DATE
Nov 1st – Nov 11th, 2024
TRIP LENGTH
11 Days
COST
$5350 USD
*(Airfare Credit of $1,000 Included)
Based on Double Occupancy. Private rooms are an additional $1049 USD.
“YOUR WORD IS A LAMP TO MY FEET AND A LIGHT TO MY PATH.”
Psalm 119:105
Crossroads Church is inviting you on the journey to the Land of the Bible. Experience the Scriptures on location, the rich cultures of both the Jews and Arabs, and hike among the historical sites where Jesus performed the miracles that shook the world and continue to do so today.
The cost includes hotel accommodations, *roundtrip flights, local licensed Israeli guide, breakfasts, dinners, National Park passes, access to all sites and activities mentioned, tips and gratuities and deluxe private bus for the whole tour! We guarantee you’ll be transformed, and how you read the Bible will never be the same. Join us on this adventure of a lifetime!
*Please note that price above includes flight costs (up to $1,000). Should fuel costs rise dramatically during spring/summer of 2024, please anticipate an increased trip fee. Cost of trip also includes basic travel insurance. If you wish to purchase full coverage/cancellation insurance, email here.
GO FISHING IN THE SEA OF GALILEE.
PLAY PICKLEBALL IN JERUSALEM.
WALK THE STREETS WHERE MUCH OF THE BOOK OF ACTS TOOK PLACE.
REFLECT WHERE JESUS PRAYED AND AGONIZED ON THE NIGHT OF HIS ARREST IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE.
EXPLORE ALL THAT ISRAEL HAS TO OFFER – FROM MODERN CITIES, TO SANDY BEACHES AND BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS, TO ANCIENT RUINS THAT MAKE YOUR BIBLE COME ALIVE.
Ben & Stacie Wynveen
Ben and Stacie Wynveen invite you on an immersive Holy Land tour with Uncharted Adventures.
Ben and Stacie have been attending Crossroads for nearly seven years and have three children, age five through fifteen. They are passionate about traveling as a family to visually enforce the history taught in school in addition to experiencing cultures that enhance their appreciation for Gods handiwork.
God began stirring in their heart as they would travel over the years – their passion grew into a desire to expand from their immediate family, to their family in Christ. They knew there would be others eager to embrace a life-changing opportunity that draws them into the narrative of the Bible and deepens their personal story of God.
The Wynveen’s welcome anyone who seeks to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible through a personal experience of the local culture while building relationships with others in the church.
November 1st | Depart for Israel
November 2nd | Welcome To Israel
- Arrive at Tel Aviv Airport
Welcome Dinner at Hotel – Timora Metropolitan
November 3rd | Mediterranean to Galilee
- Caesarea– The book of Acts comes alive as you tour the Roman headquarters in Israel during the 1st century. Peter, Philip, and Paul spread the Word of God here.
- Mt. Carmel– The site of the Old Testament showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18.
- Megiddo– One of the Chariot Cities of King Solomon from 1 Kings 9. Here you can survey Jezreel Valley, where the battle of Armageddon will occur, as seen in Revelation 16.
- Nazareth Village– In the outskirts of Old Nazareth visit an authentic first-century farm and archaeologically accurate re-creation of the hometown of Jesus.
Galilee – Kinar
November 4th | Sea of Galilee
- Sunrise Hike Up Mt. Arbel (Optional)– The area where much of Jesus’s earthly ministry took place. Hike up this mountain for a stunning view of the Sea of Galilee. Hike to a fortress and cave village.
- Capernaum– Known as the “Home of Jesus” after our Savior left Nazareth. This site is rich with stories from the gospels as Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law and many others. Here He defeated the demons in the synagogue who cowered in His presence.
- Mt. of Beattitudes– This is most likely where Jesus spoke to the massive crowd just north of the Sea of Galilee in His famous sermon.
- Magdala– A first century village that is a unique crossroads of Jewish and Christian history on the shores of Galilee, hometown of Mary Magdalene.
- Fishing– On the Sea of Galilee.
- Sunset Boat Ride– On the Sea of Galilee with local delicacies.
