PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND ITINERARY
DAY 1 – FLIGHT TO TEL AVIV AND BETHLEHEM
On the first day of your pilgrimage to the Holy Land you will be flying to Tel Aviv (*Talk to our travel experts to organise flights from Ireland, UK, USA or any other country). At Tel Aviv Airport, the group will meet our local guide and travel by coach to the hotel in Bethlehem. Upon arrival, the group will have breakfast, check in and have a rest.
In the afternoon, the group will meet at the reception desk to start the day with a visit to the Church of the Nativity and see the birthplace of Jesus, the Holy Manger. We will also visit the Church of Saint Jerome, the chapels of Saint Joseph and the Innocents and the Milk Grotto.
DAY 2 – BETHLEHEM
This morning the Holy Land pilgrimage tour continues with a trip south to Herodium, a cone-shaped hill near Bethlehem where King Herod the Great built a fortress and palace, and where he was buried. At the base of the hill, Herod built a kind of royal ‘country club’, which includes a large pool, a bathhouse and a roofed pool, surrounded by magnificent gardens.
We will then drive to the Field of Shepherds, where the angel announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Back in Bethlehem, you will have free time to explore and browse the local souvenir shops.
DAY 3 – JERUSALEM AND MOUNT OF OLIVES
Today we will drive to Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives for a group photo and great views of the Old City. In the morning we will visit the Ascension Dome, Pater Noster Church, Dominus Flevit, Assumption Church and Grotto and the Garden of Gethsemane.
In the afternoon, we will visit the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, church of the Cock-Crow for Mass; we will see the dungeon where Jesus was held on the evening of Holy Thursday and visit Ein Karem, and the churches of the Visitation and Saint John the Baptist.
DAY 4 – JERUSALEM OLD CITY
This morning we will tour the fascinating Old City of Jerusalem, holy destination for pilgrims of different faiths and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit the church of Saint Anne and Pool of Bethesda and walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Rock of Calvary, site of the crucifixion. Today, we will also visit the Western Wall and walk on Mount Zion to visit the church of the Dormition, Tomb of David and the Room of the Last Supper.
DAY 5 – DEAD SEA
Today, the pilgrimage to the Holy Land tour takes the group to Bethany, where we will attend Mass and visit the tomb of Lazarus. Afterwards, we will drive to the Inn of the Good Samaritan and the Dead Sea where we will have time to relax and float on the water. We will also see where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found at Qumran.
Afterwards we will drive into Jericho and see the Mount of Temptation and the Sycamore tree of Zacchaeus before continuing our trip to Tiberias, along the Jordan Valley, where we will be staying for the next four nights.
DAY 6 – SEA OF GALILEE
This morning we will visit the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee where we will attend Mass and full reading of the great Sermon. After that, we will take a boat trip across the Sea of Galilee accompanied with relevant Bible readings. In the afternoon we will visit the fishing village of Capernaum, home to the apostles Simon, Peter, Andrew, James and John; where we will see the synagogue and the excavations of Peter’s house. We will also visit the church of the multiplication of the Loaves and fish at Tabgha, as well as the Church of the Primacy of Peter on the lake shore.
DAY 7 – NAZARETH
Today we will drive to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, see the Cave home of the Holy Family, Saint Joseph’s workshop and Mary’s Well. In the afternoon we will drive to Cana and visit the church of the Wedding Feast, the site of Jesus’ first miracle; before continuing on to Haifa and the Carmelite shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
DAY 8 – RIVER JORDAN AND TIBERIAS
Today is the last activity day of our pilgrimage to the Holy Land and the group will travel to Mount Tabor, taking a taxi to the church of the Transfiguration to attend Mass. After enjoying the views of the Valley of Armageddon, we will continue our journey to Yardinet, the Baptismal site on the River Jordan where we will renew our Baptismal Vows. We will enjoy a free afternoon in Tiberias to relax and explore at your own pace, on the last day of your holiday.
DAY 9 – TEL AVIV AIRPORT
After breakfast, the group will get ready to check out and travel to Tel Aviv airport for our return flight back home.
Please note this is sample itinerary, our travel team can adapt and adjust your group pilgrimage to the Holy Land to suit your requirements.
