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Welcome to the website of Hope for the Holy Land! ​

A place for people to connect and start the Journey of a lifetime!

 You can join a group already planning a pilgrimage or organise your own. Whether you want to visit with a trusted  Holy Land tour operator or as an independent traveller - you'll find the resources you need here. Most importantly you can meet the people of the Holy Land and learn about their lives.

Find the shops, restaurants and guesthouses that sustain the Christian community and how your visit can bring renewed Hope for the Holy Land!

 

Make the journey that makes a difference!
Become a Pilgrim of Hope!

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For two thousand years the Christians of the Holy Land have kept the flame of faith alive in the Land of the Resurrection.

Today their future is in jeopardy.

Since the first Pentecost and spread of the Gospel, pilgrims have been the lifeblood of these communities: economically, spiritually and politically. Their absence for the last two years has had a devastating effect. The future of the world’s oldest Christian community is in jeopardy and without them the future would be darker for all who live in the Holy Land.

For such a small minority, the Christian population has a huge impact.

 

  • They make up just 1.6% of the population of Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank combined (about 50k people).

 

  • Yet Christian run organisations provide health care, education and employment for 37% of the population - nearly 2 million people.

 

  • Historically, Christian pilgrimage has sustained tens of thousands of families from all religious backgrounds.

 

  • Their presence and prosperity for the last 2000 years shows that religious co-existence is possible in the region.

 

  • The continuous presence of Palestinian Christians counters the dangerous rhetoric that the conflict is between Islam and Western culture or that a multi-faith state is impossible.

 

It's clear that the population would become poorer and more polarised with the Christian presence. 

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Bethlehem

In January 2025, just before the ceasefire, I visited Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

I travelled alone and it was a deeply moving experience. But there were times when it felt I was the only one there. Locals I met all told me the same thing: without the return of pilgrims they will not survive.

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A Call to Pilgrimage and Solidarity​

During the same period, Bishops of the Holy Land Coordination issued this statement:

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"Do not be afraid to come on pilgrimage. But come as pilgrims of solidarity. Visit communities like Aboud, Ephraim-Taybeh, and Ramallah so they too can draw inspiration from your faithfulness. Meet the local people, listen to their stories, and buy their crafts. Your presence is a powerful message that they are not forgotten."

Our Response

We've gathered a community connecting people in the Holy Land with people in the UK and beyond. It has grown organically into a platform with the following functions.

  • A place where ethical travel companies who share our values can advertise directly.

  • Parish and diocesan groups can publicise pilgrimages and optimise their numbers; reducing the cost for individual pilgrims.

  • People in Israel/Palestine can promote their shops, restaurants, and accommodation to visitors and tour companies directly.

  • People who are too often voiceless can tell their story.

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Young people from the Salt of the Earth Initiative in Jenin

Virtual Pilgrims

We ask those who can’t travel to join us, too.

You can access livestreamed services and devotion from Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Nazareth as well as virtual tours with local guides. You’ll find beautiful photography, videos, and articles by local Christians and opportunities for fundraising, too.

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Make the journey that makes a difference in 2026

Become Pilgrims of Hope for the Holy Land!

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