Travel Tips

Taking a trip to Israel is the dream of most Christian people. This is because it is in the land of Israel that most of the stories in the Bible took place. There are so many interesting places for a Christian to visit because so many of the landmarks remind them of important passages and people in the Bible.

One place that Christians will want to visit when taking Holy Land tours is the city of Nazareth. This is most well-known as the place where Jesus grew up and also the place where his mother, Mary, received the news that she would give birth. We also know that Jesus began his ministry in Nazareth, although he was not well received by the people. Downtown Nazareth is where the Church of the Annunciation is located. The church is the largest in the Middle East and contains artwork of Jesus and Mary from around the world.

Israel tours will also take you to the Sea of Galilee. It was here that Jesus first began calling his disciples, as they fished in this beautiful sea. Near this place, Jesus took a few small loaves and fishes from a boy’s lunch and fed over 5,000 people as he taught. Peter’s greatest catch of fish was on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus found him and called him once again after the crucifixion. You will also find beautiful mountains here, the valley of Hazor, the city of Dan, and Caesarea Philippi.

Jewish tours would not be complete without a visit to the city of Galilee and its surrounding areas. In Galilee, you will also see the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus traditionally gave the Sermon on the Mount, which contains the Beatitudes in the Bible. There is a beautiful garden here and an ancient Franciscan church that shows the eight beatitudes in glass that is artistically stained. Near here is a baptismal site along the Jordan River. Here is where John the Baptist baptized his cousin, Jesus. Many Christians come to this area to be baptized in the Jordan River.

Masada is a fortress that was built by King Herod in 30 BC and is full of history and interesting exhibits. He built it as a refuge for himself and it was conquered by Jewish zealots in 68 BC who made it their own stronghold. The remains of Masada have been well preserved and reconstructed, including King Herod’s northern palace. Mosaic floors and decorated walls cover a Roman style bath house near the palace. Murals and embellishments cover the walls of the buildings in Masada and Italian experts restored and preserved them. The fortress is very high and must be reached by a very long flight of stairs or a cable car that runs from the tourist center at the base of Masada to the top.

No tour to Israel would be complete without a visit to the Dead Sea, which is famous for its health benefits. The unique climate in the region has claimed to have aided in various types of sicknesses. Because of the pressure from the higher atmosphere, people who have respiratory dysfunctions, such as cystic fibrosis, find relief at the Dead Sea. People are able to sunbathe for here for longer periods of time and not get the harmful and dangerous effects of extended exposure to the sun’s rays. Even people with psoriasis and other skin disorders have found relief from the waters of this unique and well known sea.

Of course, there are other important places to visit while in Israel, such as Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Bethlehem, Via Dolorosa, and the Mount of Olives. These sites take us to a time and place long ago, the times we read about in the Bible. Walking the same paths as many biblical characters can give one a sense of deep emotional and spiritual blessing. Your Christian faith will be strengthened with the wonderful memories you will experience on your tour of Israel.

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