COVID VACCINE NO LONGER REQUIRED!

 

Complimentary copy to travelers!

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Have you always wanted to see the Holy Land?

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Would you like to walk where Jesus walked?

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Do you have a thirst to learn more about the Bible?

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March 27-April 7, 2024

Click boldface print for links!

To see the optional insurance policy, click Travel insurance Information

 

​Join Aaron and Kelle Bond and Orlando Duarte for

so many sites that you have read about in the Bible, including:​

• Sea of Galilee boat ride

• Behind-the-scenes tour of the Western Wall

• Communion service at Garden Tomb

• Masada

• Sloshing through Hezekiah’s Tunnel

• Seeing the Valley of Elah where David and Goliath fought

• Hiking through the river forests of Ein Gedi and Dan

• Walking on Temple Mount

• Drinking water out of Jacob’s well

• And much more!

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Itinerary

(Click on boldfaced blue words for videos)

 

Itinerary subject to change while touring for the best interest of the group.

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DAY 1 – Wednesday, March 27, 2024: Flight from LAX 

We will meet (or carpool over) to the LAX Airport and we’re on our way to Tel Aviv. Meals served on board.

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DAY 2 – Thursday, March 28, 2024: Arrival in Tel Aviv (Good Friday)

We arrive in Tel Aviv at 7:05 p.m. where we are met by our guide Andre Sharma who will be with us for the time we are in the Holy Land. We board our bus and travel through Tel Aviv, proceeding to the city of Netanya on the Mediterranean to our hotel where we will check in for overnight.​

HOTEL: Leonardo Plaza in Netanya

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DAY 3 – Good Friday, March 29, 2024: CAESAREA / MEGIDDO / NAZARETH / TIBERIAS

This morning we begin our day at Caesarea, a port on the Mediterranean Sea that was built by Herod the Great and dedicated to Augustus Caesar, the Roman emperor. Here you will have a chance to sit in the Roman theater, walk along the hippodrome, and check out a Crusader fort. You can also see where Herod’s palace once stood, as 2,000-year-old floor mosaics can still be seen on the shore. Paul was under arrest and certainly was here! No site in Israel is visited more than Caesarea, and the Mediterranean Sea makes it one of the most beautiful places in the country. We proceed to Mt. Carmel, site of Elijah’s successful challenge with the Baal priests. We can look over the entire valley from this spot and get a good idea of the geography. After lunch, we proceed to Megiddo to visit the excavations that unearthed 20 different civilizations. It is better known as Har Megiddo, or “Armageddon” according to the book of Revelation. We then take a step back in time at Nazareth Village, which has been constructed to look like a 1st century village just like Jesus would have known. You will have a chance to talk to a shepherd, carpenter, and others who will converse in their first century way. It is quite an experience! Finally, we make our way to our hotel in Tiberias for the first of our three-night stay.​​

Hotel: Ron Beach Hotel Tiberias 1 of 3

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DAY 4 – Saturday, March 30: JORDAN RIVER / CAPERNAUM / INCLUDED ST. PETER’S FISH LUNCH / TABGHA / MOUNT OF BEATITUDES / BOAT RIDE / NEW TESTAMENT BOAT / TIBERIAS

This morning is a special time to practice the ordinance of water baptism. We will go to the Jordan River where those participants who have never been baptized (or who do not remember their infant baptisms) will have a chance to give their testimony and be immersed the same way as Jesus. Next we continue to Capernaum where the home of Peter and the town’s synagogue can be seen. Let’s have lunch at a restaurant to partake of a St. Peter’s fish (or, if you wish, chicken) meal. After lunch, we visit Christian churches located at Tabgha (loaves and fishes) and the Mount of Beatitudes—a place where we can read from the Sermon on the Mount. Our final activity is taking a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee…how exciting! We will have a chance to hear Christian worship music, dance to Jewish songs, and celebrate our time in the Holy Land. We will see a New Testament boat found two decades ago during a drought dating to the time of the apostles. We will spend the night at the Sea of Galilee for a third night and prepare for our drive south in the morning.​

Hotel: Ron Beach Hotel Tiberias 2 of 3

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Day 5 –Sunday, March 31, 2024: Easter

