15 Days Holy Land and Egypt Pilgrimage October 23 - November 06, 2023 from Salt Lake City, UT (SLC) with Father Javier Virgen

Day 1, Depart for the Holy Land

Make your way to your local airport, where you will board your overnight flight to Israel. Your meals will be served on board.

Day 2, Arrive in Tel Aviv

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the Arrival Hall, where your tour guide or driver will greet you. Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv to check-in. Enjoy dinner at the hotel before retiring for the evening.

Day 3, Tel Aviv - Caesarea - Nazareth – Cana

This morning we will depart Tel Aviv to Caesarea Maritima, located on the shores of the Mediterranean. Built by Herod the Great, Caesarea was where St. Peter baptized the first gentile convert, Cornelius (Acts 10). We will see the Roman theatre, Herod's Palace, view the Hippodrome, and the harbor from which St. Paul sailed on his journeys to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the ancient world. Continue to Nazareth to visit the museum and archaeological Garden, which contain remains of Nazareth at the time of Christ. Visit the museum and archaeological Garden where we can see the remains of Nazareth at the time of Christ, as well as St. Joseph's workshop – which is now known as St. Joseph's Church. Within the Church of the Annunciation, you will make your way down to the Grotto to see the remains of the house of the Blessed Mother and where the Angel of the Lord announced the good news to Mary. From here, we drive to Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle, changing water into wine at His mother's request. We celebrate Mass here at the Wedding Church, and married couples will have the chance to renew their wedding vows. From there, we continue to our hotel by the Sea of Galilee for dinner and overnight.

Day 4, Tiberias: Sea of Galilee

This morning we take a boat ride on the beautiful Sea of Galilee (Luke 5:1). Then we visit Capernaum, the fishing town where Jesus lived and launched His ministry to change our lives and the world. In Capernaum, we see the Synagogue where Jesus taught (Mark 1:21-29) and gave the Sermon on the Bread of Life. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount (Luke 6:20-49). Then to Tabgha, where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish (Luke 9:10-17). Nearby is St. Peter's Primacy, where Peter confirmed his Love of Jesus (John 21), and it was in this place that Jesus anointed Peter to lead His Church and became the first Pope. (John 21:9). Continue visiting Mary Magdalene's birthplace in Magdala. During the time of Jesus, this village was a prosperous fishing village that exported fish and garum, a fish sauce reduction popular in Roman cooking. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 5, Mt. Tabor - Jericho – Jerusalem

After breakfast, drive to the site of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor (Matthew 17:1-50). You will have time to reflect on Christ's Divinity at this site. Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Transfiguration and then continue south towards the Jordan Valley, to the world's oldest inhabited city (Jericho (Joshua 6:12-25). In Jericho, you view the exact location, the Mount of Temptation, where the Devil tempted Jesus during his forty-day fast (Luke 4:1). Drive up to Bethlehem to check in to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6, Jerusalem: Bethlehem & Ein Karem

This morning we go to the village of Ein Karem to visit the Church of St John the Baptist, which marks his birthplace (Luke 1.5). Nearby is the Church of Visitation that commemorates the visit of our Blessed Mother to her cousin, Elizabeth, who stayed with her for three months (Luke 1.39). Many people pray the Mystery of the Rosary as they walk up the hill to the Church. Later drive to Bethlehem to visit the fields where the Angel appeared to the shepherds to proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:8). We enter the caves where shepherds took shelter in ancient times and see the soot marks of the fires they lit to keep warm. Continue to Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. We enter the Church through the door of humility and proceed down to the Grotto of the Nativity, which marks the place of Our Saviour's birth (Matthew 2:1-18). Beneath the altar is a silver star and a Latin inscription that states: HIC DE VIRGINE MARIA JESUS CHRISTUS NATUS (Here, Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). Following Mass in Bethlehem, return to the hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and overnight.

Day 7, Jordan River - Qumran - Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean wilderness, the site where Jesus spent His 40 days of fasting. We head to the Jordan River for some time to reflect on the Baptism of Christ Matthew 3:13-17). In the afternoon, we visit the Essene site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in Qumran. (Ezekiel 47:8-10). These writings have helped further the understanding of the Jewish background of Christianity. Before returning to Bethlehem, there is also time to swim or float on the Dead Sea, the lowest and saltiest place on Earth.

