Classic Catholic tour

Departure from the US

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, you will meet your guide, who will be with you for the coming days. We will drive from the airport to the hotel on the Mediterranean coast, where we will have dinner and a good night’s rest.

Each day of the tour will include a mass celebration.

Our adventure will start today at the Old City of Jaffa. There we will visit the traditional site of the home of Simon the tanner, where St. Peter resided and experienced a significant spiritual dream which included gentiles in the church. We will also visit Saint Peter’s church. The beautiful church commemorates the miracle of St. Peter raising Tabitha from the dead in Acts 9. From Jaffa, we will continue north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea Maritima. Here, Herod the Great built one of the largest seaports in the world and a magnificent palace, St. Peter led Cornelius (the first recorded Gentile conversion) to the faith, and St. Paul was imprisoned before his final journey. We will continue to Mount Carmel, the site of the Muhraka (scorching), where the Prophet Elijah led in the victory of the prophets of Baal. Our time there will include visiting Stella Maris, a Carmelite monastery and church on the west top side of the Carmel. Finally, we will arrive in Galilee for dinner and overnight. 

A wonderful day is in store for us. We begin by visiting Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus. Our visit will include the Basilica of Annunciation, which stands on the site that was believed to be the house of Mary, where she was announced that she would give birth to Jesus. From Nazareth, we will make the short drive northward to Cana, where, according to the Gospel of John, Jesus conducted His recorded miracle of turning water to wine at the request of Mother Mary. The “Wedding Church” is dedicated to weddings in Christianity. To conclude our day, we will journey to Mount Tabor and visit the Church of Transfiguration, believed to be built on the site of Jesus’ transfiguration. Once again, we will enjoy dinner and overnight in Galilee.

Our spirits will soar today as we enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and visit an ancient boat dated to the time of Christ. Our tour in Galilee will continue with a to Capernaum, where Jesus lived during His ministry. We will also see the excavation of St. Peter’s house, over which St. Peter’s Church is built. Our journey will continue as we visit other magnificent sites in Galilee, such as Tabgha, the Mount of Beatitudes and the Church of Beatitudes, Magdala, and the Jordan River. We will enjoy dinner and overnight in Galilee.

Today we will visit the fantastic archeological site at Beit Shean—truly one of the most magnificent sites in Israel. We will make our journey down the Jordan Valley with stops at Jericho, Mount of Temptation, the Old Jericho Road overlook, and Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found). We will conclude the day by making our way to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Today we will visit Bethlehem, the city of Christ’s birth. Our time there will include the Church of the Nativity, a basilica built initially by Constantine in the fourth century, Shepherd’s Field, and shopping at a fine seller of hand-carved olive wood and other products. We will continue the day in Jerusalem with a visit to the Israel Museum, where we will see the Shrine of the Book (Dead Sea Scrolls) and the Temple Model. We will conclude the day with dinner and overnight at our hotel in Jerusalem. 

This morning we will be thrilled as we take in the awe-inspiring vista of the Old City Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives. We will walk the Palm Sunday Route down the mount, stopping at the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. We will continue across the Kidron Valley into the Old City, where we will walk the Via Dolorosa and see the Stations of the Cross, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Initially built by Constantine, this wonderful church is built over the sites of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Beyond the church, we ascend Mount Zion and visit the home of Caiaphas (High Priest at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion) and the dungeon where Jesus was held while He was on trial. We will enjoy dinner and overnight again in Jerusalem. 

Today, our pilgrimage will conclude with visits to the Western Wall, its tunnels, and the Davidson Center. Finally, we will spend time in Ein Karem at the Church of St. John the Baptist—built at the site where St. John the Baptist was born. At the conclusion of the day, we will celebrate our time together with dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport and departure back to the U.S.A.