ISRAEL – with Optional Egypt Extension – March 7-23, 2024

Centering our Sites on the Savior

Sacred Ground. Jesus lived his 33 year life in a relatively small geography. A visit to the Holy Land is not just another travel experience – it’s a singular, spiritual pilgrimage that is truly life changing. There is nothing like being in the places where He was – and understanding His teachings by learning in the places He taught them. Our directors have prepared carefully so that you can see and learn and feel the unmistakable spirit of the Holy Land. 

And there is of course much other history here:  This is the most fought over, sought after and prayed for ground in the world. It is home to the most sacred sites of Christians, Jews and Muslims – representing over half of the world’s population. There is simply no other travel experience to equal a journey to Israel and Egypt. 

We have offered tours to the Holy Land for over 20 years. Our director for this year’s tour is Michael King (see bio below). He’ll be joined by CES instructor, Michael Hyatt who will add additional insights. In addition, we’ll have excellent local guides who will provide an invaluable local perspective as we travel through the area. Most get to go to Israel only once – and you want to make sure that it is the best that it can be. You know you can trust Webb Tours to exceed your expectations – so join us as we journey to the Land of Jesus and surrounding areas. We promise you’ll be glad you did.

Centering our Sites on the Savior

A Scripture Study Tour of the Holy Land and Egypt

March 7-23, 2024

Directors: Michael King & David Webb

Days 1, 2 and 3: Thursday – Saturday, March 7, 8 & 9   Transatlantic Flight • Tel Aviv, Israel

We’re off!  Our exciting adventure begins with an afternoon flight on March 7 from Salt Lake City (or home airport), arriving in Amsterdam at 8:15 AM on the morning of March 8. We have a long layover in Amsterdam, so we have hired a coach to take us into the city. We’ll enjoy a canal tour, a visit to the Ann Frank House and some other interesting sites in the area. We then return to the airport in Amsterdam to catch our flight to Tel Aviv, Israel, arriving after midnight on March 9.  Following arrival formalities, we will be met by our luxury coach driver, who will take us on to Tel Aviv, where we will stay for two nights at the lovely Metropolitan Hotel, just a block from the Mediterranean Sea.  A nice dinner is included at the hotel on the evening of March 9.  D

Day 4: Sunday, March 10                        Caesarea, Mount Carmel, Haifa, Megiddo

Driving up the coast, we will visit the ruins of ancient Caesarea, the magnificent seaport and capital city built by Herod the Great.  Next we will visit Mount Carmel, the traditional site of Elijah’s confrontation with the priests of Baal.  On we go to Haifa, Israel’s third largest city and major seaport, stopping at Kaiser’s Watch, where two apostles dedicated the Holy Land.  Our final stop will be Megiddo in the beautiful Jezreel Valley.  We continue to Tiberias where we check in to the Leonardo Plaza Hotel (or similar) near the shores of the Sea of Galilee for three nights.  We also visit Nof Ginosar where we will view an ancient boat from the time of Christ that has been reclaimed from the sea.  B, D                            

Day 5: Monday, March 11                 Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Mount Tabor, Nazareth

It is easy to see why Jesus loved Galilee as we visit places where He walked, taught, and performed many miracles. This morning we will boat across the Sea of Galilee to visit the ruins of Capernaum, the town Jesus called His own city, where He spent almost two years of His three-year ministry. At the Mount of Beatitudes we will take time to reflect on Jesus’ great Sermon on the Mount.  Next we will ascend Mount Tabor, the traditional site of the Transfiguration.  We then journey to Nazareth, the bustling city which was once the little town where Jesus spent His youth. At Nazareth we visit a first-century village showing life at the time of Christ.              We stay again in Tiberius tonight. B, D                                                                                            

Day 6: Tuesday, March 12          Dan, Jordan Headwaters, Magdala, Mt. Arbel

This morning we drive up to the headwaters of the Jordan River: Dan, ancient Israel’s northern-most city. On our way, we’ll make an interesting stop at Caesarea Philippi to review important events that transpired here. We then make our way to Magdala, the city of Mary the Magdalene to visit interesting ruins and the chapel by the sea. This afternoon, we’ll ascend up Mt. Arbel to enjoy the views of the Sea of Galilee but more importantly to be in the place where Jesus often went to ponder and pray to prepare himself for what was ahead. We ponder what it means for our lives. We stay in Tiberius again tonight. B, D.

