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Discover the profound beauty of the world through the transformative lens of Christian travel. Each tour is meticulously planned to ensure you have a seamless and spiritually enriching journey. Experience biblical stories come to life as you visit sacred sites, connect with local communities and deepen your faith. You’ll explore the world's most iconic religious destinations with our expertly guided group tours.

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Best christian israel tours.

In business since 2000, Coral Travel & Tours is your #1 resource for Christian travel to Israel and beyond. Coral Tours specializes in providing the best  Christian Israel Tours , Messianic Israel Tours , Catholic & Protestant Israel Tour  itineraries for churches, bible study groups, leadership teams, students, worship teams and more.

For the past several years Coral has designed and implemented Israel pilgrimage tours for IPHC Bishop Douglas Beacham Jr., New York Times Best-Selling Author Rabbi Jonathan Cahn and WND founder Joseph Farah among others.

Coral would like to assist you with creating the most memorable, fully  customizable Bible themed Israel group tour  to meet all your wishes. If you’ve dreamed of seeing the land where Jesus lived, taught, and ministered, call us today to find out how we can help make your dream a reality.  Call us toll free 866.267.2511 for your free, no obligation Israel Tour group quote.

If you’re a pastor, associate pastor, bible study leader, worship leader and you’ve never been to Israel before but would like to consider leading groups to Israel we have the  best Christian Israel tours  for you. Our  Israel Familiarization tours  are specifically designed for leaders of the Christian and Messianic communities to equip them to lead tours to Israel. Come study the land and become equipped to share what you’ve learned with others all while getting to know us here at Coral. These  Israel Familiarization Tours  are vendor subsidized and as such are offered at greatly reduced rates compared to regular tours. Learn more about our  Israel Pastors Familiarization Tours .

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In business for over 20 years, Coral Travel & Tours has a reputation for excellence. Our tour and travel services are covered by a professional liability policy, which includes a 1 million dollar “Errors & Omissions” Insurance policy.

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Christian Church Group Travel Guide in 3 Easy Steps!

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How To Organize your Christian Group Travel

Planning a trip for your Christian church group and unsure where to start? You’re not alone. Many churches travel in groups to places like Israel, Turkey, Greece and Italy on Holy Land tours ,   Footsteps of Paul cruises , and Christian tours of Europe every year. Planning an event like this for the first time can be intimidating and leave group leaders frustrated and uncertain. Here are 3 practical steps to take when making your Christian church group travel plans .

1.)     Assess interest within your congregation: Churches who don’t assess interest before setting up a trip can either be happily surprised or sadly disappointed by the response of their congregation to go on a group trip. Instead of waiting until you have a Holy Land Tour or Footsteps of Paul cruise completely organized, ask your church for sign-ups, it can be helpful to assess interest first. Some churches access interest within Bible Study groups or make a church announcement, requesting that anyone interested in joining the group give the appointed leader their name and email, so organizers can get an estimate on how many people want to go. Also, by getting emails right away, it will be much easier to communicate travel details as you plan your trip!

2.)     Decided where you’d like to go: Decide what type of trip your church would like to take. For instance, would you church like to focus primarily on the Holy Land of Israel , making your trip a land tour? Or instead, take a cruise exploring Turkey, Greece and Italy in the footsteps of Paul? There are even week long tours available to Egypt, to study the Exodus, or Ethiopia, where the Ark of the Covenant is believed to be kept today.

3.)     Find the right Christian Travel Agency: Finding the right company to organize your group travel plans can be a daunting task. How do you know what company to choose? First, find 3-5 Christian group travel companies via searching the internet. When calling around to these different travel companies you’ll want to know:

• What size ship do they use – a small, luxury ship or a large commercial ship?
• What Bible locations can they offer you?
• What is the price per passenger, including the fine print (fees and transfers)?
• What’s included – does the “per person price” includes airfare and hotels?
• Does the group leader travel for free?
• Is there a minimum group size required?

Once you know these things, you can choose a Christian travel company based on what your group values most (price, accommodations, quality/quantity of Bible sites, etc). This article titled “ Insiders Scoop on Church Group Travel ” includes more information about Christian group travel.

To learn what Living Passages Cruises & Tours can do for your group, visit our church group travel page or call us at: 888-771-8717 for a quote and group travel details. 

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Welcome to Mission Travel Tours

We help followers of christ see the pages of the bible come to life in person. our hope is that by traveling with us our travelers faith and love for god would increase. we take care of all traveling needs and offer group discounts., why travel with us.

We take away all of the headaches so our Faith Groups can focus on their purpose for going on their Faith Tour and get the best prices…

We will help you with:

• Language Barrier - We pick your group up at the airport and provide you with a knowledgeable guide that speaks your language every step of the way.
• Not getting full context of Country Culture - Our guides are well versed in their culture and will help answer questions you have along the way regarding culture differences.
• Best Hotel Locations - We know which hotels will work best for your group tour, you do not want to pick the wrong hotel in the wrong location.
• Different Cultural Customs - We make sure you understand what is expected and not expected.
• Best Tour Experience - We offer off the beaten path locations, we know the best locations. We will not send you to a tourist trap, this trip is about your group and not big Corporate.
• Customize your trip - Custom trips are hard to find. We will always put your needs first and customize every trip that best fits your likes and dislikes.
• Driver - Transportation problems are one of the biggest headaches in a foreign country. Why risk it? We will make sure you are chauffeured to each location and experience.
• Guide - There are many bad guides out there and to not have the right one is not a good experience! Our guides are thoroughly vetted with great reviews, you will have a better experience with us.

Mission Travel Faith Tours, the Leading Christian Travel Tour Operator that specializes in providing a truly local and memorable experience with the best Itineraries throughout each country that we operate in. Mission Travel Faith Tours will guide visitors and help them explore each country without the difficulties that usually come with traveling to a foreign country that is culturally deep and unique.

Booking with us is Easy

Choose destination.

Please select the destination and itinerary with which you would like to create lasting memories.

You have the ability to tailor your itinerary according to your preferences. Most prices listed on website are approximate and are based on church groups traveling together in their own private party.

We tailor to groups as well as individual travelers.

Preferred Mode

Please indicate your preferred mode of travel in one of the following options:

Travel privately with your own party, less than 10 people. Slightly higher priced.

Travel with your own group of 10 or more people. Discounted group rate applies.

Travel by joining other groups. (Only available if you’re traveling with less than 10 people) – Discounted Rates

Start Your Faith Adventure Now.

Call one of our travel specialists to unlock your faith-based journey.

Share with us what you’d love to see, and we will create your itinerary according to your preferences and budget.

CALL 407-377-7912 TODAY!

Tailor Made Tours that Define the Art of Christian Travel

We are a full-service tour operator specializing in group travel destinations for churches and organizations. We hope that traveling with us will strengthen our travelers' faith and love for God.

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Our Featured Tour Destinations

Footsteps of Moses with Nile Cruise Egypt Tour

Quality : 10 days

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Embark on a biblical journey of Exodus magnitude! Discover the iconic Exodus Route, where the Israelites once walked to freedom.

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Footsteps of Paul Cruise Tour with Rome

Quality : 12 days

A journey through the life and teaching of Apostle Paul. An opportunity to walk and visit Biblical destinations as described in the Bible.

Popular Tour!

Seven churches cappadocia with patmos tour.

Explore to discover the locations of the Seven Churches of Revelation in modern-day Turkey. See John's Basilica, home of Philip & much more!

Ireland St. Patrick Group Tour

Quality : 9 days

Saint Patrick is world-renowned as the patron saint of Ireland, as the man who brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle, and as the banisher of snakes

ARE YOU A PASTOR PLANNING A TOUR?

Pastors, plan a tour for your church today.

Are you planning a Holy Land, Early Church/Footsteps of Paul, Reformation/Church History or a Faith based Cruise with your Church Congregation?

We offer Pastor Discovery Tours so you can go before your congregation goes. Call Us Today!

Why Book a Christian Tour with Mission Travel Tours?

Biblical Locations

We organize and run Christian Travel Tours to early church locations worldwide.

Expert Planning

Let us Remove the Stress of uncertainty. With our in depth knowledge, we have the best hotels, prime locations, top notch tours, and help you avoid places that don’t meet our high standards.

On-Call Support

We are with you every step of the way, Should any need arise, our team is available 24/7 to handle it promptly and efficiently.

Christian Owned and Operated

Our hope is that by traveling with us our travelers faith and love for God would increase.

Professional Ground Team

Our dedicated ground team, including guides, tour managers, and drivers, works cohesively to ensure your experience is unforgettable.

Traveler itinerary App

We provide each traveler with an app that includes every detail of their tour. They will be able to follow their itinerary each day and know what is going to happen before it happens.

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Buffalo Roundup and Frontier Trails

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Starting from $3035 per person double occupancy

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Christian Tours has been operating escorted motorcoach tours for over 40 years. We are conveniently located in North Carolina near major cities such as Charlotte, Winston Salem, and Greensboro and just a short distance to South Carolina. Our escorted tours are fun-filled, family friendly vacations. It is easy to join us. We travel to sights all across the United States and Canada. We also offer International & Domestic Fly tours including scenic and exciting destinations.

At Christian Tours, the safety and comfort of our passengers is priority! Our modern deluxe fleet of Prevost motorcoaches goes through a rigorous maintenance program at our top-notch facilities. When your group needs to charter a motorcoach or mini-bus we will provide a competitive quote.

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Christian Church Group Travel Tours to Israel and Holy Land

Christian Leaders Organize and lead others to the Promised Holy Land, the Land of the Bible, now is the time to begin one of the most spiritual and rewarding Christian experiences. Lead and organize your Christian Church group to Israel.

1 Peter 5:2-4

Tour Leaders tour for free* Organize a church group & receive special group rates.

HOLY LAND CHRISTIAN CHURCH GROUP TRAVEL TOUR OF TEN OR MORE PASSENGERS

• Fully Escorted Church Group Tour of Israel
• Signature Designed Holy Land Israel Tour Operated by Us
• Tour All Day with your Church group (some companies only tour half-day)
• *1 Tour Leader / Conductor for every 15 passengers free (i.e., 16th passenger will be free sharing twin room). Applies to land package only, airfare not included
• Stay in a 5 Star Deluxe or 4 Star First Class Hotel Accommodations
• Special visit to Magdala, known as the Home of Mary Magdalene
• Sail on a Boat Ride in the Sea of Galilee
• Stay one Night in the Dead Sea Resort Area
• Dead Sea Spa Gift Products Courtesy of Daniel Dead Sea Hotel for our Guest
• Breakfast Buffet Daily 
• A Special Complimentary St. Peter's Fish Lunch by the Sea of Galilee
• Dinner Daily
• English Speaking Tour Guides that know the Bible and Christian Sites and Teachings
• Professional Tour Guide Certified by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism
• NO ADDED FEES FOR CREDIT CARD PAYMENT

TEN DAY TOUR

• Transfer from Ben Gurion International Airport to your hotel in Tel Aviv.
• Dinner at your hotel.
• Your selection of 5 Star Deluxe or 4 Star First Class hotel accommodations.

