Have you always wanted to see the Holy Land?
Would you like to walk where Jesus walked?
Do you have a thirst to learn more about the Bible?
An all-inclusive 14-day trip Feb. 11-25, 2017
Consider some of the places/sites we will visit with these special features:
Archaeologist Joel Kramer leads us for 3 days!
Optional day in Istanbul
Sea of Galilee boat ride
Baptisms in Jordan River
Hike to Qumran Cave 1
Rabbi Tour of Western Wall
Camel ride in the desert
Valley of Elah (David/Goliath)
Communion at Garden Tomb
Resort hotel at the Dead Sea
Travel diary for every traveler
Masada
Hezekiah’s Tunnel
2 free DVDS
Trip prep w/emails and YouTube videos
And much more!
PRE EXTENSION TOUR – This first part of the itinerary is for those going to Istanbul for a day.
ITINERARY
Saturday, February 11, 2017 – CHICAGO / ISTANBUL
Leave from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport on Turkish Airlines to Istanbul, Turkey. The flight includes three meals and on-board entertainment. Turkish Air is awesome!
Sunday, February 12, 2017 – ISTANBUL
Today we will arrive in Istanbul. We will be met and loaded onto our motor coach for our drive to Istanbul. We check into our hotel (the Konak Hotel) for dinner and overnight.
Monday, February 13, 2017 – ISTANBUL / TOPKAPI PALACE / BLUE MOSQUE / HAGGIA SOPHIA / ARCHAEOLOGICAL / ST. SOPHIA / TIBERIAS
Today begin your day with a tour to the magnificent Topkapi Palace once home to the great Sultans; it is filled with treasures and antiquities including twelve thousand pieces of fine Chinese porcelain. Then visit the unique Blue Mosque built in 1609 by Sultan Ahmet. The interior walls are covered with twenty thousand blue Iznik tiles. Our sightseeing continues with Hippodrome and Basilica of St. Sophia, which has inspired architects and religious leaders for over fifteen hundred years. Constructed in 326 by Constantine the Great, it has been a cathedral, a mosque, and now a museum. We will also have a chance to visit the Archaeological Museum. After a Turkish dinner, we will get a chance to visit the Grand Bazaar, the largest open air market in the world. Tonight we will transfer to the airport to meet the other travelers and take our flight to Tel Aviv.
DAY 1 – Sunday, February 12, 2017 CHICAGO / ISTANBUL
Tour members not spending a day in Istanbul leave O’Hare International Airport today for Istanbul, Turkey. The flight includes three meals and on-board entertainment.
DAY 2 – Monday, February 13, 2017 – ISTANBUL / TEL AVIV / NETANYA
Those who toured Istanbul today will meet the other group in the airport for transfer from Istanbul to Tel Aviv, Israel. Dinner and overnight in Netanya off the Med. Coast.
THE HOLY LAND BEGINS HERE
DAY 3 – Tuesday, February 14, 2017 – CAESAREA / MOUNT CARMEL / MEGIDDO / NAZARETH VILLAGE / TIBERIAS
Happy Valentine’s Day! This morning we proceed to Caesarea, built by Herod the Great. This is one of the most researched archaeological sites in the Holy Land. We will visit the Roman port, Crusader’s Moat, Hippodrome, Roman Theater, and aqueduct. When we were there in 2015, a major horde of gold coins from the time of Herod was discovered by a scuba diver in the harbor…that very day! From here we continue to Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged Baal’s priests. After lunch, we proceed to Megiddo to visit the excavations that unearthed 20 different civilizations. It is better known as Har Megiddo, or “Armageddon” according to Revelation. We then proceed to Nazareth Village in Jesus’s hometown where we will go back 2,000 years and have a chance to interact with shepherds, carpenters, and others folks living in the boyhood days of Jesus. Finally, we make our way to our hotel (a kibbutz) in Tiberias on the shore Sea of Galilee for dinner on the first of our three-night stay. Before dinner, feel free to swim in the Sea of Galilee and be sure to visit the kibbutz’s petting zoo!