HAZOR / DAN / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / GOLAN HEIGHTS / MAGDALA / TIBERIAS

Today we go to the northern part of Israel (Galilee) through the Hula Valley to Hazor, where we will see ruins of the powerful Canaanite city destroyed by Joshua and rebuilt by King Jabin and then by Solomon as a chariot city to command upper Galilee. We continue to the northern limits to Dan where we combine a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan with views of the ancient ruins, topped by the Israelite high place that supported a golden calf (I Kings 12). You will be amazed at the lush vegetation of this area. Next we’ll take a short drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi), dedicated to Pan the Greek god of pastures, flocks and shepherds, where Peter made his great profession of faith. Driving along the base of Mount Hermon, we ascend onto the Golan Plateau for a magnificent view of upper Israel and have lunch. On our way back, let’s stop by Magdala along the Sea of Galilee and visit Mary Magdalene’s hometown. There is a first century synagogue here, the first to be found in the Galilee region. Return to the hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Hotel: Ron Beach Hotel Tiberias 3 of 3

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DAY 6 - Monday, April 1, 2024: BET SHEAN / MASADA / CAMEL RIDE / DEAD SEA RESORT HOTEL

We begin by stopping off at the ancient city of Bet Shean, a site where Saul’s head was hung from the city wall after he was killed. It is a wonderful archaeological wonderland that gives us an idea of what an ancient city looked like, with a theater, baths, and a large “tell” which we can climb up. Bet Shean comprises more than a dozen civilizations and is an awesome place to explore! We get back on the bus and travel down to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on the earth (1300 feet below sea level), ending up in Masada and ascending by cable car to the magnificent ruins of the fortress where, from AD 70-73, Jewish defenders made their historic stand in the Judean revolt against Rome. We will have a chance to explore as we walk through the storehouses, cisterns, and three-tiered palace created by Herod the Great. We then head over to a Bedouin camp to ride camels in the desert—how many of your friends have done that? Finally, we go to the Dead Sea where we have planned a special retreat at a resort hotel. This is a place where you can enter the waters of the Dead Sea for a swim and mud yourself. Or, if you’d like, utilize the spas—just sit back and let the bubbles relax you.​​

Hotel: Leonardo Dead Sea​

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DAY 7 – Tuesday, April 2, 2024: EIN GEDI / QUMRAN / HERODIUM / BETHLEHEM / MOUNT OF OLIVES / JERUSALEM

We begin at a place called Ein Gedi, a desert oasis, as we have a chance to observe the wildlife and hike to a wonderful waterfall. In one of these caves above the waterfall area, David found Saul and cut off part of his robe. Next, we stop by Qumran and check out the village once inhabited by the Essenes, the people who compiled the Dead Sea Scrolls 2,000 years ago. These scrolls were first discovered by a shepherd boy in 1947, including the earliest copies we have of the Old Testament. This discovery helps us see how accurate the Old Testament really is. Then we make our way to Herodium, a palace set in a conical mountain that was built by Herod the Great and where his tomb was uncovered in 2007. Remember, it was Herod who was visited by the Wise Men. He did what he could to prevent the “King of Kings” from being born, including the “Massacre of the Innocents.” After seeing this man’s monument to himself, let’s go visit one of the possible sites for the Shepherds’ Fields—perhaps we could celebrate Christmas a bit early by singing “Silent Night” inside one of the caves! Bethlehem is where Jesus was born, a direct fulfillment of Micah 5:2. From here, we move to near-by Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. Here, in a basement cave, we will stand in the same place where the Savior was born. We will also visit the quarters where Jerome translated the Latin Vulgate in the fourth century. After a stop at a Bethlehem olive wood shop run by Christians, we head to Jerusalem, the place where we will spend the rest of our trip. Let’s go on up to the Mount of Olives to check out a bird’s-eye view of the old city of Jerusalem. This will give you a perspective as we embark on a tour of this city over the next days. This is the first of a 4-night hotel stay in Jerusalem.​​

Hotel: Ambassador Hotel 1 of 5

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Day 8: Wednesday, April 3, 2023: JACOB'S WELL / SHECHEM / SAMARIA / SHILOH / JERUSALEM

