The Holy Land
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R E C O M M E N D ED
ITINERARY12-Day Pilgrimage
DAY 1
Depart home for Israel (North American Departures) DAY 2: Tel Aviv & Sea of Galilee Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Travel through customs and meet your guide who will accompany you throughout your pilgrimage. Board your coach bus for the trip to your hotel in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight accommodations at your hotel in Tiberias. |
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DAY 3: Mt. Tabor, Cana, & Nazareth
This morning, travel to Mount Tabor, scene of the Transfiguration. After your visit, drive to Cana, the village of Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine. Celebrate Mass at the Chapel in Cana, where couples may renew their wedding vows. This afternoon, visit the Basilica of the Annunciation (pictured above), St. Joseph’s Church, Mary’s Well and the Old Market. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Tiberias.
DAY 4: Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, & Tiberias
Traveling along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, your day starts at Capernaum where Jesus lived and started his ministry. You will see the remnants of Peter’s mother-in law's house and the old synagogue where Jesus preached. You will then proceed to the Mount of Beatitudes (the location of Sermon of the Mount) to celebrate Mass. Drive onto Tabgha where the miracle of Multiplication of the Fish and Loaves took place. Close by are the Church of Peter’s Primacy and the location of the Miraculous Fishing. Here is where Christ told his disciples to cast their net and catch the large quantity of fish. This is also where he proclaimed to Peter “Upon this Rock I will build my Church”. Then you will take a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee as was done in the time of Jesus. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
This morning, travel to Mount Tabor, scene of the Transfiguration. After your visit, drive to Cana, the village of Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine. Celebrate Mass at the Chapel in Cana, where couples may renew their wedding vows. This afternoon, visit the Basilica of the Annunciation (pictured above), St. Joseph’s Church, Mary’s Well and the Old Market. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Tiberias.
DAY 4: Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, & Tiberias
Traveling along the shores of the Sea of Galilee, your day starts at Capernaum where Jesus lived and started his ministry. You will see the remnants of Peter’s mother-in law's house and the old synagogue where Jesus preached. You will then proceed to the Mount of Beatitudes (the location of Sermon of the Mount) to celebrate Mass. Drive onto Tabgha where the miracle of Multiplication of the Fish and Loaves took place. Close by are the Church of Peter’s Primacy and the location of the Miraculous Fishing. Here is where Christ told his disciples to cast their net and catch the large quantity of fish. This is also where he proclaimed to Peter “Upon this Rock I will build my Church”. Then you will take a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee as was done in the time of Jesus. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
DAY 5: Bethlehem, Shepherds' Field, Church of the Nativity, & Ein Karem
Begin the day in Bethlehem and visit the Shepherds' Field where the angels announced the birth of the Christ Child. Then, visit the Church of the Nativity (pictured) that stands upon the site where Jesus was born. Mass will be held in Bethlehem at St. Catherine of Alexandra or the Shepherds' Field Chapel.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch, and take time to shop in Bethlehem. After lunch, drive to the Village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Step inside the Church of the Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat'. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
Begin the day in Bethlehem and visit the Shepherds' Field where the angels announced the birth of the Christ Child. Then, visit the Church of the Nativity (pictured) that stands upon the site where Jesus was born. Mass will be held in Bethlehem at St. Catherine of Alexandra or the Shepherds' Field Chapel.
Enjoy a leisurely lunch, and take time to shop in Bethlehem. After lunch, drive to the Village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Step inside the Church of the Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat'. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
DAY 6: Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit, Upper Room, Dormition Church, & St. Peter Gallicantu
Make a morning pilgrimage to the Mount of Olives. This includes a dramatic view of the Old City, revealing 4,000 years of history. We visit the Pater Noster where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer to his disciples. We walk the Palm Sunday route stopping at Dominus Flevit (pictured), where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see The Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed his last prayer before his arrest. Mass will be celebrated at the Church of all Nations.
In the afternoon, drive to the hill of Mount Zion, the highest point in ancient Jerusalem, dominated by the Church of the Dormition. Visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper and end the day at St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Christ thrice. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
Make a morning pilgrimage to the Mount of Olives. This includes a dramatic view of the Old City, revealing 4,000 years of history. We visit the Pater Noster where Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer to his disciples. We walk the Palm Sunday route stopping at Dominus Flevit (pictured), where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see The Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed his last prayer before his arrest. Mass will be celebrated at the Church of all Nations.
In the afternoon, drive to the hill of Mount Zion, the highest point in ancient Jerusalem, dominated by the Church of the Dormition. Visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper and end the day at St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Christ thrice. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
DAY 7: Jerusalem & The Passion of Our Lord
Retrace the last steps of Jesus, as you walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow, pictured), through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross. Reflect on the greatness of Christ's sacrifice. Finally, arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Mass. At St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary and her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, stop for a short prayer. Pass the Ecce Home where Pontius Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man."
