Holy land, holy History 2021

Walk in the Footsteps of the Heroes of Faith

Join Jeremiah Lorrig and Tom Simmons on a journey of faith to the Holy Land in Feb 2021! This journey will connect your experience with the sites of some of the most important events in history.

This Holy Land experience will delve into the history and culture of the state of Israel. This adventure will quench your thirst whether you are a history lover, a cultural adventurer, or looking for a powerful spiritual experience walking in the footsteps of Christ.

Expand your understanding the biblical stories of Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and of Jesus himself. See the sites of the struggles of the ancient Jews—like Masada, Roman ruins in Caesarea Philippi, and the thriving modern land of Israel, including the Golan Hights.

We will see the rocky deserts, experience the salty Dead Sea, stand on crusader ruins, taste the Mediterranean air looking out over the famous sea, and walk the footsteps of Christ on the road to Calvary.

Ready to Register?

Are you ready to see Scripture come to life in the Holy Land next February? Click on the link below to be taken to our registration page. Once you finish the registration, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to the secure payment authorization page.

Trip itinerary (Feb 18-26, 2021)

Departing from Washington Dulles

Feb 18: Depart Washington Dulles on your overnight flight to Tel Aviv. (Airfare from Washington Dulles included in package price*)
Feb 19: Arrive in Israel. Sightseeing along the way (time permitting) before heading to your hotel for a good night's sleep.
Feb 20 (Caesarea, Mt Carmel, Sea of Galilee): We start our day by driving north along the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, a city founded by Herod the Great in 22 B.C. Here Peter proclaimed the good news to the Roman centurion, Cornelius. We will explore the city's famous Roman theater, harbor, newly-excavated hippodrome, and palace before continuing north to Mount Carmel, where Elijah prayed down the fire of the Lord and defeated the 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). We will visit the excavations of the city of Megiddo, where 26 separate layers of cities have been found, each one built on top of the ruins of the previous city. We will view the beautiful Jezreel Valley, the location for the future gathering of the nations at Armageddon. We will have dinner and stay overnight at our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Feb 21 (Mt of Beatitudes, Capernaeum, Sea of Galilee, Magdala): Our day will begin by traveling to the Golan Heights. We will visit the New Testament City of Caesarea Philippi, in the area where Peter made his confession of Christ's deity (Matthew 16:13-16). We will then drive to the Mount of Beatitudes with its beautiful view overlooking the sea and the site where Jesus delivered one of His most powerful messages, the Sermon on the Mount. Along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee is Tabgha. It is believed that here Jesus walked along the shore and called out to Simon Peter and Andrew who were casting out their nets. James and John were also called to follow Jesus during that walk by the shore. This is believed to be the place of the loaves and fish’s miracle. Visit Peter's Primacy, where Christ met with His disciples prior to His ascension (John 21). Our tour will then proceed to Capernaum, the center of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, where He performed more miracles than at any other single place. There we will view the ancient synagogue where Christ taught and the house where Peter lived. We will cross the Sea of Galilee on a wooden fishing boat. We will visit the "Jesus Boat," dating to the time of Christ, a wooden boat discovered in 1986 buried in the mud at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee. Another important visit will be to the newly discovered Biblical town of Magdala . Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Feb 22 (Cana, Nazareth, Beth Shean, Jericho): Today’s first stop will be Cana, where Christ performed His first miracle (John 2). We will continue to Nazareth, Jesus' boyhood town, here we will visit the site of the annunciation , Mary’s well and Mount Precipice . We drive through the picturesque Gideon Springs (where Gideon tested his men, reducing his army from 10,000 to 300 by the way they drank water from the springs). Then we will travel south to Beth Shean to view the spectacular Roman and Byzantine ruins. The bodies of King Saul and his sons were hung from the city walls (1 Samuel 31:10-12) in Beth Shean after they were defeated by the Philistines. We will drive through the Jordan Valley and see the mountains of Moab and Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34). Continuing on toward our goal we will visit Jericho, the ancient Canaanite city destroyed by the power of God. Jericho remains one of the oldest known inhabited cities in the world. Turning east we will stop at the Jordan River baptismal site called Qasr El Yahud for a special time of baptism this the site old traditions tell us where John the Baptist has baptized Jesus in the holy water of the Jordan river . About 1200 years earlier to Jesus period it was Joshua who has crossed the river at this point on his way to the promised land .We will drive by the Inn of the Good Samaritan on our way to Jerusalem. As we ascend to Jerusalem and to the Mount Scopus overlook, we will be able to survey the city of Jerusalem. We will check in to our hotel in Jerusalem and share dinner together.
Feb 13 (Jerusalem): Our visit to Jerusalem will begin at the top of the Mount of Olives. Here Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple (Matthew 24-25). As we descend the Mount, we will stop at Dominus Flevit, the site commemorating the tears Jesus shed over Jerusalem before entering the city; there we will be reminded of what the Messiah saw as He looked out over Jerusalem. We will visit the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-45), where Jesus prayed the night before His crucifixion. We will continue to the Lions' Gate (St. Stephen's Gate) where we will stop at St. Anne's Church and the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the lame man (John 5: 1-9). Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried the cross along the narrow streets from Pilate's judgment hall toward Golgotha. Walk thru the market area taking in the sights, sounds and aromas of the shops that surround you. We will arrive at The Church of the Holy Sepulcher which commemorates one of the traditional sites of the hill of crucifixion and the tomb of Christ's burial. From here we will walk to the Jaffa Gate, leaving the Old City for a short drive to visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls collection is exhibited and a model of Jerusalem from the time of Jesus is on display, both at the Israel Museum. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Feb 24 (Qumran, the Dead Sea, Masada): Today we will travel to the lowest spot on earth-the Dead Sea. One of our stops will be Qumran, site of an ancient Essene community and of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. We will travel high above the shores of the Dead Sea and arrive at Masada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by Herod the Great. Masada is famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. From the top of Masada, the Roman camps and siege ramp can still be seen. We will have an opportunity to stop at the Dead Sea and feel the salty water or take a swim at Kalia Beach. Afterwards, we will return to Jerusalem for our overnight stay.
Feb 25 (Mt Zion, Jerusalem, Bethlehem): This morning we will visit Mount Zion where the Upper Room is located. We will sing praises in the Upper Room (Luke 22), view the traditional tomb of King David and then proceed to Caiaphas the high priest's house (John 18), where Jesus was imprisoned. We will continue touring sites within the Old City, Zion Gate, the Jewish Quarter arriving at the Southern Steps of the Temple Mount. We will sit on the temple steps where we know Jesus actually walked. We will view the Dome of the Rock, the spot on which Israel's Temple once stood., here will visit the Davidson Center dedicated to the research of the Holy Temple. Continue to the Western "Wailing" Wall, the Jews' most sacred site, we will observe the lifestyles and traditions of the people within the Old City walls. From here we will depart for a short ride to Bethlehem to visit the site of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:1-19). Bethlehem is also the burial site of Rachel (Genesis 35: 16, 19). We will return to Jerusalem and visit the Garden Tomb, where we will gain a sense of the agony of Christ's crucifixion at Calvary (Luke 23) and experience the exhilaration and reality of His resurrection. Following the tour of the Garden Tomb, we will have a special private communion service. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem.
Feb 26: Early morning transfer to the Airport for your flight back home OR (optional) depart Jerusalem on your post-tour extension to visit the ancient wonder of Petra, in Jordan (more details coming soon).
Feb 26-28: OPTIONAL post-tour extension to Petra in Jordan--read below for more details