Today we travel north to Nablus between Mt. Gerizim and Mt. Ebal where Jesus had a conversation with the Samaritan woman (John 4) at the well built by the Patriarch Jacob. Drink a cup of cold water from this deep well! From here we take a 3-minute drive to Shechem, which is so important to Old Testament history. Next, we head over to Samaria for the most amazing Palestinian lunch (truly the best of the entire trip) and see the Israelite ruins of the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Finally, we head over to Shiloh, the place where the Ark of the Covenant lived for a couple of centuries. These are sites few tourists ever see!​

Hotel: Ambassador Hotel 2 of 5

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DAY 9 – Thursday, April 4, 2024: RABBI TUNNEL / WESTERN WALL / TEMPLE MOUNT / POOL OF BETHESDA / ST. ANNE’S CHURCH / SOUTHERN STEPS / JERICHO / JERUSALEM

 

This morning we start at the Western “Wailing” Wall, the holiest place in all of Judaism, before touring the Rabbi Tunnel, which takes us down to the very foundation of the walls. Next we will climb up to the Temple Mount, which is where the Dome of the Rock is located. This is the site where the Holy of Holies was located. From here, we will stop by the Pool of Bethesda (John 5) and St. Anne’s Church, which is perfectly preserved from the Crusader period – with remarkable acoustics. Why don’t we sing “Amazing Grace” together? You have never heard this hymn sung more sweetly than here. After this, we go back to the Jewish Quarter where we will visit the Southern (Teaching) Steps—Jesus was certainly here, right outside the temple itself. After lunch in the Old City, we head over to Jericho, about a 45-minute ride away. This is the place where the walls came tumbling down. Be sure to check out Joel Kramer’s video to get the whole story of the meaning of this place.​​

Hotel: Ambassador Hotel 3 of 5

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DAY 10: Friday, April 5, 2024: CITY OF DAVID / HEZEKIAH’S TUNNEL / ISRAEL MUSEUM / AZEKAH (VALLEY OF ELAH) / JERUSALEM

 

We begin the day in the City of David so we can see where the palace of David was located. We will have the chance to slosh through Hezekiah’s Tunnel, which measures 1749 feet from one end to the other–be sure you bring your flashlights. For those not so adventurous, there is a shorter dry tunnel as well. This tunnel was dug by Hezekiah’s men in the 8th century BC and you will feel the chisel marks that were made almost 3 millennia ago! We will also see the Pool of Siloam talked about in the Bible, as part of it has recently been uncovered. From here, we will visit the Israel Museum to spend time seeing authentic samples of the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as walking around a model city of the ancient city of Jerusalem that is a football field in size! We will be given the chance to look at such important artifacts as the Pontius Pilate inscription, the Tel Dan inscription (with proof of David), and the ossuary of Caiaphas. After lunch, we will take a bus ride over to Azekah, which overlooks the Valley of Elah, the place where David fought Goliath. From a certain location, you will be able to see exactly where the battle took place and even view the stream where David picked up his rocks.​​

Hotel: Ambassador Hotel 4 of 5

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DAY 11: Saturday, April 6, 2024: CHURCH OF ALL NATIONS / GETHSEMANE / CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHER / GARDEN TOMB / RAMPARTS WALK OR SHOPPING (FREE TIME) / JERUSALEM

It’s the Shabbat (Sabbath), so we will focus on visiting Christian sites today that remain open. We start out in the morning at the Church of All Nations, the place where Jesus went after the Last Supper and the site of the Garden of Gethsemane. There are olive trees in this garden with root systems going back to the time of Jesus! This is where Jesus prayed before he was betrayed and arrested. We then drive a few minutes to the Jaffa Gate to make our way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was crucified, dead, and buried before raising on the third day. Finally, we end up at the Garden Tomb! We will have a private communion service here that you will never forget! The words “He is not here. He is risen indeed” will have extra meaning for everyone. After lunch in the Old City, you have two choices: 1) Take the ramparts walk from the Christian Quarter to the Muslim Quarter. This involves a lot of stairs and you need to be cautious—doing this hike will give you a good perspective of the Old City of Jerusalem; 2) Shopping in the Christian Quarter. You choose what works for you.​​

Hotel: Ambassador Hotel 5 of 5

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DAY 12: Sunday, April 7, 2024: JERUSALEM / TEL AVIV / LAX

We will only get a few hours sleep as we wake up early our way from our hotel to the airport. We leave with good memories of walking in the country where Jesus walked and where much of our Bible was created. In fact, it is a guarantee that you will never read your Bible the same ever again!

