Price: $4,300 (or $3,300 land-only)
Included: Accommodations for eight nights, seven meals, all tips for meals and local guides.
Itinerary
October 19th
Your overnight flight to Paris.
October 20th
Today we will start with a panoramic tour of Paris. We will celebrate Mass at Sacre Couer in the lovely Montmarte neighborhood. This church has had Perpetual Adoration since 1872. A wonderful way to begin our pilgrimage. Dinner together.
October 21st
Today we visit Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, where several apparitions occurred in 1830. We will visit the tomb of Saint Catherine Labouré and celebrate Mass here. Just a few blocks away we will also visit the tomb of Saint Vincent de Paul. After lunch we will visit Sainte Chapelle, this Holy Chapel was built to hold the relics of the Crown of Thorns. We will then visit the church of Saint-Etienne. We will end our day here and you’ll be in the heart of Paris for dinner on your own.
October 22nd
Today we head to Lisieux. Along the way we will visit the town of Chartres to see one of the most elegant cathedrals in the world. We’ll have Mass here. We continue our day with a visit to the Sanctuary of Lisieux, home of Saint Therese. We will see the family home, her convent, and the cathedral where her family attended Mass. Dinner together.
October 23rd
Today we will visit the Normandy landing beaches. We will stop at Pegasus Bridge, Omaha Beach, and the American Cemetery. After this emotional visit, we will continue to Mont Saint Michel to visit one of the most unique towns in the world and the site of the apparitions of Saint Michael. This charming village is built on a rock off the coast of Normandy. Each day the tide rushes in and surrounds the rock with the sea. Mass in Mont Saint Michel. Dinner together.
October 24th
Today we begin our journey south. We will visit the Villandry Castle and Gardens and have an amazing lunch together at L’etape gourmande. After lunch we will visit the Castle of Azay-le-Rideau. We end our day in the town of Tours. Mass along the way. Dinner together.
October 25th
This morning we travel to Saintes to see the Roman amphitheater and the Saint Eutrope Basilica. Then we travel to Bordeaux for a wine tasting in a castle. We arrive in Lourdes this evening.
October 26th
We will visit together the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. We will visit Boly Mill and some of the sites from the life of Saint Bernadette. Mass at the Shrine. This afternoon you are free. Dinner together.
October 27th
Today we have Mass and dinner together. The rest of the day is free for you to have a personal pilgrimage in the Shrine. Bathe in the healing waters, go to confession, walk the Stations of the Cross, and pray in the Grotto.
October 28th
Your flight home.
Price
$4,300 per person (ground only price is $3,300)
$1,000 deposit secures your spot. Tour deposit is fully refundable for 14 days from the time you make your deposit.
Final payment of $3,300 is due August 19th, 2020. 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 $700.
Included in the price
Flights from Nashville to Paris and from Toulouse to Nashville
October 19th
Delta 1173 departs BNA at 7:59 PM and arrives ATL at 10:12 PM
Delta 84 departs ATL at 11:08 PM and arrives at 1:25 PM on October 20th
October 28th
Air France 7523 departs TLS at 12:40 PM and arrives CDG at 2:10 PM
Delta 85 departs CDG at 3:40 PM and arrives ATL at 8:59 PM
Delta 2470 departs ATL at 10:45 PM and arrives BNA at 10:53 PM
Accommodations for 8 nights
Paris: Hôtel Ampère
Lisieux: Grand Hôtel de l’Esperance
Le Tronchet: Hôtel de l’Abbaye
Tours: Mercure Tours Centre Gare
Lourdes: Grand Hôtel Moderne
Breakfast daily plus 7 additional meals
Drinks, including beer and wine, are included in our meals.
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. We will also have the best tour guide in France with us throughout the journey. I planned these dates around her availability.
Local guide
We will have local experts with us throughout the pilgrimage.
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.
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 Europe, 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
Use the form below to sign up for this pilgrimage. If you have any questions, email me at mtn@thecatholictraveler.com
Optional Trip Insurance
If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. Final tour payments are ineligible for refund under any reason should you cancel. This is why I highly encourage trip insurance to protect you. Many companies offer trip insurance, but if you want to use someone I know and trust, you can contact Michael Incata at michael@rebullock.net. I don’t get a commission or anything, but I’ve known him for decades and know he will take care of you. Many people also 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!
Click here to read the Terms and Conditions for this pilgrimage.
Deposit Info
You’ll be able to pay by credit card or check. Payment info will be emailed to you once you sign up.