Tour 2026
March 1-19, 2026
I am delighted to share exciting information regarding my next upcoming tour to Israel, including Petra, Jordan and an optional add-on excursion to Istanbul, Turkey. The dates for the Petra-Israel portion of the tour are March 1-19, 2026.
Please note that space is limited, and we are currently taking Priority Pre-Sale Reservation Deposits that reserve a spot for you on the tour. Your $1000 per person deposit is intended to place a courtesy hold on tentative space pending confirmation of programming dates and details. Your deposit is fully refundable should you decide not to participate once the tour is officially open for reservations. You will be given a 48-hour notice during which time you will need to advise Ric at Stellar Travel (my travel partner administrator) whether you will accept formal reservation confirmation, or not. At that time, if you accept the proposed 2026 ISRAEL: Yesterday, Today and Forever tour program, terms and conditions, your $1000 deposit will then be applied (non-refundable) to confirm your tour participation and to hold your space.
Please see the Advanced Priority Pre-Sale Tour Reservations Request attached.
The important pre-tour fireside classes that are included with your tour pre-sale reservation will begin in June, so you will want to ensure your place as soon as possible.
The preliminary itinerary follows.
As one of my previous guests wrote: “In contrast to other tours, Lynda’s tour was a deep immersion in the people, places and stories of Israel. Our tour began 9 months ahead of time through regular ‘fireside’ discussions with our small tour group (13 people total) to learn/refresh the history and context in preparation for the tour. For example, understanding God’s covenant with his people from the beginning, how it manifested in the Abrahamic Covenant, and how it relates to Israel throughout time. These sessions were highly impactful throughout our actual tour.
“There are numerous tours available to see the ‘sites' of Israel. We saw those tours arrive in large busses and move en masse through the various sites. We have talked with people who attended these tours, and learned that they had very little opportunity for the types of immersive experiences we enjoyed. Those tours will cost less than Lynda’s tours. However, given the depth of our experience, it was worth every penny we spent. Without reservation we fully recommend considering Lynda’s future tours for those looking for an immersive, life-changing Israel experience” (Kyle and Debra Young).
Let me share my goals with you. If this is your one-and-only trip to Israel, I want you to —
Feel that you have truly gained a foundational understanding of the sacred history of Israel and its people, including your own covenantal blessings that have come down through Father Abraham and Mother Sarah, and the other ancient tribal leaders, including Judah and Joseph, and their brothers. “Israel” is the name of God’s covenant family, and all are invited to join, from all nations, tongues and people.
Remember and honor the life of the Savior, Jesus Christ, as we walk beside the shores of His beloved Galilee, sit by the Banias Falls, where Peter bore his witness that Jesus is the Messiah, stand on the precipice of Nazareth, and overlook His hometown, and visit Shepherd’s Field in Bethlehem. We’ll pray in quiet reflection in a private garden on the Mount of Olives, trace His final steps along the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem, see what is believed to be the “Place of the Skull” (Golgotha) and visit the Garden Tomb, while we reflect upon His Atonement and glorious resurrection.
Meet and interact with the varied people of Israel, and learn firsthand from their perspective. We will lunch with a Druze family, share a shabbat meal in the home of a Jewish Rabbi and his family, and dine with IDF soldiers. We will meet Bedouins, Arabs, Orthodox, religious, and non-religious. We’ll receive a Rabbi’s blessing as we enter Jerusalem, and we will attend Sacrament Meeting at the BYU Jerusalem Center. We’ll talk with people who have been preparing for the building of a third temple on Temple Mount, and also get the perspective of those who dread such an occurrence. We will tour a kibbutz and learn about their philosophy and way of life. We will meet with Arabs and Jews who share stalls at the Market in Tel Aviv, and learn the stories of their varied cultures. We will enjoy the opportunity of genuine interpersonal interaction with “everyday” people, including an Irish priest in Magdala. With this tour, you will come to understand and feel Israel’s people on a deep level — and you will love them! You will be warmed by the genuine welcome you will receive; the people of Israel want us to know them, and to hear their stories.
Enjoy the remarkable beauty of the land. The scenery is as varied as its people; from the Dead Sea and desert of Masada, to the lush agricultural lands in the Galilee, and the beautiful beaches of Tel Aviv and Caesarea, Israel is breathtaking, and you will come to understand why all of its desert neighbors have longed to take it for themselves for more than 4,000 years.
In order to achieve these goals, our tour is limited to a small group. A large group could never allow for these kinds of intimate encounters with locals that we have arranged for you, nor could they meet in the private garden on the Mount of Olives, the VIP underground tour of David’s City, or the culinary tour in Tel Aviv. Once the final itinerary is published, you will see that I have only lightly touched upon the very special experiences this tour provides.
