We invite you to explore with us the Holy Land and its people, visiting historical sites of significance to Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and engaging with the people who live there now. We will follow in the footsteps of Jesus and visit Bethlehem, Galilee, and Jerusalem, including the Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We will visit the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount, and if possible, go into the Courtyard of the Dome of the Rock. In addition we will explore museums on the history of Israel and Palestine, meet with people who will give us their perspectives on contemporary issues, and even take a dip in the Dead Sea and walk around Masada.

Join us to get a sense of the Holy Land, past and present!

Use the Register Now button above to join us or expand the sections below for more details.

Whether you’re religious or not, there’s a lot to learn from these lands and their people. The Holy Land is a tiny place geographically, but packed with environmental and human diversity.

The biblical sites can be extraordinarily meaningful to you if you’re a Christian, Jew, or Muslim. We’ll visit all of the major sites. You’ll walk in the footsteps of Jesus in Bethlehem, Galiliee, and Jerusalem, including the Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. We will visit the Wailing Wall and the Temple Mount, and if possible, go into the Courtyard of the Dome of the Rock.

If you’re not religious, this program will be equally enriching. We’ll explore museums on the history of Israel and Palestine and meet with several people who will give us different perspectives on contemporary issues. You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of the nuances of a millennial-old conflict.

This program was custom designed to explore the Holy Land and its people, from both a historical and contemporary perspective.

This itinerary is subject to change. Travel demands flexibility. We will strive to balance adaptability with remaining on schedule. Please trust that, when it is not possible to follow the plan laid out below, your program leaders will work to find substitutions that retain the quality of this Study Travel program. Various details may be added or changed due to information obtained while making reservations, especially concerning the availability of guest speakers. BLD indicate included group meals.

Friday, June 9                               Depart U.S.
Individual departures from the USA.

Saturday, June 10                                    Arrive Israel (D)
Most participants are met by our guide, who will be with the group throughout the program, and a representative from United Travel. Other participants will have alternative transfer plans to Jerusalem. Group welcome dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Sunday, June 11                                          Jerusalem (BD)
Today we explore Jerusalem, driving around the Old City walls, noting the city gates. We travel to the top of the Mount of Olives for a spectacular view of the city. We walk down Palm Sunday Road to the beautiful Garden of Gethsemane, stopping along the way at the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Dominus Flevit). Then, we’ll travel to Bethlehem to visit with Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church (we will share this visit with another American group visiting Jerusalem). Following time for lunch, we’ll meet with Zoughby Zoughby, Director of the Palestinian Conflict Resolution and Transformation Center in Bethlehem. Next in Bethlehem, visit the Church of the Nativity which marks the place of Jesus’ birth. Finally, we’ll return to Jerusalem to observe the Welcoming of the Sabbath ceremony at the Western Wall. Group dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Monday, June 12                                     Jerusalem (BD)
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Hebron to visit the Old Town of Hebron and the Ibrahimi Mosque (Tomb of the Patriarchs), and then continue to Shepherds’ Field, entering a cave typical of one in with the Shepherds found shelter. After time for lunch on your own, we drive to the Israel Museum, which houses the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea scrolls. Afterwards, we will visit the Model of Jerusalem (as it was in Jesus’ time). We return to the hotel for group dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, June 13                                        Jerusalem (BD)
Optional morning worship at a local church. Then we’ll visit Rabbi David Rosen, International Director of Inter-religious Affairs for the America Jewish Committee, at his office for a talk on “Judaism and its Relations to the Land.” We’ll have time for lunch on your own and then visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum.

Return to the hotel for dinner, where we will be joined for a talk on “Islam and its Relations to the Land” by Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway, Integral Chair for the Study of Imam Al Ghazali’s Work at the Holy Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al Quds University and Professor of Islamic Philosophy.