DAY 4 – Wednesday, February 15, 2017 – BAPTISMS AT JORDAN RIVER / GINOSSAR / CHORAZIN / HAZOR / DAN / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / GOLAN HEIGHTS / TIBERIAS
This morning is a special time to practice the ordinance of water baptism. We will go to the Jordan River where those participants who have never been baptized (or who do not remember their infant baptisms) will have a chance to give their testimony and be immersed the same way as Jesus. Next, we head north to Chorazin, through the Hula Valley to Hazor, where we will see ruins of the powerful Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua and rebuilt by King Jabin and then by Solomon as a chariot city to command upper Galilee. We continue to the northern limits to Dan, where we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of the ancient ruins, topped by the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf (I Kings 12). Next we’ll take a short drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan the Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds, where Peter made his great profession of faith. Driving along the base of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel. Return to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight. If his schedule permits, tonight we have a special presentation as a local Jewish high school history teacher gives us a hands-on lesson on geography and the biblical history of Israel.
DAY 5 – Thursday, February 16, 2017 – SEA OF GALILEE / CAPERNAUM / TABGHA / MOUNT OF BEATITUDES / ST. PETER’S FISH LUNCH / BET SHEAN / TIBERIAS
We’ll take an early morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to view the same shores seen by Jesus. It will be a chance to meditate, worship, and even learn a Jewish dance. After this, we will see a New Testament boat found two decades ago during a drought dating to the time of the apostles. Next we continue to Capernaum where the home of Peter’s mother-in-law and the town’s synagogue can be seen. From here, we visit Christian churches located at Tabgha (loaves and fishes) and the Mount of Beatitudes—a place where we can read from the Sermon on the Mount. An added bonus: We will stop by a Sea of Galilee restaurant to experience a St. Peter’s fish lunch—get ready to take a picture of your meal! After lunch, we travel along the Rift Valley to Bet Shean, an amazing archaeological site associated with the death of King Saul. We will have the opportunity to see the ancient theater and hike up the tell (the ancient mound) comprising more than a dozen civilizations. We will spend the night at the Sea of Galilee for a third night and prepare for our drive south in the morning.
DAY 6 – Friday, February 17, 2017– CAMEL RIDE / EIN GEDI / MASADA / DEAD SEA RESORT HOTEL
We wake up early and start the day by taking an extended bus ride down to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on the earth (1300 feet below sea level). Before we arrive, we will go to a Bedouin camp where we can ride camels in the desert. This is what it must have felt like 2,000 years ago! Next we visit Ein Gedi and take in a little bit of Paradise in the desert as we observe the wildlife and a wonderful waterfall. In one of these caves above the waterfall area where we will have a devotional, David found Solomon and cut off part of his robe. After sampling authentic Bedouin tea or coffee, we head over to Masada and ascend by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from AD 70-73, Jewish defenders made their historic stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We will have a chance to explore as we walk through the storehouses, cisterns, and palace created by Herod the Great. We then head over to the Dead Sea where we have planned a special retreat at a resort hotel. This is a place where you can enter the waters of the Dead Sea for a swim and mud yourself. Or, if you’d like, utilize the basement spa area of the hotel—just sit back and let the bubbles relax you.