Galilee – Kinar
November 5th | Upper Galilee
- Tel Dan Nature Reserve– Hike in a nature reserve in northern Israel that is the headwaters of the Jordan and Dan rivers. An impressive archeological site with remains of ancient Canaanite and Israelite cities. This is where Israel fell into idolatry under King Jeroboam.
- Caesarea Philippi– This important site in Jesus’ ministry is where He took the disciples to give them their marching orders with “Upon this Rock, I will build My Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”
- Golan Heights– Venture deep into the Golan Heights.
- Mt. Bental– Travel further into the Golan Heights and a place where Israel has battled threatening nations for centuries. Here you can look into Syria.
- Bonfire– On the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Galilee – Kinar
November 6th | Mt. of Olives & Pickleball
- Mt. of Olives– The highest of the three ridges surrounding Jerusalem, from here Jesus wept over the city. Jesus was standing on this mountain when He ascended to Heaven this is where He will return in His second coming, splitting the mountain in half.
- Palm Sunday Walk– We’ll stroll down the Palm Sunday route that Jesus rode a colt on as the massive crowds cried out “Hosanna!”
- Garden of Gethsemane– The site where Jesus prayed and agonized before His arrest. Private garden reserved for the group for peaceful reflection time.
- Lion’s Gate– The traditional site of the martyrdom of St. Stephen – one of the gates in Jerusalem’s Old City walls.
- St. Anne’s Church– Near the Lions gate, the church is one of the few that remained standing after the conquest of Jerusalem by Saladin. Here we will also visit the Pools of Bethesda, the location where Jesus healed the paralyzed man in John 5.
- Free Time
- Optional Pickleball/Mountain Biking– Pickleball and mountain biking opportunities will be available for those who want to partake.
Jerusalem – Gloria Hotel
November 7th | Qumran & Dead Sea
- Half Day Break– Take a break with some free time to recharge for the rest of our trip.
- Hike Masada– Hike the fortress where the Israelites made their last stand against Rome after the Fall of Jerusalem. They committed mass suicide there to avoid becoming prisoners of Rome. This is also where David went while on the run from King Saul.
- Qumran– The location where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and confirmed the legitimacy of the Scriptures we read today.
- Ein Gedi Oasis– Ruth and Naomi walked up the rugged mountain to Bethlehem, where Boaz would marry the Moabite, who became a follower of the God of Israel. This site has a spectacular waterfall and caves where David hid from King Saul, as recorded in 1 Samuel 23.
- Float The Dead Sea– The lowest elevation and the lowest body of water on the surface of Earth is the Dead Sea. It has 10 times the amount of salt that the oceans do.
Jerusalem – Gloria Hotel
November 8th | Jericho & Bethlehem
- Jericho– The lowest city on earth, Jericho was captured by Joshua and the Israelites after they followed God’s commands to march around the city for 7 days. The massive Jericho walls fell down, here we can see the city’s remains and the modern city built on top of them.
- Elah Valley– The location where the Israelites were encamped when David defeated Goliath.
- Bethlehem– Church of the Nativity is the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Commissioned by Constantine, the church is built over the ruins of the site believed to be where Jesus was born.
Jerusalem – Gloria Hotel
November 9th | Jerusalem
- Temple Mount– Explore the site near the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque. This has been instilled as a place of conflict but, most notably, the very place where the Glory of God resided at the first and second temple.
- City of David– David left his city of Hebron, and went up to Jerusalem in order to unite Israel around one capital city this is where he settled.
- Hezekiah’s Tunnel– Walk through the tunnel which the king had dug to keep the water source of the Gihon Spring inside Jerusalem and away from the enemies of Israel.
- Southern Steps– Sit on the Southern Steps where Jesus taught.
- Western Wall– The last remaining outer support wall of the ancient Jewish temple, and an incredibly important site of modern Israeli history.
- Upper Room– According to Scripture, the Upper Room is where the Last Supper took place and where Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. It is where the disciples gathered in fear after the death of Jesus. Jesus appeared in this room on two occasions after the Resurrection.
Jerusalem – Gloria Hotel
November 10th | Holocaust Museum & Garden Tomb
- Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum– Is Israel’s largest Holocaust memorial. It’s nine chilling galleries of interactive historical displays present the Holocaust.
