Experience the Holy Land of Israel and the historic crossroads of Istanbul, where East meets West, as expert guides bring biblical history, ancient empires, and sacred Christian heritage sites to life.
- Fully escorted Christian group tour — small groups all day in Israel & Istanbul
- Signature designed itinerary operated exclusively by us
- 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class hotel accommodations
- Special visit to Magdala — home of Mary Magdalene
- Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee
- One night in the Dead Sea resort area
- Dead Sea spa gift products courtesy of Enjoy Dead Sea Hotel
- Hagia Sophia — once the world’s greatest Christian cathedral
- Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque & Grand Bazaar
- Bosphorus cruise & Spice Market
- Three nights in Istanbul
- Full buffet breakfast daily & dinner daily in Israel
- Complimentary St. Peter’s Fish lunch by the Sea of Galilee
- Israel guides certified by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism
- Professional licensed guide for the Istanbul portion
- No added fees for credit card payment
- Transparent pricing — no hidden fees
- Small group & church group departures
- Israeli Ministry of Tourism certified guides
- No credit card surcharges
1-800-933-4421
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:30 PM PST
Itinerary
Departure on your way to Israel — The Land of the Bible.
When booking your land tour with us we can also assist with your flights. Or you can book your flights independently — we will coordinate your arrival and departure airport transfers, included in your tour at no additional cost.
With jet lag and fatigue a possible downside to long flights, we recommend arriving in Tel Aviv one day before your tour starts (Saturday arrival instead of Sunday). Rest, relax, and adjust to the new time zone so you start your tour fresh. The option includes transfers from Ben Gurion International Airport to your hotel, one night with breakfast and dinner at the Renaissance Tel Aviv (5-Star) or Grand Beach Tel Aviv Hotel (4-Star). Please let us know when booking.
Welcome to Israel. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport you will be met and assisted by our airport representative and transferred to Tel Aviv — Israel’s largest and most modern city, a short distance from ancient Jaffa. Check in to your hotel near the Mediterranean shore and close to Tel Aviv city center, shopping, and the famous beachfront promenade.
If time permits, visit the artistic neighborhood of Neve Tzedek.
Overnight Tel Aviv — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.
- Transfer from Ben Gurion International Airport to your Tel Aviv hotel
- Dinner at your hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
Visit Old Jaffa and St. Peter’s Church (Acts 10:9-16). Drive north to Caesarea Maritima (Acts 9:30, Acts 10:24-48), then Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-24).
Continue to Megiddo (Revelation 16:16) — the site of Armageddon — then through the Jezreel Valley to Nazareth (Luke 1:26, Matthew 2:23). View from Mount Precipice (Luke 4:29-30) and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation (Luke 1). If time permits drive to Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11), then arrive at the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias.
Overnight Sea of Galilee — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and attractions per day itinerary
- Dinner at your hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
Visit Magdala (Matthew 15:39), home of Mary Magdalene and the oldest excavated synagogue in the Galilee from the time of Jesus’ ministry. Board a wooden boat and sail the Sea of Galilee — where the Lord calmed the storm (Luke 8:22-25), walked on water (Mark 6:47-52), and appeared to his disciples after the resurrection (John 21).
Dock at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar and visit the Ancient Jesus Boat. Drive to the Golan Heights and visit Banias — ancient Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13-18).
Continue through the Hula Valley and visit Yardenit on the Jordan River, where believers may be immersed in the waters where John the Baptist baptized Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17).
Overnight Sea of Galilee — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and attractions per day itinerary
- Special St. Peter’s Fish lunch by the Sea of Galilee
- Dinner at your hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
Visit the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5–8) where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, and the Church of the Beatitudes built by Antonio Barluzzi in 1938. Visit Tabgha and the Church of the Multiplication with its 4th-century mosaic floor.
Continue to Capernaum (Matthew 4:13, Luke 7), Jesus’ home and center of his ministry, then to Beit She’an (Mark 5:20, 2 Samuel 21:12-14), through the Jordan Valley past Jericho, and arrive at the Dead Sea — the lowest point on earth. Enjoy optional spa treatments, float on the salt water, or swim in your hotel pool.