The preliminary itinerary follows. , The final costs, are still in process of being planned and determined. As Kyle and Debra stated above, this tour is not the least expensive tour available, but I promise you that you will not leave Israel wishing that you had _______ (fill in the blank). This tour is comprehensive. You will not feel like an “onlooker” filing away facts, but you will literally experience Israel and its people with all five senses. Your heart will be touched, and you will be forever changed by the experience.
I share all of this with you because of my love for Israel. For me, this is a mission of the heart, perhaps best understood in the books I have written. In terms of any credentials, I have been a BYU Continuing Education teacher, a CES teacher, and have taught at BYU Education Week. I have taught Gospel Doctrine for more than 25 years, and have been teaching an adult religion class for more than a decade for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will be your tour guide for all of the “spiritual and religious” aspects of the tour, and our Israeli guide, Peter, will share all of the political, historical, and geographic aspects of the tour.
Please contact me, or Ric Rodman, my partner and the tour’s programming manager from Stellar Travel to let us know if you are interested in joining me on this experience of a lifetime.
I hope you will join me in Israel!
Warmly,
Lynda
lyndacherrydesign@gmail.com
Please contact my travel associate, Ric Rodman at Stellar Travel for additional information on pricing, deposits, etc.
425.586.4503
2026 Israel and Petra Daily Itinerary:
Sunday, March 01 — Arrive Queen Aliya Amman International Airport
Assistance through arrival procedures at Amman International Airport
Private transfer to Petra
Dinner & Overnight: Movenpick Resort, Petra
Monday, March 02 — PETRA TO ISRAEL
Breakfast and check out from hotel.
Tour of The Rose City of Petra.
Walk through the “Siq” to reach el Khazneh — the Treasury. Continue for a walking tour of the city beyond. A lost city for one thousand years, Petra, was not fully uncovered until 1958; the rugged hills, which protect the buildings and the tombs, make this an extraordinarily peaceful place.
Drive to Arava Border for crossing over to Israel.
Private transfer from Arava Border to Beresheet Hotel.
Dinner & Overnight: Beresheet, Mizpe Ramon.
Tuesday, March 03 — LAYERS OF THE NEGEV
Breakfast and check out from hotel.
Visit the Ramon Visitor’s Center, telling the story of Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon and the surrounding flora and fauna of Makhtesh Ramon.
Proceed to Tel Arad National Park in the north eastern Negev desert, and consists of the ruins of a large walled Canaanite city and fortress dated to the Israelite Kingdom period.
Visit Abraham’s Well, an innovate heritage site featuring the story of the Patriarch Abraham and the famous well of water for which the city of Beer Sheva is names.
Continue to Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv.
Wednesday, March 04 — THE MAGIC OF TEL AVIV
Visit the new ANU Museum of the Jewish People, the largest Jewish museum in the world. It tells the ongoing and extraordinary story of the Jewish people and highlights the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities through the generations and up to the present time. Unique exhibits and fascinating resource center strive to make you part of the story. The tour will include the October 7th exhibition and end with the Codex Sasson — the museum recently acquired Bible masterpiece.
Private culinary tour in Tel Aviv's Carmel Market with our local culinary expert. Sample a variety of local specialties, meet the vendors and hear their stories, and learn about the cultural food mosaic that is Israeli cuisine. Discover art, local culture, architecture, and history on this unique tour and understand key events in Tel Aviv’s story in a fresh perspective on the city's past and present through a fun and engaging tour led by a specialist..
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv
Thursday, March 05 — TEL AVIV: HISTORY AND RENEWAL
Explore the Yitchak Rabin Center, dedicated to the remarkable life and tragic death of Israel's Prime Minister and featuring exhibits presenting pivotal turning points in the history of Israel.
Visit The Joseph Bau House Museum an authentic artist workshop that conveys to the visitor the incredible life story of Joseph Bau, reflected in the wide range of his creativity, which includes paintings, graphics, movies, animation, and literature—all with the humor of his optimistic point of view.
Drive to the Biblical Park of Neot Kedumim. The biblical landscape reserve is a unique endeavor to recreate the physical setting of the Bible. By reuniting text and context, the site invites visitors to see and experience life as it was lived 3,000 years ago.
Contribute to the greening of Israel and leave your mark on the land by Planting a tree in the reserve.
Return to Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv.
Friday, March -6 — RESILIENCE AND HOPE IN GAZA ENVELOPE
Breakfast at hotel.
