Embark on a life transforming peacemaker retreat and explore what it means to follow the "Jesus way" in the midst of cultural and spiritual conflict and injustice.
Embrace the calling to become peacemakers.
Amidst the backdrop of political unrest and uncertainty, discover the inner call to peace.
Walk in Jesus' footsteps, literally & spiritually.
Learn what it means to walk in the path of Peace as we internalize the Beatitudes together.
Immerse in the culture and history of the Holy Land.
Learn and live with locals, know their sorrow, hopes and dreams, Make unlikely friendships.
SAMI AWAD
YOUR GUIDE AND SPIRITUAL FACILITATOR
Internationally known peace activist Sami Awad will guide us through an immersive and life transformative process of becoming peacemakers in our homes, our world, and our hearts. Through in-depth daily meditations on Jesus's Beatitudes and the backdrop of various Christian, Jewish, and Muslim holy sites, Sami will challenge us to seek peace not only in the world around us but, more importantly, in our own internal journeys of the heart and soul. Sami Awad currently serves as Co-Director of Nonviolence International. He is based in Bethlehem, Palestine where he has been a leading advocate of nonviolent resistance to occupation and inspirational leader for building a shared future of Palestinians and Israelis based on equality and human rights. Sami founded the Holy Land Trust in 1995 to work for a nonviolent future of Palestinian justice. Sami leads training and education programs on nonviolence that include a focus on trauma resilience and leadership development. He is a graduate of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Department of the American University School of International Service. He is an author and well-known inspirational speaker in many venues around the world.
Why a Peacemaker retreat?
Embarking on this peacemaker retreat has a profound purpose. It aims to encourage spiritual awakening and life transformation amidst the backdrop of ongoing conflict, injustice and war as we walk in the footsteps of the Jesus way. The significance of this journey lies in what it truly means to walk in Jesus's spiritual pathways of peace, embracing the calling to become peacemakers and extend love to the world—including our enemies. This retreat provides a safe space to engage our own inner trauma and how it relates to external trauma around us and provides a path to inner peace, healing, and transformation. We will also hear from Jewish and Palestinian spiritual leaders, humanitarians, and peacemakers as they share their sorrow and hope for peace and justice in this holy land.
a space for personal healing & transformation
Our spiritual guide, Sami Awad will provide perspective and an opportunity to enrich and challenge spiritual assumptions on what it means to follow the "Prince of Peace" within the context of systemic oppression, fear, and violence by immersing us through the profound process of the Beatitudes.
On This retreat, We will:
the beatitudes as a spiritual path
The Beatitudes, part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, teach and describe the attitudes and characteristics blessed by God. On this experimental retreat, we will walk through different aspects of the beatitudes each day, challenging our spiritual assumptions and immersing our hearts and minds in what it truly means to be poor, to mourn, to hunger and thirst for righteousness, and ultimately to become peacemakers. This retreat will not only allow you to experience the Holy Land in new and ancient ways but also provide a safe space to retreat, contemplate, and reflect on these profound teachings from Jesus, allowing for deep work to be done. The goal of this experience is life transformation in our hearts, our homes, and our world.
Contemplation & Prayer
Our world today is filled with division and violence, but Jesus calls his followers to be peacemakers. "Blessed are the peacemakers," he says. He calls his followers to peace and humility... even with our enemies. Mildred Lisette Norman, also known as Peace Pilgrim, believed that inner peace is the key to world peace. This life changing retreat will challenge us to live out this truth in our hearts and communities at home and abroad. Understanding ourselves, including our divine nature and shadow selves, allows us to travel this path to wholeness. Our spiritual guide Sami Awad will encourage the pilgrim to glimpse a faith beyond our culture and political constructs. To create a broader path of what it means to be a peacemaker in a world immersed in hate and indifference. Throughout the day, intentional times of meditation, prayer, and contemplation will be provided to help process the things seen and heard. We will also have times of community sharing to learn and grow together.
Olive HarvesT soladarity
As part of supporting indigenous Palestinian farmers, this pilgrimage will include time helping harvest or planting olives. You will join in solidarity to pick olives from their groves despite enduring harassment and destruction caused by Israeli military forces and settlers. You will have a chance to help with this critical work while also learning important spiritual and historical perspectives.
Who should come?
Pilgrimage Itinerary
Coming Soon!
Unrest & Security Concerns
This pilgrimage is contingent upon the state of security and political climate within Israel and the Palestinian Territories and may be postponed based on conditions on the ground. Possible dates are early spring or Fall 2025.
Interested in coming? Please sign up below to join our mailing list and receive the latest information on tour dates, prices, and activities.
Peacemaker Retreat Costs
(Prices are examples and subject to change based on itinerary.)
With Airfare (from a select US city)
- 5 - 10 Participants $6,900/per person
- 11 - 20 participants $5,900/per person
- 21 - 40 participants $5,400/per person
What's Included
- All necessary land transportation during the tour includes airport pick-up and transfer.
- Private air-conditioned motor coach or bus.
- Accommodations specified in the itinerary in 4+ star hotels
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
- Service charges, portage and taxes for accommodations
- All entrance fees as described in the itinerary
- Daily headset for each traveler
- Honorarium fees for speakers
- Admin fees
Without Airfare
- 5 - 10 Participants $5,400/per person
- 11 - 20 participants $4,400/per person
- 21 - 40 participants $3,900/per person
Not Included
- Travel Insurance
- Health Insurance
- Meals: Lunch on Arrival & Departure Day
- Laundry
- Telephone calls, or services other than those specifically mentioned.
- Costs for items not on table d’hôte menus such as water or other beverages at lunch & dinner.
- Tips for driver and tour guide
Cancelation Policy
In the event of cancellation of travel services due to any reason, Holy Land 360 must be notified in writing. Cancellation refunds are determined based on the date of notification in writing. Refunds are as follows:
- 45 days prior to arrival: 100% of the Tour/service cost
- 30 days prior to arrival: 80% of the Tour/service cost
- 15 days prior to arrival: 70% of the Tour/service cost
- 07 days prior to arrival: 50% of the Tour/service cost
- Less than 72 hours or No Show: No Refund
In case Group/Individual cancels the trip after commencement, the refund will be limited to the amount that we would recover from the hoteliers/contractors we patronize. For unused hotel accommodation, chartered transportation & missed meals etc. we do not bear any responsibility to refund.
Some cancellation and refund policies are out of our control, including:
- Refund for hotel payment will follow the hotel's cancellation policy
- Transportation cancellations will follow the transportation company's policy
- Flight tickets cancellations will follow the airline's company policy
GET UPDATES ON THE PEACE PILGRIMAGE
Are YOU Looking for Something?
All our trips provide spiritual direction explicitly customized for your life experience and faith. Our guides challenge you with open-ended questions and transformational exploration into the sacred and profound. They will not tell you what to think or feel but encourage you how to think... how to feel, to be sensitive to your inner voice, our universal conscience... the voice of God. Are you looking for a deeper understanding of scripture or your relationship to the divine? Our guides will help open up these potentially unexplored areas of the heart. Our tours invite you to slow down, open your heart to the "second gaze," and expand your capacity to see all things and places as sacred.