Day 3 From Tel Aviv/Jaffa to the Sea of Galilee, Mediterranean coast and the Valley of Armageddon Caesarea / Mt. Carmel / Megiddo / Nazareth/ Sea of Galilee / Tiberias In the morning visit to the Old Town Jaffa , walk through the narrow passages of Old Jaffa, believed to be the oldest port city in the world and where cedars from Lebanon arrived to build Solomon's Temple ( 2 Chronicles 2:16 ), see St. Peter's Church and take a spectacular view of Tel Aviv Shoreline from Jaffa Hilltop. Peter came to Jaffa (Joppa) from Lydda to raise Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-43 ) . While in Jaffa, the apostle stayed at the house of Simon the Tanner . St. Peter's Church  marks the traditional site of Peter’s vision of the Great Sheet (Acts 10:9-16) . Depart Tel Aviv driving north along the coastal plain to Caesarea Maritima (Acts 9:30 Acts 10:24-48) which was the center of early Christians, and capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct, here where Paul made his defense before Festus and King Agrippa prior to his final journey to Rome (Acts 25-26) . We'll stop at Mount Carmel (Muchraka) , where Elijah issued his challenge to the False Prophets (1 Kings 18:16-24) . We continue and enjoy a breath taking panoramic view of Haifa Bay and the Western Galilee region. Continue to Megiddo (Joshua 12:21, 1 Kings 9:15, 2 Kings 23:29 & Revelation 16:16) , identified as the site of Armageddon (Revelation 16) , see the remains from Solomon’s days, view the site where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought (Revelation 16:14-16) . Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo , including the well preserved water supply system. Continue along the Jezerel Valley to visit the town of Nazareth (Luke 1:26, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:29 & Matthew 2:23) we will take a beautiful view from the top of Mount Precipice , also known as Mount of Precipitation , or Mount of the Leap of the Lord . It's believed to be the site of the rejection of Jesus (Luke 4:29 Luke 4:30) , continue to the Basilica of Annunciation the church and site that celebrates the news from Gabriel that Mary would give birth to Jesus (Luke 1) . If time permits, and we'll drive to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first public miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding feast (John 2:1 John 2:11) , and the Lower Galilee region to the beautiful Sea of Galilee to the town of Tiberias . The hotels situated right on town’s center and the shores of the Sea of Galilee make it possible to walk along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and explore the town of Tiberias. Overnight Sea of Galilee - including Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner.

• Breakfast at your hotel.
• Professional certified licensed Tour Guide, entrance fees, and attractions per day itinerary.

Day 4 Sea of Galilee, the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights Magdala / Sail on the Sea of Galilee / Jesus Boat / Golan Heights / Upper Galilee / Caesarea Philippi / St. Peter's Fish Lunch / Yardenit We begin this Holy Land touring day with a visit to Magdala (Matthew 15:39) , known as the home of Mary Magdalene. Here we'll explore a first century Jewish city where Jesus' healed the afflicted, and the oldest excavated synagogue in the Galilee from the time of Jesus' ministry where surely he taught. After we board a wooden boat and sail on as the disciples did 2,000 years ago on the Sea of Galilee where the Lord calmed the storm (Luke 8:22-25) , and where He made one of the most dramatic miracles, walking on water (Mark 6:47-52) , and it was here along the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus appeared for a third time after being raised from the dead, and asked his disciples to throw their net to the right side of the boat and caught many fish, and where the Lord made the disciples breakfast  (John 21) . We'll dock at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar and visit the " Ancient Jesus Boat " the remains of a 2,000 years old boat that was discovered in 1986. This boat was used at the time of Jesus and his disciples. We will drive to the beautiful Golan Heights . Visit Banias - ancient Ceasarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13 and Mark 8:27) where Jesus said “On this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18) . Continue to the Hula Valley and the Upper Galilee, returning to the Sea of Galilee and visit the baptismal site of Yardenit on the Jordan River, where believers celebrate and some take the opportunity to submerge themselves in the same waters where the Holy Spirit descended like a dove from heaven, when  John the Baptist baptized up out of the water Jesus (Matthew 3:13-17) . Overnight Sea of Galilee– including Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner.

• Special St. Peter's fish lunch.

Day 5 Jesus early Ministry along the Sea of Galilee, Jordan River Mount of Beatitudes / Tabgha / Capernaum / Beit She'an / Dead Sea Today we'll visit early Jesus Ministry around the Sea of Galilee, visiting Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5, Matthew 6, Matthew 7, Matthew 8) where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount , see the famous Church of the Beatitudes  chapel, constructed between 1936 and 1938 by the noted architect Antonio Barluzzi and enjoy the view. Visit Tabgha - the site of the Feeding of the 5,000 and Primacy of Peter (Matthew 13, Mark 33, Mark 45, & John 21) , Church of Multiplication with its 4th Century Mosaic floor, Capernaum ( Matthew 4:13, Matthew 13:54, Matthew 17:24, Luke 7, Mark 1:2, John 4:46 John 4:54) where is believed to have been Jesus' home and the center of his ministry, here we can stand in what is left of the synagogue in which Jesus ministered, and where he preformed many miracles, and it's in Capernaum where Peter’s mother-in-law lived and was healed (Luke 4:38-40) . Journey through the Valley of Beit She'an to the ancient city of Beit She'an (Mark 5:20, Mark 7:31) , view the archeological site. It was here that after defeating Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beth Shean (2 Samuel 21:12-14) , continue through the Jordan Valley past the city of Jericho and arrive to the Dead Sea , the lowest place on earth. Check in at the hotel located at the shores of the Dead Sea, enjoy optional spa treatments and a massage, float on the salty water of the Dead Sea or enjoy a swim in your hotel pool. Overnight Dead Sea- including Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner.

• Special spa gift products; Dead Sea mineral mud pack and salt pack courtesy of Daniel Dead Sea Hotel.

Day 6 Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran, Judean Desert, Jerusalem Today on your Holy Land tour will visit the 1500 feet mountaintop fortress of Masada famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. We will ascend to Masada by cable car and discover the first century Synagogue, King Herod’s Bathhouse and other sites atop of Masada, descend and continue to the oasis of Ein Gedi , where David hid in a cave when running from Saul (1 Samuel 23) , it was here that David composed several of his Psalms, next visit to Qumran where a cache of ancient biblical texts the Dead Sea Scroll were discovered in 1947. Continue to the Golden City of Jerusalem , and proceed to a panoramic view of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus , and take time for prayer. Continue to the hotel conveniently located within walking distance from the Old City Jerusalem. Overnight Jerusalem- including Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 7 Old Jerusalem, Temple Mount in Jesus times, Mount of Olives/Kidron Valley/Garden of Gethsemane/Western Wall tunnels (Kotel Tunnels)/Pool of Bethesda/Church of Holy Sepulcher/Via Dolorosa/Christian Quarter From the top of Mount of Olives where the Lord ascended into heaven (acts 1) we will have a view across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate where the prince of Peace will enter (Ezekiel 44) . We pass by Pater Noster Church standing on the traditional site of Christ's teaching of the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2-4) , and visit Dominus Flevit where "The Lord wept" as he beheld the Holy City (Luke 19:41-44) . Through Palm Sunday Road proceed down to the Gethsemane (Mark 14:32, John 18:1 & Matthew 26:36)  where you will see 2,000 year old Olive trees that date back to the time of Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane the place that Jesus prays (Luke 22:39) and his disciples customarily visited, which allowed Judas to find him on that fateful night of his arrest (Luke 22:47-52) , and it's in Gethsemane where an angel from heaven appears to strengthen Jesus  (Luke 22:43) , and where he found his disciples sleeping and awakes them and tells them to get up and pray (Luke 22:46) . Then to the Western Wall - The holiest site in Judaism and one of the original walls that retained the Temple. We will visit the Western Wall Tunnels running along the base of the Western Wall will lead us through the Second Temple era and reveal the amazing construction of the Temple Mount , water supply and Roman street where our Lord was led to judgment. Continue to St. Anne Church and the Pool of Bethesda , where Jesus performed the famous miracle of healing of the paralytic (John 5) . We will walk the Stations of the Cross - the Via Dolorosa including Station 2 Judgment Hall of Pilate (John 18:33) , located at the Church of the Flagellation and Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross , all the way to the final Station 14 inside  Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Matthew 27, Matthew 33:57, Matthew 28:10) . In the afternoon you will enjoy time to shop the colorful bazaars (markets). We'll join the prayer at the Western Wall , and after return to the Hotel for Shabbat Dinner. Overnight Jerusalem– including Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 8 Jerusalem Old and New City Mt. Zion / Upper Room / King David Tomb / Jewish Quarter / Ein Kerem / Bethlehem / Church of the Visitation/Church of the Nativity / Shepherd’s Field / Garden Tomb We begin the day going to Mount Zion , visit the Upper room (Luke 22) , Lord’s Supper, visit King David Tomb , and walk through the Jewish Quarter . Drive through the New City and pass the Knesset (Israel Parliament) and continue to Ein Karem , the birthplace of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80) , the one to announce the coming of the Lord (Isaiah 40:3) . Visit the Church of the Visitation which commemorates the visit made by Mary the mother of Jesus', to Elizabeth , the mother of John the Baptist (Luke 1:39-56) , then continue to Bethlehem where Joseph traveled there (Luke 2:1-7) with Mary whom was pregnant, and where Jesus was born (Matthew 2:1-5) , and visit the Church of Nativity . Proceed to see the Shepherd’s Field  where an angel appeared to announce the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:8-20) . In the afternoon visit The Garden Tomb , to celebrate the resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15, Luke 24:6-7, Mark 16:5-7) with a time for prayer. Enjoy a evening farewell dinner at the hotel. Overnight Jerusalem- including Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner.

