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Published on July 09, 2019 by IBMT

"Masada"

The story of Masada is one of the most important in Israeli history and when you take Holy Land tours from Canada to Israeli, you can learn it right from the people who hold the history dear. The story is of a conquered people, the Jews, by the Romans in 64 BCE. It began as slow annexation of the country – Jerusalem, and Judea – and cumulated in the siege of Masada. The people of this mountain top settlement refused to be enslaved by the Romans and chose a different path to maintain their independence. At IBMT Tours we arrange Holy Land tours for Christians of the area in and around Masada. For many years we have created great memories of the area and Israel – we have an extensive network of connections throughout the country to provide the best in accommodations and cuisine while seeing one of the most historically important countries in the world. We are considered an international travel company and we can book your Israel tours from the USA for those who are located stateside.

The mysteries of Masada

When Herod was anointed King of Judea, the populace resoundingly rejected his rule, but he did leave a legacy that is evident when you visit Masada for Holy Land tours for Christians. When you visit the area, you will see the mountaintop where the Jews held out against the Roman aggressors as your first stop. UNESCO has designated the area as a World Heritage Site and Masada has an outsized role in the history of the area.

  • To get to the ancient fortress that is Masada – located on a high plateau in the desert, you take a cable car to the top. It starts with a vista that is without parallel, and then the history washes over you. You can see the ruins of the site hard by the Dead Sea and see how the people endured the trouble that was brought to their door by the Romans. Masada stands a symbolic testament against oppression that resonates with every visitor who makes the trip to the site. It represents a will of a people who refused to sacrifice their religion and values to invaders who sought to put them in bondage as a conquered people.
  • The Masada Visitor’s Centre offers  great background information and artifacts that have been found in the area. At the centre, the detailed history of the struggle will be unveiled to help educate visitors along with the finds from the archaeological excavations that have run for many years.
  • If you want a traditional trip to the summit of Masada – you can take one of two paths to arrive at the summit. One is the path that is known as the Ramp Trail and the other is the Snake Trail that starts at the visitor’s centre. The Ramp Trail is much shorter for those who don’t want to make the long trek that is the Snake Trail. The Snake Trail takes approximately an hour to ascend and you will get superlative views of the region when you make this trip your choice.
  • Once atop the plateau, the Northern Palace will be yours to explore. In its day the Northern Palace, where Herod lived was an architectural marvel containing three floors, three terraces and a courtyard that has Corinthian columns surrounding the courtyard. Located at the northern tip of the plateau – the palace had a great view of the area and it was used as an early warning system to observe invaders that may march on the palace.
  • At the south end of the plateau is the Roman baths that are still preserved today. It possesses a heated flooring system, a cold bath and a hot bath that was well used by the Romans during their domination of the area. 
  • During one of the many excavations of the site, an ancient Synagogue was discovered and it is believed that this is the oldest of its kind and it dates back to the time of the Temple.

There is much to see and do in the area of Masada and lots of history to learn when you visit Masada. To get the most out of your vacation, leave the details of your trip to us at IBMT Tours. We have more than three decades of service to the travel industry and we produce quality vacations that live a lifetime. Masada is waiting for you and we want to send you to Israel when you call our office at IBMT Tours today at 1.877.977.4268 to book your trip to Masada.
 

TestimonialsTestimonials

We went on a church group to the Holyland with IBMT Tours and had a great trip, everything was planned for us perfectly. There was over 123 people in four different bus groups and things went smoothly, I thought it was going to be hectic with that many people in the group but IBMT did a wonderful job and made sure the buses did not go convoy, every bus had its own time table and itinerary for the day, our guide Dani was so knowledgeable and loving. We love you IBMT and we will recommend you guys. Thanks for everything you have done for us.

For years, it had been a deep desire of mine to lead a group of pilgrims to the Holy Land.  I’m not sure how it happened (perhaps the grace of God), but I ended up working with Israel Biblical Mission Tours (IBMT) and specifically Ornan Sharaby.   Because I had never led a group like this before, I needed guidance.  Ornan and his team were wonderfully helpful.  They answered all my questions, and never seemed irritated when I called or emailed with what some might have considered a “Silly question.”  Then, when it was close to departure time, I had some apprehensions.  Ornan assured me that he had taken care of everything.  On the day of our departure, we (a group of 27) had no issues whatsoever.  As predicted, everything was “Taken care of.”  The flight experience was good.

Upon our arrival in Israel, the bus and the guide were waiting for us, took us to our Hotel, and we slept well.  We departed on our experience the next morning. 

As we progressed day by day, my wife and I were extremely pleased (as was the entire group).  Every detail of our trip was laid out, and we were treated so very well by everyone.  We experienced no difficulties at all.  It was truly better than we had anticipated.  My compliments to IBMT, and to Ornan and his team.  I simply cannot imagine things going any better.  Our itinerary was wonderful, our bus, and driver were phenomenal, and our guide was friendly, fun, and extremely knowledgeable.  They all made sure that we had an incredible Holy Experience…and we DID!

Every single member of our trip was overwhelmed with the experience, and went out of their way to tell me that their Holy Land Pilgrimage exceeded their expectations. 

