JUNE HOLY LAND TOUR (S&I)

JUNE 2020 Holy Land Tour (CES)
June 3— June 14th  2020 
Price for Israel: $3,395

(DEEP discounts available for CES & S&I)
(Possible extension options TBA to Jordan & Egypt) 
Faculty Director: Dann W Hone

Day to Day Itinerary

June 3, 2019 Wed: Fly to – Tel Aviv
Israel Depart home city to Tel Aviv. (In-flight meals)

June 4, Thurs: Arrive Tel Aviv 
Afternoon arrival at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport. Airport welcome. Transfer to Netanya for dinner and overnight. (D)

June 5, Fri: Netanya – Nazareth
After breakfast we travel north to Caesarea Maritina archaeological site. Caesarea, a historic seaport and home to the summer palace of Herod the Great built in 22 BC and later home to Pontius Pilate. We continue along the coastal plain to Haifa and the German Templar Cemetery and burial site of early LDS converts and missionaries dating to 1888 and then to the Haifa Observatory to view the Baha’i Gardens, which mark the world center of the Baha’i faith, and Haifa Bay. Here we will point out locations and discuss LDS dedications of the Holy Land. We travel up Mt. Carmel passing Daliyat Carmel to a unique, local Druze restaurant for lunch. After lunch we continue to the Muhkraqa Monastery to view the Holy Land and Jezreel Valley and recount the stories of the prophet Elijah and the priests of Ba’al recorded in 1 Kings 18. Winding down the mountain we come to Megiddo, the royal city of the Canaanites, fortified by Solomon as a “chariot city”, and the Valley of Armageddon, site of the last great battle before the Second Coming of Christ. Crossing the Jezreel Valley we ascend Mt. Tabor, site of the Mt. of Transfiguration and visit the Basilica of the Transfiguration. Our final journey is to Nazareth, the boyhood town of Jesus for our dinner and overnight. (B,D)

June 6, Sat: Lower Galilee and the Valley of Jezreel
This morning we visit Mary’s Well, the Church of the Annunciation and St. Joseph’s Carpentry shop. We proceed to the 1st century reconstructed Nazareth Village. We tour the village, built as Jesus would have known it in his lifetime, and enjoy a 1st century lunch. Following lunch, we travel through the Nazareth hills past Cana, where the first recorded miracle of Christ took place turning water to wine, and the Horns of Hittin, where the Crusaders suffered their final defeat in 1187. We will stop at the Arbel overlook, where according to Jewish tradition the Messiah will be revealed. From this magnificent view of the Galilee region we review the significant events from ancient to modern times and what prophecy holds for this area. Leaving Arbel, we descend through Tiberias and visit the beautiful chapel of Magdala and stand in a 1st Century synagogue where Jesus and his apostles stood. From here we transfer to Kibbutz Nof Ginnosar to view the first century AD fishing boat and Yigel Alon Center Museum. Here we board a fishing boat to cross the Sea of Galilee to Kibbutz Ein Gev. Today is Saturday, the Sabbath in Israel. We will hold a devotional service today. Overnight at Ein Gev perfectly located right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. (B, L, D)

June 7, Sun: Galilee, Capernaum, Mt. of Beatitudes, Tel Dan, & Golan Heights
Following breakfast, we travel along the Eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee below the Golan Heights, passing Kursi (Jesus feeds the multitudes), Bethsaida, and the northern Jordan River to Capernaum. InCapernaum we see the synagogue where Jesus preached and nearby what is believed to be the house of Peter. Not far from here is Primacy of the Rock where the resurrected Jesus asks Peter, “Lovest thou me?”; Tabgah, site of the ultiplication of the fishes and loaves; and the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered His epic “Sermon on the Mount”. We continue our journey past Chorazin, Hatzor, the Hula Valley, to the Lebanese border near Tel Dan. Time permitting, we will visit Banias (Caesarea Philippi) at the foot of Mt. Hermon where Peter confessed the Savior’s divinity. (“Whom do men say ye that I am?”) We see the northern borders of Israel with Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. We visit the bunkers in the Golan Heights at Bental, and after a memorable fish dinner at Kibbutz Ein Gev, we return to Ein Gev Resort Village to enjoy an evening swim or just relax.
(B, L, D)

