Discover the biblical roots of Christianity and gain insights into the Ministry of Jesus and the prophets with our Protestant heritage tours. These journeys, shared with like-minded companions, can be literally life changing. Although we specialize in personalized programs, which offer carefully crafted itineraries to cater to the specific needs of the most demanding Christian travelers, here are a few examples of what a Protestant biblical program entails.

Join us on an inspirational journey that will strengthen your faith and bring you closer to God. From Bethlehem and Nazareth to Cana, the site of the First Miracle, find new understanding of the life of Jesus. Follow in His footsteps along the Via Dolorosa as you walk the path of the Stations of the Cross. Experience the Valley of Armageddon and visit Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Cross the Sea of Galilee. Visit the River Jordan, Yardenit Baptismal site. An extensive Jerusalem tour features the Mount of Olives, the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, and the Western Wall. This life-changing tour also includes time to explore on your own.

Day 1:  Welcome to the Holy Land / Jerusalem

After arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, you will be welcomed by our local English-speaking guide who will escort you throughout your stay in the Holy Land and make the scripture come alive as you follow in the footsteps of Jesus. We will then drive to your selected hotel in Jerusalem, your home for the next five nights, where you will enjoy a welcome dinner.

Day 2:  Jerusalem

After a hearty buffet breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to the summit of the Mount of Olives for a spectacular view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem, including the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. We will then visit the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of Ascension. Afterwards, we will proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent His last hours among the ancient olive grove, and the Church of All Nations, where tradition holds that He prayed on the night of His betrayal. Following this, we will drive through the Kedron Valley to see the Tombs of Absalom, Zacharia and James, and visit Hezekiah’s Tunnel.

We will then proceed to enter the Old City of Jerusalem through the Zion Gate and walk to the holiest shrine of the Jewish people, the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) of Herod’s temple. On the Temple Mount we will see the Mosque of Omar, which is above the site of the scene of Abraham offering Isaac as a sacrifice on Mount Moriah. From the Temple area, we will make our way to the Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the man who had been ill for 38 years. We will walk along the Via Dolorosa to Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Arch of the Ecce Home (Behold the Man), where Jesus was tried before Pontius Pilate. We will then continue through the Old City bazaars to the traditional site of Jesus’s death and resurrection, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Later in the afternoon, we will enjoy a peaceful visit to Golgotha and the Garden Tomb for quiet reflection worship and communion before returning to our hotel.

Day 3:  Bethlehem / Jerusalem

This morning we will travel to Bethlehem, birthplace of King David and Our Lord and see Rachel’s Tomb, one of the most sacred shrines in the Holy Land for Jews. We will also visit the Church of the Nativity, the grotto where Jesus was born, and the Field of Boaz and Ruth. Afterwards, we will return to Jerusalem and drive to Mount Zion and visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu on the site of Caiaphas’ House, the Room of the Last Supper, the Tomb of King David, as well as Ein Karem, known as the birthplace of John the Baptist. Following this we will return to our hotel.

Day 4:  Jerusalem / Dead Sea Area

Today we will drive around the Walls of the Old City to Bethany, site of the house of Mary, Martha and Lazarus, where we will visit the Tomb of Lazarus. Our drive then takes us through the Judean Wilderness and along the Dead Sea (the lowest spot on earth) to Masada. An exciting ascent by cable car takes us to this last stronghold of the Jewish zealots in their war against the Romans in 73 A.D. Here we will visit Herod’s many palaces, the excavations and fortifications. We will then continue to Qumran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and see the ruins of the buildings of the Essene community. Following this, there will be a unique opportunity to float on the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea.

After lunch, we will drive to ancient Jericho, the oldest known city in the Western World, where we’ll stop by a sycamore tree and recall the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. From there we will head to the site of Old Testament Jericho (Tel es-Sultan), Elisha’s Spring, and see an Orthodox Monastery very near the site of Jesus’ Temptation in the desert. A drive through the winding mountain roads will take us back to Jerusalem.

