Price: $4,600
Included in the price: Airfare, accommodations for ten nights, five restaurant meals with unlimited drinks, all tips.
Itinerary
Saturday, March 30th
Your overnight flight from Medford.
Delta 5795 departs MFR at 5:45 AM and arrives SEA at 7:03 AM.
Delta 34 departs SEA at 11:53 AM.
Sunday, March 31st
Delta 34 arrives CDG at 7:15 AM.
Air France 1620 departs CDG at 9:50 AM and arrives TLV at 3:20 PM.
I’ll meet you at the Tel Aviv airport and we’ll drive a few hours north to Tiberias.
Dinner included. Overnight at U Boutique Tiberias in Tiberias. This beautiful hotel is located just off the shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Primacy of Peter – Sea of Galilee
Monday, April 1st
We begin our pilgrimage with Mass in 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. Married couples will have a chance to renew their vows here. We will make a visit Haifa, Caesarea, and the Stella Maris Shrine. Dinner included. Overnight in Tiberias.
Where the word became flesh.
Tuesday, April 2nd
Today we sail across the Sea of Galilee. We will visit Capernaum and celebrate Mass in 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. Dinner included. Overnight in Tiberias.
Sailing the Sea of Galilee
Wednesday, April 3rd
This morning we will head to Mount Tabor to the Basilica of Transfiguration. We’ll stop for lunch in Jericho and then visit the Jordan River to be near the Baptismal site of Christ. Dinner included. Overnight in Jerusalem. We are staying directly across from the Old City at the Mount Zion Hotel.
The Jordan River
Thursday, April 4th
We will continue south to Bethlehem to visit Shepherd’s Field and then the Church of the Nativity. After lunch we’ll travel to Ein Kerem to visit 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
Friday, April 5th
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
Saturday, April 6th
This moring we’ll visit nearby Bethany to see the tomb of Lazarus and celebrate Mass. We will spend the afternoon relaxing at the Dead Sea. Dinner included. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Sunday, April 7th
We will begin with an early morning walk along the Via Dolorosa, ending with Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. After breakfast 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. After dinner, we’ll head to the airport.
Mass in the Holy Sepulcher
Monday, April 8th
Air France 1121 departs TLV at 1:00 AM and arrives CDG at 5:05 AM.
Delta 35 departs CDG at 10:20 AM and arrives SEA at 11:32 AM.
Delta 5789 departs SEA at 20:55 PM and arrives MFR at 10:16 PM.
Price
$4,600 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 of $3,600 is due January 30th, 2019. Final payment is nonrefundable.
This cost is for double occupancy. Traveling alone? No problem! You’ll have a chance to ‘meet’ the other solo travelers before the trip and pick a roommate. This usually works out well. If you really prefer to have your own single room, there is a single supplement of $900.
Included in the price
Flights between MFR and Tel Aviv
Accommodations for 7 nights
Tiberias: U Boutique
Jerusalem: Mount Zion Hotel
Breakfast daily plus 10 additional meals
Drinks, even wine and beer, are included in our five 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 trip – he is excellent!
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.
Social planning
Plan your trip with your traveling companions before you leave! We set up private Facebook groups for each tour to give you a chance to meet before you meet!
You time
We have a lot planned, but time on your own is important. We take our time in churches to give you the opportunity for prayer and reflection. We also include free time for you to explore, shop and relax on your own.
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, 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.