Holy Land Pilgrimage
Next Pilgrimage: January 27-February 11, 2020
Do you want to join us or plan your own? Go to HarmonyPilgrimages.com
Schedule
Updated Itinerary
Monday, January 27 - 7:25pm Depart from San Diego (Flight BA 272)
Tuesday, January 28 – 2pm Arrive in London, 7 hour layover in London
8:55pm Depart from London (Flight BA 163)
Wednesday, January 29 – 3:45am Arrival Full Day in Tel Aviv (Metropolitan Hotel)
Thursday, January 30 – Caesarea Martima
Haifa Bahai Gardens
Acre/Akko Crusader Remains
Ibillin, Fr. Chacour Visit
Overnight in Nazareth (Sisters of Nazareth)
Friday, January 31 – Mass at Church of the Annunciation
Sea of Galilee Boat Ride
Mount of Beatitudes
Primacy of St. Peter
Capernaum & Peter's House
Tiberias (Lunch covered)
Overnight in Nazareth (Sisters of Nazareth)
Saturday, February 1 – Mass at Cana (Renewal of Marriage Vows)
Caesarea Philippi
Overnight in Nazareth (Sisters of Nazareth)
Sunday, February 2 – Cross into Jordan via Sheikh Hussein Border
Jerash
Overnight in Petra (Petra Guest House)
Monday, February 3 – Petra
Overnight in Petra (Petra Guest House)
Tuesday, February 4 – Mt. Nebo
Jordan River Baptismal Site (Renewal of Baptismal Vows)
Cross back into Israel (Allenby Bridge)
Jericho
Mount of Temptations
Sycamore Tree
Overnight in Jericho (Oasis Jericho)
Wednesday, February 5 – Masada
Qumran
Dead Sea
Overnight in Jericho (Oasis Jericho)
Thursday, February 6 – Mass at Lazarus' Tomb, Bethany
Church of the Nativity
Separation Wall
Aida Refugee Camp
Overnight in Bethlehem (Holy Family Hotel)
Friday, February 7 – Mass at Church of the Nativity
Shepherd's Field
Settlement and Meeting with Settler
Meeting with Local Christians
Overnight in Bethlehem (Holy Family Hotel)
Saturday, February 8 – Mount of Olives
Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross)
Holy Sepulchre
Overnight in Jerusalem (Holy Land Hotel)
Sunday, February 9 – Temple Mount
Western Wall
Mass at Holy Sepulchre
Overnight in Jerusalem (Holy Land Hotel)
Monday, February 10 – FREE DAY IN JERUSALEM
Overnight in Jerusalem (Holy Land Hotel)
Tuesday, February 11 - 3:00am Tel Aviv Airport
6:55am Depart Tel Aviv to London (BA 162) Terminal 3
10:30AM Arrive in London (Heathrow airport)
1:45PM Depart London (BA 273)
5:00PM Arrive San Diego
Price $3750 (for 30+ people):
Price $4100 (for 20-29 people):
Includes:
• Round trip Economy class air flight ticket from San Diego to Tel Aviv with British airways
• All necessary land transportation during the tour includes airport pick up and transfer.
• Sightseeing in deluxe private air-conditioned motor coach.
• Accommodations for Hotels - double occupancy - 2 per room
• Breakfast and dinner at Hotel daily
• Coffee, tea with breakfast daily
• Service charges, portage and taxes for accommodations.
• 1 Lunch in Sea of Galilee
• 1 Cultural dinner in a Bedouin style restaurant in the Shepherd’s Field
• Services of a licensed English-speaking guide (daily)
• All entrance fees
• 45 minutes Boat ride at Sea of Galilee
• Entry to Dead Sea
• Entry to Petra & 700-meter horse ride in Petra
• Tips for driver and tour guide
• Admin fees
Not included:
Travel insurance, daily lunches except for 1 lunch in Sea of Galilee, exit tax from Jordan to Israel (approximately 10 dinar), costs for items not on table, d’hôte menus such as water or other beverages at dinner, laundry, telephone calls, or services other
than those specifically mentioned.
For Single Supplement Room: Add $800 to price
Flight Seat Upgrades available for additional price
Travelers:
Fr. Brian Kelly *Priest/Leader
Katherine Cavallo *Musician/Leader
Up to 36 Pilgrims!
Travel Agency
Holy Land Trust
Hosh Hanania,
Bethlehem, Palestine
Phone: +972 2 276 6002
Email:
web: www.holylandtrust.org
Katherine/Katie (Cavallo)
Fr. Brian Kelly
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Is this a Catholic trip?
Answer: Yes! We will have Masses at holy sites around the Holy Land. This pilgrimage will be a unique experience, allowing you to pray as you walk the footsteps of Jesus beside other Catholics. As Catholics, we believe it is important to see humans through the eyes of Jesus. We do not travel in arrogance, but in humility, seeking to connect with the people in the Holy Land as well as the sites. Therefore, we will also be engaging with the local population to better learn and understand the conflict in Israel and Palestine and seek to become peacemakers in the world. Finally, there will be a decent amount of fun and tourism, too (e.g. Petra!).
2. Can I go if I'm not Catholic? Answer: Yes, all are welcome! Please be respectful to others on the trip and recognize that it will be centered around Catholic beliefs and rituals, including Mass at holy sites.
3. What makes this trip unique? Answer: This Holy Land trip provides two opportunities that you would regularly not get receive through another travel organization. First, you will have full Masses with music at holy sites. Katherine will also provide music as we travel the Stations of the Cross, renew our baptismal rites at the Jordan River, and sing carols as we approach the nativity site in Bethlehem. This creates an atmosphere of prayer and meditation as a pilgrim, not just a tourist. Second, we spend multiple days inside the West Bank (Jericho and Bethlehem) and do our best to learn from Palestinian Christians, the living stones, who have kept the faith alive in the Holy Land for thousands of years. We understand that Jesus cared about people, and so we do, too.
