This pilgrimage tour is designed to follow the footsteps of Christ as per the teachings and beliefs of the Protestant, post-reformation faiths visiting the Holy Sites recognized by the Protestant Churches.

Cultural/Historical

Private Tour

Duration: 9 days / 8 nights

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Jaffa:

Jaffa: an ancient port city in Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical stories of Solomon, Jonah, and the Apostle Peter. Jaffa is mentioned four times in the Scriptures, as one of the cities given to the Hebrew Tribe of Dan, as port-of-entry for the cedars of Lebanon for Solomon’s Temple, as the place whence the prophet Jonah embarked for Tarshish, and again as port-of-entry for the cedars of Lebanon for the Second Temple of Jerusalem. Jaffa is mentioned in the Book of Joshua as the territorial border of the Tribe of Dan. The New Testament account of Peter’s resurrection of the widow Tabitha, written in Acts, takes place in Jaffa. Acts 10:10–23 relates that, while Peter was in Jaffa, he had a vision of a large sheet filled with “clean” and “unclean” animals being lowered from heaven, together with a message from the Holy Spirit to accompany several messengers to Cornelius in Caesarea. Tour the ancient port and the flee market.
Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Day 2: Megiddo, Caesarea Maritima, Haifa, Mt. Carmel:

Megiddo: In ancient times Megiddo was an important city-state. Excavations have unearthed 26 layers of ruins, indicating a long period of settlement. Megiddo is strategically located at the head of a pass through the Carmel Ridge overlooking the Jezreel Valley from the west. The Book of Revelation mentions an apocalyptic military amassment at Armageddon, a name derived from the Hebrew “Har Megiddo” meaning “Mount of Megiddo”.
Caesarea Maritima: The ancient city and harbor of Caesarea Maritima was built by Herod the Great around 20 BCE. It was there that Peter the Apostle came and baptized Cornelius the Centurion and his household, and the first Christian baptism was conferred on Gentiles. When newly converted Paul the Apostle was in danger in Jerusalem, he was transferred to Caesarea where he was imprisoned for about two years.
Haifa and Mt. Carmel – Muhraqa: In ancient Canaanite culture, high places were frequently considered to be sacred, and Mount Carmel appears to have been no exception. In the Book of Kings, the Prophet Elijah challenges 450 prophets of the god Baal to a contest at the altar on Mount Carmel to determine whose deity was genuinely in control of the Kingdom of Israel.
Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Day 3: Sea of Galilee, Mt. of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Capernaum, Cana, Nazareth:

Boat rideon the Sea of Galilee.
The Mt. of Beatitudes: The Beatitudes are the eight blessings Jesus gave during the Sermon on the Mount. We will visit the suggested location of this mount (Matthew 5).
Tabgha: It is traditionally accepted as the place of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish (Mark 6:30-46), and the fourth Resurrection appearance of Jesus (John 21:1-24) after his Crucifixion.
Capernaum: The town is cited in the Gospels of Luke and John, where it was reported to have been near the hometown of the apostles Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, as well as the tax collector Matthew. Jesus selected this town as the center of his public ministry in the Galilee after he left the small mountainous hamlet of Nazareth (Matthew 4:12–17). He also formally cursed the city, saying “You shall be brought down to Hades,” (Matthew 11:23) because of their lack of response to his teaching.
Cana: Cana is best known as the place where, according to the Fourth Gospel, Jesus performed his first public miracle, the turning of a large quantity of water into wine at a wedding feast (John 2:1-11) when the wine provided by the bridegroom had run out.
Nazareth: The Church of the Annunciation was established at the site where, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the Annunciation took place. Greek Orthodox tradition holds that this event occurred while Mary was drawing water from a local spring in Nazareth, and the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation was erected at the alternate site. We will visit both sites.
Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Day 4: Caesarea Philippi, Golan Heights:

Caesarea Philippi: Also known as Banias, is a natural spring and archaeological site by the ancient city located at the foot of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. Jesus, while in this area, asked his closest disciples who they thought he was. Here Peter made his confession of Jesus as the Messiah and the “Son of the living God.”
The Golan Heights: Also Known as the Land of Bashan. According to Deuteronomy, the Israelites invaded Bashan and conquered it from the Amorites. We will stop at the peak of an extinct volcano (Mt. Bental) and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view into Syria and Bashan.
Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Day 5: Yardenit, Beit Shean, Mount Gilboa, Jericho, Mount of Temptation:

Drive south through the Jordan Valley to Yardenit Baptismal Site. Yardenit Baptismal Site is located southwards of the Sea of Galilee; it’s the baptismal site where Jesus Christ baptized John the Baptist in the Jordan River.
Beit Shean: During a subsequent battle against the Jewish King Saul at nearby Mount Gilboa in 1004 BC, the Philistines prevailed. 1 Samuel 31 states that the victorious Philistines hung the body of King Saul on the walls of Beit She’an. The Hellenistic period (3rd-2nd century BC) saw the reoccupation of the site of Beit She’an under the new name Scythopolis. During the Roman period (1st c. BC–4th c. AD), Scythopolis prospered and became the leading city of the Decapolis, a loose confederation of ten cities that were centers of Greco-Roman culture.
Mount Gilboa: Continue driving south passing by Mt. Gilboa. In the Bible, King Saul, Israel’s first monarch, led a charge against the Philistines at this mountain. The battle ends with the king falling on his own sword and Jonathan (Saul’s son) being killed in battle. David, who returns to the site after the battle, curses the mountain: “Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew nor rain upon you, neither fields of choice fruits; for there the shield of the mighty was vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil” (II Samuel 1:21).
Jericho: The city may be the oldest, continuously occupied city in the world. Archeology dates the city back to the 10th century BCE.
The Mount of Temptation: A view to the mountain which is said to be the hill in the Judean Desert where Jesus was tempted by the devil after his baptism (Matthew 4:8).
Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem or Jerusalem.

Day 6: Qumran, Masada, Dead Sea:

Qumran: An archaeological site located on a dry plateau about a mile inland from the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, Qumran is best known as the settlement nearest to the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
Massada: We ascent to Masada by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress where from 70-73 AD the Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean Revolt and where the remains of storehouses, cisterns, and a 6th-century Byzantine church are still on view.
Dead Sea:Enjoy the afternoon swimming and floating in the Dead Sea.
Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem or Jerusalem.

Day 7: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Mt. Zion, Bethlehem:

of Olives: The Mount of Olives is one of three peaks of a mountain ridge, which runs for 2.2 miles just east of the Old City across the Kidron Valley, also referred to as the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Several key events in the life of Jesus as related in the Gospels took place on the Mount of Olives, and in the Book of Acts, it is described as the place from which Jesus ascended to heaven. From here, we will have a panoramic view towards the Temple Mount and the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Garden of Gethsemane: Located at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. It is the place where after the Last Supper, Jesus prayed the night before his arrest and crucifixion.
Zion: Important sites on Mount Zion are:
The Dormition Abbey: During his visit to Jerusalem in 1898 for the dedication of the Protestant Church of the Redeemer, Kaiser Wilhelm II bought this piece of land on Mount Zion and presented it to the “German Union of the Holy Land”. According to local tradition, it was on this spot, near the site of the Last Supper, that Mary, Mother of Jesus, died.
King David’s Tomb: According to a tradition beginning in the 12th century, it is a site viewed as the burial place of David, King of Israel.
The Room of the Last Supper (Cenacle): Since at least the 4th century AD, it is a structure identified as the Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper, and has been a popular Christian pilgrimage site on Mount Zion.
Bethlehem: The Church of the Nativity of Jesus. The holy site, known as the Grotto, on which the Church of the Nativity sits, is today associated with the cave in which the birth of Jesus of Nazareth occurred. In 2012, the church complex became the first Palestinian site to be listed as a World Heritage Site by the World Heritage Committee.
Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem or Jerusalem.

Day 8: Jerusalem

The Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary: Traditions often identified it with the biblical Mount Moriah, where the story of the binding of Isaac is set. The Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary is the holiest site in Judaism, which regards it as the place where God’s divine presence is manifested more than any other place. The location has great significance in Christianity due to the role the Temple played in the life of Jesus. As a twelve-year-old boy, Jesus was found in the Temple where he confounded the Jewish theologians with his knowledge of the Torah (Luke 2:41-50). During his ministry, Jesus challenged the corruption of those who used the Temple for commerce and extortion (Matthew 21:12-17), and prophesied the temple’s destruction, which came to pass in AD 70.
The Wailing Wall: Also known as The Western Wall. Parts of the wall are remnants of the ancient wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple’s courtyard, and is arguably the most sacred site recognized by the Jewish faith outside of the Temple Mount/Noble Sanctuary itself.
Via Dolorosa: We’ll walk along Via Dolorosa starting from Judgment Hall known as the Antonia Fortress where Jesus was led to be condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. We’ll make our way through the markets of the Old City and the Stations of the Cross and reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice, stopping at each of the fourteen Stations of the Cross until we reach the final stations located within the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher: The site is venerated as Calvary (Golgotha), where Jesus was crucified, and also contains the place where Jesus is said to have been buried.
Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem or Jerusalem.

Day 9: Jerusalem, Departure:

The Garden Tomb: It is a rock-cut tomb in Jerusalem that was unearthed in 1867, and has subsequently been considered by some Christians to be the site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus. Here there is the possibility of having a worship service.
The Israel Museum: Here, we will see a 1:50 scale model of the city of Jerusalem at the eve of its destruction by the Romans in the year 70 AD. In addition, we will visit The Shrine of the Book, which tells the story of the important finding of the Dead Sea scrolls in Qumran.
Yad Vashem: This institute is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953.When Yad Vashem was established, a core goal of its founding visionaries was to recognize Gentiles who, at personal risk, chose to save their Jewish brethren from the ongoing genocide during the Holocaust.
Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv) International Airport for departure.