Overnight Dead Sea — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Dead Sea spa gift products — mineral mud pack & salt pack, courtesy of Enjoy Dead Sea Hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and attractions per day itinerary
- Dinner at your hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
Ascend by cable car to Masada — the 1,300-foot mountaintop fortress. Explore the first-century synagogue, King Herod’s Bathhouse, and sweeping views over the Dead Sea. Continue to Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 23), then Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.
Continue to Jerusalem and take in the panoramic view from Mount Scopus for prayer.
Overnight Jerusalem — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and attractions per day itinerary
- Dinner at your hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
From Mount of Olives — where the Lord ascended into heaven (Acts 1) — look across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate (Ezekiel 43). Visit Dominus Flevit (Luke 19:41-44) and descend to the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32, John 18:1) where 2,000-year-old olive trees still stand.
Visit the Western Wall and the Western Wall Tunnels, revealing the Temple Mount. Visit St. Anne’s Church and the Pool of Bethesda (John 5).
Walk the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa from Station 2 at the Church of the Flagellation and Church of the Condemnation, to Station 14 inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Matthew 27, Matthew 27:57, Matthew 28:1-10).
Afternoon in the bazaars. Evening prayer at the Western Wall, then return for Shabbat Dinner.
Overnight Jerusalem — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and attractions per day itinerary
- Shabbat Dinner at your hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
Begin at Mount Zion, visiting the Upper Room (Luke 22), King David’s Tomb, and the Jewish Quarter.
Drive to Ein Karem (Luke 1:57-80) and visit the Church of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56). Continue to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-5), the Church of the Nativity, and the Shepherd’s Field (Luke 2:8-20). Afternoon visit to The Garden Tomb (1 Corinthians 15, Luke 24:6-7) with time for prayer.
Farewell Dinner. Overnight Jerusalem — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and attractions per day itinerary
- Farewell Dinner at your hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
After breakfast, check out by 12 noon and store your luggage with the hotel to enjoy a free morning in Jerusalem before your departure flight to Istanbul.
4-Star guests (Grand Court Jerusalem) — walking distance to the Old City.
5-Star guests (Leonardo Plaza Jerusalem) — walking distance to the Old City and West Jerusalem center.
Use your free morning to revisit holy sites, explore the bazaars, or visit:
- Yad Vashem — Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust
- Davidson Center — Archaeological park at the foot of the Temple Mount
- Ben Yehuda Street — pedestrian mall with shops, restaurants, and coffee shops
- Mahane Yehuda Market — Jerusalem’s famous outdoor food market
- Israel Museum — world-class archaeology and art, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls display and the scale model of Second Temple Jerusalem
- Shrine of the Book — housing the Great Isaiah Scroll and other Dead Sea Scrolls
Transfer from your hotel lobby to Ben Gurion International Airport 4 hours prior to your flight departure to Istanbul.
International flights require check-in at least 3 hours prior to departure. No extra transfer charges on arrival or departure, any time, any day in Israel.
Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) you will be welcomed by our representative, briefed on your itinerary, and escorted to your hotel for a welcome briefing about your journey in Istanbul.
Overnight Istanbul — Full Buffet Breakfast included.
- Breakfast at your hotel in Jerusalem
- Transfer from Jerusalem hotel to Ben Gurion International Airport
- Transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) to your Istanbul hotel
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations in Istanbul
After breakfast, begin a full-day guided tour of Istanbul’s most iconic sites. Start at Topkapi Palace, the seat of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, with its treasures and sweeping terraces overlooking the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn.
Visit the Blue Mosque, recognizable by its six minarets and decorated inside with 21,043 Iznik tiles in a stunning dominant blue.
Continue to Hagia Sophia — one of the greatest architectural achievements in human history and for nearly a thousand years the world’s largest Christian cathedral. Built by the Emperor Justinian and consecrated in AD 537, Hagia Sophia served as the seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate and a place of Christian worship for 916 years before being converted to a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople in 1453. Its soaring dome, golden mosaics, and breathtaking interior make it an essential stop for any Christian visitor to Istanbul.
Complete your day with the Grand Bazaar — one of the world’s oldest and largest covered markets, with over 4,000 shops under one roof.