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Cost of the Trip

$3495 Land Only (min. 24 travelers)

Turkish Airlines Flight out of LAX: $1450

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Departure

March 27, LAX to Istanbul (TK 180) Depart 1:45 p.m., arrive 12:50 p.m.

March 28, Istanbul to Tel Aviv  (TK 836) Depart 4 p.m., arrive 6:05 p.m.

Return 

April 7, Tel Aviv to Istanbul (TK 791) Depart 12;50 a.m., arrive 3:05 a.m.

April 7, Istanbul to LAX (TK 179) Depart 8:15 a.m., arrive 12:15 p.m.

 

If we travel with 35 travelers minimum, there will be a $100 per person discount for those who fly with the group and pay through the agency. 

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Cancel after 12/15/2023 and you lose entire deposit

Final payment is due 1/27/2024

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​If you want to sign up with a $500 deposit,

click here​

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What does the trip cost include?​

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• Full-time guide / bus / driver

• All 4-star hotels

• All admission fees

• All tips and taxes

• 2 meals a day, breakfast and dinner buffets

• A St. Peter’s fish lunch

• Special group meetings before the trip with Mr. Aaron Bond (for education and community)

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Not included: Airfare (to be added later), optional travel insurance policy,  most lunches, snacks/drinks, and souvenirs

 

To see the optional insurance policy, click Travel Insurance Info

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Comments from Eric's latest trips​

"The trip  I took to Israel with Eric Johnson was an amazing experience! It makes the Bible come alive when you can see where Jesus and his disciples walked. I recommend anybody who is thinking about going on an  Israel trip to do so, It is an experience you will never forget."

--Stacey (March 2022)

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"This was far and away the best trip I’ve ever taken! We spent almost two weeks not only seeing most of the significant biblical locations in Israel but also being reminded of the biblical stories and history of why the locations are important by our amazing tour guide. It was like a semester of seminary was packed into ten days. To top it all off we stayed in great hotels and ate wonderful food the whole time."

--Pastor Jason Upchurch (February 2023)

Redeemer Bible Church, Deer Park, WA

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"My trip with Eric Johnson was fantastic! As a leader on our trip, I was able to enjoy the sites and the activities without having to worry about overseeing the small details. Eric did a thorough and fantastic job of preparing our trip, organizing the details, and making sure everything went flawlessly. I could not be more pleased with his leadership and his attention to detail!“

--Pastor Jim Osman (February 2023)

  Kootenai Community Church (Idaho) 

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"I would highly encourage anyone who is even remotely interested in visiting Israel to go on a trip with Eric . It was obvious from the get-go he goes over and above the basics of a normal trip. He is first rate at what he does, and because of that my experience in Israel was 1000% better than expected. They say you will never read the Bible the same way again, and it's totally true!"

--Niki Maxim (February 2023)

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"Eric Johnson put together a state-of-the-art tour that was jam-packed with archeology, old and new testament survey, and current cultural events. Every day of the trip was full enough to make the entire trip worthwhile.  If you are considering a trip to the Holy Land, I would highly recommend going with Eric Johnson. He partners with a great Israeli guide as well as bus driver, which has made all the difference."

--Scott Foster, Tucson, AZ (February 2023)

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"As a life-long student of the Bible now in my 70's, my recent trip with Eric to Israel was one of the highlights of my life. Eric did a remarkable job of preparing us in every way, organizing an enthralling and freshly informative itinerary, arranging for safe and comfortable accommodations, and ensuring a well-informed, enthusiastic and skilled support staff. Many gaps in my own understanding of the land were filled in; I will never read the Bible the same way again. In short, I highly recommend Eric's tours; you won't be disappointed."

