Embark on an extraordinary journey with Dean Garner as we navigate the sacred landscapes of the Holy Land. Dean’s personal crafted itinerary promises a profound exploration of biblical history and cultural understandings. You will have the opportunity to walk where Jesus walked around the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Where the teachings of Jesus unfolded. We will visit the iconic Dome of the Rock and learn about the history of this sacred site. Feel the spirit amidst the serene beauty of the Garden of Gethsemane and explore Jerusalem with its rich tapestry of history and its profound significance to numerous religious and cultural traditions of the world. Throughout this enriching journey, Dean Garner's insightful teachings will illuminate the significance of each site, offering profound insights into the historical and spiritual significance of the Holy Land.
In addition, we are offering a post Tour option in Jordan and Egypt. If you choose to add the Egypt option you will be astounded as we view the artifacts housed within the renowned Egyptian Museum, stand in awe before the timeless grandeur of the Pyramids of Giza, and take a journey along the legendary Nile River, where ancient civilizations once thrived.
Prepare to be captivated by the wonders that await, as you embark on this unforgettable expedition of faith, history, and discovery with Dean Garner. Your understanding of the scriptures will deepen with new perspectives and empathy for this Holy Land and the religions and cultures that flourish here. Making this an experience of a lifetime for your heart, mind and soul.
Tour ID #9225E08
To book this tour contact your favorite Morris Columbus Travel Advisor or click the Book Now button below:
Questions? Contact:
Kim Meyer, Tour Manager
Tel: (801) 483-6315
Email - kmeyer@morrismurdock.com
Day 1: Thursday, May 8, 2025
Home Cities - Transatlantic Flight
An afternoon flight from our various U.S.A. homes, changing planes in Minneapolis, Minnesota, will bring us to Amsterdam, Netherlands, for a few hours of an enjoyable layover. Travel safe!
Meals : In-flight
Day 2: Friday, May 9, 2025
Layover - Tel Aviv, Israel
From Amsterdam we will board an evening flight that will take us to the Ben Gurion International Airport, where we will drive in to Tel Aviv and check into Metropolitan Hotel for a good night’s rest.
Meals : Dinner, In-flight
Day 3: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Tel Aviv - Caesarea - Megiddo - Nazareth - Magdala
An early morning departure through Tel Aviv (the largest Jewish metropolitan area in the world), will take us to north to King Herod’s Roman port city, Caesarea (the pride of the Mediterranean world), where Paul the Apostle was tried before being sent to Rome. We will visit the amazing aqueducts that Herod built to bring water into his city from the spring in the north. We will then travel through the Jezreel Valley to Tel Megiddo with its 22 levels of historical occupation. Continuing across the valley, we will stop at Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. Here we will step back in time as we visit the Nazareth Village, a wonderful re-creation of the days of Jesus. We will pass through Tiberias (originally built by Herod Antipas in honor of his Roman emperor) to Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene, if time allows. We continue on to Ein Gev where we will spend the next three nights.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Sunday, May 11, 2025
Nof Ginosar - Dan - Caesarea Philippi
This day begins with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to Nof Ginosar to see the remains of a boat, dating to the New Testament time period. We will then drive north, passing the ruins of Hazor, an ancient Canaanite citadel conquered by Joshua, on our way to Tel Dan, the ancient northern limits of Israel (“from Dan to Beersheba”). We will visit Banias, ancient Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon. We drive up through the Golan Heights, home of the majority of the Druze population of Israel. It is here that fierce fighting between Israel and Syria took place in 1967 and again in 1973. As we return to the hotel, we pass ancient Bethsaida, home of Peter and Andrew, another city where Jesus taught. We will also remember Gadara and discuss the swineherd experience.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Monday, May 12, 2025
Mount Tabor - Mount of Beatitudes - Capernaum
Leaving early to drive to the village of Devaria, we will take taxis to the top of Mount Tabor, the traditional site of Christ’s transfiguration. From its heights we will see many important New Testament sites. We will then visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where we will discuss that wonderful discourse, the Sermon on the Mount. Then to the site of ancient Capernaum, Peter’s home and the headquarters for Jesus’ Galilean ministry. We will end the day with a tour of what archaeologists have found at Magdala, the amazing village that once was, if we did not have time on Saturday.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Beit Shean - Jericho - Jerusalem
We will begin our trip southward with a stop is at Yardenit, where the Jordan River exits the Sea of Galilee. From Yardenit we will drive though the Jordan Valley stopping at the amazing Beit Shean, an exciting archaeological park. Here the bodies of Saul and Jonathan were hung on the wall for all Israel to see. Following the flow of the Jordan River south, we will stop at Qasr el-Yahud the traditional baptismal site (Bethabara) of Jesus. We will next stop at Old Testament Tel Jericho. We will check in to the Oasis Hotel for the night.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Dead Sea - Masada - Beersheba - Jerusalem
