Stay posted for more information about a Chinese language tour in August or September of 2010. English speakers are also welcome to join us.

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The following includes information and an updated itinerary for our standard tour to Israel. Details and prices will undoubtedly change from year to year. We can also set up custom designed tours for your group.

In The Footsteps of Jesus

This tour includes all the standard "must see" sites, plus a whole lot more! Try to find these value-adding extras in other tours: The Talmudic Village at Qatzrin (a reconstruction of village life in the time of Jesus), the Herodian Quarter Excavations (homes of the wealthy in Jesus' Jerusalem), the Burnt House (dramatic evidence of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans), Nimrud Fortress (a massive Crusader Castle near the site of Jesus' Transfiguration), Tel Dan (the actual worship platform of one of the golden calves of King Jeroboam), and Hazor (site of exciting new evidence of Joshua's greatest conquest in the north).

These are all in addition to the standard "must see" sites included in most tours (see itinerary below). Our accomodations in Galilee will be at the peaceful and relaxing En Gev Holiday Village right on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We will also stay our first night in a Mediterranean sea-side hotel in Tel Aviv, and will have a night in one of the popular hotels at the Dead Sea. All this with high-quality teaching that reflects the latest in Christian and Israeli scholarship. You just won't find a tour like this anywhere else!

Why a study tour?  To help you learn about--and remember--all the fascinating places you will see, with a depth of Biblical insight you won't find anywhere else. 

The focus of this tour is the earthly life and ministry of Jesus--not just to trace out his travels, but to let the local climate, customs, language, and archeology bring us a new, richer understanding of his life that you will cherish for a lifetime. 

Tourist information ("on the right you can see...") is balanced with background Biblical and historical information to give you the "big picture" from a Christian perspective.  Timelines, maps, and diagrams also help sort out the depth of history to be found in Israel and can be used long after the tour is over.   

A tour is only as good as the guide or teacher who leads it.  In a To The Ends Of The Earth Study Tour, you'll get the benefit of Pastor Jeff Harrison's years of teaching experience in Israel and around the world making Israel and the Bible come alive to thousands of students in Israel, North America, and Asia.   

In addition to the "must see" sights in Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Masada, Caesarea, Qumran, and more, there will be many extras to make the tour both memorable and meaningful:  the "Jesus" boat discovered at the Sea of Galilee, a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, the new discoveries in the City of David including the Siloam Pool.  These and other extras raise the price of the tour a little, but we think they're worth it! 

We've also scheduled several short walks, with Bible in hand, that will get us away from the buses and the crowds and out into the land so we can see it as Jesus did.   

At the Sea of Galilee, we'll be staying at the En Gev holiday resort, located right down by the Sea of Galilee, away from the bustle of Tiberius (though we'll also get to Tiberius for a fish dinner one night).  En Gev is the perfect place to soak up the view over the Sea of Galilee or go for a swim.  We've done many baptismal renewals there at the beach, and would be happy to do so on this trip for any that are interested.   

Here's the complete itinerary: 

In the Footsteps of Jesus

Day 1  Depart U.S. for Israel.

Day 2  Arrival in Israel. Orientation meeting at the hotel. Overview of the History, Archeology and Geography of Israel. Galilee preparation. Overnight in Mediterranean sea-side hotel Tel Aviv.

Day 3  "Herod's Capital City and the Way of the Sea":  Caesarea on the Sea (the Roman capital of King Herod and Pontius Pilate; travels of Peter and Paul), with stops at Roman theater, Crusader city via new excavation area (including hippodrome) and Roman aqueduct. Muqrakah on Mt. Carmel (the confrontation of Elijah and the prophets of Baal). Megiddo (Israel vs. the Canaanites): gate, Bronze Age temples and high place, stables, exit via water system. Nazareth (boyhood home of Jesus): Church of the Annunciation (with remains of the ancient village) and the Orthodox church of Mary's well (St. Gabriel's; the village spring; Christianity in the Middle East today). Hippus hike (with view of Sea of Galilee; time permitting). Overnight Sea of Galilee: En Gev.

