Our typical guided group trips span a total of nine days, with the first and last days being primarily for travel between your home and Israel. In addition to those two travel days, you’ll spend seven additional days and nights on the ground visiting and exploring the Holy Land.
Day 0 – Our trip’s “zero day” is typically a Monday, although trips can easily be customized to begin on any day that suits your group. On this day you will go to your local airport and begin your overnight journey by air to Israel.
Day 1 – The first day of your trip really begins the next day after you leave, when you’ll arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. After you clear Israeli immigration and customs, you’ll be met in the arrivals area immediately by the friendly staff from Elevation Journeys and whisked away for your comfortable ride over to your luxury hotel in Jerusalem. After you have an opportunity to unpack, rest up, and refresh, we’ll all meet up late-afternoon or early-evening for a relaxing informal welcome dinner.
Day 2 – We spend the next two days exploring Israel’s capital city of Jerusalem together at a leisurely pace. We’ll begin by visiting several of Christianity’s holiest sites, such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which houses the sites where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected; the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed the night before his crucifixion; and the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. We’ll also visit Judaism’s holiest site, the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, which was built as part of the Second Jewish Temple on the Temple Mount by King Herod the Great.
Day 3 – The following day we’ll visit several modern sites that contain some of Israel’s and Christianity’s most important preserved history. These include the Israel Museum, which contains the magnificent Dead Sea Scrolls as well as countless other artifacts from Jewish and Christian antiquity, and also Yad Vashem, which is Israel’s world-famous Holocaust remembrance museum and memorial.
Day 4 – On this day we’ll strike out early and head north to the Sea of Galilee where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes and later walked on water. And we’ll visit the Mount of Beatitudes where He preached the Sermon on the Mount. In the afternoon we’ll continue on to Nazareth, Jesus’s hometown, and visit the site where Mary lived with Joseph when she received the news from the angel Gabriel that she would conceive and become the mother of God.
Day 5 – We’ll wake up on this day and head out together to Bethlehem to visit the site of Jesus’s birth, which is now marked by the Church of the Nativity. In the afternoon we’ll continue on to the Dead Sea where you will be amazed, if you chose to try it out, by your ability to float in the water. You’ll also surely marvel at the silky youthful feel of your skin after the application of some Dead Sea mud and minerals.
Day 6 – On most trips, our rest day in Jerusalem falls on a Sunday, allowing visitors to attend a church of their choice, relax around the hotel and neighborhood, shop, and/or explore more of Jerusalem.
Day 7 – Our last full day on the ground in Israel is when most visitors take the opportunity to do a day trip to Tel Aviv. This modern and cosmopolitan city boasts shops, beaches, and amazing cafes and restaurants. And the adjacent Old City of Jaffa is a wonderful historic area to also explore, dine, and shop.
Day 8 – Your last day in Israel is your departure day. After you pack up and check out of you room, you’ll be chauffeured back to Ben Gurion International Airport in plenty of time to clear security, board your flight, and settle in for the return trip to the United States.
Our Hotels
Our hosted group trips to Israel are typically based in Jerusalem, with comfortable day trips and excursions to sites located outside of the city. Because our focus is on your comfort, enjoyment, and experience, we host our guests in Jerusalem’s finest hotels, including the Mamilla Hotel and the Waldorf Astoria. Both properties are adjacent to the Old City of Jerusalem are are walking distance to ample shopping, dining, and touring.
The Mamilla Hotel
The Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem
Both of these properties offer the ultimate in luxury, safety, and comfort for our guests in the heart of Jerusalem. During your trip they will be an oasis of calm and serenity during what will truly be the trip of a lifetime to the Holy Land.