Our early morning travels will take us south to the Dead Sea, 1,300 feet below sea level. Our first stop will be Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will continue on to the ancient mountain-top fortress built by King Herod, Masada. We will ride the tram to the top and explore the ruins there. After the tram returns us to the bottom, we will have lunch before our bus takes us to one of the most unusual swimming experiences of a lifetime. We will continue our tour west to the home of the prophet Abraham, Beersheba. We will make our way north to the Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath. We will stop at the ancient city of Beit Shemesh (the location where the captured ark of the covenant was returned to Israel by the Philistines). Our final destination is Jerusalem (the city of gold), where we will check in to the Olive Tree Hotel for the rest of our nights in Israel.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8: Thursday, May 15, 2025
Old City of Jerusalem
The day begins with a walk up to the Temple Mount, which is located atop Mount Moriah─the place where Abraham took Isaac to offer him as a sacrifice. It was also the site of the temples of Solomon and later Herod; today it is occupied by the magnificent Dome of the Rock and the El Aksa Mosque, making this city the third-most sacred site in all of Islam. Near the Western Wall, we tour the Hasmonian Tunnel, visit the Jewish Quarter to see Hezekiah’s Broad Wall, and stroll down the Roman Cardo, which was originally built by the Roman emperor Hadrian. A great adventure will be had when we walk through the excavated City of David, including Warren’s Shaft, and into Hezekiah’s Tunnel ─ the ancient water system carved through the hill in the time of Isaiah. We’ll continue to the Pool of Siloam, site of one of Jesus’ miracles and as time permits walk up to the temple mount on the original road. The evening will be free to enjoy Jerusalem’s night life in the Jaffa Gate area.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Friday, May 16, 2025
Jerusalem - Bethlehem
Leaving our hotel, we will pass through Mea Shearim (an ultraorthodox community) on our way to Yad Vashem, the sobering Holocaust memorial. We will pass the Knesset Building, where the Israeli parliament meets, on our way to the Israel National Museum, which includes the Shrine of the Book (the museum of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and the wonderfully re-created Model City of Jerusalem, which portrays the city as it looked near the time of Jesus. We will have lunch at Zion’s Square (a modern Israeli shopping mall) and then continue on to Bethlehem. We will see the Church of the Nativity (traditional site of the birth of Jesus), visit a grotto which overlooks a shepherds’ field, and discuss the wonderful event of the birth of Christ. If time allows, we will then drive to the Herodian, one of the fortified sanctuaries of Herod the Great and the location of his final resting place. This evening, we will hold a special seminar on the temple in Jerusalem for those who would like to attend.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Jerusalem & Last 24 Hours of the Savior’s Ministry
We begin this special Sabbath day at the beautiful BYU Jerusalem Center, where we will attend services with the Jerusalem Branch. After an unforgettable sacrament meeting, we will be an unforgettable experience as we hope to tread the footsteps of the Savior, reviewing the last 24 hours of His mortal ministry. We will begin with a visit to the Upper Room, where a temple-like meeting was held with Jesus and the Twelve and the sacrament was introduced. In the Garden of Gethsemane, centuries-old olive trees will remind us of the sacred account of our Savior’s suffering and arrest. We will then return to Mount Zion, the traditional site of the house of Caiaphas the high priest, where the Savior was illegally tried after His arrest in Gethsemane. We enter Lion’s Gate, where we walk to the Pool of Bethesda area to discuss the events in John 5 before going on to the general area of the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was sentenced to be crucified. From there we will walk out the Damascus Gate to Golgotha─the place of the Crucifixion. Our day will conclude at the Garden Tomb, where the body of Christ was interred and from which He rose on that Easter Sunday so long ago. We will end the day at the Western Wall to participate in the ushering in of the Sabbath.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Jerusalem
Today we will visit the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden for a view of the Old City and visit any sites that we failed to get to yesterday. The rest of the day will be free to enter the Old City and walk the city wall, visit the quarry where stones for the temple were dug, or shop. We will begin our packing for tomorrow's departure from Israel.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
Day 12: Monday, May 19, 2025
Tel Aviv - Transatlantic flight - Home
For those not going on the option to Jordan and Egypt, we will board our plane around midnight for our flight to the U.S.A., arriving home in the morning—taking with us never-to-be-forgotten memories and friendships.
