Dr. Matt Shackelford Student Tour 12-Day Adventure to Israel & Jordan May 12 - 23, 2025

Questions? Email us at info@signaturetours.com

Join us on the journey of a lifetime as we explore the land of the Bible. Immerse yourself in centuries of history beginning in Israel and follow in the footsteps of Jesus and his disciples as we travel through the Holy Land where our Messiah lived and worked miracles. Cross into Jordan, where the Israelites wandered through the wilderness. Watch the Scriptures come to life as you visit places like Bethlehem, Jericho, the Mount of Olives, the Sea of Galilee, and Jerusalem. Float in the Dead Sea, discover Masada, marvel at Petra, and gaze upon the Valley of Armageddon. This trip will be an incredible spiritual experience that will forever change the way you read, study, and understand the Scriptures. Reserve your spot today!

DAILY ITINERARY

DAY 01 (MAY 12): BEGINNING OF TOUR — Depart USA for Tel Aviv, Israel.

DAY 02 (MAY 13): INTO THE LAND OF THE BIBLE – Arrive in Tel Aviv where you will be met at the airport for transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Netanya.

DAY 03 (MAY 14): CAESAREA/ACRE/MEGIDDO – Start the day with a journey to the picturesque Caesarea Maritima. Marvel at the Roman theater and the ruins of Herod’s seaside estate. Continue along the Mediterranean coast to the ancient city of Akko (Acre). Visit the Templars' Tunnel, an extraordinary underground passageway built by the Knights Templar, a Christian military order. Enjoy a boat ride out of the historical port and envision how the coastal city appeared to ancient sea-faring vessels. Pass through the Valley of Megiddo (Armageddon) to Mt. Carmel, where Elijah battled the prophets of Baal. Continue to Mt. Precipice for a panoramic view of Nazareth, Cana, and the Jezreel Valley. From here, we drive east as the road winds down to Tiberias to your hotel along the beautiful shores of the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. Lunch provided

DAY 04 (MAY 15): SEA OF GALILEE/CAPERNAUM/JORDAN RIVER – Enjoy a morning boat ride on the calm surface of the Sea of Galilee, cruising toward Capernaum. Upon landing, visit the site where Jesus started His ministry, the house of Peter, and the synagogue where Jesus taught. Ascend the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the surrounding areas. Drive down to Tabgha on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the site of Peter’s restoration, and where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fish. After lunch, proceed to the banks of the Jordan River where you will have the opportunity to be baptized in the same waters as Jesus. End the day with a short hike to the top of Mt. Arbel for an amazing view of Galilee. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. Lunch provided

DAY 05 (MAY 16): CAESAREA PHILIPPI/TEL DAN/VALLEY OF TEARS – Begin the day in Upper Galilee. Explore the sources of the Jordan River at Caesarea Philippi and Tel Dan. Hike to the Lookout Post that was used by the Israel Defense Forces until the Six-Day War in 1967. View the abandoned Syrian military outpost and the Lebanese village of el-Khayam. Visit the Valley of Tears, the site of a major tank battle in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In the afternoon, drive through the Golan Heights to Kfar Haruv, a traditional Israeli Kibbutz with spectacular views overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. Lunch provided

DAY 06 (MAY 17): BEIT SHE’AN/JACOB’S WELL/JERUSALEM – Leave Tiberias and travel south along the Jordan River. Visit Beit She’an, the leading city in the Decapolis and the place where the Philistines hung the bodies of King Saul and his sons on the city walls. Take a beautiful drive through the heart of Samaria to the city of Nablus. Stop by Jacob’s Well where Jesus asked a Samaritan woman for a drink. Enjoy a traditional Palestinian lunch. Begin the journey south to Jerusalem, taking in the scenic countryside. Pass beneath the Mount of Olives and savor the dramatic entry into the Holy City. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Lunch provided.

DAY 07 (MAY 18): MASADA/JERICHO/QUMRAN – Travel along the ancient “Bloody Way” into the wilderness of the Judean Desert. Visit Wadi Qelt and see the Valley of the Shadow of Death from the high cliffs. Continue to Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a shepherd boy. Proceed to Masada, the desert fortress built by Herod the Great and used by Jewish zealots as a stronghold during the revolt. Eat lunch in Jericho, the oldest city in the world, and admire the ruins and excavations of the ancient city. View the Mount of Temptation where Jesus was tempted by Satan. Continue to the Jordan River for an opportunity to be baptized in the same location where Jesus was baptized. See En Gedi before continuing on a scenic drive along the shores of the Dead Sea. Stop at the lowest point on earth to float in the healing, mineral-rich waters. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. Lunch provided. 

