Listed below are most of the locations we will be visiting on our Bible Lands Tour. We have included references to our Christian publications so that you can look up this information in advance. This reference list does not include everything we have published on the locations we will be visiting, but will help get you started on preparing:
ISRAEL
ISRAEL (Ancient Land): si 270-278; it-1 332-336; it-2 469-470
JERUSALEM (Ancient): it-2 40-41, 951
JOPPA: it-2 104
CAPERNAUM: it-1 410-412
SEA OF GALILEE: it-1 885
NAZARETH: it-2 476
Bible Lands Tour Highlights: The theme of the trip through Israel will be: "See the Good Land." Close to the Promised Land, Moses implored Jehovah in the words of Deuteronomy 3:25, “Let me pass over, please, and see the good land that is across the Jordan.” Our "See the Good Land" Bible tour will help you to draw a number of practical lessons from the experiences of the ancient Israelites as well as the travels and ministry of Jesus and the apostle Paul.
ISRAEL
Jerusalem
Throughout the Bible there are more than 800 references to the city of Jerusalem. Most of the source information regarding the ancient city of Jerusalem come from the Bible and Jewish historian Josephus. Wailing Wall: The temple was completely demolished by the Romans. The Wailing Wall, to which many Jews come from great distances to pray, is not part of that temple. It is only a part of the wall of the temple courtyard. Israel Museum: This museum is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and is ranked among the leading art and archaeology museums in the world. The Shrine of the Book is the home of several exceptional archaeological finds including the Dead Sea Scrolls and other rare ancient manuscripts.
Sea of Galilee
Surrounded by hills in northern Palestine lies the freshwater inland lake called the Sea of Galilee. It was on and around this lake that many outstanding events of Jesus’ ministry took place.
Capernaum
A city of major importance in Jesus’ earthly ministry, located on the north west shores of the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum, came to be known as Jesus’ "own city" even though he traveled much of the time. (Mt 9:1; Mr 2:1) It was at Capernaum that Jesus called Matthew to be his disciple. (Mt 9:9)
Masada
According to Josephus, a first-century Jewish Roman historian, Herod the Great fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE as a refuge for himself in the event of a revolt. In 66 CE, Jewish extremists overcame a Roman garrison at Masada. In response, the Romans began a two to three month siege of Masada and completed a rampart in the spring of 73. When the Romans entered the fortress they discovered that its 960 inhabitants had committed mass suicide rather than face certain capture by their enemies.
Friday Oct 19:
Travelers from the Americas depart for Israel
Saturday Oct 20:
All travelers arrival Ben Gurion [TLV] airport; Meet BCT guides and agent at airport and at hotel, Checking into Hotel; free time Tel Aviv; guests arrange own supper.
Sunday Oct 21:
Breakfast in hotel. Travel by coach to Tel Aviv to tour Bethel and Joppa (see Simon the Tanner’s house and the ancient Port). Get own lunch in Joppa, local cuisine as a group; after lunch tour the wonderful Biblical Landscape Reserve (Neot Kedumim); home of the ‘seven varieties’ Deut 8:8. Coach back to TelAviv hotel for group dinner (included)
Monday Oct 22:
Breakfast in hotel, check out. Visit newly un-earthed Caesarea & amazing Megiddo (lunch at or near Nazareth). Nazareth Village– experience a memorable re-creation of Nazareth of 2000 years ago. Group dinner (included) at new Nazareth hotel.
Tuesday Oct 23:
Breakfast in kibbutz, check out. Tour of the Sea of Galilee area: Mount of Beatitudes for a re-enactment of the Sermon, Capernaum to see the ancient synagogue and ruins of Peter’s house, and ancient fishing centre by Tabgha. Optional Galilee Fish lunch at Tiberias. Coach to Jerusalem hotel via one of the historic baptism sites; followed by a memorable ‘sunset’ dinner event (included, with wine & camel ride) at ‘Abraham’s Tent’.
Wednesday Oct 24:
Breakfast in hotel. Leave with coach with equipment needed (if you choose the ‘wet’ tunnel instead of the ‘dry’ one) for wading through Hezekiah’s tunnel at the City of David. Visit to Gihon, Hezekiah’s tunnel, Warren’s Shaft, Pool of Siloam (new site recently found). Shop with genuine ancient coins found in Pool of Siloam. Herod’s Steps, recently found. Guided Bible Tour of Israel Museum (we have own local theocratic guide), Shrine of The Book and the huge outdoor model of ancient Jerusalem, showing the possible route of Jesus on Nisan 14. Visit to Temple Mount including new excavations at the astonishing Western Wall ‘Tunnel’. Coach back to hotel; guests arrange own supper (the hotel has easy transport a short distance into the ancient city of Jerusalem.)
Thursday Oct 25:
Breakfast in hotel. Enjoy city walk, seeing the Wailing Wall, Wohl Museum & [AD 70] Burnt House, ‘Upper Room’ Senaculum. Get own small lunch; Mount of Olives, walk down to Gethsemane. Guided tour of Garden Tomb site.
Friday Oct 26:
Breakfast in classy Jerusalem hotel. Leave with coach for Bethany (with re-enactment of Lazarus resurrection) and incredible Masada, using the cable car. Enjoy an optional Dead Sea float and lunch by the Dead Sea (lunch not included). See the Qumran caves as we pass. Visit to the amazing ancient Jericho archeological site. Farewells to coach driver & Israeli guide. Coach back to hotel for inclusive group dinner party.
Saturday Oct 27:
Breakfast in hotel. Free day in city; Your BCT guide will give you a list of other great local places for you to see. (self-guided)
Sunday Oct 28:
Breakfast in hotel. Israel-Only guests depart for home. Egypt & Turkey guests depart for Egypt.
- Transportation each day for touring and sightseeing
- Entrance fees for scheduled touring sites
- Breakfast and/or Lunch as noted on the day by day itinerary.
- Rooming in a 3 star or higher hotel
- Prices include three tour guides: one local guide to conduct our tour through Israel which is required by the local laws and two Witness guides. The Witness guides will be Brother Timothy E. Martin and Brother Derek House. Brother Martin will be volunteering his own time to conduct these tours. Your tour through Israel will be biblically accurate and of the greatest encouragement to you
- Packages with airfare from NY include airport to hotel shuttle.
- Tour Watchtower Branch Office in Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Airport / Hotel shuttle service for full packages
- BCT agents to meet & greet at both airport & hotel
Tour Notes: A deposit of $350 per person is required at the time you make your reservation to ensure your space on the tour. Refunds are possible only to those who purchase travel insurance, provided cancellation conditions are met. Payment in full is due 90 days before the trip departure date.
Download the Bible Lands Tours Handbook
