Overview

I would like to invite you to join me on an unforgettable Lenten pilgrimage to the Holy Land in March 2024. There are few things in life that fall into the category of a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” I believe that this is one of them. 

During our Lenten pilgrimage, we will visit the place of Jesus’ birth, walk where he walked, wade into the Jordan where he was baptized, and sail on the Sea of Galilee. We’ll bring Holy Week to life as we trace Jesus’ steps from the Mount of Olives to his cross and resurrection. 

Our tour operator, Elias Nawaweih, is a Palestinian Christian from Bethlehem. He has curated a pilgrimage that will not only help us experience the land, its history, and its archaeology but will also introduce us to the “Living Stones” of the Holy Land. We will experience the warmth and hospitality of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and discover some of their amazing work and ministry.

In 2019, I participated in a pilgrimage to the Holy Land that had a deep impact on me. I want to share that experience with you. I can assure you that the Bible will come alive like never before and that you will be transformed by this experience forever.

Pastor Mike

 


DETAILS:

  • Trip departs on March 1, 2024 and returns on March 10, 2024 

  • Departure Airport: Kansas City (MCI)

PRICING:

  • $4,190.00 per person based on double occupancy - space is limited!

  • Single Room supplement - $890.00

  • Jordan Excursion: March 10-13: $790
  • Land only (Holy Land) (if booking your own flights) - $3,040.00 (airfare credit $1,150.00)

PAYMENT PLAN: 

  • $300.00 deposit per person with registration to secure space

  • $1,000.00 of the total amount is due on or before September 1, 2023

  • Balance due on or before December 1, 2023

REGISTRATION:

  • Registering online? Click the "BOOK NOW" button and fill out the online form; you can pay by check or with a credit card.

  • Registering by mail? Please download and complete the registration form (both the personal information page and the terms and conditions page signed at the bottom) with a copy of your passport and a deposit of $300.00 per person made payable to Elias Tours and mail to: 4941 Chalden Ln NE, Marietta, GA 30066

  • Download the Registration Form

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

Flight information will be available 3 months before the return date. Please continue to check the itinerary on the website for updated flight information.

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

For more information, contact us at info@eliastours.com or (406) 261-7791

March 1-10, 2024 Available on request Holy Land
Inclusions/Exclusions

What is included in the tour

  • Airfare from Kansas City (MCI) - 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

  • All Personal Expenses
  • Lunch
  • Gratuities for guide and driver
  • TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is required and 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.
Itinerary

 

Day 1: Departure from the USA

Depart from Kansas City (MCI) for your overnight flight to the Holy Land. Meals will be served on board.

Day 2: Arrival – Tel Aviv

We arrive at Ben Gurion airport and depart northward to our hotel for one night in the coastal area near Tel Aviv to start off the journey of visiting the Holy Land. The remainder of the day is free to walk along the Mediterranean, relax, and dine in our hotel in Tel Aviv.

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

After breakfast, we travel by private motor coach along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, where the Gentiles first heard the Good News from Peter and were baptized. We see the Roman Amphitheatre and aqueduct. 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  – 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, followed by a visit to the Ancient Boat Museum that houses a 2,000-year-old fishing boat found buried in mud on the shores of Galilee. The boat provides a good example of what fishing boats looked like during the time of Jesus. 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 –Shepherds Field – Bethlehem - (ELCJHL)

After breakfast, we drive through the Jordan Valley and on 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. Visit the Lutheran School in Beit Sahour. 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 – Mt. Zion  - Meet with Dr. Mitri (ELCJHL)

We start our day at 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 and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 8:  St. George Monastery – Baptismal Site – Jericho – Qumran – the 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

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. 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, a possible location of the Holy of Holies. 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.

 

OPTIONAL POST-TOUR EXCURSION TO JORDAN

Day 10: Jordan –  Mt. Nebo – Petra

After breakfast, we depart to cross the border to Jordan. We visit Mt. Nebo, the place where prophet Mousa (Moses) gazed over the Promised Land before he died. We visit an old monastery and enjoy a view of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and parts of the Holy Land. Then we continue to drive towards Petra for a traditional Bedouin Dinner & overnight.

Day 11: Full-day Petra – Amman

After breakfast, we visit the Site of Petra, the 2,000-year-old Nabatean city featured in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. We walk through the narrow passageway up to the treasury, a massive royal tomb carved out of solid rock. In the afternoon we transfer to Amman for dinner and overnight.

Day 12:  Amman – Jerash

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Jerash, north of the capital Amman. Inhabited since the Bronze Age, it’s known for the ruins of the walled Greco-Roman settlement of Gerasa (one of the cities of Decapolis). These include the 2nd-century Hadrian’s Arch, the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Artemis, and the huge Forum’s oval colonnade. We then return to Amman for dinner and overnight.

Day 13:  Arrive USA

We enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then check out and transfer to the airport for our flight back to the USA.

 

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