Accessible Adventure Israel Tour 2022 - Making the Holy Land Accessible - Blossoming Rose
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Accessible Adventure Israel Tour 2022
Making the Holy Land Accessible
~ For those who want to see the Land of Israel at an enjoyable pace ~
October 17-27, 2022
About the Tour
Have you ever wanted to experience Israel but were concerned that you would not be able to keep up
with the pace of most standard Israel tours due to physical limitations or limited mobility? If so, this is
YOUR tour!
Israeli Tour Guide Hanoch Young and Bible Teacher Ross Nichols, long-time friends, have teamed up to
provide a unique opportunity to visit the Holy Land at a relaxed and enjoyable pace. This tour has been
organized especially for those with physical challenges or limited mobility. Every aspect of this tour has
been designed, and every site has been carefully selected, with accessibility in mind.
After many years of combined experience leading tours to Israel, Ross and Hanoch decided to put their
expertise into practice and design a tour that removes many of the physical challenges that most people
experience. This will allow those who might not otherwise go on a tour to the land of the Bible, to join us.
All sites we will visit are easily accessible.
This tour, while moving at a relaxed pace, still hits many of the greatest sites. We will traverse the land in
a luxury coach equipped with a ramp for easy and accessible boarding, as well as being equipped with
WiFi. We can view many of the places we know from the Bible and learn about the history of this land
from the comfort of the bus.
The tour also includes stops at some of the greatest sites across Israel as the itinerary demonstrates. We
have designed the tour so that we only need three hotels, which will help to reduce the stress of moving
from one hotel to another during our tour. We will stay at the King Solomon hotel in Jerusalem, the
Leonardo Club on the shore of the Dead Sea, and the Leonardo Club on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Tour Leader – Ross Nichols
Ross K. Nichols is a Vice-President and an ordained minister and teacher for
United Israel World Union. He directs the United Israel Center South in St.
Francisville, Louisiana. Each Sabbath, people from all over the world join in for
a live stream of his teachings via United Israel’s YouTube channel, or the
United Israel Facebook Page.
Ross has toured Israel extensively – leading and co-leading tours for both Jews
and Christians. He has participated in archaeological digs at Dig Mount Zion in
Jerusalem, and at Biblical Tamar Park. He is an ardent Zionist and is active in
the Anti BDS movement working on many fronts to present the Jewish State in
a positive light and looking for ways to counter those who seek to promote
boycotts, divestments, and sanctions against Israel through propaganda and other false media efforts.
Aside from his role as a teacher of the Hebrew Bible, Ross is a co-host of Israel on My Mind, an internet
radio show on Israel News Talk Radio as well as a co-host on the popular new podcast, The Kingdom
Chronicles, an unscripted, original audio series exploring the ancient Hebrew monarchy.
Tour Guide – Hanoch Young
Hanoch Young, an Orthodox Jew, is one of Israel’s most sought-out and dynamic
Tour Guides. Having completed the arduous requirements of Israel's Ministry of
Tourism, he specializes in guiding both Christian and other non-Jewish Zionist
groups throughout Israel.
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Hanoch now resides in Modi'in - the
ancient home of the Maccabees. Since fulfilling his dream to move to Israel, he
has expanded his work to focus upon building bridges among all lovers of Israel
worldwide, traveling and speaking internationally to audiences about Biblical
prophecy and how to bless Israel.
Hanoch’s exciting, dynamic style, combined with his background, openness, and caring, make him a unique
messenger for, and passionate advocate on behalf of Israel. His public speaking, writing, and guiding have
earned him a global following of people who have been inspired by his message.
You can learn more about Hanoch and his various projects on his website.
Tour Itinerary
Day One
Monday – October 17 – USA to Israel
(We must be at the airport three hours prior to international flight departures.) We will depart on
Monday, October 17, flying overnight and arriving in Israel on Tuesday, October 18.
Day Two
Tuesday – October 18 – Mediterranean and Jerusalem
Flights should be arranged to arrive in Tel Aviv before 5 pm. Our charter bus will leave the airport at 6 pm. If
your flight arrives after this time, you will need to take a private taxi or Nesher van to our Jerusalem hotel (King
Solomon). Leaving the Tel Aviv airport, we will drive from the coastal plain to the mountains of Jerusalem—
2600 feet above Sea Level. We will check into the luxurious King Solomon Hotel in Jerusalem and enjoy a
bountiful buffet dinner and then settle into our rooms for a restful night’s sleep.
