Day 1 – Mar 18, 2019
Afternoon departure from Toronto directly to Tel Aviv.
Day 2 – Mar 19, 2019
Upon noon arrival in Tel Aviv we are transferred to Aqaba in Jordan. Time for rest, dinner and overnight. Hotel: Mövenpick Resort & Residences Aqaba Resort – aqaba@movenpick.com
Day 3 – Mar 20, 2019
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. Hotel: The Old Village Hotel & Resort – http://www.oldvillageresort.com/
Day 4 – Mar 21, 2019
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 we are transferred to a hotel in Amman for dinner and overnight. Hotel: Grand Millennium Amman – https://www.millenniumhotels.com
Day 5 – Mar 22, 2019
We depart to visit other treasures of Jordan. We visit Mt. Nebo where Moses saw the Promised Land for the first time. Later we visit Madaba best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially famous mosaic map of the Holy Land from Byzantine era. Afternoon we travel to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world, hidden for centuries in sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years. Late afternoon we cross the Jordan River and move on to Galilee for dinner and overnight. Hotel for 3 nights: Ron Beach Hotel Tiberias – http://www.ronbeachhotel.com
Day 6 – Mar 23, 2019
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 – Mar 24, 2019
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 – Mar 25, 2019
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 Jerusalem for our dinner and overnight. Our hotel for 4 nights is: Dan Jerusalem Hotel, https://www.danhotels.com/
Day 9 – Mar 26, 2019
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 – Mar 27, 2019
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 – Mar 28, 2019
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. Dinner and overnight.
Day 12 – Mar 29, 2019
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport in Tel Aviv for a direct flight to Toronto. Afternoon arrival.
** THE ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND MAY VARY IN THE ORDER YOU VISIT**
***HOTELS AS LISTED OR SIMILAR***