Travels With Helene

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE

September 12, 2011 - September 21, 2011

Join Father John Blum, Father Joel Kovanis, Father Edwin Palka and Father Paul Pecchie on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land: Birthplace of the world's three major religions. Reserve your place on this journey of a lifetime.

Day 1

Arrive in Israel, the land of the Bible where Jesus lived and preached. Private transfer to hotel for welcome dinner and overnight in hotel in Tel Aviv.

Day 2

Breakfast and start your half day city tour of this lively, colourful city. Lunch on your own and rest of day at leisure. Dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 3

Breakfast and drive to the Church of St. Peter in Jaffa. Afterward proceed to Cesarea, the ancient city built in honor of Augustus Casesar by Herod the Great. Lunch on your own. Continue to Mt. Carmel and then travel onto Nazareth, home town of Jesus where you will visit the Church of the Annunciation and other famous sites. Proceed to the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight in hotel Sea of Galilee.

Day 4

Breakfast and start with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee in a fishing vessel taking you back to the times of Jesus and see many biblical sites along the shore. Lunch after the boat trip. Time at leisure and watch the sunset on the Sea of Galilee an experience never to be forgotten. Dinner and overnight in hotel Sea of Galilee.

Day 5

Breakfast and proceed to Jerusalem enjoying the sites along the way. Drive via the Jordan Valley to Jericho, one of the world's oldest cities and you can view the Mount of Temptation in the distance. Entering the city of Jerusalem we stop for a panoramic view of the city from Mt. Scopus. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 6

Breakfast and start trip to Bethlehem with a visit of the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd's field. Time free for shopping and lunch. In the afternoon perhaps pass by Rachel's tomb on the way back to Jerusalem. A memorable stop on Mt. Zion, where Jesus spent those last momentous hours with his disciples before his passion. Back in Jerusalem stroll through the Arab market, and on to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight in hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 7

Breakfast and enjoy panoramic drive to Qumeran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and enjoy a visit of the ancient city of Qumeran. After lunch visit of Mt. Massada and Herod’s Palace. Return and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 8

Breakfast and drive to the Mt. of Olives where you will behold a mesmerizing view of the Holy City and then proceed to Gethsemane to visit the Church of Agony. Re-enter Jerusalem to visit the holiest site in the whole Jewish world, the wailing wall. See the magnificent Dome of the Rock and lunch on your own. Afterwards continue to John the Baptist’s birthplace. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 9

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for your return flight.