Day 9 Enjoy free day in Jerusalem later in the day transfer to Ben Gurion airport according to your flight schedule After Breakfast, and by 12 noon, Check out from your hotel and store your luggage at the hotel storage room to enjoy free day in Jerusalem. Passengers booked 4 Stars First class hotels ,in Jerusalem the Grand Court hotel within walking distance to the Old City. Passengers booked 5 stars Deluxe hotels, in Jerusalem The Leonardo Plaza hotel within walking distance from the Old City and the center of West Jerusalem. You can visit again the Holy sites and the colorful bazaars, Yad Vashem Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, the Davidson Center at the Western Wall, Ben Yehuda street with shopping stores, restaurant and coffee shops, Mahaneh Yehuda market, with authentic Jerusalem Restaurants, and food markets. Explore on your own the newly renovated Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book .

Transfer from the lobby of your hotel to Ben Gurion International Airport 4 hours Prior to flight departure.

• Transfer from your Jerusalem hotel to the Ben Gurion International Airport for your departure flight back home or to your next destination.

If your flight departs in the morning you will arrive back in America the same day of your departure.

If your flight departs in the night you will arrive back to America the following day of your departure.

HOLY LAND CHURCH GROUPS TO ISRAEL

Prices are land package prices based on double occupancy and are per person in U.S. dollars inclusive of all taxes.

*1 Tour Leader / Conductor (Passengers) for every 15 passengers free (i.e., 16th passenger will be free sharing twin room). Applies to land package only, airfare not included.

Not included services in our tour rates: 1. Tips to guide/driver and hotel/restaurant staff. 2. Personal extras or meals not mentioned above. 3. Lunches.

Create your own Holy Land Group or Join other Christians on our Holy Land Tour Departures.

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Tour the Holy Land as a congregation

Do you want to bring your congregation to Israel? Are there members of your church that want to do a group tour of the Holy Land? Can you imagine how faith might be increased with a tour to Israel?

Custom Church Group Tours

We can arrange a tour for your church or congregation group. No matter the size, no matter the dates, we can arrange an individual tour for your group. You will not be joining a tour that already exists with other people that you do not know. We customize your tour specifically for your congregation, focusing on the individual experience you will have.

Lead by Our Guides, Taught by Your Minister

Your Pastor, Father, Bishop, or leader will be given special privilege to teach, explain, and enjoy the tour with your group. Our drivers and guides will deliver you to all the places you want to see.

Hold Church Meetings

You will be given opportunity to teach and hold meetings, Sacraments, and study sessions…as many as you desire and in the most sacred places of all Christianity. We can take care of all details, flights, hotels, transportation, food, guides and more. Allowing you to simply prepare to come and experience the Holy Land.

Unique Experiences

You will experience the thrill of standing upon some of the Holiest Mountains in Israel. You will see the Landscapes that Jesus saw, many unchanged for over 2,000 years! You will enjoy sailing on the Sea of Galilee as the ancient Apostles did. You will never forget sites and the understanding that comes with walking where Jesus walked … Jerusalem, the Golden City, one of the greatest cities in the world!

You will love the sights, sounds, and smells of this ancient walled city. You will gain and understand the context to the most sacred writings in the old world. This will change your understanding of the Life of Jesus forever.

What Makes Us Different

7 Reasons our tours experience is superior

There are many ways to see and experience this holy land. We have built guided group tours and trip packages that focus on:

1. The Experience

We have thought through and planned through all that you will do and see in Israel. We focus on the experience you will have, from the time that you will be thirsty to the time that you want a delicious meal.

We balance travel, instruction, free-time, and food. Your trip to Israel will be efficient, well planned, and flow from place to place and site to site.

The hotels are the best in the country, with all the amenities you desire. We ensure your experience is just right!

2. Your Itinerary

We do not have preset dates or tours that you will join with mixed groups or mixed families. We arrange the tour for the dates that work for you and your group!

We can be flexible on all fronts, from airline tickets to partial trips. We can do groups as small as you want, or as large as you want.

We create the custom tour experience for each and every group, regardless of size.

3. The Tour Route

The route you take in Israel is an essential part of your experience.

We visit the country in a loop, with no back-tracking, seeing all that you want to see in a very efficient schedule.

4. Safety and Security

Safety and security are our top priority. Trip insurance is required, but we also hand pick our hotels and drivers, guides and restaurants to ensure your safety at every stop along the way.

After many years of experience, the hotels we use in Israel are hand-picked, amongst the best in the country and located perfectly to fit your tour experience. You will have Wi-Fi each evening and on the bus. You will have very nice rooms with views and locations and food that are top tier.

6. The Food

Israel is one of the most amazing places for Mediterranean cuisine!

This, along with the strong cultural varieties that are available, add to your authentic Israel experience.

You will have your choice of food, and you will always be well fed.

7. The Guides

Israel tour guides and drivers are the icing on the cake.

The guides we use are our proven friends and experts of the Holy Land. They add to the experience you will have in a way that will change your life!

It is also common to have your own Pastor or Leader, Father or Grandfather come along. Ample time will be given for teaching and preaching along the way.

• Suggested Itinerary
• Pricing and Inclusions
• Most Popular Places

The following day-by-day itinerary is a great place to start when building your customized tour:

Day 1: fly to israel.

If you are traveling from the west, you usually arrive in Israel the next day.

Day 2: Arrive in Israel, Visit Jaffa and Caesarea, right on the Mediterranean Sea

Spend the day relaxing at the Hotel in Tel Aviv, preparing for the Tour. Once you have passed through customs and passport control, our guide and driver will be right there to take you directly to your hotel in Tel Aviv, not far from the airport. You will be able to relax in the evening and get prepared for the tour. Don’t fall asleep too early, force yourself to stay awake, and the you will get a good night’s rest and minimize the jet lag.

Day 3: Mt. Carmel, Megiddo, Tabor and Nazareth, Relaxing on the Sea of Galilee

Northwestern Israel is beautiful. Mt Carmel, the great Lodging place of Elijah, the Valley of Armageddon, Nazareth, and the Church of Annunciation, the breathtaking views from the Mt of Precipice, and Mt Tabor, towering from the Valley floor. Finish the day on the Sea of Galilee.

Day 4: Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Bethsaida and then Mt Hermon and down the East side of the Sea

Visit all of the Places where Jesus spent his Northern ministry. From Nazareth to Capernaum, Bethsaida and all along the Northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Day 5: Morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Jericho, Qumran, The Dead sea

Northern Israel, Caesarea Philippi, Mt Hermon and Dan. See the Northernmost part of Israel, the headwaters of the Jordan River and the great roman ruins of the Banyas.

Day 6: Masada, and then to Jerusalem

The Dead Sea: Visit the Lowest Place on Earth, along with Historical Parks at Masada and Qumran. You will float in the famous Dead Sea, see the Mountain fortress of Masada and explore the ruins of Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered.

Day 7: Tour of Jerusalem

Visit the old city of Jerusalem, all 4 quarters, from Mt. Zion and the Western Wall to the wonderful Gates of the city.

Day 8: Bethlehem and Jerusalem

Bethlehem, Shepherds fields and the Tomb of Lazarus. Visit Bethany and the tomb of Lazarus, known to be the ancient tomb, see the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and enjoy the city where Jesus was born.

Day 9: Jerusalem

More of the old City, the Burnt House, the Archeological park on the ancient stairs of the temple mount, Gethsemane, the Mount of Olives, the Via Dolorosa and the Garden Tomb.

Day 10: Jerusalem and then to the airport to fly home.

Visit the Museums, and shops of the modern city. Enjoy the food and sights and sounds and smells of the city and finish up your shopping with some Olive wood or ancient artifacts.

Day 11: Arrive at home

Flights from Israel usually depart in the late evening, you are dropped at the airport and prepare to fly home. Filled with the memories of the trip of a lifetime. It will change your life to visit here.  For the rest of your life you will never forget the Holy Land!

These are custom tours, catered specifically to you and your group. The price per person will vary depending on the size of your group, and the number of days you decide to travel.

Traveling in a group can create tremendous savings. You may be surprised at how affordable it can be.

Our tours include the following:

• Tour Guide Services
• Entrance Fees
• Transportation
• A Study Guide
• Digital Photo Album of the Trip
• Pre-Tour Study Materials
• Personal Tour Journal

From Moses Mount, to Peter’s place of Testimony, this tour will take you to all of what the Holy Land has to offer. It may very well encompass the most sacred places on earth. You will not forget it!

We will make sure you don’t miss out on anything that is important to you!

Here is a list of some popular locations that you can include when scheduling your tour:.

• Jordan River Headwaters
• Sea of Galilee
• Mount of Beatitudes
• Mount of Temptation
• The Dead Sea
• Jordan River Baptismal Site

In Jerusalem

• The Old City
• All the City Gates
• Pool of Bethesda
• The Western Wall
• Mount of Olives
• Orson Hyde Memorial Garden
• The Temple Mount
• The Garden of Gethsemane
• The Church of the Holy Sepulcher
• The Via Dolorosa
• The Garden Tomb
• The Ancient Temple Steps
• Israel Museum
• The Last Supper Room
• St. Peter Gallicontu
• The Ancient Dungeon
• Rockefeller Museum
• The Citadel
• Hezekiah’s Tunnel

Message From Sterling

“Do not sell yourself short when it comes to experiencing the Holy Land. I once talked with a friend who had visited Jerusalem from a cruise ship tour. He was able to see Jerusalem for only a few hours and then had to leave. As I talked about the many things that he missed during his short trip, my heart broke for him, knowing that there was so much more to experience!”

Get a quote for your group tour

Feel free to contact us at 1-888-384-0166 or [email protected]

About Flock To Israel

Your Tour, Your Experience – Imagine customizing your trip to Israel to focus on what YOU want to do and experience. Experience the history, the stories, the people, the food, the culture, as well as the sights, the scriptures, the spirit and power of this Holy Land.

• Church Group Tour
• Family and Friends Tour

Religious & spiritual tours

Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims and prophets as you journey through sacred sites, learning about the history of different faiths around the world.

