Day 1 – March 4, 2018
Afternoon departure from Toronto directly to Tel Aviv.
Day 2 – March 5, 2018
Upon noon arrival in Tel Aviv we are transferred to Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city the world. Time for rest, Mass, dinner and overnight.
Day 3 – March 6, 2018
In the morning we stop in Wadi Rum, one of the world’s outstanding desert landscapes to observe local life and Bedouin culture. This is where the movie “Lawrence of Arabia” was made in 1962. We have a traditional Bedouin lunch in one of their tents. We continue to Petra for dinner and overnight.
Day 4 – March 7, 2018
Full day in Petra, world’s wonder and Jordan’s most valuable treasure. The city was carved into the sheer rock face by Nabataeans, settled 2000 years ago and made an important junction for silk, spice and other trade routes linking China and India with Egypt, Greece and Rome. We visit the Treasury, Monastery and amphitheater. Late afternoon return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 – March 8, 2018
We depart to visit other treasures of Jordan. We stop at Mt. Nebo where Moses saw the Promised Land for the first time. Late afternoon we cross the Jordan River and move on to Galilee for dinner and overnight.
Day 6 – March 9, 2018
After breakfast we depart for Tiberias. We travel by boat on the Sea of Galilee, visit Capernaum, home of St. Peter and the site of Jesus’ preaching, on to Tabgha to see the Church of the Multiplication with its beautiful 5th century fish mosaic. We also visit the Church of the Primacy and celebrate Mass on the Mount of the Beatitudes. On our way back to the hotel we stop at the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 – March 10, 2018
This morning we start our tour in Cana – the site of Jesus’ first miracle. Here we celebrate a marriage renewal ceremony. We move on to Nazareth where we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation and we visit Mary’s Well and St. Joseph’s Carpentry Shop. In the afternoon we ascend Mount Tabor – the Mount of theTransfiguration. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 8 – March 11, 2018
This morning we depart Galilee for Judea and the area of Jerusalem. En route we visit Haifa and Mt. Carmel, the “burning place” where Elijah called fire down to confound the prophets of Baal. Here we celebrate Mass. We continue via Cesarea by the Sea to Judea for our dinner and overnight.
Day 9 – March 12, 2018
Today’s journey takes us to the ancient city of Jerusalem: St. Ann’s Church, Pool of Bethesda, Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation and the Arch of Ecce Homo, the convent of the sisters of Zion. We continue with the Stations of the Cross – Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulchre. Mass will be celebrated in one of the many churches of Jerusalem. In the afternoon we visit the Western Wall, also called the “Wailing Wall”. We see the place of the Mosque of Omar and El Aksar and move on to the Church of Pater Noster and the Garden of Gethsemane.
Day 10 – March 13, 2018
This morning we leave for a full day excursion to Masada, the Dead Sea and Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. Time for swimming, visit to Jericho and transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 11 – March 14, 2018
Today we visit Bethlehem – where Jesus was born, celebrating Christmas Mass in one of the grottos. We visit the Manger, the Crusaders’ Cloister and the Grotto of St. Jerome – Shepherd’s field. In the afternoon we continue our visit of Jerusalem’s Mount Zion with the Upper Room (Room of the Last Supper) and the Church of St. Peter’s in Gallicantu. Farewell dinner in Jaffa before transfer to the airport for an overnight flight to Toronto.
Day 12 – March 15, 2018
Morning arrival in Toronto.
** THE ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY VARY IN THE ORDER YOU VISIT**
***HOTELS AS LISTED OR SIMILAR***