Who Should Use this Website?
1: If you are interested in bringing your family to Israel and having an Experience no ordinary “tour” will provide, you and your family may join other families from around the world on one of our Israel Experiences (details of each of our current Experiences are provided below).
2: Or, if you are interested in organizing a group of your own from your homeschooling community, from your church, or from individuals/families you know, you may use the itineraries listed below as guides to begin to craft your own Israel Experience. We offer Experiences ranging from 10 to 20 days in length, with the 20-day Experiences being the most popular. Our staff has years of experience and is ready to help you pick appropriate dates, choose localities, determine the best accommodations, provide materials to prepare you and your families for your time in Israel and even help you gather the people. In Israel, we make all the detailed arrangements for you and provide the best-known guides in the Land. Depending on the number in your group, you may be able to enjoy Israel for free! (See the section: “I Want to Organize My Own Group”, below). When you contact us, ask us to send you an email from one of our travelers explaining how she put together her own homeschooling/church group.
About Us:
"Us" is Chris Davis and Danny & Judy Kransdorf. I, Chris, am the father of four grown children. One of them, my youngest son, Blake, has been to Israel many times. I homeschooled my three sons throughout their entire schooling experience. I also founded The Elijah Company in 1988, one of the first Christian homeschool supply companies.Since 2002, I have been taking homeschooling families to Israel annually through my company, Homeschool Travel. The main reason I chose Danny and Judy Kransdorf as my Tour Operators is that they are able to do what homeschoolers want: Create an Experience that homeschooling families will never forget. We believe we have accomplished this and we have the Experiences to prove it!
We, Danny and Judy are the parents of two sons. When we moved to Israel in 1997 we noticed that tour companies were bringing people to Israel to see the "normal" tourist sites; but were bypassing the areas where most of Israel's biblical history took place: the "heartland" of the country. We began a tour company to resolve this oversight. When we began working with Chris, arranging travel for Christian homeschoolers, we soon realized that homeschoolers are not normal tourists. Homeschoolers want Experiences, not tourism.
Why We Are Different
Basically, the difference between us and any "tour" you might take is that we know families! We have spent years (and many previous trips to Israel) perfecting the Experience of a Lifetime for families. If you read the Testimonials page, you will see what others have said about their own Experiences. And, we urge you to go to the References You May Contact page and email any of the families who have traveled with us on our previous Israel Experiences. Don't take our word for it. Let them tell you!21 Day June/July 2012 Experience
Note: When making flight reservations to Israel, be sure you arrive on "Day 2" of the itinerary. Day 1 is your overnight flight from the western hemisphere.
Day 1 - Tuesday, June 12:
We are really going to Israel!
Day 2 - Wednesday, June 13:
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv
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Day 3 – Thursday, June 14:
Samaria
Day 4 – Friday, June 15:
Samaria & Jerusalem
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Day 5 - Saturday, June 16:
Introduction to Jerusalem
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Day 6 - Sunday, June 17:
Introduction to Jerusalem
After an early breakfast we enter the Old City, where everyday life and customs within narrow, crooked streets have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. We will see the Western Wall by day and then hope to be among those allowed entrance to the Temple Mount, itself, where we may see the place Abraham bound Isaac and where the ancient Jewish temples stood. We will descend deep beneath the streets of the Old City to view the Western Wall at it appeared during the times of kings Solomon and Herod. In the reconstructed Jewish Quarter we can see the Ancient Cardo and Hezekiah’s Broad Wall, testaments of the past. Along the way, we will meet some friends who will answer many of our questions about Jewish life and we will have some really great shopping opportunities! In the early evening we will stroll through Machaneh Yehudah, the wonderful outdoor market where native Jerusalemites buy their food. The sights and smells of everything from fish to fresh-baked bread will stir the appetite. Dinner and overnight at the Guesthouse in Jerusalem |
Day 7 - Monday, June 18:
In the footsteps of Abraham & David
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Day 8 - Tuesday, June 19:
Masada & Dead Sea Area
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Day 9 - Wednesday, June 20:
Jordan River Valley & Sea of Galilee
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Day 10 - Thursday, June 21:
Northeastern Galilee & Golan Heights
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Day 11 - Friday, June 22:
Northwestern Galilee & Mediterranean Coast
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Day 12 - Saturday, June 23:
Sea of Galilee
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Day 13 – Sunday, June 24:
Sea of Galilee—In the footsteps of Jesus
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Day 14 – Monday, June 25:
Western Galilee & Coast
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Day 15 – Tuesday, June 26:
Eilat & Red Sea
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Day 16 – Wednesday, June 27:
Petra & Jordan
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Day 17 – Thursday, June 28:
Eilat
Day 18 – Friday, June 29::
Kings David & Hezekiah
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Day 19 – Saturday, June 30:
Jerusalem—In the footsteps of Jesus
Jesus spent much of his life in and around Jerusalem. We will visit the biblical sites of His ministry that still exist today: The Garden of Gethsemane, the Pool of Bethsaida, the Pool of Siloam, the Via Dolorosa, the Garden Tomb and the Valley of Ben Hinnom. Dinner and overnight at the Jerusalem Guesthouse 
Day 20 – Sunday, July 1:
Jerusalem & Leket Israel
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Day 21 – Monday, July 2:
Final Day
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You will be asked again and again, "How was your trip to Israel?" If you ever figure out how to answer this question, please let the rest of us know!
