VIRGILIO TRAVEL
DETAILED ITINERARY
(Subject to Change)
Friday,
January 16
This is a LAND ONLY trip. That means you are responsible for booking your own airfare. That said, we recommend departing for Tel Aviv Airport for arrival on Saturday, January 17th. We will meet at the Tel Aviv Arrivals Hall on Saturday.
Saturday,
January 17
Upon arrival, you'll meet a representative from the tour company with our names on it. They'll help you clear passport control, collect your luggage, and meet Lino and Fr. Mike who will be waiting for you in the Arrivals Hall. We'll get on the bus
and start the drive to the incredibly beautiful Sea of Galilee. Once we arrive, we'll celebrate Mass and then head to the hotel to check in and have a welcome dinner together.
Sunday,
January 18
We start our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Then onto Capernaum, the hometown of Jesus. We’ll visit the synagogue where He said He is the "Bread of Life" as well as celebrate Mass above the home of St Peter. For lunch, we’ll have St Peter’s fish (caught fresh from the Sea). Then, we’ll visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. A
quick trip to Tabgha, where He multiplied fishes and loaves. After that, the spot of Peter’s Primacy: where Jesus appeared on the shores of the Sea to Peter after the Resurrection. At the end of a full day of touring we'll head back to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at a great local restaurant.
Monday,
January 19
This morning, we head for Nazareth where we'll visit the cave where the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and the Word was made flesh. We'll celebrate Mass at the Church of the Annunciation and pray the Noon Angelus there. We'll then have a tasty lunch and go to Cana: where Jesus performed His first sign - turning water into wine. There will be an opportunity for couples to renew their marriage vows and for everyone to receive a special blessing. We'll then get back on the bus and head to Mount Tabor, the site of the
Transfiguration (Shiny Jesus!). We'll tour the Basilica with its amazing mosaics, as well as enjoy the amazing views overlooking the valley. After getting down the small, windy roads, we'll return to Tiberias and enjoy a memorable seaside dinner.
Tuesday,
January 20
We have an opportunity to sleep in and enjoy our last views of Galilee before checking out and heading to Jerusalem. Upon arrival, we'll have a delicious lunch and then make our first top - the Mount of Olives with its incredible panoramic view of the city. We then do the Palm Sunday walk, with a visit to Dominus Flevit (where the Lord wept overlooking Jerusalem) and we arrive at the Basilica in the
Garden of Gethsemane, where we will celebrate Mass. After a chance to freshen up, we'll head to another delicious dinner at a fun local restaurant.
Wednesday,
January 21
We'll start our day at Shepherd's Field - where the angels announced the Good News to the shepherds. We'll celebrate Mass in one of the caves there before heading into Bethlehem. After a tasty lunch, we'll visit the Church of the Nativity - the very spot where Jesus Christ was born. We'll then go to the Kando Store: a co-op that helps support the local
Christians, where you'll have the opportunity to buy souvenirs, carved olive wood and even antiquities from the time of Jesus. We'll return to the hotel to freshen up before heading to a favorite restaurant.
Thursday,
January 22
This morning we'll check out of the hotel and return to Jerusalem. We'll begin in the Jewish Quarter, visiting the Western Wall - the holiest site in Judaism - as well as the Southern Steps. These steps would have been walked by Jesus many times on His way to the Temple, and was where Peter gave a sermon after Pentecost. After a fun lunch with amazing views of the city, we'll visit Mount Zion.
Here we'll see the Upper Room (site of the Last Supper) as well as St. Peter in Galicantu (Caiphas' house where Jesus was held imprisoned on Holy Thursday night). We'll then check-in to our hotel in Jerusalem and walk to dinner this evening at another great local restaurant.
Friday,
January 23
Today we'll head off the beaten path and go to Bethany - the hometown of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. We'll celebrate Mass not far from where Jesus brought Lazarus back to the dead. We'll then go to the Jordan River, where we'll have a chance to renew our baptismal vows. You can also fill up empty water bottles to take some water home. From there we
go to the Dead Sea. After a quick lunch we'll float at the lowest point on Earth. There's nothing like it! And for those who don't want to float, you can always enjoy a drink at the lowest bar on Earth. In the last afternoon we'll visit Jericho: the oldest inhabited city on the planet. We'll see Mount of Temptation (where Jesus spent 40 days and nights in the desert), as well as the "Zaccheus tree". Upon returning to Jerusalem you'll have the night to rest and relax before an early morning.
Saturday
January 24
Today is our only early morning of the trip, and it will be worth it. We begin the day walking the Via Dolorosa: the Stations of the Cross, which ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We will visit Golgotha, the place of crucifixion, as well as visit the Tomb of the Resurrection. Afterwards, we will have a tour of the church with plenty of time for personal prayer. We'll then visit St. Anne's (the
birthplace of the Virgin Mary) and the Pools of Bethesda. After a fun lunch with more great views of the city, you'll have the afternoon for free time. You can explore Jerusalem more on your own, do any last minute shopping, or return to your favorite places. For those who want tattoos, Lino has arranged Razzouk Tattoos to set aside appointments for our group. We meet again to head to Bethlehem for an amazing final goodbye dinner.
Sunday
January 25
After breakfast, we'll head to the airport for our flights home, having made a lifetime of memories, new friends, and with the knowledge that we'll never see the Bible – or Christianity – the same way again.
​