2026 Fall Comprehensive Old and New Testament Holy Land Tour with Craig and Sandy Ostler

We will take flights from our home cities and arrive in Jordan the following afternoon or evening at the Queen Alia International Airport near Amman. We will check in to our hotel for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Meals: In-flight

After breakfast we will begin our exploration of the land God gave to “the children of Lot (Moabites, and Ammonites) for a possession.” We will visit the King Abdullah Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque, for its magnificent blue dome. Here we will dress in culturally appropriate clothing provided for a visit to the mosque, and our Jordanian guide will teach us regarding Moslem worship and the importance of this faith’s beliefs and practices. We will ascend to the ancient Amman Citadel for a panoramic view of the expansive city of Amman. As time permits, we will explore the Archaeological Museum and buildings of the Citadel.

In the afternoon, we will stop at the Jabbok River, where the patriarch Jacob wrestled with an angel upon returning to the Promised Land. Due to this experience, Jacob named this place “Peniel: for I have seen God face to face” (Gen. 32:30). We will review the significance of this event, where Jacob was embraced and given the new name, Israel.

Next, we will travel through the Land of Gilead (Jer. 8:22) to Jerash. This ancient city invites you to walk back in time 2,000 years and is one of the best preserved of the Greco–Roman cities of the Decapolis mentioned in the New Testament (Matt. 4:25). Its Cardo displays a spectacular paved street, Aagora (marketplace), and an oval plaza enclosed by 160 Ionic columns. As time allows, we will explore Hadrian’s Arch and a hippodrome, as well as magnificent theaters, temples, and churches. We will return to our hotel in Amman for dinner.

Early in the morning we will travel south near the “King’s highway,” as it was known in ancient times (Num. 20:17). This route will take us through the heartland of the ancient Plains of Moab (homeland of Ruth in the Old Testament and tribal inheritance of Reuben) and later travel through Biblical Edom. We will pass the Crusader Castle of Shobak as we drive through Bedouin homelands.

In the afternoon we will visit Petra, one of the wonders of the world. First, we will pass through the siq, which is a sandstone gorge that leads to the main entrance to the city of Petra, capital of the ancient Nabataeans (you may choose to travel on foot or in a motorized e-cart). The Nabataean rulers that lived here controlled the frankincense trade routes, becoming extremely wealthy. Our first view of the city will be the Treasury (as seen in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). We will then be awed by the impressive architecture of ancient Petra, the “rose-red city half as old as time.” This unique city, built of sandstone, has beautiful temples, tombs, and a theater carved out of the cliffs which surround the hidden valley. Our hotel will be in nearby Wadi Musa.

This morning, we will travel further south to Wadi Rum, where we will have the amazing experience of taking a camel safari into the desert to see one of the most impressive landscapes in the world. With its towering sandstone mountains, red sand dunes, and narrow canyons, Wadi Rum is untouched with marvelous views and an opportunity to learn about the Bedouin way of life. Parts of this rugged area are connected to T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire. In addition, segments of the Star Wars movies The Rise of Skywalker and Rogue One, were filmed in Wadi Rum!

After lunch, we will leave Wadi Rum and travel north, taking in the unique Jordanian landscape as we travel to Madaba for a night’s rest at our hotel

In the morning, we will visit the city of Madaba to further immerse ourselves in Jordanian culture and to discover some of Jordan’s early Christian heritage. We will visit the Byzantine–Christian era, sixth–century, St. George’s Church. The walls are covered with ancient Christian paintings, and mosaics on the floor reveal the heralded Madaba map—the oldest known map of the Holy Land. After a short time to shop and buy some treats, we will continue our journey.

We will ascend to Mount Nebo. From this mount, after 40 years in the wilderness, Moses and the Children of Israel had their first view of the Promised Land (Deut. 34:1–4). This high point offers a marvelous view of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River, and surveys the borders of modern-day Israel. Early fourth–century Christians built a sanctuary on Mount Nebo to honor Moses. Later, several churches, and eventually a Byzantine-era basilica and monastery, were constructed over this site. We will visit Mount Nebo’s sanctuary and see the fascinating archaeological finds of these early Christian churches, including mosaics and a baptismal font.

