Orthodox Tours is pleased to offer our best selling Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, a life changing journey through the sacred sites of Israel, following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. This deeply spiritual experience offers opportunities for prayer, reflection, and renewed faith.
Our pilgrimage begins in Galilee, where we will visit Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry, and Nazareth, where He spent His early years. We will visit the ancient synagogue in Capernaum and the Basilica of the Annunciation, commemorating the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary.
From there, we travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ, where we will enter the Church of the Nativity and venerate the site of His birth. Our journey culminates in Jerusalem, where we will walk the Via Dolorosa, pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, stand on the Mount of Olives, and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built over the sites of the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
We will also explore important archaeological sites that illuminate the biblical world and deepen our understanding of Scripture and the historical context of Christ’s life and ministry.
This pilgrimage is more than a tour. It is an invitation to encounter the Living Word, Jesus Christ, in the land where He walked. It is an opportunity to reconnect with our spiritual heritage, grow in faith, and experience the Gospel in a profoundly personal way.
Invite a friend. Come and see. Space is limited and offered on a first come, first served basis.

Arrival to Tel Aviv, Israel. (Airport code: TLV). Meeting at the airport with your guide, group transfer to the hotel in Nazareth.

After Divine Liturgy, our pilgrimage will begin with visits to the sacred sites surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Our first stop will be Magdala (Luke 8:2), where we will visit the recently uncovered synagogue dating back to the time of our Lord. From there, we will continue to Ginosar to view the famous “Jesus Boat,” an ancient fishing vessel discovered in the waters of the Galilee. Next, we will travel to Tabgha (Luke 9:10–17), the traditional site of the miraculous multiplication of the loaves and fishes, where we will pause for prayer and reflection. In the afternoon, we will explore the ruins of Capernaum—referred to in the Gospel as “His own city” (Matthew 9:1). Here, we will see the remains of the house believed to have belonged to the Apostle Peter, as well as the ancient synagogue where Jesus preached. Our final stop of the day will be the beautiful Orthodox Church of the Twelve Apostles, located adjacent to the ruins that cared for by the Franciscans. Return for dinner and overnight to Nazareth.

On our second day in Galilee, we will begin in the town of Nazareth the place where the Archangel Gabriel announced the Good News to the Virgin Mary, and where Christ spent His early years with His Most Holy Mother and the righteous Joseph. Nazareth is home to two significant churches that commemorate this sacred event. The first is an Orthodox church built over a spring, known as Mary’s Well, where, according to local tradition, the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38). The second is a much larger Catholic basilica, constructed over the remains of the house of the carpenter Joseph.

Just before lunch, we will ascend Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:1–8; Mark 9:2–8; Luke 9:28–36; 2 Peter 1:16–18), the site of the Lord’s glorious and wondrous Transfiguration.

From Mount Tabor, we will travel to the town of Lod, ancient Lydda, to pray at the tomb of the Holy Great Martyr and Warrior Saint George. After offering prayers and receiving anointing at the martyr's tomb, we will begin our ascent toward the Holy City of Jerusalem. Our final stop of the day will be Emmaus Nicopolis (Luke 24:13–35), the ancient site believed to be where the Risen Lord appeared to His disciples following His glorious Resurrection. Hotel accommodations: Bethlehem.

The Transfiguration, the apse mosaic in St. Catherine’s Monastery, 548–565. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Today, we will begin our day with a Liturgy and a visit to the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem (Luke 2), built on the very spot where our Savior was born. From there, we will continue to the Shepherds’ Field (Luke 2:7), where a Greek Orthodox monastery marks the traditional site of the angelic apparition announcing the birth of the Messiah to humble yet devout shepherds. In the afternoon, we will visit Ein Karem, a historic village that was an important Jewish settlement during the late Second Temple period and later gained great significance in Christian tradition. According to the Gospel of Luke, John the Baptist was born here, in what is described as a “town in the hill country of Judea.” (Luke 1:39).

Time permitting: we will visit the Monastery of the Holy Cross. According to Church tradition, it was on this very site that the tree from which the Holy Cross was made once grew. Pious pilgrims continue to visit this sacred place, which lies tucked behind the main altar of one of Jerusalem’s oldest and most remarkable monasteries. Return to Bethlehem for dinner and overnight

Today, we will begin our journey in Bethany, a village not far from Jerusalem that the Lord loved to visit, as it was home to His dear friends Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. Here, we will visit the Tomb of Lazarus (John 11:1–44) and the Russian Ecclesiastical School for Palestinian girls.

We will then ascend the Mount of Olives to visit the Monastery of the Ascension (Luke 24:50–53), traditionally believed to be the place from which the Lord ascended into heaven. From there, we will explore the Mount of Olives and the Kidron Valley, retracing the steps of our Lord's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and His saving Passion. One of the stops will be the Tomb of the Prophets, an intriguing underground catacomb-like site, considered one of the earliest places of Christian worship in the Jerusalem area. Nearby, we will pause at a scenic viewpoint offering the most breathtaking panorama of the Holy City believed to be the place where the Savior wept over Jerusalem and its people, who so tragically rejected their salvation. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

In the morning, we will visit the Convent of St. Mary Magdalene, a Russian Imperial foundation that houses the relics of the martyred Grand Duchess Elisabeth. Located nearby is the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32), the place where Christ’s Passion began. Here, we will also visit the beautiful Basilica of the Agony.