August 2024

Showing 1–17 of 235 tours

A Week in Greece: Athens, Mykonos & Santorini

9 days | 12 days with Rome extension

4.7 out of 5 stars

A Week in Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome

9 days | 11 days with Sorrento Peninsula extension

4.6 out of 5 stars

Save up to $700 by 9/2

Plus, celebrate the holiday weekend by locking in your lowest price before prices increase next week.†

London, Paris & Rome

11 days | 14 days with Madrid extension

4.8 out of 5 stars

Highlights of England, Scotland & Ireland

12 days | 14 days with London extension

The Greek Islands: Mykonos, Santorini & Crete

14 days | 16 days with Athens extension

A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Cork & Galway

8 days | 11 days with London extension

A Week in Switzerland, Germany & Austria

9 days | 11 days with Prague extension

Grand Tour of Italy

15 days | 17 days with Rome extension

Germany, Switzerland & Austria

14 days | 16 days with Budapest extension

Egypt & Nile River Cruise

12 days | 16 days with Jordan extension

Barcelona, Southern France & the Italian Riviera

12 days | 14 days with Rome extension

4.4 out of 5 stars

Landscapes of Scotland & Ireland

15 days | 18 days with London extension

Italy & Greece

11 days | 15 days with Santorini & Athens extension

Grand Tour of Ireland

14 days | 17 days with Glasgow & Edinburgh extension

Food & Wine: Flavors of Tuscany & Umbria

11 days | 13 days with Rome extension

Iceland: Reykjavík & the Northern Lights

6 days | 8 days with West Iceland & Reykjavík extension

4.5 out of 5 stars

Scandinavia: The Capitals & the Fjords

14 days | 17 days with Iceland extension

What travelers are saying about our religious & spiritual tours

Traveling with a group?

Bring 6+ friends with you, and your spot is free (including airfare)!

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Experiential travel made easy

You dream it. We'll take care of every last detail.

Pick your perfect trip

We offer 200+ immersive, guided tours around the world. Wherever you choose to go, you’ll enjoy lots of advantages that make traveling with us different.

Put just $99 down

That’s all it takes to secure a spot on one of our group tours when you sign up for AutoPay . Plus, you can pay in interest- free, monthly installments.

Prep your packing list

While you’re deciding what to take, we’ll be busy arranging your hotels, meals, tickets, and more tour essentials. That’s what going guided is all about.

Go far (and get rewarded)

Take off on your big adventure— but why stop there? Every trip you book with us earns rewards that you can use to keep expanding your horizons.

Not sure which religious & spiritual tour is right for you? We're here to help.

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Chat instantly with us during our normal hours, or leave a message and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

Schedule a call

Let us know your preferred time to chat and a travel expert will reach out.

We’re available every day from our offices in Boston and Denver at 1-855-590-1161

5 out of 5 stars

2nd-time traveler Michele

Excellent tour. Extremely knowledgeable local guides, tour director was always on top of everything, kept the trip running smoothly and always willing to share about her country.... Read more of Fabulous Tour

Traveled in Aug 2024 on Footsteps of Saint Paul in Greece: Thessaloniki to Athens

3rd-time traveler Anonymous

Incredible beauty and the most gracious people. This is what you find in Bhutan. One of my favorite trips!

Traveled in Jun 2024 on Bhutan Adventure: The Trans Bhutan Trail

1st-time traveler Kathryn

This was the most incredible tour I've taken through EF! I loved the focus on Bhutan's nature, religion, and arts culture. Our guide Sonam was one of the first to hike the Trans... Read more of Absolutely Incredible

5th-time traveler Jodene Bowler

This tour was very touching and thorough. I plan to go again as there was more to see and do. I recommend this trip to anyone interested in visiting this historical location.

Traveled in Apr 2024 on Footsteps of Saint Paul in Greece: Thessaloniki to Athens

1st-time traveler Patricia

This trip was my first solo trip of my life; I did not know what to expect and was hesitant at first. This trip was NOT a trip of a lifetime…. That is because I am already... Read more of Food, Fun and New Friends

14th-time traveler James

This was our 14th GA tour, and first to Greece. Loved every minute! Would have liked more Pauline emphasis in places. Our Tour Director, Joanna, is simply dynamite! Great sites,... Read more of Greece in the Footsteps of Paul - Loved It!

Traveled in May 2024 on Footsteps of Saint Paul in Greece: Thessaloniki to Athens

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LDS Guided Tours and Cruises

We specialize in lds group travel to israel, the church history sites, proposed book of mormon lands and mediterranean (journeys of paul) cruises. we also offer tours and cruises with lds speakers to other fun & exotic locations..

• LDS Holy Land Tours
• Book of Mormon Lands
• LDS Church History Tours
• Journeys of Paul Mediterranean Tours and Cruises
• LDS Alaska Cruises
• Canada/New England
• UK Land Tours
• Mediterranean
• Switzerland
• Machu Picchu & Amazon
• Branson Christmas
• Antarctica/South America
• LDS Israel tours
• Religious Site Tours
• Mediterranean Bible Lands Tours
• Best of Italy
• Mediterranean Cruises & Rome Temple Tour
• British Isles
• Ultimate Greek Isles

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Call us! (801) 762-8547

Embark on a journey of a lifetime

 discover the world with go and do travel  , featured trips.

JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 11, 2025

Momentum '25 west, featuring nathan pacheco, jenny oaks baker, bruce porter, and more 8-day baja peninsula cruise + conference.

FEBRUARY 8 - FEBRUARY 15, 2025

Momentum '25 east, featuring nathan pacheco, jenny oaks baker, the bonner family, & more 8-day tropical caribbean  cruise + conference, newly added, trip catalog.

SEPTEMBER 10 - SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

Gospel on the nile, conference & tour with bruce porter & greg matsen.

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 3, 2024 - SOLD OUT

Church history, historic bus tour from east to west with bruce newbold.

SEPTEMBER 24 - OCTOBER 10, 2024 - SOLD OUT

Three temples, euro explorer cruise and tour with bruce porter, october 10 - october 19, 2024 -  sold out, historic bus tour from east to west with bruce porter.

OCTOBER 21 - OCTOBER 26, 2024

Our land of promise, uncovering ancient america with wayne may.

ELAINE DALTON / BRAD & MARJORIE LOWDER / GREG MATSEN

Conference & tour with bruce porter & special guests,  limited space, april 7 - april 12, 2025.

APRIL 7 - APRIL 15, 2025

The ancient gospel, ancient greece with bruce porter, april 14 - april 29, 2025 - new date, european cruise and tour , april 22 - may 6, 2025 - sold out, european cruise and tour with bruce porter.

JULY 17 - JULY 26, 2025

Top of the world, iceland cruise and concert with nathan pacheco.

SEPTEMBER 23 - OCTOBER 1, 2025

Conference & tour with bruce porter, october 20 - october 25, 2025, october 26 - november 9, 2025.

Educational Opportunities Tours

Journeys of paul in greece with community in christ lutheran church and huntersville umc | april 26, 2025.

Join Community in Christ Lutheran Church and Huntersville UMC on the Journeys of Paul in Greece tour starting at $3,446* from Charlotte, NC on April 26, 2025. Journey to Amphipolis, Philippi, Neapoli (Kavala), Thessaloniki, Veria (Berea), Meteora, Delphi, Corinth, and much more.

Register Early and Save $75 Register by August 26, 2024 $50  Register by September 26, 2024 $25  Register by October 26, 2024 Full deposit required. Savings are deducted from the balance.

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
• Overseas Airport Transfers
• International Airfare
• Administrative Fee

^ Additional Baggage & Optional fees may apply.

† If air purchased through EO.

• Download Brochure

Daily Itinerary

Day 1 april 26 – depart the usa.

Your pilgrimage begins as you depart the USA on your international overnight flight.

Day 2 April 27 – ARRIVE IN GREECE

You will arrive in Thessaloniki, Greece, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 April 28 – AMPHIPOLIS, PHILIPPI, and NEAPOLI (KAVALA)

Follow in the footsteps of Paul and Silas to Amphipolis and explore the ruins of the many Christian basilicas there. In Philippi is a baptismal site commemorating where God opened the heart of Lydia (a seller of purple from Thyatira) to hear the words of Paul (Acts 16:13 -15). Lydia and her household were the first Christian converts baptized on European soil. View the Roman-era crypt thought to have served as a prison for the Apostle Paul, and explore Philippi’s famous acropolis, marketplace, the Basilica of Paul, and theater. Today’s last stop is Neapolis (Kavala), one of Greece’s most picturesque mainland ports, where Paul landed with his disciples, Timothy and Silas. See the Roman aqueduct and acropolis before returning to Thessaloniki for dinner and your overnight.

Day 4 April 29 – THESSALONIKI and VERIA (BEREA)

Day 5 april 30 – meteora and delphi.

As you visit the rock forest of Meteora (“in the heavens above”) in western Thessaly, imagine the apostle Paul walking that treacherous terrain on his missionary journey. Gaze up at the breathtaking Byzantine monasteries spectacularly perched on soaring, sheer sided grey sandstone pillars. In the 13th century, monks sought refuge in cliff side caves before fleeing higher to build the original wooden shelters that later became these monasteries.  After a monastery tour, travel to scenic Delphi, religious center of the ancient Greek world and marked by the conical stone called the Omphalos (“navel”).  Walk the Sacra Via to the Athenian Treasury, Theatre and the Temple of Apollo, where the oracle performed her prophetic rituals. As you consider the incredible amount of pagan influence just in Delphi alone, you will gain a new appreciation for the tremendous spiritual opposition the apostle Paul faced in preaching the Gospel of Christ here. In the Museum are many ancient treasures, including the 5th century bronzed Charioteer, so detailed you can see his eyelashes. Continue to Athens for overnight. 

Day 6 May 1 – CORINTH and CENCHREAE

Tour the city of Corinth, where the apostle Paul met fellow tentmakers Aquila and Priscilla and received a vision from the Lord saying, "I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee:  for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18: 10).  As Paul spoke, Crispus (chief ruler of the synagogue) and many others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:8), establishing the church at Corinth to whom Paul later wrote his two epistles.  Discover the Archaeological Museum, Market Place and Temples.  As you walk among the ruins, stand on the Bema, where the apostle Paul stood before Gallio to face charges brought against him by the Jews. Stop briefly at the port town of Cenchreae from which Paul later departed for Syria (Acts 18: 12 -18).  Return to Athens for dinner and overnight. 

Day 7 May 2 – ATHENS

(Note – Cruise extension passengers will depart from the group this morning and head to Piraeus for their cruise ship)   

Enjoy the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum.  Stand on Mars Hill as the apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, "I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:23). As you look upon the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was where the Apostle Paul preached "Jesus and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon is free to explore Athens on your own or enjoy an optional visit to the New Acropolis Museum ($20) Dinner and overnight is spent in Athens. 

Day 8 May 3 – RETURN TO THE USA

Return home with a new understanding of the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry.

Enhance Your Journey

Greek isle cruise extension starting from $1448.

