First-Timer’s Guide to the Holy Land: What to Expect on Your Christian Pilgrimage

Welcome, fellow pilgrim! Embarking on a Holy Land tour is a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual journey, an opportunity to walk where Jesus walked and bring the scriptures to life. For a first-time traveler, the sheer scale of the experience can feel overwhelming, but with the right preparation and guidance, your pilgrimage can be both seamless and deeply meaningful. This definitive guide is designed to equip you with the specific knowledge you need to get the most out of this sacred journey, no matter how you choose to travel.

Part 1: Two Ways to Experience Your Pilgrimage to Israel

When planning your journey, you’ll discover there are two primary ways to experience the Holy Land. Each offers a unique path to your spiritual encounter, and the best choice depends on your travel style and personal goals. For those seeking a truly bible-based and spirit-led tour, choosing the correct company is paramount.

The Comprehensive Multi-Day Tour
This is a holistic approach where every detail is planned for you. You join a single group for a fixed number of days, and all accommodation, meals, transportation, and guiding are arranged.

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: This method is often more affordable overall compared to arranging every detail independently.
• Shared Community: A key benefit is the chance to make new friends and travel as a family of believers, sharing a profound experience together.
• Efficient Travel: On a multi-day tour, the itinerary is planned to minimize travel time between destinations, allowing you to maximize your time at the sites.
• Seamless Logistics: With everything pre-arranged, you are free to focus completely on your spiritual journey without worrying about the logistics.

Potential Drawbacks of Some Tours:

• Accommodation Varies: Some tours allow people to stay in different hotels. This can add significant travel time each morning and evening as the bus goes around to pick up and drop off participants, and it makes it difficult for people to get to know each other. Elbow Holy Land Tours ensures all travelers in a group stay at the same, pre-selected hotels.
• Large Group Size: Many multi-day tours operate with large groups (40 or more passengers per group), which can make it difficult to ask questions, engage personally with the guide, and feel a sense of intimate community. Elbow Holy Land Tours focuses on intimate group sizes for a more personal experience.  Our groups average 16 – 26 PAX per tour.
• “Rolling” Tours: Some multi-day tours are “rolling,” meaning people may leave and join the group at different points on the tour.   One day the group can be 40 passengers in size, the next day it may be over 60!  This can prevent a true family atmosphere from forming and may lead to inconsistent group sizes and delays. Elbow Holy Land Tours maintains a consistent group from start to finish to cultivate a family atmosphere and reduce delays.
• Variable Guides: On some tours, you may have a different guide each day, which can disrupt the flow of the spiritual journey and the continuity of the teaching.  These guides may have different religious beliefs from the tour they are leading and may only be with the group for limited periods of time.   Elbow Holy Land Tours ensures you have the same guide throughout your journey for a continuous spiritual experience and to allow a fixed point of contact for any issues which may arise.
• Limited Support After Hours: On some tours, you may have no access to your guide or driver after the daily tour ends. With Elbow Holy Land Tours, your guide and driver are available 24/7 while on tour and will remain with the group throughout.
• Focus on Profit: Some tours may prioritize filling seats over spiritual impact, which can affect the depth of the experience. Elbow Holy Land Tours is purpose-driven and focused on spiritual transformation, not just profit.

The Flexible Day-Tour Model
For travelers who prefer more control over their schedule, this model offers a personalized and flexible alternative. You can choose a single base location, like Jerusalem, and book a series of one-day, guided tours. This allows for a more independent travel style and is a great option for people with less time.

Pros:

• Flexibility: You have the freedom to choose your schedule and itinerary day by day.
• Good for Short Trips: This is an excellent solution for those with a limited amount of time in the region.

Potential Drawbacks of Some Tours:

• Not All Advertised Tours Are “Christian”: Many tours marketed as “Christian” vary widely in their approach to faith-based travel.  Many tours are often led by guides whose focus is primarily historical and archaeological. While these guides may offer valuable insights into the region’s rich past, their commentary may not always reflect the spiritual depth or biblical perspective that some Christian travelers are seeking.  Elbow Holy Land Tours provides biblically-focused tours led exclusively by Christian guides.
• Folklore over Scripture: Some ‘Christian’  itineraries might include stops at sites based on local tradition or folklore, rather than on a solid scriptural foundation, which can be a disappointment for those seeking a more biblically-centered experience. Elbow Holy Land Tours’ itineraries are centered on Scripture and early Church history for an authentic, faith-based journey.
• Long Travel Times: A major consideration is the time spent traveling to and from locations / sites. If you’re based in Jerusalem and choose to visit the Galilee region, for example, you could spend up to 1.5 hours each way just to get to and from your destination. 
• Hidden Costs: Lower-cost day tours can sometimes have hidden fees, such as entrance fees to key sites that are not included. They may also include stops at commercial venues for commissions, shifting the focus away from the spiritual purpose of your journey. With Elbow Holy Land Tours, all costs are transparent and upfront, with no hidden fees or commercial stops.
• More Expensive: It’s important to note that this method is often more expensive overall compared to a multi-day tour, especially if you base yourself in a city like Tel Aviv, outside of Jerusalem. Tours that start from Tel Aviv often include travel supplements and can add extra travel time to your day. 

At Elbow Holy Land Tours, we offer both comprehensive multi-day tours and a variety of single-day tours that are designed to be private, personalized, and purpose-driven. Our tours are for Christians who want to explore Israel through a biblical lens, led by licensed guides who are committed to the Christian faith.