--Ray Warwick (February 2023)

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"The trip itself exceeded all expectations.  We saw an incredible amount of Biblical sites and Israel in 12 days.  The tour went so smoothly, with great group dynamics. It is so true that the Bible comes to life after you have been to the Holy Land in person.  I will never read the Bible the same again.  Thank you so much for orchestrating this trip of a lifetime."
--Debby Donnelly (February 2023)

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"Wow!  Our trip to Israel with Eric Johnson was by far the best trip we have ever taken.  Our expectations, which were very high, were greatly exceeded.  We will never read our Bible the same again.  Life changing!"

--Ron Maxwell (March 2023)

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"Thank you so much for putting together a wonderful trip of Biblical history. We stood in many places where God came down as far back as Abraham’s time recorded in Genesis. Places I never dreamed of being able to see and experience. What a trip of a lifetime."

--Frank Edwards (March 2023)

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"Traveling to Israel allowed me to see, touch and feel the land I had dreamed of my entire life.  The Bible came more alive than I could ever imagine. Seeing living history, meeting the peoples, walking the areas, all cemented in my soul the wonders of the Bible. You will never read, hear or see the Bible the same."

--Ruth Knight Pagac (March 2023)

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"Only a couple weeks after the trip, I am already reading my Bible like I never have before! I read through Amos this week and actually enjoyed it for the first time ever, since I could visualize what was happening at the time of the Assyrian captivity and now know the history and geography of many of the sites mentioned. I recommend this trip to the utmost--every Christian should experience this at least once. I guarantee that you will never be the same, nor will you ever read the Bible the same! My new saying after this trip is, "If I ever had a reason to doubt the Bible, now I have a million and one reasons to trust it." God's Word is so good, and it is without flaw. Thank you, Eric, for everything that you did to coordinate our trip and for the memories that we now have for the rest of our lives!"

--Rachel Miller (March 2023)

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"What an amazing time seeing my Bible come to life with Real People, Real Places and Real Events! Eric planned a full educational tour that kept me wanting more time to soak it in and more details. My mind was stretched but my heart was softened concerning the future of this beautifully historic country. Worth every investment!"

-- Julie (March 2023)​

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Questions you may have​

Is there unlimited room for sign ups?

We are limiting this trip to one bus and 35 passengers only. If it sells out, we will not add a second bus but will begin a wait list. 

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Who can come on the trip?

Students and parents are both welcome. Why not see the Holy Land together as a family? 

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How much is the deposit? And what if my child drops before the trip happens?

The deposit is $500 at registration. If you drop out of the trip (in writing) before December 13, 2023, you will lose $125 of the deposit. If you drop out after that date and before January 27, 2024, you will lose the entire deposit. The final payment is due January 27, 2024. Credit card payments are accepted.​

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Can we pick our roommates?

You can! There are normally 2 to a room, but in special cases (i.e. family members), there can be three to a room. When you sign up, be sure to list who you want your roommate to be. Adults can either choose to room with their child OR they can pick adult roommates. Parents who request a single room will be billed $1150 extra. (Students are not allowed to have single rooms)

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Will there be a lot of walking?

If you go to Disneyland, you know that you will easily put in 5 miles the day you’re there. In Israel, it’s similar. To see the sites, the buses will drop us off and we will need to walk to get to the site(s). On the average day, we will cover between 3 to 6 miles, although not all at once. Generally we will get on and off the bus an average of 5-6 times each day. If you get tired, you are free to stay with the bus, as our driver stays with the bus when we are gone. Our day typically begins at 6 a.m. wake-up call, 6:30 breakfast, and 7:30 drive away from the hotel. We usually try to get back to the hotel by 5:30 p.m. Dinner is usually at 6:30 p.m.

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Do we need passport or visas?

Passports, YES! Your passport should not expire before October 2024 or you will need to renew it in 2023. You can apply for a passport at your local post office. Do yourself a favor and obtain this well in advance! Sometimes passport deliveries are delayed and you don’t want to risk it. As far visas and shots, the answer is no to both. 

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Do we need the insurance policy?