Overnight Istanbul — Full Buffet Breakfast included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and attractions per day itinerary
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
After breakfast, visit the Spice Market — Istanbul’s famous aromatic covered market dating to 1660, filled with spices, teas, Turkish delight, and local treasures.
Then take a boat cruise along the Bosphorus — the strait that divides Europe from Asia. From the water you’ll see Ottoman palaces, historic fortresses, and the iconic bridges connecting two continents, all in one of the world’s most magnificent urban waterways.
Overnight Istanbul — Full Buffet Breakfast included.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Professional certified licensed Tour Guide
- Entrance fees and Bosphorus cruise per day itinerary
- Your choice of 5-Star Deluxe or 4-Star First Class accommodations
After breakfast, check out by 12 noon and store your luggage with the hotel. Enjoy a free morning in Istanbul — the only city in the world that straddles two continents — before your departure flight home.
Use your final hours to explore more of Istanbul’s 3,000 years of history at your own pace: wander the cobblestone streets of Sultanahmet, revisit the Grand Bazaar, stroll along the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn, or simply enjoy a final Turkish breakfast at a waterfront café.
Transfer from your hotel to Istanbul Airport (IST) 4 hours prior to your departure flight home.
International flights require check-in at least 3 hours prior to departure. No extra transfer charges any time, any day.
- Breakfast at your hotel
- Transfer from Istanbul hotel to Istanbul Airport (IST)
Arrive home and begin planning your next memorable journey to the Holy Land.
- If your flight departs in the morning, you will arrive back in the United States the same day as your departure from Istanbul.
- If your flight departs at night, you will arrive back in the United States the following day of your departure.
Please note: The itinerary may be subject to changes or adjustments to prioritize the safety, security, and comfort of our travelers.
This 13-day Israel & Istanbul itinerary can be extended and tailor-made for church groups. Contact our team →
Interested in the Cappadocia extension? Contact us when booking and we will arrange the details.
Prices are for land packages, inclusive of all taxes, per person based on double occupancy. Children’s rates apply ages 2–12 sharing a room with adults. Flights not included. No credit card surcharges.
★★★★★ 5-Star Deluxe Hotels
★★★★ 4-Star First Class Hotels
Prices are per person in USD, based on double occupancy, inclusive of all taxes (land package only). International flights not included. All 2026 departures.
- Meet & assistance on arrival and departure at Ben Gurion International Airport (Israel) and Istanbul Airport / IST (Turkey)
- Private transfers on arrival and departure in both Israel and Istanbul
- Porterage at airports and hotels
- 8 full days of guided sightseeing — six full days in Israel, two full days in Istanbul
- Professional certified English-speaking Tour Guides in Israel (Israeli Ministry of Tourism certified) and Istanbul
- Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach in Israel; guided touring in Istanbul
- All entrance fees as per the Holy Land Tour and Istanbul itinerary
- Ten nights hotel accommodation at the listed hotels or similar category
- Meals in Israel: Full buffet breakfast and dinner daily, plus complimentary St. Peter’s Fish lunch by the Sea of Galilee
Meals in Istanbul: Full buffet breakfast daily (dinners not included in Istanbul) - No added fees for credit card payment
- Tips for guides, drivers, hotel and restaurant staff (see recommended amounts below)
- Personal extras and expenses not in the itinerary
- Lunches (except St. Peter’s Fish lunch, Day 4)
- Dinners in Istanbul
- International flights (we can assist — ask us when booking)
Your Tour Guides and Drivers work very hard to make your Holy Land experience the trip of a lifetime. We encourage you to recognize their dedication:
For 8 full touring days: approximately $56 per person for the guide and $40 per person for the driver. Istanbul guides are tipped separately.
Prefer to call? 1-800-933-4421 • Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:30 PM PST
Israel has one of the most sophisticated security infrastructures in the world, and millions of Christian pilgrims visit safely every year. Istanbul is Turkey’s most visited city and a major international tourism destination welcoming tens of millions of visitors annually. Our tours are carefully planned to visit biblical and tourist sites well away from any restricted areas. We recommend checking the U.S. State Department travel advisory for current information on both countries.