Then we will transfer to the Old City for a visit of a captivating and educational exhibit dedicated to the Shroud of the Lord, offering insights into His Passion and the burial practices of antiquity. After a brake, we will continue our pilgrimage in the Holy City, praying at the sacred sites associated with our Lord’s Passion. Our first stop will be the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, a vast and awe-inspiring ecclesiastical complex that includes some of the holiest sites in all of Christendom: Golgotha (Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22; Luke 23:33; John 19:17), the Stone of Anointing, and the Tomb of the Lord the place of His Glorious Resurrection. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

In the morning we will continue to several holy sites associated with the Passion and miracles of our Lord. These include the site of His imprisonment, the Lithostrotos (John 19:13), and the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2), where Christ healed the paralytic. From there, we will travel to Mount Zion to visit the recently reopened Basilica of the Dormition of the Mother of God, beautifully restored and built on the site believed to be the house where the Most Holy Theotokos fell asleep in the Lord. Nearby, we will stop at the so-called Tomb of David, a site traditionally venerated as the burial place of King David. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Today will be a day at leisure.

Alternatively, we invite you to join us on a unique archaeological journey through Jerusalem. This optional tour will include visits to the Temple Mount and the Davidson Archaeological Park, which surrounds the southern part of the Temple Mount. We will also explore the Jewish Quarter, featuring the Roman Cardo and the ancient fortifications of pre-Babylonian Jerusalem. After a lunch break, we will visit the Museum of Israel , the country’s largest archaeological museum. Highlights include a detailed scale model of Jerusalem as it appeared in the 1st century AD, as well as a remarkable collection of antiquities spanning all the Biblical periods. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

Early morning Liturgy. After Liturgy, we will visit the city of Jericho (Joshua 6; Matthew 20:29–34; Mark 10:46–52; Luke 18:35–43), one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Within Jericho’s boundaries are numerous fascinating sites where we can reflect on key events from both the Old and New Testaments.

Not far from the city flows the River Jordan. We will stop to view its muddy, narrow waters—more of a stream than a river by modern standards. The traditional site of the Lord’s Baptism lies on the opposite bank, now across an international border. Over the centuries, the river has shifted course through the soft desert soil, leaving the ruins of the ancient baptismal basilica seemingly in the middle of dry land. Still, we will get as close as possible to this sacred site.

Our final visit of the day will be to the Monastery of St. Gerasimos of the Jordan, dedicated to the renowned 5th-century ascetic, who is also remembered through the beloved hagiographical tale of the lion he rescued and cared for.

We will then return to Jerusalem for a dinner and an overnight stay.

For those who wish, the pilgrimage will continue to the other side of the Jordan. Following our visit to Jericho, we will cross the Jordan River and, after completing the necessary border formalities, enter the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We will then transfer to an Orthodox pilgrim house near the Jordan River. Dinner and overnight stay.

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport in Tel Aviv (Airport code: TLV). Departure back home

For the part of the group that will continue to Jordan, the day of March 15 will unfold as follows:
After breakfast, we will visit the site recently identified as the most likely location of "Bethany beyond the Jordan" (John 1:28), the place where our Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist. Nearby is the hill from which, according to tradition, the Prophet Elijah (2 Kings 2) was taken up into Heaven in a fiery chariot. This sacred area is rich in early Christian history and marked by numerous Byzantine ruins. The site is also closely associated with the Venerable Mary of Egypt, whose life and witness continue to be venerated by local Christians today.
We will then visit Mount Nebo, where the lawgiver Moses viewed the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34), the closest he ever came to entering it.
For lunch, we will transfer to Madaba (Numbers 21:30 and Joshua 13:9), a small town known for its Byzantine churches and remarkable mosaics, including a 6th-century map of the Holy Land that offers insight into Christian pilgrimage during its Golden Era.
Time and daylight permitting, our final stop will be Mukawir, the site of Herod’s palace and, according to Josephus Flavius, the likely location of the tragic events surrounding the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–27; Luke 9:9).
From there, we will journey three hours south to the “rose city” of Petra for dinner and overnight. Overnight: Petra

Petra is identified by many scholars with the Biblical Sela (likely mentioned in Isaiah 16:1 and 2 Kings 14:7) and traditionally recognized as the burial place of Aaron, the brother of Moses (Numbers 20:27–29) is one of the most fascinating archaeological sites in the world. This ancient Nabatean city, carved entirely into rose-colored rock cliffs, stands as a breathtaking testament to human ingenuity and endurance. Once a thriving center of trade and culture, Petra later became a refuge for early Christians and even housed churches carved into the rock, indicating a vibrant Christian presence in later centuries. We will spend most of the day exploring its remarkable ruins, including temples, tombs, fortifications, a Roman-style theater, and other structures etched into stone. Before our main visit, we will begin the day at Little Petra, a smaller but equally captivating site just a few miles away, believed to have served as a suburb or lodging area for visiting traders and travelers. We remain in Petra for dinner and overnight. Overnight: Petra

This morning, we depart Petra and begin our journey back toward Madaba. Just outside Petra, we will visit Moses’ Spring, traditionally associated with the place where Moses struck the rock with his staff, causing water to gush forth for the people of Israel (Numbers 20:7–11). According to tradition, this spring marks the site where Moses provided water for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness. From there, we continue to Shobak Castle, originally known as Krak de Montreal or Mons Regalis. Built by King Baldwin I of Jerusalem, it was the first Crusader outpost established east of the Jordan River, strategically positioned to guard the vital trade route between Egypt and Syria. Despite withstanding numerous sieges, the fortress eventually fell to Saladin’s forces in 1189. Today, many of its towers and walls remain intact, adorned with Islamic inscriptions dating back to the 14th century. We then continue to the ruins of Um Rassas (Roman and Byzantine Kastron Mefaa or Biblical Mephaat, as mentioned in Jeremiah 48:21), a remote Byzantine era settlement and monastic complex. Among its notable remains is what is believed to be the only surviving stylite column, a pillar once used by an ascetic monk who lived atop it in devotion and prayer. At the end of the day, we arrive in Amman for a farewell dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Breakfast and departure back home from the airport in Amman (Airport code: AMM).