Best of Israel | 2025 Departures
Join us for the Best of Israel Holy Land Tour in 2025 starting at $3,598* from New York on the dates below. You will see Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Tel Megiddo, Caesarea, Beit Shean, Jericho, Qumran, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and much more! ...Read More
Starting from $3,598 Taxes & Fees Apply
What’s Included
- All Inclusive Pricing
- Breakfast and Dinner Daily
- Deluxe A/C Motor Coaches
- Entrance and Program Fees
- First Class Hotels
- Fuel Surcharges and Gov't Taxes
- Guided Tours
- Hotel Gratuities
- International Airfare from NY
- Live Audio Headsets
- Overseas Airport Transfers
- Study Guide
- One Fish Lunch in Galilee
- Administrative Fee
^ Additional Baggage & Optional fees may apply. † If air purchased through NTS.
Join us for the Best of Israel Holy Land Tour in 2025 starting at $3,598* from New York on the dates below. You will see Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Tel Megiddo, Caesarea, Beit Shean, Jericho, Qumran, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, and much more!
Optional Experiences
Special experiences available during touring
Sound & Light Show
Travel to the Old City at night as the breathtaking story of Jerusalem unfolds on the walls of the Old City in an open-air theatre. Spanning creation to today, you’ll experience an innovative show featuring an original soundtrack, lights, animation, and video to leave you with a fantastic memory under the stars.
Masada & Dead Sea Tour
Discover the mysteries of Masada, Herod’s mountaintop fortress and the last stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. Depart your hotel in the morning and journey with your NTS Tours Holy Land Guide to experience the history and beautiful views from this UNESCO World Heritage site. Then, visit the Dead Sea after enjoying an included lunch as you end your day floating in the salty, mineral-laden waters.
Dinner with a Christian Family in Bethlehem
Take part in a special evening and enjoy a dinner prepared by a Christian family. You’ll travel to Bethlehem, where a local family will host you at their table and invite you into their lives. Discover the joy, trials, and everyday life over scrumptious food and riveting conversation with 5 – 10 of your fellow travelers.
Optionals will incur an additional charge, are available on select dates and conditions permitting, may require a minimum number of guests to operate, and have limited availability. Optionals are offered to the group’s guests at the discretion of the tour host. Contact NTS for more details.
New Inclusion!
One-year individual membership to the Museum of the Bible! Learn More
Daily Itinerary
Day 1 Day 1 - USA to the Holy Land
Day 2 Day 2 - Welcome to the Holy Land
Day 3 Day 3 - The Galilee
Day 4 Day 4 - Cana, Nazareth, Tel Megiddo & Caesarea
Day 5 Day 5 - Beit Shean, Jericho, & Qumran
Day 6 Day 6 - Bethlehem & Jerusalem
Day 7 Day 7 - Jerusalem & the City of David
Day 8 Day 8 - Leisure Day (Masada/Dead Sea Option)
Day 9 Day 9 - Jerusalem & the Old City
Day 10 Day 10 - Return to the USA or Enjoy an Extension.
Day 1 - Day 1 - USA to the Holy Land
Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on an overnight flight.
Day 2 - Day 2 - Welcome to the Holy Land
You will be welcomed at the Tel Aviv airport by our representative and transferred to your hotel to enjoy dinner before retiring for the night.
Day 3 - Day 3 - The Galilee
Worship as you sail across the Sea of Galilee. Visit Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry in the Galilee, and visit the synagogue built on the site where Jesus taught (Matthew 4:13, 23). On the Mount of Beatitudes, contemplate the “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5-7). Explore the Church of the Loaves and Fish at Tabgha, the traditional site of the feeding of the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17). See the Chapel of the Primacy, where Peter professed his devotion three times to the risen Christ (John 21). In Magdala, once home to Mary Magdalene, visit a recently discovered first-century synagogue. Recall Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist at the Jordan River.
