PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LANDNovember 5 to 16, 2009This is our first invitation to all of you. There is a lot of information here. It is possible that you will have more questions. You can direct questions to Paul and/or Isabel by using the "comment" link at the bottom of this post, or you can send an E-mail to the travel agent through the link that is provided below. September is a good time to be in Israel. Join us for spiritual fulfillment and human satisfaction.
I T I N E R A R YDay 1 - Nov 5: Depart USAOur pilgrimage begins today as we depart on our
flight to Israel. Meals and drinks served aloft.
Day 2 - Nov 6: Arrive Tel Aviv / JerusalemUpon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, we will
be met by our local guide who will escort us
throughout our stay in the Holy Land and make the
scripture come alive as we follow in the footsteps of
Jesus. Drive to our hotel in Jerusalem, home for the
next six nights.
Day 3 - Nov 7: JerusalemThis morning, drive to the top of the Mt. of Olives for
a spectacular view of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of
Pater Noster, Ascension, and then walk the "Palm
Sunday Road" to Dominus Flevit, where Our Lord wept
over Jerusalem. Proceed to the Garden of
Gethsemane to visit the Church of All Nations for
Mass on the Rock of Agony. This afternoon, enter the
Old City of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of St. Anne,
the Pool of Bethesda, the Chapel of Flagellation,
Lithostrotos, and the Arch of the "Ecce Homo". Follow
the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
to visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord.
Day 4 - Nov 8: JerusalemThis morning, drive to Bethlehem for Mass. Above the
traditional Grotto of Jesus' birth, visit the Nativity
Church, built by Constantine in the 4th Century. Then
tour the Manger, the Grotto of St. Jerome, the Church
of St. Catherine, the Milk Grotto, and the Shepherd's
Fields. During our visit here, we will have ample time
for shopping at Manger Square. Continue to Ein
Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the
Visitation Church where Mary proclaimed her famous
"Magnificat".
Day 5 - Nov 9: JerusalemFollowing an early morning Mass at the Church of the
Holy Sepulchre we will return to hotel for breakfast.
Then later in the morning we will drive to Bethany to
visit the site of the House of Mary, Martha and Lazarus
and the Tomb of Lazarus. Next, drive through the
Judean Wilderness and along the Dead Sea to
Qumran to see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls
were discovered and then on to ancient Jericho, the
oldest known city in the Western World. From the top
of the ancient "tel," we'll have an excellent view of
Elisha's Fountain, the Qarantal, and the Mt. of
Temptation. Return to Jerusalem.
Day 6 - Nov 10: JerusalemAfter Mass, visit the Temple Area of the Old City
featuring the beautiful Dome of the Rock, Mosque el
Aqsa, and the Wailing Wall. Continue to Mt. Zion to
visit the Cenacle or Upper room. Then survey King
David's Tomb, the Dormition Abbey, and St. Peter in
Gallicantu where Peter denied Jesus three times. This
afternoon will be free to discover this fascinating city
on our own.
Day 7 - Nov 11: JerusalemThis morning we will drive to visit Emmaus and Abu
Ghosh where we will celebrate Mass. Return to
Jerusalem with the remainder of the day free for
personal activities. This evening, there will be a special
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Church of All Nations
dinner arranged in our honor at a typical Middle
Eastern restaurant.
Day 8 - Nov 12: Jerusalem / TiberiasAfter Mass at Bethany, drive through the Jordan River
Valley to Bet Shean where we'll explore the
extraordinary excavations of an ancient Roman city.
Continue to visit the Baptismal Site on the Jordan River
where we will renew our baptismal vows. Then drive
on to Tiberias for check-in at our hotel located on the
shores of the Sea of Galilee.
Day 9 - Nov 13: TiberiasThis morning we will visit the remains of a 2,000 year
old boat recently uncovered on the shores of the Sea
of Galilee. Then enjoy a scenic boat ride across the
Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord
during his ministry. After visiting the synagogue where
He taught, proceed to Tabgha, site of the
multiplication of the loaves and fishes, and to the
nearby Church of the Primacy of Peter. Then drive up
to the Mt. of the Beatitudes for Mass at the site of the
Sermon on the Mount. This afternoon, ascending the
Golan Heights we'll stop at the Banias Spring that rises
from under a cave and is one of the sources of the
Jordan River. It was here in Banias (ancient Caesarea
Philipi) where Peter made his confession of faith in
Jesus. Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 10 - Nov 14: TiberiasFollowing breakfast, drive to Cana of Galilee, where
Our Lord performed the first miracle - changing water
into wine at the wedding feast. Here, we'll invite
couples to renew their marriage vows. Following Mass
in Nazareth at the Basilica of the Annunciation, visit
Joseph's Workshop, the Cave of the Annunciation, the
Church of St. Joseph, the Church of the Holy Family,
the House of Mary & Joseph, and Mary's Well. In the
afternoon take an excursion to the summit of Mt.
Tabor to visit the site of the Transfiguration of Jesus.
Return to Tiberias.
Day 11 - Nov 15: Tiberias / Tel AvivDepart Tiberias for Tel Aviv. En route tour the
sparkling port city of Haifa. Ascend Mt. Carmel, home
of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, for Mass. Continue
along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, the
capital of the ancient Roman Procurators of Judea,
where we will see the Roman Theater, Crusader's
Moat, and the Byzantine Churches. Proceed south to
Old Jaffa where we will have our farewell dinner at a
local restaurant and then transfer to the airport for our
late evening return flight home.
