Catholic Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Depart London with easyJet direct to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport the guide and coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Bethlehem where you will be staying for the next five nights.

After breakfast, we walk to Manger Square - the Basilica of the Nativity - to start our walking tour for today. We first visit The Grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born, followed by a visit to St Joseph’s Grotto and Franciscan Church of the Nativity and we celebrate Mass here. Proceed to Shepherds’ Field, visit Grottos there and visit Chapel above - where the angels first sang the ‘Gloria in Excelcis Deo’ on the night of the first Christmas. Travel to Jerusalem to Mt Zion and visit the Upper Room (last supper) and the church of St Peter’s in Gallicantu - a truly incredible Shrine - and visit the dungeon where Jesus was imprisoned after His mock trial on Maundy Thursday night. On our way back to our hotel in Bethlehem we stop at a souvenir shop. Evening dinner at the hotel.

Entering the Old City of Jerusalem via Lion’s Gate, we walk to 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 then we visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Jesus and the Grotto of the True Cross. We spend sometime here to pray - Sepulchre Basilica is the holiest place on earth for all Catholics. Return to our hotel and evening dinner here.

Coach to the summit of the Mt of Olives, Jerusalem and visit Ascension Dome, Pater Noster Grotto where Jesus taught His Prayer, Our Father. We then walk to Dominus Flevit (where Jesus wept over Jerusalem). We celebrate Mass here and afterwards proceed to Gethsemane Garden and Basilica to view the Rock of the Agony and we spend a few minutes here for prayer/reflection. Coach to Ein Karem to view the Visitation Shrine of Our Lady to St Elizabeth, then move on to visit the Basilica of St John the Baptist and visit the chapel where he was born. Return to hotel and evening dinner here.

After breakfast, we travel to Jerusalem and visit the Western Wall which is part of the remaining wall around the temple that was destroyed in AD70. This is the holiest place in Judaism. Continue to Bethany and visit St Lazarus’s Church, the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary. We celebrate Mass here. Proceed to Jericho, view the Mt of Temptation and Zacchaeus’s Sycamore Tree. Lunch in Qumran. Proceed to the Dead Sea and experience the floating in the sea. Return to our hotel and evening dinner here.

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Bethlehem and drive along the Jordan Valley to Nazareth. Our first visit is to the Basilica of Annunciation (a magnificent Basilica that dominates the skyline of Nazareth). We visit the Grotto where the Annunciation took place, and we give you time to reflect and pray in front of the Grotto. We celebrate Mass at the Upper Basilica. We then move on to visit St Joseph’s Grotto and his workshop followed by a visit to the Synagogue of Jesus and Mary’s Well inside . Proceed to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracles. Renewal of marriage Vows here at the church of the wedding. Continue driving to Tiberias to Yardinit - Baptismal Site where we renew of our Baptismal Vows here. Continue driving towards the Sea of Galilee and check-in to our hotel. We stay here for 2 nights. Evening dinner at the hotel.

After breakfast drive through the scenic route to the shore of the Sea of Galilee our first visit is the Mt of Beatitudes in a perfect location where the Sermon on the Mount took place then on to St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection and visit the chapel where Jesus had breakfast with his Apostles. We have Mass here afterwards we move on to visit the church of the Multiplication. Lunch followed by a boat ride on the tranquil waters of the Sea of Galilee on an ancient reproduction boat during the time of Jesus and afterwards proceed 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 and our last night in Tiberias.

Today we check-out of the hotel and drive to the foot of Mt Tabor. We go up to the summit by taxis to the Church of Transfiguration and visit here. We celebrate Mass here and outside we enjoy the scenic view of the surrounding area. Proceed to Mt Carmel (Haifa) and visit the Basilica of Our Lady Star of the Sea - Carmelite Headquarters and visit the Cave of the Prophet Elijah as well as viewing the magnificent Bahaii Garden from the top of the mountain. Proceed to the airport for our flight back to the UK.