Meals : Breakfast, Dinner
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR OF JORDAN: May 19-22, 2025
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR OF JORDAN
May 19, 2025: Jerash, Jordan - Petra: Jabbok Brook
May 20, 2025: Petra: The Treasury (as seen in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Roman Theater, Silk Tombs, High Place and the Monastery
May 21, 2025: Medaba - Mount Nebo - Amman
May 22, 2025: Flight to Cairo, Egypt
See TOUR INCLUDES button for a full itinerary!
Pricing: coming soon!
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR OF EGYPT: May 22-27, 2025
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR OF EGYPT
May 23, 2025: Cairo - Egyptian Museum
May 24, 2025: Cairo - Luxor: Temple of Karnak and Temple of Luxor
May 25, 2025: Luxor - Cairo: Valley of the Kings, Tutankhamen, Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Pitt Tomb 33, Ramses II Storage Granaries and Funerary Temple of Ramses III
May 26, 2025: Cairo - Giza: The Three Great Pyramids - Memphis
May 27, 2025: Cairo - Transatlantic Flight to Home Cities
See TOUR INCLUDES button for a full itinerary!
Pricing: coming soon!
Highlights of the Tour:
- 1 tour-bus experience for the whole tour!
- LDS tour Director on for the whole trip along with local guides
- VERY INCLUSIVE rate - tour, transportation, tips & taxes, breakfast/dinner daily + several lunches
- We include all tipping for hotels and restaurants where meals are provided, for the Israeli & Jordan guides, and drivers!!
- Licensed, insured, and bonded travel agency with 60 years of experience!! It matters who you travel with!
Price Includes:
- Deluxe motor coach transportation
- Local guides
- Accommodations in moderate-class hotels
- Sightseeing tours as outlined on the itinerary
- Entrance fees
- Gratuities
- Breakfasts and dinners during the land portion
Not Included:
- Round-trip air from your home city (please contact your Travel Advisor for flight information)
- Additional possible airfare from cities other than Salt Lake City
- Sightseeing not included on the itinerary
- Additional hotel accommodations
- Items of a personal nature (i.e., phone calls, room service, emails, etc.)
- Travel insurance (highly recommended!)
- Lunches
Pricing Options:
- Double Occupancy - $3,689 per person
- Single Occupancy - $5,189 for private room
- Triple Occupancy - please contact for availability
Payment Terms:
- $500.00 per person deposit due at booking
- Final payment due February 13, 2025
- We offer a CASH DISCOUNT of $125 per person. Inquire for details!
*This tour is based on a minimum of 30 passengers
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR OF JORDAN
May 19-22, 2025 | Pricing: coming soon!
Monday, May 19: Jerash, Jordan - Petra
We will begin our Jordan experience by traveling east, down through the Judean Wilderness, past Jericho to the King Hussein Bridge, where we will cross the border into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We will turn north for a visit to Jerash, one of largest cities of the Decapolis, which has the most complete ruins of any Greek–Roman city in the world. We will stop to see the Jabbok Brook, the brook Abraham may have followed as he entered into Israel. This is also the site where Jacob wrestled with the angel. We then drive south along the general route of the Old Testament King’s Highway through the areas of ancient Moab and Edom. We will check in to the Petra Guest House Hotel at Petra for two nights. This unique city, carved out of sandstone, has beautiful temples and amphitheaters which surround the hidden valley. The Nabataean rulers lived in Robin Hood-like isolation (robbing from the rich and giving it to themselves).