Part 2: How to Choose a Tour that Supports Your Faith

Your choice of tour operator is the single most important decision you will make. When seeking a spiritual journey, you’ll want a tour that is more than just a historical excursion—it should be a faith-based experience. Here’s what to look for.

• Seek a Guide Who Shares Your Faith: A truly faith-based tour is often led by a guide who is a fellow believer. Their insights go beyond what is written in history books (or what is taught at guide school), as they can offer personal and spiritual reflections grounded in scripture. They are not simply tour leaders but spiritual guides who can help transform a historical visit into a profound encounter with God.
• Look for a Spirit-Led Approach: A tour that prioritizes the spiritual journey will build in time for quiet moments of reflection, prayer, and worship. A rigid schedule can sometimes hinder a spirit-led experience. Look for an itinerary that offers a balanced pace, allowing you to truly absorb the significance of each location.
• Choose a Scripture-Centered Itinerary: A tour centered on scripture will focus on locations directly mentioned in the Bible, allowing you to walk in the very footsteps of Jesus and the disciples.
• Confirm What Is Included: For your peace of mind, it’s always wise to confirm what is included in your tour package. Be sure to clarify if the price covers all entrance fees to historical sites.

Part 3: Practical Preparations for Your Journey

Beyond the tour itself, personal preparation is key. Here are some details you need to have in order to travel with confidence.

• Travel Documents and Visas: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your return date. For visitors from visa-exempt countries, a new regulation is now in effect. As of January 1, 2025, you must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA-IL) to enter Israel. You should apply for this online at least 72 hours before your departure, and it is valid for multiple entries over a period of up to two years. You can find more information on the official Israeli government website (https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/).
• Detailed Packing List: Your luggage should be both light and functional.
• Clothing: Pack layers! Temperatures can vary drastically between day and night, especially in the desert. Bring comfortable, modest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for visiting holy sites. A hat and a pair of sunglasses are essential.
• Footwear: Bring two pairs of comfortable, well-broken-in walking shoes. You will be walking on uneven cobblestones, ancient dirt paths, and steep steps.
• Other Essentials: A small daypack for water and snacks, a power bank for your phone, sunscreen, and a travel adapter (Israel uses type H and C plugs).
• Money and Connectivity: The local currency is the Israeli New Shekel (NIS), which can be obtained from ATMs. US Dollars are also accepted in many places.  While most major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels and larger stores, having a small amount of cash on hand is helpful for local markets or smaller vendors. Consider purchasing a local SIM card upon arrival for better data and call rates.

Part 4: Key Holy Land Sites You Won’t Want to Miss

Your journey will take you through a landscape rich with history and sacred significance. Here are some of the key biblical sites you should try to visit on your pilgrimage.

Must-Visit Sites for All Pilgrims

• The Sea of Galilee: The epicenter of Jesus’ ministry. You can visit biblical sites around the lake, including Capernaum (the center of his ministry in the Galilee), Tabgha (the traditional site of the multiplication of loaves and fishes), and the Mount of Beatitudes (where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount).
• Nazareth: The hometown of Jesus, where he grew up and lived until the start of his ministry. While there, you can visit the Nazareth Village, an authentic, working replica of a first-century village that brings biblical times to life.
• Jerusalem: The heart of the pilgrimage. This city holds countless sacred sites, including the Mount of Olives (a place of prayer and prophecy, and the location of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday), the Garden of Gethsemane (where Jesus prayed before his arrest), the Via Dolorosa (the traditional path to the crucifixion), the Pools of Bethesda (where Jesus healed a paralytic), and the Garden Tomb (a peaceful site for reflection on the crucifixion and resurrection of Yeshua).
• The Jordan River: The site of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. Many pilgrims choose to renew their own baptism vows here.  All of our multi-day tours offer baptisms in the Jordan and we also offer a One Day Baptism Tour.
• The Dead Sea, Qumran, and Masada: Journey to the lowest point on Earth. At the Dead Sea, you can float effortlessly in the mineral-rich waters. Nearby, explore Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and climb or ride the cable car to the top of Masada, an ancient fortress and a powerful symbol of Jewish history.

Additional Sites for Longer Tours

For those who embark on a longer, multi-day tour, your journey can be expanded to include the southern desert and even a visit to Jordan.

• Eilat and Timna Park: Located on the Red Sea, Eilat is an ancient port city with biblical ties to King Solomon. Nearby, Timna Park offers a unique desert landscape and is known for its ancient copper mines, often referred to as “King Solomon’s Mines.”
• Petra (Jordan): For a truly unforgettable experience, many tours include a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra. Carved directly into the sandstone cliffs of Jordan, this ancient Nabataean city is a stunning archaeological wonder.

Embracing the Journey: Tips for a Meaningful Experience

A Holy Land pilgrimage is a journey of faith, and with the right preparation and mindset, it can be the most memorable and spiritually enriching experience of your life. For many, visiting Israel is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. When you go, you need to be confident that you have been filled with biblical truth and scripture-based teaching. This is not just a holiday or a vacation; it is a life-changing, faith-filled experience where your relationship with Jesus can grow deeper. We are here to guide you every step of the way, ensuring your Christian tour to Israel is a truly sacred encounter and a transformative time.