What to know if your church is considering a group trip to the Holy Land
Walk the Land. Teach the Bible. Experience Israel.
Managing Director
Immanuel Tours
CE: How long should a trip to Israel be in order to get the optimal experience?
Eshed: Most of our tour groups plan a minimum of 8-10 days.
Even if you visit the Holy Land five times, you’ll be amazed at all the new things you’ll see. That’s why some churches organize a trip to Israel every year or two: because there’s always something new to experience. Some groups have returned for over 20 years.
A 10-day trip will allow them to visit most of the important sites, including Bethlehem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee, the area of the Dead Sea with Masada, and Jerusalem.
Some church groups also request an extension to Petra, which can be organized.
The size of groups vary between 25 and 50, and some even come with two buses.
CE: As you look at the church groups traveling to the Holy Land from the United States, what do they have in common?
Eshed: A deep desire to connect the Bible to Reality; the desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and to get a deeper understanding of the Jewish roots of our Christian faith.
We also feel their deep connection to and support of Israel.
CE: What are their most commonly cited motivations for — and expectations of — the trip?
Eshed: Church groups routinely express a desire to ‘walk the Land of the Bible’ — to go to places they’ve only read about (Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem) and see the story of Christ in its original setting.
They expect deeper connection with God, and strengthening of their church family.
The tour is also seen as a teaching moment. After all, the Land of Israel is the best classroom for teaching the Bible.
Overall, church groups are expecting meaningful moments at these sites: prayer, worship, communion, reflection.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
Dan Eshed’s grandfather, Phillip Meyers, founded Immanuel Tours more than 50 years ago. His mother, Susan Eshed, has joined Phillip more than 45 years ago in the tourism industry in Israel.
“All my life, I’ve known the business — the hotels, our guides, our buses,” he recalls. “But I never thought that I would step in.”
Fast forward to 2023 when, post-COVID, Meyers decided to retire at 89. Dan was living in Tel Aviv, working as a lawyer in the largest firm in the country. Though his mother had asked a few times over the years, she once again encouraged her son to join the family business.
“I’ve always thought it’s an amazing duty; what we do is like a mission,” he says. “But I’d been a lawyer. I’d never actually worked for the company.”
Even so, Dan decided to give it a try. He gave his notice at the law firm, and the rest, as they say, is history.
“I fell in love with everything,” he explains. “When you’re a lawyer, you see people anxious, stressed. Here, 99.9 percent of the time — as long as we do our job correctly — the clients are happy.”
While the past handful of years have been challenging for Isreal tourism (to say the least), the Immanuel Tours family has learned to pivot. In doing so, they have been able to keep every tour operator employed during the war. Most have been with Immanuel Tours for 15 to 25 years.
“We have been able to preserve all of them, even when we’ve had no tour groups in Israel,” Dan recalls. “We told them, ‘Listen, we want everyone to stay. We know it’s not an easy time, but tourism will come back.’
More than just guides
“When a church decides to work with Immanuel Tours on a group tour to Israel, they will have all the materials to back them up promotionally,” Dan points out. “They don’t need to create any materials; they just share our materials with their logo.”
In the event that a church tour doesn’t fill up, the company even helps recruit additional travelers. That tour is added to the Immanuel Tours website, and individual travelers from all over the United States can apply to join. All requests go directly to the pastor or trip organizer at the church. “We don’t have anything to do with the money collected,” Dan explains. “It’s the church’s tour; they decide.”
“For me, the best part is seeing people’s reactions when they realize they stand at the actual places which they’ve read about in the Bible their entire lives,” Dan says. “It really warms my heart to see their love of the Bible and of Israel. It’s more than amazing. It excites me every time, and that’s why I’m here.”
CE: Do you see a lot of repeat trips by church groups?
Eshed: Definitely. For most of the pastors that work with us, it’s not a one-time event. Many of them come once and go home excited to return with church members. In fact, a lot of pastors have been here 10 times or more, each time with a new group of people. They know that this trip provides a deeper connection to the scriptures, the Church, and the Land.
8 GREAT REASONS TO GO
What your church group can expect from a trip to the Holy Land
#1: A journey through the Bible
Every day brings the Scriptures to life — you’ll stand on the Mount of Beatitudes, sail the Sea of Galilee, visit Capernaum (the “Town of Jesus”), walk the streets of Jerusalem, pray in Gethsemane, and visit the Empty Tomb. Expect to read the Word where it happened and see faith turn into sight.
#2: A spiritually transformative experience
Churches often describe the Israel Christian Tour as “life-changing.” Expect times of worship, teaching and reflection that renew faith and strengthen unity within the group. Many pastors say that preaching and reading the Bible are never the same afterward.
#3: Warm Israeli hospitality
Israelis are known for their warmth and openness toward visitors. After the challenges of recent years, people across the land are excited to welcome Christian groups back. Expect genuine hospitality, safe conditions, and a nation ready to share its story.
#4: A deep connection with the people and culture
Beyond the holy sites, your group will meet local believers, encounter modern Israeli life, and experience the vibrant mix of cultures and traditions that make up today’s Israel.
Expect meaningful conversations and cultural insights that bring the Land to life.
#5: Safe, comfortable, and well-organized travel
Israel’s tourism infrastructure is world-class — from comfortable motor coaches and professional guides to excellent hotels and restaurants.
#6: Moments of fellowship and community
Expect your group to grow closer. Shared devotions, laughter, prayer and discovery will strengthen your church community. Many leaders say the trip becomes a cornerstone experience that unites their congregation.
#7: Opportunities for worship and reflection
Worship at the Garden Tomb, take communion overlooking Jerusalem, baptismal at the Jordan River — these are the moments that define the journey. Expect time for prayer, teaching, and quiet reflection woven naturally into each day.
#8: A deeper understanding of God’s heart
You’ll return not only with memories, but with insight — seeing how God’s promises to Israel connect to the global story of faith. Expect to come home with a new love for Scripture and a fresh vision for your church’s ministry.
Israel is the main destination, of course, but we’ve also had pastors who came to Greece with us — to follow in the Footsteps of Paul — and immediately booked an additional tour to Israel 10 months in advance.
One reason is that they know us already. They’re familiar with our tour guides. They know the quality of our buses. They know the level of service. We focus on the small touches.
They also know that there’s always someone to call if something goes wrong.
Once they visit, Israel is in their hearts, definitely. The American and Israeli cultures are not the same, but the values are very similar.
— Reporting by RaeAnn Slaybaugh