DAY 7 – Saturday, February 18, 2017 – HERODIUM / BETHLEHEM / NEW JERUSALEM / AMBASSADOR
Let’s start the story of Jesus right by heading back north to the Herodium, the palace set in a conical mountain that was built by Herod the Great and where his tomb was uncovered in 2007. Remember, it was Herod was visited by the Wise Men. He did what he could to prevent the “King of Kings” from being born, including the “Massacre of the Innocents.” After seeing this man’s monument to himself, let’s go visit one of the possible sites for the Shepherds’ Fields—perhaps we could celebrate Christmas a bit early by singing “Silent Night” inside one of the caves! Bethlehem is where Jesus was born, a direct fulfillment of Micah 5:2. We can visit the Church of the Nativity where, in a basement cave, we will stand in the same place where the Savior was born. We will also visit the quarters where Jerome translated the Latin Vulgate in the fourth century. Let’s take time out for lunch as well as shop at an olive wood store run by believers. Now we head toward Jerusalem, certainly the most popular and important city in Israel. We will stop by a lookout point that allows us to see the entire city and get our picture taken. Then we will go down and visit Mt. Zion, seeing sites traditionally linked with the Upper Room and the tomb of King David. Finally, let’s go to our hotel, the Ambassador (a personal favorite), for dinner and overnight. After dinner, filmmaker/ archaeologist Joel Kramer speaks to the group about the science of archaeology.
DAY 8 – Sunday, February 19, 2017 – QUMRAN / JERICHO / SHILOH / AMBASSADOR
(WITH JOEL KRAMER) We begin today’s journey at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were first discovered in 1947. Ancient Jews called the Essenes copied several hundred manuscripts (later known as the Dead Sea Scrolls), including the earliest copies we have of the Old Testament. We can look around the village where these Jews lived 2,000 years ago. For those in shape and who are more adventurous, we will take a hike up the hill to Cave 1, the place where Bedouin shepherds first found the scrolls. (Warning: this trek is not for the timid! Bring good shoes and gloves to hold onto the sharp rocks.) We will hear a devotional from Joel in front of the cave, and you will have a chance to go inside the cave where the scrolls were first discovered. (Those who are not interested may stay in the Qumran Village and shop for Dead Sea salts and lotions.) Next we head over to Jericho, the city of Palms, where Joel will give us an on-site “rest of the story” to the complimentary DVD that you received for signing up on this trip. We’ll also stop by Herod’s palace that is now in ruins. We’ll end the day at Shiloh, a place where the tabernacle rested for many years before it went to Jerusalem. You will see the area where the tabernacle was placed, with the holes for the tents still in the rocks 3,000 years later! We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9 – Monday, February 20, 2017 – JACOB’S WELL / MT. GERIZIM / JOSEPH’S TOMB / SHECKEM / BETHEL / AI / SAMARIA / AMBASSADOR
(WITH JOEL KRAMER) Today we will have a chance to see sites that many tourists will never experience, as Joel Kramer will lead us for the second day. First, we begin at Jacob’s Well in Nabalis where Jesus had a conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4). Drink a cup of cold water from this deep well! From here, we visit the traditional place of the patriarch Joseph’s tomb. Next we go up to the hill of Mt. Gerizim and see the site where the Samaritans still worship today. Next we then head over to Sheckem where a gate from the time of Abraham and a temple mentioned in Judges are located. Then we proceed to Samaria to see the Israelite ruins of the capitol of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Up next on the agenda is a possible location for Ai, the city conquered by the Israelites (see Judges). Next to Ai is Bethel, where Abraham pitched his tent. Few of your friends have ever seen these sites! Dinner / overnight at the hotel.