Day 4 - Day 4 - Cana, Nazareth, Tel Megiddo & Caesarea
Visit the Franciscan Wedding Chapel in Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle, before continuing on to Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood home (Matthew 2:23). Look out over Tel Megiddo (Armageddon) to view one of the most important archaeological sites in Israel. Today’s last stop is Caesarea, a center of the early Christians, where an angel visited Cornelius, the first Gentile believer (Acts 10), and where Paul was imprisoned for two years before appealing to Caesar.
Day 5 - Day 5 - Beit Shean, Jericho, & Qumran
Start the day in Beit Shean, a city continuously inhabited for over 5,000 years. The uncovered ruins date back to the Greek/Roman city that was part of the Decapolis of Jesus’ day. See colonnaded streets with marble sidewalks, Roman public baths, and a theater. As you stop in Jericho to view the ruins of the city conquered by Joshua (Joshua 6:1, 2, 20), in the distance, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). Continue to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.
Day 6 - Day 6 - Bethlehem & Jerusalem
In Bethlehem, visit the cave revered as Jesus’ birthplace and see the Church of the Nativity constructed over the site (Matthew 1:18-25). Gaze out over Shepherds’ Field before returning to Jerusalem. Explore the poignant exhibits of Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial.
Day 7 - Day 7 - Jerusalem & the City of David
Begin your day with a group picture taken from the Mount of Olives, where Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-12). Walk the Palm Sunday Road, pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, and envision the scenes of the night before Jesus’ crucifixion (Matthew 26:36 - 44). Continue to Mount Zion to visit the House of the High Priest Caiaphas, where Jesus was questioned the night of His betrayal (Matthew 26:57). Meditate on the events of the Last Supper as you visit the traditional location of the Upper Room (Mark 14:12-26). After lunch, wander through the excavations of the City of David. Explore Hezekiah’s Tunnel, an amazing engineering feat that was dug from both ends and met in the middle (Those who are claustrophobic may want to meet the group at the other end of the tunnel)! Visit the Pool of Siloam, recently uncovered at the foot of the city.
Day 8 - Day 8 - Leisure Day (Masada/Dead Sea Option)
Today, you have free time to explore on your own or you may choose to visit Masada and the Dead Sea (additional charge). Ascend by cable car to Masada, Herod’s legendary mountaintop fortress, which became the last desperate stronghold of the Jewish Zealots against the Romans. You can still look down on the remains of the Roman camps and the siege ramp below. End your day with a dip in the salt and mineral-laden waters of the Dead Sea.
Day 9 - Day 9 - Jerusalem & the Old City
Explore ancient Jerusalem at the Teaching Steps and the Western Wall. View the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed the Sabbath miracle (John 5:1-18). Sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne and experience its rich acoustics. Visit Herod’s Antonia Fortress, where Jesus appeared before Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:1), and follow in Christ’s steps on the Via Dolorosa (“the Way of the Cross”). At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, take time to reflect on His sacrificial love. Visit the Garden Tomb for a time of reflection and communion.
Day 10 - Day 10 - Return to the USA or Enjoy an Extension.
View Trip Details +
Enhance Your Journey
Wonders of Petra & the Dead Sea Extension - Starting from $1,198
Starting at $1,198*
Day 10 – Free Day (Monday departures only)
Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem to explore on your own, or just relax at your hotel
Day 11 – Jerash
This morning, you will journey across the Allenby Bridge on your way to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Stroll through the oval piazza and wander along colonnaded streets etched by the wheels of ancient chariots. Stand in the grand theatre where an onstage whisper can be heard in the top row. Continue to your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 12 – Petra
Begin your journey south towards Petra today. Explore the city of Petra. Its entrance passes through a long, narrow gorge known as the Siq and can only be accessed by carriage, horseback or on foot. Once inside the city, marvel at the intricate detail of a city that was cut into the cliffsides of rose-colored rock. Travel to your hotel at the Dead Sea for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 13 – Madaba & Mount Nebo
Travel to Madaba, the City of Mosaics, to visit the Church of Saint George with its sixth-century, Byzantine, mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. Continue to Mount Nebo, where Moses caught a glimpse of the Promised Land (Deut. 34). On a clear day, you can see all the way across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea to the rooftops of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Return to your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 14 – Free Morning at the Dead Sea
Enjoy a free morning at your hotel. Cross the border back into Israel and enjoy dinner in Jerusalem. Afterward, you will travel to the airport in Tel Aviv to begin your journey home.
