ISRAEL TOUR IN JESUS’ STEPSWith Pastor Doug Franzke & Local Christian Guides
June 25-July 4, 2023
​
​
(Optional Jordan July 4-6 & Optional Egypt July 6-10)
​
Sunday June 25 Overnight flight from your home airport, arriving Monday afternoon at Tel Aviv-Yafo Ben Gurion International Airport.
​
Monday June 26 Arrive in Tel Aviv. Transfer to hotel on the Mediterranean Sea, in view of Joppa. Upon arrival, rest or enjoy the
beach. Buffet supper at 7:00. Evening worship and overnight in Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean Sea.
Tuesday June 27 Breakfast buffet at leisure. Depart for Caesarea, Megiddo (lunch), Nazareth, Cana, and the Sea of Galilee. Supper
and overnight on the Sea of Galilee.
​
Wednesday June 28 Visit to Magdala and boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Bus to Tabgha, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Bethsaida.
Lunch. Visit Jordan River/Galilee baptismal site. Free time for resting and swimming at the Sea of Galilee. Supper,
worship, and overnight at the Sea of Galilee.
Thursday June 29 Depart Galilee. Bus to Jericho (lunch), desert site of Jesus’ baptism, and the Dead Sea. Float and mud bath at Ein
Gedi Spa at the Dead Sea. Supper, worship, and overnight at Dead Sea.
​
Friday June 30 Depart for Masada, Qumran (lunch), Bethany, and the Old City of Jerusalem. Supper and evening walk to
western wall to welcome Shabbat. Overnight in Old City of Jerusalem.
​
Sabbath July 1 Worship and communion at Garden Tomb. Lunch provided. Visit Mount of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Pool
of Bethesda/St. Anne's Church, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Supper and worship. Nighttime
outdoor “Light & Sound” celebration of Jerusalem at Citadel/Herod’s Palace. Overnight in Old City of Jerusalem.
Sunday July 2 Old City sites: Temple Mount, Jerusalem Archaeological Park/Museum, Steps of Ascent. Lunch and visit to
Bethlehem and Valley of Elah (David & Goliath). Supper, worship, and overnight in Old City of Jerusalem.
Monday July 3 Old City sites: Citadel/Herod’s Palace (site of Jesus’ trial), Upper Room, Lunch in Jewish Quarter. City of David,
Hezekiah’s Tunnel, Pool of Siloam. Afternoon free time. Depart at 6:00 for Ben Gurion International Airport,
arriving at 7:30 p.m. for overnight flights departing at 10:30 p.m. or later. (Travelers continuing to Jordan will stay
in Jerusalem.)
Tuesday July 4 Israel-only travelers arrive home.
​
OPTIONAL JORDAN EXTENSION: MOUNT NEBO-MADABA-PETRA-WADI RUM
​
Tuesday July 4 Depart for Jordan via Allenby Border Crossing. Visit Mount Nebo and arrive at Petra. Supper and overnight in
Petra.
​
Wednesday July 5 Visit Petra and Wadi Rum (two-hour jeep tour). Overnight at desert camp in Wadi Rum.
Thursday July 6 Depart Wadi Rum for Amman (for those not going to Egypt). Arrive Amman airport by 9:00 p.m. for overnight
flights departing after midnight. (Optional stay overnight in Amman.)
Friday January 7 Arrive home.
​
OPTIONAL EGYPT EXTENSION: MOUNT SINAI-CAIRO-PYRAMIDS/SPHINX
​
Thursday July 6 Bus from Wadi Rum to Taba border/Egypt. Dinner and overnight at the Red Sea.
Friday July 7 Relaxing morning at Red Sea (Gulf of Aqaba), with opportunity for world- class snorkeling. Lunch and afternoon
departure for Mount Sinai. Supper, Friday night vespers, and overnight at the base of Mount Sinai.
Sabbath July 8. Early morning camel-climb of Mount Sinai. Descend for breakfast at the hotel. Visit St. Catherine’s monastery and
traditional burning bush where God spoke to Moses. Drive to Cairo. En route, stop by Rafedim, Elim, and Marah
(Exodus route). Supper and overnight in Cairo.