We will journey to the Jordan River Valley and stop at Bethabara, today known as Al Mughtas. This area is important for several reasons: 1.) the Lord’s parting of the Jordan River for Joshua and the Children allowing Israel to cross into the Promised Land, 2.) the prophet Elijah’s translation and ascent into heaven, 3.) John the Baptist’s wilderness ministry, and, most importantly, 4.) the site of the Savior’s baptism.

In the midafternoon, we will say goodbye to Jordan and cross the Jordan River at the King Hussein Bridge to enter Israel. We will continue to the Oasis Hotel in Jericho, “the city of palm trees” (Deut. 34:3), where we will spend the next three nights. At the hotel, we will unite with our fellow travelers who will be beginning their tour of the Holy Land in Israel.

We will take flights from our home cities and arrive in Israel the following afternoon or evening at the Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.

Today we will then travel to Jericho and a good night’s rest in the Oasis Hotel.

This morning, we will journey to Qasr el Yahud, the Israeli side of the Jordan River Valley, and look across the river to the Jordanian site of Bethabara, which is important for several reasons. This is the site of 1.) the Lord’s parting of the Jordan River for Joshua and the Children, allowing Israel to cross into the Promised Land, 2.) the Prophet Elijah’s translation and ascent into heaven, 3.) John the Baptist’s wilderness ministry, and most importantly, 4.) the site of the Savior’s baptism.

Later in the morning we will visit the Monastery of Saint Gerasimos, one of the earliest of more than 70 monasteries in the Judean desert. Here we will learn about those early monks who wished to imitate the Savior’s going into the wilderness for 40 days to be with God (Matt. 4:1–11). According to an old tradition, the monastery was built over a cave where Joseph, Mary, and the infant Jesus hid when fleeing to Egypt.

We will then visit Jericho, known as the “City of Palms.” Jericho is nearly 850 feet below sea level. We will visit the archaeological dig of tel-Jericho, the ancient Old Testament city miraculously conquered by Joshua and the Children of Israel (Josh. 6). The Savior visited Jericho, where He healed the blind Bartimaeus and dined with the very short-in stature-publican, Zacchaeus (Luke 19:8).

After lunch we will ascend to the east side of the Mount of Olives to the Palestinian city of Bethany, where we will visit the traditional tomb of Lazarus and site of the home where he lived with his sisters, Mary and Martha (John 11).

In the late afternoon, we will take a short journey to Wadi Qelt to see the Judean Wilderness, where the Savior spent 40 days with His Father, while fasting, and afterward was tempted of the devil (JST Matt. 4:1). This area is where the Prophet Elijah lodged during much of the 3½ year drought he brought by sealing the heavens from rain (1 Kings 17). Here we will also observe the setting of the parable of the Good Samaritan on the wilderness road from Jerusalem to Jericho (Luke 10).

As time allows, we will visit Jimmy’s Bazaar in Jericho near our hotel. He specializes in LDS– themed olive wood pieces and nativities, along with other items that have been favorites with past tours. In the evening, we will rest and relax in our hotel in Jericho, with its hot tub and four pools, including a special “Dead Sea” pool that can give you an idea of what tomorrow’s experience will be like in the real Dead Sea.

Our morning drive will take us south along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth’s surface. At Masada, built by King Herod as a refuge for his family and followers, we will take a cable car to the top of the plateau and explore his palatial fortress. From high above the Dead Sea, we will have a view of the entire area. Masada is best known as the location of a Roman siege against Jewish Sicarii in AD 74. On our return we will pass the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, where David and his band of men sought refuge from King Saul (1 Samuel 24).