Included

Private airport transfers for arrival and departure.
Accommodations on bed and breakfast at the selected hotels (or similar).
An air-conditioned private vehicle with WiFi.
A licensed English speaking guide for all excursions (other languages may apply).
Entrance fees to all visiting sites.

Not Included

Flight bookings.
Lunches, dinners and beverages not mentioned in the itinerary.
Personal expenses.
Tips.
Personal travel and trip insurance.
Anything not mentioned.

Optional Extras

This trip includes the following types of accommodation:

Home stay
Christian guesthouse
3 star hotel
3 Star hotel premium
4 star hotel
4 star hotel premium
5 star hotel
5 star premium
Boutique hotel

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Prices indicated on our website are listed in USD. Tour confirmation is immediate upon full payment of the tour.

PAYMENTS AND PRICING:

To issue payment for your booking you can use the following methods:

Bank Transfer: We cover all Bank Transfer fees.
Credit Card Payments: You can pay via MasterCard, Visa and Diner’s Club. There is a 5% transaction fee for payments via credit card.
PayPal: There is a 5% transaction fee for payments via PayPal.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

Private Tours:

Cancellations for private tours may be requested within 24 hours of the purchase at no penalty. After the first 24-hour period, cancellations will incur varying fees based on the proximity of the request to the tour date:

30 days or more prior to arrival: $200 USD cancellation fee.
14 to 29 days prior to arrival: 30% of the full trip cost is non refundable.
7 to 13 days prior to arrival: 40% of the full trip cost is non refundable.
3 to 6 days prior to arrival: 70% of the full trip cost is non refundable.
The tour is non-refundable 2 days or less from the arrival date.

To avoid cancellation fees, trips may be transferred to other travelers at no charge. Transfer requests must be made no less than one week before the tour’s start date.

Aeolus Tours reserves the right to cancel or postpone any trip due to force majeur, natural disasters, political instability, or other external events; if the trip cannot be completed as planned or with full guarantee of your safety. In that event, you may choose either to transfer your amounts paid to an alternate departure date or receive a full refund. In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control, refunds will be less at any unrecoverable costs. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance or non-refundable flights.

In instances where a Client’s itinerary must be changed, Aeolus Tours will make comparable modifications with the Client’s immediate notification.

INSURANCE

The tours do not include any forms of personal travel insurance. The Client will be solely responsible for purchasing comprehensive travel and trip insurance policies to cover any unforeseen situations that may occur before, during and after the trip.

VISA

As a tour operator based under Israeli jurisdiction, Aeolus Tours can facilitate and work with group members for visa application through the Israel Ministry of the Interior. Aeolus Tours is not able to affect or influence the visa process in any way. All decisions regarding such authorizations go back to the Israeli Ministry of Interior who as a body is solely responsible for any authorizations and rejections of visas.

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HOTELS

Hotel check-in is at 3 p.m. on the arrival date and check-out is at 12 p.m. on the departure date. The Client will be responsible to coordinate flight times to coincide with hotel check-in and check-out times as best as possible. Late hotel check-out will incur additional charges, unless arranged with Aeolus Tours otherwise. In the event that accommodation choices have changed, the Client will be notified by email in advance.

Aeolus Tours has taken every measure to work with reputable hotels and tour guides; however standards of hygiene, transportation, timeliness and accommodations in the Middle East are often lower than those in the Western World. As such, Aeolus Tours will consider service levels met, when they meet the same requirements as in the destination country.

FLIGHTS

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PRIVACY POLICY

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RESPONSIBILITY OF AEOLUS TOURS

Aeolus Tours will always provide clients with the appropriate assistance without undue delay in any situation. This will include providing thorough communications pertaining to a client’s booking. Clients will be assisted in matters regarding information on health services, local authorities, consular assistance, immigration, customs and helping to find alternative travel arrangements. We may charge you a reasonable fee for such assistance if the difficulty is caused intentionally by you or through your negligence.

JURISDICTION

Aeolus Tours is obligated to follow Israeli law and is subject to the jurisdiction of the Israeli courts.

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Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Jaffa:

Day 2: Megiddo, Caesarea Maritima, Haifa, Mt. Carmel:

Day 3: Sea of Galilee, Mt. of Beatitudes, Tabgha, Capernaum, Cana, Nazareth:

Day 4: Caesarea Philippi, Golan Heights:

Day 5: Yardenit, Beit Shean, Mount Gilboa, Jericho, Mount of Temptation:

Day 6: Qumran, Masada, Dead Sea:

Day 7: Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Mt. Zion, Bethlehem:

Day 8: Jerusalem

Day 9: Jerusalem, Departure:

Included

Not Included

Optional Extras

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