Day Three
Wednesday – October 19 – Mount of Olives, Western Wall, Jerusalem Archaeological Park – Davidson
Center, and Mamilla Mall
We will begin our day with a bus ride to the Mount of Olives. From this vantage
point we’ll look towards the west and view the Temple Mount and discuss the
past, present, and future potential for this most contested piece of real estate on
earth and why it is considered sacred. After taking in the panoramic view of the
Temple Mount, we will visit the Western Wall where we will make our way to
the famed prayer wall and offer our prayers at the very spot about which God
says, “Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers from this
place” (2 Chronicles 7:15). After our visit to the Western Wall, we will eat
lunch and then visit the Jerusalem Archaeological Park – Davidson Center.
Here, we will watch a short movie and then get a closer look at the
archaeological discoveries that are transforming our understanding of ancient
Jerusalem. We will finish off the afternoon with a visit to the beautiful, modern, Mamilla mall where we can
relax, and do a bit of shopping before returning to the King Solomon Hotel. (The mall, in addition to shopping,
has ATM machines and a large Pharmacy for all of our needs.)
Day Four
Thursday – October 20 – Israel Museum (Exhibits of the Biblical World, The Shrine of the Book, Model of
Herodian Jerusalem), US Embassy, Panoramic Views of Jerusalem, and Tower of David Light Show
The Israel Museum will be our first stop today. Here we will see some amazing
exhibits from the biblical period. The museum is full of artifacts discovered
throughout Israel in various excavations. We will also visit the Shrine of the Book
where we will learn about the Dead Sea Scrolls and see some of them up close.
We will then take in a fantastic model of Herodian Jerusalem allowing our guide
to orient us to ancient Jerusalem. We will eat lunch at the Israel Museum and then
visit the recently opened US Embassy in Jerusalem and take in some great views
of Jerusalem before returning to the King Solomon Hotel for dinner. After dinner,
we will board our bus and travel back to the Old City where we will watch a light
show at the Tower of David Museum, right inside the Jaffa Gate. After the show we will return to our hotel to
refresh and prepare for our next day of touring.
Day Five
Friday – October 21 – Knesset, The Gardens, Yad VaShem Museum, Qumran, and Dead Sea
We will begin our day with a visit to the Knesset Building, home of the
Israeli Parliament. We will tour the building and the Gardens and learn a
bit about the modern government of the only democracy in the Middle
East. After our visit of the Knesset, we will visit Yad VaShem – the World
Holocaust Remembrance Center where we will visit the exhibits of this
special place. Next, we will ride our bus into the desert regions of Israel as
we make our way to the Dead Sea. We will stay at the Leonardo Club on
the Dead Sea where we will have time after dinner to visit the spa, or some
may choose to make their way to the famed waters of the Sea of Salt for a
refreshing float.
Day Six
Saturday – October 22 – Dead Sea, Wilderness of Zin, Vidor Center, and Biblical Tamar Park (Bedouin
Experience)
Saturday is the Sabbath, so we will have a nice relaxing day. We can sleep
in, float in the Dead Sea or visit the hotel Spa (everyone will receive a
discount coupon to use in the Spa). After lunch, we will travel a short
distance by bus into the Wilderness of Zin known to us from the wilderness
journeys of the Children of Israel. We will visit the Vidor Center where we
will see a movie about life in the desert and then learn how this desert region
has come to be the source of the majority of vegetation grown in the land of
Israel. We will then travel to Biblical Tamar Park. Biblical Tamar Park is
located along the ancient spice route, in the Aravah, in the midst of the
Biblical wilderness region. On this 55-acre Park, there is a lovely dining facility, an active archaeology site, a
peaceful sukkah, and seven historical sites from Abraham to the present day. The Park is also home to an
ancient tree, and is surrounded on all sides by large date palm trees, a mango orchard, and rolling, sand covered
hills. Here, participants will be able to experience a taste of life in the desert reminiscient of the patriarchal
narratives. As a special added feature, we will be met by a local Beduoin chief who will tell us about life in the
desert. We will make our way back to the Leonardo Club at the Dead Sea for our final night in the desert.
Day Seven
Sunday – October 23 – Masada, Bet Shean, and Tiberias
We will check out of the Leonardo Club and board our bus and then
travel to the ancient fortress of Masada, where 960 revolutionary Jewish
holdouts died rather than surrender to the Romans. We will take the cable
car to the top and explore the famed fortress where we will learn that
Masada was originally built by the Maccabees, and fortified by Herod the
Great between 37-31 BCE as a refuge for himself in the event of a revolt.