Day 15 – Return to the USA This extension travels on the dates below
Extension dates
January 7, 14, 20, 21, 28
February 3, 4, 10, 11, 18, 25
March 3, 4, 10, 11, 18
April 1, 22
May 13, 20
June 3, 9, 10, 17
July 8, 15
September 9, 16
October 20, 21, 28
November 4, 10, 11, 17
December 2, 9
Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.
A minimum number of participants must be reached to operate extensions. Contact us for specifics.
$138 for tips and taxes are charged separately (subject to change).
*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.
Cairo & the Route of the Exodus Extension - Starting from $1,398
Starting at $1,398*
Day 10 – Free Day (Monday departures only)
Enjoy a day at leisure in Jerusalem. Explore the ancient city on your own or rest at the hotel. Breakfast and dinner are included in your hotel stay.
Day 11 – Jerusalem to Mount Sinai
Travel in the footsteps of the Holy Family as you travel along the ancient caravan route from Jerusalem to the Sinai desert. Cross the border and check into your hotel for dinner and rest.
Day 12 – St. Catherine’s Monastery
Experience a visit to fortified St. Catherine’s Monastery, built in the 6th century and one of the oldest working monasteries in the world with the world’s oldest continually operating library. Both the Codex Sinaiticus and Syriac Sinaiticus, important early Biblical manuscripts, were discovered here. Even Muhammad found refuge here, and the site is sacred to all three monotheistic religions. Remember the story of Moses and the burning bush, which tradition places inside the monastery. Continue to Sharm el Sheikh for dinner at your hotel located on the shores of the Red Sea.
Day 13 – Route of the Exodus
Trace the route of the Exodus along the eastern Sinai coast. Continue to Cairo for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 14 – Memphis, Saqqara, the Great Pyramids & the Sphinx
Tour the rural region of traditional Egyptian farming. Travel as Abraham did to Memphis (Biblical Noph) and on to Saqqara, where you will see the Step Pyramid, the world’s oldest stone structure. See the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx.
Day 15 – Cairo
This morning, visit the Egyptian Museum, which holds 7,000 years of Egyptian history and includes the world-famous golden treasures from King Tutankhamun‘s tomb. Tour the Old City and see the Citadel of Saladin, built in 1183 A.D., and view the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. In Old Cairo, visit the Abu Serga Church, built over the traditional site of the house where the Holy Family lived during their stay in Egypt. Prepare for your return flight home.
Day 16 – Return to the USA
Extension dates
January 7, 14, 20, 21, 28
February 3, 4, 10, 11, 18, 25
March 3, 4, 10, 11, 18
April 1, 22
May 13, 20
June 3
July 8
September 9, 16
October 20, 21, 28
November 4, 10, 11
December 2
Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.
A minimum number of participants must be reached to operate extensions. Contact us for specifics.
$158 for tips and taxes are charged separately (subject to change).
*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.
Nile Cruise Extension - Starting from $2,598
Starting at $2,598*
Day 10 – Free Day (For Monday departures only)
Enjoy a day at leisure in Jerusalem. Explore the ancient city on your own or rest at the hotel. Breakfast and dinner are included in your hotel stay.
Day 11 – Jerusalem to Mount Sinai
Travel in the footsteps of the Holy Family as you travel along the ancient caravan route from Jerusalem to the Sinai desert. Cross the border and check into your hotel for dinner and rest.
