If you desire to draw closer
to Jesus of Nazareth,
come, as we follow in His footsteps.
Each day of your pilgrimage you will have time to renew and affirm your
faith; to pray and reflect. The Scriptures will come alive as you visit
Our Lord's homeland. You will be inspired by the natural beauty of the
landscape, in addition to its rich historical heritage It is an
encounter that has changed the lives of many pilgrims, an act of faith
and prayer.
Pilgrims have been traveling to the Holy Land for hundreds of years, and
as part of your pilgrimage, we include many of the rich traditions that
have evolved over time.
YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
Round-trip air from Birmingham, AL (BHM) to
Tel Aviv
Airline Fuel Surcharges (approx. $280)
8 nights at first class hotels in
Israel (or similar):
08-09
November / 1 night: Blue Bay in Netanya
09-11
November / 2 nights: Golden Crown, Nazareth
11-16
November / 5 nights: Grand Court Hotel, Jerusalem
Transfers as per itinerary
Breakfast and Dinner daily
Assistance of local guide
Sightseeing & admissions fees as per
itinerary
Catholic Priest as Spiritual Director
Mass daily & spiritual activities
Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Flight bag & portfolio of all travel
documents Not Included: Airport Taxes (approx. $277), Lunches, Travel Insurance
optional at $169-$229 (www.206tours.com/insurance),
Cancel for Any Reason Protection @ $199 (www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection),
Tips to your guide & driver ($ 7-9 per day). Personal items.
Sample Day-By-Day Itinerary:
Nov 7 / Day 1: Birmingham, AL - Tel Aviv Begin your spiritual journey as we depart for the overnight flights to Tel Aviv.
Nov 8 / Day 2: Tel Aviv - Mediterranean Coast Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Exit terminal at the sign marked "groups" and
meet your local guide who will escort you to our hotel on the coast. Dinner and
overnight.
Nov 9 / Day 3: Galilee (Caesarea, Mt Carmel, Stella Maris, Cana,
Nazareth, Basilica of the Annunciation) We travel via the coast to Caesarea, where the Romans held Paul prisoner. Visit
the Roman and Crusader ruins. Drive through the Carmel Mountains heading for the
Galilee. In Haifa, visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of
Mt Carmel. Continue to Mukhraka where Elijah confronted the false prophets of
Baal and where the Carmelite Order was started. Drive to Cana, the village of
Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine; here couples may renew their
wedding vows. Continue to the Basilica of Annunciation in Nazareth where we will
celebrate Mass and visit Mary's Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel. Dinner
and overnight in the Galilee.
Nov 10 / Day 4: The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee (Tiberias, Boat
ride on Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitudes, Caesarea Philippi) Some of today's highlights are a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to
Capernaum to see the synagogue and St Peter's house, a visit to the Mount of the
Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was given, to Tabgha to see the
splendid mosaic about the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and to the nearby
Church of Peter's Primacy where Peter was told " Feed my lambs, feed my sheep."
There will be an unforgettable Mass near the shores of the Sea of Galilee at the
Primacy or Mt Beatitudes. In the afternoon we visit Caesarea Philippi, location
of the testimony of St. Peter and where Jesus answered him “You are the Rock and
upon this rock I will build my Church." Dinner and overnight at your hotel in
the Galilee.
Nov 11 / Day 5: Jordan River & Mt Tabor We start the day by going remembering our Baptism at the Jordan River. Continue
to Mount Tabor, scene of the Transfiguration, where we will have Mass. Drive
down the Jordan Valley and head towards Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight at the
hotel in Jerusalem.
Nov 12 / Day 6: Jerusalem and Bethlehem (Mt Olives, Church of Visitation,
Shepherd’s Fields, Church of the Nativity) On the first day in Jerusalem we present an overview for a better understanding
of its geography and some of the key sites surrounding the area. This includes a
dramatic view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives, revealing a city with
4000 years of history. From this vantage point see much of what makes Jerusalem
such a unique city to the three major religions – Judaism, Christianity and
Islam. We then head to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St John the
Baptist and to the Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited
her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat'. In the afternoon we
drive to the Shepherd's Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus.
Then we visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem that stands upon the site
where Jesus was born. Mass in Bethlehem or the Shepherds Fields. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.
Nov 13 / Day 7: Jerusalem, The Passion of Jesus' Last Hours (Mt Olives,
Palm Sunday, Dominus Flevit, Cave of Betrayal, Cave of Assumption, Pater Noster) We begin our day with a visit to the Mt. of Olives to walk the Palm Sunday route
stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Then to Gethsemane,
the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His last prayer before his arrest. Visit
the cave of betrayal then the cave of Assumption of Mary to heaven. Back on the
Mt of Olives we visit the Pater Noster with the Lords Prayer in many languages,
and the Ascension from where ascended to Heaven. Dinner and overnight in
Jerusalem.
Nov 14 / Day 8: The Way of the Cross (Via della Rosa, St Anne’s Church,
Ecce Homo, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Wailing Wall, Upper Room, Dormition) Early in the morning we retrace the last steps of Jesus. As we walk along the
Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow), through the markets of the Old City praying the
Stations of the Cross, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice. Finally we
arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Mass. After breakfast at our
hotel we return to the Old City of Jerusalem to visit St. Anne’s Church, the
home of the Virgin Mary and her parents Saints Joachim and Anne. We pass the
Ecce Homo where Pilate proclaimed “Behold the man”; then the Wailing Wall, the
most holy place for Jews. Nearby is the Dome of the Rock and the Haram al Sharif
or Temple Mount. We exit at Mt Zion. At the Cenacle we visit the Upper Room of
the Last Supper. Next we go to Dormition Abbey where we believe the Blessed Mary
died. We end the day at St. Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Him thrice.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.
Nov 15 / Day 9: The Wilderness (Bethany, Jericho, Mt Temptation, Dead
Sea) We begin our day with a visit to Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the
dead. The desert east of Jerusalem is rich in Christian tradition. Further east,
just off the Roman road that Jesus 'walked', is Wadi Qelt gorge, site of the
Monastery of St George. At the oasis town of Jericho, visit the excavations of
the oldest city in the world and view Mt. Temptation where Jesus fasted and was
tempted by Satan. On the way back there is time for a swim (or rather a float!)
in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties.
In the afternoon, there will be time for you to revisit some of your favorite
sites and time for last minute buying of gifts for your loved ones. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.
Nov 16 / Day 10: Tel Aviv - Birmingham Today we depart from the Holy Land for our flight the USA.