Holy Land Pilgrimage
Group Leader: Carmen Amadeo
September 23 - October 2, 2018
CA092318
Your trip includes
- Round-trip airfare
- All airport taxes & fuel surcharges
- Accommodations at centrally located First Class Hotels: (or similar)
- ~ 1 night | Sep 24-25: Herod’s, Tel Aviv
- ~ 2 nights | Sep 25 - 27, 2018 Leonardo Plaza, Tiberias
- ~ 5 nights | Sep 27 - Oct 2, 2018: Hotel Olive Tree, Jerusalem
- Transfers as per itinerary
- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner daily
- Wine with dinners
- Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
- Assistance of Christian guide throughout
- Sightseeing and admissions fees as per itinerary
- Mass daily & spiritual activities
- Tips to hotel staff and restaurants
- Luggage handling (1 piece per person)
Not included
- Meals & Beverages not mentioned, Tips to your guide & driver
Itinerary
Sun, Sept 23: Depart Boston
Board your overnight flight for the start of your returning journey to Tel Aviv, with complimentary meals and beverages served on board.
Mon, Sept 24: Arrival Tel Aviv
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, you will make your way to the baggage claim area and then to the Arrivals Hall where you will be met by your guide/driver and transferred to your hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel before you retire for the evening.
Tues, Sept 25: Caesarea—Stella Maris—Nazareth– Tiberias– Cana
Theme: The Annunciation
Following breakfast, we will drive to Caesarea, the former capital of Judea. You will visit the archaeological remains of this ancient port, which served as a base for the Herodian navy. Shortly after the time of Christ, it was revealed to Peter in Caesarea that the Good News is not only intended for Jewish people, but for the entire world. This is the place which officially ended the tradition of adhering to the Jewish ceremonial laws. As a result, Peter bap-tized a group of Gentiles, the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, and his family. Continue on to Haifa, where you will find Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monas-tery. The monastery is located above the cave where Elijah the prophet once lived. A colorful painting of this “wonder-worker” can be found on the ceiling of the Church. Then enjoy the scenic drive (with a view of the bay of Acco) to Nazareth. In Nazareth, you will experience the town where Mary once lived and where Jesus lived as a child (Matthew 2:23). During the visit to Naza-reth, we visit the Church of the Annunciation, which includes the Church of St. Joseph (built in 1914-1921 over Byzantine ruins). Tradition identifies it with the workshop of Joseph and the house of the Holy Family. We will con-tinue wit a visit to the Church of the Incarnation, viewing the remains of the House of the Blessed Virgin where the Angel appeared at the time of the Annunciation. Following Pilgrims Path, we visit Mary’s Well, where the Virgin Mary would have walked to draw water from the spring. The next stop will be Cana, where you will visit the Franciscan Wedding Church. Couples will have the opportunity to participate in a ceremony to renew their wedding vows. Your first full day culminates with a transfer to Tiberias. Upon arrival in Tiberias, you will check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Wed, Sept 26: Tiberias—Sea of Galilee
Theme: The Ministry of Christ in Galilee
Today, begin this day with breakfast at the hotel, followed by a boat ride of the beautiful Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1). Upon docking the boat, you will have the opportunity to view the remains of a boat that dates back to the time of Jesus. After leaving the Sea of Galilee, we continue to the Mount of Beati-tudes, where Jesus proclaimed his great Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49). Near the Mount is Tabgha, a site of one of Jesus’s miracles. At Tabgha, Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 from five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17). Also in Tabgha is St. Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus bestowed Church leadership upon Peter (John 21:9). Continue on to visit the birthplace of Mary Magdalene in Magdala. During the time of Jesus, this village was a prosperous fishing village that exported fish and garum (a fish sauce reduc-tion popular in Roman cooking). Your day concludes at Capernaum, the launching place of Jesus’s ministry. In Capernaum, see the Synagogue where Jesus taught and gave his sermon on the Bread of Life. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Thurs, Sept 27: Mt. Tabor—Jericho—Jordan River—Jerusalem
Theme: The Transfiguration
After breakfast, we will drive to the site of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:1-50). At this site, you will have some time to reflect on Christ’s humanity and divinity. You can attend the celebration of the Mass at the Ba-silica of the Transfiguration. Continue south to the Jordan Valley to the oldest inhabited city in the world, Jericho (Joshua 6:12-25). In Jericho, you view the exact location, the Mount of Temptation, where the devil tempted Jesus dur-ing his forty-day fast (Luke 4:1). Following the visit to this mountain, continue to Jesus’s baptismal site on the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-17). After some time at the Jordan River, we will transfer to Jerusalem to check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner and overnight.
