April 2026 Bible Study Tour of Israel & Jordan
A 12-day journey in which we will visit some out-of-the-way places in Israel and extend our visit to the land of Jordan.
Led by Barry Britnell
Barry Britnell, standing on the Mount of Olives.
Having grown up going to church, I have always had a passion for God’s Word. However, it was not until I traveled to Israel and Jordan in 2010 that I was able to successfully put the Bible in its geographical context. The trip also made the characters of the Bible seem more real. I was able to walk where they walked and see the same places that they saw. I finally was able to understand why the Biblical writers wrote the way that they did because I had seen the land.
Since that time, I have dedicated my life to helping others understand what I have learned. Hardly a month goes by in which I am not preaching or teaching a series of lessons involving Biblical geography.
In 2014, I began leading tours to Israel because there is no better teacher of the land than the land itself. Since 2010, I have been to Israel about a dozen times, and every day that I spend over there, I learn more and more about God’s Word.
Why don’t you join me and experience this for yourself? In 2026, I’m leading a unique tour for those who would like to extend their knowledge of Israel and expand their knowledge to the land of Jordan.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at barry.britnell@exploringbiblelands.com.
NOTE: I AM IN THE PROCESS OF FINALIZING THE BROCHURE AND REGISTRATION FORM FOR THIS TOUR. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TOUR, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT BARRY.BRITNELL@EXPLORINGBIBLELANDS.COM. I WILL CONTACT YOU IMMEDIATELY UPON POSTING OF THE REGISTRATION FORM.
GENERAL ITINERARY
MONDAY, APRIL 13
You will rendezvous with your tour group in New York City and board an overnight flight to Israel.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
Our luxury touring coach will be waiting for us at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport. After boarding, we will visit Tel Aviv, the largest city in Israel. Tel Aviv is a very modern city and is quickly becoming one of the technological capitals of the world. Our hotel is in the coastal resort city of Netanya and sits on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
We will travel from one sea (the Mediterranean) to another (the Sea of Galilee). Along the way, we will visit several sites that are a bit off the beaten path. In doing so, we will get to see parts of the land that most tourists often miss. We will visit Tzippori National Park, the home of the first-century Roman town of Sepphoris. From there, we will visit Kfar Cana, one of the two traditional sites where Jesus turned the water into wine. In the afternoon, we will visit the Horns of Hattin, which will give us a beautiful view of the Sea of Galilee. We will conclude the day by spending the night in Tiberias.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
On this day, we will learn more about first-century life around the Sea of Galilee. We will visit the Church of the Multiplication along the coast. Then we will visit Gamla and see the remains of a synagogue. Our next stop will be the city of Hippos, one of the cities of the Decapolis. The city of Hippos will offer us an unforgettable view of the Sea of Galilee from the eastern side. We will end our day with an afternoon boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Overnight in Tiberias.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
We will cross the border just south of the Sea of Galilee and arrive in the country of Jordan. Our main site to see on this day will be the expansive ruins of Jerash (the Decapolis city of Gerasa). We will walk the ancient roads, see the large amphitheatre, and the awe-inspiring Arch of Hadrian, built in his honor in the second century. We will then travel to the capital city of Amman and spend the night there.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
We will leave Amman and travel to the south. Along the way, we will visit the city of Madaba and visit the Byzantine Church of St. George and see the infamous Madaba Map. We will drive to the top of Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land. From there, we will drive to Machaerus, the site of one of King Herod’s palaces and the traditional location where John the Baptist was executed. Our journey will continue to the south, arriving in the Biblical land of the Edomites. Overnight near Petra.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
After our morning worship, we will travel to the ancient Nabatean city of Petra. Nicknamed the “Rose City” due to the color of the sandstone in which it is carved. Petra is in the list of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”. We will walk through the Siq and arrive at one of the most famous buildings in the world, the Treasury at Petra. Upon leaving Petra, we will travel to the north and stay overnight at a resort hotel on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea.
MONDAY, APRIL 20
We will visit the traditional baptismal site of Jesus on the Jordan River, close to the Biblical site of “Bethany Beyond the Jordan”. We will cross back into Israel at the Allenby Bridge and travel up the mountains to Jerusalem.
