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GCT's First Visit to Israel Tour GCT Logo
9 days / 7 nights and 6 touring days

Departures from North America every Friday


Never been to Israel? Then Global Christian Travel's FIRST VISIT TO ISRAEL TOUR may be the way to go for you. You'll visit the holy sites throughout the land, accompanied constantly by our multi-lingual, experienced guides.

Travel on your own schedule, select the departure date that fits your calendar best!
Save even more money by using your frequent flyer miles to cover your air transportation.

Dates
Hotels

Highlights

  • Private transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to Hotel in Tel Aviv and from Hotel in Jerusalem to Airport.
  • Meeting on arrival at the Main Arrival Hall at the Ben Gurion Airport
  • 6 Full days touring with all entrance fees as per above itinerary.
  • 7 nights’ accommodation on Half Board Basis (buffet breakfast and dinner in hotels).
  • Visits to major Christian holy sites including Nazareth and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
  • Boat Ride across the Sea of Galilee
  • Cable Car Ride up to the top of Massada
Itinerary
 

Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv

Sunday

Tel Aviv

Welcome to Israel!

Upon your arrival in Israel, you'll complete your customs formalities and then meet your driver to be transferred to your luxurious Tel Aviv hotel. After you're comfortably settled, enjoy a delicious dinner in one of the hotel's restaurants. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll along the blue Mediterranean Sea.

Overnight, Tel Aviv.


Caesarea

Caesarea

 

Monday

Caesarea / Megiddo / Haifa / Acre

Following a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast (which you will enjoy each morning prior to departing for your day of touring), depart Tel Aviv. Drive north along the coastal plain to Caesarea (Acts 9.30 Acts 10 24-48), capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct. Continue to Megiddo (1 Kings 4.28, 9,15, 2 Kings 23,29 & Revel. 16.16), identified as the site of Armageddon.  Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well-preserved water supply system.  Drive to the beautiful port city of Haifa, nestled on the Mediterranean Sea. Visit the world famous Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. From Haifa, drive to Acre (Micah 1.10), capital of the Crusaders for more than a century. Visit the ancient city and harbor before continuing eastwards across the plains of the Galilee to Kibbutz hotel Lavi, not far from the Sea Of Galilee for dinner and overnight. Evening lecture by one of the Kibbutz members about life in a Kibbutz.

Overnight, Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee.


Capernaum
Capernaum

Tuesday

Tiberias / Capernaum / Banias

After a short tour of the Kibbutz grounds, we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Matt. 4.13 13.54, 17.24, Luke 7, Mark 1.2, John 4.46-54). Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha (Matt. 13, Mark .33-45, & John 21), the site of the miracle of loaves and fishes, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5,6,7,8), where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias spring and waterfall (Matt. 16.13 and Mark 8.27), where Jesus was recognized as The Messiah by His Disciples. Tour the Golan Heights, with its valleys, grazing land and snow capped mountains. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Overnight, Kibbutz Lavi, Galilee.


Nazareth

Nazareth

Wednesday

Nazareth / Beit Shean

Begin the day with a drive to Nazareth (Luke 1.26, 4.16-29, Matthew 2.23) via Cana of Galilee (John 2.1-11). In Nazareth, we will visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. Next on our program is the Jordan River Baptismal site. Continue to Beit Shean, one of the ancient Decapolis cities (Mark 5.20, 7.31), and visit the Roman theatre. This is the city where Saul and his son Jonathan were nailed to the walls (1st Samuel 31.10). Judges 1.27 also mentions Beit Shean. Continue south along the shores of the River Jordan. Passing Jericho, we proceed westward and climb to the Golden City of Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Overnight, Jerusalem.


Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Thursday

Jerusalem: Old City

Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Our appreciation of this Golden City begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery. Enter the Old City to begin exploring the wonders of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of All Nations. Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper (Mark 14.13, Luke 22. 10-38, Matt 26 17-29, Acts 1.13 and Acts 2 The Pentecost). Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His Cross. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Matt. 27. 33-57, 28.10). No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the colourful Arab bazaar (a chance to test your negotiating skills). Dinner in Jerusalem.

Overnight, Jerusalem.


Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem

Friday

Jerusalem: New City

Today’s program is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem. Visit the model of ancient Jerusalem at the Holyland Hotel. Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Enter the site by walking along the Street of the Righteous Gentiles, dedicated to the non-Jews who risked their lives in order to save their Jewish neighbors. Continue to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist (Luke 1.39-80). This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Overnight, Jerusalem.


Massada

Massada

 

Saturday

Dead Sea / Massada

Drive through the Judean Desert to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found in 1947 by a Bedouin boy. Visit the ancient city of Qumran and drive along the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Massada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system, and Herod’s Palace. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Overnight, Jerusalem.


El Al Airplane
El Al Airplane

Sunday

Departure

Transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport for your flight back home.

* Visit subject to availability All itineraries are subject to change.

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Dates

A weekly guaranteed tour of the Holy Land
Operated from Sunday to Sunday
9 days/ 7 nights and 6 touring days

Tour will not operate on the following departure dates from North America:

April 13, 20, Oct 5, 12, 19
All August arrivals wil be based on first night stay in Jerusalem instead of Tel Aviv

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Hotel on Tour

FIRST VISIT ISRAEL TOUR
4-Stars Hotels   Superior First Class Hotels Nights

Tel Aviv

*Grand Beach Crown Plaza / Renaissance 1
Galilee
Kibbutz Hotel Lavi - Lev Wing Kibbutz Hotel Lavi - Hod Wing 2
Jerusalem
Grand Court Crown Plaza / Renaissance 4
* At Grand Beach Tel Aviv - renovated rooms only


Hotel Rates

For pricing please call:1-866-898-0037



Included services in our tour rates:
  • Private transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to Hotel in Tel Aviv and from Hotel in Jerusalem to Airport
  • Meeting on arrival in the Main Arrival Hall at Ben Gurion Airport
  • 6 full days touring with all entrance fees as per above itinerary
  • 7 nights accommodation on Half Board basis (buffet breakfast and dinner in hotels)
Not Included:
  • Tips to guide/driver and hotel staff
  • Lunches en route on sightseeing days.

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