10 Days Egypt & Israel Pilgrimage: Journey To The Bible Lands

Arrival Cairo international airport after midnight, meet and assist through immigration and customs procedures. Picking up our luggage and driving to the hotel in Cairo. Check-in. 

Overnight in Cairo.

After breakfast, start our first activity in the giant city of Africa, Cairo. The Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the only still standing World Wonder is our first step, a breath-taking complex with lots of commentary from our guide to explain the theory behind it.  Stop for a papyrus factory before we drive to the area of Old Cairo and the hanging church. 

Dinner and overnight in Cairo

After breakfast, we will begin our journey towards Sinai and the area of St. Katherine. We will pass by the tunnel of Ahmed Hamdy that ties Africa with Asia, we may have a chance of seeing some ships crossing the Suez Canal that links the RED sea with the MED. Sea. Continue our journey through Moses Springs and the 70 palms.  Drive to St. Katherine. 

Arrival for dinner and overnight at St. Katherine

Early morning wake up call for those who wish to climb Mt. Sinai to be on the spot that witnessed the revelation of the 10 Commandments. After such an experience, we will start our journey descending. Refreshing/ Breakfast and a visit to the Monastery of St. Katherine. Drive through the beautiful Gulf of Aqaba until Taba.
Afternoon at leisure for swimming in the Red Sea.

Dinner & Overnight in Taba

After an early breakfast, cross the Taba border into Israel. Meet your Israeli guide.
Drive to the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth. Time will be given to experience floating in these special waters. Visit Qumran, the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.
Drive to Jericho, the oldest city in the world, and view Mt. Temptation where Jesus was tempted by the devil. We will also visit the Sycamore tree, which Zacchaeus had climbed to see Jesus.

Possibility of celebrating Mass at the good Shepherd church
Ascend to Jerusalem, stop in Mount of Scopus to bless the city.

Dinner & Overnight in Jerusalem

After breakfast, we will ascend the Mountain. of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of the Ascension, which commemorates the ascent of Jesus to Heaven. The Pater Noster Church, where according to tradition, lays the cave where Jesus brought his disciples and spoke to them about the mystery of the end. It is also believed to be the place; Jesus gave the Lord's Prayer to his disciples. 

We then walk down the Sunday Palm Road where we stop at the Chapel of Dominius Flevit, where Jesus wept over the imminent destruction of Jerusalem. The chapel is built in the shape of a tear as a reminder to this event. From there walk down the Palm Road to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed while Judas betrayed him to the Romans. Look at Olive trees in the garden, which are more than 100 years old. Visit the Basilica of the Agony (Church of all Nations), which stands out from afar.
Then visit Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born, visit the Church of the Visitation.
Afternoon visit to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. Meditate on the glory of the Birth of our Savior at the Church of the Nativity. (The birthplace of Jesus). This church is one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world Sing Christmas Hymns! Celebrate! What a glorious feeling! Drive to the Shepherd's field and the Cave Chapel, a recent Byzantine excavation, and past Ruth the Moabite's fields to the Judean Wilderness. 

Possibility of celebrating mass at the Shepherd field or in Gethsemane church  

Dinner & Overnight in Jerusalem.

After Breakfast visit Mount Zion,  where you will see the room of the Last Supper- where we remember the last supper and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles on Pentecost) and the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles. Nearby is the beautiful Dormition Abbey from where the Blessed Mary went up to heaven at the St. Peter in Gallicantu, which symbolizes Peter's Denial of Jesus as He had prophesied at the Last Supper. See Caiaphas House, the Apostles Jail.
Visit the Western Wall (Wailing Wall) - the site most sacred to the Jewish nation.
Enter the walls of the Old City through Dung gate. Walk through the colorful Arab bazars. Visit to the pool of Bethesda and Santa Ana Church.

Continue to pray the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Grief), traditionally accepted as the last route trodden by Jesus. Follow the 14 Stations of the Cross to Golgotha, the place where Jesus was crucified marking significant events along the route. We will see the Pilate's Judgment hall; the Chapel of the Flagellation where, according to tradition, the Roman soldiers scourged Jesus and placed a crown of thorns on His head.

The last 5 Stations of the Cross are inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built over the Golgotha, the place of crucifixion visible from the distance, with its two silver domes. Easily the most celebrated, yet most contentious, church in Christendom, the Holy Sepulcher contains the traditional sites of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus under one roof.
Possibility of celebrating mass at Santa Ana or at the Flagellation church 

Drive north to the Galilee area for dinner & overnight.

After breakfast, visit the Kibbutz, where you will learn about Israel's advanced farming methods. You will have the opportunity to see the way of life in the Kibbutz.
Then drive to Nazareth, the city chosen by God for the annunciation of the birth of His Son. Here Jesus grew to manhood. Nazareth is also the home of Mary and Joseph and we will visit the Basilica of the Annunciation built over the grotto where Archangel Gabriel appeared to announce to Mary that she would bear a son, Jesus. We also stop by Joseph's workshop and Mary's well and the Tomb of the Just. Drive to the village of Cana, where Jesus performed His first Miracle, changing water into wine at the wedding feast.  

Possibility of celebrating mass at cana or Nazareth 

Dinner & Overnight in the Galilee area.

After breakfast, explore the charm and beauty of the blessed area of the Sea of Galilee.
Visit Capernaum - the center of Jesus' ministry where we visit the Synagogue and House of Peter's Mother in law. We then stop at Tabgha - the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish. We then visit the expressive Church of the Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. We make a brief halt at St. Peter's house, the Church of Primacy of Peter and the place where Jesus bestowed St. Peter with His authority. This is believed to be the place where Jesus dined with His disciples. The flat rock known as Mensa Christ or Christ's table commemorates this event. Behind the church, we get an opportunity to dip our feet in the Sea of Galilee. Visit Yardenit baptismal site. Enjoy a Boat Ride to the Sea of Galilee.

Possibility of celebrating mass at Capernaum church 

Dinner & Overnight in the Galilee area.

After breakfast I have some free time for leisure for last minute shopping.
Then drive to Haifa, a seaport located on Israel’s Mediterranean Shoreline below scenic Mount Carmel. Visit Muhraqa, where Elijah prayed for the Defeat of the 450 false Prophets of Ba’al. See the Bahai Gardens - located in the heart of Haifa, comprise a staircase of nineteen terraces extending all the way up the northern slope of Mount Carmel. The golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, the resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Bahai Faith, stands on the central terrace. Continue along the coast to Caesarea. The magnificent port-city built by King Herod the Great. From this place, Apostle Peter sailed to Rome and started the Gospel. In Caesarea's well-preserved theater an inscription of the procurator Pontius Pilate was found. Proceed to the City of Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Enjoy a city tour. Have some free time for last minute shopping.
Possibility of celebrating mass at Muhraka church 

Farewell dinner in the city prior to the transfer to the airport, for the flight home departing after midnight.