May 2 - 6, 2025 • Starting at $1,448*

May 2 – EMBARK IN PIRAEUS & MYKONOS Board the ship and sail the blue waters of the Aegean Sea. In the evening, you will arrive at the world-famous Greek Island of Mykonos, where gleaming white-washed buildings seem to climb atop each other to reach the azure sky.

Excursions today are on own. They can be purchased on the ship.

May 3 – EPHESUS & PATMOS This morning, you arrive in Kusadasi, Turkiye and journey to Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul spent three years of his ministry. He planted a church here and later wrote to them in his Epistle to the Ephesians. Many of the ruins of Ephesus (known as “the marble city”) have been restored to show the city as it was in the Apostle Paul’s time. Visit the agora and imagine where Demetrius, the silversmith, sold his silver shrines of the Greek goddess Artemis. Stroll through the great theater, where Paul witnessed faithfully for Christ. Not far away is the stadium where chariot races took place and gladiatorial combats were held. Tradition has it that the Apostle Paul himself fought here against wild beasts. Visit the ruins of St. John’s Basilica, where early Christian tradition tells us the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was buried. View one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the ruins of the Temple of Diana (Artemis), before setting sail for the Island of Patmos to visit the Monastery of St. John high on the mountain overlooking the entire island. Walk down to the Grotto of the Apocalypse and the caves where it is believed that the exiled Apostle John lived and was inspired by God to write the Book of Revelation as well as other letters to the early church.

May 4 – CRETE & SANTORINI Dock this morning in Crete’s port of Heraklion, just three miles away from the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 and partially reconstructed, the elaborate Palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture. Disembark at Santorini, one of the most beautiful Greek islands, where picturesque whitewashed villages topped with brilliant blue domes stand in stark contrast to the sheer drop cliffs overlooking the Aegean Sea. The island itself perches on the edges of a volcano whose eruption 3,500 years ago is thought to have led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization.

May 5 – ATHENS Enjoy the rich architectural splendor of the ancient city of Athens as your guide introduces you to the world renowned Acropolis, the Propylaea, the Parthenon and the Erectheum.  Stand on Mars Hill as the apostle Paul did when he proclaimed, "I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.  Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you" (Acts 17:23). As you stroll the Agora (ancient market place and center of Athenian public life), recall that this was where the Apostle Paul preached "Jesus and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18) to the skeptical Athenians. Also see the House of Parliament, the Presidential Palace and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This afternoon is free to explore Athens on your own or enjoy an optional visit to the New Acropolis Museum ($20).  Dinner and overnight is spent in Athens. 

May 6 – RETURN TO THE USA Return home with a new appreciation of the Apostle Paul’s life and ministry.

Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion. *A 3.5% surcharge will be added to all credit card transactions.

Departure Dates

• Saturday, April 26, 2025 From $3446 Register Now! --> From $3446* Register Now!

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St Basil's cathedral

When was St. basil's Cathedral built?

Who built St Basil's Cathedral?

St. basil's cathedral architecture.

The mystery of colors

St Basil's Cathedral inside

• Find the shrine of St Basil and learn the story of the Russian holy fools.
• Take photos of the church interior. In most Russian churches, photography is not allowed.
• Discover the hiding places in the walls were treasures were kept in the past
• Learn the secrets of the Russian church acoustics
• A true gem of your visit will be the church male choir singing in one of the chapels.

Visiting the cathedral

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USA, Wisconsin: Discovering Mary in the Heartland 2025

Wisconsin, USA

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About this trip

In 1859, a woman appeared to a young Belgian immigrant near Champion, Wisconsin – in the heartland of America – and revealed herself as “The Queen of Heaven.” Her message: “Gather the children of this wild country and teach them what they need to know for salvation.” A small chapel built on this site began attracting the local immigrant population; they brought to Our Lady their concerns in times of sickness and uncertainty, or when drought threatened their crops…and in the ensuing years, blessings, even miracles, began to flow. 

Known only to locals until relatively recently, the site of this apparition – the only Church-approved Marian apparition in the U.S. – is now a designated National Shrine.  Europe has its Fatima, its Lourdes, its Czestochowa…and we in the United States have the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion in Champion, Wisconsin.

The National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion is a bright star set in a gleaming constellation of Catholic shrines, monasteries, and chapels spanning the state of Wisconsin.  Because of its Protestant roots, America has never had a strong tradition of pilgrimage, but along this route of national shrines and sacred sites, you will find in Wisconsin a land of rich Catholic heritage, culturally and spiritually – a land where the tradition of pilgrimage is growing and beginning to flourish.  Now is the time to experience these Catholic riches along the farm roads and forests of Wisconsin.

Come with us on a journey to Discover Mary in the Heartland, and learn about Mary’s message to the souls in this country as she leads us to her son, Jesus. 

Travel Information

Arrival information:.

• Airport: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Date: Monday, April 28, 2025 (Day 1 of the pilgrimage)
• Time: Before 9:30 a.m. (Local Time)
• Transfer: Group transfer from the airport to Basilica and National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill in Hubertus, WI

It is recommended to arrive on Sunday, April 27, 2025, to allow for rest and flexibility in flight choices. If you arrive early, you can contact our office for assistance in booking the selected early arrival hotel. The transfer will pick up participants from this hotel on Day 1 after the group pick-up at the airport.

Departure Information:

• Date: Friday, May 2, 2025 (Day 5 of the pilgrimage)
• Time: After 6:30 p.m. (Local Time)
• Transfer: Group transfer to the airport from Milwaukee 

Recommended Travel Agency:

For booking flights, Inside the Vatican Pilgrimages recommends using Gulliver's Travel. Cindy McCoy, an experienced travel agent at Gulliver's Travel, will handle your airline reservations and then forward them to our office, making the process seamless for you!

• Travel Agent: Cindy McCoy
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: +1.817.924.7766

Contact Information:

For any other questions, please call the U.S. Office: +1.202.536.4555

Why Choose ITV Pilgrimages?

With more than 30 years of publishing Inside the Vatican magazine, we have colleagues and friends all over the world — and many of them have become part of our Pilgrimage family. 

Designing an Inside the Vatican pilgrimage begins with a theme or a particular country; then we weave in encounters with real people who live and work there, as well as those with expert knowledge in its historical and spiritual perspectives. Each day we will have the opportunity to attend Mass.  

Our itineraries include both world-renowned and little-known places, and every detail has been arranged to create a truly unique experience; we do not have cookie-cutter pilgrimages.  And our pilgrims appreciate the fact that we never exceed 33 pilgrims.  For our custom pilgrimages, we may exceed 33 pilgrims only at the client's request. 

Crafting an Inside the Vatican Pilgrimage  is about knowing firsthand what makes a place extraordinary, knowing personally the people involved, understanding how best to experience it and then finessing the countless details, moments and encounters both planned and spontaneous. Our thoughtful trip design, flexible pace and local connections are just a few of the reasons why our pilgrims often return to join us again for other pilgrimages.  

Whether you choose one of our intimate-sized Signature Pilgrimages , or Classic Pilgrimages with budget-friendly pricing, we work hard to ensure that every pilgrimage is a moving experience and an authentic spiritual journey for each pilgrim. 

Questions or Booking Assistance

Call our U.S. Office: +1.202.536.4555  Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET. If you call after hours, leave a message. You can email our office: [email protected]. 

Terms and Conditions

Before you book your trip with us, please read carefully our Terms and Conditions

Discount Codes

Use EARLY when you register on or before Monday, October 28, 2024 to receive a $150.00 discount.  Call us to inquire about any applicable discounts: U.S. Office +1 202.536.4555  Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm ET. You can email our office: [email protected]. 

What’s included

• Meals Four (4) breakfasts, three (3) lunches and two (2) dinners are included.
• Hotels Accommodations Four (4) nights
• Private Motor Coach Private, first-class motor coach bus and all group transfers are included
• Taxes and Fees All local taxes are included.
• Entrance Fees All entrance fees are included.
• Arrival Transfers Group Transfer from Chicago O'Hare International Airport / Chicago O'Hare International Airport Hilton Garden Inn
• Departure Transfers Group Transfer to Chicago O'Hare International Airport
• Custom Pilgrimage Book Personalized ITV pilgrim book

What’s not included

• Airfare Airfare to/from Chicago O'Hare International Airport
• Gratuities Gratuities payable to the bus driver.
• Meals Meals not specifically identified. - two (2) lunches and two (2) dinners
• Arrival Transfers Airport transfers for those not arriving within specified time frames to participate in the group transfers.
• Departure Transfers Airport transfers for those not arriving within specified time frames to participate in the group transfers.
• Other Personal Expenses Other personal expenses including, but not limited to, laundry services, minibar in hotel rooms, et cetera.
• Other Items not specifically mentioned in the pilgrimage description literature.

Available Packages

The listed price is per person for a single occupancy room. Airfare is not included.

The listed price is per person, based on double room occupancy (2 people sharing one room). Please note that airfare is not included in the price. If you are paying for both people staying in the double room, select a quantity of "2" to add both names to the reservation.

We will head north for Holy Hill where we will visit the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady Help of Christians and participate in a private Mass with fellow pilgrims.  

We will meet the Discalced Carmelite Friars who are entrusted with the care of this sacred place and will hear the rich history of this Basilica set atop a high hill overlooking 400 acres of forest. There will be a chance to explore the Basilica and walk the Stations of the Cross.  

From Holy Hill, we will travel to our hotel in the city of Manitowoc on the shore of Lake Michigan where we hope to meet Fr. Andrew Kurz, the priest who started The Wisconsin Way.  Fr. Kurz, if available, will share with us how his dream of starting a pilgrimage route through Wisconsin, comparable to that of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, became a reality.  He will share stories about the graces pilgrims have received on their journey along the Wisconsin Way and offer insights into the rich history of Catholicism and the deep roots of Marian Devotion in this beautiful state. 

Lunch and Dinner included.

After breakfast in the morning, we will leave Manitowoc for the historic town of St. Nazianz, arriving at the Holy Resurrection Monastery where we will join the monks for Divine Liturgy and then enjoy lunch in their refectory prepared by Abbott Moses, the chief baker and Culinary Institute of America-trained chef. After lunch, one of the monks will offer a reflection on monasticism and Byzantine Catholic spirituality after which, weather permitting, we will go for a short walk along the Wisconsin Way from the monastery to the chapel of our Lady of Loreto then back to the monastery.

We will visit a farm that houses a very special private chapel, the Mary Queen of our Hearts Chapel . The owner of the farm will share her story which explains the origins of this private chapel. 