DAY 10 – Tuesday, February 21, 2017 – LACHISH / GEZER / VALLEY OF ELAH / CHURCH OF THE DORMITION / CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPEULCHER / AMBASSADOR
(WITH JOEL KRAMER) We begin the day traveling to “Tel Lachish,” which is the site of an Old Testament city and is now an archaeological site as well as an Israeli national park. Next we go to Gezer, an ancient Canaanite city 20 miles west of Jerusalem. Because the Israelites never fully obeyed God’s commands to destroy the Canaanites, they eventually lost this city to the Philistines. We’ll hear about the child sacrifice that was practiced by the pagan nations, a good reason God why wanted these enemies of God eliminated. Next we go to the Valley of Elah, the place where David fought Goliath. From a certain location, you will be able to see exactly where the battle took place and even view the stream where David picked up his rocks. Next, we head to Jerusalem and Mt. Zion and the “Mother of All Churches”—the Church of the Dormition on Mt. Zion. This church traditionally marks the place where Pentecost took place. Then we go down the hill to the old city where Joel will take us to see some archaeological digs that he’s been involved just outside the city walls as well as visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher—this is the authentic place where Jesus was crucified and buried. Although there is plenty of tradition here that goes beyond the biblical facts, Joel will help us cut through the incense so we can understand the historical significance of this site. For those who are interested in shopping, you can stay in the city to be picked up later by the bus, or you have the option to head directly to the hotel. At this point we will say our goodbyes to Joel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
DAY 11 – Wednesday, February 22, 2017 – HERODIUM / BETHLEHEM / YAD VASHEM / GALLICANTU / HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL / SCHINDLER’S GRAVE / AMBASSADOR
We head south a few miles from our hotel to the Herodium, the palace set in a conical mountain that was built by Herod and where his tomb was uncovered in 2007. Next, it’s off to Bethlehem to visit one of the possible sites for the Shepherds’ Fields—perhaps we could celebrate Christmas a bit early by singing “Silent Night” inside one of the caves! Here is the Church of the Nativity where, in a basement cave, we can be in the same place where he was born. We will also visit the quarters where Jerome translated the Latin Vulgate in the fourth century. We’ll take time out for lunch as well as shop at an olive wood store run by believers. This afternoon, we return to Jerusalem and visit Yad Vashem (a Holocaust Museum) to see what evil man is capable of doing without God. We then head to Gallicantu. Here, some suggest, was where the high priest Caiaphas interrogated Jesus. We then walk over to Hezekiah’s Tunnel to wade in the knee-high water. This tunnel is specifically mentioned in the Bible and is 1500+ feet in length. Feel the walls that were chiseled 2700 years ago, all the while sloshing through this water tunnel! The water won’t go much higher than your knees, so don’t worry. Just don’t forget the flashlight! If there’s time, we can stop by Schindler’s gravesite (of Schindler’s List fame).We head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 12 – Thursday, February 23, 2017 – WESTERN WALL / RABBI TUNNEL / SOUTHERN STEPS / WOHL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM / NEW JERUSALEM / AMBASSADOR
This morning we will experience the Western “Wailing” Wall, the holiest place in all of Judaism, before touring the Rabbi Tunnel, which takes us down to the very foundation of the walls. From here, we will visit the Southern (Teaching) Steps—Jesus was certainly here, right outside the temple itself. We will enter the Jewish Quarter of the Old City to visit the Wohl Archaeological Museum. Remains of this area of Jerusalem date back to the time of the Herodian Dynasty (37 BC to AD 70). After lunch, we will stop by Mount Zion, including visits to the Upper Room and the tomb of King David. Those who would like to join us for an optional walk on Jerusalem’s walls can do so for just a few dollars, as we can see the city both inside and outside these massive walls last constructed by Suleiman the Magnificent five centuries ago. We can also explore other parts of the old city, or feel free to do some final Jerusalem shopping. We head back to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 13 – Friday, February 24, 2017 – CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS / GETHSEMANE / POOL OF BETHESDA / ST. ANNE’S CHURCH / GARDEN TOMB / FREE TIME / AMBASSADOR
We begin the day at the Mount of Olives and make our way to the Church of All Nations in Gethsemane. There are olive trees in this garden 2,000+ years old! This is where Jesus prayed before getting betrayed and arrested. Next we head over to the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church, which is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period – with remarkable acoustics. Because today is our “Good Friday and Easter” all wrapped into one, why don’t we sing “Amazing Grace” together! You will have never heard this hymn sung more sweetly than here. Finally, the climax of our trip: the Garden Tomb! A private communion service will be given at a possible site of the tomb. The words “He is not here. He is risen indeed” will have extra meaning for everyone as we return home the next day from this wonderful trip. At this time, it should be early afternoon. For those who would like to finish exploring Jerusalem or complete your shopping, there is time to do so. Others who want to rest for our trip tomorrow can do that as well by returning to the hotel. That night, we have our final dinner and prepare for the next day’s early flight.