Day 5:  Jerusalem

This morning we will enter the restored Jewish Quarter and walk along the excavated Cardo, once the main street of ancient Jerusalem. We will tour the Herodian Mansions, a complex of villas from 2,000 years ago. Then we will proceed to the Israel Museum to see a scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of Jesus, as well as the Shrine of the Book, which houses an exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will conclude the day with a visit to the Yad Vashem Memorial dedicated to the Jewish Holocaust. We will walk through this astounding and deeply moving museum and visit the Children’s Memorial and the Hall of Remembrance, inscribed with six million names.

Day 6:  Jerusalem / Sea of Galilee /Tiberias

Today we leave Jerusalem and travel to Tiberias, driving through the Jordan Valley to Bet Shean, where we’ll explore the extraordinary excavations of an ancient Roman city. Our drive continues to the shores of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Baptismal Site at the River Jordan. We will visit a place specially prepared for those who wish to be baptized in the River Jordan. Afterwards, we will enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Nof Ginosar and see a perfectly intact 2,000-year-old boat recently uncovered on the seashore. Our drive will then take us to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during His ministry. After visiting the synagogue where He taught, we will proceed to Tabgha, site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and to the nearby Church of the Primacy of Peter. We will conclude the day by driving up to the Mount of Beatitudes to visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount.

Day 7:  Nazareth / Tiberias

After breakfast, we will head to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed His first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, couples will have the opportunity to renew their marriage vows. We will then drive to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well. In the afternoon, we will travel through the Hula Valley and past Hazor, a Canaanite city rebuilt by King Solomon to command the Golan Heights. From here, we will ascend the Golan Heights and cross the Hatzbani River to Dan and Banias (ancient Caesarea Philippi) at the foot of Mount Hermon. Our descent will bring us to Kursi, where Jesus cast out evil spirits from a possessed man, before returning to our hotel.

Day 8:  Haifa / Return to Airport

This morning we will leave for Tel Aviv and tour the sparkling port city of Haifa on the way. We will drive to the top of Mount Carmel, home of the Prophets Elijah and EIisha, for a scenic view of the city and port. We will then continue through the Jezreel Valley to Tel Megiddo, where 20 different cities lie superimposed upon each other. From here, we will travel along the Mediterranean coast to ancient Caesarea, the capital of the Roman Procurators, where we will see the Roman Theater, the Crusaders’ Moat, and the Byzantine churches. Our last stop will be Old Jaffa, where we will enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant, before proceeding to the airport in for your return flight home.

Day 1:  Welcome to the Holy Land / Jerusalem

After your arrival in Tel Aviv, you will be met by our Christian guide and driven to our hotel in Jerusalem for check-in. The remainder of the day will be free for relaxation or sightseeing.

Day 2:  Jerusalem

After breakfast, we will drive to the top of the Mount of Olives for a spectacular view of Jerusalem. We will visit the Church of Pater Noster where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer to His disciples, the Chapel of Ascension, and Dominus Flevit, where Our Lord wept over Jerusalem. We will then proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, which commemorates Jesus’ Agony in the Garden.

This afternoon we will view the Dome of the Rock and the el Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount and visit the Wailing Wall. Afterwards, we will enter the Old City and visit the Church of Saint Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostrotos, the Arch of the Ecce Homo, then follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the holiest shrine in Christendom to visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord. We will then return to our hotel for dinner together.

Day 3:  Bethlehem / Jerusalem

This morning we will travel to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, the Manger, the Church of St. Catherine and the Grotto of St. Jerome, then continue to Beit Sahur to see the site that commemorates the Shepherds’ Fields. In Bethlehem, we will also have an opportunity to visit Claire Anastas’s home and guest house and the Aida Refugee Camp, home to nearly 5,000 residents, where we will learn about the local Palestinian population living in the West Bank, before returning to Jerusalem.