In the afternoon, we will visit an authentic Wisconsin cheese shop and museum to sample fresh curds and discover the traditional art of cheesemaking.  

In the evening, we will enjoy traditional Wisconsin cuisine at a historic dining spot in downtown Manitowoc.

Breakfast and Lunch are included.

After breakfast, we will head to Champion to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion where we will attend Mass at the site of the first and only Church-approved Marian apparition in the United States.  

After Mass at the Shrine, we will have the opportunity to hear the story of Our Lady’s visitation to Adele Brise and to better appreciate the historic roots of Catholicism brought to Wisconsin by early immigrants.  There will be time for silent prayer and reflection followed by lunch at the Shrine’s cafe.

After lunch, pilgrims may be able to participate in enrollment in the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary at the Shrine in a brief ceremony. We hope that this will provide each person with a tangible way of entrusting themselves to Mary on their journey toward Christ. Anyone who enrolls will receive a certificate after the ceremony.  

From the Shrine, we will head down the road to the Curran Spirituality Center .  Completed in 2015 the Curran Spirituality Center is a charming Devotional Chapel and Rosary Prayer Garden open year round and is one of the spiritual places along Wisconsin Way pilgrimage.  

We will continue to a local vineyard and winery founded and owned by Catholics that supplies grapes for the annual blessing of the wine at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help. We will tour the vineyard and partake of tastings in the winery accompanied by seasonal charcuterie and local cheese. 

On the way home, we will visit roadside “rogation shrines” in the local area and learn how these important chapels were an integral part of the lives of Catholic immigrants in Wisconsin.

Breakfast and Lunch Included

After breakfast, our pilgrimage continues onward to the city of Green Bay into the heart of the Catholic Diocese in which the apparition of Our Lady of Champion was deemed “worthy of belief” by Rome, making it the first and only Church-approved Marian apparition in North America.    

Mass, on this feast day of St. Joseph the Worker, will be in the center of Green Bay at the National Shrine of St. Joesph.  

After Mass, we will visit the Norbertine Monastery in De Pere where we will have a private visit of the St. Norbert Abbey Church and Crypt.

We will then head towards the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion stopping along the way for lunch.  Once we arrive to the Shrine of Our Lady of Champion, we will have the opportunity to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in the Main Church, visit the History Center, the Apparition Chapel and Oratory.  

Breakfast and Dinner included.

After breakfast, we depart for Milwaukee where we will visit the Basilica of Shrine of St. Josaphat and attend our final private Mass together.  St. Josphat is a patron saint of Unity.  He died trying to heal the Great Schism -- between the Orthodox and the Catholics. After Mass, we will have lunch in downtown Milwaukee and visit other Catholic churches as times allows.  We head towards Chicago in the mid afternoon for early evening flights from Chicago O'Hare Airport . 

Breakfast included.

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Getting your itinerary right is essential for any destination you decide to travel to. The same goes for trips to Russia. There is a lot to see and do, but how do you decide what goes into your itinerary and what doesn't? We always suggest planning your Russia vacation with a travel expert that has organized multiple trips before. Yes, we're talking about ourselves. We know the ins and outs of this gorgeous destination, and we're ready to help you see the best of Russia. But are you ready, though? If you are considering booking an escorted tour of Russia, chat with us right away, and we will tailor-make an itinerary that suits your travel preferences and our premium travel values.

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• The State Hermitage Museum (Saint Petersburg)
• St. Basil's Cathedral (Moscow)
• The Grand Palace (Peterhof)
• Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood (Saint Petersburg)
• Peter and Paul Fortress (Saint Petersburg)
• Kul Sharif Mosque (Kazan) 
• Statue "The Heroes of the Battle of Stalingrad" (Volgograd)
• Lake Baikal (Listvyanka Village)
• Lena Pillars (Siberia)

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Moscow Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

Our 60 most popular moscow trips. compare tour itineraries from 45 tour companies. 308 reviews. 4.7/5 avg rating., popular moscow tours.

Lower Volga Voyage

• Visit magnificent Red Square and Kremlin and examine the collection at theKremlin’s State Armory.
• Experience Russia’s diverse musical traditions at lively folk music performances
• Explore Volgograd, the site of the decisive battle of World War II’s eastern front

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Winter

• Explore the majestic St Petersburg & Moscow on private city tours
• Admire the rich Russian history, art and architecture
• Travel to Moscow on a highspeed train
• Enjoy the local cuisine in stylish restaurants

Volga Dream Russian River Cruise

St Petersburg & Moscow in Style - Summer

White Russian - 7 days

• Discover Moscow's UNESCO-listed Red Square, home to spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum and the historic GUM Department store
• Explore the grounds of Moscow's mighty Kremlin, with its numerous governmentbuildings, gold-domed cathedrals and the giant tsar bell
• Celebrate New Year's Eve in Moscow!
• Take in the highlights of St Petersburg including a guided tour of the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the remarkable Hermitage Museum at the Winter Palace

Vodka Shot - 6 days

• Explore the beautiful city of St Petersburg, including the exquisite Church on Spilled Blood, Peter & Paul Fortress and Nevsky Prospekt
• Marvel at the dazzling array of art and exhibits in the world-famous Hermitage Museum, at the Winter Palace in St Petersburg
• Discover a lavish residence of the tsars on a day trip to Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo (winter: mid-October to April) or Peterhof Palace and gardens (summer: May to mid-October)
• Take in the highlights of the capital on a walking tour, visiting Moscow's famous Red Square, home to the historic GUM Department Store, Lenin’s Mausoleum and spectacular St Basil’s Cathedral
• Take a guided tour of the Moscow Kremlin, Russia’s political power house. Stroll around the grounds of this fortified complex, visit the Kremlin's cathedrals and see the mighty Tsar Bell

Route of the Romanovs - 10 days

• Learn about the last days of the Romanovs in Yekaterinburg, visiting the sites where Tsar Nicolas II and his family were assassinated and buried
• Straddle two continents at the famous obelisk Europe/Asia border marker in Yekaterinburg
• Experience the Trans-Siberian railway on an overnight train journey from Moscow to Yekaterinburg

New Year's in Moscow - 9 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo on Christmas Day and marvel at the incredible Amber Room
• Spend a night in Novgorod, an ancient city by the Volkhov River - explore the kremlin, cathedral and other sights and enjoy a traditional Russian banya (sauna)

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The Snowball - 6 days

• Visit Catherine Palace at Tsarkoe Selo and marvel at the incredible Amber Room

Mood for Moscow - 4 days

• Head underground to visit a Stalinist-era Soviet Bunker on an optional excursion
• Stroll to the vibrant Izmailovo Market, which lies behind the walls of an ancient Kremlin, and shop for an array of souvenirs

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Trip reviews, capitals of the north.

some hotels could have been better

It was jam packed with every place I wanted to go and see. I especially love my photo of us setting out on the night time river cruise in St Petersburg and the Peter...

I really did not buy much and what I did buy was small gifts for others .

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Good hotels, some better than others. Interesting itinerary

Too rushed. Optional tour rather too short

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‘I Am the One That Jesus Loves’—3 Doors Down Lead Singer Has Concertgoers Repeat Words of Apostle John

Brad Arnold, lead singer of 3 Doors Down, took a few minutes during the band’s set on the Summer of ‘99 tour in Hershey, Pennsylvania, to tell the crowd that Jesus loves them. 3 Doors Down is not a Christian band , but Arnold nevertheless led the people attending a secular concert to repeat the words, “I am the one that Jesus loves.”

“You are loved, you are enough, and you will win. Not only can you win, but you will win,” Arnold said. “You’ll always be enough for one reason—that’s because Jesus Christ loves you. Jesus Christ loves you so much that he made you just the way you are, just the way you’re standing there right now.”

• Brad Arnold: ‘You Are Loved’

Brad Arnold is a founding member of 3 Doors Down , a band from Escatawpa, Mississippi. The band formed in 1996 and is known for a number of hit singles, such as the enormously successful “Kryptonite,” which helped their debut album become certified 7x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Other hits include “Loser,” “When I’m Gone,” and “Here Without You.”

RELATED: Brian Welch of Korn Says God Led Him Back to the Band

On Aug. 23, 3 Doors Down performed with Finger Eleven and Creed at Hersheypark Stadium. A video captured by YouTube user Shannon Dusing and verified by PennLive News shows Arnold introducing the song, “Away From the Sun.” He told the audience that he tries not to speak too much during shows but “something was put on my heart two years ago to start speaking about.”

“Away From the Sun” is “probably my favorite song we’ve ever done,” said Arnold, “because I feel like I can identify with this song more than most of our songs.”

The lyrics to “Away From the Sun” read in part:

It’s down to this I’ve got to make this life make sense Can anyone tell what I’ve done? I miss the life I miss the colors of the world Can anyone tell where I am?

‘Cause now again I’ve found myself so far down Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place I’m so far down, away from the sun again Away from the sun again

Many people feel as though they will never be enough, said the lead singer: “This world surrounds us by a message that we’ll never be good enough, we’ll never be strong enough, we’ll never be beautiful enough, we’ll never be rich enough, whatever the case may be, and certainly that we’ll never win.”

Arnold mentioned that social media promotes such messages, which are “driven down our throats every day,” including the idea that “nobody really, really loves us.”

“My friends,” said Arnold, “I just want to take a second to tell you that that’s an absolute lie.”

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Table of contents

‘the voice’ finalist moves gwen stefani to tears with worship song; brandon lake expresses ‘gratitude’, 30 cogic leaders pass from covid-19: ‘it’s quite devastating’, ed and lisa young share leebeth’s cause of death, how god has been faithful, 25 christian celebrities who have been outspoken about their faith, pastor forced to leave ms church for speaking out on racial issues, latest articles, dennis quaid says ronald reagan ‘wouldn’t have been president without his faith in god’, ‘we were suffering’—amanda jenkins on her experience writing the latest bible study for ‘the chosen’, donald trump promises ivf paid for by government or insurance; pro-life christians spar over use of ivf , balancing proclamation and action in the lausanne movement: the ongoing debate in mission.

CHRISTIAN TOUR of ITALY

We offer tours that take in the history and heritage of several denominations, including Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist. If you don’t find a tour to your liking, we will create one just for you. If you should choose for us to customize your itinerary, we will do all the research for your tour so you can be sure every detail is properly handled.

Enchanting Italy!