Pricing for the 21 Day 2012 Experience
- $3,299.00 per adult
- $3,100.00 per child
- Child is under 18 years old
Single traveler? You are welcome to join us and private rooms are available. However, if you would like to share a room with another single (or singles) in order to save money, we will facilitate your finding one. Simply tell us it’s all right to share your contact information (email and phone number) and we will share this information with other singles of the same gender. After that, we will step back and leave the roommate decision up to you.
Prices Include:
- All accommodations
- All entrance fees, admissions and special events mentioned in the itinerary including:
- working with archaeologists, rafting on Jordan River, snorkeling in the Red Sea, and riding camels
- Meetings with Israeli families and soldiers
- Experienced tour guides
- Border crossing (Jordan)taxes and fees
- All meals except lunches (see below)
- All tips
- Airfare to Israel
- Most lunches (we stop for lunch where several choices exist)
- Souvenirs and other personal items
- Trip insurance (if desired)
Only 30 places left!
How do I sign up?
I Want to Organize My Own Group & Take $1,000.00 or More Off My Cost
You may either join one of the prearranged Experiences you see on this web site, Or...
You may organize your own group and take at least $1,000.00 or more off the cost of your own trip!
Here's how it works:
- You will need to find at least 16 others to join you (couples, individuals, and/or families). If you are bringing families, remember that it takes only 4-5 families to equal 16 individuals
- For 16 travelers, you will receive your land portion free
- If you can gather only 14 more paying individuals, we will also give you $1,000.00 cash to use any way you want. (for your airline ticket, other members of your family, etc.)
- On the contact page check "Forming my own group"
- For 16 travelers, you will receive your land portion free
- We will contact you and help you choose appropriate dates
- You may use one of the prearranged itineraries on this site (substituting your dates), or we can help you change the itinerary in whatever way you desire
- Begin spreading the word!
Is Israel Safe?
We have never taken a group to Israel where anyone felt the first sense of concern while in the Land. When asked how secure our people felt in Israel, the unanimous response has been as follows (and this is a direct quote from one of our group)..."The trip was great, and never for one moment did I feel that I was in danger. The security provided us was superb."
Tourism is a very important industry to Israel, and the State of Israel goes to great lengths to safeguard every Pilgrim. Today many people fear to leave their homes to go anywhere, even in the U.S. We believe the safest place one can be at any time is wherever God wants him to be. So, the real question is, "Does the Lord want you to go to Israel?" If so, you are safer in Israel than anywhere in the world!
What you will Experience:
Most "tours" visit sites: Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, the Mount of Beatitudes, etc. But, there is a difference between visiting a place and experiencing the biblical history of that place. An experience should not only teach, it should also give an individual —especially a young person—a tie to that place which he or she will never forget.This is why we collect five smooth stones from the brook in the valley where David faced Goliath so we can show those back home that we were actually "there". This is why we slosh through Hezekiah’s Water Tunnel, asking ourselves how such an architectural feat could have been accomplish so quickly, with all its twists and turns, in 700 B.C.! This is why we give part of our time helping archaeologists sift through Temple Mount dirt, looking for ancient Temple treasures. This is why we spend a Sabbath weekend as the guests of an Orthodox Jewish community, experiencing, first-hand, what it's like to be a pioneering Jew in the Land of the Jews.
