Daniel Rona runs Utah-based travel company Holy Lands Revealed, formerly Israel Revealed. Rona was born in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine and moved with his father to the United States when he was 5 years old, according to the company's website. The pair eventually converted to the LDS Church. Later in life, Rona moved back to Israel and began leading tours of LDS church members in 1974.
Rona leads more than 30 tours a year. He bills himself as the only “LDS licensed guide in Israel.” According to Israeli law, touring groups must have a licensed Israeli guide. The company's website says, “Daniel provides you with a blend of history, cultures, customs and religion as only he can with his Jewish background. His LDS knowledge and the fact that he lives there and tours almost every week is unique."
Tour prices range from approximately $2,000 to $7,000 (as of January 2010). The more expensive tours could include days in Egypt and Petra. Tour length ranges from approximately seven to 18 days.
Rona uses a specially designed transmitter while members of his tour wear headsets, so as not to disturb others at revered, quiet places such as The Garden Tomb and the Garden of Gethsemane.
Another Utah-based travel company, LDS Travel Study, specializes in LDS tours to destinations around the world, including to Israel. LDS Travel Study was founded in 2004 after Brigham Young University closed its travel study department, according to ldstravelstudy.org, and became part of Utah-based Morris Murdock Travel in 2008.
Tours include stops at many significant cultural and religious sites inside and outside of Jerusalem: Mount of Olives, Orson Hyde Garden, Garden of Gethsemane, the Garden Tomb, Jericho, Bethlehem, Bethany and the Dead Sea.
A number of other travel companies offer LDS-specific tours to Israel, such as lds.travel, which offers a few tours led by retired church leaders and well-known LDS personalities such as authors Mary Ellen Edmonds and Mike Ramsdell. Another company, found at ldsguidedtours.com, offers cruise and land tours of the Holy Land, led by famous Mormons such as LDS singer Michael Ballam.
