Your Holy Land Trip Includes: Round-trip air from Chicago (ORD) to Tel Aviv Airport Taxes, Fuel Surcharges & Security Fees (approximately $420) 12 nights at first class hotels in Israel as follows: (or similar)
~ Nov 29-Dec 02 (3 nights) Mt. Beatitudes Guesthouse, Tiberias
~ Dec 02-Dec 11 (9 nights) Notre Dame, Jerusalem Transfers as per itinerary Breakfast and Dinner daily Assistance of local Christian guide Sightseeing & admissions fees as per itinerary Mass daily & spiritual activities Luggage handling (1 piece per person) Flight bag & portfolio of all travel document
Not Included: Lunches, Beverages with dinners, Optional Travelers Insurance at $169 (as per www.206tours.com/insurance), Optional Cancel for Any Reason Protection Plan at $199 (as per www.206tours.com/cancellationprotection), Tips to your guide & driver ($7-9 per day). Items of a personal nature
Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Day 1, November 28, 2010: Depart USA Begin your spiritual journey as we depart for the overnight flights to Tel Aviv.
Day 2, November 29, 2010: Tel Aviv - Tiberias Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Exit terminal at the sign marked "groups" and meet your local guide who will escort you to our hotel in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight.
Day 3, November 30, 2010: The Ministry of Christ in the Galilee: Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitudes Start the day at Mount of the Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was given, where we will celebrate Mass overlooking water. We will Visit St. Peter church, then have a 90 minute boat ride across the sea of Galilee. Then on to Tabgha to see the mosaic about the miracle of the loaves and fishes. We continue on to the nearby Church of Peter's Primacy where Peter was told " Feed my lambs, feed my sheep." Here we will celebrate Mass. We will see Capernaum where the synagogue and St Peter's house was located. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
Day 4, December 01, 2010: Nazareth: Basilica of the Annunciation, Mt Tabor & Cana Start the day with Mass at the Basilica of Annunciation at the grotto. We continue to walk through the old part of Nazareth where we will visit the Synagogue Church, and St. Joseph church. After Lunch we continue to the Carmel Mountains. Continue to Mukhraka where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and where the Carmelite Order was started. Then to Haifa, visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt Carmel. We continue to Cana, the village of Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine; here couples may renew their wedding vows. We continue to visit to Mt. Tabor where we will celebrate Mass in main church and have lunch in the restaurant of the convent. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
Day 5, December 02, 2010: Tiberias - Emmaus - Jerusalem Visit Emmaus, Qubeibeh, where the Lord met two of the apostles after the resurrection, in the church of Emmaus we will celebrate Mass. We continue on to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 6, December 03, 2010: Ein Karem After breakfast we will visit the Shroud of Turin exhibit at the Notre Dame. We depart for Ein Karem, to have Mass at the Visitation Church. We continue on to visit St. John the Baptist cave which is at the St John the Baptist Church where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat', visit the Monastery of St. John in the wilderness.
Day 7, December 04, 2010: Bethlehem After breakfast we drive to the Shepherd's Fields where the angels announced the birth of Jesus, visit the church and have lunch, Milk Grotto then we visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem that stands upon the site where Jesus was born. Mass at St. Helen’s Chapel. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 8, December 05, 2010: Jerusalem: Mt Of Olives, Palm Sunday, Dominus Flevit, Gethsemane, Cave of Betrayal, Cave of Assumption, Pater Noster This day is dedicated to Mt. of Olives and to the walk of Palm Sunday route. Starting at Bethpage, where our Lord mounted the donkey on Palm Sunday, the Ascension church from where our Lord ascended to Heaven, Pater Noster with the Lords Prayer in many languages, the tombs of the Prophets, Dominus Flevit, where our Lord wept over Jerusalem, continue to Gethsemane, the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His last prayer before his arrest and where we will celebrate Mass in big church 8:00am Lunch break, Return to Gethsemane to individual prayer. Visit the cave of betrayal then the cave of Assumption of Mary to heaven. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem. Tonight we will attend the Eucharistic Adoration (Holy hour) for at Gethsemane.
Day 9, December 06, 2010: Via della Rosa, St Anne’s Church, Ecce Homo, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Upper Room In the morning we retrace the last steps of Jesus. As we walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow), 1 hour through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice. Celebrate Mass on Calvary at Holy Sepulcher. After Mass we will have time to visit the church and most important of all, the Holy Tomb of our Lord. Visit Mt Zion, At the Cenacle we visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper. Next we go to Dormition Abbey where 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.