From the top of Masada we will be able to look down upon the ruins of
Roman encampments. From Masada we will travel to the spectacular
ancient ruins of the Roman city of Beit Shean. Here we will see a large
Roman theatre and collonade lined street. We will then make our way to the Galilee and check into the
Leonardo Club on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Day Eight
Monday – October 24 – Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes, Ginnosar, and an Optional Boat ride on the Sea
of Galilee
Capernaum, where Jesus made his HQ and moved his family, will be our first
stop today. Here we will tour a third century synagogue built upon the visible
remains of a first century synagogue and what has been proposed to be “Peter’s
house.” We will then travel to the Mount of Beatitudes where we will discuss
one of Jesus’s most famous teachings from the traditional site. Next we will go
to Ginnosar where we will see a first century fishing boat that was exposed in
1986 due to low levels of the Sea of Galilee. We will learn how the boat was
removed from the shore and placed in its current area for display. We will
finish the day with an optional boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where we will
watch the sun set. We’ll spend the night at the Leonardo Club Hotel.
Day Nine
Tuesday – October 25 – Yardenit (Jordan River Baptismal site), Kefar Haruv Lookout, Mount Bental,
Lunch in Druze Village, Chocolate Factory and Winery
We will journey from our hotel, traveling around the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee and stop at Yardenit, a
baptismal site at the Jordan River. Here we will be able to do some souvenir shopping and those who wish to be
baptized may do so. Entrance into the water is equipped with handrails and wheelchair accessible ramps. We
will then make our way to a spectacular lookout point where we will be able to see the entire Sea of Galilee.
After that we’ll travel up into the northern Golan Heights near the borders of Syria and Lebanon, where we will
have lunch at a Druze Village. On our way back to Tiberias we will stop at the delightful Kubbutz Ein Zivan for
wine tasting, as well as visit a chocolate factory. We’ll spend our last night in the Galilee at the Leonardo Club
Hotel.
Day Ten
Wednesday – October 26 – Nazareth, Carmel Range, and Caesarea Maritima
Today we’ll head to the Mediterranean coast, passing Nazareth, and then the
Carmel Mountains where Elijah made his famous stand against the prophets
of Baal. We will spend some time at Caesarea, the city built by Herod the
Great (25-13 BCE). Named to flatter Caesar, this site is situated on the
Mediterranean Coast between Tel Aviv and Haifa. We will discuss Paul’s
imprisonment here before moving on to Rome to make his ‘appeal to
Caesar.’ Here, we will see the great aqueduct and another Roman theatre. We
will enjoy the breeze coming in from the Mediterranean while we eat a nice
outdoor lunch. After a stop at Caesarea we will begin to make our way to Ben
Gurion airport. Most will catch overnight flights home to the US late Wednesday evening.
Day Eleven
Thursday – October 27 – Flight home
Catching connecting flights back home.
Tour Package
$2,995 for land only
Included in Tour Cost
Hotels
Breakfasts
Dinners (except October 26)
National Park passes
All tips (except housekeeping)
All listed sites with entrance fees
Masada Lift and Galilee Boat trip
Bus transfer to and from Ben Gurion Airport
Not Included
Flight Insurance
Lunches
Airline Ticket
Trip insurance
You will be notified by email when there are sufficient registrations to buy your airline ticket. If you
would like to use the travel agent that Blossoming Rose uses, the information is below. Blossoming Rose
will provide group transportation to and from Ben Gurion Airport at the designated times. If you arrive
or depart outside of these times you will be responsible for your own transportation to and from
Jerusalem and Biblical Tamar Park. This itinerary is subject to change.
The cancellation fee is based on the total tour price, and is: 181 days or more = $100; 180 - 151 days =
$250; 150 - 121 days = $500; 120 – 61 days = 50% of total tour price; 60 – 31 days = 75% of total tour
price; 30 days or less = 100% of total tour price. Refund may take up to 4 weeks. Trip insurance is
recommended.
Reserve your place immediately by paying the $500 deposit on-line at www.blossomingrose.org. Balance
is due 120 days prior to departure.
For additional information contact:
Jodi Coxon
Tour Coordinator Blossoming Rose
Mr. Ross Nichols Cedar Springs, MI 49319
E-mail: rossknichols@me.com E-mail: jcoxon@blossomingrose.org
Office: 1-800-317-7673
www.blossomingrose.org
FOR FLIGHTS ONLY
Carol’s Travel Centre, Inc.
Carol Lenger
Carolstravelcentre@comcast.net
616-532-6677
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