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Writer's pictureTravel Planners 4 U

180 Chicago Church Israel Journey: March 2025

Updated: May 22



A trip to Israel, The Holy Land, is one that most people say is "the trip of a lifetime." You will experience some of the most biblically important and historic locations in the world. This 10-Day journey will allow you to get a closer look and understanding of the first century when Christ walked and ministered on the earth. You will take your Bible in-hand and see the scriptures come to life before your eyes.

 

AT A GLANCE


STATUS

Registration is open. CLICK HERE to jump to the registration section.


DATES

  • Departing: March 16, 2025

  • Returning: March 25, 2025


PRICING

Starting at $4,350 for double room occupancy.

Single rooms are available for a $850 supplemental fee.

Your trip must be paid in full NO LATER THAN Tuesday, December 31, 2024.


Your all-inclusive price includes:

  • Round trip international air transportation from Chicago, IL;

  • First class and deluxe hotels;

  • Land transportation via a deluxe motor coach (wi-fi equipped);

  • Professional tour guide and driver;

  • Entrance fees to all activities listed on the itinerary;

  • Breakfast and dinner daily with special meals noted on the itinerary (lunch is purchased on own unless otherwise noted);

  • Luggage handling at hotels


 NOT Included:

  • Travel insurance (required);

  • Domestic flights;

  • Gratuities for guide and drive (allow $10 per person/per day)


*See Terms and Conditions for details.


 

ITINERARY


Day 1: Sunday, March 16, 2025

Today we depart on our Israel experience from Chicago, Illinois on our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.


Day 2: Monday, March 17, 2025

Upon arrival at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport our Israeli host will assist us with the transfer of our luggage.  We will meet our guide, board our deluxe motor coach, and drive to our hotel on the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Netanya.


Day 3: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

After our first Israeli breakfast, we will drive north up the coast to Caesarea Maritima, built by King Herod the Great in 22 BC.  After viewing the extensive ruins of this ancient port city, we will continue to Megiddo and see the site overlooking the Valley of Armageddon where the final battle is prophesied to happen. After lunch we will visit the ancient city of Zippori where Jesus would have visited and worked as a young man. Then we will travel to the Mount of Precipice, the traditional site for where Jesus was rejected by an angry mob and where a miracle occurred. The view of the Jezreel Valley below is magnificent. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.


Day 4: Wednesday, March 19, 2025

After breakfast at the hotel we begin our day with a visit Hazor, known in Joshua’s day as “the head of all those kingdoms.” Then we drive to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), a city of Greek-Roman culture known for its worship of foreign gods and where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  We will then drive the Road to Damascus and discuss Paul’s revelation and Abrahams’ covenant as well as the connection between these two events.  We will stop for an overlook of the Golan Heights and Syria from Mt. Bental, an abandoned IDF post.  After lunch we will visit the ancient city of Hippos-Sussita in the upper Galilee and enjoy the amazing excavations of this site. Next, we will experience true Israeli hospitality and enjoy dinner in the home of our CEO, Omer Eshel, on the Cliffs of Gardara where Jesus cast the demons (legion) into the swine. Overnight at our hotel. 


Day 5: Thursday, March 20, 2025

After breakfast at the hotel we set out to see the beautiful Mt. of Beatitudes believed to be the setting for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Then we drive to Capernaum, known as Jesus’ home town and the scene of many of his miracles and where he called his first disciples.  Next we visit Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee and the Church of the Primary of Peter best known for Christ’s miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish to feed a multitude. We will then see an ancient boat dated to the time of Jesus, enjoy a delicious fish lunch and take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Afterward we will enjoy a time of spiritual blessing as we stop at Yardenit, the baptismal site at the headwaters of the Jordan River. Here you are invited to be baptized if you choose.  Next, we will visit Magdala, a major 1st century port on the Sea of Galilee, a center of trade and commerce, and an exporter of salted fish to markets as far away as Europe. It is here we will see a 1st century synagogue where Jesus would have taught. We end our day with dinner and overnight at our hotel.


Day 6: Friday, March 21, 2025

After breakfast at the hotel we will travel to Beit She’an where we will see the most extensive and best preserved ruins of this Decapolis city. It is here that King Saul was defeated and killed, along with his three sons. This city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 749. We will drive through Jericho and can see the Mt. of Temptation.  If possible, we will ride a cable car up the Mt. of Temptation and view a possible path of the Good Samaritan. Next we travel to Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found before traveling to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight is at our hotel.


 Day 7: Saturday, March 22, 2025

After breakfast at the hotel we set out to see the incredible rock-top fortress of Masada. This once palatial refuge for Herod the Great, is better known as the location of a Roman siege against 960 Jewish defenders in AD 74. We will make a brief stop at Ein Gedi, where David hid from Saul when he pursued him to kill him before we take a break and enjoy time to “float” on the Dead Sea. After lunch we will drive to the Elah Valley to see a castle from the time of King Josiah and visit Tel Lachish. We will also see an authentic 1st century tomb owned by a wealthy family. Afterward we will visit Tel Azeqa and overlook the valley where the battle of David and Goliath took place. We will then drive to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at our hotel.


Day 8: Sunday, March 23, 2025

After breakfast at the hotel we will begin the day participating in the Temple Sifting Project in hopes to discover artifacts from the Temple Mount. Next we will walk the Southern Steps of the temple at the Davidson Center. We will visit the City of David and walk through the Canaanite (dry) tunnel.  Afterward we will travel to the Mt. of Olives and see an impressive view of Jerusalem. This is the site where Christ will return at his second coming.  We will then visit the Garden of Gethsemane near the foot of the Mt. of Olives. This is the site where Jesus prayed in agony before his arrest.  After lunch we will drive to Bethlehem and see a Shepherd’s Field and shop for authentic olive wood designs. We end our day with dinner and overnight at our hotel.

  

Day 9: Monday, March 24, 2025

After breakfast at the hotel we will visit the Israel Museum and then tour the Old City of Jerusalem. We will visit the Garden Tomb and observe communion with those who choose to participate. We will also visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  After lunch we will take time for a spiritual reflection as we pray at the Western Wall (Kotel), Judaism’s holiest place in the Old City. It is considered the sole remnant of the temple built by Herod the Great in 20 BC.  Next we will have free time to explore and experience the Old City. Dinner and overnight will be at the hotel.


Day 10: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

After an early breakfast at the hotel we will drive to the airport and begin our journey home. Shalom until next time!

 

 

HOW TO REGISTER


STEP 1: COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORM

Register for the trip by completing the Traveler Registration Form and paying the non-refundable registration fee of $300 (plus applicable fees). For more info, please review our Terms and Conditions.





STEP 2: COMPLETE BOOKING

After you complete the Traveler Registration Form, click the event link below to select your trip options and complete your booking. Upon checkout via the event page, you can select from the following payment options: Online via Credit Card or PayPal; or Manual Payments via Check, Zelle, or Bank Wire. Instructions for each payment method will be available on the checkout page and are always available on our Payment Options page.



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