Day 12 – St. Catherine’s Monastery
Experience a visit to fortified St. Catherine’s Monastery, built in the 6th century, and one of the oldest working monasteries in the world with the world’s oldest continually operating library. Both the Codex Sinaiticus and Syriac Sinaiticus, important early Biblical manuscripts, were discovered here. Even Muhammad found refuge here, and the site is sacred to all three monotheistic religions. Remember the story of Moses and the burning bush, which tradition places inside the monastery. Continue to Sharm el Sheikh for dinner at your hotel located on the shores of the Red Sea.
Day 13 – Luxor & Karnak
This morning, fly from Sharm el Sheikh to Luxor (ancient Thebes), which served as the Egyptian capital during the New Kingdom and the time of Moses. Visit the magnificent Temple of Luxor with its avenue of sphinx statues and mighty monumental columns. Continue to the Karnak Temple, which took over 2,000 years to build and is the largest religious building ever constructed. See the famed Hypostyle Hall, the Obelisks of Queen Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, the temple of Amon, the Granite Scarabeus and the Sacred Lake. Board your Nile cruise ship and enjoy dinner.
Day 14 – Valleys of the Kings & Queens & Esna
This morning, enjoy the sunrise over the Nile River before your visit to the Valley of the Kings. Tombs were constructed here for the kings and powerful nobles of Egypt for nearly 500 years. The valley stands on the west bank of the Nile, across from Thebes (modern Luxor), within the heart of the Theban Necropolis. See the Colossi of Memnon, made of sandstone brought from Gebel El Silsila. Each colossus, including the pedestal and the crown, is about 21 meters tall and represents King Amenhotep III. See the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, one of only a handful of female rulers in Ancient Egypt. Her reign was the longest of all the female pharaohs. Sail to Esna, enjoying afternoon tea before visiting the Temple of Khnum. Your dinner and overnight stay will be on board.
Day 15 – Edfu & Kom Ombo
Visit the Edfu Temple on the west bank of the Nile. Dating to the Ptolemaic period, the temple was dedicated to the worship of the god Horus, represented as a falcon. It is one of the most beautiful Egyptian temples, distinguished by its huge, splendid structure blending Pharaonic and Greek architecture. Enjoy lunch on board as you sail to Kom Ombo to visit the Kom Ombo Temple. Built on a hillside, this temple was constructed in the Ptolemaic Roman era for the worship of the gods Haroeris and Sobek. It is noted for the relief engravings on its walls, which show ancient surgical tools, bone saws and dentistry tools. Nearby, view the three mummified crocodiles in Hathor’s chapel.
Day 16 – Aswan
Set sail on a smaller boat across the Nile to visit the temples at Philae, including the Temple of Isis, one of the greatest temples in Egypt occupying a quarter of the island. Next, visit the High Dam, one of the most outstanding architectural achievements of the twentieth century. It was constructed to replace the old Aswan dam built in 1902. The 3600-meter-long dam was constructed to protect Egypt from the floods as well as provide irrigation and electricity to its citizens. View the Unfinished Obelisk made of red granite brought from the quarries of Aswan. After exploring Aswan, fly to Cairo to check into your hotel for dinner and your overnight stay.
Day 17 - Cairo
This morning, visit the Egyptian Museum, which holds 7,000 years of Egyptian history and includes the world-famous golden treasures from King Tutankhamun‘s tomb. Afterward, visit the Pyramids of Giza, constructed over 1,000 years before the birth of Moses. See the Great Sphinx and have the opportunity to ride a camel in the desert near the Pyramids. Tour the Old City and see the Citadel of Saladin, built in 1183 AD, and view the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali. In Old Cairo, visit the Abu Serga Church, built over the traditional site of the house where the Holy Family lived during their stay in Egypt. Prepare for your return flight home.
Day 18 - Return to the USA
Extension dates
January 7, 14, 20, 21, 28
February 3, 4, 10, 11, 18, 25
March 3, 4, 10, 11, 18
April 1, 22
May 13, 20
June 3
July 8
September 9, 16
October 20, 21, 28
November 4
December 2
Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion.
A minimum number of participants must be reached to operate extensions. Contact us for specifics.
$168 for tips and taxes are charged separately (subject to change).
*A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.
