Tours of the Holy Land
The Holy Land is a popular travel destination for Jewish, Christian and Muslim pilgrims as well as archaeology buffs and anyone interested in world history. Most tours concentrate on Israel, but visitors can also travel to the neighboring countries to see religious and historical sites.
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Secular Tours
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Putting on mud at the Dead Sea.
dead sea mud treatment image by hava from Fotolia.com
Secular tours visit a combination of religious sites and destinations of general interest, such as the beaches of the Dead Sea. Gate1 is a budget-oriented operator whose Holy Land tours visit sites of interest to all religions. The Jerusalem city tour, for example, takes in the Western Wall (the most holy site for Jews), the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (the site of Christ's crucifixion), and the Dome of the Rock (Islam's third holiest place). Gate1 and Trafalgar Tours, another secular operator, both offer Israel-only trips as well as multi-country tours that include Israel. Some of Trafalgar's multi-country tours include cruises that dock in Israel and have shore excursions to Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The company's website details its tours and prices, but trips must be booked through a travel agent.
Gate1 Travel
455 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034 USA
800-682-3333
gate1travel.com/europe.aspxTrafalgar Tours
trafalgar.com
Tours for Jews
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The Western (Wailing) Wall is an icon image of the Holy Land.
wailing wall - jerusalem old city at evening image by Pavel Bernshtam from Fotolia.com
Jewish National Fund is a nonprofit organization supporting projects in Israel since the 19th century. It has classic journeys as well as special-interest tours such as environmental and ecology adventures, bar/bat mitzvah celebrations, and even a weeklong trip to play baseball against the Israeli National Team. Shalom Journeys offers Jewish heritage tours, family and bar/bat mitzvah tours, classical music trips, and can also customize a visit by private car. Many Jewish tours include an overnight stay on a kibbutz (a collective farm or settlement). The company also leads Christian tours.
Jewish National Fund
42 East 69th St.
New York, NY 10021
888-JNF-0099
support.jnf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=travelShalom Journeys
19068 NE 29th Ave,
Miami, FL 33180
866-592-1818
http://www.shalomjourneys.com/
Tours for Protestants
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The Sea of Galilee
Sea landscape. A sea bay with picturesque mountains image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
Maranatha Tours strives to give its pilgrims a deeper understanding of Scripture by walking in Christ's footsteps. The company also customizes tours for church or other groups. Since Maranatha's pricing structure provides one free trip for every five fully paid travelers, groups can potentially bring their clergy or other leaders for free. Offerings include a "Back to the Bible: Walking with Jesus" trip and classic Israel tours with extensions to Jordan, Egypt and Turkey. Maranatha also organizes spiritual voyages throughout Europe. The tour operator Christian Holy Land Tours gives Protestant-focused and Catholic-focused eight- or 10-day excursions, which include an overnight stay at a kibbutz.
Maranatha Tours
18428 N. 42nd Place
Phoenix, AZ
800-545-5533
maranathatours.com/CHT-Christian HolyLand Tours
A Division of ITC-Israel Tour Connection
107 East Mount Pleasant Ave., Suite 115
Livingston NJ 07039
800-247-7235
http://www.christianholylandtours.com/
Tours for Roman Catholics
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206 Tours leads Catholic pilgrimages directed by Catholic priests who celebrate daily Mass. Tours range from nine days to two weeks, and some tours also visit Medjugorje (Croatia) and Italy. Sites visited include the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, St. Peter's House, a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Immanuel Tours organizes pilgrimages around the world and has led groups to the Holy Land since the 1970s. For groups traveling with priests, they make arrangements for masses at some of the holiest sites in Christianity. Accommodations are in standard hotels, but groups can also be housed in Catholic guesthouses or convents. One popular tour option includes a Franciscan-led walk of the Stations of the Cross along the via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. Another possible addition is a day at an archaeological dig.
206 Tours
333 Marcus Blvd.
Hauppauge, NY 11788
800-206-TOUR
pilgrimages.comImmanuel Tours
4 Ben Gurion St.
P.O.Box 468
Nes Ziona 70400
Israel
011-972-8-9405123
immanuel-tours.com/tours_catholic.aspx
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- Photo Credit jerusalem image by Claudia Liebram from Fotolia.com dead sea mud treatment image by hava from Fotolia.com wailing wall - jerusalem old city at evening image by Pavel Bernshtam from Fotolia.com Sea landscape. A sea bay with picturesque mountains image by Sergey Galushko from Fotolia.com
