Join Pastor Thomas Short on the Into the Word in Israel tour. This 11-day Israel trip will take you on an educational, historical, and eye-opening journey through the most important cities and sites in the country. Experience your favorite stories of Kings, Prophets, and Disciples where they transpired.
AT A GLANCE
STATUS
Registration is open. CLICK HERE to jump to the registration section.
DATES
Departing: September 16, 2024
Returning: September 26, 2024
PRICING
Starting at $4,370 per person for double-room occupancy (single rooms + $1,015)*
Each traveler must have:
Current US Passport valid until at least six months AFTER the return date;
Travel insurance.
Your tour includes:
Round-trip international air transportation from Chicago, IL (ORD);
First-class and deluxe hotels;
Land transportation via a deluxe motor coach (WiFi equipped);
Professional tour guide and driver;
Entrance fees to all activities listed on the itinerary;
Breakfast and dinner daily with special meals noted on the itinerary (lunch is purchased on own unless otherwise noted);
Luggage handling at hotels.
Your tour does NOT include:
Travel insurance (required);
Domestic flights;
Gratuities for guide and driver (Please give at least $120 per registrant in cash to your tour host at the beginning of your journey. You may give more at the end of your journey if you desire.).
*See Terms and Conditions for details.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Monday, September 16, 2024
Today we depart on our Israel journey from Chicago, Illinois to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Day 2: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
Upon arrival at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, our Israeli host will assist us with the transfer of our luggage. We will meet our guide, board our deluxe motor coach, and drive north up the coast. We will stop to visit Caesarea Maritima, built by King Herod the Great in 22 BC. After viewing the extensive ruins of this ancient port city, we will stop for lunch before visiting Megiddo, the fortress city that kept watch over Israel’s northern breadbasket, the Jezreel/Megiddo Plain. Dinner and overnight at our Galilee Region hotel.
Day 3: Wednesday, September 18, 2024
After our first Israeli breakfast, we will visit the Wedding Church at Cana (Kfar Cana), the city of Jesus’ first miracle. We will walk the breadth of Nazareth from the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation and “Mary’s Well” on the east to the Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation on the west. After lunch, we will visit the ancient Galilean capital of Zippori and learn how this city likely impacted Jesus’ life. Dinner and overnight at our Galilee Region hotel.
Day 4: Thursday, September 19, 2024
After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day with a drive to visit the city of Hazor, known in Joshua’s day as ‘head of all those kingdoms’. We will then visit ancient Luz/Dan and see the gates from the time of Abraham and Northern Israel, as well as the site of Jeroboam’s abominable Golden Calf. After lunch, we will visit Caesarea Philippi (Banias), a city of Greek-Roman culture known for its worship of foreign gods, and where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” We will then drive the Road to Damascus and visit Mt. Bental, an abandoned IDF bunker overlooking the Syrian border where we will learn of the battles that took place here. We will end this day experiencing true Israeli hospitality and dinner in the home of our CEO, Omer Eshel, on the Cliffs of Gadara where Jesus cast the demons (legion) into the swine. Overnight at our Galilee Region hotel.
Day 5: Friday, September 20, 2024
After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to visit the Yigal Allon Center to see the ancient Galilee boat. Next, we will sail on the Sea of Galilee before enjoying a delicious fish lunch. Afterward this amazing feast we will visit Magdala, a major 1st-century port on the Sea of Galilee, a center of trade and commerce, and an exporter of salted fish to markets as far away as Europe. It is here we will see a 1st-century synagogue where Jesus would have taught. We hope to enjoy the sunset overlooking the view from Mount Arbel. Dinner and overnight at our Galilee Region hotel. Shabbat Shalom!
Day 6: Saturday, September 21, 2024
After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day with a visit to the ruins of Chorazin, which Jesus condemned, along with nearly Bethsaida and Capernaum for their rejection of Him. We will then see the beautiful Mount of Beatitudes, believed to be where Jesus prayed all night before naming the Twelve and delivering His Sermon on the Mount. We will then stop at Tabgha on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, which Thomas believes to be the site of Bethsaida Galilee, the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip. Its Primacy of St. Peter Church recalls Jesus’ third appearance to his apostles after the resurrection. After lunch, we will drive to Capernaum, the city that Jesus adopted as the home base for His public ministry in Galilee. Dinner and overnight at our Galilee Region hotel.
Day 7: Sunday, September 22, 2024
After breakfast at our hotel, we will visit Tel Jezreel to see the ruins of the city of Ahab and Jezebel. We will then travel to Beit She’an where we will see the most extensive and best preserved ruins of this Decapolis city. It is here that King Saul was defeated and killed, along with his three sons. This city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 749. After lunch, we will visit Qasr el Yahud, the traditional site of Israel’s crossing into the Promised Land and of the ministry of John the Baptist. We will see ancient Jericho in the distance as we drive through the Judean Wilderness, where Jesus was tempted, before arriving at the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea. We will enjoy time to float on the Dead Sea before dinner and overnight at our Dead Sea hotel.
Day 8: Monday, September 23, 2024
After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the beautiful site of Ein Gedi, where David hid from Saul when he pursued him to kill him. Afterward, we set out to see the incredible rock-top fortress of Masada. This once palatial refuge for Herod the Great is better known as the location of a Roman siege against 960 Jewish defenders in AD 74. Next, we will visit Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. After lunch, we will drive to Jerusalem and overlook this spectacular city from the Mt. of Olives. We will then walk down to the Church of All Nations. Dinner and overnight at our Jerusalem hotel.
Day 9: Tuesday, September 24, 2024
After breakfast at our hotel, we will begin our day with a visit to the Israel Museum and see a large model of Jerusalem from the time of Jesus, the Shrine of the Book, where you will see pieces of the Dead Sea Scrolls and many other artifacts. We will visit the Zion Gate and walk down to the Cardo, Jerusalem’s oldest shopping area for lunch in the Jewish Quarter. After lunch, we will visit the Southern Steps Excavation Project and walk on the same steps that Jesus and his disciples walked. We will then visit the City of David, see the Pool of Siloam, and walk through Hezekiah’s (wet) or the Canaanite (dry) tunnel. We will see areas where Jesus would have walked and perhaps taught such as the Southern Steps of the Temple at the Davidson Center, the Trumpeter Stone, and Robinson’s Arch. Dinner and overnight at our Jerusalem hotel.
Day 10: Wednesday, September 25, 2024
After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb, the traditional Golgotha, believed by many to be the burial place of Jesus. We will observe communion with those who choose to participate. We will then enjoy a time of reflection and prayer at the Kotel (Western Wall) before we walk through the Western Wall Tunnels, exiting near the Church of Flagellation to see the Pool of Bethesda at St. Anne’s Church. We will walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, another possible site for the tomb of Jesus. After lunch, we will walk to the Citadel of David and view the city from the top of the tower. Then we will visit the Joppa Gate area before one last view of the city from the Mount of Olives. Dinner and overnight at your Jerusalem hotel.
Day 11: Thursday, September 26, 2024
After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for the airport to begin our journey home. Shalom and Blessings until next time!
HOW TO REGISTER
STEP 1: COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORM
Register for the trip by completing the Traveler Registration Form and paying the non-refundable registration fee of $300 (plus taxes and fees). For more info, please review our Terms and Conditions.
STEP 2: COMPLETE BOOKING
After you complete the Traveler Registration Form, click the event link below to select your trip options and complete your booking. Upon checkout via the event page, you can select from the following payment options: Online via Credit Card or PayPal; or Manual Payments via Check, Zelle, or Bank Wire. Instructions for each payment method will be available on the checkout page and are always available on our Payment Options page.