Travel

Experience the Holy Land

Why Visit the Holy Land?

• For an unforgettable, faith-deepening pilgrimage to the setting of Jesus' life and ministry
• To meet, worship with, and get to know the descendants of the first Christians
• To build a relationship with the members and leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land and see how the world's only Arabic speaking Lutheran church ministers to its context
• To experience the daily lives and challenges of Christians, Jews, and Muslims in the Holy Land
• To go behind the headlines and inform yourself about a political situation of significance to the world
• To learn about efforts toward a permanent and just peace.

Tour Planning
and Coordinating Providers

The ELCA Peace Not Walls staffers know that many commercial tour companies plan and lead effective group visits to the Holy Land. These listed below have been recommended by numerous ELCA trip leaders.  Each also has a stated commitment to and demonstrated track record of providing exposure to a range of Palestinian and Israeli experiences and perspectives and to the region's Christian population and Lutheran ministries. They also agree to make responsible use of Palestinian tour providers while in the Holy Land. Please be assured that the ELCA receives no financial compensation for recommending these companies. We simply want to share our expertise and support your trip planning process by providing this information.  

CrossingBorders, Inc.    |    Group Travel Directors, Inc..

Whomever you choose, we encourage you to:

• Interview several tour companies about how their services may support your proposed group program. Before doing so, have a clear idea of your goals and objectives for the experience.
• What is your leadership style and role?
• Who are the people who are likely to travel with you (ages, international travel experience, physical abilities, etc.)?
• What are the "must-do" parts of the experience?
• Are there specific sites, worship experiences, opportunities to dialogue with local folks, visits to mission projects, exposure to new viewpoints which are critical to the experience?

These questions open the dialogue for your tour planning process and will give you a sense for how you and the tour company can work together. After some time discussing your needs, it should become clearer which company is the best fit for your specific needs as well as your style of leadership. Select one tour company that is best suited to support your objectives, format and style, then:

• Request a formal proposal from the one tour company you have selected. Your time in planning this experience will be significant, as is that of the company you're working with to design a program especially for you and your community. This is the first step in a building process that will continue throughout the planning and operating of your tour.