Wednesday, June 14                                      Jerusalem (BD)
After breakfast, we walk to Dung Gate to visit the Western Wall and Temple Mount area, and if possible, go to the courtyard of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Walk through the Jewish Quarter and the Cardo, before proceeding to St. Anne’s Chapel to start the Way of the Cross, pools of Bethesda, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, passing through the exotic and exciting bazaars of the Old City. Lunch on your own at an appropriate point. Next we ascend to Mt. Zion where we visit the Tomb of David and the Upper Room, traditional site of the Last Supper. We also take in the House of Caiaphas where Peter denied Christ. Group dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Thursday, June 15                                      Jerusalem (BD)
This morning we’ll meet with Rev. Mark Brown, a long-time resident of Israel and alumni award winner for his work with the Lutheran World Federation. Visit with Rev. Dr. Naim Ateek of St. George’s Anglican Church and Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, for a talk on “Christianity and its Relations to the Land,” followed by a guided tour of a settlement with Daniel Seideman, founder of Terrestrial Jerusalem, “an Israeli non-governmental organization. Finally, visit the Garden Tomb, renowned as Jesus’ burial place. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Friday, June 16                                         Jerusalem (BLD)
Today we drive back up north through the West Bank to Nablus, visiting the Samaritans. Continue to Sabastya for group lunch. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Saturday, June 17                                    Jerusalem – Jericho (BD)
This morning we follow the coastline of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth and the saltiest body of water on earth. Arriving at Masada, we take a cable car to visit Herod’s magnificent mountaintop palace and fortress. Masada is also the site of the last Jewish stand against the Romans in 73 AD. We then visit Qumran, the area where the Essenes recorded the Dead Sea scrolls, discovered here in a cave in 1947. After lunch on your own in Qumran, we go down to the Dead Sea for a float. We drive along the Jordan valley until we reach the Baptismal Site on the Jordan River that has recently been opened to the public, overlooking the magnificent Greek Orthodox Church with its Golden Domes on the Jordanian side of the River. We then continue to Jericho, viewing Zacchaeus’ sycamore tree (Luke 19) and the Mount of Temptations, where Jesus was tempted for 40 days by the devil. Dinner and overnight in Jericho.

Sunday, June 18                                       Jericho – Tiberias (BD)
This morning drive up the Jordan Valley to Tiberias, first stopping at Bet Shean. Continue to Mount Tabor, and from there up to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation. Lunch on your own at an appropriate point. Continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Monday, June 19                                   Tiberias/Day Excursion (BLD)
Full day touring in the Galilee. Start with a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, from Tiberias to Nof Ginosar, to visit the Jesus Boat. Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, Tabgha, and Primacy of St. Peter. Visit Capernaum and the ruins of the ancient synagogue and Peter’s House. After a group lunch, drive to Banias before returning to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, June 20                                     Tiberias – Jerusalem (BD)
After check out, drive to Megiddo and Sephoris. Drive along the Coastal Highway to visit Caesarea. Lunch on your own at an appropriate point. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday, June 21                                Depart for U.S. (B)
Some participants transfer to Tel Aviv for individual departures to the U.S.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO PETRA

Wednesday, June 21                                 Jerusalem – Petra (B)
Transfer from Jerusalem to Petra via the Allenby Bridge, stopping at Madaba and Mount Nebo on the way. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Thursday, June 22                                    Petra, Amman, Departure (BD)
Transfer to Petra for a full-day guided visit, including an optional horse ride through the Siq. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Friday, June 23
Some free time at Petra if you wish, before an afternoon transfer to Amman, with group dinner. Transfer to the Amman airport for flights out this evening or departing in the early morning hours of June 24.

Saturday, June 24                                     Arrive USA
Individual arrivals in your home town.

Matthew Marohl has served as the College Pastor at St. Olaf since the summer of 2012. Matt completed his Master of Divinity degree at Luther Seminary, a Master of Theology degree at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a Ph. D. in New Testament from the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland. Along with his wife, Sarah, Matt led a “Footsteps of Paul” tour to Greece and Turkey with his congregation from the Chicago area. He has spent time in New Zealand and Australia, India and Nepal, and Europe. At St. Olaf, Matt assisted on the interim program “Theater in London” in 2016. Matt says, “I have the best job in the world! It is an honor to be a pastor to college students.” Why does he consider his the best job in the world? The worship life at Boe Chapel is vibrant and he enjoys having conversation with Oles about every matter of college life. Matt loves music and is actively engaged in a number of writing projects. He is the author of three books and most recently penned commentaries on The Gospel of Matthew and Hebrews for a forthcoming single-volume commentary on the New Testament (Bloomsbury Academic Press). Matt lives in Northfield with his wife, Sarah, and their two daughters, Noa and Greta.

Katherine Fick is in her fifth year at St. Olaf as Associate College Pastor. A graduate of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, she has fostered her love of travel by taking Luther and Bach tours of Germany as well as visiting friends working in Kenya and South Sudan. She assisted on interim programs at St. Olaf to the Holy Land as well as Theater in London. She loves planning chapel and worship alongside fellow group leader, College Pastor Matt Marohl, as well as working with students from all backgrounds, providing pastoral care and programming – she loves talking with students about whatever is on their mind! She reads incessantly, runs periodically, enjoys movies and the theater, and goes to as many student events as possible. Her husband, Norbert, will also be joining the trip as a guest, and they hope someone safely looks after their cats while they are gone!

