IMAGINE PILGRIMAGE TO ISRAEL & PALESTINE

JUST IMAGINE …

…walking on some of the same paths and streets in towns and cities where Jesus,

His disciples and other notable biblical figures traveled.

…seeing archaeological remains of many cities frequented by biblical characters.

…reading passages of Scripture at the very locations where memorable events in

the Bible occurred.

…gazing at the Mediterranean Sea from seaports where Jonah and Paul set sail or

landed.

…standing on Herod the Great’s Temple Mount beside where the Temple stood at

the time of Christ.

…strolling on a few original Roman streets in Jerusalem where Jesus walked.

…sailing on the Sea of Galilee and swimming in three of Israel “seas.”

…understanding why tensions exist between Jews and Palestinians who live in the

land, facing many challenges on a daily basis.

…sitting in open-air stone theatres where thousands of spectators were entertained

by comedians, musicians, actors and orators.

…pausing to journal thoughts and prayers with insights from all that your senses

have been able to absorb.

As you IMAGINE any of these scenes in your mind, your heart ought to be racing! The

good news is that you can experience each of these scenes and dozens more during this

PILGRIMAGE. It would be an unparalleled trip of a lifetime. Our focus will be on visiting

biblical sites- not traditional “tourist traps”- in a concerted effort to cause the black and

white pages of your Bible to blossom into living color. This tour with more will alter the

way you read, study and hear the Word of God- for the rest of your life.

The ancient historian, Jerome, who is credited with translating the Scriptures into Latin,

wrote, “the land itself is the fifth gospel.” Although Jerome was thinking of just Israel and

Palestine, the lands of the Bible still speak where geography, archaeology, ancient customs

and culture converge, bringing to life a mosaic of people, places and stories we have grown

to love. We will read biblical narratives in the very places they occurred and have

devotional studies at key locations.

To gain maximum exposure to the land, we will be walking considerable distances on most

days. I want you to truly experience the land, so come prepared with sturdy and

comfortable walking shoes. When we are not walking, we will travel comfortably in a

modern air-conditioned motor coach.

Another way to optimize learning is by reading before, during and after the trip. Tour

participants will be provided with various options to gain access to important trip

information via downloads from this website. A guidebook will be provided with

descriptive notes for every site you will see, and plenty of room for you to take personal

notes or journal about what God is teaching you. In addition to serving as your tour host,

we will also travel with licensed guides in both Israel and the West Bank Territories. Any

interested parties in good health with stamina are welcome to attend.

Our key word throughout the tour is flexibility! At times, our itinerary will be adjusted to

accommodate some site visits which must be pre-arranged. No need to fret- we will make

every effort to see the sites on the tentative itinerary.

I negotiate the best price with a reputable travel agency. The price is always dependent on

the number of participants; so, recruit a friend with whom you want to share this

experience of a lifetime. The group size must be a minimum of 20 with a maximum of 40.

So that everyone can hear clearly, we will also use a “whisper listening headset.”

The price will be ALL INCLUSIVE from the airport of departure. This is quite different

from other tours to the lands of the Bible. So, what does this published price include?

  • Roundtrip airfare from/to Washington’s Dulles International Airport

  • Group transfers by bus from and to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv

  • Porterage of one 50 # suitcase at each hotel

  • 10 nights of lodging at comfortable 4-star modern hotels

  • Daily breakfast and dinner buffets in the hotels

  • By law, the accompaniment of a full-time professional English-speaking tour guide

  • All site entrance fees

  • All tips to tour guides, bus drivers, hotel staff and special meals at restaurants

  • Land transportation via a modern air-conditioned motor coach

  • Downloadable files from this website

  • A customized IMAGINE PILGRIMAGE GUIDEBOOK

There are no hidden costs- and I want you to have an accurate picture of financial

expectations. With total transparency as my goal, here are some personal expenses which

are NOT INCLUDED:

  • Filtered water, coffee and tea are offered at all meals; breakfasts also include fruit

juice. Soft drinks, bottled water, etc., are available for a nominal fee.

  • Daily lunches…although I will provide several cost saving measures so you do not

need to spend $13-15 pp a day for lunches unless you want to

  • REQUIRED American passport and a Visa for non-citizens of the U.S.

  • Optional travel insurance

  • Chilled bottled water is available for purchase on the bus (usually $1 per bottle)

  • Single room supplemental as listed

I hope this introduction has been adequate in helping you make a well-informed decision

while also inspiring you to see the tour as an investment in your spiritual growth. More

than filling you with facts, I pray this tour with more will be a stepping-stone toward

stirring up your faith!

Blessings,

Jim Ayers

A pilgrimage is about both the past and the present. We dig up the past to interpret the present.

Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land by Ruth Everhart, p. 24

  • “ What a memorable trip to Israel we had recently! Definitely one of the highlights of my life. Who could ever forget the Garden and Grotto of Gethsemane, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Gordon’s Calvary, and the worship service on a boat on the Sea of Galilee at nighttime? We saw so many amazing sites- Masada, Megiddo, the City of David, Warren’s Shaft, and Hezekiah’s Tunnel, to name just a few. Can’t imagine going with a leader less knowledgeable than Jim leading the trip. His experience and familiarity with the Bible and sites is outstanding. ”
    — Judi, a project manager
  • “ Jim, thanks so much for inviting us along on your trip to Israel. I really appreciated the pre-trip notes to give us background, the choice of sites with Biblical connections, and your mini-lessons from the Bible that helped us make the connections with what we were seeing at the sites. It was a great learning experience, and the first time we celebrated our wedding anniversary with a camel ride! ”
    — Dave, an engineer and inventor
  • “ While the pilgrimage to holy sites was a prime focus of the trip, I was awestruck with the architectural findings in all the archaeological digs; Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, Masada and Jerusalem. The building architecture, engineering, and water flowing through the mountains were all impressive! But Masada grabbed my attention more so than the others; that fortress and the story are incredible! Thanks for a great tour, Jim. Everything was just as advertised and we definitely would go for a return trip once we recuperate. ”
    — Rob, businessman
  • “ The weeks have passed so quickly since our return from a memorable trip to Israel. Thank you so much, Jim, for your commentaries at Biblical sites that enhanced our appreciation and understanding of the Scriptures. Though the days were long, we experienced travels that amazed us regarding Jesus’ life and times (the Judean wilderness was quite different than what we expected). We also can better understand the current political situation when stories air regarding the Temple Mount, Golan Heights and West Bank. The trip was even better than advertised! Accommodations, hotel food, and in-country guides were all superb. We never felt ill at ease or threatened during our travels. ”
    — Susie and Jay, retired
  • “ Our trip to Israel was a "trip of a litfetime." Jim is so knowledgeable about all the aspects of his tours. The sites we visited were outstanding and meaningful and the accomodations were amazing. He continuously made the Bible come alive throughout the trip. Now when we read the Bible, it is no longer in black and white but in living color! ”
    — Bill and Georgina, retired
  • “ To say that visiting Turkey/Greece changed my life is an understatement. Visting the places where the Bible took place forever changed the way I read scripture and it has made me a better husband, father, pastor, neighbor, friend, and follower of Jesus Christ. It's hard to put into words how God used this trip in my life. ”
    — Charles, Youth Pastor