Pilgrimage Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive Tel Aviv
Make your way to Dublin airport and check-in for Turkish Airlines flight to Tel Aviv via Istanbul, with onboard catering and personal entertainment on one of Europe's best Airlines. On Arrival in Tel Aviv you will be met by our Marian Pilgrimages representative and guide in the arrival hall before boarding your tour coach. Get acquainted with the group on your transfer to Bethlehem where we check into our hotel for 4 nights with dinner and breakfast.

Day 2 - Bethlehem
We take a relaxed day in Bethlehem to settle in and recoup. After breakfast we take the short walk to the Church of the Nativity where we spend the morning and celebrate Mass. Here you can visit the birthplace of Jesus, and the Holy Manger as well as the Chapels of St. Joseph, St. Jerome, the Holy Innocents and the Church of St. Catherine. Leaving the Church of the Nativity you can make your way to the Milk Grotto. After lunch we join our coach and take the short drive to the Shepherds Fields before returning to the hotel for some free time before dinner.

Day 3 - Jerusalem
This morning we drive to Jerusalem and enter the Old City to the Church of St. Anne and nearby, see the Pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a man paralysed for over 40 years. Close by we begin the Via Dolorosa and follow the stations of the cross through the markets and narrow streets of the Old City to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, the site of Calvary (where Jesus was crucified) and His tomb. Here we will celebrate Mass and take some time to reflect upon this sacred site. After some free time for lunch we continue to the Western Wall before joining with the coach to travel to Ein Karem and visit the Churches of the Visitation (where Mary met Elizabeth) & St. John the Baptist. Return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 4 - Mount of Olives
After breakfast we drive to the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where we take our group photo and enjoy the view of the Old City below. We make our way to the highest point on the Mount of Olives to the Ascension Dome that marks the site where Christ ascended into heaven. Continue to visit The Pater Noster Church, Dominus Flevit, Assumption church and Grotto and the Garden of Gethsemane. In the afternoon we celebrate Mass in the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu or “cock’s crow”, where Peter denied Jesus three times and see the dungeon where Jesus was held the night of Holy Thursday. We walk around Mount Zion and visit the church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Tomb of David and the Room of the Last Supper. Return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 5 - Jericho & Bethany
This morning we leave Bethlehem and visit Bethany for Mass and visit the tomb of Lazarus. Continue to Qasr el Yahud the Baptismal site of Jesus on the River Jordan, here we can renew our Baptismal Vows. Drive via the Inn of the Good Samaritan to the Dead Sea where we will have the opportunity to relax and float on the water near Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Continue to Jericho to see the Mount of Temptation where Jesus was tempted by the devil, and the Sycamore tree of Zacchaeus. Drive along the Jordan Valley to Nazareth and check into our hotel for 4 nights, dinner and breakfast.

Day 6 - Nazareth & Cana
After breakfast we will spend our morning exploring the city where Jesus lived as a child. We make our way to the Basilica of the Annunciation to celebrate Mass. Visiting the lower level of the Basilica we see the remains of Mary’s house and where the Angel Gabriel visited her. Here inscribed on the alter are the Latin words of “Here the Word was made flesh”. Adjacent to the Basilica is the St. Joseph Church, we visit the site of Joseph’s work shop and the house of the Holy Family. A short walk from the Basilica is Mary’s Well here you have the opportunity to draw water from the same well as the Virgin Mary.

After some time for lunch we take the short coach journey to Cana. Here we visit the Wedding Church, the site of Jesus’ first miracle, turning the water to wine. Couples on the pilgrimage can take part in the special ceremony to renew their Wedding Vows. In the lower level of the church we see artifacts from the site before having an opportunity to taste and purchase some wine from this sacred site. Return to Nazareth for dinner in our hotel.

Day 7 - Sea of Galilee
This morning we make our way to the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum and Tabgha. Take some time to listen to the readings of the great Sermon on the Mount. Continue to Capernaum and see the old Synagogue and the excavations of Peters house. Visit the site of the multiplication of the Loaves & Fish at Tabgha, and the church of the Primacy of Peter.

Enjoy lunch on the shore of the Sea of Galilee before taking a Boat trip on the lake, with relevant Bible readings. Before retuning to the hotel we visit Magdala and the magnificent retreat center and celebrate Mass in the newly built chapel at the home of Mary Magdalene.

Day 8 - Mount Tabor & River Jordan
After breakfast we drive to Mount Tabor and ascend by taxi for Mass at the church of the Transfiguration where Jesus is transfigured and speaks to Moses and Elijah. Enjoy the view of the Valley of Armageddon. Return to Nazareth for some free time and to prepare for our departure the following morning. Enjoy our final dinner of the Pilgrimage at the hotel.

Day 9 - Depart Tel Aviv
Early breakfast before taking our coach to Tel Aviv airport for return flights to Dublin via Istanbul.