June 8, Mon: Galilee – Jericho
We depart Ein Gev and the Galilee and drive south along the Jordan River to Beit She’an, inhabited more than 6,000 years ago, and later occupied by the Romans. After touring the Roman Byzantine city, we continue south along the Jordan River Valley to Jericho. We visit Tel Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. And here we see the remains of the Walls of Jericho that came “tumbling down” during Joshua’s siege of the city. Also near Jericho we visit the site recently identified as Bethbara (identified by Lehi as the baptism site of Jesus) on the Israeli side of the border with Jordan called Qasr Al- Yahud. Overnight in Jericho. (B, D)

June 9, Tue: Jericho – Jerusalem
We depart Jericho and drive south to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, and continue along its banks to Masada, a magnificent Herodian mountain fortress once occupied by Jewish zealots under siege by the Romans. From here we continue to Qumran, site of the original Dead Sea Scrolls found by shepherds in local caves. Before we continue to Jerusalem, those who choose will have an opportunity to “float” in the waters of the Dead Sea. Departing the Dead Sea Rift Valley, we pass through the Judean hills to Jerusalem. We detour near the Old Roman

June 10, Wed: Old City of Jerusalem & Bethlehem
Today we visit the four quarters of the Old City, including Jewish and Christian quarters. We visit the Temple Mount, Western or Wailing Wall of Solomon’s Temple and site of Ha Kotel excavations, and the Ophel Museum. We travel a few miles south of Jerusalem to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. We also visit Manger Square, Church of the Nativity, and Shepherd’s Fields. We return to Jerusalem for overnight. Optional tour is offered this evening to Ha Kotel excavations along the length of the Western Wall. (B, D)

June 11, Thur: Last Week of the Savior’s Life, Old City of
Jerusalem, Bethany, & Bethpage
We travel to Bethany this morning to visit the tomb where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. At Bethpage, on the eastern side of the Mt. of Olives, we visit the Church of Mounting, traditional place of the Triumphal Entry of Jesus during the “Passion Week” or last week of the Savior’s life. After a panoramic view of Jerusalem from atop the Mt. of Olives, we visit the sacred Garden of Gethsemane to remember the Atonement and Christ’s final hours before His arrest. We visit Mt. Zion and the “Upper Room” of the Last Supper, the traditional House of Caiaphas at St. Peter in Galicantu, the Pool of Bethseda where Jesus healed the paralyzed man and follow a portion of the Via Dolorosa or “Way of the Cross”, which is the route Jesus took when He carried His cross. Other sites include King David’s Cenotaph, Lions’ Gate, and the Damascus Gate. Our day will end at the Garden Tomb where Christ was buried and resurrected with time for instruction and personal thought and reflection. Overnight Jerusalem. (B, D)

June 12, Fri: Jerusalem
This morning we visit West Jerusalem, Yad Vashem (Museum of the Holocaust), and Mt. Hertzl. This afternoon is free to spend as you wish. You can return to sacred sites and/or explore new ones. It’s a great day for shopping the bazaars, and walking the labyrinth of alleyways and side streets throughout the Old City or  visiting the “New City” with its many shops, restaurants, and boutiques along Ben Yehuda Street and area. This evening we will go to the Western Wall to watch the faithful Jewish community welcome Sabbat, the Sabbath day which begins at sundown. For those interested, we  will visit the Great Synagogue in West Jerusalem. An optional tour is offered of the City of David and Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Overnight Jerusalem. (B)

