11-day (flexible & tentative) Israel Itinerary
March 30-April 10, 2023
Fly March 30/arrive March 31

Thursday, March 30--Board your home port city for the international flight to TLV. Plan your flight to arrive in Tel Aviv by Friday 9:00 PM.

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FRIDAY, March 31--Arrive in Tel Aviv by 9:00 PM, go through passport control, grab your luggage and meet Kim and our master tour guide on the ground floor Aroma Coffee Shop by 10:00 PM local time. Please use the pre-passport control kiosks to scan your passport and get your picture taken. We will get you settled with exchanging dollars for shekels or using the ATM. Then we'll just drive into Jerusalem. We will stay at the Dan Boutique Hotel (5 nights). 

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SATURDAY, April 1-- Shabbat & Erev Passover -- Wake up in Jerusalem! early for a 2/3rds day. We start with a drive to the top of the Mount of Olives (Pic to left is the view from Mt Olives), and we walk down past the Tomb of the Prophets to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations with a perfect view of the Gate Beautiful (Golden Gate) where Yeshua will pass through on his return. Then we will ride over to Caiaphas' House, enter the cistern where Jesus' was held before "trial" and end our day early around 2-3 pm with the silence and solitude of contemplation at the Garden Tomb. We will return to our hotel for an afternoon of rest before enjoying a personal team Passover Seder at our hotel led by Kim, Greta and Pete.

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SUNDAY April 2--Dead Sea Excursion Play Day
After breakfast, we will pile on our bus for a ride to the Dead Sea area. First stop, Qumron to see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. We will then enjoy an afternoon exploring the ancient desert fortress built by Herod the Great, Masada (you're welcome to enjoy a rigorous climb, but please train for it!). We will enjoy a(nother) hike at Ein Gedi in the afternoon and experience this desert oasis where David hid form King Saul. We'll have time in the later afternoon for a rejuvenating Dead Sea float before driving back to Jerusalem to our hotel for dinner.

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MONDAY April 3 Jerusalem Above and Below Day
 We start just inside Jaffa gate at David's Tower (pictured).  We will start our day on top of the old city ramparts to walk around above the Old City through the Armenian Quarter, over Zion Gate, toward the Western Wall Plaza. After prayer at the Western Wall (aka the "Wailing Wall," but please don't call it that, it's derogatory), we will venture into the Rabbinical Tunnels under the Arab Quarter along the underground length of the Western Wall. When we come back up, we'll walk over the St Anne's Church with amazing acoustics, and the Pool of Bethesda. We'll meet our bus driver for a ride over to the City of David over near Dung Gate and the Western Wall Plaza, and head underground again into Hezekiah's tunnel, where the Gihon Spring was re-routed nearly 3000 years ago. We will slosh through the water in the dark, so bring some shorts, a flashlight, and water shoes! We will visit the Cardo and have free time for buying and eating your lunch. Then we will perhaps sing a hymn, after we walk up to the Upper Room (replica), stop for a peek into David's Tomb Shrine if you're interested (we're walking right by it). Then it is back to our the Dan Boutique for dinner and some rest.

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TUESDAY April 4-- Ancient, Modern, Future Day.
We begin our day by boarding the bus and heading to Mount Hertzl in west Jerusalem to visit the world-premiere Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem for a couple of hours. You can grab a tea/coffee snack or lunch in their cafe to recover a bit or visit their multi-lingual bookstore. Or We might try Ammunition Hill instead of Yad Vashem. Then drive a little way out of town to the Valley of Elah and stand in the field where David defeated Goliath who "dared to defy the army of the Living God," and have the chance to put to death any fears that have held you captive! We'll stop for an included traditional Arab restaurant lunch at Abu Gosh, complete with world-renown, award-winning pita bread! We will have a chance to leave a living legacy by planting a tree in Israel's soil at Neot Kedumim. On our way back into Jerusalem, we will drive by a neighborhood in Gilo where we can see how large Bethlehem has grown since Jesus was born there, and stop by the Promenade for a little walk on your own with a new view of Jerusalem. Dinner back at our hotel.