Istanbul (ancient Constantinople) was the capital of the Christian Byzantine Empire for over a thousand years — from its founding by Emperor Constantine in AD 330 until the Ottoman conquest in 1453. The Hagia Sophia was the world’s greatest Christian cathedral for 916 years and the seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. The city was built specifically as a Christian capital, its streets and monuments shaped by Christian emperors from Constantine to Justinian.
For Christian travelers, Istanbul represents the eastern chapter of church history — where the faith grew, the great councils of the church were held (including the First Council of Nicaea in AD 325, just across the Bosphorus in modern-day Iznik), and where Christianity was the dominant religion for nearly a millennium before the Ottoman conquest.
The land package includes: airport transfers in both Israel and Istanbul, 10 nights accommodation, full buffet breakfast and dinner daily in Israel, buffet breakfast daily in Istanbul, complimentary St. Peter’s Fish lunch, all entrance fees, certified guides in both countries, and deluxe motorcoach in Israel. No credit card surcharges.
Not included: flights, lunches (except St. Peter’s Fish), dinners in Istanbul, tips, and personal expenses.
Israel: U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for tourist visits up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your departure date from Israel.
Turkey: U.S. citizens are required to obtain an e-Visa before traveling to Turkey. The e-Visa is obtained online at evisa.gov.tr and costs approximately $50 USD for a single-entry visa. Canadian citizens should check current requirements as these can change. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date into Turkey. We recommend applying for your e-Visa at least 2 weeks before departure.
All flights arrive and depart from Istanbul Airport (IST), also known as Istanbul Grand Airport — the main international airport that opened in 2018 and fully replaced the former Atatürk Airport in 2019. It is one of the largest airports in the world, located approximately 35 kilometers northwest of the city center. Our airport representative will meet you at arrivals and transfer you to your hotel. Please note: do not book flights to Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side of Istanbul, as it is located much further from the tour hotels.
Most days involve 2 or more miles of walking on uneven surfaces, cobblestone streets, steps, and inclines — in both Israel and Istanbul. Istanbul’s historic sites (Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar) all involve substantial walking on uneven surfaces. Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes are essential throughout the entire tour.
Many of our travelers are seniors and complete the tour successfully with proper footwear and pacing. If you have difficulty walking unaided please contact us before booking. A private tour option is also available.
Register using the form below or call 1-800-933-4421 Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM PST. A non-refundable deposit of $200 per person confirms your reservation subject to availability. No added fees for credit card payment.
5-Star Deluxe: Herods Tel Aviv • Leonardo Plaza Tiberias • Enjoy Dead Sea (Deluxe) • Leonardo Plaza Jerusalem • Sura Hagia Sophia Hotel & Spa, Istanbul
4-Star First Class: Grand Beach Tel Aviv • Leonardo Club Tiberias • Enjoy Dead Sea (Standard) • Grand Court Jerusalem • Levni Hotel & Spa, Istanbul
Both Jerusalem hotels are within walking distance of the Old City. In Tiberias your hotel sits on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The Istanbul 5-Star hotel is the Sura Hagia Sophia, situated in the historic Sultanahmet district steps from Hagia Sophia itself.
Absolutely. We specialize in church group travel for congregations of all sizes. Group benefits include dedicated pricing, exclusive worship spaces in Israel, custom departure dates, and pastoral planning resources. Visit our Church Group Organizers page or contact us using the form below. We recommend booking at least 6–12 months in advance.
Have a question? Contact our team below or call 1-800-933-4421 Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–5:30 PM PST.
Travel Together — Israel & Istanbul
Whether traveling as an individual, couple, family, or organizing a church group, we make your 13-day Israel & Istanbul journey seamless and spiritually meaningful. Fill in the form and a Holy Land Travel Professional will contact you personally.
- Dedicated group pricing for 10+ travelers
- Exclusive worship spaces at sacred sites in Israel
- Custom departure dates for your congregation
- Pastor & leader planning resources
- Private tour option available
See our Church Group Organizers page for planning tools and group discounts.
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” — Mark 16:15
Register for a Christian Holy Land Tour2026 departures available • Starting from $3,445 per person • No hidden fees • No credit card surcharges