Day 4:  Jerusalem

Today we will join the local Christian-Palestinian congregation and celebrate the Eucharist at St. George’s Cathedral.  We will then proceed to Ein Karen to see the Visitation Church where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat” and the Church of St. John the Baptist, where he was born. From there, we will continue to the Israel Museum, where we will see a scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of Jesus, as well as the Shrine of the Book, which houses an exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will conclude the day with a visit to the deeply moving Yad Vashem Memorial dedicated to the Jewish Holocaust.

Day 5:  Dead Sea area / Tiberias

We will start the day by driving to Bethany to visit the site of the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus and the Tomb of Lazarus. We then proceed to the Dead Sea for a swim in its uniquely salty, mineral-laden waters and continue on to Masada, the fortress stronghold built by Herod the Great, which was later the scene of the final siege of the Great Revolt by Jewish zealots in 73 AD. Afterwards, we will drive to Qumran to visit the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and stop at the Baptismal Site before driving through the Jordan Valley to Tiberias, where we will check in at our hotel on the gentle shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Day 6:  Tiberias

After breakfast, we will enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during His ministry. After visiting the synagogue where He taught, we will travel to Tabgha, site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and to the nearby Church of the Primacy of Peter. Then we drive up to the Mount of the Beatitudes to visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount. In the afternoon we will take an excursion to the summit of Mount Tabor to visit the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus before returning to our hotel in Tiberias for the night.

Day 7:  Nazareth /Tiberias

Today we will drive to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed the first miracle – changing water into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we’ll invite couples to renew their marriage vows. From there, we’ll head to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well, then continue to Acre, whose history dates back almost 4,000 years, and which played a pivotal role during the Crusader period. Here we will experience a truly medieval atmosphere and descend into the subterranean city to visit the fortress of the Hospitallers, the Order of the Knights of St. John. We will walk through the large halls and imagine the pilgrims, knights, and Crusaders dining, celebrating, and running the markets there almost 1,000 years ago. After we return to the surface, we will explore the Ottoman phase of Acre and then return to Tiberias.

Day 8:  Haifa / Return to Airport

This morning we will leave for Tel Aviv and tour the sparkling port city of Haifa on the way. We will drive to the top of Mount Carmel, home of the Prophets Elijah and EIisha, for a scenic view of the city and port. From there we will travel along the Mediterranean coast to ancient Caesarea, the capital of the Roman Procurators, where we will see the Roman Theater, the Crusaders’ Moat, and the Byzantine churches. Our last stop will be Old Jaffa, where we will enjoy a farewell dinner in a local restaurant, before proceeding to the airport in Tel Aviv for your return flight home.

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Day 1 Overnight Flight

Travel to the Holy Land on an inspirational journey that visits some of the most ancient sites in the world.

Day 2 Tel Aviv, Israel - Tour Begins

Your tour begins in Tel Aviv, a bustling city brimming with culture and history, situated on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner.

• Dinner

• High  95°  Low  42°

• Kfar Maccabiah Hotel

Day 3 Tel Aviv - Jaffa - Caesarea - Acre - Nazareth - Cana - Tiberias

Journey to the ancient port city of Jaffa for a leisurely stroll through the winding alleys of the historic area. Visit the Roman Aqueduct and Theatre at Caesarea, a center of the early Christians where Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to the new covenant (Acts 10) by St. Peter; and where Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome for trial (Acts 23). Stop in Acre, an ancient crusader city and UNESCO World Heritage site. In Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23), visit the Church of the Annunciation and the place where Joseph’s home and workshop were as well as the site of the fresh water spring used by the Holy Family. Your day continues with a visit to Cana, the site of Our Lord’s first miracle. Arrive in Tiberias for a 2-night stay.

