Israel & Jordan

January 1-14, 2026

The schedule of this Study Tour is designed for students and anticipates strenuous days. The itinerary maximizes time spent at sites, with limited shopping and free time. All applicants must be in good health and be capable of walking significant distances, sometimes on uneven and narrow trails, without assistance (extensive stairclimbing and walking through tunnels will also be a part of the tour). Priority will be given to student applicants from the host institutions. Other travelers will be admitted as space is available.

Tour Hosts

Dr. Stephen Henry GeigerWisconsin Lutheran SeminaryProfessor of New Testament,

Dr. Joel Loren PlessWisconsin Lutheran CollegeTheology Professor

Prof. Tim Matthies

DAY 1 (Thursday, January 1) Fly from Chicago

DAY 2 (Friday, January 2) Tel Aviv
Overnight in Tel Aviv – Prima City Hotel

DAY 3 (Saturday, January 3) Tel Aviv – Aqaba, Jordan
Valley of Elah
Lachish
Beersheba
Ramon Crater
Wilderness of Zin
Timna
Cross into Jordan at Eilat/Aqaba border
Overnight in Aqaba, Jordan Grand Tala Bay Hotel

DAY 4 (Sunday, January 4) Aqaba – Petra
Petra
Overnight in Amman - Bristol Hotel

DAY 5 (Monday, January 5) Jordan – Dead Sea
Mount Nebo
Madaba
Machaerus
Bethany by the Jordan (Jordanian side)
Border crossing at Allenby Bridge
Overnight in Dead Sea – Prima Oasis Hotel

DAY 6 (Tuesday, January 6) Tiberias
Masada
Qumran
Jericho
Overnight in Tiberias - Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee

DAY 7 (Wednesday, January 7) Tiberias
Sea of Galilee boat ride
Ginosar (Jesus boat)
Bethsaida
Tabgha (Church of Loaves and Fishes)
Mount of Beatitudes
Migdal
Overnight in Tiberias - Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee

DAY 8 (Thursday, January 8) Tiberias
Golan Heights
Tel Dan
Caesarea Philippi
Hazor
Overnight in Tiberias - Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee

DAY 9 (Friday, January 9) Tiberias
Beth Shean
Shunem
Nain
Endor
Mount Tabor
Nazareth – Church of the Annunciation and Church of the
Archangel Gabriel
Sepphoris
Cana
Overnight in Tiberias - Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee

DAY 10 (Saturday, January 10) Jerusalem
Megiddo
Mt. Carmel
Caesarea Maritima
Overnight in Jerusalem – Grand Court Jerusalem

DAY 11 (Sunday, January 11) Jerusalem
Temple Mount
Western Wall of Temple
Extended Tunnels along Western Wall
St. Anne’s Church/Pool of Bethesda
Church of the Holy Sepulcher
Upper Room & King David’s Tomb
The Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu
Overnight in Jerusalem – Grand Court Jerusalem

DAY 12 (Monday, January 12) Jerusalem
Israel Museum
Shrine of the Book
Jerusalem Model
Lunch at Kibbutz Ramat Rachel
Shepherds’ Field, Bethlehem
Bethlehem
Mount of Olives overlook of Jerusalem
Overnight in Jerusalem – Grand Court Jerusalem

DAY 13 (Tuesday, January 13) Jerusalem
City of David National Park/King David’s Palace
Warren’s Shaft/Hezekiah’s Tunnel
Pool of Siloam
Tunnel back to Temple Mount
Southern Wall of Temple
Garden of Gethsemane
Church of All Nations
Gordon’s Calvary and Gordon’s Tomb
Overnight in Jerusalem – Grand Court Jerusalem

DAY 14 (Wednesday, January 14) Fly from Tel Aviv to Chicago

Including

• Roundtrip International Air Fare from Chicago
• 1 night at Prima City Hotel in Tel Aviv or similar
• 1 night at Grand Tala Bay Aqaba or similar
• 1 night at Bristol Hotel Amman or similar
• 1 night at Prima Oasis Dead Sea or similar
• 4 Nights at Ginnosar on the Sea of Galilee in Deluxe rooms or similar
• 4 Nights at the Grand Court Jerusalem or similar
• Daily open buffet breakfasts at the hotels
• 12 Dinners at the hotels
• All entry fees to the sites and museums in Israel & Jordan as per the itinerary
• St. Peter’s Fish lunch in the Sea of Galilee
• Lunch at Ramat Rachel or other restaurant in Jerusalem
• Arrival & departure transfers
• Transportation by deluxe AC motor coach as per itinerary in Israel & Jordan
• Boat Tour at Sea of Galilee
• Horse ride in Petra.
• English-speaking licensed tour guide during all tours & transfers in Israel & Jordan
• Personal headsets (in Israel only, headsets are presently forbidden in Jordan)
• Service charges and local taxes
• Jordan collective visa (need passports details in advance)
• Israel exit tax at Arava border
• Jordan exit tax at Allenby border
• Tips to guide & driver [$10 per person per day ($7 to guide, $3 to driver.)]

Excluding

• Beverages with dinners or lunches
• Insurance of any kind, any other item not listed above

Important; As of January 1, 2025, all international travelers from visa-exempt countries must have a valid ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) prior to departing for Israel. Press here for the ETA

Locations on the map may include pre program or extension locations with main program.