- Israeli Market– Spend some free time strolling through an Israeli market.
- Garden Tomb– Believed by many to be the authentic burial site of Jesus. Private garden reserved for communion
- Farewell Dinner
Jerusalem – Gloria Hotel
November 11th | Depart Tel Aviv for the USA
Flights
Below are some arrival and departure windows we recommend, should you choose to book your own flights. We also recommend you do your best to book your flights within this window. If you choose to book your flights on other days or times, you may encounter a longer wait time at the airport and/or be responsible for paying the additional transportation costs of private transportation to/from the airport. (i.e. a private car service will cost $150-$200 USD in most cases.) If your arrival and departure dates are different from what is below you will also be responsible for paying for additional hotel nights.
ARRIVALS | Tel Aviv , Israel (TLV)
November 2nd, 2024 | TIME TBD
DEPARTURES | Tel Aviv , Israel (TLV)
November 11th, 2024 | TIME TBD
NOTE: Many flights back to the US are “red eye” flights that depart around midnight.
We are confident that you can book your own flights, but should you desire assistance, we recommend contacting Butler Travel in
Butler Travel |Nathanael Martin | 503-879-5005 | nathan@butlertravel.com
NOTE: Butler Travel is based in Oregon (Pacific Time Zone)
*Airfare credit of $1,000 included in trip cost
Solo Travelers
We welcome solo travelers on all our trips! However, the advertised trip cost reflects a cost per person that assumes the person will share a room with another traveler (“double occupancy.”) We will do our best to pair you with another solo traveler (of the same gender) that also desires a roommate. It has worked out well for many people on our trips. If, however, we are unable to assign a roommate, you should anticipate that 1-2 months before trip departure, you will receive an additional invoice of $1049 USD from Uncharted Adventures to cover to costs of having a private room (“single supplement”) at all hotels during the trip.
Trip Cancellations
In the event that you choose to cancel you reservation, or it is cancelled due to reasons outside the control of Uncharted Adventures (including, but not limited to, political turmoil, natural disasters, acts of God, pandemic or epidemics), you will be responsible for any non-refundable expenses incurred by you or on your behalf (including, but not limited to, airfare, airline cancellation fees, deposits, lodging etc.) Uncharted Adventures will strive to refund everything possible if the expedition is cancelled for reasons outside of our control. We strongly recommend cancellation trip insurance to help protect you in the unfortunate event you would need to cancel your trip.
Cancellation Fees and Refunds
If you choose to cancel your reservation, cancellation fees will be determined according to the following schedule:
- 181 days or more prior to departure date, the cancellation fee is the trip deposit amount $200 USD, plus any other costs or administrative fees incurred from transportation agency or hotel.
- 91-180 days prior to departure date, the cancellation fee is 50 percent of trip cost plus any air costs or administrative fees incurred from transportation agency or hotel.
- 90 days and less prior to departure date, the entire price of the trip becomes nonrefundable.
Additionally, all cancellations received after Uncharted Adventures has booked rooms and/or local travel will incur a $175 USD administrative fee per person. Any refunds will be processed in accordance with the hotel/resort, ground operators, etc. refund policies.
Passport Requirements
Its is very important that your passport does not expire six months before our return date. You will be denied entry into Israel if your passport expires earlier than this date.
If your passport expiration date looks good, please email a copy to info@unchartedadventures.co.
- Best: Color scan of your passport in .jpg, .png or .pdf format
- Good Enough: Up-close photo in .jpg or .png format (make sure there is no glare and all info is readable.)
- Make sure passport is SIGNED and that signature page is included in your scan or photo.
If your passport expires 6 months before we return from our trip, you will need to apply immediately for a passport renewal. Please click here for directions on how to renew your passport. NOTE: Routine renewal processing can take 12 weeks. Expedited (more expensive) is more like a 6 week turnaround.
If you do not have a valid passport, click here to apply for one.
Be aware, if you are traveling with us to Israel, customs may take longer if your passport contains stamps from Muslim-majority countries.