Yet, with all this, we visit every site a normal "tour" would visit & we are never just "tourists".
What you will Learn:
In Israel, every village, town and turn-in-the-road leaps out at you from the Bible. Our guides are Bible scholars as well as experts in points of Jewish history and law. The Bible is our Tour Book — we will read from it daily. Bring it with you on the bus!Israel is a place unique in the world. It can be a mirror to one’s soul and travelers to this Land often meet themselves and members of their families in ways they did not expect. When families are hot and tired, personal and family issues tend to surface and each individual, or family, will handle their issues differently.
Also, because Israel’s culture appears “western”, it is easy to forget that you are in a foreign country complete with its own inconveniences, inconsistencies, irritabilities and conflicting spirits.
Disappointments arise from unfulfilled expectations. If you are a person who doesn’t appreciate the unexpected, who doesn’t like surprises or who doesn’t like things to change, then this Experience may not be for you.
However, if you love the excitement of new adventures each and every day, then this is the group for you to join! And, you can be assured that,like virtually everyone who has gone before you, you will definitely meet God in ways you have never known Him.
What you are about to join has been prepared to give each participant the maximum possible experience of the biblical history of God’s People and their Land. This may include participation in archaeological work with Temple Mount artifacts. Also, because Israel’s biblical history has always been related to her political history, you and your students will have the rare opportunity to become educated in the complex relationships of the entire Middle Eastern region. For this understanding, your students will be eligible to receive credits in Biblical and Middle Eastern History and Archaeology.
Testimonials:
Each statement that follows is the heart-felt expression of a homeschooling family on one of our previous Experiences:- “I never felt like a tourist”—age 15
- “Thanks, Danny and Chris, for your strategic and exciting planning of this trip”
- “I have taken this trip twice with my children. It is the only trip I know of where you will learn about the land of Israel, see where Jesus walked, and cover the country from one end to the other”
- “This is no ordinary tour, and that is what makes it so great!”—age 15
- “As we get ready to return to our homes, we take with us treasured relationships and memories. God has truly called each one of us to be here”
- “All I can say is ‘Thank you, God, and to the people who set this all up!’”—age 13
- “If the Lord provides the funding and time, I could recommend no better adventure to Israel. It was beyond compare!”
- “…it’s not just Bible stories that have become more real to me—Jesus, Himself, as a person, has become more real to me….”—age 18
- “The laughter of everyone will echo in my heart and memories”
- “How can I choose my most favorite [place] when I’ve been to Shiloh, Masada, Ein Gedi, King Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Holocaust Memorial, Jerusalem—it doesn’t end!”
- “I loved the people I was with and I loved the places I was at”—age 10
- “The mix of biblical sites, Bible teaching, Judaism, scenic beauty, adventure, and fun was perfect.”
- “I am so glad God invited me to His land….”—age 12
- "After planning for 1-1/2 years for our Israel trip (saving, etc), I thought nothing could live up to that kind of build up, but the trip truly exceeded our expectations. We like active vacations, not just sitting in a bus watching the scenes flash by. Each day was filled with interesting teaching, but also activity — climbing, rafting, camel-riding, hiking, swimming, etc. I was amazed at the attention to detail. Also, our group opted for less expensive accommodations, which turned out to be some of our favorite overnights. We were able to interact with many locals that most tourists probably don't see — Orthodox Jews, Israeli homeschoolers, guys at the army canteen, etc. In the end I would have paid double for what we got."
- "I cannot describe the impact the entire experience had on me personally"
- "Finding your site was Divine intervention. The fellowship, the love, the joy still move me to tears. I had been to Israel before (have the bumper sticker), have read the Bible, have numerous Jewish friends. But, God bless you; you made it real! I will be joining you all again!"
- “If you wish to connect with Israel on an intimate level and explore the richness of its history, this tour is for you….You won’t find any of this on a 5-star hotel tour.” -age 76
- “Very well organized. Accommodations a good value for our money. I can’t imagine a more enjoyable tour than this one. I would definitely come again and would recommend it to anyone.”