Sunday July 9 Visit the great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza Plateau. Lunch. Visit the new Grand Egypt Museum displaying ancient
Egyptian treasures including that of Tutankhamun. Supper and overnight in Cairo.
Monday July 10 Breakfast and depart for Cairo airport. Arrive home.
OPTIONAL LUXOR EXTENSION
Monday July 10 Fly to fabulous Luxor to visit Valley of the Kings, Tombs of the Royals, and Luxor and Karnak temples. Overnight in Luxor overlooking Nile River.
Tuesday July 11 Continue touring Luxor and return flight to Cairo for international flight home. (Optional airport hotel available.)
Wednesday July 12 Fly home.
​
Israel Tour: $2350/person (based on dbl. occupancy); $2990/single room; $2200/third person in triple room; $1950/child 12 and under staying with two adults. Tour includes: first-class hotels/resorts, ground transportation, sightseeing and admissions, gratuities, breakfast and supper daily, Sabbath lunch, post-departure trip insurance. (Not included: daily lunches.)
Trip Insurance: Trip insurance is included through Adventist Risk Management. The insurance covers post-departure emergencies, including hospitalization (up to $140,000) and lost luggage (up to $1500), and also provides up to $1000 for trip cancellation for medical reasons. Additional trip insurance can be purchased at the time of final payment, if desired.
Optional Jordan Tour: $750/person (double occupancy); $900/single room; $685/third person in triple room; $700/child under 12 staying with two adults. Includes: two nights in hotels and one night in Wadi Rum desert camp, transportation (including jeep tour in Wadi Rum and horseback ride in Petra), sightseeing and admissions, local guide; gratuities, two meals, Jordan entry visa, exit tax. (Not included: daily lunches.)
​
Optional Egypt Tour: $850/person (sharing dbl/room); $1050/sgl; $600/child under 12 with two adults. Accommodations at Red Sea, Mount Sinai, and Cairo; entrance fees and sightseeing; transportation in AC Deluxe coach; all meals; gratuities; local guide; Taba border tax, Sinai tax, and entry visa.
​
Optional 2-Day Tour of Luxor/Valley of the Kings: $325/person (double occupancy); $425 single; $225/child 11 and under staying with two adults. Includes all admissions, meals, gratuities, and hotel night in Luxor on the Nile River. (Not included: roundtrip flight from Cairo- Luxor estimated at $250/person.) Optional airport hotel available for $150/room.
​
International Flight (Israel-Only Tour): est. $900-$1200 round-trip to Tel Aviv. Fares are published 11 months prior to tour dates, and travelers will book their own flights. Book your departing flight from your home airport June 25 to Tel Aviv (arriving June 26, preferably mid- day). Our group will meet for supper on June 26 at 7:00 p.m. For the return flight from Israel, you will arrive at the airport July 3 at 7:30 p.m. for flights departing at 10:30 p.m. and later (most leave after midnight July 4). Travelers choosing to stay overnight July 3-4 can book the Sadot Airport Hotel online. If you have more time, you may prefer to a beach area hotel, such as the Renaissance or Metropolitan. Please be sure to arrive at the airport at least three hours prior to your return flight.
International Flight (Israel + Jordan): est. $900-$1200. If you’re including the Jordan extension, you should book a multi-city itinerary as follows: June 25: Home to Tel Aviv; July 7 Amman to home. We’ll return to the Amman airport at 9:00 p.m. on July 6 for flights departing after midnight July 7. If your flight doesn’t depart until later the next day, an Amman hotel can be reserved for you for $170/dbl room or $125/sgl. The airport transfer is $50/car, holding up to three people.
International Flight (Israel+Jordan+Egypt travelers). est. $900-$1200. If you’re including the Egypt/Luxor extensions, you should book a multi-city itinerary as follows: June 25: Home to Tel Aviv; July 10/12 Cairo to home.
Registration and Deadlines
​
This tour will be filled on a first-come basis. To hold space on this tour, email your name(s) to tabghatours@gmail.com. Within 10 days, please pay your nonrefundable deposit of $250/person at tabghatours.com via debit/credit card. (No fee is added for debit cards; a 3% fee is added for credit cards.) Your deposit will be deducted from your final tour payment due Feb. 1, 2023.
Feb. 1, 2023 Final tour payment due. June 25, 2023: Depart for Israel