As we drive north, we will stop at Qumran for a walk-through of the communal building foundations of the mystic Jewish sect of the Essenes. Here we will discuss the customs and importance of this unique society as well as their connections to the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Ending this eventful day, we will have the opportunity for one of the most unusual floating experiences of a lifetime at the Dead Sea. Its dense rejuvenating mineral waters suspend you on the surface. In the evening, we will rest and relax in our hotel in Jericho.

Our morning drive will take us north up the Jordan River Valley to Beit Shean National Park. Here we will visit the most complete ruins of a Roman city in all Israel. Beit Shean was one of the ten Roman cities of the Decapolis mentioned in the Savior’s mortal ministry (Matt. 4:25).

We will continue north along the Sea of Galilee to Magdala, considered to be the hometown of Mary Magdalene, where there are remains of an ancient synagogue and special chapels dedicated to the women of the New Testament gospels. As time allows, we will visit the Valley of the Doves located beneath Mount Arbel, following the path that Jesus took from the Sea of Galilee to the area of Nazareth.

Our next visit will be to the archaeological site of ancient Capernaum. After His rejection in his hometown of Nazareth, Jesus made Capernaum His home. Capernaum was the site of many of His miracles and healings (Mark 1–5). Within its synagogue the Savior gave His “Bread of Life” sermon (John 6:24–71).

Concluding this wonderful day, we will travel to our hotel at the Holiday Kibbutz in Ein Gev (or Nof Ginosaur?) to rest and relax; you may even wish to swim in the Sea of Galilee.

Our day will begin with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where we can reflect on the Savior’s calming the storm with the simple words “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:35-41). Our time on the sea will offer us an opportunity to view the area around its shores that the Savior chose for much of His mortal ministry.

We will then ascend to the Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount, where we will have the opportunity to contemplate the Savior’s teachings concerning our discipleship (Matt 5–7).

We will continue to travel north to Banias, ancient Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon, where Peter declared his testimony that Jesus is the Christ and the Only Begotten Son of God (Matt 16:13–20). We will travel through Druze villages and stop at Birket Ram. On the Golan Heights, we will stop at Mount Bental to view nearby Syria. At the end of the day, we will return to our hotel at Ein Gev.

We will begin our day traveling to the base of “an high mountain apart” (Matt. 17:1) and take vans to the top of Mount Tabor, the traditional site of Christ’s transfiguration during the visit of Moses and Elijah to confer priesthood keys upon Peter, James, and John. On our morning drive, we will pass by the site of the New Testament village of Nain, where out of compassion Christ raised a widow’s son from the dead (Luke 7:11–16).

We will travel to the city of Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus, where we will visit the Nazareth Village, developed to show life as it existed at the time of Jesus. Here we will reflect on His early life and His later peaching and rejection at the synagogue of His hometown (Luke 4). We will have the special treat of enjoying a traditional first-century lunch at Nazareth Village. Next, we will visit the Church of the Annunciation, built over the traditional site of Mary’s home and the visit from the angel Gabriel (Luke 1).

We will drive through the Jezreel Valley, which was the location of several battles in the Old Testament (Judges 4–7; 1 Kings 22). The tel at its western end gives its name to the great battle of the last days— Armageddon (Rev. 16:14–16). Megiddo was one of the most strategic military sites during the time of the Old Testament (2 Kings 23:29–30), with its 25 levels of historical occupation by Canaanites, Egyptian Pharaohs, and Israelite kings. As time allows, we will explore some of the most insightful archaeological finds, including ancient gates to the city, stone mangers, a Canaanite temple and altar, a grain silo, and a massive cistern.

We will ascend Mount Carmel to Mukhraka, the Old Testament high place of false worship of the Canaanite gods, Baal and Asherah. A monument and monastery commemorate the Prophet Elijah’s manifestation on this mount that the God of Israel is the only true God. Elijah called down fire from heaven in a contest that defeated 850 priests of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18). Our hotel for the night will be near Haifa.

In Haifa (modern port of Israel and center of the Baha’i faith), we will view the Baha’i Gardens and then descend to an historic cemetery to recount the experiences of the first LDS missionaries in the Holy Land.

