PRIVATE GROUP: 180 Chicago Church Israel Journey: March 2026

Join Co-Hosts Dr. James Coakley and Pastor Karl Clauson on this Israel Journey with 180 Chicago Church.

This 10-day Israel journey will take you to some of the country’s most significant cities and landmarks. See the Bible come to life before your eyes on this educational tour through Israel.

AT A GLANCE

STATUS

Registration is open. CLICK HERE to jump to the registration section.

DATES

• Departing: March 15, 2026

• Returning: March 24, 2026

PRICING

• Trip cost is LAND ONLY* based on double room occupancy: $3,550

* To be updated once international air quotes become available.

• A single room is available at a supplemental cost of $1,184

Your trip must be paid in full NO LATER THAN Tuesday, December 30, 2025

Each traveler must have:

• Current US Passport valid until at least six months AFTER the return date;

• Travel insurance.

Your tour includes:

• First-class and deluxe hotels;

• Land transportation via a deluxe motor coach (WiFi equipped);

• Professional tour guide and driver;

• Entrance fees to all activities listed on the itinerary;

• Breakfast and dinner daily with special meals noted on the itinerary (lunch is purchased on own unless otherwise noted);

• Luggage handling at hotels.

Your tour does NOT include:

• Travel insurance (required);

• International or Domestic flights;

• Gratuities for guide and driver (Please give at least $100 per registrant in cash to your tour host at the beginning of your journey. You may give more at the end of your journey if you desire.)

*See Terms and Conditions for details.

ITINERARY

Itinerary is subject to change

Day 1: Sunday, March 15, 2026

Today we depart on our Israel experience from Chicago, Illinois on our overnight flight to Tel Aviv. (International flights tbd)

Day 2: Monday, March 16, 2026

Upon arrival at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport our Israeli host will assist us with the transfer of our luggage.  We will meet our guide, board our deluxe motor coach, and drive to our hotel on the beautiful shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Netanya.

Day 3: Tuesday, March 17, 2026

After our first Israeli breakfast, we will drive north up the coast to Caesarea Maritima, built by King Herod the Great in 22 BC.  After viewing the extensive ruins of this ancient port city, we will continue to Megiddo and see the site overlooking the Valley of Armageddon where the final battle is prophesied to happen. After lunch we will visit the ancient city of Zippori where Jesus would have visited and worked as a young man. We will end our day with dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 4: Wednesday, March 18, 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day with a visit Hazor, known in Joshua’s day as “the head of all those kingdoms.” Next, we visit Tel Dan, where the tribe of Dan lived. Dan introduced idolatry into the land of Israel, and it was here where King Jeroboam set up a high place of worship to a golden calf. Then we drive to Caesarea Philippi (Banias), a city of Greek-Roman culture known for its worship of foreign gods and where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”  After lunch we will drive the Road to Damascus and discuss Paul’s revelation and Abrahams’ covenant as well as the connection between these two events.  We will stop for an overlook of the Golan Heights and Syria from the Valley of Tears.  From there we will visit Gamla, an ancient Jewish city in the upper Galilee and then experience true Israeli hospitality in the home of Omer Eshel, CEO of The Bible Comes to Life, on the Cliffs of Gardara where Jesus cast the demons (legion) into the swine. Overnight at our hotel. 

Day 5: Thursday, March 19, 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to see the beautiful Mt. of Beatitudes believed to be the setting for Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Then we drive to Capernaum, known as Jesus’ hometown and the scene of many of his miracles and where he called his first disciples.  Next, we visit Tabgha on the Sea of Galilee and the Church of the Primary of Peter best known for Christ’s miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish to feed a multitude. We will then see an ancient boat dated to the time of Jesus, enjoy a delicious fish lunch and take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Afterward we will enjoy a time of spiritual blessing as we stop at Yardenit, the baptismal site at the headwaters of the Jordan River. Here you are invited to be baptized if you choose.  Next, we drive to Magdala, a major 1st century port on the Sea of Galilee, a center of trade and commerce, and an exporter of salted fish to markets as far away as Europe. It is here we will see a 1st century synagogue where Jesus would have taught. We end our day with dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 6: Friday, March 20, 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our day in the ancient city of Hippos Sussita. This archaeological site is located on a hill 2 km east of the Sea of Galilee. Next, we will travel to Beit She’an where we will see the most extensive and best-preserved ruins of this Decapolis city. It is here that King Saul was defeated and killed, along with his three sons. This city was destroyed by an earthquake in AD 749. Next, we travel to Qumran,

the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We will drive through Jericho and can see the Mount of Temptation along the way. After lunch we will drive to Jerusalem for a brief stop at the Mount of Olives to see an impressive view of Jerusalem.  Afterward we will welcome Shabbat with a time of reflection at the West Wall (Kotel). Dinner and overnight is at our hotel. Shabbat Shalom!

Day 7: Saturday, March 21, 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we set out to see the incredible rock-top fortress of Masada. This once palatial refuge for Herod the Great, is better known as the location

of a Roman siege against 960 Jewish defenders in AD 74. After lunch we have a brief stop at Ein Gedi, the place where David hid from Saul when he pursued him to kill him before arriving at the lowest place on Earth, the Dead Sea, for a time to float on this amazing body of water. We will then drive back to Jerusalem where we will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and then enjoy some free time at the Old City Market before dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 8: Sunday, March 22, 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we will begin the day with a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane near the foot of the Mount of Olives. This is the site where Jesus prayed

in agony before his arrest.  Next, we will walk the Southern Steps of the temple at the Davidson Center and visit the City of David where we will walk through the Canaanite (dry) tunnel.  After lunch we will drive to Bethlehem (if possible) and visit a Shepherd’s Field and shop for authentic olive wood designs. We will end our day with dinner and overnight at our Jerusalem hotel. 

Day 9: Monday, March 23, 2026

After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Israel Museum and then enjoy a view from Emek Tzurim. This peaceful valley, where olive trees are planted, is the place where treasures are uncovered through the unique archaeological sifting project. Next, we will visit the Garden Tomb and observe communion with those who choose to participate. Afterward, we will see the Pools of Bethesda and after lunch we will drive to the Elah Valley where we will visit Tel Azeqa and overlook the valley where the battle of David and Goliath took place. We will then drive back to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 10: Tuesday, March 24, 2026

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we will drive to the airport and begin our journey home.

Shalom blessings until next time!

HOW TO REGISTER

STEP 1: COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORM

Register for the trip by completing the Traveler Registration Form and paying the non-refundable registration fee of $300 (plus taxes and fees). For more info, please review our Terms and Conditions.

STEP 2: COMPLETE BOOKING

After you complete the Traveler Registration Form, click the event link below to select your trip options and complete your booking. Upon checkout via the event page, you can select from the following payment options: Online via Credit Card or PayPal; or Manual Payments via Check, Zelle, or Bank Wire. Instructions for each payment method will be available on the checkout page and are always available on our Payment Options page.