Best of the Holyland
OBERAMMERGAU

13 DAYS

HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TOUR
Fully Escorted in Europe by an experienced Tour Manager
Roundtrip airfare from New York's JFK airport
Mix of 4 and 3 Star hotels
Full buffet breakfast and dinner daily
Travel kit
Deluxe Air-conditioned Motorcoaches
Tickets for the Passion Play and accommodations in the village
Special Passion Play Book to follow along each act.

Tour Code Departure Date Cost
BHL0516
BHL0620
BHL0912
BHL1003
MAY 16
JUN 20
SEP 12
OCT 03
$ 3200
$ 3350
$ 3300
$ 3300

Important: Rates are subject to change.
An initial deposit of $ 300 per person is required to reserve your space on this tour. Payment can be made on line using our secure server. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for additional deposit & final payment details. It is very important that you read and understand our cancellation policy since it is different from our standard policy. This is due to the fact that the Passion Play is a special event and the demand for hotel rooms, air seats and play tickets is very high.

Please email your reservation request to
tours@friendshiptours.com

Or to make an inquiry, you can also use our online form

DAY 1 – NEW YORK • LONDON
Begin your Holyland Journey by departing for London. Meals and overnight on board.

DAY 2 – LONDON • TEL AVIV
Arrive in London today where we connect with our flight to Israel. Arrive at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport and meet our guide who will welcome us to the Land of the Bible and escort us throughout our stay in Israel. Israeli Guides are legendary for their knowledge and dedication. Ours will instruct us on the many sites we will visit and their relationship to the religion, history, archaeology, culture, and modern life in Israel. Time permitting, visit Old Jaffa, the traditional home of Simon the Tanner, and from where Jonah sailed. Proceed to our hotel near the shores of the blue Mediterranean for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 – CAESAREA • MEGIDDO • TIBERIAS
Today we pass newly settled towns en route to Caesarea, site of major events in the lives of Peter and Paul. It's on to Megiddo, prophesied site of Armageddon. Archaeological digs reveal 20 layers of civilization, including fortifications of King Solomon and the water tunnel of King Ahab. Megiddo provides a magnificent view of the fertile Jezreel Valley, at the crossroads of the ancient Via Maris. We drive through the Galilee to Nazareth, site of Mary's Well, and Cana, site of His first miracle, before arriving in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight at our hotel overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

DAY 4 – SEA OF GALILEE
This day alone is worth the trip! We are now literally walking in the footsteps of Jesus. We will take a most memorable boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, in replicas of the ancient wooden boats used in Jesus’ day. We walk into old Capernaum with the ancient synagogue; on to the site of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes (Tabgha) and up to the site of the Sermon on the Mount, the Mount of Beatitudes. In the afternoon we will journey north to Caesarea Phillipi, (Banias Spring) where Jesus decided to return to Jerusalem. Return via the Golan Heights to the area around the Sea of Galilee where we will visit the Jordan River and have the opportunity for a baptismal service (optional). Dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 – JORDAN VALLEY • JERUSALEM
Drive along the Jordan Valley to Beit She'an to see the expansive excavations taking place at this ancient Roman city. Continue driving south to Jericho, oldest known walled city, for a view of Mt. Temptation and Mt. Nebo, from where Moses looked upon the Holyland. It's now time to “go up” to Jerusalem. We will enter the city as pilgrims have since ancient times. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.



DAY 6 – JERUSALEM • BETHLEHEM
Start the day with a view of the Old City from the top of the Mt. of Olives. Walk to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations and drive across the Kidron Valley. Enter the Old City through St. Stephen's Gate (Lions’ Gate) to the Moslem Quarter, visit the beautiful Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate's Judgment Hall, and the Ecce Homo Arch. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, into the Christian Quarter, and see the Stations of the Cross. Drive to Mt. Zion to see the House of Caiaphas and the Upper Room of the Last Supper. We will visit Bethlehem and see Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity, and view Shepherds' Fields. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.


DAY 7 – MASADA • DEAD SEA • QUMRAN
Depart to Masada, overlooking the Dead Sea, where we ascend by cable car to visit the remnants of Herod's Palace and where from 70 to 73 A.D. the Zealots made their last stand against the Roman Legions. Proceed to Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947. Time permitting, we will go for a swim, rather a "float", in the salted waters of the Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

DAY 8 – JERUSALEM
We will begin the day with a visit to the reconstructed Jewish Quarter, walk through the Cardo, the original Roman street. See the important excavations taking place at the Western Wall and the Southern Temple Staircase. Then on to the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock, where Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac. Visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and continue on to the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was in the 2nd Temple period (circa A.D. 68). End the afternoon at Golgotha (Gordon’s Calvary) and the Garden's Empty Tomb. Special time is planned for worship, communion, meditation and inspiration. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 9 – JERUSALEM
Today is at leisure for shopping and relaxing. Some may choose to investigate the recent tunnel excavations at the Western Wall, the Jerusalem Museum at Jaffa Gate, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed or the Bible Lands Museum. The Jerusalem Museum, located in David’s Citadel inside Jaffa Gate, tells a fascinating story of the world’s 3 monotheistic religions. Christianity, Judaism and Islam, as they developed in Jerusalem over the centuries.

This evening we will share in a Farewell Dinner and the presentation of a Certificate of Pilgrimage to each tour participant.

DAY 10 – ISRAEL • MUNICH • OBERAMMERGAU
Depart on our flight to Munich where we are met and transfered to Oberammergau, site of the Passion Play for dinner and overnight.

DAY 11 – OBERAMMERGAU
Full day in Oberammergau for the Passion Play. A village in the Bavarian Alps, famous for its woodcarving industry. In the year 1633, the town was stricken by the plague. In desperation the people of the village took an oath that they would stage a performance of the Passion of Jesus every 10 years if the plague would vanish and save their town. The town was saved and the first performance took place in 1634. From 1690 on, the play has been performed regularly every 10 years. The play takes almost eight hours to perform and the 124 speaking parts are performed by inhabitants of the village. The audience is seated in a roofed auditorium while the stage is open-air. Lunch and dinner are included.

DAY 12 – OBERAMMERGAU • MUNICH
This morning we depart Oberammergau for Munich. En route we visit the quaint Alp and Olympic Games Resort of Garmish Parten Kirchen and on to visit King Ludwig II’s magnificent creation, Linderhof Castle with its cascades and gardens. Upon arrival in Munich we enjoy a guided panoramic city tour by bus focusing on the main sights of this cultural center: Marienplatz, the Palace, the City Hall with its famous Glockenspiel Clock, and the Olympic Village. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

DAY 13 – MUNICH • NEW YORK

Transfer to the airport in Munich where our guide will assist us with check in procedures. Board our hometown flight and arrive home the same day.

Have A Very Pleasant Journey!

SPECIAL NOTE: The tour operator and/or escort reserve the right to alter the sequence of the daily itinerary and make substitutions in order to meet changes brought about by Passion Play dates, weather, airline delays or as deemed necessary for the best interest and overall comfort of the group. This is a Christian tour and we reserve the right to remove any passenger from the tour without explanation.

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