• Breakfast & Dinner

• High  72°  Low  53°

• Leonardo Hotel Tiberias

Day 4 Sea of Galilee-Capernaum-Golan Heights-Caesarea Philippi-Tiberias

Cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee aboard a replica of the boat in which Jesus would have sailed. Travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the “Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7). Nearby Tabgha is the traditional location for the calling of the disciples and the feeding of the five thousand. Visit the Church of the Fish and the Loaves (Luke 9:10-17). In Capernaum, Jesus performed many miracles and it was the center of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Visit the synagogue that stands on the site where Jesus taught and reflect on his teaching and preaching of the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 4:13, 23). Visit the Chapel of the Primacy where Peter professed his devotion to the risen Christ (John 21) on three occasions. Get a taste of the local flavor when you enjoy lunch at a communal settlement, known as a kibbutz, in the Golan Heights. Visit Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus traveled with His disciples and near where Peter made his great confession to Jesus, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Your day ends at the River Jordan at the Yardenit Baptismal site.

• Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

• High  72°  Low  53°

• Leonardo Hotel Tiberias

Day 5 Tiberias - Tel Megiddo - Bethlehem - Jerusalem

Visit Tel Megiddo (Armageddon), the site of the final battle before the coming of the Messiah. In Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus (Luke 2), enter the Church of the Nativity, the oldest continuously functioning church in the world. View the cave where Jesus was born. Stop at Shepherds’ Field, where the angels appeared on that first Christmas night, spreading good tidings of great joy for all the people. Later, arrive in one of the holiest cities in the world, Jerusalem.

• Breakfast & Dinner

• High  70°  Low  49°

• Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel

Day 6 Jerusalem - Mount Zion - Ein Karem

Your time in Jerusalem begins with a visit to the Mount of Olives. Afterwards, visit the Church of the Pater Noster, built on the traditional site where Christ taught the Lord's Prayer; its name refers to the “Our Father” prayer. Continue to the Church of All Nations, built over the rock on which Our Lord prayed the night before He was crucified. Nearby is the Tomb of the Virgin Mary and the Garden of Gethsemane, the site of Christ’s betrayal by Judas. Travel to Mount Zion and stand in the Upper Room, near the traditional site of the Last Supper (Mark 14). Then, continue to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist and the place to which Mary traveled to share her good news with Elizabeth.

• Breakfast & Dinner

• High  70°  Low  49°

• Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel

Day 7 Jerusalem

Today you are free to explore the city on your own. Perhaps you’ll choose to take an optional excursion to the Dead Sea to discover where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found; visit Masada; and perhaps even float on the salty waters of the Dead Sea.

• Breakfast & Dinner

• High  70°  Low  49°

• Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel

Day 8 Jerusalem

Your day begins at St. Stephen’s Gate where St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was stoned to death. Continue to the Church of St. Anne, marking the place where the parents of the Blessed Mother lived. Visit the nearby Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic. Then, follow the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, walked by Our Lord on the way to His crucifixion; pass by the Ecce Homo Arch, the site where Pontius Pilate presented Our Lord to the crowds. Next, visit the Western Wall of the Temple before stopping at the Garden Tomb, the possible site of the garden of Joseph of Arimathea and site of the resurrection of Jesus. Enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers to celebrate the end of this unforgettable and holy experience.

• Breakfast & Dinner

• High  70°  Low  49°

• Leonardo Jerusalem Hotel

Day 9 Jerusalem - Tour Ends

Your tour comes to a close today, leaving you with many pleasant memories.

Day 1: Israel / Petra

Our tour starts with a drive to the Allenby Bridge, where we will cross into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We will then travel south along the Desert Road to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land. If we have a clear day, we may even capture a glimpse of Jerusalem’s skyline. From there, we will continue to Madaba, a Byzantine center of master mosaics, to see the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land, and pass through Machaerus, site of the Fortress of Herod the Great. It was here that John the Baptist was imprisoned and later beheaded at the wish of Salome. Afterwards, we will drive through the village of Karak, also known as Mons Realis, an ancient walled city steeped in history which houses a castle built by a Crusader King. The highlight of our day will be our descent into Petra, one of the most magnificent sites in the Middle East and a Wonder of the Ancient World.

