HL1143 tour page

Begin your journey with a direct flight from London Luton to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport. On arrival, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional English speak local guide and travel by coach to your hotel in Bethlehem. Your guide will be with the group for the entire pilgrimage. Unwind after your journey and enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner served at the hotel.

After breakfast from the hotel we walk to the Manger Square then onto the Basilica of the Nativity. To bit the crowed, we first visit The Grotto inside the Nativity Church where Jesus was born. We walked down a narrow staircase that leads us to a small Grotto below the altar where a silver star on the floor marks the spot where Our Lady gave birth to Jesus. Many people cry quietly here filled with overwhelming emotion, peace and joy of fulfilment to get closer in contact with sacred history. Afterwards, we tour the basilica visiting the Franciscan Church of the Nativity; the beautiful church of St Catherine; St Jerome’s’ Cave and tomb and St Joseph’s Grotto where we celebrate Mass. We give you a moment to pray at the church and afterwards we walk to the Milk Grotto - also known as the Museum of the Miracles, due to a drop of Mary’s milk fell onto the cave’s floor while she was nursing the infant Jesus, turning the limestone inside the grotto a soft white colour because of this the site became associated with Motherhood, fertility and nursing and healthy childbirth. Lunch break then proceed to Shepherd’s Field, visit the Grottos there and visit the Chapel above - where the angels first sang the ‘Gloria in Excelcis Deo’ on the night of the first Christmas. We may sing Christmas Carols here. Before we return to the hotel, we have a chance to do some shopping for religious articles produced and made in Bethlehem. Dinner at the hotel.

Early departure to Jerusalem and to the Old City (Lions Gate). We first visit the beautiful church of St Anne’s where Our Lady was born and the Pool of Bethesda. Proceed to the Shrine of the Flagellation where we begin the Stations of the Cross along Via Dolorosa, following the route Our Lord walked on the first Good Friday. From here we will carry the Cross, passing it on at every station, and conclude in the Holy Sepulchre Basilica - the holiest place for all Catholics. We celebrate Mass in the Chapel of Apparition. Afterwards visit Mt Calvary, the Holy Tomb of Jesus, the Grotto of the True Cross. Free time for lunch. We then walk to Mt Zion to visit the Upper Room (last supper) and the tomb of King David. Now far away from here, we visit the magnificent Dormition Abbey where Our Lady was assumed to heaven. Here, there is a coffee shop and a lovely gift shop that sells quality product made from Olive trees. Return to our hotel and evening dinner here.

After breakfast coach to the summit of Mt of Olives where we visit Ascension Dome, Pater Noster Grotto, where Jesus taught His Prayer, Our Father. We descend towards Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept when he foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem. We celebrate Mass here. We continue the descent to Gethsemane Garden and the Basilica - the church of the Agony. We spend a few minutes for prayer and reflection in front of the Rock of the Agony. Proceed to 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. We then drive to the beautiful village of Ein Karem just outside Jerusalem, where we see the Visitation Shrine of Our Lady and the Birthplace of St John the Baptist. Return to our hotel and evening dinner.

We travel to Bethany to visit St Lazarus’s Church - (home 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/Jericho. Continue to the Dead Sea for the floating experience. Dead Sea salt is composed of many minerals that have therapeutic qualities, and which are good for your skin. Israel is famous around the world for producing such products.

Before we leave Bethlehem, we visit the Western Wall - the holiest site in Judaism. We leave Jerusalem today and we will be staying in Tiberias for the next 2 nights. We drive along the Judean desert toward the north and Nazareth. Here we visit the beautiful Basilica of the Annunciation (that dominates the skyline of Nazareth); we visit the Grotto where the Annunciation took place (we spend some time for prayers and reflection in front at the Grotto) and afterwards we celebrate Mass at the Upper Basilica. Lunch. We walk across to the other side of the church and visit St Joseph’s Grotto, then to the Synagogue of Jesus and Mary’s Well (St George’s church). Proceed to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracles and renewal of Marriage Vows. A souvenir certificate can be purchased (cost £5.) as well as Cana Wine to take home with you. We then travel to Tiberias “Yardenit - Jordan River” for renewal of our Baptismal Vows. Proceed to Proceed to Galilee and check-in to our hotel and evening dinner here.

After breakfast we drive towards the Sea of Galilee to visit Mt of Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount took place, followed by St Peter’s Primacy where Christ appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection, and we celebrate Mass here before moving on to visit the church of the Feeding of the 5,000 (Tabgha). We will have lunch in St. Peter’s restaurant. Afterwards we have a boat trip on the Sea of Galilee (one of the highlights of your pilgrimage) and then to Capernaum - the town of Jesus, where we visit the Church of St Peter and other remains of the ancient synagogue where Jesus used to teach. Drive back to our hotel. Evening dinner at the hotel.

Today we come to the conclusion of our pilgrimage. After breakfast and checking out, we journey north to Mount Carmel in Haifa. We visit the Basilica of Our Lady, Star of the Sea, home of the Carmelite Order, and the Cave of the Prophet Elijah, recalling his faithfulness and courage in listening to God’s voice. We celebrate Mass here. If time permits, we stop to admire the magnificent Bahá’í Gardens, cascading down the slopes of Mount Carmel and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea continue on to Jaffa - the ancient port from which so many journeys of faith began, to visit St. Peter’s Church and take a brief walk along the seashore. Finally, we proceed to the airport for our return journey home, carrying with us the blessings of the Holy Land, confident that the Lord who walked these paths will continue to walk with us always.