Itinerary

Day 1, Monday 14th May

Journey to the Holy Land

We gather at London Heathrow Airport for our evening flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner served in-flight and the cabin lights will be dimmed so that we can get some sleep.

 

Day 2, Tuesday 15th May

Ein Karem - Bethlehem

We arrive at dawn and will be met by our guide and driven east up through the Jerusalem Hills towards Bethlehem, breaking for breakfast on route. Following breakfast we will then drive to the village of Ein Karem, to visit the church of the Visitation and the home of John the Baptist to celebrate our first Pilgrim Mass. Late morning we continue to the nearby city of Bethlehem and enter through a check-point in the 9-metre high “separation wall” and proceed to our hotel by Manger Square. After a break for lunch we will visit the Church of the Nativity, the oldest in Christendom and built over the cave. Dinner and overnight stay in Bethlehem.

 

 

 

 

Day 3, Wednesday 16th May

Bethlehem and Beth Sahour

This morning we leave our hotel to revisit the Church of the Nativity and to celebrate Christmas Mass in the Cave of St Jeromes. We then drive to the Shepherds Fields in Beth Sahour. Late morning we visit Herodion, a great monumental fortress built by King Herod on the highest hill in the Judean desert. After a break for lunch we drive into the Judean Desert to view the 5th century monastery of Mar Saba which is built into the cliff face overlooking the Kidron Valley (It may be possible for men to visit) Finally we return to Bethlehem. Dinner and overnight stay in Bethlehem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 4, Thursday 17th May

Qumran, Jericho and Galilee

Today we leave Bethlehem for Galilee. After breakfast we drive down back out through the check-point and down to the shores of the Dead Sea to visit Qumran, the site where Dead Sea scrolls were found by a Bedouin shepherd boy in 1947. We visit the Essene monastery where the scrolls originated. We then drive north along the Jordan Valley to the oasis city of Jericho, stopping to celebrate Mass in the Church of the Good Shepherd and remember the story of Zacchaeus and blind Bartimaeus. After a break for coffee we view the Mount of Temptation before continuing along the Jordan Valley to the excavated Decapolis city of Beit Shean, biblical Scythopolis. We finally drive around the Sea of Galilee to visit Tabgha, the Church of the Loaves and Fishes and continue to our hotel on the shores of the lake. Dinner and overnight stay by Galilee.

 

 

Day 5, Friday 18th May

Cana and Nazareth

After breakfast we drive the village of Cana the site connected with Jesus’ first miracle - The changing of water into wine at the wedding feast and where we will have an opportunity of renewing our Marriage Vows. We then continue driving up to the nearby city of Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up. Here we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, where we will celebrate Mass. Visit the church including both levels, then visit the Church of the Holy Family built over the traditional Holy Family home. We then continue to the Greek Orthodox Church, built over Mary’s Well, the Greek Catholic synagogue-church and walk through the colourful suks and bazaars of the city. After a break for lunch we finally returning to our hotel by Galilee. Rest of the afternoon will be free Dinner and overnight stay by Galilee.

 

 

 

Day 6, Saturday 19th May

Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee

This morning, after breakfast we leave our hotel and drive to the Primacy Church (for Meditation) and after we set off on foot and walk along the shores of the lake to the ancient fishing village of Capernaum for a Healing Mass over the House of Peter. Visit the excavations of the old synagogue, it’s foundations date back to the time of Jesus and the site where Jesus preached. We then leave Capernaum by boat and sail across the Sea of Galilee to kibbutz En Gev on the eastern shores of the lake and break for lunch. In the afternoon we visit Kursi, the site of the Gaderine Swine and Beth Saida before returning to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

 

 

 

Day 7, Sunday 20th May

Dan, and Caesarea Philippi

We begin our day on the summit of the Mount of Beatitudes where we celebrate Mass in the open air overlooking the places where Jesus lived and worked. We drive up into the Golan Heights via the Hula Valley and stop briefly to visit ancient Dan and it’s water source. We then continue to Banias (Greek Panias) Caesarea Philippi in the foothills of Mount Hermon. A spring fed by the melting snow of Mount Hermon forms a source of the River Jordan. It was near here, that Jesus walked with his disciples and where Peter made his great profession of faith in Him. We will have an opportunity to renew our baptismal Vows here. After time to relax we return to the lake driving through Druze villages. The rest of the afternoon will be free to relax. Dinner and overnight stay by Galilee.

 

Day 8, Monday 21st May

Primacy, Acre and Rosh Hanikra

After breakfast we drive to the Primacy Church for Mass, then continue west and down to the Mediterranean coast and the ancient Crusader city port of Acre, capital of the Crusaders for over a century. Here we visit the mosque, a caravanserai and the subterranean city including its great halls built by the Knights Templar and Hospitallers. After a break for lunch we proceed north to Rosh Hanikra (if open), and descend by lift to visit the sea caves, carved out of the white chalk cliffs. Return to our lakeside hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 9, Tuesday 22nd May

Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel and Caesarea Maritima

Today we leave the Galilee for Jerusalem after an early breakfast and drive to the foot of Mount Tabor, where we continue by taxi to the summit for Mass in the basilica built on the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus before Peter, James and John. From the roof top one can look across the Valley of Jezreel and the plains of Armageddon. On descending Mount Tabor we drive up in to the Carmel Range of mountains and visit Mukraka, the site where Elijah was challenged by the prophets of Baal. After a break for lunch we drive to the Mediterranean coast and south along the coastline to the Roman and Crusader city-port of Caesarea Maritima. Here we visit the ancient harbour, it’s fortifications, aqueducts and reassembled theatre. Paul was imprisoned here for almost two years before his trial in Rome. For Christians it is a place of great significance, as it was here that Peter baptised the first Gentile, Cornelius the Roman Centurion. Late afternoon we continue south across the Plain of Sharon and then east, driving up through the Jerusalem hills to the holy city. We will stop briefly on the summit of Mount Scopus for a breathtaking view of the Old City with its beautiful surrounding medieval walls, before checking in to our hotel by the city walls. Dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem. Ancient harbour, it’s fortifications, twin aqueducts and reassembled theatre. Paul was imprisoned here for almost two years before his trial in Rome. For Christians it is a place of great significance, as it was here that Peter baptised the first Gentile, Cornelius the Roman Centurion. Late afternoon we continue south across the Plain of Sharon and then east, driving up through the Jerusalem hills to the holy city. We will stop briefly on the summit of Mount Scopus for a breathtaking view of the Old City with its beautiful surrounding medieval walls, before checking in to our hotel by the city walls. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

Day 10, Wednesday 23rd May

Mount of Olives and Mount Zion

Today we drive to the summit of the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem, before visiting Beth Phage. We then walk down the Palm Sunday path to the Garden of Gethsemane and on route we visit the Church of the Pater Noster which attests to the existence of a cave on the Mount of Olives associated with Jesus’ teaching and the Ascension to the Church of Dominus Flevit, commemorating the site where Jesus wept over the destruction of the city. Visit Gethsemane, where Jesus was betrayed by Judas. Visit the Betrayal Chapel and Mary’s Tomb. The Church of All Nations is located on the traditional site where Jesus prayed and built over the agony rock. We cross the Kidron Valley and visit the Western Wall and if permitted we will visit the Temple Mount and view the El Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock too. Break for a picnic lunch. In the afternoon we drive to Mount Zion to visit St Peter in Gallicantu, the house of Caiaphas, the pool of Siloam and the Cenacle, Franciscan Room of the Last Supper, and where we will celebrate Mass. Evening Holy Hour at Gethsemane. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 11, Thursday 24th May

The Old City and David's Citadel

After breakfast we enter the Old Walled city by St Stephen’s (Lion Gate) for a mornings tour of the Old City foot. We begin by visiting the Crusader church of St Anne’s by the pools of Bethesda, before beginning the Way of Cross (Full scriptural stations visit) along the Via Dolorosa including the Ecce Homo Arch, the Lithostratus “the pavement. If permitted we can view from the roof of the Antonia Fortress the Temple Areas. Proceed through the Souks and over the roof of the Holy Sepulchre and through the Ethiopian Monastery to the Holy Sepulchre. Visit the Basilica built over the tomb on Calvary. We will celebrate Mass (Resurrection) in the Franciscan Chapel. In the afternoon we drive to West Jerusalem to visit Israel Museum to view the model of Jerusalem around the time of Jesus. Return to our Jerusalem hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

 

 

 

 

Day 12, Friday 25th May

Masada and the Dead Sea

Today we leave Jerusalem after an early an early breakfast for a full day tour of the Dead Sea basin. From Jerusalem we drive to Bethany, on the eastern slopes of the Mount of Olives and begin with Mass in Bethany, the home of Jesus’ friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. The foundations of this church go back to 333AD. From Bethany we drive down to the Dead Sea and south along the shoreline to Mount Masada and ascend the summit by cable car to visit Herod’s stepped Palace. It was here that Jewish Partisans committed mass suicide during the Jewish revolt. From Masada we will continue to Ein Gedi nature reserve, the site that relates to the stories of David and Saul. After a break for lunch and the opportunity to bathe in the unique mineral laden waters of the Dead Sea we return north and back up to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 13, Saturday 26th May

Emmaus and Jaffa

We leave Jerusalem after breakfast and set off for Emmaus at Abu Ghosh for mass in the beautiful Crusader Church and after we visit the Monastery (Kiriath Jearim). We continue west to the Mediterranean coast and the ancient harbour city of Jaffa (Joppa), probably the oldest on the Mediterranean and today, a beautiful artists colony. Here we will break for lunch before visiting the church of Simon the Tanner and time to explore it’s quaint art galleries, craft shops and cafes. We return to Jerusalem in the afternoon. Farewell dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem.

 

Day 14, Sunday 27th May

Mount Zion and our journey home

After checking out of our Jerusalem hotel we board our coach and drive up to the Dormition Abbey, on Mount Zion, where we will bring the Pilgrimage to a close with a Pentecost Mass and visit the Shrine of Our Lady in crypt. We will break for coffee and some last minute shopping. We then leave Mount Zion and continue to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, breaking for a snack lunch on route. Late afternoon check-in for our return flight to London. (LY317 departing at 16:45) We plan to arrive back at London Heathrow (Terminal 1) in the evening at approximately 20:30 (8:30 pm.).