Experience the resilience of the people of Israel with a visit to the communities of the Gaza Envelope featuring exclusive visits and heartfelt encounters. Remembering the tragic events of 7 October 2023, our visit will include the site of the Nova Music Festival and the memorial erected at Moshav Tkuma. Stop for an overview into Gaza and meet with people who were personally affected by the horrors of 7 October and are now looking to the future as they rebuild their homes and their lives in the region.
Return to Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv.
Saturday, March 07 — ALONG THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST
Walk through the excavations of the port city of Caesarea, featuring the ancient Roman theater, hippodrome and aqueduct, as well as ruins from the Byzantine and Crusader periods.
Drive up to Mount Carmel and enjoy the panoramic view of Haifa bay, and the Jezrael valley..
Visit the Muhraka — Carmelite Monastery built in the 18th century and is believed to be one of the oldest monasteries in the Holy Land. The monastery is named after Elijah, the Prophet. There, he challenged the false prophets of the god Baal, who had led the people of Israel astray.
Optional: Visit the antiquities at Beit Shearim, once the seat of the Sanhedrin. In 2015, the Necropolis was named a UNESCO Heritage Site.
Proceed to your hotel in the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Dinner & Overnight: Magdala Hotel, Sea of Galilee.
Sunday, March 08 — EXPLORING GALILEE
Breakfast at hotel.
Enjoy the spiritual experience of a Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, around which Jesus performed some of his most famous miracles is, for many Holy Land travelers a highlight of their trip. It provides a genuine experience of what sailing and fishing here were like in the time of Jesus.
Visit Yardenit Baptismal Site on the Jordan River.
Private Druze Hospitality with traditional Lunch in the home of a Druze family. The Druze are a unique religious and ethnic minority among Arab citizens of. Israel. They are very secretive about their traditions and we invite you meet them in person and hear their story, while enjoying some of their traditional foods.
Proceed to the Banias spring, at the base of Mt. Hermon, one of the sources of the Jordan River. This is ancient Caesarea Philippi, where Peter declared the nature of Jesus and was given the mantle of leadership (Matt. 16:13).
Return to hotel.
Dinner & Overnight: Magdala Hotel, Sea of Galilee
Monday, March 09 —AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit the first century fishing village of Magdala, the home of Mary Magdalene, with ruins of the ancient synagogue and a new church built on the site, simple in design but rich in mosaics and murals. Meet Father Kelly.
Visit the ancient town of Capernaum, located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, residence of Jesus during his ministry in the Galilee.
Visit Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of Loaves and Fishes.
Perched above the Sea of Galilee, visit The Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount
Ascend to The Golan Heights for an overview of the region from the top of Mount Bental.
Home hospitality dinner with a family in Galilee. Enjoy a sumptuous dinner prepared by a local family, a unique opportunity to meet with Israelis in their home.
Overnight: Magdala Hotel, Sea of Galilee.
Tuesday, March 10 - NAZARETH — THE CRADLE OF CHRISTIANITY
Breakfast at hotel.
Drive by Mount Precipice overlooking Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus.
Visit the replica Nazareth Village - an open air museum depicting village life in the Galilee at the time of Jesus.
A scenic route leads you to the town of Nazareth to visit The Church of the Annunciation.
Travel to Mount Tabor and visit The Church of the Transfiguration and the Cave of Melchizedek.
Dinner & Overnight: Magdala Hotel, Sea of Galilee.
Wednesday, March 11 — GALILEE TO JERUSALEM
Breakfast and check out from hotel.
Drive to Kibbutz Malkiya and meet with IDF soldiers patrolling the northern border. A rare informal encounter with the young men and women, the pride of Israel, who are serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
Explore the ancient ruins of the city of Beit Shean – one of the Roman Decapolis cities - with extensive on-going excavations revealing layers of civilization.
Continue to Gilgal the location on the eastern border of Jericho where the Israelites encamped immediately after crossing the Jordan River.
Proceed “up” to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel. Celebrate your arrival to the city with a traditional “Shehecheyanu” ceremony. It is said that of the ten measures of beauty given to the world, nine were bestowed upon Jerusalem.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Thursday, March 12 — JESUS’ PASSION
Breakfast at hotel
Visit the carved in stone Garden Tomb, possibly a site of the burial and resurrection of Jesus.
Proceed to Mount of Olives with an all-encompassing panoramic view of Jerusalem.
Visit The Orson Hyde Memorial Gardens.
Continue to the private garden at Garden of Gethsemane.
Weave your way through the ancient olive trees and continue to The Church of All Nations.
Walk along the Kidron Valley Promenade to the City of David, stop by Absalom’s Pillar, remarkable in both its size and unique shape, sits beside the Tomb of Bnei Hezir and the Tomb of Zechariah.
