January 3, 2019 - January 13, 2019 Lead by Dr. Gale Struthers

Day 1: Thursday, Jan 3 - Depart from USA.

Day 2: Friday, Jan 4 - Joppa, Tel Aviv. After arriving at Ben Gurion airport we begin our Biblical journey in the ancient port city of Jaffa (Joppa), with its connections to Jonah and Peter. We will spend the night in Tel Aviv where we will experience our first Israeli dinner and a walk by the Mediterranean Sea.

Day 3: Saturday, Jan 5 - Caesarea, Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Mt. Arbel. We begin with a visit to the port city of Caesarea and then travel to Mt. Carmel where Elijah had a showdown with the prophets of Baal. We will visit the ruins of Megiddo, an important Old Testament site. We will drive through Nazareth on our way to Mt. Arbel for a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee. Then on to our hotel in Tiberias, on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Sunday, Jan 6 - Mount of Beatitudes, Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum. Today we start the day early at the Mount of Beatitudes, the location of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount.” Then north to the ancient sites of Dan and Caesarea Philippi (Banias). We return south through the Golan Heights, back to the shores of the Sea of Galilee where so much of Jesus’ ministry took place. We visit the sites at the ruins of Capernaum, and then take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Nof Ginosar where we’ll see an authentic Sea of Galilee first century fishing boat before enjoying dinner and a night of rest.

Day 5: Monday, Jan 7 - Jordan River, Beth Shean, Qumran, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea. Our day opens on the Jordan River where members of our group have the opportunity to be baptized. On to Beit She’an, Qumran and Ein Gedi, arriving at our hotel on the Dead Sea in time for a “swim” in the Dead Sea before dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Tuesday, Jan 8 - Masada, Beer-sheva, Lachish, Jerusalem. Our day begins on top of the fortress of Masada where Jewish zealots made their last stand against Rome in AD 73. We will travel to the biblical Negev visiting the extensive ruins of Beer Sheva. Then on to the site of Lachish, in the biblical Shephelah. Our day will end in Jerusalem where we will stay for the remainder of our time in Israel. Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 7: Wednesday, Jan 9 - Old City Jerusalem, Bethlehem. Our morning will focus on sites in the Old City of Jerusalem, including the southern temple steps and the rabbinic tunnels by the Western Wall. In the afternoon we visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. We will then go to the Shepherd’s Field and an olive wood gift store in Beit Sahour which is operated by a co-op of Palestinian Christian families. Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 8: Thursday, Jan 10 - Yad Vashem, Israel Museum, Via Dolorosa, Garden Tomb. Our morning will take us to the Holocaust Memorial Museum at Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum and other sites in Jerusalem’s new city. We will return to the Old City Christian Quarter and walk the Via Dolorosa ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We end the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb for worship and communion. Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 9: Friday, Jan 11 - Jerusalem, Yad Hashmona. Full day of touring today with a visit to the ancient city of David. We will then partake of a biblical garden tour and Passover meal at Yad Hashmona. Dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 10: Saturday, Jan 12 - Jerusalem. Our last day in the Holy City for independent activities. We will check out of the hotel at noon, and then later this evening, join our fellow group members for a farewell dinner. Late evening transfer to Ben Gurion airport.

Day 11: Sunday, Jan 13 - Arrive in the USA.

Tour Prices from Minneapolis (MSP)

• Double Occupancy $3,399
• Single Supplement $653

Features Include:

• Round-trip airfare from Minneapolis to Tel Aviv including fuel surcharges and taxes (subject to change until ticketed)
• All sightseeing as listed; including entrance fees
• Breakfast & dinners daily at hotels
• Accommodations including private bathroom at hotels
• Tips to tour guide, driver and hotel staff

Travel Agency

This tour is booked through Friendly Planet travel agency in Jenkintown, PA. This link contains detailed information about this tour: This site will be utilized to reserve your place, make payments for the tour and complete the necessary paperwork for travel.

General Terms & Conditions

PASSPORTS are required for all US citizens traveling abroad and must be valid for at least 6 months after your date of return. Many countries will not allow you to enter their borders if you do not have at least 6 months of remaining validity on your present passport. If you already have a valid passport, please send Friendly Planet Travel two clear photocopies of the signature and photograph pages of your passport with your reservation. If you do not already have a passport, you should make arrangements to get one without delay and send the photocopies of the appropriate pages as soon as your passport arrives. Be sure to sign your new passport before you make your photocopies for us. Friendly Planet must receive your passport copy 60 days prior to departure in order to assure that your name appears on your ticket exactly as it appears on your passport. Airlines may apply penalties if it is necessary to make corrections to your name either in the air record or on your ticket.

VISAS will be issued upon arrival in Israel.

DOCUMENTS for all tours will be sent via email approximately 14 to 21 days prior to departure. This includes your e-ticket if applicable.

TRANSFERS & TOURING are provided by modern, air-conditioned touring coaches. All entrance fees to places visited in the itinerary are included. Arrangements for the itineraries and domestic transportation are solely at the discretion of the local land operators and are subject to change without notice. If any changes are made, Friendly Planet has no liability.

TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE passports fees, excess baggage charges, baggage and personal insurance, items not specifically mentioned in the itinerary, or any items of a personal nature.

INDIVIDUAL DEPOSITS of $300 per person are required when placing reservations. INDIVIDUAL DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE ON ALL FRIENDLY PLANET TOURS WITHIN 90 DAYS OF DEPARTURE

FINAL PAYMENTS are due at least 75 days prior to departure or on the due date indicated on your invoice. Payments may be paid by check or major credit card.

UNUSED SERVICES cannot be refunded once the trip has begun. No refund can be made for absence by passengers from any part of the tour.

CANCELLATIONS of reservations must be made in writing and are subject to the following charges:

• Up to 90 days prior to departure - No Penalty
• 89—76 days prior to departure - $300
• 75— 45 days prior to departure - $600
• 44— 30 days prior to departure -$1,000
• 29— 10 days prior to departure - $1,500
• 9 days or less prior to departure - No Refund

Optional Travel Insurance (Rates are per-person)

• Basic Protection Plan $167
• Basic Protection Plan with Cancel $284