Esh Carmel
The most suggested option for Christians to go on a vacation tour would be a trip to Israel, where they can experience the places and historical events of the Bible. Christian tours of Israel basically include Nazareth, Bethlehem, Old Jerusalem, Caesarea, Tibereas, Megiddo and Masada. There are a lot of tour operators who provide a range of packages with varied itineraries to tour Israel. Most of the holy places in Israel are sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims. Nearly every part of Israel has some sort of connection to pilgrim sites or sacred places.
Christian tours to Israel may take about ten days to cover the most important Biblical places namely, the place where Jesus was born, the river where He was baptized, the mount where He held His sermon, the place where the Last Supper was held, and the spot where He was betrayed. There are lots of other places pertaining to the Old Testament and the New Testament.Jerusalem shelters most of the sacred places and pilgrim tours focus much on this historic city, which is holy to three religions. The better known pilgrimage sites include The Western Wall, Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock and the city of Jerusalem shelters the majority of the holy sites.
Arriving in Tel Aviv, the business buzz of Israel, a traveler may then proceed to Mount Carmel in Haifa via Caesarea. Going through the Jezreel Valley, the tour leads to Megiddo followed by Nazareth, which is famous for the Church of Annunciation. Yardenit, located on the Jordan River is a renowned Baptismal site and at Jericho, the Mount of Temptation is an important site. Overlooking the Sea of Galilee, the Mount of Beatitudes is reminiscent of the days of Jesus recorded in the Bible. Capernaum holds a similar importance and Bethlehem is the birthplace of the Lord Jesus. The Shepherd’s field located in Bethlehem is the place where His birth was announced by the Angel to some shepherds. The Mount of Olives and Garden of Gethsemane are important sites and Bethany is known for Lazarus’ tomb. The pilgrim tour goes on to the Dead Sea region, which is famous for Masada, the Qumran Caves and En Gedi.
The pools of Bethesda in Jerusalem is the place where a crippled man was healed by Jesus. Jerusalem is also known for significant sites like Via Dolorosa or the Way of Grief, the Stations of the Cross leading to Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified. The Last Supper Room, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and David’s tomb are also located here. Though most holy sites of Israel are common to Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Israel also shelters the holiest site of the Baha’is namely, the internationally renowned Baha’i Gardens in Haifa.
Though tours center on the spiritual features of the country, some guides will point to the remarkable history and vivid culture of the region. Throughout the country, there are many guest houses, hostels, as well as Catholic Centers to cater to the needs of pilgrims who visit the region.
Website content Editor for Vered Hasharon Travel and Tours Tour operators in Israel and the region.
