Join Fr. Salvador Ledesma & Fr. Benjamin Puente in the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Jordan & Egypt (October 2-14, 2023)
Join Fr. Salvador Ledesma & Fr. Benjamin Puente in the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land & Jordan & Egypt 13-days, 12 Nights, October 2-14 of 2023
START TIME
10/02/2023
END TIME
10/14/2023
PRICE
$4090 Double Room/ $4830 Single Room
INCLUDED
- Airline Ticket- Round trip Flights
- Accommodation at 4-star hotels
- Two Meals per day (Breakfast and Dinner)
- Transportation in Deluxe Motorcoaches with Air Condition
- Professional Tour Guide all through
- Handling of luggage at the Hotels.
- Daily Mass at all Holy sites
NOT INCLUDED
- Transpiration to and from airport in USA
- Travel Insurance (Optional)
- Tips
- Alcoholic Drinks
ITINERARY
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Oct 2: USA – Tel Aviv
2
Oct 3: USA – Tel Aviv
Arrive at Tel Aviv international airport, meet, assist, continue to Nazareth for overnight.
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Oct 4: CANA – NAZARETH – HAIFA
After breakfast, leave for Cana of Galilee: the place of the first miracle of Jesus. Continue to Nazareth and start a walking tour from Mary’s Fountain till the Basilica of the Annunciation for a visit to Mary’s House, the Upper Basilica, the Museum, and the Church of the Holy Family.
In the afternoon, leave for Haifa, capital of the industry and the major port. Ascend to Mount Carmel passing by the Persian Gardens of the Bahai sect. Visit the Church of Stella Maris, the birthplace of the Carmelite Order which contains a natural grotto of the Prophet Elijah. Back to your hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight.
4
Oct 5: TIBERIAS - THE SEA OF GALILEE – MOUNT TABOR
After breakfast, leave to Mount of Beatitudes to recall the Sermon of the Mountain. Continue to Tabgha (Heptapegon) for a visit to the Church of the Multiplication of Fish and Loaves, admiring the well conserved Byzantine mosaic from the fifth century. Then visit the small chapel of the Primacy of St. Peter before heading to Capernaum, the Town of Jesus for a detailed visit of its ruins: the remains of the House of Peter, the “Insula Sacra” and the White Synagogue. Then, you will experience a boat ride crossing along the Sea of Galilee.
In the afternoon, ascend to Mount Tabor and visit the Basilica of the Transfiguration, built of on the ruins of two earlier sanctuaries: Byzantine and Crusader. Descend and continue to River Jordan where we will have the opportunity to renew your baptismal vows. Back to your hotel in Nazareth for dinner and overnight.
5
Oct 6: JORDAN VALLEY – JERICHO – DEAD SEA – QUMRAN – BETHLEHEM
After breakfast, drive through the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest city in the world for a visit to Tel El- Sultan, the site of the biblical Jericho and view of Mount of Temptations. Enjoy a bath in the salty waters of the Dead Sea.
In the afternoon, continue to Qumran for a visit to the ruins of the Essenes Monastery and view the Caves of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Then drive through the Judaean Desert, passing by the Good Samaritan Inn to Jerusalem for a first contact with the Holy City from Mount Scopus. Arrive to your selected hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.
6
Oct 7: MOUNT OF OLIVES – MOUNT ZION
Breakfast and leave to the Mount of Olives to visit the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Pater Noster (Our Father) and the small Chapel of Dominus Flevit. Enjoy a panoramic view of the Holy City. Continue walking to the Garden of Gethsemane to visit the Church of Agony and then the Tomb of Virgin Mary. Continue to Mount Zion for a visit to the Last Supper Room, the Dormition Abbey and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (House of Caiaphas). Walk through the Armenian and the Jewish Quarters to the Wailing Wall. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Oct 8: SHEPHERDS’ FIELD – BETHLEHEM – NEW CITY – EIN KAREM
Breakfast and visit the Shepherds’ Field with its natural caves and the remains of the Byzantine Monasteries. Continue to visit the Basilica of the Nativity: The Grotto where Lord Jesus was born, the Chapels of St. Joseph and St. Jerome and the Parish Church of St. Catherine. Continue in a panoramic tour in the new city of Jerusalem to view the Parliament and the Hebrew University. Proceed to Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist to visit the Church of the Visitation and that of St. John. Return to your hotel. Dinner and overnight.
