April 2025 Bible Study Tour of Israel
Shalom Travelers! On this page, you will find all of the information about the tour. I will keep this page updated with the latest information. Much more of the information on this page will be filled in as we get closer to the tour. But, this page will be a resource for you to use as a collection of all of the tour information,
Contact Information
Barry Britnell - barry.britnell@appianexpeditions.com
Date
March 31-April 11, 2025
Airline Information
Departing Flights to Israel:
Lufthansa Airlines #439 - Departing Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) at 3:50pm on Monday, March 31, Arriving Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) at 8:55am on Tuesday, April 1.
Lufthansa Airlines #686 - Departing Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) at 10:15am on Tuesday, April 1, Arriving Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) at 3:25pm on Tuesday, April 1.
Returning Flights from Israel:
Austrian Airlines #860 - Departing Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) at 6:00am on Friday, April 11, Arriving Vienna International Airport (VIE) at 8:45am on Friday, April 11.
Austrian Airlines #065 - Departing Vienna International Airport (VIE) at 10:30am on Friday, April 11, Arriving Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) at 1:20pm on Friday, April 11.
United Airlines #793 - Departing Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) at 3:45pm on Friday, April 11, Arriving Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) at 6:32pm on Friday, April 11.
Hotel Information
NETANYA
Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham (one night)
Website: https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/ramada/netanya-israel/ramada-hotel-and-suites-netanya/overview
Description: This hotel will be a nice welcome to the land of Israel. This wonderful hotel sits about halfway between Tel Aviv and our first stop of Caesarea Maritima. It offers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea. I have stayed here several times. The rooms are very nice and the food is exceptional.
TIBERIAS
Ron Beach Hotel (three nights)
Website: http://ronbeachhotel.com/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sg-Z4kAgwJM
Description: This is, by far, my favorite hotel in Israel. This family-run hotel is managed by two of the grandsons of the original owner. While many hotels in Tiberias are a couple of blocks from the shore of the Sea of Galilee, this hotel sits directly on the shore. We will spend three nights here and I assure you that you will not want to leave. No need to request a special room since every room in the hotel faces the Sea of Galilee.
We will eat breakfast and dinner every day while we stay there. The food at the Ron Beach is some of the best you will eat while we are in Israel. I could go on and on about this hotel, but I won't. Seriously, I love staying at this hotel. When I travel with the Appian Media team to Israel, we always stay here. In fact, a number of the introduction scenes and interviews were filmed at the Ron Beach.
EIN BOKEK
David Dead Sea Resort & Spa (one night)
Website: https://www.grandhotels.co.il/david-dead-sea-hotel
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAcTYbqWYX0
Description: A few years ago, I made a change to my tour itinerary and began staying one night in Ein Bokek. This change has been very popular with all of my travelers. I have stayed at this hotel several times. It is very nice and will be a relaxing evening along the Dead Sea.
JERUSALEM
Grand Court Hotel (five nights)
Website: https://www.grandhotels-israel.com/grand-court-hotel-jerusalem
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HJpCrOh_a4 (This video is a little dated, but you can still see scenes of the hotel.)
Description: I have stayed at the Grand Court a number of times. It is a larger hotel, but it is used to handling tour groups like ours. The hotel is about a fifteen-minute walk north of the Damascus Gate to the Old City. From this location, we will be able to quickly get to the places where we want to visit. They have a very large dining hall with very good food. Their dessert table is so beautiful that you might consider taking a picture of it instead of eating from it. You'll quickly change your mind and get an assortment of sweets.
Resources
2024 Israel Tour Book - This is a 26-page booklet that I have written that (hopefully) will answer many of the logistical questions about the tour. I encourage you to read it a couple of times to familiarize yourself with the contents. I am always happy to answer any questions that you may have leading up to our tour. However, I will tell you that, based on my experience, 75% of the questions that I get during the last month prior to departure are questions that are specifically answered in the Tour Book. So, you can save yourself a lot of time by reading through it and knowing what is in it.
Instructions for Applying for Entry into Israel - These are step-by-step instructions for applying for Israel’s new entry system. Everyone is REQUIRED to have approval for entry into Israel before going.
2025 Israel Tour Travelers List - Here is the list of all of the travelers for our tour. We have a wonderful group and I am really looking forward to spending time with everyone. NOTE: Please use discretion with this list. You may be telling others that you are traveling, but others in our group may not be.
Arrival Instructions for Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport - Here are some instructions that I have put together for our arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport. I would recommend that you have a copy of these instructions in front of you while you watch this video. The video was produced by a couple of years ago by a fellow tour leader, and he walks through the same process.
Appian Media’s “Following the Messiah” Workbook - This 165-page workbook was designed to accompany Appian Media’s “Following the Messiah” video series which covers the life of Jesus. You might consider reading through the book and watching the video series (links below) as many of the places featured in the videos are the same places that we will visit when we are on tour.
“Following the Messiah” Video Playlist - This playlist includes 10 episodes as well as several bonus videos with behind-the-scenes content.
Appian Media’s “Searching for a King” Workbook - This 80-page workbook was designed to accompany Appian Media’s “Searching for a King” video series which covers the period of the United Kingdom of Israel. You might consider reading through the book and watching the video series (links below) as many of the places featured in the videos are the same places that we will visit when we are on tour.
“Searching for a King” Video Playlist - This playlist includes 5 episodes as well as additional bonus videos with behind-the-scenes content.
