Organize Your Church Group Tour to the Holy Land: Custom Pilgrimages
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The Best Christian Holy Land Tours for U.S. Church Groups
Christian Guides
All of our tour guides are Spirit Filled Born Again Believers in Yeshua
Bespoke Tours
We build bespoke tours to suit your exact requirements & budget
Organizing a Holy Land pilgrimage for your church is a profound undertaking. It’s more than a trip; it’s a spiritual journey designed to deepen faith, strengthen fellowship, and bring the Bible to life. For U.S. church groups seeking an authentic, Spirit-led experience, choosing the right land tour is paramount.
Here at Elbow Holy Land Tours, we specialize in crafting journeys that go beyond sightseeing, focusing on a dynamic encounter with the Lord in His land. We require a minimum group size of 20 passengers because this allows us to secure preferential group rates from hotels, ensuring a more affordable and efficient experience for your congregation.
Why Our Christian Tours for U.S. Church Groups Are Different
Many tours focus on history and historical sites. While these are important, our Christian land tours are built on a spiritual foundation. Our guides are what set us apart; they are not just historians but fellow Spirit-Filled Born Again Believers in Yeshua who provide biblical insight and spiritual leadership throughout the journey. This approach fosters an environment of prayer, worship, and personal reflection.
Our tours are designed to be unhurried, with time for reflection and prayer at each site and to meet with the Lord in a real way. This focus on a bespoke, faith-first itinerary is a key differentiator from standard tours that rush from one location to the next.
Essential Considerations for Organizing a U.S. Church Group Tour
This section covers the logistics and administrative details crucial for the group organizer.
Group Size & Financial Planning
We require a minimum of 20 passengers to organize a private tour tailored to your church’s needs. This minimum enables us to secure the best group hotel rates, making the overall trip more affordable. We also offer pastoral benefits and tiered pricing to reward leaders who bring larger groups.
Truly All-Inclusive Inclusions (Land-Only)
For easy budgeting, all of our comprehensive land tours include the essentials: Airport transfers (from Ben Gurion/TLV), Transportation, Guiding, Admission Fees, Boat Rides, Cable Car tickets, Meals (excluding lunch), and Tolls & Taxes are all included in our quotes. There are no hidden costs or unexpected fees in Israel.
(Note: We DO NOT arrange flights as most church groups find that they can obtain flights cheaper in their home countries that we can source them in Israel.)
The Group Experience: Spiritual Focus and Bespoke Itineraries
The Comprehensive Bespoke Tour: Our Recommended Model
For U.S. church groups, we exclusively offer comprehensive, multi-day land-only tour packages that provide a seamless and deeply spiritual experience once you arrive. We specialize in creating made-to-measure tours to suit the unique requirements and budget of your church. We can customize itineraries for groups of all sizes, with optional extensions to Petra in Jordan, and the possibility of baptisms in the Jordan River for those who desire them.
A Sample 8-Day Group Pilgrimage Itinerary
To help you envision your group’s experience, here is a sample 8-day itinerary that can be tailored to your needs. This itinerary is packed with biblical significance, ensuring a fulfilling journey.
- Day 1: Arrival in Tel Aviv Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be met by our team and transferred to your hotel for rest & relaxation after your long flight.
- Day 2: Coastal Cities and the Jezreel Valley Travel to the ancient port of Jaffa (Jonah & Peter), then continue to Caesarea Maritima, where Paul was imprisoned. We’ll visit Megiddo (Armageddon) and Mount Carmel, where Elijah called down fire, before heading to Galilee.
- Day 3: The Ministry in Galilee Start your day in Nazareth, visiting the Basilica of the Annunciation followed by the Nazareth Village. We will then visit Cana, the site of Jesus’s first miracle, before going to the Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, and Tabgha.
- Day 4: Jericho and the Jordan River Begin the day with a ‘Praise’ boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, followed by a visit to the Jesus Boat Museum. We will then journey to Beit She’an, visit the Jordan River at Qasr el Yahud for a chance for baptisms, and see the ancient city of Jericho and the Mount of Temptation.
- Day 5: The Dead Sea and Jerusalem Explore the desert wonders of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and Masada (Herod’s mountain fortress). We’ll visit En Gedi (David / Saul) and have an opportunity to float in the Dead Sea before our ascent into the holy city of Jerusalem.
- Day 6: The Mount of Olives and Old City We will begin with a panoramic view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives and walk the path Jesus took on Palm Sunday. We’ll visit the Garden of Gethsemane, the Pools of Bethesda, and walk the Via Dolorosa, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall.
- Day 7: The Garden Tomb and Bethlehem Visit the Garden Tomb for a powerful reflection on the Crucifixion / Resurrection of Jesus (Yeshua). We will explore David’s City, Hezekiah’s tunnels, and Mount Zion. We then travel to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity, Manger Square and the Shepherds Field.
- Day 8: Museums and Departure Today we will visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book, and you will have an optional visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. Finally, we will visit Ein Karem (John the Baptist) before transferring to Ben Gurion Airport for your return flight home.
Common Questions for Church Group Travel
- Is it safe to travel to the Holy Land?
This is a common concern for many, but Christian pilgrimages to Israel are secure, and millions of tourists visit safely each year. We work with local partners to ensure your group’s safety and comfort at all times. For more details see our page: Essential Health, Safety and Travel Logistics Guide for Christian Pilgrims or our post: Is the Holy Land Safe? A Christian’s Guide to Security on Pilgrimage - What is the best time to visit Israel?
The spring (March-May) and fall (September-November) offer the most pleasant weather. However, off-season travel can provide a more intimate experience with fewer crowds. We can help your church group choose the best time to suit their budget and travel goals. For further details check out our post: The Best Time to Visit the Holy Land: A Christian’s Seasonal Guide - What should our group pack?
We have a comprehensive What to Wear and Pack on a Holy Land Tour guide that covers everything from footwear to clothing. In short, pack comfortable, well-worn walking shoes and modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees for visiting holy sites. - I already have a quote from another company – can you beat it?
Yes, we offer a ‘Beat My Quote’ service for groups that already have a quotation from another company but have not yet signed any agreements. Visit our Beat My Quote page here.
Key Considerations for Your Group
- Group Size: We require a minimum of 20 passengers to organize a private tour tailored to your church’s needs. This enables us to secure group hotel rates, making the overall trip more affordable.
- Guides: Our guides are what set us apart. They are not just historians; they are believers who will provide spiritual insight and leadership throughout the journey.
- Inclusions: All of our comprehensive tours include the essentials so you can budget accurately. Airport transfers, Transportation, Guiding, Admission Fees, Boat Rides, Cable Car tickets, Meals (excluding lunch) and Tolls & Taxes are all included in our quotes.
Ready to take your church on a life-changing faith-based Holy Land pilgrimage to Israel? Contact us for a free, no obligation quotation and let us help you build the perfect itinerary for your congregation.
Church / Group Israel Tour Request
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