Continue on to the Wailing Wall, the most holy place for Jews. The rest of the day is open for visits to other Holy Sites, shopping, or resting at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
Retrace the last steps of Jesus, as you walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow, pictured), through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross. Reflect on the greatness of Christ's sacrifice. Finally, arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate Mass. At St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary and her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, stop for a short prayer. Pass the Ecce Home where Pontius Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man."
Continue on to the Wailing Wall, the most holy place for Jews. The rest of the day is open for visits to other Holy Sites, shopping, or resting at your hotel. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.
DAY 8: Bethany, Jericho, Qumran, & the Dead Sea
This morning we drive to Bethany to visit the site of the House of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the Tomb of Lazarus. Drive down the Jordan Valley and stop at the oasis town of Jericho, where we will visit the excavations of the oldest city in the world. View the Mount of Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. Visit the excavations of ancient Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered.
After a busy day, there is time for a relaxing swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea (pictured), renowned for their healing properties.
Rejuvenated, return to Bethlehem where you will enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Bethlehem.
This morning we drive to Bethany to visit the site of the House of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the Tomb of Lazarus. Drive down the Jordan Valley and stop at the oasis town of Jericho, where we will visit the excavations of the oldest city in the world. View the Mount of Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. Visit the excavations of ancient Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered.
After a busy day, there is time for a relaxing swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea (pictured), renowned for their healing properties.
Rejuvenated, return to Bethlehem where you will enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Bethlehem.
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DAY 9: Bethlehem, Baptism Site, Mt. Nebo, Madaba, & Petra
Drive to the Allenby Bridge and cross into the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Start your journey by visiting the site of Christ's Baptism in the Jordan River (pictured). Travel south along the Desert Road to Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land. If the day is clear, you may even capture a glimpse of Jerusalem’s sky line. Continue to Madaba, a Byzantine center of master mosaics, to see the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land. Pass through Machaerus, site of the Fortress of Herod the Great. It was here that John the Baptist was imprisoned and later beheaded at the wish of Salome. Motor through the village of Karak, an ancient walled city steeped in history. It is also known as Mons Realis, because a castle was built here by a Crusader King. The highlight of your day will be the descent into Petra, one of the most magnificent sites in the Middle East. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Petra. |
DAY 10: Petra & Amman
Take a horse-ride through the Siq to the ancient city of Petra, discovered in 1912. The valley is enclosed by sandstone cliffs veined with shades of red, purple and pale yellow. This Rose-Red city was founded by the Nabatean Arabs as their capital city. You will be awed as you view the masterpieces of the Treasury (pictured), the Monastery, the Triumphal Arch, and the Roman Amphitheater. The remains of Petra bear eloquent testimony to its former power, wealth, and architecture.
Continue on to Amman, the capital of Jordan. This bustling commercial and cultural center, like Rome, sprawls over seven hills and was built by the Romans according to a traditional city plan. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Amman.
Take a horse-ride through the Siq to the ancient city of Petra, discovered in 1912. The valley is enclosed by sandstone cliffs veined with shades of red, purple and pale yellow. This Rose-Red city was founded by the Nabatean Arabs as their capital city. You will be awed as you view the masterpieces of the Treasury (pictured), the Monastery, the Triumphal Arch, and the Roman Amphitheater. The remains of Petra bear eloquent testimony to its former power, wealth, and architecture.
Continue on to Amman, the capital of Jordan. This bustling commercial and cultural center, like Rome, sprawls over seven hills and was built by the Romans according to a traditional city plan. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Amman.
DAY 11: Amman & Jerash
This morning, drive north to Jerash, which was founded by the soldiers of Alexander the Great in 300 B.C. Jerash now stands as the most complete and best preserved ruins of a provincial Greco-Roman city in the world. Along a 2-mile stretch you will see the oval shaped forum encircled by 56 graceful Roman columns, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temples of Artemis and Zeus, and the massive Roman Theater. In the afternoon, drive around the capital of Jordan to visit the 2nd Century Roman Amphitheater in the center of the town, the Roman Ruins of Citadel Hill, and the Jordan Archaeological Museum. Time to bargain in the bazaar! Catch a whiff of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Amman.
DAY 12: Depart for home
Depart Amman on your return flight home.
Mass will be celebrated daily, except on air travel days. Daily activities may rearrange within the itinerary.
This morning, drive north to Jerash, which was founded by the soldiers of Alexander the Great in 300 B.C. Jerash now stands as the most complete and best preserved ruins of a provincial Greco-Roman city in the world. Along a 2-mile stretch you will see the oval shaped forum encircled by 56 graceful Roman columns, Hadrian’s Arch, the Temples of Artemis and Zeus, and the massive Roman Theater. In the afternoon, drive around the capital of Jordan to visit the 2nd Century Roman Amphitheater in the center of the town, the Roman Ruins of Citadel Hill, and the Jordan Archaeological Museum. Time to bargain in the bazaar! Catch a whiff of cinnamon, cloves, thyme, and other exotic spices. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Amman.
DAY 12: Depart for home
Depart Amman on your return flight home.
Mass will be celebrated daily, except on air travel days. Daily activities may rearrange within the itinerary.