TUESDAY, APRIL 21
We will spend the entire day in the Old City, visiting the Western Wall, the Western Wall Tunnels, the Tower of David Museum, and Solomon’s Quarry. We will allow as much time as we can for shopping and to explore the Old City on your own. Overnight in Jerusalem.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22
We will travel to the western side of the city and visit the Israel Museum and the new Bible Lands Museum. These two museums are adjacent to each other, giving all of us plenty of time to explore all that they have to offer. The afternoon is free time to explore any part of the city of Jerusalem on your own.
THURSDAY, APRIL 23
We will leave early in the morning, traveling to the southern portion of the country of Israel. Once we arrive, we will visit Timna National Park, the home of a life-sized version of the tabernacle. Overnight in Jerusalem.
(NOTE: For those who do not want to travel this far in one day, they are welcome to stay in Jerusalem and have a free day in the city.)
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
We will arrive back in the United States, remembering all of the things that we have learned and ready to share them with others.
TOUR INFORMATION
The cost of your tour includes:
• Roundtrip airline travel from New York City to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport.
• Accommodations in first-class hotels (based on two persons sharing in twin-bedded rooms with private bath).
• All breakfasts and dinners served at the hotels.
• All transfers to/from the airport and daily transportation are provided by private motorcoach.
• Excellent and extremely knowledgeable English-speaking guides.
• All admission fees, porterage, hotel taxes, and service charges.
• All tips for tour guide, bus driver, hotel staff, porterage, and dining hall staff.
• $800.00 in government taxes and airline fuel surcharges.
The total cost for this tour is $6,199 (per person, based on double occupancy). This is a custom tour built at the request of Barry Britnell for the travelers on this tour. And, as stated above, this tour includes many extras already built in, including all tips and most meals.
NOTE: Tour price does not include passport and visa fees, border crossing charges in Israel and Jordan (approximately $50 per person), sightseeing and meals not specifically mentioned, excess baggage, and all other items of a purely personal nature.
Sign me up! What do I need to do?
• Download the Tour Brochure and Registration Form. (AVAILABLE SOON!)
• Read the General Terms and Conditions linked from the brochure to the Nawas website.
• Complete the Registration Form in the brochure.
• Mail the Registration Form, a copy of your Passport, and your deposit to the address listed on the form. (Full payment is due by January 3, 2026.)
• Sit back, relax, and count the days until we leave.
TESTIMONIALS
“There is something special about standing in the valley of Elah within yards of where David bravely defeated Goliath as opposed to simply reading about it in the Bible. In fact, my entire perspective of the Biblical writings of events that took place in Israel have changed after having traveled on the ‘Exploring Bible Lands’ tour with Barry. The trip was what I expected: organized, safe, inspiring and informative. What I was not prepared for was the fun, the brotherhood and friendships that were formed while exploring the Bible lands with fellow students of the Bible. There is no doubt that I will make this trip again since there was far too much information to gather in one trip. But Barry does as good as possible to make every hour informative and fun. Cannot wait for the next journey.”
“Every aspect of the trip was incredible. It is impossible to describe standing in places we read about in the Bible. Dipping your feet in Galilee, feeling the hot air of the wilderness, walking across the ruins of ancient cities - these experiences bring the Scriptures to life. What can be described is the first rate accommodations and the joy of traveling with fantastic people. Knowing that each day you will have good food, a comfortable bed, and enjoyable company makes each day a gift in itself. Combine all this with a fantastic tour guide and you have an unbeatable experience! I am excited for anyone who is able to travel with Barry and Tabatha to the Bible Lands!”
“I toured Israel with Barry’s group in July 2017, and the tour far exceeded my expectations. Barry’s scope of knowledge about the country and its history, his relationships with the local tour guide and driver, and the immaculate planning of each day’s itinerary ensured that we had a spectacular trip. I would encourage anyone with a desire to learn more about the places, cities and sites in the Bible to consider a trip with Barry, it was an experience of a lifetime!”