optional jordan extension (Feb 26-28, 2021)

Can't Get Enough of the Holy Land? Stay Longer and See Jordan!

Add this optional extension to your tour experience. Instead of returning to the USA on Feb 26, follow Jeremiah on one final expedition to see one of the world's most iconic historic sites--the ancient city of Petra.

Jordan Extension Itinerary

Feb 26: Cross the Alenby Bridge border point between Israel and Jordan. On the way to Petra en-route visit Madaba & Mount Nebo . The trip south from the dead sea takes us to the 5,000-year-old King's Highway, one of the most memorable journeys in the Holy Land, passing through a string of ancient sites. The first city you come upon is Madaba, "the City of Mosaics". Madaba's chief attraction, in the contemporary Greek Orthodox Church of St. Georg, is a wonderfully vivid, sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. Ten minutes to the west is the most revered site in Jordan: Mount Nebo, the memorial of Moses, the presumed site of the prophet's death and burial place. A small, square church was built on the spot by early Byzantine Christians and later expanded into a vast complex. Then drive to our of the old city of Amman exploring the Citadel and the Roman Theater, two of the most popular archaeological sites in the city. then to Amman hotel for dinner overnight.
Feb 27: Drive to Petra and enjoy a guided tour of the many sites of Petra. Petra was carved into the rose-red Sharah Mountains by the Nabateans and lost to Civilization until re-discovered by the Swiss Burkhardt. Petra really came to prominence in the seventh century BC when the Edomites settled on Umm al-Biyara and other mountain strongholds and built a town at Tawilan above ’Ain Musa, in the hills to the north. Subject to Assyria, Babylonia, and then Persia, Edom in the third century BC became the nucleus of an Arab state, the Nabateans kingdom and its capital at Petra. Originally from North Arabia, the Nabateans are first mentioned by the anceint historian Diodorus, who relates that in 312 BC Antigonus, the One-Eyed sent his general Athenaeus against ‘the land of the Arabs who are called Nabateans’, at that time a nomadic people who raised cattle and sheep and could survive for long periods in the desert, where they created a network of secret underground reservoirs. Athenaeus attacked a certain strong, though un-walled rock, perhaps the great massif of Umm al-Biyara at Petra, where the Nabateans had left their valuables, elders, women and children while celebrating a festival, killed some of the Arabs there and made off with vast quantities of frankincense, myrrh and silver. Some 150 years later the Nabateans had settled and Petra was the capital of an organized state, walk through the Siq, a narrow and winding fissure between the cliffs, to reach the Treasury, the Roman Theater, the Courts, Qasr Bint Pharaoun, Temple of the Winged Lion and other monuments. Then drive to Petra Hotel for dinner and overnight.
Feb 28: drive to Allenby bridge for departure. Re cross the border and enter Israel. Private transfer to the Tel Aviv international Airport to board your flight back to the USA .

important facts & FAQ'S

Who is leading and organizing this trip?

Our trip leaders are the fearless Jeremiah Lorrig, Deputy Director of Generation Joshua and student empowerment expert extraordinaire. This is his fourth annual tour (United Kingdom in 2020, Greece in 2019, Italy in 2018). This year, he is joined by Tom Simmons of St Peter's Church, Purcellville VA.
Our professional travel planner is Matthew Exline CCC, a licensed independent travel agent with Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative. Matthew is the exclusive travel planner for Jeremiah's history group tours.

How much does the main trip cost?

The trip cost is $2822.00 per person at double occupancy if you book BY AUG 31 2020. After AUG 31, the price will increase to $2922.00 per person double occupancy.
If you wish to have a room by yourself (single occupancy) the cost is $3,422.00 if you book by AUG 31, 2020. After AUG 31, the price will increase to $3522.00.
The deposit to reserve your spot is $353.50 per person. The balance is due by Dec 1, 2020. This deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE. No exceptions. Final payment will be due Dec 1, 2020. Cancellation and refund policies of final payments are subject to the tour operator's refund policy (available on request).
Once your registration has been processed, you will receive a secure electronic invoice for the trip payment by email. Payment is by credit card or debit card only.
Travel insurance is also available for purchase. You will receive a quote for travel insurance along with your invoice.

How much does the Jordan extension cost?

The price for the Jordan extension is on a sliding scale. The more people sign up for it, the less it costs for everyone.
Tier 1 (Cost per person if 3-4 people sign up): $1697.94 per person + insurance.
Tier 2: (Cost per person if 5-9 people sign up) $1480.24 per person + insurance.
Tier 3: (Cost per person if 10 or more people sign up) $837.00 per person + insurance.
If you wish to have a room by yourself (single occupancy) on the Jordan extension the single supplement (additional cost) is $140.00.
Refund policies and other policies for the main trip also apply to the Jordan extension
Payment is by credit card or debit card only.
Travel insurance is also available for purchase. You will receive a quote for travel insurance along with your invoice. You will be expected to insure the additional cost of the Jordan extension.

What is included in the main trip package cost?

7 nights' lodgings at hotels in Israel (3.5 star level)
Breakfast and supper every day (17 meals total, in Israel and on the plane)
Ground transportation in Israel by motorcoach.
Admission to museums and historical sites as described.
English speaking tour guides, and the wisdom and leadership of Jeremiah Lorrig and Tom Simmons.
Roundtrip standard economy class airfare from Washington Dulles International Airport to Tel Aviv (baggage and seat selection fees, if applicable, not included).

What is included in the Jordan extension package cost?

2 nights' lodgings at hotels in Jordan (4 star level)
Breakfast and supper every day (4 meals total, in Jordan)
Ground transportation in Israel and Jordan by motorcoach.
Israel and Jordan departure taxes
Jordan tourist visa
VIP border crossing service at the Allenby Int'l Bridge
Admission to historical sites as described.
English speaking tour guides, and the wisdom and leadership of Jeremiah Lorrig.

How much does travel insurance and other expenses cost?