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WEDNESDAY April 5--Travel toward the Galilee Day.
We pack up in Jerusalem and board the bus by 7:45 to drive to a stark desert wilderness respite, St George's Monastery for a look over the cliffside to see the monastery carved into the mountain at the "Valley of the Shadow of Death", recite Psalm 23 together at the site of Jesus' temptation, and perhaps meet some Bedouins. Then we continue north to Bet She'an. We'll stop at this ancient city where Saul and his son's bodies were hung on the city walls, to explore the ancient ruins up close. This was a center for a Christian community for several hundred years. Then we drive a few miles over for a swim (or walk) at the lush Eden-like landscape at Gan HaSlosha (the 3 pools/3 gardens. pictured). We will check into our hotel and overnight in Tiberias (3 nights) at the Ron Beach hotel. In the evening you're welcome to take a walk into town to explore the boardwalk or enjoy the property, right on the Sea of Galilee!! 

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THURSDAY, April 6--Jesus Around the Galilee Day
Wake up overlooking the shore of the Sea of Galilee, enjoy a coffee and a wander around the property.  Today's order of stops will depend on what time our boat sails. ​Mount of Beatitudes, Jesus Boat Museum and boat ride on the Galilee, St. Peter's Primacy spot, hometown of Capernaum, Magdela for tour and contemplation time. After a Kibbutz wander at Ein Gev for a fish lunch (on your own with a variety of meal sizes), we'll drive up the mountain to Gamla for silence & solitude in a desolate place such as Jesus might have tried to get to, where the eagles fly. Then finish circumnavigating the Sea of Galilee at a Jordan River Baptism (optional. $13 USD rental of gown and towel) to complete our day. Then drive back to our Tiberias Hotel for dinner and free time on the Boardwalk if you want to take a short walk into the city center.

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FRIDAY April 7--Mountains of the Golan Day. 
Early morning devotions today next to the Sea of Galilee will include the passage about Jesus restoring Peter that early morning on the shore. Then we pile on the bus to head north for a morning of rafting or kayaking down the chilly Jordan River! After lunch we head to Caesarea Philippi (Where Jesus asks, "who do you say that I am?") and then do a stair hike at Banias Waterfall. We will have an optional excursion of a wine-tasting at a local award-winning Israeli winery. Then we will head back to our hotel near the lake for a little free time around the sea before we celebrate Shabbat dinner together at our hotel.

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SATURDAY April 8--Central & Western Israel Day
After a breakfast buffet at our hotel, we load the bus and drive west over the mountains to drive up Mount Carmel for a view of Armageddon from Elijah & prophets of Ba'al showdown spot. We continue west through the Valley of Armageddon, to the Megiddo National Park. Then we head to an Israeli winery for a wine-tasting lunch (included). Then back on the bus to the ancient port city of Caesarea (pictured) and the Roman Aqueduct. If there is time, we will also visit Atlit Detention Center before driving back to Jerusalem for dinner, to set us up for tomorrow's highlight. We will stay in a hotel closer to the Garden Tomb, The Grand Court (2 nights).

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​SUNDAY April 9--Resurrection Day in Jerusalem!
Today we begin before dawn, like Jesus' friends, with a walk to the Garden Tomb. We'll enjoy a sunrise service with other pilgrims and locals, in whichever language (they rotate) has space for us. Then walk back to the hotel, meet our guide and have breakfast. Our final day in the Holy Land will include the Temple Institute where we'll learn about the preparations already in place for the Third Temple! A visit to the Kotel (Western Wall again) for a longer time of prayer. And a visit to a Geological Park which includes the Southern Steps (pictured), where Jesus used to teach. For the late afternoon we will have free time on Ben Yahuda Street for shopping. Our Finale Dinner is served at the hotel. The evening is on your own to repack or take another walk into the Old City or for shopping. 

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MONDAY, April 10--Travel Day. Early pick up from our hotel to whisk us away for a 1-hour route to the airport, for a 7:30 AM flight home. Check in and security lines and interviews begin 3 hours prior to flight time.
Arrive home early evening in ATL.