Tuesday, May 20: Petra
We will spend the day hiking in and through the impressive ruins of the rose-red city of Petra, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Our first view of the city will be the Treasury (as seen in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). We will see a beautiful Roman theater, the impressive Silk Tombs, and possibly the High Place or the Monastery, to mention just a few areas. We will return to our hotel for an early evening.
Wednesday, May 21: Medaba - Mount Nebo - Amman
An early departure will take us north where we will stop at Medaba to view a mosaic map of the Holy Land from the time of the fifth century. We will continue north along the “King’s Highway,” through the heartland of ancient Moab and Edom. We will visit Mount Nebo to view the Dead Sea and Israel as Moses and Joshua would have seen them. We will stop in Amman for dinner and the night lodging.
Thursday, May 22: Flight to Cairo, Egypt
An early morning flight we take us that will take us to the Cairo International Airport in Heliopolis, where we will check in to the Hilton Heliopolis Hotel for two nights. Remember, the Sabbath is on Fridays and Saturdays in these lands. As time allows, we will visit the Citadel of Saladin to see the Alabaster Mosque for an introduction to the world of Islam. We will shop at the Khan Khalili Bazaar, which will prove to be a delight to every “Western” shopper.
OPTIONAL POST-TOUR OF EGYPT
May 23-27, 2025 | Pricing: coming soon!
Friday, May 23: Cairo
We spend the day at the world-famous Egyptian Museum that has partially been moved to Giza; there we will see the treasures of the pharaohs, beginning with Narmer (the Old Kingdom), including those of King Tut (The Middle Kingdom) though the Greek and Roman Period. This amazing museum will open the eyes of all who visit and prepare us for what will see though out the rest of the tour.
Saturday, May 24: Cairo - Luxor
We will take an early morning flight to Luxor (ancient Thebes), the southern capital of many of the pharaohs including Ramses II and check in to the Steigenberger Hotel. After lunch at the hotel, we will visit the largest temple complex in the world, the famous Temple of Karnak, followed by the Temple of Luxor. Attending the light and sound show at the Karnak Temple will be an option for the evening.
Sunday, May 25: Luxor - Cairo
After an early breakfast, we will visit the West Bank of the Nile, particularly the Valley of the Kings. There we will explore the tombs of the ancient pharaohs such as Tutankhamen (King Tut) and others. We will stop at an alabaster shop before visiting the Funerary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Pit Tomb 33, thought to be the repository from which Joseph Smith’s Abraham papyri was taken. We will view the storage granaries of Ramses II on our way to the Funerary Temple of Ramses III before crossing the Nile to have lunch at the hotel. An evening flight will take us back to Cairo and return to the Hilton Heliopolis Hotel for two nights.
Monday, May 25: Cairo - Giza
Today will begin with a return visit to Giza, where we’ll take a camel ride to see the only remaining wonders of the ancient world, the three great pyramids: Khufu (Cheops), from 2551 to 2528 BC; Khafre (Cephren), from 2520 to 2494 BC; and Menkaure (Mycerinus), from 2490 to 2472 BC. We will visit an ancient boat museum, where we will see the funeral barge of Khufu before stopping at the 5,000-year-old Sphinx (as old to Moses as Jesus is to us). We will pass the pharaonic capital of Memphis as we visit Saqqara, which features the Step Pyramid (“first” of the pyramids, as we know them). We will do our papyrus shopping at the Scarabee Papyrus Institute before returning for dinner at the hotel and retiring early in preparation for a late-night departure to the U.S.A., arriving home in the morning—taking with us never-to-be-forgotten memories and friendships.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025: Cairo - Transatlantic Flight to Home Cities
We will board our plane around midnight for our flight to the U.S.A., arriving home in the morning—taking with us never-to-be-forgotten memories and friendships.