DAY 14 – Saturday, February 25, 2017 – JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / USA
We transfer to the airport for an early-morning flight back to Chicago. Knowing we have walked in the footsteps of Jesus and the early Christians on such a memorable tour will bring new meaning to our Bible reading and will enable us to better “own our own faith.” Truly this has been an unforgettable experience!
About Joel Kramer
Joel Kramer has led a life of adventure. (If you doubt this, just read his 2001 book Beyond Fear: A Harrowing Journey Across New Guinea through Rivers, Swamps, Jungle, and the Most Remote Mountains in the World). Joel has produced a number of feature-length and short-length videos on a number of topics, including Mormonism, polygamy, the Worldwide Church of God, and archaeology. (You can see his DVDs on sourceflix.com. Joel served as a pastor at the Brigham City Main Street Church before moving to Israel about a decade ago. Joel has studied archaeology at schools in Israel and has worked hands-on with top-notch archaeologists, including Shimon Gibson. In late 2016, Joel and his family will move to Jordan for a short time, but in February 2017 he will return for a few days so he can take us to fascinating sites such as Jericho, Jacob’s Well, and Shiloh. In the previous five trips organized by Eric Johnson, Joel has spoken to the travelers or guided us, and he is somebody you don’t want to miss!
About Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson has had the opportunity to travel to Israel six times (five of which he organized the trips). He taught for many years in Southern California (Christian High School Bible department head, professor at several colleges and Bethel Seminary San Diego, where he received his M.Div. in 1991). Eric and his family moved to Utah in 2010 in order to work full-time with Bill McKeever, with whom he has authored several books, including Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel 2013) and Mormonism 101 (Baker 2015). Eric has had a chance to bring his entire family and his sister Kirsten to Israel, as well as to Egypt and Turkey. Eric and his wife Terri have also explored biblical sites in Italy and Greece. While Eric was in seminary in the 1980s, he traveled throughout Europe with his sister Heidi for close to a month. He loves taking people to the Holy Land to allow them a chance to explore “God’s country” for themselves. The topic of archaeology especially interests him.
Special features about this trip
Air transportation from Chicago
Full-time guide / bus / driver
3- and 4-star hotels
All admission fees
2 meals a day, breakfast and dinner buffet
St. Peter’s fish lunch
Travel Diary of the Holy Land, specifically for your trip (designed and produced by Eric Johnson)
Email correspondence throughout the trip from Eric Johnson, including teaching, tips, video links, etc
2 Joel Kramer DVDs–The Bible vs. the Book of Mormon and Jericho Unearthed
If you live in Utah, Eric will teach 3-4 times in the months preceding the trip at Canyons Church in Cottonwood Heights
A 50-day Devotional Prepartation Guide (given PDF)
And so much more!
How much does this trip cost?
This 14-day trip is $4495 (with 20 travelers, minimum). If we get 25 or more, we will take $100 off! The price is all-inclusive, air from Chicago. All taxes and tips are included in the price. (Domestic air not included)
The optional 1-day tour of Istanbul Turkey is $345.
Maranatha Tours has been guiding trips to the Holy Land since 1974. They are a Christian company run by the Reilly family and are awesome people. If you would like more information about this trip, you can contact them by phone at 602-788-8864. Feel free to write Eric at eric at mrm dot org
To sign up online for the trip, click here.
I encourage you to look at some of the videos below to help you see what a great trip this really is!
An overview of what this trip would look like
An interview with two students who traveled with me in 2011
Joel Kramer speaks at Cave 1 in Qumran (the exact place the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered) on our trip in 2015