Fri, Sept 28: Jerusalem: Temple Model—Ein Karem—Bethlehem
Theme: The Visitation and Nativity
This morning, enjoy breakfast before we start our day in Jerusalem, which houses the temple to which Jesus was presented (Luke 2:22). Visit a model of the Second Temple as it was in the time of Jesus. Following this visit, we will take a short drive to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist. It is known that there are two Churches in Ein Karem, representing the two homes of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The first is in the valley where the birth of St. John the Baptist is commemorated (Luke 1:39-80) in the Church of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. The second is where Elizabeth spent five months in seclusion at the Church of the Visitation. You will have a chance to visit both of these Churches and to pray the Rosary as you walk up the hill to the Church of the Visitation. In the afternoon, transfer to Bethle-hem, the birthplace of Jesus. In Bethlehem, you will view the Shepherds’ Fields (Luke 2:8). In the caves of these fields, you are still able to see the soot marks of fires that shepherds lit to keep warm. The tour concludes at Manger Square which stands in front of the Church of the Nativity. As you enter the Church, you will proceed down to the Grotto of the Nativity which marks the spot of Our Savior’s birth. Beneath the altar, there is a silver star and a Latin inscription that states: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). Follow-ing Mass in this sacred space, return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Sat, Sept 29: Bethany – Dead Sea
Theme: Early Years in Jerusalem & the Wilderness
After breakfast at your hotel, we will travel down the Jordan Valley to Qum-ran. Qumran is made up of 2,000-year-old ruins from the days of the Second Temple, and is also the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written and discovered. The discovery of these writings helped further the understanding of Jewish background in Christianity. Time and weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to take a float in the Dead Sea, the lowest and saltiest spot on Earth. Continue on through the Judean wilderness to the site where Jesus spent 40 days fasting and praying. The day of touring culminates with a transfer to Bethany. Bethan is the site where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, foreshadowing his own resurrection (John 11:38-44). Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Sun, Sept 30: Jerusalem: Mt. of Olives—Gethsemane—Mt. Zion (Upper Room) - Western Wall
Theme: Palm Sunday and the Agony in the Garden
This morning we start the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. From there He was taken through the city to be crucified. The Stations of the Cross lead, through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here is the site of Calvary and the Tomb of Christ. Mass will be in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After breakfast visit the Church of St Anne’s, the Pool of Bethesda and the Sisters of Zion. This afternoon there will be time to revisit the Old City. Dinner and Overnight.
Mon, Oct 1: Jerusalem : Via Dolorosa—Holy Sepulchre
Theme: The Way of the Cross, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection
This morning, you will have a very early wake-up call for the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) at the Antonia Fortress. This is the spot where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-19:16). Following his condemnation to death, he was taken on the road to Calvary to his place of crucifixion. Reflect upon the Stations of the Cross as you travel through the markets of the Old City to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Luke 23:26-33). This sacred destination is the site of Calvary, Jesus’s place of crucifixion and his tomb (Luke 23:50-55). Attend the celebration of the Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Following Mass, we will return to the hotel to enjoy breakfast. We continue our day with a visit to the Church of St. Anne, the home of Jesus’s maternal grandparents (Anne and Joachim), and also the Pool of Betheseda, where Jesus healed the crippled man (John 5:1-9). This afternoon, enjoy another visit to the Old City. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 10, Tues, Oct 2: Tel Aviv – Boston
After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, transfer to the Tel Aviv airport for return flights home.
Why buy "With Airfare" from 206 Tours
- 1000’s of flights are being cancelled. 206 Tours will assist getting you to your destination.
- Your transfer will be waiting for you upon arrival, even if your flights are rescheduled.
- In the event your tour is not operating we will refund you all your money back or provide a full credit
- Your seats will be assigned according to your request (most online fares do not include seat assignment appox. $300)
- If you need to travel few days prior or stay few days later, make a stop-over, we will arrange it for you.
If you do not buy Airfare from 206 Tours
- With many flight cancellations and overbookings, we feel that you should know:
If your flight is cancelled - 206 Tours will not be able to assist you. - In order to guarantee your arrival and departure transfer, we need your detailed flight arrival / departure by 45 days prior, Any changes within 45 -3 days prior, additional transfer cost may apply.
- For changes in arrival / departure within 3 days of departure, we will not be able to rebook your transfer and you will need to make your own way to / from hotel or airport at your own cost
- Often times low online fares, do not include seat assignments ($300 approx.). It will be a challenge to get a good seat assigned at the airport.
- If you book your own airfare, travel insurance provided by 206 Tours will not reimburse expenses caused by your flight changes.