​(flexible & tentative) Itinerary: 
 New dates: March 9-24, 2025

Check here for latest trip updates: 12-9-24.
new flight info
Highly trained Spiritual directors are invited to a special 14-day Holy Land experience. This itinerary includes holy and fun sites, and 3-5 opportunities to describe, model, and offer the practice of spiritual direction in 20-minute mini-sessions to ministry leaders & their staff in Jerusalem and the Galilee. The group size is limited to 6 total. See below for inclusions/exclusions. Updated itinerary stops in google sheet printable format. Changes are always updated at this link first. If there are appointments you can't miss at home, you will be able to schedule a few in the evenings in Israel (morning in US). Just let us know when 
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SUNDAY. March 9--Fly DAY! Board your SUNDAY overnight flight to Tel Aviv, and fly fly fly.
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MONDAY, Mar 10-- Travel & Arrival Day
Meet in LHR, fly together as a group. Arrive in Larnaca, Cyprus at 6:20 pm. Collect luggage and recheck in for our El AL flight at 10:10 pm to Tel Aviv. Arrive by 11:20pm. Go through passport control (stop at the kiosks on the mezzanine ahead of the lines), grab your luggage, and meet with Kim and the rest of the team at the INFO cubical (to your right when exiting into the main lobby). We will get you settled with exchanging dollars for shekels or using the ATM. Then we'll grab a sharut and ride to Jerusalem (~1 hr) and our Airbnb apartment.
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TUESDAY, Mar 11-- Exploring Jerusalem Day
After a sleep in and late breakfast, we will walk to the Old City and enter at Jaffa Gate. We will walk on top of the ramparts around Jerusalem, to the Dung Gate to re-enter the Old City for a visit to the Davidson Geological Center and have a chance to touch the pinnacle stone of the temple (Herod's rebuild) and sit on/explore the Southern Steps where Jesus taught and the disciples after him. We will back track to the Cardo for a lunch break, and then take the light rail over to the world's premiere Holocaust Memorial, Yad Vashem, for a two-hour visit and walk through history of World War II's effect on the Jewish people on your own time (no headsets or guide explanation). This sobering time will help orient our hearts from the start as to what the Jewish people carry.
​Most evenings we will have open time for reflection together or for appointment that you might need to keep with folks at home. (Please mark them on our shared itinerary calendar.) However, this is not a night you will want to have an appointment at home. We will have dinner out and make our way back to the apartment. 
WEDNESDAY. Mar. 12--Jerusalem Underground & Meeting CFI Staff
​Our day will begin back in the Old City. After some time to pray at the Western Wall, we'll enjoy an English-speaking guided tour underground through the Rabbinical Tunnels next to the retaining wall of the temple platform, and we come out at Saint Anne's Church and the Pool of Bethesda in the Arab Quarter. We will wend our way back walking the Stations of the Cross on the Via Delarosa and find lunch enroute back to the apartment. Head to CFI for our first staff event, engaging in worship & encouragement.  From about 2-4 pm. On our walk back to the apartment we will stop at the Shuk open air market for dinner in a restaurant and to pick up produce for Shabbat dinner on Friday. We may have company for dinner tonight. Rachel has an 8 pm appointment.
 You'll need to apply for an Israel Travel Authorization between now and 72 hours before flight. Valid for 2 years. (click the link and fill out the details, cost 25 shekels or ~ 8 USD, use a credit card that doesn't have foreign transaction fees).
​THURSDAY Mar 13--More fun Underground Day 
Today begins with a walk to visit the City of David (Israel's most active archaeological dig video) to slosh through the refreshing Gihon Spring still flowing through Hezekiah’s Tunnel (We're walking through it in complete darkness, so bring water shoes, shorts or easy-dry pants, and a flashlight.) We continue walking uphill to Caiaphas's house to experience the tight, chilly space where Jesus was held prisoner overnight in the cistern. Then continue uphill toward Zion Gate and visit the "Upper Room" a place to commemorate Jesus' Last Supper of Passover.  We will find a light lunch or pack snacks for today, and attempt to get a 3 pm reservations for High Tea at the exclusive King David Hotel. We may have company for dinner tonight. Rachel has a 5:30 appointment so it will be a later dinner, around 7.

FRIDAY, Mar 14--Erev Shabbat 
After a late morning when Kim goes to pick up the van and then stops to pick up the group, ride to the top of the Mount of Olives, for the iconic view and to take in the significance of the place Jesus will return, find a view of Bethany on the backside of the mountain before we go to an appointment to try your hand at the Temple Mount Archeological Sifting project and see if you uncover some of artifact of the ancient (or modern) past! You can choose to walk down the Mount of Olives (paved but steep driveway) to the Garden Gethsemane and Church of All Nations and a perfect view of the Golden Gate (Gate Beautiful) or ride in the van. We will head back to the apartment as the city begins to shut down for Shabbat and cook dinner for our guests. Then we will host a Shabbat dinner for friends and offer some mini-sessions if folks are interested. 

Shabbat (SATURDAY) Mar 15 -Shabbat in Jerusalem
After a quiet slow morning at home, we will go to the Garden Tomb for some quiet reflection, then walk through the Arab Quarter to join Tony & Nicole on an Armenian Quarter Food Tour. If we have missed the stations of the cross on the via delarosa (or something else that is open on Shabbat), we will try to make that up. [Check out is around 4 pm. We can clean and pack up and then move to drive down to the Dead Sea area if we don't get an extra day in town, which I'm asking for].

