ISRAEL TOUR: Hosted by Rev. John Howson
SPECIAL TOUR FOR PASTORS / SPIRITUAL LEADERS TO ISRAEL
A Journey of Spirit, Faith and Timeless Beauty
January 20-30, 2026
Day 1 Tue Jan 20 Depart Canada
Depart on your international flights. Overnight en route.
Day 2 Wed Jan 21 Israel / Arrival – Tel Aviv Jaffa
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport our representative will meet the group to assist with airport formalities and lead the group to the tour Guide and Bus to start the tour of the Holy Land of Israel. The tour will start with a short panoramic tour of the Mediterranean at the port city of Jaffa, home of Simon the Tanner. Rest of the day to relax at your hotel by the Mediterranean Sea. Welcome dinner and briefing.
Overnight at the Metropolitan Hotel Tel Aviv or similar
Day 3 Thu Jan 22 Coastal Plain – The Galilee
After breakfast, travel along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, the important port city and capital of the Roman Period and visit the famous Amphitheatre. Drive up to Mt. Carmel through the green scenery and Druze villages to visit Muhraqa, the site where Elijah defeated the Prophets of Baal and view the Jezreel Valley. Stop for a lunch break along the way. Continue to visit the site of Meggido, where the Final Battle of Armageddon is said to take place. Drive through the Jezreel Valley and the beautiful scenery of the Galilee to view Nazareth the childhood home of Jesus from Mt. Precipice. End the day traveling via Cana and Mt. Arbel for your first view of the Sea of Galilee.
Dinner at Hotel. Overnight at the Leonardo Tiberias Hotel or similar
Day 4 Fri Jan 23 The Sea of Galilee
After breakfast visit the sites associated with the ministry of Jesus in the Galilee. Visit the newly excavated site of Magdala, home of Mary Magdalene. Continue to Capernaum, where Jesus chose to center His Ministry, the site of many miracles (Mark 2:4; Matt. 8:5; 14:7; 9:1-7; 17:18). See the 2000 year old Jesus Boat Museum at Kibbutz Ginosar and sail on the Sea of Galilee, on a wooden boat with music and worship. We will then visit the Mt of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount for time of prayer and reflextion. End the day at the Yardenit Baptism site, on the Jordan River. Dinner at hotel. Overnight at the Leonardo Tiberias hotel or similar
Day 5 Sat Jan 24 The Upper Galilee / Golan Heights
Breakfast. Travel to the Upper Galilee via, the Hula Valley, to visit the Banias Nature Reserve, site of the ancient Caesarea Philippi. Visit Tel Dan to see ruins from King Solomon's time. See Mt. Hermon as you travel through the Golan Heights and enjoy panoramic views of the area. Enjoy a view from Mt. Bental Bunker. Travel back to the Sea of Galilee with views of additional sites. Dinner and overnight at the Leonardo Tiberias Hotel or similar
Day 6 Sun Jan 25 The Jordan Valley – Jerusalem
Breakfast and check out of hotel. Drive south along the Jordan Valley to Beit She’an, where the body of King Saul and his sons were placed on the walls by the Philistines (1 Samuel 31:10). Tour the excavations that have revealed Israel’s largest ruins of a Roman City. Enjoy a scenic drive down the Jordan Valley for a view of Kaser El Yehud baptism site and the ancient city of Jericho. Stop for a visit at Genesis Land to learn about Hospitality in Biblical Times. Travel up along the ancient pilgrim route through the Judean Wilderness for a first view of the Holy City of Jerusalem. See Parliament Hill and visit the Israel Museum to see the Model of First Century Jerusalem.
Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Grand Court Hotel or similar.
Day 7 Mon Jan 26 The Old City of Jerusalem
Enjoy your first breakfast in Jerusalem. We start the day with a visit to the City of David, where the city was founded by King David. We will explore the excavations and walk down to Hezekiah's Tunnels and the Pool of Siloam (John 9). Walk the Pilgrims route to the walled old city. Enter the Old City through the Zion Gate and walk through the restored Jewish Quarter to the Western (“Wailing “) Wall. Visit the Davidson Centre to walk on the steps where Jesus walked in and out of the temple, and where He drove the buyers and sellers out. Pray at the Western Wall and explore the Jewish Quarter. Walk on the Ramparts of the old city walls to visit the site of Zedekiah's Cave. After dinner at the hotel there will be an evening out to see the Tower of David Museum light show on the walls of Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem at the Grand Court Hotel or similar.
Day 8 Tue Jan 27 Bethlehem and Jerusalem
After breakfast start the day with a view of Bethlehem. Visit Herodion, Herod the King's Palace in the Wilderness. Travel to visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum. Drive via Ein Karem and the Judean Hills to visit Beit Guvrin National Park and Bell Caves and view of historical sites in the area. End the day with a visit to the colorful Machane Yehuda Market and old neighborhoods of the city outside the walls.
Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem at the Grand Court Hotel or similar
Day 9 Wed Jan 28 The Dead Sea and Massada
After breakfast travel down to the lowest area in the world – the World Heritage site of the Dead Sea. Start with a visit to the famous site of Massada. Ride the cable car to explore the Fortress, King Herod’s esert fortress, (later the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in the revolt against Rome). Continue to the Oasis of Ein Gedi, where David fled from the wrath of King Saul. End the day with a visit to Qumran, site of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then we will have time to enjoy a float in the salt mineral waters of the Dead Sea and shop for the famous original Dead Sea Products. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at the Grand Court Hotel or similar.
Day 10 Thu Jan 29 Jerusalem
Breakfast at the hotel. We start this special day at the top of the Mount of Olives for a view and tobegin your walk down thedown the Palm Sunday Road to visit the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus spent the night in prayer. On the way stop to see the sites of Dominus Flevit and other landmarks. Enjoy a prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane by the Church of All Nations. A short drive will take us to Mt. Zion to see the Room of the Last Supper and St. Peter in Gallicantu. Then enter the Christian quarter of the Old city to walk along the Way of the Cross and see the stations of the Cross with a visit to the Pools of Bethesda. Enjoy the colorful old city bazaars along the way. We endthe day with a tour and communion at the Garden Tomb. Tonight we will enjoy a farewell dinner.
Overnight at the Grand Court Jerusalem Hotel or similar
Day 11 Fri Jan 30 Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
****** The itinerary and rates are subject to change ******