Finally, on our last day in Israel, our driver and our guide, expressed their appreciation to us, and made sure that we arrived at the airport on time, and then our guide took up to the right place and helped us get checked in. 

I therefore, with no trepidation whatsoever, very highly recommend IBMT and Mr. Ornan Sharaby when you plan your Holy Land experience.  You could not be in better hands.

Sincerely,
Pastor Stan Patterson
Church 213  Covington, Georgia

This was an incredible tour of Israel with IBMT Tours and I loved the additional trip to Petra as well. We had a very knowledgeable guide from Israel who gave us an extensive explanation of everything we saw in Israel. All of the hotels I stayed in were great with comfortable beds and wonderful buffet breakfasts!!

Dear Brother Ornan and Brother Thomas,

We, KBCUSA had a wonderful time with IBMT Holy Land Tour in November 2014. It was really great joy for our group, the members of Karen Baptist Churches USA. You have fulfilled our great expectation to visit the Holy Land. We all appreciate for your well arrangement for excellent hotels, Tours and the tour guide and the drivers as well. Especially we appreciate for your kind arrangement from Canada even we were on the Tour in Israel and the warmly and kind assists of Mr. Thomas Portmann who taking care of us as his family. We really enjoy the trip with IBMT. And this year, we will be going to Israel with your Tour again. I would like to invite you to visit and present about the upcoming tour at our KBCUSA annual meeting which will be held in Buffalo in July 23-15, 2015. We expect about 500 people at the conference. 

Thanks and God bless you.

My trip to the Holy Land Israel

It is a dream trip is a desired journey, but God is the one who knows when your turn is and when is your time. Since I was at a young age I always wanted to know the world. I thought where Jesus was born, my love for God and my faith; it grew and grew inside of me and with it to know the steps of Jesus. I dreamed about knowing of what I have always heard where Jesus was born, where the Angel Gabriel came to the Virgin Mary and to know where Jesus was born and suffered so much on his way with the cross. Well my dream came true and even more because I received a wonderful grace of the Lord that I know that everyone that visit those distant and blessed lands of the lord receive with open arms and those who seeks him receive his blessing if you come with open heart. It happened I went in the search of my heart to have an encounter with the Lord and I found it, I meet where he walked, where he suffer, where he celebrated his last dinner even where he was born and was happy healing the poor and those who knew of him.

One day my daughter Paloma tells me Mom go to Holy Land, go to Israel she said because she knows that in my heart I knew that I had this thirst the one that it will not heal with any water only with the water that only the Lord knows how to take away. I stared at her and I said to her ok Paloma I want to go, she stood up like guided by the Holy Spirit and immediately started to make arrangements. I still did not understand that God used her so that I can go in search of him, that he had plans for me.

She like the Sheppard contacted Mr. Ornan at Holyland Tours and it was the best decision since we wanted to find the right person to do a religious tour, but I turn up short because it was not only a religious tour with the content discipline and knowledge of the history that our tour guide made this experience masterly

I know that everything was prepared by this gentleman, the attention, the good service offered by Mr. Ornan, and after arriving to my first destination Tel Aviv I was to be reunited with my group and to begin our crossing it was something wonderful a trip that I will never forget and without being afraid of being wrong with my age 47 years old it was the best trip I ever had.

1. The places we visit like Caesaria, Haifa Acre, Tiberías. Capernaum, Banias, Nazareth, Beit Shean, Jerusalém and Massada. These where places that where impregnated in my heart and specially the Old City where I had the divine experience with the lord, where I felt that God touched my heart where I felt that I was not there by accident that I was in this place because God had a plan for me.

I invite everyone that have not yet been to visit these holy places and the land of God to go, to give yourself this wonderful gift because this will change your life and heart, we know how we arrive but we do not know how we will leave. It is so that I assure you that if you arrive with your hearts open and are willing to let god fill you with love you will receive his blessing not only for yourself but for your family as well, give yourself this gift and let god heal you and blessed your heart and give yourself the opportunity to Walk in the Footsteps of Jesus

Dear Thomas:

It was my intention to write to you upon returning from Israel, to tell you how awesome and wonderful the tour turned out to be.

Thomas, I am still in awe of the modernity and beauty of Israel , even though I know that my level of enjoyment and excitement there could have been much less were my cousin and I not fortunate enough to have the intelligence, knowledgeable and dedicated tour guide that Doron Kaufman was / is. I took a total of 1,750 photos; I will be making a photobook from them.

About our guide Doron — He was always pleasant (smiling) and caring, the best tour guide I have ever experienced. His impartation of what he knows about Israel is in its own ilk and he made every trip seem special.

It will interest you to know that I’ve been selling Israel to all my friends, work colleagues and family, telling all how safe I felt under the guidance of your representative and for them to be sure to book a trip there at some time via IBMT Tours’ Thomas Portman. I also encouraged each to ensure t that their tour guide be none other than Doron Kaufman.

So, until my next trip to Israel and with warmest wishes and kindest regards.

5/5

IBMT Holyland Tours

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