Lourdes, Fatima, and Oberammergau

The Passion Play

The Oberammergau Passion Play dates back to the 17th Century. During the Thirty Years War, the people of Oberammergau vowed to celebrate the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord every ten years if their village would be spared from the plague that was ravaging the area.

During the five-hour-performance, more than 2000 participants bring the story of Jesus to the open-air stage of the Passion Play Theater.

2022 marks just the 42nd time the Passion Play has been offered.

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 can walk up to 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!

Itinerary

Wednesday, July 20th
Your overnight flight to Barcelona.

Thursday, July 21st
This afternoon we begin our pilgrimage with Mass and a walk through the Old City. We will walk the Rambla, visit the Gothic Quarter, and tour the Sagrada Familia. Dinner together tonight.

Friday, July 22nd
This morning we drive to Lourdes. We will celebrate Mass on arrival and join the candlelight procession this evening. Dinner together this evening. Dinner together tonight.

Saturday, July 23rd
After Mass, you will have the opportunity for confession, private prayer, and to visit the healing baths. This afternoon we will walk in the footsteps of Saint Bernadette to visit some sites from her life. Dinner together tonight.

Sunday, July 24th
Today we travel back into Spain. Our first stop will be Azpeitia, the hometown of Saint Ignatius. We will celebrate Mass in the sanctuary. Then we will continue to Burgos. Here, a local guide will shows us around Spain’s third largest cathedral, Saint Mary’s.

Monday, July 25th
This morning we will visit the hometown of Saint Theresa, Avila. We will tour her birthplace and celebrate Mass in this beautiful walled city. Next we head to Salamanca where a local guide will take us through the medieval district and into the Casa de las Conchas and through the cathedral. Dinner together tonight.

Tuesday, July 26th
Today we cross into Portugal to visit Fatima. Mass on arrival. This evening we will participate in the candlelight procession. Dinner together tonight.

Wednesday, July 27th
After Mass we will visit the Chapel of Apparitions, the village of the shepherds, and Valinhos. You’ll have the remainder of the day for personal prayer and reflection.

Thursday, July 28th
It’s a short drive to Lisbon. We will visit the Belém Tower, the monastery, and the Cathedral. We will celebrate Mass in the church of Saint Anthony, built over his birthplace. Dinner together tonight.

Friday, July 29th
This morning we fly to Munich. We will celebrate Mass together, then you are free to explore this afternoon.

Saturday, July 30th
After Mass, we will tour the city. We will visit Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel, and the Frauenkirche. Lunch is on your own, but tonight we will have a great feast!

Sunday, July 31st
Today we travel to Oberammergau. We’ll have Mass and lunch on arrival. This afternoon the Passion Play begins at 2:30 PM and runs until 5:00 PM. We will have a dinner break before the second act of the play begins at 8:00 PM and ends at 10:30 PM.

Monday, August 1st
Your flight home.

Price

$4,300 per person (land only)

$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 June 1st, 2022. 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

Accommodations for 11 nights

1 night at Hotel Casa Elliott in Barcelona

2 nights at Grand Hôtel Moderne in Lourdes

1 night at NH Collection Palacio de Burgos in Burgos

1 night at NH Collection Salamanca Palacio de Castellanos in Salamanca

2 nights at Hotel Estrela de Fatima in Fatima

1 night at Sana Lisboa in Lisbon

2 nights at the Maritim Hotel in Munich

1 night Hotel Garmisch Partenkirchen

Your flight from LIS to MUC

Breakfast daily plus 9 additional meals
Drinks, including beer and wine, is included in our seven restaurant meals. The lunch and dinner in Oberammergau do not include beer and wine as they are part of the Passion Play experience.

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 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.

Not Included

Your flights
You should arrive Barcelona (BCN) no later than July 21st. Most flights from the US depart on the evening of the 20th to arrive Europe on the morning of the 21st. Some people like to arrive a day or two early to get over jet-lag and to enjoy the sea and city. I can help extend the stay at the hotel if you plan to arrive early.

On the 21st, we begin in the afternoon with a city walk, Mass, and dinner.

Our last group activity is dinner in Oberammergau.

You should plan to depart Munich (MUC) no earlier than the morning of August 1st.

Once you’ve booked your flights, please send me the itinerary.

Most airlines are offering free changes should anything happen to the trip. Some airlines are not offering refunds, but rather a credit.

If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, if the situation in Europe changes and we need to cancel or postpone the trip, it’s your responsibility to work with your airline to cancel, reschedule, or request refunds.

If you have any questions or concerns about booking your flight, email me.

Entry & Exit Requirements

These could be dropped before our pilgrimage, but currently…

Spain (our entry into the EU) allows anyone (vaccinated or unvaccinated) to enter the country. Your CDC card, a letter of recovery within the last six months, or a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours before arrival is all that is needed.

To go home: The US requires everyone, regardless of vaccination status, returning to the US from abroad to pass a COVID test within 24 hours before departure. Tests are easy to get and the proctored kind work as well.

What if you test positive on arrival or before departure?

If you test positive at any point in the pilgrimage, you will need to quarantine at the hotel. None of these countries have quarantine hotels. You just go to your hotel and stay until you test negative. Additional nights will be at your expense. Trip Insurance can cover this expense.

Vaccinations

Since Europe is allowing anyone in who passes a negative test, know that we could have people who are vaccinated on the trip and some who are not.

If you are uncomfortable around those who are not vaccinated, or those who are vaccinated, this is not the trip for you.

Masks

As of this writing, masks are required in some indoor public places. Rules are set to change in the next few weeks, so it’s possible that could be dropped

Should something change, however, we will follow the local laws. That means if masks are required while outside in crowded places and/or on buses, we will comply. But it also means that if masks are not required outside and/or on buses, then it will be up to the individual to wear a mask or not.

If you are uncomfortable around those who do wear masks, or those who do not wear masks when not required by law, this is not the trip for you.

Openings and Closings

Currently, everything in Europe is open, including churches, museums, restaurants, cafes, and bars. But keep in mind that things can change. Again, we need to be flexible. If something unexpectedly closes, we will look for a good alternative.

Cancellations

I want you to feel comfortable signing up for my pilgrimages to the Europe.

If Europe changes their requirements for entry, and you decide that doesn’t work for you, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all up to 90 days before the start of the trip, you will be refunded 100% of the cost of the pilgrimage.

If you need to cancel for any reason at all within 90 days of departure, you’ll get everything back minus the deposit.

Trip insurance is a wise investment in case something comes up while you are in Italy. If you think there is any chance you may need to cancel, I recommend you purchase travel insurance. 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. I have a friend who specializes in trip insurance, you can contact him directly, but you are under no obligation to use him and I don’t get any sort of kick backs, so shop around and find what is best for you.

Sign up

Use the form below to sign up for this pilgrimage. If you have any questions, email me at mtn@thecatholictraveler.com

Deposit Info
You’ll be able to pay by credit card or check. Payment info will be emailed to you once you sign up.