Israel Bible Study Tour
April 25 – May 8, 2027
Led by Pastor Peter Frank, Certified Impact Biblical Tour Leader
Study God’s Word in the places where the events happened and see how the reality of the Scriptures deepens your faith in Jesus Christ.
Introduction to Trip
Dear Friends,
Each time I have traveled to Israel, I have been reminded of the reality of God’s Word. Scripture moved from the pages to the very places where we stood. The hills, the paths, the sky, even the dust on the road proclaimed these are not simply stories we have received; these are events that happened in a real land, among real people, at real moments in history.
Most of all, it brought me back again to Jesus Christ, the Son of God in the flesh, who lived among us, who set His face toward the cross, who suffered and died, and who rose again. Standing in the land of the Bible reminds us in a fresh way that our salvation is not theory but history. God acted in time and space, for you and me. That is what I want to invite you to experience.
A Bible study tour to Israel is not about chasing a bucket list or collecting impressive photos. It is about letting the setting of Scripture demonstrate the Word, so that what we already believe and confess becomes even more vivid and concrete. It’s about opening the Bible and realizing, again and again, that the Lord’s promises were spoken in places you can stand, and that the Gospel was accomplished in a world you can see and touch.
I’m eager to lead this Bible study tour so that you can see, hear, feel, and even smell that reality for yourself. So that you not only understand the Word of God, but trust it’s truth, because God has graciously tied Himself into real history.it is anchored in God’s mighty deeds. My prayer is that those who come would return home with a deeper faith in Christ, a steadier confidence in His promises, and a more joyous hope, not because the trip itself creates faith, but because the Lord uses His Word to strengthen His people.
If you’ve ever wanted to understand Scripture more clearly, to hold its promises more firmly, or simply to remember again that the Gospel is solid ground beneath your feet, then I hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining us for this journey.
Pastor Peter Frank
Certified Impact Biblical Tour Leader
Pre-Trip Preparation
On this trip, you will see and experience more than you could ever grasp. It can be overwhelming. To get the most out of a trip like this, preparation is essential. The country of Israel is small, but the span of time from Abraham to the Apostle Paul is roughly 2000 years. That means without travelling far at all you can move from biblical story to story covering hundreds of years. Because of this, it is all too easy to see many sites but have it all blend together.
The goal of this study tour is to make the things God has done come alive for us in a deeper way by experiencing and understanding them in their original setting, so to get the most out of the trip, preparation is essential. We will have 6 monthly pre-trip meetings, each introducing us to a different topic or theme or time period. These will be extremely valuable for us as we embark on our journey. In addition, you will receive 8 weekly emails prior to our departure, detailing specific Bible readings and giving you a target exercise plan to follow in order to be ready for our trip. Much of what is shared has been prepared by Dr. Thomas Zelt, founder of Impact Biblical Resources. This type of preparation is unique to Impact Tours – please value it highly, as it will greatly enhance your trip.
Save these dates!
- Wednesday, September 9, 2026 (6-8pm)
- Wednesday, October 14, 2026 (6-8pm)
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026 (6-8pm)
- Wednesday, January 13, 2027 (6-8pm)
- Wednesday, February 3, 2027 (6-8pm)
- Wednesday, March 10, 2027 (6-8pm)
- Wednesday, April 14, 2027 (6-8pm)
Daily Itinerary
Sunday, April 25 (Travel Day)
We plan to depart the U.S. on Sunday afternoon, beginning our journey to Israel on an overnight flight. This is primarily a travel day: time in the air, crossing time zones, and making the transition from everyday life into a shared experience. (Exact routing and layovers will depend on flights, but the plan is to travel overnight.)
Monday, April 26 (Arrival Day)
We arrive in Tel Aviv, and after clearing passport control and baggage claim, we’ll travel to the Jerusalem area to get settled. The main goal is to get oriented, handle a few practical details, and recover from the overnight flight so we’re ready for our first full touring day. Depending on arrival time and how the group is doing, we may include some light introductory sightseeing.
Tuesday, April 27 (Day 1 — Shephelah)
Our first touring day takes us into the Shephelah, the rolling foothills between the Mediterranean coastal plain and the Judean highlands. We’ll begin with the wide view from Aijalon Lookout (Canada Park) and then visit sites such as Tel Gezer, Tel Azekah (British Park overlook), Bet Shemesh, and Tel Lachish, where geography, ancient roads, and fortified cities make the biblical world feel very real.