DAY 08 (MAY 19): JERUSALEM Begin the day on the Mount of Olives at the Chapel of Ascension. Observe the Kidron Valley and take in the spectacular views of the Temple Mount. Follow the Palm Sunday path stopping at Pater Noster, Dominus Flavit, and The Church of All Nations. Step into history as you enter the Old City of Jerusalem. Stroll through the colorful bazaars, picturesque neighborhoods, and narrow streets as you make your way to the temple area where Solomon's Temple was built on Mount Moriah. Visit the Western Wall the Wailing Wall) before slipping under the old city to experience a tour of the Western Wall Tunnels. Observe remnants from the days of the Second Temple which was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Marvel at the Dome of the Rock enclosing the Rock of Sacrifice and the Mosque of Al Aksa. Enjoy lunch in the old city and take some time to shop for souvenirs, jewelry, and ancient coins. In the afternoon, visit the Church of Saint Anne, the Pool of Bethesda, Lithostrotos, and Antonia Fortress. Follow the Via Dolorosa with its culmination at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 09 (MAY 20): RAMPARTS WALK/GARDEN TOMB – Get a bird’s-eye view of the ancient city of Jerusalem from atop the Old City walls via the Ramparts Walk. Continue to Mount Zion for a visit to the Upper Room of the Last Supper as well as the Tomb of King David and the House of Caiaphas. Experience the Garden Tomb and Gordon's Calvary, the site where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. Enjoy lunch in Bethlehem overlooking the city. In the afternoon, walk below the City of David through Hezekiah's Tunnel, which connects the Gihon Spring with the Pool of Siloam. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 10 (MAY 21): JORDAN/MT NEBO/PETRA — This morning you will depart your hotel and drive towards the Jordanian border. You will cross the border into Jordan and continue to Mt. Nebo, the memorial to Moses, and the presumed site of the prophet's death and burial. Pass through Madiba, the Mosaic city, and then continue on to your hotel in Petra. 

DAY 11 (MAY 22): PETRA – Begin your tour in the breathtaking city of Petra, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, known as "the Rose Red City, half as old as time". Journey through the once-hidden passage to the Treasury. Stroll the two-thousand-year-old streets while marveling at the outstanding ruins that come to life as the sunlight changes the colors with your every step. See the awe-inspiring theatre and Palace Tomb. For the adventurous, climb to the High Place, with its breathtaking view of Petra and Mount Hor, one of the earliest mentioned mountains in scripture. Dinner and overnight in Petra. Lunch provided.

DAY 12 (MAY 23): AMMAN/USA – Transfer to Amman Airport for your return flight home with luggage packed with keepsakes and your heart full of memories!

NOTE: Schedule is subject to change due to various factors and your tour guide’s discretion.

PRICING:

• $5,695 per person based on double occupancy.
  
• Single room supplement - $1395
• $500 per person with registration to secure space.
• 50% of the total amount is due on or before November 12, 2024
• Balance due on or before February 12, 2025

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information check the airline website.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE REGISTERING

PASSPORTS: Passports must be valid with an expiration date of at least six months beyond the return home date of the tour. Participants with non-US passports are responsible for country-specific entry requirements. If you do not have a valid passport or need to renew your passport, enter "RENEWING" or "APPLIED FOR" when completing registration.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The $500 per person deposit is nonrefundable. Other payments exceeding the $500 per person are refundable in full up to ninety days prior to departure. After this date, refunds for unused accommodations and services will be limited to the amount received from and/or credited by all carriers, sightseeing operators, and hotels. All funds, including the deposit, are non-transferable.

AIR: The Standard Tour includes round-trip, economy-class airfare from the departure city listed in the itinerary. All group seating is assigned by the airline and cannot be changed by Signature Tours. Seat changes can only be made during check-in at the airport. Upgrades such as Comfort, Premium, Business, or First Class are not available with the standard tour. Participants who wish to upgrade or purchase a specific seat should choose the Land Only option when registering. Frequent flyer, TSA Precheck, and Global Entry numbers can only be added at check-in.

LAND ONLY: Participants who wish to arrange their own air should choose the Land Only option. $1000pp will be deducted from the standard tour price when selecting this option. Participants arranging their own air should notify Signature Tours at least 6 months prior to the departure date. Land Only Passengers arriving with or before the group are welcome to join the group bus at no additional charge. For those not traveling with the group, Signature Tours can provide contact information to arrange a private transfer.

GROUND/TRANSFERS: The group will be met by a Signature Tours representative and transferred to the hotel/airport. Land Only participants are responsible for scheduling ground transfers.

HOTELS: Superior first-class hotels throughout. Priced based on two people per room with a private bath and shower.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A limited number of single rooms are available at additional supplement prices. Signature Tours and/or the group leader will make every attempt to pair single participants requesting a roommate. However, the single supplement fee will be charged for each person occupying a single room, whether by choice or circumstance.

MEALS: Breakfast and dinner are provided daily. Lunch is provided on days as noted in the itinerary. 

SIGHTSEEING: Entrance fees to all places listed in the itinerary are included, as well as an expert English-speaking guide.

LUGGAGE: Space is limited on the tour buses. Participants are allowed one suitcase weighing 50lbs or less and will be transported in storage under the bus. Participants are allowed one backpack/daypack or personal bag to carry on the bus during the tour. These requirements will meet most airline carrier restrictions. See the carrier website for airline-specific baggage restrictions and requirements. Medical devices are not included in these restrictions. 

TIPS, SERVICE CHARGES, AND TAXES: Tips, service charges, and taxes ARE INCLUDED in the selling price. Taxes, as imposed by national and/or local governments, that are not included at the time of booking are the responsibility of the participant.

NOT INCLUDED: Excess baggage fees, passport fees, visa fees, food or drink items not listed on the regular table menu for included meals, and items of a personal nature such as room service, laundry, etc. Any service not indicated in the itinerary and/or the above list of included features.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: This tour requires a substantial amount of walking. Many of the sites are not accessible by wheelchair, and the uneven terrain is not feasible for rollators. Signature Tours reserves the right to refuse individuals who may require special attention beyond what the tour guide and tour host can provide.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through Travelex Insurance Services. For more information and rates, please review the product flyer or Click Here to enroll in the plan.
* Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535).

Signature Tours
PO Box 956817 Duluth, GA 30095
info@signaturetours.com