Israel-

Interestingly, the HOLY LAND had never been on my travel “bucket list”, because I thought it would never be a possibility. However, in 2018 when the opportunity knocked, I opened the door - to touch, to see, to hear the history and sacred places in this tiny plot of land called “Holy”.

Once there, seeing the same mountains, valleys, walking the same paths along the hills of The Galilee, the streets of Jerusalem...feeling the same heat of the sun as did Abraham, Moses, King David, Isaiah…and Jesus…it was so much more than I could have imagined.

As a lover of history and legend, I loved being in the place where three major religions and their subsequent cultures and philosophies were born. I was thrilled to share this journey of history, art, literature and spirituality with friends old and new.

And now that I've seen it, I can't wait to return.  We are all going to have a GOOD time. We are going to talk about this trip for the rest of our lives, and like all good journeys, it will become a personal heart-changing, mind-expanding, paradigm-shifting moment.

Thank you for being a part of this ISRAEL 2023 trip!

-Rick

Tour Israel with Central Christian Church

10 Day/9 Night Tour

With Pastor Rick Vale

APRIL 15-24, 2023

PRICE: $3,295.00 per person

Including: Lodging 4* hotels, breakfast and dinner each day, ground transportation, guides, visas, entrance fees to sites, transfer to/from airport, tips

Not Including: International airfare (estimated price $950-$1,500), lunch each day (estimated total $200), optional travel insurance, passport (if new passport needed)

NOTE: Full vaccination against Covid-19 required for all passengers on the trip

Itinerary

April 15 (SATURDAY) » USA

Group departs Indianapolis for Tel Aviv.

April 16 (SUNDAY) » GALILEE

Arrive Tel Aviv early afternoon met by your guide at the airport. Drive a little over an hour to your hotel near the Sea of Galilee. Dinner at the hotel with some time to rest after the long flight. Overnight Galilee.

April 17 (MONDAY) » GALILEE

Today we’ll explore the area around the Sea of Galilee. After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll visit the fishing village of Capernaum, known as the “Town of Jesus” followed by the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. We’ll then visit new excavations at Magdala before crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat. Finally, we’ll visit the archaeological excavations at Beit Shean, one of the largest Roman-Byzantine cities uncovered in Israel. Finally, we’ll return to our hotel for dinner. Overnight Galilee.

April 18 (TUESDAY) » WINE TASTING

After breakfast, we’ll depart for the Golan Heights in the north, including a visit to Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked “Who do men say I am?”. In the afternoon, we’ll visit an olive oil factory and have a visit to a local Israeli Winery for wine tasting and small plates. Overnight Galilee.

April 19 (WEDNESDAY) » NAZARETH

After checking out of our hotel, we’ll depart for Nazareth to see the Basilica of Annunciation, where Jesus spent his formative years. Next we’ll head to Mount Carmel, where Elijah confronted prophets of Baal. In the afternoon we’ll drive the coast for a visit to Caesarea and continue to Jerusalem. Upon arrival into Jerusalem, we’ll view the city from the Mount of Olives and visit the Western Wall. We’ll have dinner at our hotel and overnight Jerusalem.

April 20 (THURSDAY) » JERUSALEM

Today we’ll explore Jerusalem, including a visit in the morning to the Temple Mount, the pools of Bethesda, and the Garden of Gethsemane. We’ll have an optional visit to the City of David and walk through Hezekiah’s Tunnel under the city or free time in Jerusalem’s Old City. In the afternoon, we’ll visit Yad Vashem, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Overnight Jerusalem.

April 21 (FRIDAY) » DEAD SEA

This morning, we’ll drive to a baptismal site on the Jordan River. Afterward, we’ll drive to Masada, Herod’s desert palace and site of the Jewish Zealots’ last stand against the Roman Legionnaires. We’ll have lunch at a traditional Bedouin village and visit a local Israeli winery in the afternoon. We’ll return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

April 22 (SATURDAY) » BETHLEHEM

After checking out from our hotel, we’ll spend the day in and around Jerusalem, traveling first to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity. In Jerusalem, we’ll have a walking tour including the Israeli Museum, Shrine of the Book, the Ecce Home, Via Dolorosa and Arab Market, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Garden Tomb. After these visits, we’ll depart Jerusalem for Tel Aviv and check in to our hotel. In the evening, we’ll have time to explore Tel Aviv’s exciting night life independently with recommendations for bars and restaurants from our guide. Overnight Tel Aviv.

April 23 (SUNDAY) » TEL AVIV

We’ll have the morning today to explore Tel Aviv independently. Our guide will give recommendations for brunch restaurants (not included in tour price) or the group can eat breakfast at the hotel (included). Check out from the hotel will be at noon, after which we’ll depart the hotel together to visit the Old City of Jaffa for some historical understanding of Tel Aviv and shopping. We’ll then depart for a farewell dinner in Tel Aviv before heading to the airport for an evening flight home.

April 24 (MONDAY) » ARRIVE USA