Rome • Assisi • Florence • Verona • Pisa • Venice

HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TOUR

• Roundtrip airfare from New York or a city of your choice from the list below
• First Class Hotels, Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner Daily
• Deluxe, air-conditioned Motor coaches
• Visits to Sites as mentioned below
• Comprehensive Sightseeing per the Itinerary
• Professional Tour Manager
• Gratuities to Guide, Driver and Restaurant staff
• Airport taxes & airline fuel surcharges

Christian Tour of Italy Daily Itinerary:

Day 1 —  depart usa.

Depart USA on an overnight flight to Rome, Italy.

DAY 2 —  Arrive Rome

We arrive at the Rome airport and transfer our lodging for the next three nights. This afternoon we will take an afternoon tour of the Catacombs where thousands of Christians were buried in a remarkable tiered series of galleries.

DAY 3 —  Forum, Mamertine, Coliseum, Ostia Antica

We begin our walking tour at the ancient Roman Forum, where our guide will divulge its secrets. We will visit the Arch of Titus that commemorated the sack of Jerusalem by Titus in AD 70. We will view the Mamertine Prison exterior, where tradition says the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. The Roman church would say that Peter was imprisoned here as well, but there is no imperial evidence that Peter was ever in Rome. Next, we visit the Coliseum, where thousands of people and animals perished during gladiatorial games. The Coliseum first opened in AD 80 and within 100 days of its opening, 5000 wild beasts perished here. The slaughter of both humans and animals continued for three more centuries. Historians believe the Coliseum could hold between 40,000 and 80,000 people depending on how close the seating was. The floor has recently had a plank placed over the middle making it accessible for people to walk over the labyrinth of brick cells, ramps, and elevators used to transport animals and gladiators into the arena. Hear the stories of the games that have fascinated people for hundreds of years. We conclude our day at the ruins of Ostia Antica, which provides an excellent example of city life in classical times and the Ostian Gate, today called the Gate of St. Paul.

“Friendship Tours takes the “foreign” out of overseas travel.  Whenever we travel with Friendship Tours we feel right at home because where ever we go their staff has taken care of every detail to ensure our needs are met.”

DAY 4 —  Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s, Scala Santa, Abbey of Three Fountains, St. Paul Outside the Wall

After breakfast you will begin a full day of site seeing. First visit Vatican City where you will see the Basilica at St. Peter, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums with stunning works of art at every turn. After some free time for lunch, you will stop at The Abbey of the Three Fountains , the traditional site of Paul’s martyrdom and the ancient street that he walked on. Next, visit the 4th century Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls , the site of Paul’s tomb, and the Scala Santa, where Martin Luther made his stand against the practice of indulgences. This fascinating museum houses the Steps from Pilot’s Judgment Hall in Jerusalem brought to Rome by Helena, the mother of Constantine. Additional sights include the Arches of Constantine and Titus , Circus Maximus and the beautiful marble monument called the Wedding Cake.

DAY 5 —  Frescoes, Assisi, Florence

After breakfast you will say “Arrivederci Roma” and board your coach and travel through scenic Umbria to the ancient walled hillside village of Assisi. After lunch on your own, you will enjoy a guided tour of this beautiful, medieval town, which will include the Basilica San Francesco, decorated with some of the most renowned frescoes in the world. The stories of the sacrificial life of St. Francis will be an encouragement to us all. Our home for the next two evenings is in the beautiful city of Florence, the heart of charming Tuscany.

DAY 6 — Beautiful Florence, Michelangelo’s David

You will spend the morning enjoying a guided tour of Florence, one of the world’s greatest artistic capitals, which will include the Piazza della Signoria, Duomo, Baptistery and a visit to the Academia Galley, home of Michelangelo’s David. A stop will also be made on the hillside overlook across the river from Florence where we will enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful red-tiled roof cityscape. This afternoon is at your leisure to enjoy shopping, visiting more galleries or strolling on the famous Pont Vecchio, the old bridge that spans the Arno River. Remember that Florence leather shops are the best in the world and bargains on excellent quality goods are abundant. It may be the time to purchase those special Christmas gifts.

DAY 7 — Pisa & Verona

The sightseeing this morning includes a tour of Pisa where you will visit the Baptistery, Duomo and the famous leaning tower in the Piazza dei Miracoli. This afternoon we stop in romantic Verona, medieval setting of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, with a walk through the historic center/shopping district to see the famed balcony of Juliet. Our lodging for the next two evenings will be in Venice Mestre.

DAY 8 — Charming Venice

Start the morning sightseeing in style as your guide takes you by private boat along the Giudecca canal to meet your resident expert. Highlights of your walking tour are St. Mark’s Square and the Byzantine splendor of St. Mark’s Basilica, lavish Doges’ Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. Afterwards enjoy Venice at your own pace, or join an optional gondola ride through the picturesque canl system, visit the many charming shops and take photos galore.

DAY 9 — Venice  USA

This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight home.

“After using several different tour operators I now travel exclusively with Friendship Tours.  Your organization has taken care of all of our tour needs since 2005”

SPECIAL RATES

Our rates below are all inclusive and include a 20% bundle savings. All passengers pay for are their lunches & souvenirs.  There are no hidden charges!

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Please fill out the form below and one of our travel experts will follow up with you with additional information about our travel packages and answer any questions you may have.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR TOUR FROM YOUR GATEWAY CITY

If you have a group of 20 or more we will create a custom tour for you with an itinerary of your choosing including your own private motor coach. We will price your tour from your gateway city. Then we will print a custom brochure personalized to your group. We will offer our suggestions to complement your ideas in order to achieve the best possible program for your group. We are happy to design any program you like. Flexibility is part of our service to you.

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Questions to consider when selecting your Tour Company

  research is key to selecting the right company, please read this carefully before you sign up with any tour company.

What is the Tour Company’s main focus?

Several vacation tour companies have attempted to make inroads into the Christian

Pilgrimage market. Friendship Tours only specializes in Christian pilgrimages. We do not sell vacation packages to other countries. Christian Pilgrimages is all we do and we do it well!

What knowledge does the company have about their guides?

The owners of Friendship Tours personally screen and select all of our guides.  We choose guides who are flexible and responsive to the needs of our group leaders.  Our guides are well informed with a broad base of knowledge in both the Old and New Testament. Our guides make us successful and this is why our group leaders re-book year after year with us.

How long has the company been around?

After 9/11 several companies avoided refunding churches the tour payments and closed shop only to re-open under a different name. Friendship Tours has been in business since 1982 and has refunded all travelers their money.  Every client was cared for after 9/11. This level of service and trust is important in the ever-changing world we live in.

Are the company owners Christian?

Friendship Tours is a Christian Company.  We consider our work to be the work of God on behalf of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We understand Christian Pilgrimage and we make every effort to help you in planning a meaningful, memorable and faithful experience.

What financial protection does the company offer?

Friendship Tours carries high limits of liability insurance that protects the churches that work with us. We adhere to all US government over sight with regard to Financial regulations. We have strict company policies prohibiting the commingling of client deposits. This is a critical component of our integrity. During difficult times some companies will use customer deposits to survive and run out of funds to service their group commitments.  Friendship Tours is a member of the Better Business Bureau with an “A” rating. Friendship Tours has the best buying power due to our long-standing professional relations with all international airlines offering us the lowest airfares with the best connections. Our buying power for ground services is reflected in the prices we are able to offer. Very few

Companies are able to do what we do. How do we do it? Very simple. As a wholesale Tour Operator, we work on large volume of passengers and pass the savings on to our clients.  This is our mission.  This is a ministry entrusted to us by God.  At every turn we will seek to be faithful to you and our mission.  Our

Tagline says it all. “We build lasting relations. One client at a time.”

Christian Group Tours of Italy

If you’re considering Christian tours of Italy for your next vacation, it’s time to book Friendship Tours’ latest excursion, Enchanting Italy!

The world is open to travelers again. The Italian culture is known to be a welcoming one, and business owners as well as local citizens are eager to embrace visitors from all over the world once more.

Our all-inclusive tours of Italy are just that. We provide the transportation, meals, guides, and experiences, and you bring your eagerness to explore some of the most important sites in the history of Christianity.

Traveling with our Christian-guides tours of Italy will enhance your personal experience and deepen your faith as you visit some of the most beautiful places on earth.

Italy is beloved for its importance to Catholicism. The Vatican has been considered to be the seat of the Catholic Church since the fourth century when the basilica was constructed over St. Peter’s grave in Rome. Since that time, Vatican City has developed into one of the most popular pilgrimage sites for Christians from all walks of life.

Faithful Catholics aren’t the only Christians interested in learning more about the Roman Empire’s influence on the spread of Christianity. The Roman government once considered this fledgling faith as little more than a superstition that posed a threat to traditional Roman life.

However, it was faithful Christians who spread the word about the religion of Christ, and by AD 250, more than 25,000 Christians were known to live in Rome and the surrounding areas.

Today, Italy welcomes the faithful from all sectors. Catholics, Protestants, Methodists, Muslims, Buddhists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Hindus, Jews, and more live and work together among the shadows of ancient ruins and modern buildings alike.

At Friendship Tours, our goal is to enrich the lives of other Christians by offering affordable travel options to places that will inspire their souls. When you choose Friendship Tours, you become part of our travel family. All of our tours are designed with your enrichment and comfort in mind.

For more than 40 years, the Friendship Tours team has worked to establish partnerships with vendors all across Italy so that we can provide our customers with a worry-free travel experience that exceeds their expectations.

Whether you want to visit Italy to enhance your personal spiritual journey or to enjoy Christian-based travel with your family or a church group, the team at Friendship Tours does everything we can to make the process of travel planning easy and affordable.

To fulfill our mission of giving back, we offer one free trip for every five paying travelers. It is our pleasure to extend the gift of travel to a family member, parishioner, or ministry staff who could not otherwise join you in this experience.

What to Expect from Our All-Inclusive Italy Group Tours

Members of our Italy group tours enjoy all-inclusive pricing with no surprise charges. You will stay in upscale accommodations and enjoy entertaining tours led by our vetted and well-informed guides. To provide you with the best experience, all of our guides have a broad base of biblical knowledge and historical expertise. We offer tours designed to explore the history of several different Christian denominations, including Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Lutheran. We will also be happy to create a tour that is customized to your preferences.

Let us know your interests, and we will do all the research necessary to make sure you experience the trip of a lifetime.

Food, Lodging, and Transportation

The least you should expect from all-inclusive travel is to cover basic necessities, such as food, lodging, and transportation. At Friendship Tours, we provide the basics and so much more.

Our guests stay in 4-star hotels and enjoy a hearty breakfast and delicious dinner every day of travel. We find our guests prefer the flexibility of having lunch on their own.