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Last update: 10-7-22
​Space for 14-24, full new itinerary. One female looking for a roommate.

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Cost & Payment Schedule
(based on double occupancy, 15-25 people.)
$3300 per person
$800 down payment
Register before Nov 15, 2022
OPTION to pay online, plan add 3.5% to cover the credit card fees.

Apply Now

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Download your PDF application and snail-mail with your $800 deposit and passport copy (address on application). Please read the fine print/ inclusions & suggested preparations before applying for this team. (Located after the itinerary on this web page.)
Payment schedule after down payment:
November 30, 2022,  $1000 due
February 1, 2023, balance due ($1960) (or $1750 if you registered early.)

​Insurance
You'll want to purchase trip insurance to ensure your travel, trip interruption, or emergency medical evacuation insurance. You can contact your personal insurance specialist, or try  www.travelinsurance.com (we don't get a commission and they offer options of companies and levels of coverage)
What do I Pack?
Check out our packing  suggestions here! We are limited to only "what you can carry in one-go." :) Usually, one checked bag and one carry-on sized bag. We suggest a backpack that rolls for ease of transiting long international terminals. 
​Food/Snacks/Coffee
Lunch and snacks are on your own. We suggest bringing a box or two of protein bars in case lunch is delayed by our adventures. We don't want anyone to get hangry!

About 2 weeks later we can do Zoom debriefing meeting with the team to help us on our processing  journey. 

What to know before we go!

INCLUSIONS: Trips include accommodation, breakfasts and dinners, entrance to sites and all the spiritual side of things and A Spiritual Guide Through Israel journal. However, lunches (except where noted), snacks, tips, insurance, and souvenirs are on your own. Flights are priced separately, and cost is set by the airline. Pricing of $3760 for the land-only portion is based on a group size of 20-25 people, double occupancy, which makes getting in and out of places easier than a huge tour group! 
PHYSICAL PREPERATIONS: Physically you will need to be able to comfortably walk at least 7 miles in a day. Around two to three miles at a time at a pace of 2.5 miles/hr and be steady/limber enough to climb/walk on uneven stone steps. Our Jerusalem days are a lot of walking, though you are welcome to get a taxi back to the hotel at your own expense if you need one. 
Vaccination & Masks: As of this date (June 2022) vaccinations a NOT required to enter Israel, or leave to fly home. Masks are not mandatory during the flight or in Israel. Pre-flight testing has been done away with as well. I do suggest boosting your immune system in the months before you travel, drinking lots of water and isolating from known illness in the week or so before we leave, so you don't miss any of our amazing itinerary because of not feeling your best. 

SPIRITUAL & MENTAL PREPERATIONS: There is an aspect of relationship with God development through personal spiritual development, prayer activations, spiritual formation exercises, and "Friendship with Jesus" strengthening and deepening that accompany each Ruth Israel Initiative Unhurried Pilgrimage at nearly every location stop in the Land, and the Lord usually shakes some things up in our hearts in a beautiful way. If you are not accustomed to journaling or "listening prayer," Seth Barnes book Listening Prayer is another book you'll want to pick up from Amazon to prepare your heart and skills for listening for God's voice as you interact together in the Holy Land. This 28-day devotional is great even if you are skilled at hearing God's voice. 
In addition, the volume of information available to you while you are in Israel won't sink in unless you have a proper grid of understanding already formed with which to process all that we will experience. To prepare, you will want to read K.J. Frolander's  Israel Basics and Israel II to lay foundations for understanding Israel, this pair is easy reading, available in Kindle or soft cover. More scholarly folks will appreciate the same info but more depth and broad knowledge, found in the book Unbroken Cord by D.H. Withers. One or the other is a prerequisite for preparation. If you've already read that one, Templinsky's book Why Still Care About Israel? will really fill out your foundation so that you can get the most out of your time in Israel.  All books can be found on Amazon, and you do not need to bring them with you. See the Resources Page for even further study. 

We will offer a team cultural preparation meeting on Zoom together before we go, and in the land to build friendship and openness within our team as we share what God is doing in our hearts, but you will also have some evenings free to rest or explore on your own.