DAY 1: DEPART USA

Today: Depart at 14:55 from SFO airport for Amman (Jordan) with complimentary meals and beverages served onboard your international flight.

DAY 2: ARRIVE AMMAN JORDAN

Today: On arrival in Amman at 19:40, we will meet our private assistant in the airport and continue to be met by our guide.

Evening: Proceed to our hotel. (in Amman), Dinner & Overnight.

DAY 3: PETRA

Today: Full day dedicated to the visit of the Nabatean Capital. We will walk along the Siq to reach the magnificent Treasure and visit the archeological site

Evening: Dinner and overnight in Petra.

DAY 4: PETRA – MOUNT NEBO – MADABA - NAZARETH

Today: In the morning, we will leave Petra to drive North to Madaba (the city of mosaic). During the transfer we will stop in Mount Nebo where Moses saw the promised Land before dying. Transfer to Sheikh Husein Border to Cross to Israel.

After crossing the border we will head directly to Nazareth. Mass and Meeting with Vicar of Nazareth Fr. Hanna Kildani.

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Nazareth.

DAY 5: MT TABOR – CANA – NAZARETH

Today: Drive to Mount Tabor (The site of the Transfiguration) and then to Cana of Galilee to visit the wedding Church, where Jesus performed the first of his signs, changing water to wine (Mass with renewal of marital promises for couples). Continue drive to Nazareth and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation starting with the Grotto of the Annunciation and the Church. We will visit the house of the Holy Family underneath the Church of St. Joseph.

DAY 6: BEATITUDES - LOAVES & FISHES - CAPERNAUM- SEA OF GALILEE

Today: This morning, we drive to the Sea of Galilee to visit the Mt. of Beatitudes where our Lord gave the Sermon on the Mount continue to Tabgha to see the splendid mosaic of the loaves and fishes with which He fed the Five Thousand. Visit the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy and then go to visit Capernaum to see the house of St. Peter and the Synagogue where our Lord preached. You will have an opportunity to try the St. Peter’s fish for lunch that day. One of today’s highlights is a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. We will also see the “Jesus Boat” a 2000 year old boat found at the shores of Magdala.

(Holy Mass on the Mt. of Beatitudes or Capernaum).

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Nazareth.

DAY 7: CAESAREA - MOUNT CARMEL – JAFFA - BETHLEHEM

Today: This Morning, we drive west to Caesarea Maritime, where St. Peter Baptized Cornelius and St. Paul was a prisoner for a while before going to Rome. Here we visit the Roman Aqueducts and the Roman Theater and the palace of Pontius Pilate. Then we will visit the Beautiful city of Haifa and go on Mt. Carmel where The Carmelites started 900 years ago. We celebrate Mass at the church of Stella Maris, “the star of the sea”. We will have a panoramic view of the city Haifa and the beautiful Baha’i Gardens. We will continue our drive to Jaffa the Bride of the Sea, will visit the Church of St. Peter Jaffa, the city and the Harbor. Continue to Bethlehem.

Dinner: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.

DAY 8: BETHLEHEM - VISITATION CHURCH

Today: This morning, we drive to Bethlehem to visit the place of birth of our Lord, The Basilica of the Nativity. We will visit the Grotto of Nativity and the Church of St. Catherine where the Midnight Mass is celebrated and the Caves of St. Joseph and St. Jerome underneath the church. Visit Shepherd’s Fields, where the Angels appeared to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks during the night.

In the afternoon drive to nearby village of Ein – Karem to visit the birth place of St. John the Baptist and the Church of the Visitation where Mary came to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth and proclaimed the ‘Magnificat’. (Holy Mass at St. Jerome In the Nativity Church)

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.

DAY 9: QUMRAN - JERICHO - DEAD SEA

Today: Visit the Jordan River to renew our baptism vows. Drive down the Jordan Valley and we stop at the oasis town of Jericho, visit the excavations of the oldest city in the world and view Mt. Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. We will visit the excavations of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were uncovered. On the way, back there is time for a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties. (Mass this day in Jericho). At the end of the day we will drive to Jerusalem.

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your Hotel in Bethlehem.

DAY 10: JERUSALEM: THE PASSION OF JESUS LAST HOURS

Today: Early this morning, we attend the Mass in the Holy Tomb at the church of Holy Sepulcher. After mass, we return back to the hotel to have breakfast then we leave again to enter the Old city Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock and El-Aqsa Mosque On to St. Anne’s Church and the Pools of Bethesda. We continue to the Judgment Hall known as the Antonia Fortress where he was led to be condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. At that place, we start walking the Via Dolorosa through the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross, we reflect on the greatness of His sacrifice, stopping at each of the fourteen stations of the cross until we reach the church of Holy Sepulcher. Visit Calvary and the empty Tomb of our Lord and the different sections of the church. Visit of the Latin Patriarchate and meeting with the Patriarch.

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Bethlehem.

DAY 11: JERUSALEM - MOUNT OF OLIVES - MOUNT ZION

Today: After breakfast, we drive to the top of Mt. Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem for a better understanding of its geography and some of the key sites surrounding the area. Visit the Church of Pater Noster where Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, and then we walk on the Palm Sunday road to the church of Dominus Flevit, where our Lord wept over the city. Continue our walk on the Palm Sunday road to the Garden of Gethsemane. At Gethsemane is the Rock of Agony where Jesus uttered His last prayer. Spend some time in reflection and meditation inside the church.

This afternoon, we go on Mount Zion to visit the Church of the Dormition commemorating our Blessed Mother falling asleep. Next, we go to visit the Cenacle, the place of the Last Supper and Pentecost. We also visit the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu. The house of the high priest of the Jews Caiaphas where Jesus was imprisoned for the night and where Peter denied our Lord. (Holy Mass in the Garden of Gethsemane)

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Jerusalem.

DAY 12: RETURN TO USA

Today: In the early morning departure from Tel-Aviv and flight back to the USA