4. Can I travel solo?
Answer: Absolutely! You will be paired with another solo traveler for your hotel stays. If you would like to have your own room, you'll need to pay an additional $800 for the trip. If you or we cannot find another solo traveler for you to be paired with, you will need to pay the additional $800 for a single room.
5. Is it safe?
Answer: Yes. The news that you hear about rockets and violence centers around Gaza. We will be staying far away from Gaza. It is more likely that you would be killed in a car accident (or shooting!) here in the United States. If, for some reason, violence spreads outside of Gaza to an area where we are scheduled to visit, we will adjust our trip accordingly.
6. What will weather be like?
Answer: We have NO idea! It could be rainy, snowy, or beautiful sunny skies. We will need to be prepared for all possibilities. If it snows, please note that the hilly roads can be dangerous. We may need to adjust our itinerary by skipping certain sites while extending our stay in another.
7. How will we travel around?
Answer: We'll travel to Tel Aviv by plane and then will travel by air conditioned bus for the rest of the sites. We will have a licensed tour guide with us for the entire trip, as well as an experienced bus driver.
8. What will food be like? Answer: You'll experience a mix of Middle Eastern & Western food. Hotel breakfasts and dinners often serve a variety of food, including western selections. Lunches will be on the go and often will be Middle Eastern (think falafel, chicken kabob, pita bread and hummus). Some days you'll have the opportunity to walk and find a lunch that suits you. On other days, we'll all eat lunch together. (Lunches are not covered in price) You are NOT forced to eat the meals at the hotels (although they are very tasty!). Feel free to venture out into the cities to eat whatever you like and experience more of the Holy Land.
9. How much walking will there be? Answer: Quite a bit. You'll need to be physically fit to attend this trip. The stones in the old cities are uneven and slippery, especially when wet and these old cities are unfortunately not handicap accessible. There will also be long hours of sitting on the bus to travel from city to city. Thankfully we don't have to walk to the cities like Jesus did!
10. What are the accommodations like? Answer: Please remember: this is a pilgrimage, not a luxury resort trip. Every hotel will be different. Some may feel like a vacation spot (e.g. Jericho) while others may feel like a pilgrimage (e.g. Nazareth). Hotels have been provided above in the itinerary. Go ahead and google them to see what you think before committing!
11. Could I bring a relative from out-of-state? Answer: Sure! They may need to fly to San Diego to depart with us though. We can talk about the options with the travel agency.
12. What happens if we don't get 30 people? Answer: We pay more, so invite your friends!
13. What happens if more than 35 people sign up? Answer: You will be given a sign-up date and will be required to send an e-mail confirming your decision to go at that time. The first 35 people to e-mail on that date will be granted a spot on the trip! Those first 35 people will be given a specific amount of time to send in their information and pay the deposit. If they do not pay during that time, we will contact the next person in line to be included.
14. Will you provide another trip during the year? Answer: Possibly! If there is enough interest, we may plan for a December 2019 trip or a June 2020 trip. Please let me know if this is of interest to you!
15. Do you lead pilgrimages anywhere else? Answer: We are looking into the possibility of taking a Germany-Oberammergau-Italy pilgrimage in May 2020. Stay tuned!
16. Could I bring my children on this trip? Answer: If they are high school age or older, absolutely! You must chaperone them on the trip though.
17. What about that layover in London? Answer: You get two trips in one! We will have an approximately 7 hour layover in London's Heathrow airport. Flying for four or more hours can increase your risk for blood clots and cause serious complications. Splitting up our travel time and allowing you the chance to walk around may help! This also gives you a chance to see some sites in London on the way! Take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington in 15 minutes and enjoy lunch and some site seeing before coming back to the airport for the final leg of the trip.
18. What is the payment schedule like? Answer: Once churches have been notified of the trip and all interested parties' information has been collected, Katherine will send an e-mail out to provide a confirmation date. On that date you will respond with confirmation. At that time, you will have approximately two weeks to send in your refundable deposit of $300 to Holy Land Trust. It will be a bank wire transfer or website payment with credit card. The deposit is non-refundable after October 15. Your second payment of $1850 is due by November 1st. Your final payment of $1600 is due by December 1st.
19. What happens if I need to cancel? Answer: If you cancel before October 1st, you can find someone to replace you and have them pay you directly for what you have already paid. After October 1st, this will not be possible as we need to send names to the airline. At that point, it is vital that you use the travel insurance (that you pay for) to reimburse you of your losses. Please note: Most travel insurance companies will not cover in case of war.
20. What organization are we traveling with? Answer: This is a multi-parish wide trip based out of San Diego led by Katherine Cavallo in cooperation with Holy Land Trust. Katherine spent many summers living in Bethlehem and one summer was organized by Holy Land Trust. She seeks to promote their vision of unconditional love to help change communities living in violence and fear. You can learn more about Holy Land Trust here:
21. What else do I need to know? Answer: Security in Israel is tight. Consequently, your passport information will need to be sent via e-mail to hotels. If you are uncomfortable with this, you should not go on the trip. Also, we will be spending many days in the West Bank (Jericho & Bethlehem) interacting with Palestinians. The Christians of the Holy Land are Palestinian and we believe it is important to honor their faith and experiences. If you work for the military or government, please check with your supervisors to make sure you can travel with us. Also, there will be required reading prior to travel.