Wednesday, April 28 (Day 2 — Dead Sea)
Today we head into the dramatic Dead Sea region, where desert cliffs and wilderness terrain frame some of the most memorable landscapes in Israel. We’ll visit Masada, continue to Ein Gedi, and stop at Qumran, known for the Dead Sea Scrolls. We’ll end with time by swimming in the Dead Sea, which is both memorable and a welcome chance to slow down after a full day.
Thursday, April 29 (Day 3 — Bethlehem)
This day keeps us relatively close to Jerusalem while covering significant sites to the south. We visit Herodium, a striking fortress-palace complex, and then travel to Bethlehem, including Christmas Lutheran Church and the Church of the Nativity, with time for olive wood shopping. If time allows, we’ll include Nabi Samwel / Mizpah, which offers an excellent vantage point for understanding the surrounding region.
Friday, April 30 (Day 4 — Coast & Jezreel Valley)
We begin our move north, following one of the major corridors of travel in the ancient world. Highlights include Caesarea Maritima, the great Roman-era port built by Herod, then Mount Carmel for sweeping views, and Megiddo, one of Israel’s most famous tells. If time permits, we’ll visit Sepphoris for its mosaics and insight into life in Galilee. By day’s end we arrive to stay on or near the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Saturday, May 1 (Day 5 — Galilee)
Today helps everyone “learn Galilee” by combining key places with major viewpoints. We’ll start at the Nazareth lookout, then go to Mount Arbel, one of the most unforgettable overlooks in the country. We’ll also visit Magdala, an important archaeological site on the Sea of Galilee, and include Hippus, which helps you picture the wider Greco-Roman world near the lake region.
Sunday, May 2 (Day 6 — Sea of Galilee)
This is a full Sea of Galilee day, combining well-known sites with experiences that help visitors picture first-century life. We visit Capernaum, take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and stop at the Allon Museum to see the first-century boat. We also include Tabgha, Katzrin Talmudic Village, and the Mount of Beatitudes, a beautiful place to take in the lake and the surrounding terrain.
Monday, May 3 (Day 7 — Far North)
We travel farther north into regions that highlight Israel’s northern history and strategic borderlands. We visit Hazor, Tel Dan, and Caesarea Philippi (Banias), a dramatic site with a strong Greco-Roman imprint. We also include Omrit, and if time allows we’ll add Nimrod’s Castle, where the views help explain why geography mattered so much for travel and defense in the north.
Tuesday, May 4 (Day 8 — Jordan Rift Valley)
We begin our journey back toward Jerusalem through the Jordan Rift Valley, stopping at sites that highlight Israel’s cultural and geographic diversity. We visit Scythopolis / Beit She’an, stop at Beth Abara along the Jordan River, and continue south with one or more Judean Wilderness overlooks. We include a panoramic Mount of Olives lookout as we approach the city, and if time allows, we’ll visit the Tombs of the Sanhedrin before returning to the Jerusalem area.
Wednesday, May 5 (Day 9 — Jerusalem Old City)
This is a major Old City day, paced to include the essential sites while still allowing time to move through the city thoughtfully. We begin early at the Temple Mount, then visit Bethesda / St. Anne’s Church, the Western Wall, and Hezekiah’s Broad Wall. We also visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, including time for shopping, and round out the day with the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and the Wohl Museum.
Thursday, May 6 (Day 10 — Mount of Olives)
Today focuses on the eastern and southern edges of the Old City and includes a mix of views, walking, and archaeology. We visit Bethphage, Dominus Flevit, and the Garden of Gethsemane, and then walk portions of the Kidron Valley area toward Zion Gate. We also experience Hezekiah’s Tunnel and the Pool of Siloam, followed by the Southern Steps / Davidson Center at the southern end of the Temple Mount platform.
Friday, May 7 (Day 11 — Jerusalem Farewell)
Our final day includes a couple of excellent “big picture” stops that bring the trip together: the Israel Museum and the Haas Promenade. The remainder of the day is left for final preparations and transfer timing, since flights time will determine when we need to leave the hotel area.
Saturday, May 8 (Travel Day)
This is a travel day back to the United States. After check-in, we begin the return flights, potentially arriving early in the day due to the time change.
