Price: $4,800
Included in the price: Airfare, accommodations for ten nights, eight restaurant meals with unlimited drinks, all tips.
Itinerary
Monday, March 18th
Your overnight flight to TLV.
Tuesday, March 19th
I’ll meet you at the Tel Aviv airport and we’ll drive a few hours north to Tiberias. Dinner included. Overnight at Rimonim Galei Kinnereth in Tiberias. This beautiful hotel is located just off the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Primacy of Peter – Sea of Galilee
Wednesday, March 20th
We begin our trip with a visit to Caesarea, Haifa, and Carmel. This afternoon we travel to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation. We’ll also visit Saint Joseph’s Church. Next we’ll visit the spot of the first miracle in Cana. Dinner included. Overnight in Tiberias.
Where the word became flesh.
Thursday, March 21st
Today we sail across the Sea of Galilee. We will visit Capernaum and visit the church built over Peter’s home. Next we will visit the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. From here we will go to Tabgha where Jesus multiplied the loaves and fishes. We’ll take a short hike down a trail Jesus walked and visit the town of Magdala. Lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Tiberias.
Sailing the Sea of Galilee
Friday, March 22nd
This morning we head to Mount Tabor to the Basilica of Transfiguration. We will stop in Jericho for lunch. Then we will visit the Jordan River and end the day with a float in the Dead Sea. Dinner included. Overnight in Jerusalem. We are staying at the Mount Zion Boutique Hotel.
The Jordan River
Saturday, March 23rd
Today we visit the Mount of Olives, including Ascension Chapel and Pater Noster. We will walk Palm Sunday Road to Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem, then continue into the Garden of Gethsemane. We will visit the Church of Agony, the Grotto of Gethsemane, and the empty tomb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After lunch, we will go to Mount Zion to visit Saint Peter in Galicantu, Dormition Abbey, the Upper Room, and King David’s Tomb. Dinner included. Overnight in Jerusalem.
The Garden of Gethsemane
Sunday, March 24th
This morning we’ll travel to Bethlehem to visit Shepherd’s Field and then the Church of the Nativity. After lunch, we’ll travel to Ein Kerem to the Church of the Visitation. We’ll also visit the birthplace of Saint John the Baptist. Lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Where Christ was born
Monday, March 25th
We will begin with an early morning walk along the Via Dolorosa, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This morning we will also visit the Temple Mount. Later we will visit the Church of Saint Ann and the Pools of Bethesda. Then it’s over to Ecce homo and Judgment hall, where Jesus stood before Pontus Pilate. Dinner included. Late tonight we fly to Rome. We are staying at Hotel Alimandi Vaticano, right across from the Vatican Museums.
Inside the Holy Sepulcher
Tuesday, March 26th
This morning we will dig into the Ancient City, with a guided tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. We will also visit the tomb of Saint Paul, at Saint Paul Outside the Walls. Dinner included.
Ancient Rome
Wednesday, March 27th
This morning we’ll attend the Papal Audience to see the Holy Father, Pope Francis. This afternoon we’ll visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Tonight we’ll stroll through the heart of historic Rome to see the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Papal Audience
Thursday, March 28th
This morning we’ll have a private Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica. This afternoon we will end our pilgrimage with a visit to see the holy relics of the Life of Christ. We’ll begin at Saint Mary Major to see the relics of the Holy Manger. Then we’ll visit the Scala Santa and then see the relics of the Passion at Santa Croce. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Saint Peter’s Basilica
Friday, March 29th
Flight home from Rome.
Price
$4,800 per person
$1,000 deposit secures your spot. Tour deposit is fully refundable for 14 days from the time you make your deposit.
Final payment is due December 17th, 2018. Final payment is nonrefundable.
This cost is for double occupancy. If you prefer to have your own single room, there is a single supplement of $900.
Included in the price
Flights from JFK to TLV to FCO to JFK
18 March
Delta 404 departs JFK at 6:42 pm.
19 March
Delta 404 arrives CDG (Paris) at 7:20 am,
Air France 1620 departs CDG at 11:15 am and arrives TLV (Tel Aviv) at 4:50 pm.
25 March
Norwegian Air D81101 departs TLV at 8:55 pm and arrives FCO (Rome) at 11:40 pm.
29 March
Delta 445 departs FCO at 11:00 am and arrives JFK at 3:55 pm.
Accommodations for 10 nights
Tiberias: Rimonim Galei Kinnereth (4 Star)
Jerusalem: Mount Zion Boutique Hotel (4 Star)
Rome: Hotel Alimandi Vaticano (4 Star)
Breakfast daily plus 12 additional meals
Drinks are included in our eight restaurant meals. Drinks in the hotel dining room are not included.
All group ground transportation
We’ll be traveling in a private motor coach.
Full time service of a tour director
Visiting new countries can be intimidating! That’s why you will have an experienced Catholic American tour director (me!) with you at all times.
Local guide
We will have a local guide with us throughout the Holy Land portion of the trip – he is excellent! We will have a few specialty guides with us in Rome.
No hidden costs
If we do it as a group, it’s included in the price! You are responsible only for the meals you have on your own, souvenirs you wish to buy, and anything you want to do in your free time. Tips, air taxes, drinks with meals? Already included!
Guaranteed price
Once I receive your deposit, your tour price will not go up!
All tips for group meals, guides, and drivers
Would you believe that many tour companies require you to tip as you go? Not only does that add to the advertised sticker price of a tour, it’s also a huge hassle to you! No need to worry about that here. Tips are already included and we take care of that behind the scenes.
Entry fees and tours
All entry fees and tours to our included group activities, including: Jerusalem Churches (Ascension, Pater Noster, Ecce Homo, Saint Peter in Galicantu, Saint Ann’s Church), boat across the Sea of Galilee, Mount Tabor, Capernaum, Baptismal site of Jesus, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Vatican Museums.
Is this trip for you?
You should be in good physical shape.
We will do a lot of walking, much of it outside, and much of it on uneven ground. We average around 5 miles per day. Please do consider this before signing up.
You need to be able to carry your own luggage.
You are responsible for your luggage and getting it from the plane to the bus and the bus to your hotel rooms. I will provide a thorough packing list to help you pack lightly and efficiently.
You must be flexible.
This is the Holy Land and Rome, things may close without notice, a protest could spring up without warning. But, it’s not all negative, great things come up unexpectedly as well. Being flexible is the key for happy travels!
Sign up
THIS PILGRIMAGE IS SOLD OUT
Use the form below to sign up for this pilgrimage. If you have any questions, you can email or call 404.330.9913.
Optional Trip Insurance
If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. Many people go through InsureMyTrip.com. A Cancel for Any Reason plan will let you, well, cancel for ‘most’ any reason. Most plans should allow for at least a 75% refund should you need to cancel at any time before departure. Please review all your options to be sure the plan you pick is best for you.
Terms and Conditions
What you are getting by signing up, how much walking you will be doing, what happens if something changes in the itinerary, making your final payment, how we can send you home if you misbehave… and more!
Be sure to read everything carefully.
Deposit Info
You’ll be able to pay by credit card or check. Payment info will be emailed to you once you sign up.