Day 4  "Jesus' Ministry Around the Sea of Galilee":  Bus stop for view over the lake and orientation. Gergesene demoniac site (Kursi; early Christians in the Land of Israel). Bethsaida (new excavations; hometown of Peter and John), Capernaum (Jesus' home base for ministry). Peter Primacy (the resurrection appearance of Jesus by the Sea). Church Of the Multiplication (Heptapaegon). Chorazin (the traveling ministry of Jesus). Church of the Beatitudes with optional downhill hike to original hillside Beatitudes site (the Sermon on the Mount; Jesus' vision for the Christian life). Jesus boat museum at Ginnosar. Boat ride to Tiberius. Fish Dinner at Tiberias. Optional baptism in the Sea of Galilee at hotel. Overnight: En Gev.

Day 5  "Jesus' Withdrawal to Caesarea of Philip":  Gamla (Zealot stronghold). Qatzrin (Talmudic Village entrance; village life in Jesus' day), Road to Damascus (View of Quneitra; Paul's vision of Jesus), Nimrud Fortress (entrance; the Transfiguration) Caesarea Philippi: caves and new excavation area (Jesus' question to the disciples, "Who do men say that I am?"). Tel Dan (site of one of the golden calves; religious compromise in ancient Israel). Hazor (battle of Joshua). Map marking and short “Desert Prep” orientation, to prep for the time by the Dead Sea. Overnight Sea of Galilee.

Day 6  "Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem":  Beth Shean (Stadium, Theater, Main Excavation area; Saul and Jonathan, city life in the Roman world). Qumran (Dead Sea scrolls). Map marking, Jerusalem preparation. Overnight Dead Sea.

Day 7  "Essenes, Zealots, and Messianic Expectations":  Masada (cable car up and down; Zealots' last stand). Up to Jerusalem. Stop for view over the Desert of Judea (Wadi Qilt near St. George’s monastery; Jesus' temptation; Jesus' last trip to Jerusalem). Panorama over Jerusalem from the south (Haas Promenade). Bethlehem: Church of the Nativity and Grotto and St. Catherine’s Church (birthplace of Jesus). 2nd Temple Model at the Holyland Hotel (model of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus). Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 8  "Jesus' Ministry in the Temple":  Temple Mount, the Western or Wailing Wall, the Wall Tunnel, the S&W Temple Mount Excavations (the Jewish Temple; the conflict between Jesus and the religious authorities of his day). City of David overlook (Kidron valley promenade; Jerusalem in the time of King David). Citadel Museum (entrance; Upper Palace of Herod). Jaffa Gate. Upper Gehinnom valley walk (time permitting). Overnight: Jerusalem.

Day 9  "Jesus' Passover and Trials":  Mt. Zion (the Upper City of Jerusalem in the time of Jesus): Essene Quarter, Early Judeo-Christian synagogue (Tomb of David), Last Supper Room (Cenacle; Jesus' last Passover with the disciples; Passover and the Christian faith), St. Peter Gallicantu (possible house of Caiaphas). Jewish Quarter: Sephardic synagogues, Herodian Quarter excavations (Wohl Archaeological Museum; homes of the wealthy in Jesus' Jerusalem), Burnt House (evidence of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans), Broad Wall (Hezekiah and Isaiah), and Cardo. Dinner: Biblical Meal at Neot Kedumim. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Day 10  "The Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension":  Mt. of Olives: Bethany (Lazarus tomb), Chapel of the Ascension (the ascension of Jesus), Eleona Church (Pater Noster; Jesus' end-times prophecy), Dominus Flevit, Garden of Gethsemane. Stephen’s Gate, Pools of Bethesda (Jesus' healing of the sick man). Via Dolorosa (Jesus carries the cross): Flagellation Chapel, Sisters of Zion, Holy Sepulchre, Garden Tomb. Overnight: Jerusalem.

Day 11  Day off. Optional activities: Yad Vashem, planting a tree, Israel Museum.

Day 12  Departure to the US.


If you're interested in joining one of our tours, or setting up a tour for your own group, please e-mail us at Jeff@totheends.com