Wednesday, June 10: Depart USA

Depart from a NYC area airport on an overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served on the plane. Quotes for add-on flights and optional Premium Economy and Business Class upgrades are available upon request and can be quoted starting 120 days before departure. Due to group air restrictions, we are not able to request specific seats on the flight. If seat selection is an essential feature of your trip, please book land-only with us and reserve your own airline tickets.

Thursday, June 11: ARRIVAL – SEA OF GALILEE - ARMAGEDDON

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we meet our guide and board our deluxe motorcoach for the Sea of Galilee. Time permitting, we visit Mt. Carmel to celebrate Mass at Stella Maris Church before we travel through the scenic Carmel Mountain range to visit Tel Megiddo, (1 Kgs. 9:15) an ancient city that for centuries controlled the Jezreel plain, the spot where the Book of Revelation speaks of the battle of Armageddon (Rev.16:16). We arrive at our hotel and check in. Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee.

Friday, June 12: NAZARETH – CANA – MAGDALA

Following breakfast, which is included each morning, we start with a visit to the Wedding Church in Cana for the Renewal of the Wedding Vows. After lunch, we visit Nazareth to see the newly-discovered Byzantine ruins of the Church of the Nutrition, believed to be the childhood home of Jesus, beneath the convent of the Sisters of Nazareth. Visit St. Joseph Church and the Church of the Annunciation, where we celebrate Mass. We stop in Magdala on our way back to our hotel in Tiberias. Tonight we will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.

Saturday, June 13: CESAREA PHILLIPI – GOLAN HEIGHTS - RAFTING

Travel north through the Hula Valley to Caesarea Philippi, where Simon confessed Jesus as Messiah, and Jesus declared Simon to be Peter, the Rock, upon which He would build His Church. Here we celebrate Mass. We see the source of the River Jordan before heading to the Golan Heights for a Druze lunch and views of Lebanon and Syria. Here, we gain a better understanding of the complex Middle Eastern political situation through a brief overview. We enjoy a rafting trip before returning to our hotel at the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight.

Sunday, June 14: SEA OF GALILEE

This morning, we start the day with a peaceful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and visit the Mount of Beatitudes. Continue to Capernaum, the town of Jesus, where we see Peter’s house and celebrate Mass. At Tabgha, we visit the restored Church of Multiplication of Fishes and Loaves. See, Kursi, in the land of the Gerasenes on the eastern shores of the Sea, where Jesus cast the demonic spirits from the man and sent them into the herd of swine. We conclude with a visit to the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy, where Jesus said, “Feed My Sheep.” Lunch of St. Peter’s Fish is included at the Pilgerhouse. Dinner and overnight on the Sea of Galilee.

Monday, January 15: CHURCH OF TRANSFIGURATION – WINERY LUNCH – EIN KAREM – JERUSALEM

We check out of the hotel and drive to Mt. Tabor, where we visit the Church of Transfiguration and celebrate Mass. Today we enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at a local winery before our visit to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist. Welcome to the Holy City of Jerusalem! Overnight in Jerusalem.

Tuesday, June 16: JUDEAN DESERT – JORDAN RIVER – JERICHO – THE DEAD SEA

After a buffet breakfast, we drive through the magnificent scenery of the Judean Desert to the Baptismal site on the River Jordan. Our next stop is Jericho, where we have lunch and celebrate Mass. In the afternoon, we visit the Dead Sea to float in the mineral-rich waters. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Wednesday, June 17: BETHLEHEM – SHARING THE BREAD DINNER

We visit the Church of Nativity, built by the emperors Constantine and Justinian, with its new renovations and newly uncovered mosaics. We pray in St. Jerome’s Grotto after visiting the Manger Grotto below the Church of the Nativity. Nearby, we visit the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family stopped during their flight into Egypt, before driving a short distance to Shepherds’ Field and Grotto to celebrate Mass. Continue our day with shopping in Bethlehem to support our Christian brothers and sisters. Tonight, we are welcomed into the homes of the local Christian families for a Sharing the Bread meal. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday, June 18: MT. OF OLIVES – KIDRON VALLEY – MT. ZION

This morning, we follow the Passion of Christ, starting with a visit to the Mount of Olives. We visit the church at Bethpage, where the Palm Sunday procession begins, the Ascension Chapel, Pater Noster, and Dominus Flevit. Walking down Palm Sunday Road, we arrive at the Basilica of Agony, where we celebrate Mass and see the Grotto of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested. Walk along the Kidron Valley, passing Absalom’s Tomb, pausing by the water gate through which Jesus would have entered the city in chains, to the high priest Caiaphas’ house. We see the prison at St. Peter in Galicantu and visit Mount Zion, where the early Christians assembled after the Ascension of Jesus. We visit the Upper Room, the location of the Last Supper, and where the Holy Spirit at Pentecost empowers the Church for its mission. Enjoy a rooftop dinner with a view of the Old City of Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem

Friday, June 19: JERUSALEM – THE HOLY CITY

Early this morning, we pray the Stations of the Cross to Calvary in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we celebrate Mass. We continue with a visit to the Chapel of Flagellation and the Cardo. In the afternoon, we visit St. Anne’s Church and the newly excavated Pools of Siloam. Our final stop of the day is the Western Wall before returning to our hotel. Tonight we return to Bethlehem for a festive dinner with
dancing. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday, June 20, Day 11: JERUSALEM – USA

This morning, we are transferred to our flight home, filled with memories that will last a lifetime (the final day of the itinerary may be subject to change based on flight times).

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

Saturday, June 20: JERUSALEM – CROSSING INTO JORDAN – WADI RUN – PETRA

After breakfast and Mass, we check out and drive to the Arava Border (approx. 4 hours). Our Jordanian guide will meet us for a two-hour Jeep tour in Wadi Rum before heading to Petra for dinner and overnight.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

Sunday, June 21: PETRA – DEAD SEA

Visit the ancient city of Petra with a guided tour and some free time before driving to the Dead Sea. Check in and enjoy a relaxing float. Overnight at the Dead Sea.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

Monday, June 22, Day 13: MADABA – MT. NEBO – BETHANY BEYOND JORDAN – THE DEAD SEA

We drive to Madaba to see the famous 6th-century mosaic map of Palestine in St. George’s Church. Here we celebrate Mass. Stand atop Mount Nebo looking over the Promised Land just as Moses did before his death. Lunch is included today at Haret Jdoudna, an excellent local restaurant. Our day ends with a visit to Bethany Beyond Jordan, where Joshua crossed over with the Ark of the Covenant, and is believed to be the authentic site where St. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. Tonight we will enjoy our farewell dinner in a local restaurant. Overnight at the Dead Sea.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

Tuesday, June 23, Day 14: DEPART FOR USA

This morning, we are transferred to our flight home, filled with memories that will last a lifetime.