- “This tour is awesome! You don’t know what you are missing. If you don’t want to come to Israel, you are CRAZY! You won’t regret it.” -age 10
- “Any good guide will be knowledgeable about his subject…[our guide] was a master storyteller. In my mind’s eye, I could actually see Goliath taunting the armies of Israel. I could see David sneaking up in the cave to cut off a piece of Saul’s robe. I could see Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal. A fabulous itinerary.”
- "Thank you, thank you, for making my dream of a family trip to Israel a reality!"
- "I would most heartily recommend this tour to anyone. Not just tourist traps and time-worn sites, but a living history that comes to life right from the pages of the Holy Scriptures."
- "I have talked to other Christians who have toured Israel, and none of them got to know Jewish families, participated in Shabbat, or were invited to a synagogue. None of them heard the history of the Jewish people, or went to communities and actually dwelt in the midst of the people."
- "...an experience I will cherish the rest of my life."
- "The trip was great, and never for one moment did I feel that I was in danger. The security provided us was superb."
- "My expectations were so high I honestly expected to be disappointed; however, this trip was much more than I had ever thought it could be."
- "We have been back nearly four weeks and we simply cannot seem to get back to the routine of life. We truly were so amazingly and profoundly changed by the trip! We have spent the better part of four weeks talking about the Land, the people, and the impact made on our understanding of the Bible."
- "Our children discovered a world they had only read about and dreamed of; as parents, we knew their understanding of that world grew immeasurably."
- "Having a guide who was clearly devoted to God's word was central to this experience."
- "Having the opportunities to meet, spend time with, and talk to Israeli citizens, especially Orthodox Jews, was a true highlight. The Shabbat experience at Ma'ale Levona was one of the best features of the trip."
- "It was wonderful to not only walk the land and talk to the people, but to watch us become a 'family'."
- "It was incredible to see the sites, smell the smells, hear the Word of God and interact with the people."
- "You may be uncomfortable at times—thirsty, hot and dirty—but you come home with such memories that all those things seem insignificant."
- "You did a fantastic job, and the experience was over and above all that we could have hoped for or imagined. Thank you again for all your work and vision for this pilgrimage. It has forever changed our lives!"
- "[This Experience] changed my life and those of my children forever. This is an educational and spiritual opportunity I will be eternally grateful for."
- "The beauty and history of the Land is surpassed only by the depth and passion of the people. As visitors to Israel there is joy in both praying at the Wall and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. There is excitement in making your way through Hezekiah’s ancient tunnel and walking through one of Jerusalem's gates for the first time. The smells, flavors and colors of the markets and shops are intoxicating. We enjoyed every minute!"
References You May Contact
The following names are only a few of the many families who have traveled with us in the past. They have agreed to answer any questions you may have about our Israel Experience. They receive no benefit for doing this other than their desire—as fellow homeschoolers—to help with your decision to visit Israel. Click on name to e-mail.- Haley Family- Spain
- Sprenger Family-Thailand
- Cofer Family- South Carolina
- Knapp Family- Colorado
- Jim Castleberry - Georgia
- Nathan Shinabarger-Indiana
- Roland Leal - Texas
Who Should Come
Entire families, extended families and partial families (even couples and individuals) have joined our Experiences. Fathers have sent their families (or, sometimes their children) for three weeks and have joined them the first (or last) two weeks. Who should come? Everyone who can... don't put it off!Recommended Ages
Minimum Age: You know your own children: The amount of sharing they are capable of absorbing; their personal attention spans; their ability to handle hot climates and different kinds of food; their ability to be interested in an experience such as the one we are providing are all necessary considerations.We do not recommend bringing extremely young children who need the kind of personal attention that could hinder the experiences of the rest of the group.
Maximum Age: We have had grandfathers and grandmothers up to age 80 on our Experiences. These individuals paced themselves, occasionally choosing not to climb or walk distances; but they enjoyed the time with their families. It is a special treat when children can have deeply satisfying experiences with a grandparent, such as one of our youngsters who was baptized in the Jordan River by her grandfather.
Materials We Provide
Because we are homeschoolers offering this Experience for other homeschoolers, we know you expect materials from us. Here is what we provide for everyone attending one of our Israel Experiences:A dozen set of "Notes to Travelers" containing everything you will need to know: what to pack and what to expect; what money to bring and how to spend it; what to do when you arrive at the airport; how Jews view Christians and Christianity; a history of Zionism and modern Israel; how to assign credits to your students for their time in Israel; and much more