Expect to be awe-struck, to be enriched, to engage in thought-provoking conversations.

Movement between cities will be by air-conditioned private motor coach. Movement within each city and at cultural/historic sites will be on foot, requiring a lot of walking and standing. You should be capable of walking up to five miles per day over possibly uneven terrain, of climbing stairs that may not have handrails, of climbing in and out of various types of transportation, of keeping pace with an active group of travelers on long days of traveling, of dealing with the emotional highs and lows that can occur when experiencing different cultures, and of traveling with a group for several hours each day.

Hotels will be tourist class (four-star or superior rating) with private baths, air conditioning, and English-speaking staff.

We recommend you be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including any boosters for which you are eligible, before departure. You should plan on seeing your family physician or a travel doctor at least four to six weeks prior to departure, preferably earlier, to talk about recommended vaccinations for this destination. For more information on travel health, visit cdc.gov or who.int.

The travel insurance included with your program fee covers illness overseas, including covid. You can read more, including the full FAQ and a Summary document, on our Travel Insurance page.

Inclusions and exclusions vary from program to program. Please read the following information carefully.

The program fee is $4,587 per person. Based on double occupancy, it includes discussions led by Matt and Katie, guest lectures, accommodations, breakfast daily and group meals as listed on the itinerary, admissions for group activities, ground transportation during the program (except initial and final airport transfers), gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas. There is no single supplement for this program, but single rooms are limited to four available spaces.

Airfare to and from Israel is not included. Participants are solely responsible for all expenses not specifically included in the program fee. Examples of excluded expenses are: Airfare between your home town and Israel • Airport transfers • Any passport fees • Any recommended immunizations or vaccinations • Baggage insurance • Trip cancellation insurance above $2,000 lifetime coverage • Beverages at most group meals • Tips to housekeeping staff • Laundry • Dry cleaning • Phone charges • Room service or other items of a personal nature • Expenses incurred during free time or non-group activities • Lunch and dinner, unless specifically included on program itinerary.

The fee for the optional extension is $429 per person. A minimum of 10 participants are needed for this price to be valid. Based on double occupancy, the fee includes transportation in a private motor coach from Jerusalem to Petra to Amman, accommodations, two breakfasts and two dinners, entrance fees, gratuities to group guides, drivers, and meal servers, and some limited medical coverage while overseas. Once again there is no single supplement for the extension, but single rooms are limited to four available spaces.

A $500 deposit is required to guarantee your space. View the Payment Schedule below for more information.

This schedule is based on payments St. Olaf College must make to program vendors to guarantee group rates. We highly recommend that you purchase additional trip cancellation insurance at the time of registration to recover your payments should you need to withdraw from the program.

Because of ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19, it is possible that a program could be postponed. In such a case, while we will strive to make full refunds when we can, there are certain expenses that may not be refunded to either St. Olaf or the participant.  

Deposit due:                          $500 upon registration
Refund if you cancel:          Full refund ($500) until September 14, 2022. If the deposit is made after September 14, 2022 there is no refund.

Interim payment due:        $2,000 by September 15, 2022
Refund if you cancel:          $1,000 until March 14, 2023

Final payment due:             March 15, 2023
Refund if you cancel:          None, unless the program is full and your place can be resold

Cancellations must be in writing.

View the limited travel insurance for international Alumni & Family Travel programs included with your program fee.

Make a Payment

Get some helpful information from the Resource List and Trip Information Sheet.

Read the Terms & Conditions and Release & Waiver.

Review the latest information on recommended immunizations, visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Check your passport: no entry visa is required for Israel. However, you should look at your passport now and ensure that it has at least 6 months’ validity past the program return date. Should you need to renew, visit the U.S. Department of State for instructions.

Take time to Prepare for your adventure by checking out a variety of resources, including frequently asked questions, general health information, included travel insurance, safety overview, and more.

— The program starts and ends in Jerusalem. You should fly in and out of Tel Aviv and transfers will be provided to and from Jerusalem.
— You should time your travel to arrive in Tel Aviv ​no later than 3 pm on Saturday, June 10. A group transfer will be arranged to Jerusalem.
— Your flight should depart Tel Aviv at 1 pm or after on Wednesday, June 21. Again, a group transfer from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv will be arranged for this timing.