Day 10, December 07, 2010: Western Wall, St. Ann’s church, St. Theresa, Holy Family Orphanage We start our day in the western wall; see the remnants of the second Temple and the Western Wall. Visit St. Ann’s church, the Pools of Bethesda and Ecce Homo, Lithostrotos. Leave to Bethlehem lunch, and then we will have mass 2:00pm at St.Theresa, the Carmelite monastery in Bethlehem. Visit Holy Family Orphanage Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 11, December 08, 2010: Bethany, Jericho & Mt. Temptaton. We start the day by visiting the church of St. Lazarus in Bethany, where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and where we will celebrate Mass upper chapel of the Crusaders. Then head to the Jordan Valley, Jericho, and view Mt. Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan, the Sycamore tree where Zaccheus the tax collector climbed the tree. We will have an opportunity t travel by cable cars to up Mt. of Temptation ($11 additional per person). We will go to Elijah’s Spring in Jericho followed by lunch. We will also visit the Jordan River in Jericho. In the afternoon we will have time for swim in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties. BRING A BATHING SUIT!!! We return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 12, December 09, 2010: En Gedi After breakfast we depart for En Gedi, a nature reserve located on the eastern edge of the Judean Desert, on the shore of the Dead Sea. The sweet water springs – David's spring and Arugot Spring together with the Ein Gedi Spring flow down the slopes between two wadis. The flora and fauna grow in abundance and flourish in the wonderful climate. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.
Day 13, December 09, 2010: Jerusalem Meeting in the Patriarchate in Jerusalem. We will enjoy a final day in Jerusalem with additional time for prayer, reflection, exploration and shopping. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 14, December 11, 2010: Tel Aviv - USA Early morning transfer to the airport for our return flights home to the USA. If you are continuing on the post tour to Rome & Assisi you will board your flight from Tel Aviv to Italy.
Optional Post Tour to Rome & Assisi December 11 -16, 2010
$1,499 per person additional
Your Post Trip to Rome & Assisi Includes: Flights from Tel Aviv to Rome Returning home from Rome Airport Taxes, Fuel Surcharges & Security Fees (approx $90) 5 nights at Madre Pie Religious Guesthouse (or similar) Breakfast and Dinner daily Transfers as per itinerary Assistance of local Christian guide Sightseeing & admissions fees as per itinerary Mass daily & spiritual activities Flight bag & portfolio of all travel document
Not Included: Lunches, portage of luggage, Beverages with dinners, Tips to your guide & driver (7-9 euros per day), Items of a personal nature.
Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:
Day 14, December 11, 2010: Tel Aviv - Greccio - Rome
Early morning departure for Tel Aviv Airport for our flights to Rome. Upon arrival we will be greeted by our driver. We make our way to the medieval town of Greccio. Greccio is renowned for its connections with St. Francis of Assisi and as the birthplace of the Christmas crèche. On Christmas Night 1223, St. Francis led shepherds to the top of a nearby hill where they gathered together in a stable sheltering an ox and a donkey. According to legend, the Baby Jesus miraculously appeared in the manger. On this spot the Franciscan convent of Greccio was built, and the Chapel of The Crib was erected in 1228, the year St. Francis was canonized. We continue on to Rome for dinner and overnight.
Day 15, December 12, 2010: Rome
This morning we depart for a sightseeing tour entitled "Christian Rome" which includes: the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the oldest shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, a shrine that contains a relic from the manger of the infant Jesus; the Holy Stairs, the Basilica of St. John the Lateran, The Basilica of the St John in Lateran, is the former residence of the popes prior to their return to Rome in 1377; St Paul Outside the Walls, which houses the remains of St Paul under its main altar; and the Appian Way -- the oldest road from Roman times. We will see the Holy Stairs and St. Peter in Chains before we continue on to the Tomb of Celilia Metella, and the catacombs of St Callixtus where the early Christians hid themselves to escape persecution. Dinner and overnight in Rome.
Day 16, December 13, 2010: Rome
After breakfast we depart for Asssi. We will visit the tomb of St Francis. Explore the quaint hilltop birthplace of St Francis that still retains something of the atmosphere of the early 1200s, the period when St Francis began his ministry. Contained within the huge 13th-century Basilica are many of the saint's possessions and a series of frescoes depicting his life. You may kneel before the crucifix from which Jesus spoke to St Francis, asking him to rebuild His church. It was in St Mary of the Angels Basilica where St Francis spent most of his life. Here we visit the Chapel, Portiuncola, the rose bush, and the cave where the saint retired for prayer. Stroll the medieval streets of the compact little town. After stopping at an outdoor cafe with a view of an ancient Roman temple, we go to the Church of St Clare to see the saint's incorrupt body. The foundress of the Order of Poor Clares followed the teachings of St Francis by living a life of poverty and humility. We will visit these two saints' tombs before returning to Rome for dinner and overnight.
Day 17, December 14, 2010: Rome
Today we will enjoy a free day in Rome for further exploration, rest, relaxation and shopping!
Day 18, December 15, 2010: Rome
Wake up in Eternal City, one of the greatest centers of Western Civilization and the first truly cosmopolitan city on earth! It is also spiritual capital for all the Catholics around the world. Today is truly a day we will have in our minds for many years to come. This morning we go to Vatican City to attend the weekly Papal Audience or Blessing given by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI (pending papal schedule). Following the audience you will have a free afternoon where you may choose to visit of the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, or further explore the Eternal City.
Day 19, December 16, 2010: Rome - USA
Morning transfer to the airport for our return flights home to the USA.
333 Marcus Blvd 