We are planning to lead a 10 day, 9 night tour to Israel leaving Adelaide Friday 27th September returning Tuesday 8th October 2019 (12 days away). Please read the PDF linked below and use the expression of interest form to connect with us.
Contents
- 1 Key Tour Features
- 2 Proposed Itinerary (Updated 12/Dec/2018)
- 2.1 Day 1 – Sat 28th September – Arrival – Jaffa – Tel Aviv
- 2.2 Day 2 – Sun 29th – Mt Carmel – Nazareth – Cana
- 2.3 Day 3 – Mon 30th – Mt of Beatitudes – Tabgha – Capernaum
- 2.4 Day 4 – Tue 1st October – Jericho – Qumran – Dead Sea – Masada – Ein Gedi
- 2.5 Day 5 – Wed 2nd – Be’er Sheva
- 2.6 Day 6 – Thu 3rd – Bethlehem – Ein Karem – Jerusalem
- 2.7 Day 7 – Fri 4th – Mount of Olives – Garden of Gethsemane – Church of all Nations – Pool of Bethesda and Church of St Anne – Wailing Wall & Temple Mount
- 2.8 Day 8 – Sat 5th – Old city of Jerusalem
- 2.9 Day 9 – Sun 6th – Free day
- 2.10 Day 10 – Mon 7th – Departure
- 3 Detailed Tour Information – PDF download
- 4 Expression of Interest Form
- 5 Price Estimates
- 6 Travel Tips – Israel Tour
- 7 Fitness to travel
- 8 Safety and Conflict
Key Tour Features
- Two hop travel (Adelaide – Hong Kong – Tel Aviv)
- Fully priced including flights, meals, accommodation, licensed guide, and all transport
- 10 days, 9 nights in Israel
- Be’er Sheva and the Australian Light Horse
- Magdala where we 100% know Jesus ministered
- Major biblical sites
- Dead sea swim
- River Jordan baptisms
- See the itinerary below for all the details
Proposed Itinerary (Updated 12/Dec/2018)
Day 1 – Sat 28th September – Arrival – Jaffa – Tel Aviv
On arrival at Ben Gurion Airport you will be met by one of our representatives. Then view Jaffa and drive along the scenic Mediterranean coast to the Ancient Roman city of Caesarea, visit the amphitheatre and historic ruins of this ancient port. Drive towards Tiberias and make a quick stop in Megiddo to view the valley of Armageddon. In Tiberias take an inspirational boat ride with a special meal. Proceed to your hotel for check–in, dinner and overnight stay.
Note: What if the flight is late? Answer from GTTWTravel: “There should be plenty of time on the first day since you arrive at 8 AM. Even if there is a delay for a few hours there shouldn’t be any problem. Caesarea is about a 50 min drive from the airport, megido is about 35 min from Caesarea and your hotel and boat ride is about 40 min from megido. Also hotel check-in is only at 3 pm, therefore if you wanted to go to the hotel right away, you would have to wait a while before checking into your hotel room. Which is why I made use of the day and out the sites seeing that don’t require much walking. “
Day 2 – Sun 29th – Mt Carmel – Nazareth – Cana
After breakfast continue to Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. From here travel to the lower Galilee city of Nazareth where Jesus grew up. Visit the stunningly beautiful Church of the Annunciation and Mt precipice before proceeding to Cana, the place where Jesus turned water into wine. (Here it is possible to renew marriage vows in the Wedding Church). After, drive up to the Golan heights and view the valley of tears. And at last proceed back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Tiberias.
Day 3 – Mon 30th – Mt of Beatitudes – Tabgha – Capernaum
After enjoying a hearty breakfast visit the Boat Museum where you can see the “Jesus Boat” which was brought up from the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. Continue to Tabgha and the church of St. Peters primacy which is the site of the feeding of the multitudes. Then, visit Capernaum where Jesus preached in the Ancient Synagogue. At last, visit Magdala and proceed back to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Tiberias.
Day 4 – Tue 1st October – Jericho – Qumran – Dead Sea – Masada – Ein Gedi
Start the day with early breakfast and check out of your hotel. Drive along the Jordan Valley to biblical Jericho, the first city conquered by Joshua in the Promised Land where you will view the Mount of Temptation. Continue on to Qasr El Yahud, the traditional baptismal site. Here you can partake in water baptisms. Proceed to the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on earth and go for a quick swim in Kalya before heading to Ein Gedi. After Ein Gedi go to visit majestic Masada and ascend by Cable Car to inspect the fortress and ruins of Herod’s palace which later served the Zealots when they resisted the Roman onslaught. At last, check into your hotel, have Dinner and overnight stay on the Dead Sea.
Day 5 – Wed 2nd – Be’er Sheva
After breakfast, Check out of your hotel and drive towards Beer Sheva. Here you will see the Commonwealth war cemetery and the Park of the Australian soldier which is the Australian light horse memorial. After drive to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Beer Sheva
Day 6 – Thu 3rd – Bethlehem – Ein Karem – Jerusalem
After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to Bethlehem the birth place of Jesus and visit the Church of Nativity, Manger Square and the Shepherds Fields. After drive to Ein Karem and take in the picturesque scenery before proceeding to your hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7 – Fri 4th – Mount of Olives – Garden of Gethsemane – Church of all Nations – Pool of Bethesda and Church of St Anne – Wailing Wall & Temple Mount
This morning after early breakfast visit the Temple Mount, then drive up the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. Walk along the Palm Sunday road and view the Kidron valley and then enter into the Garden of Gethsemane and visit the Church of All Nations. Visit the Western Wall, the Western wall tunnels and the Southern Steps. After visit the Church of St Anne and the pool of Bethesda. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem.
