This private tour is reserved for a small group at Vineyard Fort Collins. (There is still more info coming) (If you'd like to arrange your own trip connect with us on our contact page, and we can set you up for the time and price that works for your group of 6-25 people.)
Spiritual Pilgrimage (flexible & Tentative) Itinerary April 23-May 5, 2021
Check here for latest update day and see if there is something new on your trip: Dec 3, 2019.
FRIDAY APRIL 23--Meet your group at DEN airport and board your Friday overnight flight to Europe (or direct to Tel Aviv).
SATURDAY APRIL 24--Arrive in Tel Aviv, go through passport control, grab your luggage and meet Kim on the ground floor Aroma Coffee Shop. We will get you settled with exchanging dollars for shekels or using the ATM. We will grab some food at the airport and bring it with us, and then load up our van, and go check into our Tel Aviv hotel or Air BnB (Night 1) and crash for the evening of recuperation. If anyone is feeling adventurous and wants to go out for a walk to stretch out the kinks in Tel Aviv, we can do that.
SUNDAY APRIL 25--Awake feeling refreshed and enjoy a breakfast buffet at our hotel. Load up the van and drive off on our adventure. Once enrout, we'll stop at the David and Goliath field, the Valley of Elah. Then continue on to the Dead Sea (about 2 hour drive) to Masada and take the gondola to the top (unless we have any brave souls who want to hike the 1800-foot incline path, and we'll wait for you at the top.) We will drive back to Ein Bokek resort area to check into the resort hotel and get a quick lunch before our first option afternoons. A Choice: Any of you may choose to go deeper into the Negev Desert to take a Kafar Hanokdim 1-hour camel tour. (round trip will run about 4 hours) B Choice: Any of you may choose to be dropped off at the hotel with 75 shekels to spend on your own personal spa products and have an extended time in your Dead Sea float, or time in the resort freshwater pool. (or schedule a massage or other spa treatment at your own expense.) After a sumptuous dinner, night team meeting (Abraham & the stars Promise) on the shore of the Dead Sea. (night 2 at Dead Sea).
MONDAY APRIL 26--Awake early and enjoy another wonderful breakfast. Then pack our van and check out for a full day of adventures. We will pull out by 8:15 and drive to Ein Gedi for an early morning hike where David hid from King Saul, (wear your swimsuit or clothes that can get wet) and take a dip in the waterfalls and pools! (coffee and changing rooms available). Then on to Qumron where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Drive north toward the Galilee and stop at Bet She'an (where Saul and his son's bodies were hung on the city walls) to explore the ancient ruins up close. Continue around the east side of Sea of Galilee. Look around Kibbutz Ein Gedi. Dinner on the kibbutz. Continue north to hostel, Karei Deshe. Check in and explore property by flashlight. Team meeting on the shore if it is not too late upon arrival. Wade if you want (or try walking on water!). (night 3 in Galilee).
TUESDAY APRIL 27--Christian Sites Day. Order will depend on what time we can get tickets for our boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus Boat museum and boat ride on the Galilee, (Optional: St Peter's Primacy spot), Capurnaum, Magdela for tour and contemplation, Jordan River Baptism. Clean up and wander through Tiberias. Stop for dinner. Drive back to Karei Deshe. (night 4 in Galilee).
WEDNESDAY APRIL 28--Tentative to the Golan Heights Day. Breakfast at 7, load up van by 8. (big driving day). CHOICE DAY 2: A. Drive north to the border with Syria at Mount Hermon and Mount Bental. (if war appears dangerous at this time we will reschedule this time, plenty of options). Time of intercession on the border, and coffee or lunch depending on time. CHOICE B: Can consider trying to get into Kishor for an afternoon wine tasting. A few of the following can be added to the above choice. View volcanoes, Caesarea Phillipi, perhaps explore/climb in "Nimrod's castle." Banias Waterfall stair-hike near Philippi. Dinner on the road home. Early evening for final team meeting on the shore of Galilee. Pack up. Choice C: Drive west to the Valley of Armageddon, Megiddo National Park, and Mount Carmel (night 5 in Galilee).
THURSDAY APRIL 29--Last morning with early devotions on the Sea of Galilee, and breakfast, then check out. Driving south, coffee & pastry stop at Aroma Coffee and a walk (or swim) at Gan HaSlosha (the 3 pools/3 gardens) Continue on toward Jerusalem, past Jericho and stop at St George's Monastery (Valley of the Shadow of Death) for a steep hike and meet some Bedouins. Enter into Jerusalem and check into our Air BnB. Unpack and walk into the city for dinner. Evening walk around tour. (night 6 in Jerusalem).
Friday April 30--Early morning Orientation Tour walking on the Old City walls of Jerusalem with intercession time on the Armenian and Jewish side toward the Western Wall Plaza. Jaffa Gate, Western Wall for prayer, David's Tomb, lunch/shopping in Cardo area, (Most things close around 2 pm) we will try to add Upper Room, Zion Gate. Afternoon free time, can go to an early dinner at Focaccia and then return to the Western Wall in time for prayers, or reverse and have a later dinner around 8:30/9 after prayers are over. (night 7 in Jerusalem)
SATURDAY-SHABBAT MAY 1--Leisurely morning, devotions or walk on your own. Around 11, taxi to the Top of the Mount of Olives, view the city from the place Yeshua lamented "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem..." walk down the mountain past the Tomb of the Prophets and to Garden of Gethsemane by 2:30 re-opening time. Follow the Kidron Valley back into the Old City at Lion's Gate. Late lunch-on-the-go in the Arab Quarter. Walk through Damascus Gate over to the Garden Tomb by 4:30. Leave aroun 5:45 with options for walking around the city, reading the Bible in a park, just hanging out with people in the city. [Option to drive by a Bethlehem Overlook and the US Embassy in Gilo earlier in the day]. Late dinner after the city opens back up. (night 8 in Jerusalem).
SUNDAY MAY 2-- Jerusalem Underground Day. Rabbinical Tunnels, Temple Institute, City of David and Hezekiah's Tunnel, Caiaphas' House and Cistern, David's Citadel (night 9 in Jerusalem).
MONDAY MAY 3--Early trip (8am) via light rail system and walk to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial 3 hrs. (9-noon) early lunch at the coffee shop on site. Shuk shopping stop on the way home, Ben Yahudah shopping while walking back to our Air BnB. Dinner at First Station and Optional evening or afternoon worship at Succat Hallel (24/7 worship and intercession) (night 10 in Jerusalem).
TUESDAY MAY 4--Free morning to find a café to sit in, check out of our AirBnB by 10:30 and load up van. Options: 1. Modern History day: Ammunition Hill (1967 6-Day War Museum & Memorial), Latrun Israeli tanks outdoor museum, and Atlit Detention Center. Or Option 2. Ancient Port of Caesarea and the Roman Aquaduct, Finale dinner and airport drop off. Tree planting & finale dinner accompany either choice. (night 11 is on the plane)
WEDNESDAY MAY 5--Continue through security and board the early, early AM flight home. Fly all night and most of the day, with a possible European layover for a good stretch. Arrive home in Denver later afternoon/evening.