There are two different policies from which you can choose. One is a standard policy called Odyssey (7.95% of your total bill), covering missed connections, medical issues, and lost luggage. This policy's payment is not due until the final payment. The other policy is called Anytime (10.85% of the total) and allows you to cancel for any reason and receive 80% of your money back. The Anytime policy must be paid for at the time of registration. For most, this is over insurance and is not necessary. Both policies now cover incidents involving COVID, which is wonderful. Thus, if you have to cancel because you get COVID the week before the trip or you get it on the trip and need to be quarantine, you are covered. You need to decide for yourself, but we definitely recommend at least the Odyssey plan policy for peace of mind.​

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What about the COVID regulations?

No vaccination is required. Currently, no testing is required entering or exiting Israel. We do not expect this regulation to ever happen again (as there was from April 2020 through March 2022).

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​What about safety?

We have to say that we feel much more safe in Israel, even in the West Bank, than we do in Chicago, New York, and Washington DC! Nobody on our high school trips (this is the third trip for Capistrano Christian!) has ever felt threatened at any site we have visited. The entire time we are in Israel, safety will be our highest priority. If anything is ever happens in a particular area during our trip, we will avoid that place–the guide will be in constant communication with the authorities. Also understand that governmental security is all around us, especially in sensitive areas such as Temple Mount and the Western Wall. And security is tighter in the Ben Gurion Airport than anywhere in the world. You will be as safe as possible and much safer than if they were in London, Paris, or Rome. So, in conclusion, I believe this is a very safe trip, or I would not have traveled here as many times as I have and even brought every member of my immediate family. ​

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See a video on Israel by clicking HERE

Any questions? Contact Aaron Bond at abond@cvcs.org 

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​If you want to sign up with a $500 deposit,

click here

Instructions to sign up​

 

1. Reservation Method: We recommend you use a credit card, as your registration is not complete until your payment is registered. The deposit is $500 per person. It will give you this opportunity on the final page.

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2. Select # of Passengers: 1, 2, or no more than 3--use a separate form for others in your family who are rooming together

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3. Airfare Services. If you want to fly with the group from either Spokane or San Francisco, then say Yes to the first possibility. (You can change your mind later.) I recommend flying with the group for now.

Here are several things to keep in mind if you decide NOT to fly with the group (second choice):

       1) You must arrange your own flights and be sure you get to Ben Gurion airport by the time we leave on the first full day of the tour.
       2) You must arrange your own ground transportation to our hotel in Netanya, about an hour away. This will be an extra cost

For those who fly with the group, you have no transfer fees as this is covered in your airfare price that will be announced next year.

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4.  Departure airport
For now, put "Spokane" unless you have decided you will get your own flights. If you do, just leave N/A.

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5. Did you want insurance? To see more about the insurance possibilities, visit https://www.pilgrimtours.com/company/insurance.htm

The Odyssey plan is 7.95% of your total, both land and air. The "cancel anytime" plan is 10.85%.

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If you decide you want the "cancel anytime" plan, you will have to pay $100 more along with the $500 deposit at the end of registration. (The rest of the policy will be paid three months before the trip.)

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Generally, the "cancel anytime" plan is overinsurance for most people. However, I do recommend the Odyssey plan because it covers:
* Lost luggage
* Missed connectors
* Emergency health issues, including accidents
* Covid

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You will pay for your insurance three months before the trip. The only difference between the Odyssey plan and "cancel anytime" is if you decide to drop out of the trip 30 days or less before without the latter plan, you get 0% back. However, you would get 80% back if you had the "cancel anytime." I have organized about 20 trips and have never had anyone use the "cancel anytime" plan--but I am not telling you what to get. 

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6. Provide your name (and second person if applicable from your family)
7. Attach a scanned passport copy (if you have the passport)
8. Gender
9. Tour Badge Nickname (what you want to be called on the trip)
10. Date of birth
11. Address
12. Email
13. Phone
14. Passport Number/issuing country/issue date/expiration date (if you have it--otherwise, leave blank)
15. Rooming info (note: single bed is an extra cost, not available for students) 
16. If you want a roommate and are single, go ahead and ask for a roommate (or if you want a single room)
17. Emergency contact name

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Pay the $500 deposit (IMPORTANT)

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If you have any questions, please ask (eric@mrm.org)

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