Day 2: Petra / Amman

This morning we will take a horse-drawn ride through the Siq to the magnificent city of Petra, which was rediscovered in 1912. This “rose-red” city was founded by the Nabatean Arabs as their capital city and lies in a valley enclosed by sandstone cliffs in shades of red, purple and pale yellow. The remains of Petra bear eloquent testimony to its former power, wealth and architecture. We will be awed by the masterpieces of the Treasury, made famous by the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, the Monastery, the Triumphal Arch and the Roman Amphitheater. Afterwards we will drive to Amman, the capital of Jordan, a bustling commercial and cultural center. It was built by the Romans according to a traditional city plan and which, like Rome, sprawls over seven hills, where we will check in at our hotel.

Day 3: Amman

This morning, we will drive north to Jerash, founded by the soldiers of Alexander the Great in 300 B.C. Jerash now stands as the most complete and best preserved ruins of a provincial Greco-Roman city in the world. Along a two-mile stretch we’ll see the oval shaped forum encircled by 56 graceful Roman columns, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temples of Artemis and Zeus, and the massive Roman theater. In the afternoon, we will drive around the capital of Jordan to visit the 2nd century Roman Amphitheater, the Roman Ruins of Citadel Hill and the Jordan Archaeological Museum. Our day will conclude with a visit to the bazaar, where you’ll enjoy the aromas of fresh cinnamon, cloves, thyme and other exotic spices, and where you’ll have an opportunity to shop and bargain for your own treasures.

Day 4: Airport for Return Flight Home

After breakfast our tour comes to an end, as you are taken to the airport to return home.

Day 1: Israel / Cairo

Today we embark on a full day drive from Israel to Cairo. We will travel into the beautiful and mysterious Sinai desert and learn about its remarkable story that will take you back thousands of years. Our drive takes us through the ancient caravan routes, across the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal until we reach your hotel in Cairo.

Day 2: Cairo

We will enjoy an all-day tour which highlights some of the great monuments of Egypt. We will first drive to Memphis, capital of the ancient kingdom of Lower Egypt and marvel at the Alabaster Sphinx and the remains of two colossal statues of Ramses II. We will then proceed to the Necropolis of Sakkara and see the Serapeum, the Mastabas of Ti and Ptahotep, the step pyramid of Zoser and the Funeral temple. From there, we continue to the plateau of Giza, where we’ll see the sole survivors of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramids. Here we will visit the Royal Burial Chambers of the pyramids of Cheops, whose construction began more than 4,000 years ago. Afterwards, we will ride a camel or sand cart to see the Sphinx. We will also visit a papyrus institute on the way back to your hotel for dinner together and overnight stay.

Day 3: Cairo

After breakfast, we will drive to the famous Egyptian Museum to admire the treasures of ancient Egypt, including the treasures of Tutankhamen’s tomb, which fill the entire second floor. We will also see some of the world’s most important collection of Egyptian antiquities, covering 30 dynasties of Pharaonic history until the arrival of the Romans. From there, we will go to the Citadel for a panoramic view of the minarets and domes of Islamic Cairo and see the Alabaster Mosque of Mohammed Ali, a truly impressive landmark. Afterwards, we will proceed to Old Cairo, the Hanging Church, the Coptic Museum and the Abu Serga Church, where, according to tradition, the Holy Family lodged on their flight into Egypt. Our day will conclude with a drive through the colorful Khan El Khalili bazaar, where you’ll have an opportunity to shop and bargain for your own treasures.

Day 4: Airport for Return Flight Home

Today our tour comes to an end, as you are taken to the airport to return home.

4-Day Extension to Jordan

An extension tour to Jordan provides a first-hand experience of an ancient land rich in Christian legacy… centuries of history, beginning with some of the prophets. You will travel back in time and discover magnificent, world famous sites such as Petra and Jerash.