Day 8, Jerusalem: Mt. Of Olives - Gethsemane - Mt. Zion (Upper Room)

We start the day on the Mount of Olives with a breathtaking panoramic view of Jerusalem. Visit the Pater Noster Shrine where Jesus taught His disciples the Lord's Prayer (Pater Noster) (Luke 11:1-4). Then we walk down the Palm Sunday Road, which reminds us of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Along this route there stands Dominus Flevit which marks the place where Jesus wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19:41). Continue down to Gethsemane; it was here that Jesus brought His disciples to pray the night before He was crucified (Luke 22:29-53). The Garden still contains trees with roots that date back to the time of Jesus. Next to the garden is the Church of All Nations, built over the "Rock of Agony", where Jesus prayed alone before His arrest. From Gethsemane, Jesus was taken to the house of the High Priest Caiaphas on Mt Zion, where we see the dungeons in which He was imprisoned. Also at this place, marked by the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, is where Peter denied Christ three times and wept bitterly (John 18:15-18), repented, and was forgiven. On the upper part of Mt Zion, we visit the Upper Room, where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples, (Matthew 26:17-30).

Day 9, Jerusalem: Via Dolorosa - Holy Sepulchre- Western Wall

Very early this morning we walk together in a prayerful procession along the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross). We start at the Antonia Fortress, where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-19:16) and receives His cross. We end at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which marks the place of the Crucifixion & the Resurrection, (Luke 23:26-33). After Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, we return to the hotel for breakfast. Later we revisit the Old City to see the Church of St. Anne's, the traditional birthplace of the Virgin Mary. Nearby is the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the crippled man (John 5:1-9). End the day with a visit to the Western Wall, which is the last remnant of the Jewish Temple destroyed in 70 A.D.

Day 10, Depart/Egypt

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, transfer to the border crossing into Egypt at the Red Sea border town of Taba. Transfer to St. Catherine for overnight.

Day 11:  St. Catherine, Cairo.

Optional camel ride and climb up Mount Sinai in the early morning then after breakfast a full day tour of the Mt. Sinai area including St. Catherine’s Monastery, seeing the Well of Jethro and visiting the monastery, which was built in the sixth century at the same site of the burning bush where Moses beheld the miracle and heard God tell him to lead Israel out of bondage, drive to Cairo through the wilderness of Sin (manna). Enroute visit the Spring of Marah. Arrive in Cairo and transfer to the hotel for relaxing and overnight

Day 12:  Pyramids - Egyptian Museum.

After breakfast enjoy a sightseeing journey. Visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Giza, and the Great Sphinx, that large statue that is one of the most famous monuments in the world then visit the Egyptian Museum where we’ll find the greatest Collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world. It is also the home of King Tut's treasures

Day 13:  Alexandria.

After breakfast, drive to the city of Alexandria, discover Alexandria's ancient history, and explore the mixing of Egypt with its Greek and Roman past.

Day 14:  Departure.

Free day at leisure and reflection.  Departure for the airport for your flight home.  We will arrive on the following day.

Day 15:  Arrival

Arrival

Download Brochure and REGISTRATION FORM

Trip Date:  October 23 - November 06, 2023
Departure City: Salt Lake City, UT (SLC)
Package Price: $5090.00

The package price includes the following:

1. Round-trip international airline tickets
2. All taxes, fees, and surcharges
   
3. Hotels on Half board Basis: 13 nights (open buffet breakfast, open buffet dinner)
4. Air-conditioned buses in Israel and Egypt
5. Farewell dinner
6. Spanish speaking guide
7. Entrance fees
8. Meeting and assistance upon Arrival at the Airports
9. Porterage is Included in all hotels.
10. Whispers devise during the whole trip
11. Mass Daily
12. Porterage at airport

The package Price Does not include the following:     

1. Lunches
2. Gratuities for guide/driver
3. Personal expenses
4. Travel Insurance
5. Anything not mentioned above