All-inclusive, Luxury Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (4&5* Hotels in Jerusalem and Tiberias)

Depart on our 15:15 flight with Israel’s national airline El Al from London Heathrow direct to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport your local guide and coach will be waiting. Transfer to our 4* hotel in Jerusalem. Overnight here.

After breakfast, we travel to Bethlehem and visit the Basilica of Nativity. We visit the Grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born, followed by a viewing of the 12th century wall mosaic, St. Jerome’s Tomb, the Chapel of the Holy Innocents and St. Joseph’s Grotto, and Mass here. Afterwards we walk to the Milk Grotto and the Museum of the Miracles. Following lunch we proceed by coach to Shepherds’ Field visiting the grottos there and the chapel above where the angels first sang the ‘Gloria in Excelcis Deo’ on the night of the first Christmas. Before returning to our hotel there will be an opportunity to do some souvenir shopping. Dinner at your hotel in Jerusalem.

After breakfast we travel to the Mount of Olives, walking first to the Ascension Dome then to Pater Noster Grotto where Jesus taught His Prayer, Our Father. Next, we walk to Dominus Flevit and celebrate Mass where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. We continue our walk to Gethsemane Garden and the Church of All Nations to view the Rock of Agony, spending a few moments here for prayer and personal reflection. After lunch we take our coach to Ein Karem for the Visitation Shrine of Our Lady to St Elizabeth, followed by a viewing of the Basilica of St John the Baptist and the chapel where he was born. Evening dinner at the hotel.

Following breakfast at the hotel, we tour the Old City, entering via Lion’s Gate and visit St Anne’s Basilica where Our Lady was born and the Pools of Bethesda. Proceed to the Church of Ecce Homo built on the site of the Palace of Pilate and there we visit the Churches of the Flagellation and the Crowning with Thorns, followed by the Stations of the Cross along Via Dolorosa. Here we follow the route Our Lord walked on the first Good Friday. We can carry a Cross from here changing at every station (optional), finishing in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica - the holiest place on earth for all Catholics. We celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Apparition. Afterward we visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Jesus and the Grotto of the True Cross. After lunch we walk to Mt Zion and visit the Upper Room (The Last Supper), King David’s Tomb and the magnificent Dormition Abbey where Our Lady was assumed to heaven. Before returning to our hotel in Jerusalem we visit St Peter’s in Gallicantu and the dungeon below where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night. Evening dinner at the hotel.

In the morning we take our coach to the iconic Wailing Wall. This is the holiest site in Judaism, being the last surviving structure of the temple destroyed in 70 AD. We then head north along the Jordan Valley to Bethany. Upon arrival we visit St Lazarus’ Church and celebrate Mass here. Proceed to Jericho where we view the Mount of Temptation and Zacchaeus’ Sycamore Tree. Our next destination is Masada where we view the remains of the ancient fortress built over the rocky mountain by Herod the Great in the first century BC. We ride a cable car to reach the top of the site and enjoy the spectacular view. After descending from Masada, drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Qumran for lunch. Afterwards we proceed to the Dead Sea for the floating experience. The water here is famously revitalising for the skin because of the high levels of natural minerals. Return to our hotel in Jerusalem for evening dinner.

After breakfast and check-out we say farewell to Jerusalem. Our pilgrimage takes us northward to Nazareth and the magnificent Basilica of the Annunciation, built on the grotto where the annunciation occurred. There will be time to reflect and pray in front of the grotto before viewing the Upper Level and various donated artworks depicting the Virgin Mary. We celebrate Mass here. Walk across the road to view the Synagogue of Jesus and Mary’s Well. Leaving Nazareth we proceed to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle. Married couples may renew their marriage vows in a ceremony at the Church of the Wedding. After we take our coach to the ‘Yardenit’ site on the River Jordan to participate in a ceremony reaffirming our Baptismal Vows. We end this wonderful day with a short drive to Tiberias where our 5-star hotel awaits us, located by shore of the Sea of Galilee. Evening dinner and overnight here for the remaining 2 nights.

After breakfast, we travel along the ’coast’ of the Sea of Galilee, visiting the Mount of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount took place, St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection (celebrate Mass here), followed by the Church of the Loaves and Fishes in Tabgha where the Feeding of the 5,000 took place. We will have lunch nearby with the option to eat St. Peter’s Fish (fresh tilapia). Afterwards we enjoy a wonderful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee itself before driving to Capernaum - the town of Jesus - where we visit St Peter’s Church and view the remains of the ancient synagogue in which Jesus used to teach. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After check-out we say farewell to Tiberias and begin our journey south-west to Mount Tabor, believed to be the holy site where Jesus was transfigured and became radiant in glory upon a mountain. We will alight from our coach and take minivan taxis to the summit. Here we celebrate Mass in the beautiful Church of the Transfiguration before enjoying a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside. If time permits before our flight we may visit Mt Carmel in Haifa and the Basilica of Our Lady Star of the Sea (headquarters of the Carmelite Order) and view the Cave of Prophet Elijah. Proceed to Tel Aviv airport for our direct flight back back to London with El Al at local time 17:20. Arrive back into London Heathrow airport at 20:45.