Join Pastors Tim Jacobsen and Gloria Dovre on a Footsteps of Jesus Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from DES MOINES, IA (DSM) January 08 – 18, 2027

Day 1:    Departure from the USA

Depart for your overnight flight to the Holy Land.  Meals will be served on board.

Day 2:     Arrival Hotel Transfer 

Arrive at Tel Aviv Airport, meet your guide, and drive to your Hotel in the Galilee for dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (D)

Day 3:    Nazareth/ Cana/Mount Tabor

Start our visit to the Church of Annunciation and Cana of Galilee, with the opportunity to renew marriage vows. A visit to Mt. Tabor/Transfiguration follows.  Dinner and overnight in Tiberius. (B, L, D))

Day 4:    Sea of Galilee

On a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, we will celebrate Holy Communion. We will visit the Mount of the Beatitudes, the church of Multiplications of Fish & Loaves, Capernaum, and Magdala. Dinner and overnight in Tiberius. (B, L, D)

Day 5:    Haifa/ Caesarea

Depart the Galilee area via the coastal plains, visit Megiddo, then drive to Stella Maris on Mount Carmel to visit the church of Prophet Elijah. After lunch, we head south to visit Caesarea Maritima, then continue to Jerusalem. Continue to Bethlehem through Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)

Day 6:    Dead Sea area

Full Day Tour in the Dead Sea area, River Jordan, Qumran, and float in the Dead Sea, view the Good Samaritan Inn, St. George in the Judean Wilderness. Visit the old city of Jericho, Elisha Spring, and view Mount Temptation Monastery.   Chance to meet with the ELCA YAGM (Young Adults in Global Mission).  Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.  (B, L, D)

Day 7:    Bethlehem, ELCJHL School

Today we will visit the local ELCJHL school.  In the afternoon, we will visit the Tent of Nations, have lunch, and have a chance to plant trees.  Visit the Walled Off Hotel, walk by the Bethlehem Refugee Camp. Meet with Omar Tesdall. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)

Day 8:    Mount of Olives/ Mount Zion

Start our day visiting Augusta Victoria and the Lutheran World Federation on top of the Mount of Olives, walk the Palm Sunday Path, the Church of the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Kedron Valley. Visit the Last Supper room, Mount Zion, Saint Peter in Gallicantu, and the Shrine of the Book & Model of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem (B, L, D

Day 9:    Old City of Jerusalem

Visit the Wailing Wall, Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock & Al Aqsa Mosque, then visit the church of St. Anne and pool of Bethesda, Via Dolorosa and Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will meet with ELCA and ELCJHL leaders.  We will enjoy some free time in Jerusalem.  Dinner at a Tent restaurant and enjoy traditional Palestinian folklore music and dance, overnight in Bethlehem. (B, L, D)

Day 10:    Shepherd’s Field/ Bethlehem

Start the day with worship with the local ELCJHL congregation.  Visit the shepherd’s field, the church of the Nativity, the old city of Bethlehem, and Mount Herodian.  Dinner with Christian families in Bethlehem and overnight. (B, L, D)

Day 11:    Departure

After breakfast, we will transfer to the airport for our flight home.  We will arrive home on the same day.  Or take the optional extension to Jordan (B)