We will travel south along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, stopping to investigate an ancient Herodian Aqueduct that carried water from Mount Carmel. We will take time for a visit to Caesarea Maritima, which Herod the Great had built to honor his friend Caesar Augustus. The city served as the capital of Roman Judea and included a manmade harbor on the Mediterranean Sea, as well as a theater, hippodrome, Roman bathhouses, temples, and government buildings. This city became an important location for the early New Testament church and saints. Here the apostle Peter taught and baptized a Roman Centurion, named Cornelius, and his household, who were the first gentiles to become Christians (Acts 10). Caesarea is also the site of the prison and forum in which the apostle Paul gave his stirring testimony of Christ before King Agrippa (Acts 26).

In the afternoon, we will visit the Shephelah or Judean Foothills that separate the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, inhabited by the Philistines, from the higher mountain cities of the Israelites. This area was the setting for many of the events in the Old Testament. First, we will visit Bethshemesh and the Sorek Valley, sites of events in the life of Samson (Judges 13–16). After capturing the Ark of the Covenant in battle and being smitten with sore “emorods,” the Philistines sent the Ark back to the Israelites along with offerings of gifts of gold via two milk cows pulling a cart through the valley to Beth Shemesh (1 Samuel 4–6). This is the site of God smiting the men that looked in the Ark of the Covenant without authorization, which was later fictionalized in the block-buster movie Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Our next visit is Tel Azekah, the locale of the battle between the Israelite shepherd boy, David, and the Philistine giant, Goliath, in the Valley of Elah (1 Sam. 17). We will better understand the importance of stopping the Philistines in this valley, which leads into the mountains of Bethlehem.

We will continue south to Lachish, a name that may not be familiar to you. However, its importance in the kingdom of Judah is second only to Jerusalem’s. Our later visits to the Jerusalem sites connected to the prophet Isaiah and King Hezekiah will converge with massive archaeological finds and a new visitors’ center. Films, murals, and presentations tell the story of the powerful Assyrian King Sennacherib and his siege and destruction of Lachish (2 Chr. 32:9–11).

Lastly, we will ascend to Jerusalem, where we stay at the Olive Tree Hotel for our remaining time in Jerusalem.

We will begin our exploration of Jerusalem with a visit to the Old Testament City of David, which also includes ruins from the time of the prophets Jeremiah and Lehi. We will then enter Hezekiah’s Tunnel (2 Chr. 32:30) and wade through this exciting third-of-a-mile historic marvel that provided water during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in the time of King Hezekiah and Isaiah. (Those who wish to may choose to walk through the ancient dry tunnel.) At the end of this exciting experience, we will sit around the newly excavated Pool of Siloam and share the account of the Savior healing the man born blind and sending him to this pool to wash his eyes (John 9).

While the morning sun is still available, shining from the east on the Old City, we will next orient ourselves from an overlook on the Mount of Olives near the Seven Arches Hotel. Descending from the mount, we will enter the Old City of Jerusalem through Jaffa Gate to eat lunch in the area of the Muristan in the Christian Quarter. After lunch, we will then enjoy a brief walk in the Jewish Quarter to the Roman Cardo, which was originally built by the Roman emperor Hadrian, and then visit Hezekiah’s Broad Wall, built as a defense against the Assyrian armies.

In the midafternoon, we will travel to the Israeli Museum to see the Model City, which is a scale model of Jerusalem at the time of the Savior, and visit the Shrine of the Book, which displays items from the Dead Sea Scrolls.

In the morning, we will commemorate the Savior’s last week in mortality while walking in His footsteps. We begin with a visit to Bethphage, located on the back side of the Mount of Olives, where the Savior began his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem riding upon the foal of an ass (Matt. 21:1–11). We will next visit the Pater Noster Church, which has the Lord’s Prayer inscribed upon the walls in 140 languages and is the traditional location of Christ’s instructions to His apostles regarding the destruction of Jerusalem and the signs of His Second Coming (Matt. 24). We will then descend the Mount of Olives to Dominus Flevit, near where Christ wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41–44).

