Pilgrimage To Holy Land

ITINERARY

Day 1: May 11 (Wed). Departure from  Los Angeles to Tel Aviv, Israel.

Day 2: May 12 (Thu). Tel Aviv arrival - Nazareth

Upon arrival to Ben Gurion International Airport, we will be greeted by our tour guide. Then we board on our bus that will take us to Galilee. Check into your hotel in Nazareth. Dinner and overnight. (D) 

Day 3: May 13 (Fri). Sea of Galilee - Mount Tabor

After breakfast we will start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards we will visit Capernaum, the town of Jesus which is the center of his ministry where he performed many miracles. Visit the House of St. Peter and the ruins of the ancient Synagogue where Jesus preached. Stop at Tabgha, the Primacy of St. Peter and visit the Church of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, the site of the multiplication miracle, and the Mount of Beatitudes. In the afternoon we will visit Mount Tabor. Enjoy the spectacular view of upper Galilee, where Jesus transfigured in the presence of Peter, James and John, and upon which stands the Church of Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth. (B, D)

Day 4: May 14 (Sat). Caesarea - Nazareth - Cana

Start the day with a visit to Caesarea Maritima. Caesarea Maritima was once the capital of the Roman province. Here we will see the impressive archeological remains of the Roman and Byzantine Empires that once dominated the city. It was at Caesarea that Peter came to understand that the Good News was not for Jews only, but for the whole world. Here he baptized the Roman Centurion, Cornelius (and his family), the first gentile-convert to Christianity according to Acts 10. We will then depart to Nazareth, we will visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and view the Blessed Cave, where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. View Mary and Joseph's House and carpentry shop where Jesus spent 30 years of his life. Then we continue to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle by turning water into wine. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth. (B, D)

Day 5: May 15 (Sun). Jericho -  Baptismal Site - Masada - Dead Sea - Bethlehem

After breakfast we check out from our hotel and depart to visit Jericho where to see the Mount of Temptation, the Sycamore tree and visit Tel Jericho, where the city stood at the time of Joshua. We will then stop at Beth Arabah, the baptismal site on the Jordan river. Later we will depart to Masada where we will visit the fortress built by King Herod the Great and made famous by the Zealots in 73/74 AD with the standoff against the Romans. In the fortress, we will see the archeological remains inscribed into the list in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We will also have a dramatic ascent by cable car to Masada mountain top and see the remains of fortifications, Roman ramp, waterworks, synagogue and palaces. In the afternoon we will have some time for a dip in the salty and healing waters on the Dead Sea. Transfer to our hotel in Bethlehem. Dinner and overnight.  (B, D)

Day 6: May 16 (Mon). Bethlehem - Shepherd's Field - Ein Karem

Today we will visit Bethlehem and Shepherd's Field. In Bethlehem we visit one of the oldest churches in Christianity, the Church of the Nativity, built over the birthplace of our Lord. We will also see St. Catherine's built over the tomb of St. Jerome. Surrounding Bethlehem are the Shepherd's Fields, where the shepherds saw the angels who heralded Jesus humble birth. In the afternoon we will drive to the little town of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist where the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. We will visit the Church of the Visitation. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, D)

Day 7: May 17 (Tue). Mount of Olives – Mount Zion

After breakfast we will be visiting Mount of Olives, and the Chapel of the Ascension from which Jesus returned to his Father, then the Pater Noster Church where our Lord taught his disciples how to pray. Then we walk down the Road of Palm Sunday to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus endured his Agony. Afterwards continue to Mount Zion and the Upper Room where Jesus instituted the Eucharist & the Priesthood, situated over the tomb of David and next to the Church of Dormition, where Mary fell into eternal sleep. We will the visit the Church of St. Peter of Gallicantu. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem. (B, D)

Day 8: May 18 (Wed). Via Dolorosa - Ecce Homo - St Anne - Wailing Wall

Early in the morning we will follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulcher Church. Then visit the Church of Ecce Home. From there we will visit the Church of St. Anne the birthplace of Mary, and Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic. Then we continue to visit the Wailing Wall the most important Jewish site in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem (B, D)

Day 9: May 19 (Thu). Departure to USA 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight back to USA. (B)