Day 7: Wednesday, March 13       Baptism of Jesus, Mount Tabor, Beit Shean, Jericho

This morning we drive to the Jordan River and ponder about the baptism of Jesus. We then travel to Jericho, the ancient city conquered by Joshua. We’ll have a chance to ascend to the upper part of Mount Tabor, also known as the the Mount of Transfiguration.  We will also learn the significance of Beit Shean which is worth a visit. We will stay at the lovely Oaisis Hotel in Jericho tonight. Those interested in getting some great Olive Wood souvenirs will have that chance this evening.  B, D

Day 8: Thursday, March 14            Qumran, Masada & the Dead Sea

This morning we travel through the Judean Wilderness to the Dead Sea to Qumran.  At Qumran we see the remains of the village where the Essenes lived, who wrote and hid the Dead Sea Scrolls in caves.  We travel on to the spectacular fortress of Masada, where we will ascend by gondola to see the ruins of the palace/fortress built by Herod.  We will next stop at Ein Gedi for a dip in the Dead Sea. Ascending the east side of the Mount of Olives, we visit Bethany, home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus and where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. We then continue into Jerusalem where we will check into the Olive Tree Hotel where we will stay for the last five nights in Israel (at the Olive Tree Hotel). B, D.                                         

Day 9: Friday, March 15       Shepherd’s Field, Bethlehem, Upper Room, Palace of Caiaphas, Via Dolorosa

We start our day with a visit to the Shepherd’s field where will be reminded of the message of the angels (by word and song) before continuing on to Bethlehem to visit the traditional birthplace. Then into Jerusalem to visit the places that were critical in the final days of the Savior’s life. The most consequential events in history happened in the places we are visiting today and tomorrow. First, we’ll visit the Church of All Nations on the Mount of Olives. We will see the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a crippled man. We then walk through the Old City to visit the Upper Room where Jesus initiated the sacrament. We will see the Palace of Caiaphas where Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin before we continue down the famous Via Dolorsa or the Stations of the Cross which takes us to the Antonia Fortress where Christ may have been tried by Pilate and finally to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which is the traditional site of the crucifixion, burial tomb and the resurrection. B, D                                                                                                                         

Day 10: Saturday, March 16    Jerusalem Center, Hyde Memorial, Gethsemane, Garden Tomb

Today is the Jewish Sabbath and a very spiritual day is in store. We begin our day at the Orson Hyde Memorial Garden which is a five acre park on the Mount of Olives (dedicated by President Kimball). We will then attend Sacrament Meeting at the BYU Jerusalem Center which is a treat. We will spend our time this afternoon at Gethsemane and the Garden Tomb as we reflect on the Savior’s atonement and its personal impact for each of us. It is a day we’ll never forget.  B, D                                                                                                            

Day 11: Sunday, March 17            Jerusalem, Temple Mount, Western Wall, Knesset

After driving by the Knesset, we will go to the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book (where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited) and the Model City of Jerusalem, which shows how the city looked at the time of the Savior.  We return to the Dung Gate to enter the Ophel Archaeological Gardens, where we know for certain that Jesus walked.  We’ll also observe the Jewish rituals at the Western Wall.  After a brief rest, we will go immediately to the Dome of the Temple Mount (Mount Moriah) where Abraham came to offer Isaac and where the Temple of Solomon and the second temple stood. It is also the place where Muslim tradition holds that Mohammed ascended into Paradise. It is a holy site for the three great world religions and a profound place to visit. We will be able to see the famous Dome of the Rock, El Aksa Mosque and the Golden Gates.

Day 12: Monday, March 18          City of David, Hezekiah’s Tunnel of Siloam, Joppa

Today, we finish seeing anything that we may have missed. Descending south we enter the City of David, where we visit Warren’s Shaft and Gihon Spring; here we will enter Hezekiah’s Tunnel dug by King Hezekiah’s workmen at the time the Northern Kingdom was taken captive by Assyria and Jerusalem was threatened by siege in the eighth century B.C.  We exit the tunnel near the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus restored a blind man’s sight. We make our way back to Tel Aviv this afternoon stopping at the old city of Joppa that, according to legend was settled by Japheth, Noah’s youngest son, and is known as one of the world’s oldest cities. We stay at the Mediterranean in Tel Aviv tonight.  B, D         

Day 13: Tuesday, March 19        Ben Gurion Airport, Cairo, Egypt

Today we bid farewell to Israel.  Those flying back home will depart Tel Aviv for the States.  Others will catch the flight to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, we’ll transfer to the hotel for a rest and a nice dinner. We stay at the very lovely Steigenberger Hotel near the Pyramids.   B, D

Day 14: Wednesday, March 20                   Giza, Memphis, Train

A great tour to the famous Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, Memphis (the capital of ancient Egypt) and Saqqara. A camel ride from the Giza Pyramids to the Sphinx is included.  Lunch provided in Sakkara. After a full day of touring, we will proceed to the airport for our short evening flight to Luxor.  We stay at the Stegenberger hotel in Luxor (same excellent hotel chain as in Cairo). An exceptional dinner is waiting for us.  B, D

