the ancient city of Shechem saddled between Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim. There, we see ruins dating back to the time of Jacob and Joshua, including the “high place” of the city and the city gates. Nearby, we visit Jacob’s Well where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman. We drive to Bethlehem to visit Shepherd's Fields, where the angels appeared to the shepherds announcing the birth of Our Lord. These fields are also the setting of the Book of Ruth. After lunch, we travel to the Church of the Nativity and view the place where Our Lord was born. We check in at our hotel, and enjoy dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.                                                      

Day 7: Augusta Victoria Hospital – LWF – Mt. of Olives – Living Stones  (ELCJHL)

We start our day at Dar Alkalemih university Meeting with Rev. Mitri Rehab Augusta Victoria Hospital to witness the work of the Lutheran World Federation in health and education. Later, we enjoy a panoramic view from the top of Mount of Olives, and then we continue to the Church of the Ascension and the Church of the Pater Noster. We continue down to Dominus Flevit and St. Mary Magdalene Church. We pray at the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations. In the afternoon, we visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Jesus was denied by St. Peter. Then we visit the Upper Room, the place of the Last Supper, and King David’s Tomb. Back to our hotel for dinner with Bishop Ibraim Azar.and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 8: Wadi Qelt – St. George Monastery – Baptismal Site – Jericho – Dead Sea                         

This morning we depart Bethlehem, traveling through the Judean wilderness where Jesus fasted for 40 days, and along the ancient road passing the good Samaritan inn. Upon reaching Wadi Qelt, we enjoy a view of St. George’s Monastery nestled in the wilderness. We carry on along the ancient road toward Jericho, passing by Herod’s Winter Palace, where the infamous King died in the year 4 BC, and which was likely the background setting for the parable of the prodigal son. On the way to Jericho, we head to Bet Arabah where John baptized Jesus. The site is also known as the “Place of Crossing” of the Israelites. From Bet Arabah, we drive to the city of Jericho. We see Tel Jericho, the old town of Joshua, to see the excavations of the ancient city and the Mount of Temptation. We then drive to Qumran and visit the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were accidentally found, and the buildings that formed the public center of the Essenes. Then we proceed to the Dead Sea where we can enjoy a dip in the relaxing and healing waters. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 9: Temple Mount – Pools of Bethesda – Via Dolorosa – Holy Sepulcher –  Jerusalem - ELCJHL

This morning after breakfast, we walk the Via Dolorosa, the traditional path that Jesus walked from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.Meet with Rev. Gabi and Megan Alabouni (ELCA) There, we visit Golgotha and the Empty Tomb. We then visit the Jewish Quarter and go to the Western Wall, a section of the Western retaining wall of the Temple Mount, Judaism’s holiest site. We then ascend to visit Temple Mount itself, where the Jewish temple stood until its destruction in 70 AD, and see the Dome of the Rock, . We then visit St Anne’s church and the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where the healing at the pool took place. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.                                                            

Day 10: Departure from Tel Aviv to the US

Check-out and departure from our hotel for the return home. We arrive on the same day.

 

 

NOTE: The schedule is subject to change due to various factors and at your Tour Leaders’ and Guide’s discretion.