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Oct 9: OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM
Breakfast. Enter the Old City of Jerusalem from St. Stephen’s Gate and visit St. Anne’s Church and the Pool of Bethesda. Visit then the Chapel of the Flagellation. Continue through the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) till the Basilica of the Resurrection to visit the Calvary and the Holy Tomb of Jesus. Free afternoon for rest and personal activities. Dinner at a typical restaurant in Bethlehem. Overnight at your hotel.
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Oct 10: Bethlehem-Allemby Bridge-Madaba-Mount Nebo
Cross the border to Jordan, transfer to Madaba to visit the Orthodox Church which hosts the famous mosaic map of the Holy Land from the sixth century. Ascend to Mount Nebo, from where Moses saw the Promised Land and visit the remains of the Byzantine church. Rest of the day we will do a panoramic tour in Amman. Drive to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
10
Oct 11: AMMAN – PETRA – AMMAN
After breakfast, drive through the Kings Highway to Petra, the Rose City, capital of the Nabateans, excavated totally in the red rock of the mountain. Walk through the Siq (a narrow passage) to the first monument: the Treasury Temple. Visit also the House of Justice, the Royal Tombs and the Theater.
In the afternoon, back to Amman, dinner and overnight at your hotel.
11
Oct 12: Amman- Cairo
At the early morning transfer to Amman international airport, board your flight to Cairo.
Arrive to Cairo international airport, meet, assist, and go to the first visit, the new Egyptian Museum. The Egyptian Museum in Cairo contains the world’s most extensive collection of pharaonic antiquities; no visit to Egypt is complete without a trip through its galleries. The Museum of Antiquities where over 120,000 objects in its 107 halls – including the treasures of Tutankhamun (King Tut), after lunch visit The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is a large museum in the ancient city of Fustat, now part of Cairo, Egypt. The museum partially opened in February 2017 and will display a collection of 50,000 artefacts, presenting Egyptian civilization from prehistoric times to the present day. Next stop will be at the exotic and colorful Khan El Khalili Bazaar of the world’s oldest bazaars, where you will have the time to wander and explore. Back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Transfer to your hotel to check in and for OVERNIGHT.
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Oct 13: The Pyramids-Ancient and Christian Cairo
Breakfast. At 08:00 in the morning Escorted by your Egyptologists you will visit the following sites: Pyramids: Embark on an unforgettable tour of the Great Pyramids of Giza built for the Pharaohs Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus. They were constructed about 2500 BC with blocks of limestone from the plateau and from the Turah hills on the outskirts of Cairo. The Great Pyramid of Cheops alone, the only present-day survivor of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, required over 2,300,000 blocks of stone, each weighting about 2.5 tons. At its base, it covers 13 acres of land. Millions of visitors come each year to ponder the fascinating mystery of their existence and explore the ancient burial chambers within. Also, today your visit will enjoy the Islamic/Coptic visits together will visit first Old Cairo where in AD 98-177, the Roman Emperor Trajan built a military fortress on the site which later evolved into a Christian & Jewish enclave. Dating from the 5th century, Abu Serga is the oldest of its churches containing a crypt where Coptic tradition claims the Holy Family rested after fleeing from Herod, the remains also include Hanging church (El Mullaqa), a church built over the remains of the Roman gate, and end tour by visit St. George Church and Monastery, afterwards will explore the fascinating world of Islamic Cairo, including the 19th century Mosque of Mohammed Ali and the Citadel. This great Mosque of Mohamed Ali is one of the landmarks and tourist attractions of Cairo and is one of the first features to be seen when approaching the city from no matter which side. The Saladin Citadel is a medieval Islamic fortification in Cairo, it’s located on Mokattam hill near the center of Cairo, was once famous for its fresh breeze and grand views of the city. It is now a preserved historic site, with mosques and museums. Last stop will be at the exotic and colorful Khan El Khalili Bazaar of the world’s oldest bazaars, where you will have the time to wander and explore. Back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
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Oct 14: Cairo - USA
PHOTOS