June 13, Sat: Jerusalem – Tel Aviv – Home
Following breakfast, we transfer to the Orson Hyde Gardens to discuss and review the Orson Hyde Dedication of the Holy Land, the Ascension and future return of Jesus Christ to this place. Afterward we proceed to the Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies (BYU) and participate in the LDS Sacrament meeting. After church services, we depart the Jerusalem Center and return to our hotel for final packing. We bid farewell to Jerusalem and travel to the ancient Emmaus (Nicopolis) before going on to Jaffa to visit the underground walk through a museum and  walk the promenade. It was from Jaffa that Jonah embarked on his fateful ocean voyage, and here Peter raised Tabitha from the dead. This evening we join for a
farewell dinner in Jaffa-Tel Aviv. Following dinner, we transfer to the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport for our return flights home. (Depending upon your flight schedule, your return flight may depart Tel Aviv late night June 23, or just past midnight June 24. Your Columbus Travel® agent will assist you with scheduling your airline flight schedule.) (B, D)

June 14, Sun: Arrive
Arrival back home


COSTS AND DETAILS
PRICE for Israel Portion: $3,395 per person double occupancy
[These prices include all visas, fuel surcharges, 2 meals daily, entrance fees and transportation, service materials and tools. Not included would be lunches and airfare to and from Tel Aviv]

DEPOSIT REQUIRED: $500 per person.

ROOMMATES: Those traveling SOLO may sign up for accommodations on a share basis and will be assigned roommates as circumstances permit. If a roommate is unavailable, the participant will be notified of the adjusted price for single supplement prior to departure.

CANCELLATION FEES: A $50 fee will be charged by International Travel Studies LLC for all cancellations until 60 days prior to departure, at which time the fee will be $100. In addition, all cancellation charges imposed by airlines, hotels, vendors, operators, etc., will be passed on to the participant.

TOUR INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING:
§ First-class, top quality Tour with experienced Tour Directors
§ All airline travel mentioned in the program (which includes all 3 in country flights in Egypt but does NOT include the international flight). If you would like us to help you arrange your international flights to Tel Aviv which is a free service we provide and also includes Travel Insurance in the price of the airline ticket. We can add the international flight to your total amount due.
§ Private, deluxe Air-Conditioned Motor Coach
§ Hotel Accommodations 
§ Cold Bottled Water will be available for purchase on board bus
§ Two Meals Daily (breakfast and lunch or dinner) as indicated in the detailed itinerary
§ All Admission and Entrance Fees to sites specified in the itinerary
§ Country Visas, Airport as well as other Departure Taxes

REGISTRATION, DEPOSIT, PAYMENT, AND CANCELLATION:
Early reservations are strongly recommended, and a Deposit of $500 per person is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due 60 days prior to departure. Applications received after this date should include full payment. Any payments made after this date should also include also include full payment. Any payments made 30 days prior to departure must be in the form of a money order. Checks should be made payable to International Travel Studies. All cancellation penalties are the responsibility of the participant.

Please send check payment and names of participants to:
(other payment methods available & details given upon registration and/or request)

International Travel Studies LLC
8661 Millpond PL 
Riverside, CA 92508

OTHER ITEMS & DETAILS
Good Health is encouraged for our Israel Tours!

ITEMS NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE:
Items of a personal nature, such as souvenirs; excess baggage or portage charges; personal, trip, or baggage insurance; room service; laundry; phone charges; food or beverages not part of the group menu; gratuities for special services; expenses incurred on personal activities not included where group participation is not specified in the itinerary; international flight to TLV is not included but we are more than able to assist in arranging flights.

CURRENT PASSPORT REQUIRED FOR THIS TOUR

Tour Details

This unique Tour is designed for anyone desiring to have an in depth experience in the Holy Land and registration will be on a first come basis. It is also serving a dual purpose for those with interest in becoming a Director for iTs and any of our future Youth Programs to the Holy Land. This trip serves as Step 1 in our 2020 Faculty Training Program. Those participating with that goal in mind will also enroll and participate in our Pre-Tour Curriculum & Preparation Course.

Those NOT interested in this training are welcome to participate in this tour. It just means you will get a more detailed and in depth exploration of the Holy Land. :) 

Please indicate on your Registration Form if you desire to participate in our 2020 Faculty Training Program. 

We look forward to exploring the Holy Land with you!
REGISTER
“Going through the Life of Christ was truly amazing! Actually walking where He walked was something I will never forget.”
John Smith, New York
“The director was so knowledgeable and experienced. I not only was inspired but felt safe.”
Jodi Black, Dallas