Day 12 - Nov 16: Tel Aviv / USAToday our Holy Land pilgrimage comes to an end as
we arrive back home following our overnight flight
from Tel Aviv.
TOUR COST
$2,693 per person/double occupancy
For a single room please add $500.00.
This price includes:* Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles
* Accommodation in First Class hotels
* All hotel taxes
* Breakfast and dinner daily
* Land transportation by deluxe motorcoach
* All transfers & baggage handling
* Sightseeing with a professional Christian guide
* All entrance fees as per itinerary
* Daily Mass
Airlines taxes/fuel surcharges of $200.00 are additional.
GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONSReservations and Payment: George’s International Tours requires a
deposit of $300 per person at the time of booking. Final payment is due
65 days prior to departure. All prices are based upon a wholesale cash
discount. Payments made by credit card will incur a surcharge.
Cancellation and Refunds: Please make all cancellations in writing.
The following per person cancellation charges will apply: If canceled 91
days or more prior to departure, a $35 administrative fee will be charged.
If canceled 90 - 31 days prior, a $150 penalty will be charged. If canceled
30 - 15 days prior, a $350 penalty will be charged. If canceled 14 - 7 days
prior a $700 penalty will be charged. No refunds will be made within 6
days of departure. In addition, once the airline tickets are issued, which will
be 35 days prior to departure, 100% of air fare is non-refundable.
Additional cancellation penalties may apply depending upon the
cancellation terms of our suppliers.
Travel Documents: A passport with a minimum of 6 months validity
remaining is required of all U. S. citizens. Visas are not required for U.S.
citizens. If you are not a U. S. citizen, please call to determine your visa
requirement status. George’s International is not responsible for individual
visas or passports.
Tour Cost: All quoted prices are based upon airfares, tariffs and currency
exchange rates at the time of printing and are subject to change at any
time. Should the minimum number of 15 tour members not be reached, the
right is reserved to increase the tour cost accordingly.
Tour Documents and Tickets: Final tour documents are mailed,
provided we have received full payment, within 3 weeks of departure.
Baggage: Each passenger is allowed one checked bag and one carryon.
George’s International is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen
baggage.
Air Transportation: Air travel is in economy class on El Al Israel Airlines
(or any other IATA carrier). Fares are based upon levels in effect at the time
of printing and fares and flight schedules are subject to change without
notice.
Hotels: Accommodations are based on double occupancy rooms with
private facilities in first class hotels. A limited number of single rooms are
available at the supplement quoted, and should be requested at the time
of booking.
Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that you have
comprehensive travel insurance. Insurance may be purchased directly
through George’s International and registration forms will be provided
upon receipt of your deposit.
Not Included: Airline taxes/fuel surcharges (currently $276.00 per
person but subject to change until the time of ticketing), gratuities,
passport/visa fees, personal travel insurance, laundry, beverages and items
not on the regular menu of the included meals, additional baggage in
excess of airport allowance, optional sightseeing tours, and all expenses of
a purely personal nature.
Responsibility Clause: George's International Tours & Travel, Inc.
and/or their cooperating selling agents and/or their suppliers of services
offer these tours for sale only on the express understanding that they
themselves do not perform or in any way assume liability for the
performance of the individual components, transfers, hotels, flights, car,
motorcoaches, etc. of these tours and act only to combine these
components into a single unit of sale for the convenience of the general
public, and are not responsible therefore, either directly or indirectly, for
any loss, accident, or injury which may result from any act, omission,
negligence in or responsible for performing or providing these component
services. The transportation companies concerned take no responsibility for
any act, omission, or event during the time the passengers are not aboard
their conveyances. The passenger contract issued by the transportation
company shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation
company and the passenger. Additional expenses incurred as a result of
delay, change of schedules, illness, weather, strikes, hostilities, quarantine,
government requisition of hotel space or any other reasons beyond the
control of the tour operator or travel agent shall be borne by the passenger.
Tour operator reserves the right to substitute hotels of similar category if
necessary and to alter itineraries. Your deposit certifies that you agree with
the above terms and conditions. CST# 2035995-40
For further information please contact:
George’s International Tours
9265 Dowdy Drive, Suite 232
San Diego, CA 92126
(800) 566-7499
sales@georgesintl.com____________________________________________________________
RESERVATION APPLICATION: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land (Sept. 3 - 14, 2008)
Print Names (as they appear on each person’s passport):
Passenger # 1
Last Name First Name Middle Name_________________________________
Passenger # 2
Last Name First Name Middle Name_________________________________
Address:_____________________________________________________
Street Address City State Zipcode
Home Phone: ( )____________________ Office Phone: ( )____________________
E-mail: ______________________
Accommodations: Double room Single room
Please enclose a deposit of $300.00 per person made payable to George’s International Tours and mail to:
George’s International Tours
9265 Dowdy Drive, Suite 232
San Diego, CA 92126
Yes, there are sheep in Bethlehem. Right here in the middle of town. There is not too much grass in the metropolitan center of the city of Bethlehem, but thre are still some small flocks that take advantange of what grass there is. This is proof of that in living color.