Day 8 – Sat 5th – Old city of Jerusalem
After Breakfast, enter the beautiful Old city of Jerusalem and walk along the Via Dolorosa (path where Jesus carried the cross before he was crucified). Visit the church of the holy sepulcher, Christian and Jewish quarters. Then visit Mt. Zion, the Hall of the Last Supper and the Tomb of King David. Tour the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu built on the site of the house of the high Priest Caiaphas. At last visit the Garden Tomb – optional communion service. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9 – Sun 6th – Free day
Today is your last day in Israel, so the rest of the day you may go shopping and explore the city as you wish. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. You can re–visit key locations in the old city or nearby. Mamila mall is just outside the Old City and is the main up market shopping precinct. Our hotel is 12 minutes by taxi from the old city (about NIS 50).
We can all visit King of Kings church for their evening service.
Day 10 – Mon 7th – Departure
Transfer to Airport for your departure.
Detailed Tour Information – PDF download
Here is the tour information sheet and price estimates PDF which includes airfares and all estimated expenses but is subject to change.
Expression of Interest Form
[contact-form-7 id=”765″ title=”Tour Expression of Interest”]
Price Estimates
| USD | Ex. Rate |
AUD | Item |
| $ 1,585.00 | 0.75 | $ 2,113.33 | Tour# 10 days, 9 nights |
| $ 150.00 | 0.75 | $ 200.00 | Mandatory Tips for Guide, Driver and Bell boys |
| $ 1,900.00 | Airfares estimate, you will need to book this yourself, meeting at the airport on the morning of Sat 28th, or possible hotel pick ups in Tel Aviv | ||
| $ 300.00 | Travel Insurance estimate (mandatory) this will vary according to age and pre–existing issues | ||
| Total | $ 4,513.33 | ALL Inclusive Estimate Twin Share | |
| $ 650.00 | 0.75 | $ 866.67 | Single Room Supplement (not in total) |
| $ 500.00 – 1,000.00 | Spending money estimate (lunches, shopping etc.) |
Cancellation policy: 100% penalties apply if cancelled 60 days or less before departure.
Services Included in Tour# price: Guide: 10 days Full; Bus: 10 days Full; Airport assistance; Fees to Sites; Accommodation at 3* hotels; Breakfast and dinner at hotels
Services and Items Not Included in Tour# price: Mandatory Tips for Guide, Driver and Hotels, US$150 per person (Approx. AU$200); Personal expenses; Travel Insurance (you must provide insurance details, i.e. company and policy number and dates covered); Single Supplement (prices are twin share); Lunches, Porterage at the Airport; Travel Insurance (mandatory); Visas (not required for Australian passport holders); Current passport, Passport must be valid for 6 months past return travel date.
Tour Leaders: Kym & Nel Farnik, and a licensed tour guide in country
Fitness to travel: You will need to be fit enough to travel and also walk a few hours each day, Israel is hilly, and Jerusalem has various stairs you will need to climb.
In country tour service: http://gttwtravel.com/ (Sam Dewald ministries)
Travel Tips – Israel Tour
Weather: The tour is timed for mid Autumn in Israel. The weather will be mild (mid to high 20s during the day in Galilee and Jerusalem, and around 35c near the dead sea). This is very similar to Autumn in Adelaide. If you have a haircut like me 🙂 you will need a hat.
Dead Sea/River Jordan: You will need bathers for the swim in the Dead Sea and for the baptisms in the River Jordan. A pair of old thongs or old sports shoes is also recommended for the Dead Sea.
Food/Dining: Food has rules in Israel as far as that counts for religious people. You will often find restaurants stating that they offer ‘kosher’ food, which basically means they stick to the rules of the religion. Main rule is: don’t mix dairy with meat at the same meal. In reality most young Israeli’s don’t care at all, but it is good to know when you are planning a trip to Israel. Expect to eat a lot of hummus.
WiFi and Internet: Many tourists walk around sans personal Internet connection because they fear that getting an Israeli SIM card installed will be expensive, a scam, or both. Both of these assumptions are vastly untrue. For around $20 at a reputable shop (eg. at the Airport), you can get a reusable SIM that will allow you to check emails, search online maps and stay in touch with guides, or your friends through texting apps like WhatsApp or Voxer. Most hotels have WiFi.
Money: Don’t change your money in Australia, just bring a credit card and use ATMs to get local currency (NIS = New Israeli Shekels). We will get an initial cash up at the airport on arrival. Don’t have a card? Then get a pre-loaded card from Australia Post.
Camera: you can use your phone but a dedicated camera will give better results. Make sure you have plenty of memory cards. 😀
Fitness to travel
You will need to be fit enough to travel and also walk up to a few hours each day (not all at once), Israel is hilly and Jerusalem has various stairs you will need to climb.
We recommend good walking shoes and dressing for comfort.
Safety and Conflict
Israel will always be a country with issues and yes there are always people that will have their opinions about the conflicts going on here. We are not going to Israel to discuss this or to find out more about it. We are there to see the beauty, the crazy and the holy! But of course I can understand that safety issues are important visiting Israel tips. But just because Israel is a place of conflict that does not mean it isn’t safe.
We have walked around on the streets at night and during the day and went to remote areas in the South and visit the Dead Sea, but didn’t stumble upon anything that made us feel unsafe. Security is so tight that it actually annoyed me like crazy sometimes. Expect long lines at the airport security. I waited 40 minutes to go through security, got questioned 20 minutes before entering Israel and 10 minutes when I left. Why? I assume it contributes to make Israel a safe place, which it definitely is nowadays. Safety issues? No worries!
Obviously normal travel security applies, you need to keep an eye on your bags, keep your documents and wallet safe etc.