Day 1: Depart for Holy Land

Today: Depart for Tel Aviv with complimentary meals and beverages served onboard your international flight.

Depart From your Airport to Tel-Aviv (TLV)

Day 2: Arrival to Tel Aviv Airport

Today: On arrival in Tel Aviv proceed through Passport Control, meet our private airport assistant, and claim our luggage. Our group will meet straight forward with our guide.

Evening: Proceed to our hotel in Nazareth and begin four nights of hospitality in beautiful Galilee.

Day 3: 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 (Mass) where Jesus performed the first of his signs, changing water to wine. Continue drive to Nazareth and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation starting with the Grotto of the Annunciation and the Church then we will visit the house of the Holy Family underneath the Church of St. Joseph. Meeting with Vicar of Nazareth.

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Nazareth

Day 4: Tiberias - Sea of Galilee- Capernaum– Mt. of Beatitudes

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 (Mass) 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 the opportunity to try the St. Peter’s fish for lunch today. One of today's highlights is a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee and we will also see the “Jesus Boat” a 2000-year-old boat found at the shores of Magdala.

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Nazareth

Day 5: Jericho - Qumran - Dead Sea

Today: After breakfast, you will drive along the Jordan Valley. 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)

Day 6: Bethlehem - Ain Karem - Jerusalem

Today: This morning, we 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. We will walk to the Milk Grotto, remembered as the spot where Mary nursed the infant Jesus and pray for your children and grandchildren. Afterward, we visit Shepherd's Fields, where the Angels appeared to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks during the night. In the afternoon, we drive to Ain 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 the Nativity Church)

Evening: Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem where your beautiful hotel overlooks the Old City.

Day 7: Jerusalem - Mount Zion - Upper Room

Today: Early morning, we attend Mass at the Church of Holy Sepulcher, then return to our hotel for breakfast. After eating, we head to the Old City to visit the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock and El-Aqsa Mosque. We then walk to St. Anne’s Church, the Pools of Bethesda, and the Judgment Hall where Jesus was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate. At this point, we begin walking the Via Dolorosa through the markets of the Old City while praying the Stations of the Cross, stopping at each of the fourteen stations until we reach the Church of Holy Sepulcher. Here, we venerate Calvary and the empty Tomb of our Lord.

Visit of the Latin Patriarchate and meeting with the Patriarch

Evening: Dinner and overnight where your beautiful hotel overlooks the Old City, Notre Dame Center in Jerusalem.

Possible night at Holy Sepulcher for Fr. Ernie +

Day 8: Jerusalem Mt. Of Olives – Mt. Zion

Today: After breakfast, 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

After Lunch we go to 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. (Holy Mass in the Garden of Gethsemane)

Evening: Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 9: Sheick Hussein Bridge- Madaba – Mount Nebo - Petra

Today: In the morning, we will drive north to the Sheikh Hussein Border to Jordan, we will pass the border, meet our Jordanian guide and continue our way to Petra. On the way will stop in Madaba (the city of mosaic), to the Mount Nebo where Moses saw the promised Land before dying. Evening we will arrive Petra.

Evening: Dinner and overnight in Petra.

Day 10: Petra - Wadi Rum

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. After Lunch we will travel to Wadi Rum in the late afternoon, we will have a jeep tour in this desert and enjoy desert night.

Evening: Dinner and overnight in Wadi Rum.

Day 11: Wadi Rum - Aqaba - Eliat - Taba

Breakfast at hotel and check-out. drive to Jordan/Israel Aqaba Border, we will cross to Eilat and drive to Taba Egypt border, crossing into Egypt. Will be met and assisted for drive to departure to St. Catherine, transfer to hotel & overnight.

Day 12: St. Catherine – Cairo

Those interested to climb Mt. Sinai will wake up at 2AM and walk up to the top of Mt. Moses with Bedouin guide. Watch the sunrise from top of the mountain, where Moses received Ten Commandments. Back to hotel for breakfast

Breakfast at hotel, visit the monastery of St. Catherine, Departure to Cairo, and transfer to hotel Dinner & overnight

Day 13: Great Pyramids – Sphinx

After breakfast we travel to the Giza Plateau to visit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx an archaeological site on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This complex of ancient monuments includes the three pyramid complexes known as the Great Pyramids, the massive sculpture known as the Great Sphinx, several cemeteries, a workers' village and an industrial complex. These are some of the structures that the people of Israel built as slaves in Egypt.

