A place to learn about the roots of Christianity, and its influence on world politics, and see the biggest art treasures collected and sponsored by the church.
UNIQUE CHRISTIAN HOLY LAND ISRAEL TOUR FOR 2023
Every event in Christian history that inspired such great artists as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo for creating their masterpieces happened on the lands of modern Israel. As your tour guide in Israel, I will lead you to the main religious and cultural locations mentioned in the Bible and explain the history behind these ruins during the Christian holy land Israel tour.
CHECK OUT THE HOLY LAND TOUR PACKAGE ITINERARY
If you have a great interest in coexisting polytheism in the same place, a visit to Jerusalem on a Pilgrim tour in Israel is a must. Also paying respects to the important Christian Heritage sites such as the Judean Desert and Galilee.
this Christian holy land Israel tour is mandatory for every Christian to understand the holy land and the roots of Christianity.
DAY 1 - YOUR CHRISTIAN HOLY LAND TOUR BEGINS TODAY
After your safe arrival, I will take you to the hotel in Jerusalem. I will make sure you have a comfortable VIP-level stay from day one, your transfer to a hotel will be smooth, in a private car with a tour guide in Israel (me) with enough space in the trunk.
At the hotel I will help you to check in, the staff speaks many languages so I hope you will find everything at ease, and prepare for the next day.
DAY 2 - GALLIVANTING MAJOR HISTORICAL SITES IN THE OLD JERUSALEM
This morning we will begin our great guided tour in Israel to the Christian sites with an early breakfast at the hotel and our walk to the old city of Jerusalem, on our way there I will tell you about its history of multiple wars over land and religion in this area mentioned in the Bible. A neighborhood like no other will be open before your eyes, a place where people of various religions pray at the same monuments. Starting from the Kotel, the only remaining Western Wall of the great Second Temple built under Persian patronage in 515 BCE, it's a place where Judaism, as we know it now, was formed.
Moving to the Dome of the Rock – a mosque, a sacred place for Muslims where Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven it is also a place where the history of monotheistic culture starts layering on each other, here in form of a beautiful, majestic place for prayers I will tell you about how originally it was a church, then Judaist shrine and later the mosque was erected on this exact place, this is also an origin where people from different religions are praying at the same location, a phenomenon that you will witness only in Israel.
By walking the ancient streets on our private guided tour in Israel to the places like King David’s last burial place at Mount Zion and the Cenacle – the room of the Last Supper – you will experience how the Holy Spirit and Christian beliefs have actual physical proof of its existence, such understanding is crucial in learning more about the Christianity like any other religion.
The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is located in the heart of the Christian Quarter at the end of the Via Dolorosa(14 stations of the cross). Here I will tell you about the influence of the Byzantine and Roman Empires on the people, and their religious beliefs and show you examples from Christian Churches that with time went under many transformations carrying bits of history from every century, we will learn about the Golgotha on which Jesus was crucified and the Tomb of Jesus(Holy Sepulchre) where he was buried and resurrected.
Late afternoon we will spend at the Mount of Olives – a picturesque place with small cozy restaurants serving local homemade food with vine made by ancient traditions that survived modern technological progress. Here you will see the whole of Jerusalem from the highest point of the city, this is the right place to conclude this full touring day of the old city discussing the formation of Jerusalem, the Christian churches of the Mount of Olives, and the early life of Jesus! while walking down the Mount of Olives we will pass the Dominus Flevit church, the place where Jesus cried over Jerusalem and the Chapel of Ascension, the Garden of Gethsemane with an amazing olive garden, and the Tomb of the Virgin Mary.
And we will choose our next location. This hill is also an important site mentioned in the gospels as the spot where the dead will resurrect, symbolic to stand on a place where Jesus and his followers were preaching.
While driving back to our hotel, we will circle Jerusalem's old city walls while watching the Kidron Valley and Akeldama.
Optional site: The Garden Tomb
DAY 3 - JESUS’S BIRTHPLACE, REMEMBERING HOLOCAUST, MAHANE YEHUDA MARKET
The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem – a city near Ancient City Jerusalem located in the Palestine Authority, is considered Jesus's Christ birthplace, I will take you there to pray and tell you a story of how religion and historical accuracy became the root of the multi-international conflict.
As a tour guide in Israel during our stay in Bethlehem I can organize a small detour to see the Roman Catholic Chapel of the Shepherds Fields, by the legend it's the first place where angels spread the news about the birth of Christ, it's a small but beautiful church built in Byzantine style.
The holocaust world center – Yad Vashem, a monument that holds great power to commemorate such a World tragedy. The museum also carries a heavy burden of a silent reminder of the history of the Jewish people.
We can add a visit to Jericho on this day tour as well.
TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY – A GUIDE AROUND THE DELICIOUS MARKETPLACE
During our Christian holy land Israel tour, we will try other things besides religious sites, Hosted by a famous chef – we will take you around one of the oldest and most colorful street markets. Mahane Yehuda Market – is a place to learn more about multiculturalism and the history of Jewish immigrants through their cuisine, appetizers from Syrians, soup from local Israelis, and finishing with coffee made from traditional Palestinian recipes. I am your tour guide in Israel and I will take you to the places that only residents go to, fresh and exotic aromas wandering on the streets of Mahane Yehuda attracting for a drink. It’s a place that never sleeps so is prepared to have a long, late evening full of new friends and memories.
DAY 4 - AROUND THE JUDEAN DESERT, MOUNTAINS, HEROIC RUINS, AND THE LUXURIOUS SPA OF THE DEAD SEA
I will meet you in the hotel and we will drive outside the city, into the wilderness of a Desert. Here we will go to the top of Masada Fortress by cable car, where freedom was achieved in a bloody battle. The word Masada from Hebrew means "fortress" It's a significant historic place where Roman troops were trying to siege it during the First Jewish-Roman war, we will take a cableway to comfortably visit this place full of mysteries and legends. From here is also a great view of the desert, the Dead Sea and you can even see the Jordanian border.
Midday is the hottest time in the desert so to cool off I will take you for a swim in the Dead Sea during the best Holy Land tour in Israel. Enriched with oxygen and high levels of minerals. It's a great place to nourish your body and soul. You can test on yourself the legends about how one can simply float at the top of the lake and not drown, with Belief or scientific explanation! But beware, because these waters are as dangerous to your swimsuit fabric as it is beneficial for your health. On the morning of this day, I will remind you to choose wisely what to wear.
Closer to the evening we will visit the Qumran – an archeological site where only recently, in the 20th century scholars found the Dead Sea Scrolls, its many texts containing parts from Old Testament, and many other biblical texts.
Qumram is a region with many interesting locations to visit, everyone will find something interesting to do here, for example, it has one of the best Israeli National Parks – an oasis in the middle of a desert, with exotic birds chirping melodic songs, or learn about Jewish monastic groups that allegedly were guarding secrets and manuscripts of the ancient town among who John the Baptist was living.
The Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ or Qasr al-Yahud will be our next stop. Located at the Jordan River bank it's a part of the National Park and a popular area among Christian tourists, this is your chance to be Baptised in the famous Jordan River. It is also a place where many important events in the history of Christianity took place. From here starts an ancient road that leads straight to the gates of Jerusalem, connecting the city with the river where the Children of Israel ascended to the Holy Land after 40 years of wandering the desert.
Optional visit to Ein Gedi national park.
DAY 5 - GOING NORTH, THE ORNAMENT OF THE GALILEE, CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION, ARAB FOOD, AND JESUS TRANSFORMATION INTO LIGHT
Start a new day of a Catholic Holy Land tour in Israel to satisfy your art and religious desires. Feast your eyes on the most beautiful region in Israel –Galilee, one of the biggest cities in the north is the city of Nazareth, the destroyed ancient village, with only its mosaic among bushy greenery. Not only does it bear architectural significance, but it is also a notable place to visit for any Christian, it's the birthplace of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus and it is also here where he lived his youth years. the Annunciation church is the biggest catholic church in the middle east and the most unique since the interior will be very odd and different from any other church that you have ever seen, in the middle, you will be able to see and worship the house of the holy family.
If you want to experience the Arab parts of Israel there is no better place than Nazareth – one of the biggest cities in the country it is also one of the most Arab-populated and influenced which doesn't stop curious tourists to visit here a traditionally Christian place such as shrines built by local Christian pilgrims commemorating biblical events that took place in this region.
While walking the streets of Nazareth I encourage you to listen to the mix of languages heard on the streets, it's a place where two opposite cultures clash and create a unique governmental system right at the border between two countries. Here foodies can try Arab cuisine made with Israeli hospitality.
Mount Tabor, located near the Sea of Galilee, is an important historical place for Jews, a place to remember the victory described in the Book of Judges in the 12 century BCE, as this is the Battle between the Israelite army and the army of Canaanite. And for Christians, it's a place to pray, it's a mountain described in the New Testament, Jesus is transfigured and becomes radiant in glory upon a mountain.
DAY 6 - WE ALREADY TRAVELED AROUND, NOW IT’S TIME TO DIVE DEEPER INTO THE HISTORY OF THE SEA OF GALILEE AND THE BANIAS SPRINGS
A day to learn about Jesus' life on Earth. I will take you from the hotel to the place where Jesus was preaching and delivering the Sermon on the Mount, the mount itself is believed to be the Mount of Beatitudes – an incredibly beautiful place, where the local scenery will nurture a troubled soul. From the top of the mountain, you will see on the private guided tour in Israel the full view of the Lake of Tiberias (aka The Sea of Galilee). This place will be our next stop today. Here you can also pray at the Roman Catholic Chapel and I will tell you about the tradition of building new churches at the places of the ancient ruins and how locals still manage to preserve the remains of the monastery that was here in 4 the century.