Our journey will next take us to Mount Zion and the Cenacle, a site commemorating the Upper Room, where Christ taught and celebrated a Passover feast with the Twelve and first introduced the sacrament. Following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples in the same upper room (Matt. 26:17–30; John 13–16). Below the Cenacle we will make a brief visit to the cenotaph representing the Tomb of King David.

We will visit the probable site of the palace of Caiaphas the high priest, where the Savior was illegally tried after His arrest. The modern church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is the traditional site of Peter’s denial of knowing Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 22:54–71). This area of Mount Zion provides an excellent overlook of Aceldama and Hinnom Valley, symbolic of hell in Old Testament times (2 Chr. 28:1–3).

We will enter Bethlehem for a delicious customary Palestinian meal at the Palms Restaurant. After lunch we will visit the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square to see the traditional site of the grotto in which the Savior of the world was born into mortality (Luke 2:1–7). Our next visit will be to Beit Sahour and the Latin Shepherds’ Field to contemplate the angelic proclamation given to the shepherds that the Messiah had been born in the City of David (Luke 2:8-20). While in Bethlehem we will have the opportunity to visit an olive wood shop.

After dinner at our hotel, we will have the option to visit the Western Wall as the Jewish people welcome Shabbat.

We will begin our Sabbath day by entering a private garden on the Mount of Olives in the area of the Garden of Gethsemane. This private setting offers a quiet location to contemplate the atoning sacrifice of the Savior. Here or nearby, Christ fell on His face and pled to have the bitter cup removed as he trembled and bled from every pore, suffering in both body and spirit. The endless torment of suffering was so intense in Gethsemane that the Father sent an angel to strengthen Him (Luke 22:39–44; D&C 19:16–19). Our time here will provide a unique opportunity to prepare to take the emblems of the sacrament.

Leaving Gethsemane, we will arrive early to tour the grounds and then attend sacrament meeting on the Mount of Olives at the BYU Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies with its auditorium’s spectacular view of Jerusalem. Following our Sabbath worship meeting, at the foot of the Mount of Olives we will visit a public Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. We will walk a short distance to visit the Orson Hyde Memorial Gardens with its magnificent views of the Old City and the Kidron Valley.

We will conclude our day at the Garden Tomb. Here we will see Gordon’s Calvary, a proposed site for Golgotha and the Savior’s crucifixion. Nearby we will see a rock-hewn tomb in a garden where here, or somewhere nearby, the body of Christ was interred and from which He arose on that glorious resurrection morn (John 20:1–18)

Early in the morning we will enter the Old City to tour the Holy Mount, or Mount Moriah—known as the Temple Mount to the Jews—site of the temples of Solomon and Herod, and referred to as the Haram al Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary by the Moslems—a location of the magnificent Dome of the Rock and the El Aqsa Mosque. Mount Moriah is where Abraham had come to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22). Joseph and Mary brought the forty-day-old Jesus to the temple, where Simeon and Anna testified that the child was the promised Messiah (Luke 2:22–38). Jesus later came here as a young boy to be about His Father’s business (Luke 2:41–50).

At the foot of the Temple Mount, we will visit the Davidson Archeological Center. Here we will see the ancient temple stones thrown over the Temple Mount onto the Roman road below, testifying fulfillment of the Savior’s prophecy that the stones of the Temple Mount buildings would be cast down and not one stone would be left upon another (Matt 24:1–2; D&C 45:15–20). We will also have the opportunity to ascend the ancient steps and see the gates that led to and descended from the Temple Mount (John 8:2, 59).

The afternoon will be free time to shop and/or visit optional sites (we have a list of suggestions to choose from according to your preferences and as time allows).

We will have dinner at the hotel and then it will be time to pack for our flights tomorrow morning.

After an early breakfast, we will travel to the Ben-Gurion Airport for our scheduled flights home. Returning home, we will take with us treasured memories of wonderful experiences in the Holy Land!