Walking, Comfort, and Travel Safety
This trip is not intended to be physically strenuous, but it does involve a significant amount of walking and standing, often on uneven stone, steps, and outdoor paths at archaeological sites. For that reason, we plan a sensible pace with regular breaks, and we ask everyone to prioritize hydration, especially on warm days. Safety of travel in Israel is sometimes a concern, but while Israel is often in the news, the risk is typically less than is presented in the news. Ben Gurion International Airport uses one of the most comprehensive security screening programs in the world, and while in Israel we closely monitor the situation to avoid coming anywhere near potential safety concerns. We do our best to minimize risk, realizing that “perfectly safe means never,” and we are confident that when the tour is completed, you will wonder why you ever gave safety a second thought.
Land Fee Pricing
Please note: Some details may be updated as Sar El contracts and hotel inventories. These rates are based on the current US dollar to Israeli NIS exchange rate. If the exchange rate fluctuates significantly (below 3.1 NIS per USD), Sar El reserves the right to adjust the rate accordingly.
| Participants: | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30+ |
| Land Fee (per person): | $4,247 | $3,680 | $3,424 | $3,259 |
- Special Rate for Child (under 12) as 3rd Person in Room: $2,439 (does not count toward quantity discount)
- Reduction for 3rd Adult in Room: $74
- Supplement for Single Room: $1,380
What’s included:
- All hotel accommodations in Israel
- All land transportation in deluxe motor coach
- Breakfast and dinner daily
- All entrance fees and Israeli tour guide
- All service charges, porterage, taxes, and tips
- Preparation guide and classes
- Trip T-Shirt
What’s not included:
- Flights
- Lunch daily (plan for about $20 per day)
- Shopping and other personal expenses
- Travel insurance (highly encouraged)
- Passport fees/renewal and other personal documentation expenses
- ETA‑IL entry permit fee (each traveler applies and pays individually). Apply at: israel-entry.piba.gov.il
Hotels
Tour pricing assumes double occupancy (two participants sharing one room). Single rooms are available for an additional $1,380. If three participants share a room, there is a $74 reduction for the third person. If the third participant is a child under 12, a special child rate of $2,439 applies. Please note: in triple-occupancy rooms, the third bed is often a fold-out sofa or rollaway/cot rather than a standard bed.
We’ll be staying in two hotels during the tour: Prima Kings Hotel (centrally located near King George/Paris Square, with convenient access to many key areas of the city), and Nof Ginosar Hotel (a kibbutz resort setting on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, in a peaceful lakeside environment). Both hotels provide buffet breakfast and dinner, and these meals are included in the tour price.
Airfare Pricing
International airfare is not yet fully priced this far in advance. Current estimates for roundtrip airfare from Charlotte to Tel Aviv are commonly $1,100–$1,500 per person (with occasional sales lower and some routings higher). There are no nonstop flights from Charlotte; itineraries typically include one connection and total travel time around 15–17 hours.
We intend to offer group flight booking through Memory Makers Vacation Planning but will allow participants to book their own travel in order to accommodate the use of points or to allow participants to travel elsewhere before or after the trip. Since group flight booking tends to keep everyone on the same flights and simplifies arrival and departure logistics, that is the preferred option. If a participant books their own travel, they are expected to arrive in Israel at the same time or before the group arrives and depart at the same time or after the group departs.
Registration Details
- Registration cap: Registration will be limited to 35 participants total, including children.
- Early registration (members/staff): Members and staff of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church may begin registering on April 19, 2026.
- Non-member registration: Non-members may begin registering for any remaining available spots on June 1, 2026.
- Member/staff-sponsored non-members (rooming exception): Prior to June 1, a St. Peter’s member or staff person may register a non-member if the non-member will be sharing the same room as that member/staff registrant.
- Registration deadline: All registration forms must be submitted to Pastor Frank and received no later than July 31, 2026.
Payment Schedule
- Registration deposit: $500 deposit ($250 non-refundable) due with your completed registration form
- 2nd payment: $1,500 due July 31, 2026
- Final payment of balance: due January 31, 2027
Payments may be made by cash (bring to St. Peter’s during office hours), check (make payable to “St. Peter’s Lutheran Church” with memo “Israel Bible Study Tour”) or card (visit: stpetersconover.org/give)