Each hotel in our network is closely inspected to ensure it meets our standards for cleanliness, friendly service, comfort, and amenities. Your travel price includes gratuities for restaurant staff at group meals as well as gratuities for your guide and driver.

All transportation needed for the excursions listed in the daily itinerary, as well as any attached fees and taxes, are also included in the advertised cost. Some of these excursions include:

• An afternoon tour of the Roman Catacombs
• A walking tour of the Roman Forum and Coliseum
• A tour of Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel
• A visit to Academia Galleria in Florence
• Sightseeing in Pisa, including the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa
• A walking tour of St. Mark’s Square in Venice

This is only a portion of the planned activities included in your travel package. You will also have ample time to explore each city on your own for shopping or to simply enjoy an afternoon cappuccino as you reflect on all you have seen and done.

Meet Our Expert Guides

We take the time to personally vet and interview every guide we employ for our Italy group tours. Not only are our guides knowledgeable about the locations they are visiting, but they also have a deep understanding of Italy’s modern and historical importance in the world of Christianity.

If you have traveled on one of our Christian tours of Italy in the past, don’t be surprised to find your guide is a familiar face. Knowledgeable, friendly guides who love God and truly care about guest experience are among our company’s greatest assets. We strive to build long-term relationships that benefit everyone involved.

What Is Included in Your 10-Day Itinerary?

Your tour of Italy will begin when you depart from one of our designated major airports and arrive in Rome, Italy. Friendship Tours will pick you up at the Rome airport and transfer you to the hotel where you will stay for the next three nights. From Rome, your group will board your luxury coach and travel to Umbria to the village of Assisi. After a full day of sightseeing, you’ll travel to nearby Florence in the heart of Tuscany. Day six will find you strolling through the iconic Piazza della Signoria and over the Pont Vecchio Bridge for shopping and sightseeing.

Next up is a sightseeing morning in Pisa and an afternoon in Verona, followed by spending the next two evenings at the beautiful Venice Mestra Hotel.

Transportation to the airport for your flight home on day nine is included in your travel package.

All airfare to and from designated airports, transportation, guide and driver fees, lodging, taxes, fees and gratuities, and two meals a day (breakfast and dinner) are included in the package price. You will need extra money for any shopping and personal expenses, including daily lunches.

Friendship Tours has been providing Christian tours of Italy since 1982. We consider our work to be in praise of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Building our business on this rock means we make every effort to ensure our guests have a meaningful, memorable experience that honors their religious beliefs and practices.

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Are you ready to experience one of our faith-based tours of Italy? We can make your dream come true at an affordable price.

Our tours are perfect for the single traveler who enjoys some privacy but also loves sharing new experiences with other Christians. They are also excellent for couples, families, and church groups who want to extend their fellowship through travel.

Our travel partners are eager to help you plan and book the trip of a lifetime — or one of many. We offer a range of tours, including cruises, pilgrimages, and clergy trips all at competitive prices. To learn more about our Christian travel options, including tours of Italy, Israel, Turkey, Greece, and Jordan, contact us today.

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World Tour: Regulating churches in Rwanda

WORLD Radio - World Tour: Regulating churches in Rwanda

The Rwandan government shutters thousands of churches for not complying with the law

Rwandans at the Evangelical Restoration Church in Kigali, Rwanda, April 6, 2014 Associated Press/Photo by Ben Curtis

LINDSAY MAST, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It : World Tour…

Last month Rwanda closed more than 56-hundred churches and mosques. What’s behind the closures and is it a case of religious persecution?

Onize Ohikere is out this week so WORLD Radio Executive Producer Paul Butler has the story.

AUDIO : [RWANDA PENTECOSTAL CHURCH]

PAUL BUTLER: The number of Evangelical churches in Rwanda exploded in the years following the 1994 genocide. Some missiologists described the surge as a revival … others suggested it was a reaction against the Catholic Church who many Rwandans felt was complicit or at least passive during the violence.

So, Evangelical churches started sprouting up everywhere. Sometimes in buildings that were unsafe, lacked basic amenities, or in the middle of highly populated areas.

Many Evangelical Rwandan services are exuberant. Congregants dance as singers and musicians lead in worship. And it’s not uncommon for PA systems to be pushed beyond their limits…as speakers distort and the sound carries far from the church building.

Many of these young churches haven’t exactly been good neighbors. Complaints over noise pollution and traffic jams are common…as church-goers clog streets around these make-shift church buildings without adequate parking.

But there are bigger concerns. In 2012, a scandal within one of the largest Rwandan Pentecostal denominations raised doubts over the level of oversight and training of local pastors.

PETER GITAU: Churches were basically just not doing the right thing.

Peter Gitau is the Central Africa regional administrator for Africa Inland Mission.

GITAU: And so the government decided to come up with these new rules.

In 2018 the Rwanda Governance Board—or RGB—closed more than 700 churches in the capital city of Kigali. Audio here from CBN:

CBN : Thousands of Evangelical churches in Rwanda are being temporarily shut down…it’s because of a new government requirement…

Many of those churches reopened, but the new law served as a warning shot across the bow…reform or be shut down. Rwanda gave all faith-based organizations five years to comply with the new regulations.

Again, Peter Gitau:

GITAU: The government doesn't want churches to be, you know, kind of be in the wild west…

The RGB regulations require all faith based organizations—including churches—to register with the government. All places of worship must meet basic building standards, include working bathrooms, and at least some on-site parking. Church services have to fall within reasonable decibel levels, or else install sound treatment to minimize the disturbances to neighbors. Plus, pastors or equivalent church leaders must achieve an acceptable level of theological training—based on denominational or umbrella organization standards.

GITAU: Five years is enough time for people to get at least a diploma in something…It's enough time for you to fix your bathrooms and your leaking roof, to put some sound proofing…in your building.

Some faith based organizations took the timeline seriously and began implementing immediate improvements. But others couldn’t afford to make the changes, or saw the five year deadline and put off planning. Then …

AUDIO: This looks like the world is ending. You have Corona. This is a crisis…

And many churches focused on more pressing matters.

The law’s deadline arrived last September. The Rwanda Governance Board began an extensive program checking in on more than 13,000 houses of worship. By the end of July this year, their site surveys were complete. As a result, they shut down more than 56-hundred churches.

GITAU: I don't think this time around, people were unawares. People knew this was coming.

The current Chief Executive Officer of the Rwanda Governance Board is Kaitesi Usta. Two weeks ago she appeared on a weekly TV panel program to defend the RGB’s action.

RGB SPOKESWOMAN: This is a law abiding country. We've decided to be a country governed by the rule of law. It's being compliant. That’s what faith is about in the general sense…

One Pentecostal pastor on the panel insisted that the RGB shouldn’t treat all churches across the country the same.

PASTOR KAWAGAM BEZIZA JULIUS: I will not have much problem with the standards and settings, but I have a problem with the implementation side of it…

Pastor Julius argues that some of the churches the RGB shut down for not having adequate parking include congregations where almost no one has cars or motorbikes. Another church meets in a remote area and shouldn’t be shut down because sound levels exceed the maximum allowed. And Pastor Julius was also upset over the government’s characterization that worship is noise.

JULIUS: Worshiping God is not noise pollution…

The RGB CEO Kaitesi Usta responded:

RGB SPOKESWOMAN: So I think some of these things are just more scientific than spiritual. They are more realistic than spiritual. But, the level of worship and preaching is about listening and hearing...

Peter Gitau of African Inland Mission believes the regulations may actually be an opportunity for the Evangelical church in Rwanda…to attempt to live at peace with their neighbors—as much as they can—and to remember that untrained and unaccountable church leaders often lead to trouble:

GITAU: Do you want just anyone running a church? Because in places, in a lot of places in Africa, that has proven to be not a good thing…

That said, Gitau acknowledges that now there are many Rwandans who can no longer go to church where they once did. However…

GITAU: No one is saying you cannot meet in each other's houses for fellowship. They're just saying, fix your fix your place. And you know you can meet there.

Gitau is unwilling to reveal whether he believes the regulations are more intrusive than they need to be. But even if they are, he says it’s important to not lose sight of one more opportunity.

GITAU: We can never stop praying for governments. I think, you know, the Lord put them there, although there are many times we wish he didn't, but the Lord put them there. We can not stop praying for those…

For WORLD Radio, I’m Paul Butler.

WORLD Radio transcripts are created on a rush deadline. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of WORLD Radio programming is the audio record.

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Pope francis expresses concern over ukraine's ban on russian-linked church.

Pope Francis has expressed concern over a newly passed law in Ukraine that bans groups with historic ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, seeing it as an attack on religious freedom.

In official remarks on Sunday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church said he was “thinking about the laws recently adopted in Ukraine” regarding Orthodox churches.

“I fear for the freedom of those who pray, because those who truly pray always pray for all,” said Francis. “A person does not commit evil because of praying.”

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“If someone commits evil against his people, he will be guilty for it, but he cannot have committed evil because he prayed. So let those who want to pray be allowed to pray in what they consider their Church. Please, let no Christian Church be abolished directly or indirectly. Churches are not to be touched!”

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law banning groups that had ties to Russia, claiming that it's part of a national security measure.

The law effectively bans the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has historic ties to the Moscow patriarch but announced that it was severing those ties in May 2022 in opposition to the war.

The new ban does not apply to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which was officially recognized by most global Orthodox Church leadership in 2019 and is independent of Russian influence.

“Ukrainian orthodoxy today is taking a step toward liberation from the devils of Moscow,” stated Zelensky in an address made Saturday evening, according to CNN.

The new law will give entities like the UOC nine months to sever ties with Russia or be shut down. While the UOC already technically did so in 2022, Ukrainian authorities claim that the links remain.

Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, multiple allegations  have surfaced of UOC-affiliated clergy and facilities helping spread pro-Russian propaganda.

Last week, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s Legislature, passed the bill, with lawmaker Iryna Herashchenko calling it “a historic vote” that “bans a branch of the aggressor country in Ukraine.”

Wesley J. Smith, chair of the Discovery Institute's Center on Human Exceptionalism, contends that the new law violates the religious freedom of churches that want to remain with the UOC.

"The dispute about whether the Ukrainian Orthodox Church or the Orthodox Church of Ukraine legitimately represents Ukrainian Orthodoxy is a matter for the Orthodox Church to work out," wrote Smith for  National Review .

"But the government of Ukraine should not decide which church is 'legitimate' and which is not, which can operate openly and which should be suppressed."

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