Continue your exploration of Jerusalem with a visit to the 3,000 year old ruins and tunnels at the City of David including Warren’s Shaft, Melchizedek Temple and the tunnel of Shiloh (dry route).
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Friday, March 13 — MEMORY AND RENEWAL & BETHLEHEM
Breakfast at hotel.
Share a meaningful private escorted visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust museum, dedicated to the memory of the victims and honoring the survivors. The visit is enriched with a pause at the moving Children’s Memorial and a walk along the inspirational Avenue of the Righteous.
Visit the Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and discover its fascinating history that perpetuates the determination of the colonizing enterprise in the face of the challenges of the struggle for the establishment of the State.
Private escorted visit to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus, including Manger Square and Shepherd’s Field. Please note that Bethlehem is part of the Palestinian Authority and this tour will be guided by a local Palestinian guide. Passports must be presented at the check point.
As the sun sets over the city, join in a traditional Shabbat dinner at the home of Rabbi Josh and his family, featuring ethnic dishes, prayers and songs.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Saturday, March 14 — CEREMONY AND CELEBRATION
Breakfast at hotel.
10:30-12:30 BYU Jerusalem Center Shabbat Meeting.
The Israel Museum is the country's national gallery. Explore the compound, including the Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple Period and the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibited in the Shrine of the Book. Wander through the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden.
Visit the picturesque village of Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptist and site of the Church of the Visitation and Mary's Spring. Walk through the neighborhood with charming stone houses adorned with arches and various galleries from the many artists who have made there.
OR:
Drive to The Valley of Elah, were David fought Goliath over 3,000 years ago.
This evening, we invite you to be our guests at the Night Spectacular Sound & Light show at the Tower of David Museum at Jaffa Gate. This is an outdoor activity. Please dress appropriately.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Sunday, March 15 — VOLUNTEERING AND EXPLORING THE PAST
Breakfast at hotel.
Lend a hand wrapping and packaging food and supplies for Israel’s poorest families and senior citizens at the Pantry Packers facility in Jerusalem.
Visit Ancient Shiloh, an ancient city and sanctuary in Samaria, the central sanctuary of the Israelites during the pre-monarchic period, before the First Temple in Jerusalem was built.
Visit the Jeroboam's Temple ruins on Artis mountain (near Beit-El).
Return to Jerusalem.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel,
Monday, March 16— WALK THROUGH HISTORY
Breakfast at hotel.
Visit the TBN Studio, meet with staff and watch a podcast filming session.
Proceed to the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus cured the lame man (John 5), and enjoy the amazing acoustics of the medieval Church of St. Anne with a few hymns.
Walk the final Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to The Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Walking through the Old City, we are drawn to The Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish tradition.
Visit the Temple Mount, the elevated plaza above the Western Wall that was the site of both of Judaism’s ancient temples (subject to confirmation).
Visit The Temple Institute Museum dedicated to the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.
Visit the Burnt House, a residential building of wealthy neighborhood from the Second Temple period discovered during the restoration of the Jewish Quarter.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Tuesday, March 17 — THE LOWEST PLACE ON EARTH
Breakfast at hotel.
Depart from Jerusalem and travel east through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Drive pass Qumran, site of the secluded caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were first discovered.
Set off for a private motor Boat ride on the Dead Sea, a truly unique adventure. Traveling by zodiac, discover the secrets of the ancient lake and take an unsinkable swim in the salty waters.
Ride the cable car to discover King Herod's mountain-top fortress at Masada, the last stronghold and stand of the Zealots against Rome, on the edge of the barren Judean Desert.
Enjoy the therapeutic qualities of the Dead Sea, believed to have wondrous healing powers. Float on the salty waters, relax and enjoy the facilities and lunch on site. We have confirmed day-use rooms for you at a local resort hotel.
Return to Jerusalem.
Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Wednesday, March 18 — FROM ISRAEL TO AMMAN
Breakfast and check out from hotel.
Private transfer to Allenby Bridge. VIP Departure Service at Allenby Bridge Our VIP representative will meet you at the car upon arrival to Allenby Bridge, escort you through border procedures exiting Israel and entering Jordan and take you to meet your Jordanian driver and guide.
City tour of Amman-Philadelphia. Walk around in Jabal Weibdeh, the oldest neighborhood in Amman with lots of small side streets, shops offering local goods and produce, as well as many cafés and restaurants. Visit the King Abdullah II Mosque. Explore The Citadel with The Temple of Hercules which offers a 360-degree view over Amman. Continue to The Roman Theater, and then head through the bustling downtown souks.
Overnight: Four Seasons, Amman
Thursday, March 19 — FAREWELL
Breakfast and check out from hotel.
Private transfer from your hotel to Queen Aliya Amman International Airport.