SUNDAY, Mar 16--Ministry day and Transition the Dead Sea {this day will change}
This morning we tidy the airbnb, pack the van and drive over to Netivya congregation to offer another modeling event and sit with their staff for a couple of hours. After lunch we will head south to the Dead Sea. Along the way we stop at St. George's Monastery (video) (a.k.a. Valley of the Shadow of Death, see pic for an overview of a monastery carved into the cliff) & maybe meet some Bedouins selling their wares. If time we will stop at  Qumron, today on our way by, if not, tomorrow. Then we will check into our Dead Sea Resort for a night. Enjoy amazing buffet dinner and a remarkable Dead Sea Float (rinse showers & change rooms) at our private beach or an early evening for reflection.

MONDAY, Mar 17--Desert to Galilee Day
Awake feeling refreshed from the bromides and increased oxygen levels in the air at the deepest place on earth, the Dead Sea. After a quiet personal sunrise morning by the Dead Sea and a bountiful breakfast buffet, we check out and load the van.  & drive toward Masada and we'll ride the cable car to the top of Herod's desert fortress of Masada (video), with its massive history for the Jewish people. We'll explore the area and God's question to Isaiah "Can these dry bones live?" for the morning. Then we head to our next stop for a hike up Ein Gedi ​, an oasis preserve in the desert wilderness where David hid from King Saul and passed the test of waiting for God's timing on his calling to be king of Israel. We can stop in the pools and little waterfalls along the way. We continue driving the road of beautiful views along the Dead Sea toward the Galilee area, past Jericho. We will arrive by 5:45 pm to check in at our hostel, Karei Deshe, right on the sea. 

TUESDAY, Mar 18--Galilee Fun on the water Day
After a quiet personal morning by the sea of Galilee, we will start at the site of St Peter's Primacy & restoration.
We will see if we can get an appointment early-afternoon for a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Lunch options will be found either in Tiberias or Magdela. If weather and water levels are working, we will try for a bohemian Jordan River rafting time & Jordan River Baptism and return to Karei Deshe for an easy evening, picking up take out to enjoy on the property when desired. 

WEDNESDAY, Mar 19--South of the Galilee Drive 
We will drive south of the Sea of Galilee and stop at the ancient Roman Baths Decapolis city of Bet She'an, Gideon's Spring, and Eden-like Gan HaSlosha swimming hole. We will stop in to a local (modern) grocery store in Magdela to buy some items for our picnic lunch for tomorrow. Rachel has an 8 pm appointment. 
THURSDAY, Mar 20--More Galilee
After a quiet personal morning by the Sea of Galilee, we start with a 30-min drive for some contemplation at the Catholic church that caretakes the site of the ​Mount of Beatitudes. Coming down to lake level again, we will visit Capernaum. Today we head to the Golan Heights to hike in Gamla (a beautiful, spacious National Park where Jesus may have gone to retreat from the crowds) that overlooks the Sea of Galilee from the east.  We will have time for a picnic and refilling water bottles before a longer hike (mostly flat), but also some good climbs, in quietude. And see if we can find a waterfall or two. We will see if Ein Gev Restaurant is open for a St Peter's fish early dinner. Rachel has a 5:30 appointment, so may skip Ein Gev and go into town for dinner at 7pm. There's a possibility of meeting with South African friends, Valarie & Frank, for dinner

FRIDAY, Mar 21--Erev Shabbat 
After checking out of our hostel, we begin early with a contemplative time at Magdela, a newly uncovered (2009) fishing village where Mary Magdalene lived and visit the Boat Chapel (not an actual boat) for silence and solitude. Then through Tiberias and up to Mount Arbel for our last-for-this-trip (light) mountain hike to the beautiful overlook of the Sea of Galilee. We will drive through the Valley of Armageddon to Mount Carmel to visit the Carmelite Monastery there.  
Considering where we should stay for the last two nights. Haifa, Carmel, Tel Aviv or Jerusalem. Ministry opportunities & appointments earlier in the trip will lead us.
Check in somewhere in time for Shabbat to begin, and figure out dinner. 

SATURDAY, Mar 22--Shabbat in the North Final day 
an option in we are in Carmel or Haifa: This morning starts with a drive early to get to congregation at the top of Mount Carmel on time (20-30 min drive up the mountain). Worship with them.  We will stop at the Roman Aqueduct and dip our toes in the Mediterranean Sea. Then walk the ancient Port city of Caesarea bult by Herod the Great. Then head back to Jerusalem for the night.

SUNDAY Mar 23--{flexible plans}
Check out of hotel/airbnb. if in J'lem optional Netivyah Staff intro to SD, final day, Flight home 
Flight home, return car by 3:30 pm. Flight departs 7:30pm to Larnarca. Overnight at La Veranda Hotel. 

MONDAY Mar 24--continuing home
Wake up early in Cyprus and head back to the airport to catch a 7:30 AM flight. Fly to London, Fly, to Charlotte or IAH and re-enter the US. Charlotte connections back to your home port vary between departing at 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm.
Later
2-3 weeks after returning home, we will gather the group again on a zoom call to offer reflection on the personal parts of the trip and your memories and gather suggestions as we plan for the May 2025 group.
 The Fine Print
Inclusions: meals, accommodation, transportation and activities. (For restaurant meals you'll be able to do your own ordering and given a budget to accommodate personal choices).
Exclusions: You will need to purchase travel insurance that covers health and accidents and travel interruption. Snacks and personal incidentals, such as wine at dinner, water and coffee snack stops, and spa visits are on your own too.