How Much Does a Holy Land Pilgrimage Cost? A Complete Breakdown for Your Trip

Planning a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a life-changing journey, but one of the first questions on every Christian pilgrim’s mind is, “How much does it cost?” The simple answer is: it varies. The cost of a Holy Land tour can range from a cost-effective group package to a customized, private experience.

This guide will provide a complete breakdown of what you can expect to pay, helping you create a realistic Christian Holy Land trip budget so you can focus on the spiritual significance of your journey, not the finances.

Understanding Our Tour Packages & What’s Included

At Elbow Holy Land Tours, we offer several types of tours, with prices based on the duration, level of personalization, and hotel standards. Our prices are based on staying in comfortable 4-star hotels in safe, well-located areas with breakfast and a full evening meal included daily.

• Multi-Day Group Tours: These are our most popular and cost-effective options, perfect for those seeking a comprehensive group experience. The itineraries for our multi-day tours of Israel have been carefully crafted over the years, based on what groups have consistently enjoyed and where they have liked to stay. Our 8-day Christian Holy Land tour is priced at approximately $1,795 USD per person.
  Our 12-day Christian Holy Land tour is priced at approximately $2,695 USD per person (dependent on the dates your select).
  
  View our current Multi-Day Christian Group Tours of Israel
  
• Bespoke Multi-Day Group Tours: We specialize in building bespoke Holy Land tours of Israel for groups, tailored to your specific interests and budget. Whether you’re a church group, family, or friends, we can create a custom itinerary just for you, from the sites you visit to the hotel standards you prefer. For more information see our page: Planning your Christian Holy Land Pilgrimage or our Bring Your Church Group To Israel page.
• Private One-Day Tours: For those with less time in Israel or those traveling on a cruise, our private one-day tours offer a highly personalized experience. Because these are private, non-group tours, they are more expensive than our standard packages, but they offer ultimate flexibility to see the sites that mean the most to you in a single day. View our One Day Private Christian Tours of Israel

Beyond the Tour Package: Other Key Costs

While our packages cover the main on-the-ground expenses, you’ll need to budget for a few other things to get a complete picture of your total tour cost.

• Flights (Airfare): Airfare is a major variable in your Holy Land pilgrimage cost. Prices depend on your departure city, the time of year, and how far in advance you book. Expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $1,500 for a round-trip economy flight to Tel Aviv (TLV) from North America, with flights from Europe generally being cheaper.
• Personal Expenses and Miscellaneous Costs: Don’t forget to budget for these on-the-ground expenses.
• Lunches & Drinks: Most tours don’t include lunch, so budget around $20 – $40 per day for this.
• Shopping & Souvenirs: From olive wood carvings to Dead Sea products, shopping is a big part of the experience. We recommend setting aside $150 – $300 for souvenirs.
• Tips/Gratuities: Tipping your tour guide and bus driver is customary. We recommend approximately $3-$5 per day per person for the driver and $5-$7 per day per person for the guide.
• Travel Insurance: This is a non-negotiable cost for medical emergencies and trip cancellations, typically costing $50 – $200.

Key Factors That Affect Holy Land Tour Prices

Two of the biggest factors that influence the final price of your Christian tour to the Holy Land are the time of year you visit and the standard of hotels you choose.

• Time of Year: Prices for tours and flights are significantly impacted by the season. Travelling during major holidays like Easter, Christmas, and Jewish festivals like Sukkot will always be more expensive due to high demand. Conversely, the low season in January and February offers the most affordable rates.
• Hotel Standard: Our prices are based on the comfort and security of 4-star hotels. While it is possible to find cheaper tours by reducing the hotels to a 3-star standard, we believe the added peace of mind and quality of a 4-star hotel is well worth the investment.

Sample Budget Breakdown: A 12-Day Pilgrimage

Here’s a simplified look at what a total Holy Land pilgrimage cost per person might look like for an 8 & 12-day tour, based on our recommended 4-star packages:

By understanding these costs and using these tips, you can confidently plan your Holy Land pilgrimage without financial stress. The spiritual rewards of walking in the footsteps of Jesus are immeasurable, and with a solid budget, you’ll be well-prepared for this sacred journey.