Please note that these digital versions of Appian Media’s workbooks are being provided for you as a resource for you to use with your personal Bible study before and after the tour. Please do not share this file with others. If you are interested in owning additional digital or hard copies of these workbooks, they can be purchased online through Appian Media’s store.
Interesting Links
Western Wall Live Webcam - During the first century BC, King Herod greatly enlarged the Temple Mount and rebuilt the temple. The Western Wall is the holiest site in Judaism as it is the closest that the Jewish people can get to the original site of the temple. This camera will be pointed at the Western Wall 24 hours a day, except on the Shabbat.
Zefat Live Webcam - The city of Zefat (Sefad) is about 5 miles north of the Sea of Galilee. Most of the modern population of Zefat is Jewish. This camera is pointed southwest toward the hills of Lower Galilee. When it is clear, you can see the northwestern corner of the Sea of Galilee on the left-hand side of the screen. The lights going up the hill from the sea are the modern city of Tiberias.
Mount Bental Live Webcam - Mount Bental is located in the Golan Heights about 3 miles west of the border with Syria. This camera is facing northwest. When it is clear, you can see Mount Hermon on the right-hand side of the screen. Mount Hermon rises over 9,000 feet in elevation and sits on the border of Israel, Syria, and Lebanon. The Biblical cities of Dan and Caesarea Philippi sit toward the base of Mount Hermon.
Email Links
Update #1 - October 15, 2023 - Topics: Thank you, Situation in Israel, Caesarea Maritima
Update #2 - November 19, 2023 - Topics: Tour Information Page, Sea of Galilee
Update #3 - December 19, 2023 - Topics: Update on Gaza Strip, Passports, Jerusalem IMAX Movie
Update #5 - February 19, 2024 - Topics: Update on Gaza Strip, Tourism in Israel, Important Key Dates
Update #6 - March 11, 2024 - Topics: Updates from Israel, Ramadan
Update #7 - March 18, 2024 - Topics: Hotel are reserved!
Update #8 - April 3, 2024 - Topics: Let’s Meet!
Update #9 - April 5, 2024 - Topics: Post-ZOOM Call
Update #10 - April 15, 2024 - Topics: Upcoming final payment deadline
Update #11 - April 24, 2024 - Topics: Additional Travelers!
Update #12 - May 1, 2024 - Topics: Final payment deadline!
Update #13 - May 11, 2024 - Topics: 100 days until we leave!
Update #14 - May 18, 2024 - Topics: Traveler List, Study Materials
Update #15 - May 25, 2024 - Topics: Flight Information
Update #17 - June 8, 2024 - Electronic Travel Authorization
Update #18 - June 16, 2024 - Introduction to Gus & Fawzi
Update #19 - June 26, 2024 - Topics: Pre-Tour Exercise
Update #20 - July 5, 2024 - Topics: eTicket Information
Update #21 - July 13, 2024 - Topics: Final Packets are in the Mail!
Update #22 - July 22, 2024 - Topics: Hello from Israel!
Update #23 - July 29, 2024 - Topics: Three weeks from today!
Update #24 - August 1, 2024 - Topics: Update on United Flights
Update #25 - August 7, 2024 - Topics: Tour is Officially Postponed
Update #26 - August 10, 2024 - Topics: Quick Update on our Tour
Update #27 - August 15, 2024 - Topics: Options for a rescheduled tour
Update #28 - August 18, 2024 - Topics: Updates from all of you
Update #29 - August 27, 2024 - Topics: New Registration Form
Update #30 - September 30, 2024 - Topics: Six months away!, Reminder about the Registration Forms
Update #31 - October 31, 2024 - Topics: Five months away!
Update #32 - November 21, 2024 - Topics: One month until the final deadline!
Update #33 - December 21, 2024 - Topics: 100 days until we leave!
Update #34 - January 3, 2025 - Topics: Flight Information!
Update #35 - January 13, 2025 - Topics: Reports from another tour currently in Israel!
Update #36 - January 28, 2025 - Topics: We are getting closer!
Update #37 - February 9, 2025 - Topics: 50 days until we leave!, Hotel Reservations
Update #39 - February 27, 2025 - Topics: 32 days until we leave!
Update #40 - March 3, 2025 - Topics: Final packets are in the mail!
Update #41 - March 10, 2025 - Topics: Final preparations are underway!
Update #42 - March 17, 2025 - Topics: Two weeks away!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the COVID-related requirements and restrictions with our tour? None. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Nothing. As of June 12, 2022, the United States dropped its requirement to have a negative COVID test before boarding an aircraft bound for the United States. This was the last remaining requirement from either Israel or the United States. Our trip should be COVID-19 worry-free!
When do I send in the remaining portion of my payment for the tour? All of the final payments are due to me 100 days prior to departure. For this tour, that date is Saturday, December 21, 2024.
I have a lot of questions about the tour, like “What type of clothes do I pack?”, and “Do I need to exchange currency before traveling?” How can I get those questions answered? Well, you are welcome to email me at any time and I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. However, after we pass the final deadline of December 21, I will be sending everyone a lot of information about the tour. This includes a special 27-page booklet that I have written that answers many of these logistical questions.
What if I need to cancel my reservation for the tour? Well, I would be sad to hear that, but sometimes circumstances change and that becomes a necessity. For everyone who had sent in a $500 deposit to Nawas International Travel, $200 of that deposit is non-refundable if you do so more than 120 days prior to departure. The rest of the funds, as well as other funds that you may pay, are subject to the cancellation policy on the Terms and Conditions page on the Nawas website.