Then we will visit the famous Egyptian Museum contains the world's most extensive collection of pharaonic antiquities; no visit to Egypt is complete without a trip through its galleries where the treasures of King Tut Ein Khamon are exhibited. Visit Coptic Church a part of Old Cairo which encompasses the Babylon Fortress, , the Hanging Church, the Greek Church of St. George and many other Coptic churches and historical sites. It is believed that the Holy Family visited this area and stayed at the site of Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church (Abu Serga). Coptic Cairo was a stronghold for Christianity in Egypt until the Islamic era, though most of the current buildings of the churches in Coptic Cairo were built after the Muslim conquest of Egypt

OR

Visit, the monastery of St. Simon el Mokkattam. Simon the Tanner (fl.10th century), also known as Saint Simon the Shoemaker is the Coptic Orthodox saint associated with the story of the moving the Mokattam Mountain in Cairo, Egypt, during the rule of the Muslim Fatimid Caliph al-Muizz Lideenillah (953-975) while Abraham the Syrian was the Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria Dinner and overnight in our hotel.

Day 14: Over day Alexandria

Breakfast at the hotel, Pickup, depart for Alexandria.

Today it is the great and beautiful city; Alexandria has been for centuries the cultural capital city of the ancient world: enough to think of its two famous buildings, the Library and the Lighthouse. The city counts today over three million inhabitants and it is stretched along its bay for over 20 km. Visit to the catacombs of Kom esh Shuqafa, (meaning "Mound of Shards") is a historical archaeological site located in Alexandria, Egypt and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the middle Ages. The necropolis consists of a series of Alexandrian tombs, statues and archaeological objects of the Pharaonic funeral cult with Hellenistic and early Imperial Roman influences.

Visit the library of Alexandria, masterpiece of the modern architecture. The Library of Alexandria was reborn in October 2002 to reclaim the mantle of its ancient namesake. It is not just an extraordinarily beautiful building; it is also a vast complex where the arts, history, philosophy, and science come together. Moreover, the myriad activities it offers have made it a place for open discussion, dialogue, and understanding. At the end of the visits depart for Cairo.

Arriving Cairo transfer to the hotel and overnight.

Day 15: Departure Aswan for the Nile Cruise

Today: In the morning departure from Cairo Airport to Aswan to start our Nile Cruise for the next 4 days.

Day 16 Cairo (BB+L+D)

Early morning, your travel representative help transfer you in time for your short flight to Aswan. This small city in the Nile Valley is located south of Cairo. Once you arrive in Aswan, you will make your way to your cruise ship. This unforgettable cruise includes visiting many of the major sights in Aswan.

Today’s sightseeing includes:

Aswan High Dam: Built in the 1960s and completed in 1970. Aswan Dam was formally inaugurated in 1971 and was an engineering marvel at the time due to it changing the landscape of Egypt by increasing cultivable land by 30 percent and doubling its electricity supply.

Philae Temple: There were once temples at Philae (construction began in 690 BC) dedicated to the goddess Isis. The complex was moved from its original location on Philae Island to Agilkia Island due to the construction of Aswan High Dam. You’ll board a small boat to learn more about the temple here.

The Botanical Garden: You’ll have time to explore the grounds of Kitchener’s Island—also known as the Botanical Garden—a 16-acre island in the Aswan archipelago located between Elephantine Island and The Nile’s west bank.

DAY 17 (BB+L+D)

Your adventure continues as you set sail for Luxor. You will have a chance to get off the ship and explore more sights along with your guide.

Your guide will explain the significance of these temples in further detail:

Temple of Sobek and Haroeris at Kom Ombo: This temple is dedicated to the crocodile god (Sobek) and falcon god (Haroeris). It was built during the Ptolemaic era. Many of the walls of its courts, halls, sanctuaries, and rooms are still intact along with wall carvings and some statues.

Temple of Horus at Edfu: The Ptolemaic Temple of Horus was constructed between 57 BCE and 237 BCE. It is one of the best-preserved shrines in Egypt and inside you can still make out many of its inscriptions.

DAY 18 (BB+L+D)

Today, you’ll continue your Nile cruise tours which includes sightseeing on the river’s west and east bank. Your guide will lead you through this tour.

Valley of the Kings: The location of rock-cut tombs for kings and powerful nobles (including Tutankhamun) for nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BCE.

Colossi of Memnon: Visit the ruins of Amenhotep’s memorial temple. What remains are two imposing statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, which were erected to guard the temple’s entrance.

Hatshepsut Temple: The Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut is the focal point of Deir el-Bahri, a complex of mortuary temples and tombs.

Karnak Temple: One of Egypt’s largest surviving temples which was founded in the Middle Kingdom, and was once a key religious center.

Luxor Temple: A large temple complex located on the east bank of the Nile River. It was founded during the New Kingdom around 1400 BC.

DAY 19 (BB+L+D)

From Luxor, your travel representative will transfer you to the airport in time for your flight back to Cairo. Board your flight home with fond memories of your visit to ancient Egypt.