Weather
The average daily high temperature during the month of March is around 65-70 degrees (F) with evening temps around 50 (F). March is typically a very mild season in Israel and the weather is usually very pleasant, but the chance of rain does exist. Temperatures may differ in the south (desert) and Galilee (north) regions.
Clothing
- shirts, blouses, socks, underwear (pack limited supply – use wash-and-wear)
- shorts, slacks, jeans, skirts (pack limited supply)
- personal modesty kit (for entering holy places and conservative communities)
- heavy sweater or jacket
- swimsuit
- walking shoes (plenty of walking! Good shoes are very important!)
- flip-flops
- sunglasses
- hat
Toiletries/Medications
- shampoo
- toothbrush and paste
- deodorant
- personal soap
- comb and hairbrush
- shaving equipment
- eyedrops, contact lens solutions and cleaners
- other personal hygiene products
- band-aids
- diarrhea medicine (just in case!)
- cold remedy or decongestant tablets
- sleeping pills
- motion sickness pills
- aspirin
- sunscreen
- package of towelettes
- earplugs
Miscellaneous
- water bottle
- travel alarm
- plastic bags
- pen, notebook, small Bible
- adapter or converter
- tiny flashlight
- tissues
- small umbrella
- snacks
Carry-On Items
- airline tickets
- passport
- one-day change of clothes
- essential toiletries
- neck pillow and sleeping mask
- good book
Is Israel safe?
Israel is regarded as one of the safest countries in the world. Annually, the city of Chicago has more violent crimes than the entire country of Israel.
The safety of our travelers is of the highest priority to Uncharted Adventures and our partners. If for any reason safety is threatened by any factors the owners/operators reserve the right to make whatever changes deemed necessary for the safety of the team. This could include changing lodging or avoiding areas at short notice.
COVID-19 Policy
To read the latest entry procedures required for tourists arriving and departing Israel, please click here.
Trip Cancellation
In the event that I choose to cancel my reservation, or it is cancelled due to reasons outside the control of Uncharted Adventures (including, but not limited to, political turmoil, natural disasters, acts of God, pandemic or epidemics), I will be responsible for any non-refundable expenses incurred for me or on my behalf (including, but not limited to, airfare, airline cancellation fees, deposits, lodging etc.) Uncharted Adventures will strive to refund everything possible if the expedition is cancelled for reasons outside of our control.
Cancellation Fees and Refunds
If you choose to cancel your reservation, cancellation fees will be determined according to the following schedule:
- 181 days or more prior to departure date, the cancellation fee is the deposit amount of $200 USD, plus any air costs or administrative fees incurred from transportation agency or hotel.
- 91-180 days prior to departure date, the cancellation fee is 50 percent of trip cost plus any air costs or administrative fees incurred from transportation agency or hotel.
- 90 days and less prior to departure date, the entire price of the trip becomes nonrefundable.
Additionally, all cancellations received after Uncharted Adventures has booked rooms and/or local travel will incur a $175 USD administrative fee per person. Any refunds will be processed in accordance with the hotel/resort, ground operators, etc. refund policies.
Passport Requirements
All participants must have a valid passport that will expire no sooner than six months past their scheduled date of return. You must always carry your passport on your person. Be aware, if you are traveling with us to Israel customs may take longer if your passport contains stamps from Muslim majority countries.
Ready to Experience The Holy Land?
This is an invite-only trip. If you’ve been invited, read below on how to sign-up.
Payment Information
Option 1: Pay Full Amount
Pay 100% now.
Option 2: Pay 50/50
Pay 50% now. The balance will be billed 90 days before trip departure.
Option 3: Payment Plans
Pay $200 USD deposit per person at sign-up. This will secure your spot on the trip. The remaining balance will be split into two equal payments due 7 months and 3 months prior to departure.
Pricing Information
*Price per person based on double occupancy (two people in a hotel room) with final payment by check. Solo travelers will have the option to pick “Single Occupancy, Assign Roommate” or “Single Occupancy, Private Room.” We will do our best to assign a roommate to solo travelers if that is their preference. In the event we are unable to assign someone a roommate, an additional charge of $1049 USD per person will be assessed approximately two months before departure.
