Day 1: Departure for The Holy Land.
Today we embark on our Journey to the Holy Land. Prepare ourselves for a life-changing experience.
Get some rest on the overnight flight. Meals are served on board.
Day 2: Arrival in Tel Aviv.
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival’s hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Transfer to your hotel in Galilee to check-in and enjoy Dinner.
Overnight in Galilee.
Day 3: Cana – Nazareth – Mount Tabor – Caesarea Philippi – Tiberius.
Following breakfast, we drive to Cana where you will visit the Franciscan Wedding Church. Couples will have the opportunity to participate in the ceremony to renew their wedding vows, continue to Nazareth to visit the church of the Annunciation where the angel of God announced the Birth of Christ. With its two floors, it is considered the largest Basilica in the Middle East. In the vicinity of the church, is the church of St Joseph, where according to tradition was the place where the Holy Family Lived. The current church was built over a crusader church in 1914. Continue to The church of transfiguration that is located on Mt. Tabor tells the story of the transfiguration of the Lord. Holy mass in Tabor. After that we drive to the Golan Heights where we visit Caesarea Philippi. We remember there the great confession of Peter that Jesus is the son of the living God. Then we drive to the lake of Tiberius. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus did the Sermon on the Mount, continue to The church of the multiplication of bread and fish, the Primacy of Peter and Capernaum which is well known as the town of Jesus. Before the end of the day we will enjoy a boat ride on the lake.
Overnight in Galilee.
Day 4: Jordan Valley – Jericho – Qumran – Dead sea.
Driving through the Jordan Valley with its fertile land we reach the oldest city in the world, Jericho. Visit the Mt of Temptations, and a holy mass in the good Shepherd church, the place where Jesus fasted forty days in the desert and was tempted by the devil. Then the sycamore tree where we remember the story of Zacchaeus. After that the traditional baptismal site on the Jordan River where we can renew our baptismal vows. Visit Qumran, the home of the Jewish sect which was called the Essenes. The place became very famous after of the discovery of the scrolls of Qumran that are presented in the Shrine of the Book. After that we will have a possibility to float on the water in the Dead Sea. Then visit the tomb of Lazarus and continue to Bethlehem.
Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 5: Jerusalem – Mount of Olives – Mt Zion.
We start the day by visiting the Mount of Olives. The church of Pater Noster is the place where we remember Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray. Then we go on foot to view the Old City of Jerusalem. Walk down the Palm Sunday, Passing the Tombs of the Prophets, the Jewish Cemeteries to Dominus Flevit and a mass. The Tear Drop shaped church stands to reminds us of Jesus crying over Jerusalem. Then continue to the church of all Nations also known as the church of Agony or Gethsemane. According to tradition this is the place where Jesus had his agony before he was arrested and given into The Hands of the Romans. The Garden of Gethsemane still has some old olive trees that might go back to the time of Jesus. The church of all nations still holds the Rock where Jesus prayed. Then driving some minutes around the Old city we reach to Mount Zion. There we visit the church of the Dormition Abby where our Lady slept. In the crypt of the church we can see the statue of our Lady in a Sleeping position. Just three minutes’ walk away we find the Last Super Room, where we remember the last supper of our Lord, the place of the new covenant. and the Tomb of David. The Tomb that was built by the crusaders as an honorary tomb was the holies place for the Jews till 1967. Continue to the church of St. Peter in Galicanto where we remember the crying of Peter after he denied Jesus. Interest to see is the Dungeons under the church which is a good example of Roman Prisons.
Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 6: Old City of Jerusalem.
We start the day by going through the lions Gate that is marked with two Panthers of each side of the gate. St Ann’s Church and the Pools of Bethesda are only some meters away. That is the place where we remember the healing of the cripple who was there for 38 years and the birth of Mary. Walk through the way of the cross, that believers walk since the 14th Century, to remember the passion of our Lord. We finish our walking at The church of the Holy sepulcher which is the holiest place in Christianity, visit the Holy Tomb with a mass in the Church.
Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 7: Bethlehem.
We start our day in Bethlehem. Visit the shepherd’s fields where we remember the Angle of God giving the good news to the shepherds. Follow the path of the shepherds of the birth place of our Lord.
The church of the Nativity is considered to be one of the oldest churches in the world. The church is standing tall above the cave where Jesus was born. The cave of St. Jerome where he translated the bible is also worth a visit as well as we celebrate a mass in St. Jerome Chapel and the milk grotto. Continue to the town in the Judean Hills called Ein Karim. The place of the visitation, where our Lady visited Elisabeth and the church of John the Baptist, the place where he was born are the main attractions of the city and a mass in the visitation church.
Overnight in Bethlehem.
Day 8: Israel – Egypt (TABA / ST. CATHERINE).
This morning we head south to cross the border between Israel & Egypt. (will take us around 6 Hours from Bethlehem – Drive, Borders and Visa-). We continue to our hotel in St. Catherine for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9: Mount Sinai – ST. CATHERINE – TRANSFER TO CAIRO.
After breakfast we visit St. Catherine Monastery. Set beneath the mountain where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. Saint Catherine Monastery has been one of the world’s great centers of religious pilgrimage for over fifteen centuries. Within its imposing walls rests, a citadel like no other, incredibly rich in important religious and historical structures. Among its treasures is a library of ancient manuscripts and icons second only to the Vatican.
Continue our way to Cairo for a Dinner and Overnight (5:30 Hours)
DAY 10: CAIRO – MUSEUM – PYRAMIDS – SPHINX.
Today we visit the Egyptian Museum. This is a place of true discovery and without doubts one of the greatest collections of all time. Over 250,000 genuine artifacts are presented, including an exhibit dedicated to the Tut-Ankh-Amon collection of treasures, gold, and jewelry, as it was enclosed in his tomb for over 3,500 years before it was excavated. We then visit the great Pyramids – Cheops, Chephren & Mykerions. Cheops is the most colossal ever built. Next is a close-up look at the Sphinx. Dinner and Overnight in Cairo.
DAY 11: CAIRO.
This morning we start our day by visiting the Citadel and Mohamed Ali mosque. We then visit Abu Sergha Church. Later we travel to Khan Bazaars. The Khan El-Khalili is one of the most interesting bazaars, not only in Egypt, but also in the whole Middle East.
DAY 12: RETURN TO USA.
Today, our motor coach will take us the Airport to catch our flight and fly back home with unforgettable memories.