Day 15: Thursday, March 21:            Luxor, Valley of the Kings, Kamak

After breakfast, our local guide will meet us with the coach and we will enjoy a full day of touring today as there is much to see here. We’ll start our day on the “West Bank” of the Nile visiting the Valley of the Kings which houses the tombs of the Pharaos. After a unique lunch, we’ll cross over to the East Bank and see the spectacular Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple (along with other interesting sites in the area). We then return to the airport for our short flight back to Cairo, staying at the Hyatt Hotel near the airport.   B, L, D.

 Day 16: Friday, March 22:    Cairo

There is much more to see in Cairo on our final day and a half.  We’ll see the world-famous Cairo Museum. We’ll also have a chance to visit the Old City of Cairo, the Citadel and Alabaster Mosque, and pass through the City of the Dead.  We will have a farewell dinner tonight. We have kept your hotel room for this evening because our flight is an overnight flight and we have to be at the airport around midnight. We will stay in our hotel to rest and repack until around 11:00 PM and they we’ll go to the Cairo airport.  B, D

Day 17, Saturday, March 23:    Flights Home

FLIGHTS HOME, arriving back in home cities on the same day. 

Registration Information:

To make a reservation, simply fill out the attached reservation form and send it to us with a deposit of $400 per person deposit.  This will cover your initial deposit and confirm your space on the tour. When we receive your deposit, we will mail you a receipt confirming that you are registered for the tour.  Final payment for the tour will be due three months before departure.  We require final payments in the form of a check.  If that is not possible, arrangements can be made to use a credit card.  Webb Tours accepts Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and Discover, but for international tours a surcharge of 2.5% will be added to the balance.

Cancellation Penalties

We understand that you may need to cancel your trip for whatever reason.  If it is 120 days or more before departure, all money will be refunded.  If airline tickets are purchased prior to that time (with your permission), they become the property of the traveler and are not refundable.  All other funds will be returned if cancellation occurs outside of 120 days.  If it is within 120 days, we will charge you only what Webb Tours cannot recover.  In some cases, we can recover all of it.  In others, we cannot.  Cruise lines, airlines, hotels and other service providers require funds in advance and have their own rules about what will be refunded once paid.  We must follow their guidelines.  For airlines, specifically, tickets are generally non refundable when purchased.  However, most airlines will allow the value of the canceled tickets to be reused for future travel, though a penalty may be assessed to reuse the tickets.  If you have to cancel, Webb Tours will work with other providers to obtain as much refund as possible for our travelers.  Our travelers know us to be very fair in this regard.

Cancellation Insurance: 

Cancellation insurance is also available should you be interested.  The insurance provider that we us is Travelex Insurance.  You can learn about them at www.travelexinsurance.com.  With this insurance, most of your money will be returned to you in case you have to cancel for covered reasons (illness or death of an immediate family member) at the last minute.  The price for the insurance varies based on the price of the trip and the age of the participant (at the time the insurance is purchased). 

If you are interested in the insurance, you can purchase it through Webb Tours at any time. The insurance goes into effect once purchased.  If you have any pre-existing conditions, it is best to purchase the insurance within 14 days of making your initial deposit as that will cover an illness that may result from a pre-existing condition. If you don’t have pre-existing conditions, you can purchase the insurance any time between now and the time you make your final payment.  Insurance cannot be purchased after your final payment is made.  Webb Tours is not the insurer and acts as agent for Travelex.  To activate your insurance, we need your premium and your birth date.  Insurance also includes the following items:

• Trip interruption up to 150% of the cost of the trip (if you have to leave in the middle of the trip)
• 100% of insured trip cost (up to $50,000)
• Trip delay: $2,000 (minimum delay of 5 hours)
• Missed Connection: $750 (with a minimum delay of 3 hours)
• Baggage & Personal Effects (for lost luggage): $1,000
• Baggage Delay: $200 (minimum of 12 hour delay)
• Emergency medical/dental expenses: $50,000 ($500 dental)
• Emergency Medical Evacuation: $500,000 (including $25,000 for escort expenses)
• Accidental death/dismemberment during travel: $25,000

Per person prices are based on the per person cost of your trip (left column), and your age (top row below) at the time that you purchase the insurance. Prices are as follows:

Mail deposit and enclosed reservation form to:

WEBB TOURS

2378 Evergreen Avenue

Salt Lake City, UT  84109

Tel. (801) 278-3101

or Toll Free 1-800-658-8519

Or call us and register over the phone.  We hope you can join us.