While descending we can enjoy the beauty of the Kinneret Lake, while we drive to Tabgha the famous place where Jesus fed 5000 people with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread, continue circling the Sea of Galilee while reaching Capernaum to visit the oldest church of the world and Peter primacy and also an amazing synagogue from the 5th century of the Jewish community.
Our next stop during the Christian holy land Israel tour is the Sea of Galilee, the lowest freshwater lake on Earth, this location has many underground rivers that sometimes erupt in springs like the Banias, creating islands of comfort and fresh breeze in the middle of a desert.
The Banias Spring located at the foot of Mount Hermon and the Golan Heights is an oasis with multiple small waterfalls and one big. For centuries travelers were finding shelter in the coolness of this natural phenomenon. The first who decided to turn this place into a city was Herod’s the Great son – Philip, he built a city in Roman style and named after himself Caesarea Philippi, with a pagan temple dedicated to the god Pan in the center, later it was ruined by the Crusaders that came here with their historical myths about Peter who on this place recognized Jesus. It all leads to multiple cultural and political quarrels resulting in demolishing and rebuilding of this place for many centuries, details of which I will tell you at the site during our private guided tour in Israel.
Optional attractions and places to visit:
1)Jesus Boat Ride - Sail on the Holy Waters of the Sea of Galilee
2)Cana - The first miracle of Jesus turning water into wine
DAY 7 - HEADING SOUTH TO TEL AVIV
Today in the morning I will help you to check out from your hotel in Tiberius and we will move to Tel Aviv for the second chapter of our Christian Israeli pilgrimage journey.
On the way after Megiddo, we will discover Stella Maris a Monastery located at the top of Mount Carmel in Haifa which has a beautiful viewing point, and in ancient times was a cluster of small monasteries where hermits lived in caves spending days praying. we will visit Elijah's cave and see how he lived in such a dangerous place without interactions with the outside world. Later in the 19th century monks were cast out by Mamluks – non-Arabic slave soldiers, therefore these monks created the famous European Carmelite order in Haifa on the top of the Carmel mountain. We will continue and visit the Transfiguration church and descent south towards the middle coast.
Our next stop on our Christian holy land Israel tour is Caesarea – an ancient port city with a rich history and recognizable architecture that combines original Roman influence with later additions of Byzantine styles and Crusades. each one of them brings something unique creating a historical kaleidoscope for the modern tourist. amphitheater, hippodrome, Roman baths, etc... You will never guess under whose occupation built the next building and what ethnic group lived on the corner street. It's a great place to also recognize how the power dynamic between religions was changing thought history. Here Apostle Paul was set to trial, it is also a place where we can witness the downfall of the Roman Empire and how a once great building erected in the name of the Roman Emperor is now a few pillars and a mosaic floor in ruins what is left of them after Ottoman Empire rule.
according to Christian belief, Ponti Pilatus was sent from Caesarea to judge Jesus in Jerusalem.
Our last stop during our private guided tour in Israel before arriving in Tel Aviv is the old city of Jaffa, surrounded by palm trees and smells of exotic dishes here are the place where Napoleonic influence meets ancient Egyptian beliefs. It has the European spirit in it and will prepare you for the explosive energy of individualistic Tel Aviv.
DAY 8 - CELEBRATE A SUCCESSFUL TRIP TO ISRAEL IN THE COLORFUL CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS
A city with a diverse cultural and historical background will be a beautiful memory of the time spent on the Christian holy land Israel tour. I will lead you on the final day tour to any interesting places of your choice, such as an old Flea market in Jaffa where you can find truly unique souvenirs like nowhere else, or explore the city center and visit the Museum of Art with an impressive collection of modern art form artists around the world. I will tell you about the Bauhaus movement that had such a significant influence on the Tel Aviv architectural context that its collection was listed in UNESCO World Heritage.
Afterward, I will drive you to the Ben Gurion Airport and hopefully, you will remember this Christian holy land Israel tour with only positive words saying "TODA RABA” for this experience!
I would also like to remind you that it is your travel desires that I'm trying to meet as your tour guide in Israel and also your friend, so any requests during this private Christian Israeli tour package will be welcomed, and you can always prolong the tour since there are so many undiscovered historical gems like Petra, Tel Aviv nightlife and Negev Desert that I will gladly take you to visit.
CHRISTIAN HOLY LAND TOUR OF ISRAEL PACKAGE CONCLUSION
Christian holy land Israel tour is a great example to explore our beautiful Israel, try my private guided tours in Israel concentrating on the Christian holy sites to get the full picture! and remember, every tour itinerary will be custom-made just for you.
The private tour or group tours include entrance fees and full insurance as well.
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