For your own safety and protection, you are expected to opt-in to purchase travel insurance in order to join our tour. The estimated cost of your travel insurance depends on your age at the time of travel. Estimates provided here are approximate for the double occupancy rate for the main trip (without any optional extensions) and are not actual quotes:

Age 0-34: $150
Age 35-59: $175
Age 65-70: $230
Age 70+: please inquire

Also not included in the base fare are airline baggage fees or seat selection fees (if any), tips and gratuities, any local hotel taxes that cannot be prepaid, meals not included, cost of transportation between any other gateway city and Washington Dulles Int'l Airport, and any other misc expenses not listed.

What if I don't have a roommate/want my own room/need a room for 3 or 4?

It works best for everyone if you are able to find your own roommate. If you do not have a same gender roommate (or spouse/family members), we can place you on our list for same gender roommate matching. Roommate matching is not guaranteed. If we are not able to match you successfully you may be required to stay in a room by yourself and pay the single occupancy rate listed above. Failure to match you with a roommate is not grounds for an exception to the nonrefundable deposit policy.
Rooms for 3 people (triple occupancy) may be available upon request. Please inquire for price. Generally triple occupancy rooms will only be available for biological family members who wish to be together.

I don't live near Washington Dulles Int'l Airport. How do I get there?

Group members coming from other parts of the country will need to travel to Washington Dulles Int'l Airport at the proper time in order to join the group. You are free to make these arrangements yourself if you wish to. If you would like help making these arrangements, please contact Matthew Exline and he will be happy to help (nonrefundable air booking fee of $30 per person will apply). Pre- and post-tour hotel stays in northern VA are also available on request.
CHECK BACK SOON for timing guidelines for Independently arranged flights to Washington Dulles on Feb 18 , due to the need to collect and re-check baggage, and re-clear security.
CHECK BACK SOON for timing guidelines for Independently arranged flights from Washington Dulles on Mar 8, due to the need to clear customs and immigration, collect and re-check baggage, and re-clear security.
Passengers arranging their own air to Washington Dulles are responsible for adhering to the schedule guidelines above.

What happens if the trip cannot happen in 2021 due to COVID or COVID-related travel restrictions?

If we are forced to cancel our trip due to COVID or COVID-related travel restrictions, we will reschedule our trip for 2022 at the same price. We will try to keep the same departure date, or as close to it as possible (just a year later) to minimize risk of schedule conflicts. All payment made up to that point will be applied to the rescheduled trip.
In the event that we have to reschedule the trip to 2022, we expect all group members to join us on the rescheduled trip. By registering for the trip, you agree that we have the right to reschedule the trip for a year later if necessary. Rescheduling the trip is not grounds for an exception to the refund policy.

Other Important FAQ'S

I went on one of Jeremiah's trips before. Do I still need to register? Yes please, we need to make sure we have your updated information and collect payment. You will have the opportunity to log in to your MyTrips account to auto-fill your information on file.
Is the price fixed, or can it go up? The trip price as listed on this page is fixed and should not change, unless airfare turns out to be more expensive than we expect, or barring other unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.
When is the registration deadline? You are encouraged to register as soon as possible, but please only register if you truly intend on going. The final registration deadline is Nov 30, 2020.
Are minors (under 18) allowed? As a general rule, only if accompanied by a parent, adult sibling, or legal guardian. Minors traveling with only one parent or a sibling will require a signed and notarized permission letter from the other parent. Minors without parents will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
What level of physical activity is required? This trip will require a lot of walking, including stair climbing. Ability and willingness to walk unassisted for several hours a day strongly recommended. Hotels may not have elevators, and hotels and ground transportation vehicles are not ADA compliant.
Do I have to have a passport? Yes, you must have a valid passport. To be valid, a passport must have an expiration date no earlier than September 30, 2021. If you are a US citizen, you are not currently required to obtain any visas for the base trip to Israel.
What if I want to stay longer after the main trip is over? We've got you covered--check out our recommended (optional) post-trip extension to Petra, in Jordan! Requests for other extensions or deviations (coming back later) are usually granted but must be approved and planned by Matthew Exline, may incur additional fees, and are subject to airline policies. Please contact Matthew Exline for details.
What if I want to make my own transatlantic flight arrangements and just show up in Israel? As a general rule, this is not allowed due to the need to meet our minimum passenger count for our group air reservation. Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You may, however, make your own flight reservations to get between your home city and Washington Dulles Int'l Airport, subject to the guidelines listed above.
Can I use any airline miles/credit card points/hotel points to pay for part or all of my reservation? You may use airline miles to purchase your airfare between your home city and Washington Dulles Int'l Airport (if applicable). You may use American Express credit card points to pay for part of your base trip cost. You may not use any points or miles other than the examples described.

Holy land, holy History 2021

Walk in the Footsteps of the Heroes of Faith

Ready to Register?