Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
| Purpose: | Faith, Art, History, Culture, Fua |
| No. of days: | 10 days – 8 nights |
| First & Last Cities: | Tel Aviv |
| Other cities: | Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Masada, Dead Sea, Tiberias, Capernaum, Tabgha, Mount Tabor, Sea of Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Jaffa |
| Starting cost: | On Request |
Day 1: USA, Tel Aviv
Board your overnight international flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.
Day 2: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem
On arrival, clear customs and immigration. Meeting by our representative followed by transfer to your hotel.
Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. [D]
Day 3 – Thu: Jerusalem (Old City)
Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Our appreciation of this Golden City begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery. Visit the Church of All Nations. Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper (Mark 14.13, Luke 22. 10-38, Matt 26 17-29, Acts 1.13 and Acts 2 the Pentecost). Enter the Old City to begin exploring the wonders of Jerusalem. Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa where Jesus carried His Cross. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Matt. 27. 33-57, 28.10). No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the colorful Arab bazaar (a chance to test your negotiating skills). Visit the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. [B/D]
Day 4 – Fri: Jerusalem (New City and Bethlehem)
Today’s program is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem. Visit the model of ancient Jerusalem. Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Enter the site by walking along the Street of the Righteous Gentiles, dedicated to the non-Jews who risked their lives in order to save their Jewish neighbors. Continue to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptists (Luke 1.39-80). This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth. Proceed to Bethlehem* to visit the Church of the Nativity. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. [B/D]
Day 5 – Sat: Jerusalem (Jericho, Masada, Dead Sea)
After breakfast depart towards the Judean Desert, stopping en route to visit the Inn of the Good Samaritan. From the Inn of the Good Samaritan we overlook the breathtaking view of the moon-shaped landscape of the Judean Desert. After a stop when we reach sea level we proceed to the city of Jericho, the oldest city on Earth with immense Biblical history. First visit the Tell es-Sultan, (Sultan’s Mound), also known as the Mound of Ancient Jericho, where 25 consecutive settlements were uncovered and excavated, the first one dated to as early as 9000 BC. This special archeological site offers a unique picture of the different historical and pre-historical settlements of this region. Then, take the tram to Mount of Temptation Monastery, built on top of the mountain where Jesus fast for 40 days which became the model for Christian Lent. On the way back stop at the Zacheus Sycamore, a very old sycamore fig tree, climbed by Zacheus to see Jesus passing by.
Get back to the main road and drive along the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Masada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Masada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod’s Palace. Time and weather permitting we will have an opportunity to float on the Dead Sea waters. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. [B/D]
Day 6: Jerusalem, Tiberias
Following your full Israeli breakfast at the hotel, check out and depart towards the Galilee, stopping first at Yad Vashem, memorial to the Holocaust. Tour the Children’s Memorial, the hall of Remembrance and the Museum. Stop at Qumran to learn of its history and later enjoy a “float” in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea before continuing north to the Tiberies. Dinner and overnight in a kibbutz. [B/D]
Day 7: Tiberias (Tabgha, Capernaum, Mount Tabor)
Today, visit Capernaum, center of Jesus’ Ministry. Located here are the ruins of an ancient synagogue and the site of Peter’s House. Visit Tabgha and Mount of Beatitudes. Visit the Church of the Primacy of St Peter where Jesus ended his ministry. Drive along the Golan Heights descending at the south end of the Sea of Galilee and Yardenit, the traditional Baptismal site at the Jordan River. After, proceed to Mount Tabor and ascend the narrow winding mountain road to arrive at the Church of the Transfiguration with time to pray and enjoy the beautiful and far reaching landscapes below. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight in a kibbutz. [B/D]
Day 8: Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Acre, Caesarea, Jaffa
Start the touring day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and, then, proceed to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his early years, to visit Mary’s Well and to celebrate Holy Mass in the Church of the Annunciation (must be requested at least 6 months in advance). En route, stop in Cana, site of the “wedding miracle” where Jesus turned water to wine. Then, continue to the ancient port of Jaffa to see the house of Simon the Tanner and to visit the artists quarter. Enjoy a farewell dinner before checking-in at the hotel for a few hours of rest and relaxation. [B/D]
Day 9: Jaffa, Tel Aviv, USA
Around 1 am (depending on your flight) be ready to be picked-up and transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for your flight back home. [B]
[B] = Breakfast | [D] = Dinner | [B/D] = Breakfast and Dinner
 Book program |
 Customize Program |  program |  program |
 1-855-55 TOURS |
Tour includes
- Round trip flight between the USA and Israel
- Arrival and departure transfers
- 8 nights’ accommodation in select hotels:
- In-flight 1 night
- Jerusalem: 4 nights
- Galilee: 3 nights
- Meals
- Breakfast daily
- Dinner daily
- Visits as described in the Itinerary
- Entrance fees for visited monuments
- English speaking guide
- All local taxes and service fees
Not included in tour
- Airfare fees and taxes
- Airfare difference between New York and another USA gateway
- Travel Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips to guides or drivers
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips to guides or drivers
Hotels in your Tour
| Category | Hotel Name | Tripadvisor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist Class | |||
| Jerusalem | Prima Park | 4 | |
| Galilee | Kinar - Hermon | 5 | |
| First Class | |||
| Jerusalem | Dan Panorama | 4 | |
| Galilee | Kinar - Hermon | 5 | |
| Deluxe | |||
| Jerusalem | King David | 5 | |
| Galilee | Kinar - Hermon | 5 | |
MEAL PLAN: Normally we include daily breakfast and dinner for all groups. However, the meal plan may vary depending on the organizer's request
-
All hotels will be requested after discussion with the group Organizer
Tour Pricing
The price for the group will be quoted based on the number of passengers, season, hotel type and meal plan.
Group organizers always travel for free if the group has 15 or more paying passengers.
Inclusion of tour conductors must be considered at time of request.
- If you wish to use this program for your group please either call us (1-855-55-TOURS or use the web Group Quote Request.
- In either case our specialists will work with you to refine all the details and they will get you a quote with 2 business days. Quotes may be obtained for the air and land portions of just for the land journey.
- Booking both air and land with us will represent savings for you because of our special Leisure Fares, buying power and longtime relationship with the airlines.
- We will also may have the choice between regular fares and special leisure fares not available to the public.
Tour Code: IS01TLV20VT
Options
- Lunches and dinners can be arranged for groups at top restaurants or any restaurant requested by you.
- We can revise the itinerary to spend more time and provide more depth in those areas that you are interested on.
- Any other changes to the itinerary will be accommodated depending on the facilities available in the area.
