12days Pilgrimage to the Holyland with Jordan and Egypt (November 10-22, 2012)

A 12days Pilgrimage to the Holyland with Jordan and Egypt
With A Catholic Tour Guide in the Holyland

Pilgrimage Chaplain: To Be Advised
Departure: November 10-22, 2012

10 NOV MANILA – AMMAN

DepartManila on Emirates.  Stopover at Dubai then connecting flight for Amman.  Enjoy in-flight entertainment and meals

11 NOV MANILA – AMMAN – MADABA – MT.NEBO–AMMAN (D)

Morning arrival in Jordan.  After Immigration and Custom Formalities, proceed to visit this ancient capital city Amman, known in the Greco-Roman times as Philadelphia.  Discover the Citadel, the Roman Theater, the Temple of Hercules, are its main attractions.  We continue to Madaba to visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George to view the earliest surviving original map of the Holy Land made around AD 560.  Then continue to the hilly district of Mt. Nebo believed to be the burial site of Moses in the Old Testament. Celebrate Mass at the Church of Mt. Nebo.  Check-in hotel at Geneva Hotel or similar and enjoy quiet dinner.

12 NOV AMMAN – PETRA – AMMAN (B,D)

Begin your day visiting this Nabataean fortress city of Petra once used a temporary refuge by Arabs and Bedouins. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.   Walk thru this red-rose city to view the awesome “Siq”, an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone. See the most impressive monument of el Khazneh-The Treasury, the most elegant remains of antiquity carved out of solid rock.  Be impressed by the carved and built structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a carved 3,000-seat Roman Theater, burial chambers, banquet halls, water channels and reservoirs, monumental staircases and unique buildings. Return toAmman for overnight.

13 NOV AMMAN – YARDENIT – MOUNT TABOR – TIBERIAS (B,D)

After breakfast, check–out then proceed to Israel crossing the border.  As we enter Israel known as the Holy Land, you will discover the history where the footsteps of Jesus can be found.  Stop at Yardenit, the baptismal site on the Jordan River where St. John the Baptist baptized Jesus.  Here you will renew your baptismal vows.  Next ascend to Mount Tabor.  Celebrate Mass at the Church of Transfiguration.  And view the vastJordanValley from this vantage point. Proceed to Leonardo Plaza Hotel or similar.  Check-in then Dinner and overnight at hotel

14 NOV SEA OF GALILEE – MT. OFBEATITUDES– TABGHA –CAPERNAUM– CANA –NAZARETH (B,D)

Start the day with a meditation and boat ride on the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on the water.  Get off at Capernaum. Visit the ruins of the old synagogue where Jesus preached. Visit the House of Peter nearby.  Celebrate garden Mass at the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus taught the “Sermon on the Mount”.  Then proceed to Tabgha, to visit the Church of Multiplication where Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish.  Visit the St. Peter’s Primacy Church, site of Christ’s third appearance to his apostles after his resurrection.  Then proceed to the village of Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle by changing water into wine during a wedding celebration. Here couples can renew their marriage vows.  Then proceed to Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood.  Back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

15 NOV TIBERIAS – MT.CARMEL–HAIFA- CAESAREA –JERUSALEM (B,D)

Today visit and celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. Nearby stands the Church of St. Joseph where Joseph taught Jesus carpentry. Discover the house where the Holy family lived.  Proceed to Haifa and visit the Stella Maris Church and Elijah’s cave.  Next stop is the magnificent Bahai Shrine and view its hanging gardens.  Ascend to the summit of the Mt. Carmel called Muhraka, and a small Carmelite monastery built on the spot where the prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal. Continue to the crusader city of Caesarea and view the ruins of the Roman aqueduct and theater. Drive to the historical city of Jerusalem. Proceed to Emmaus, place where Jesus appeared after his Resurrection to Two Men Walking along the Road.  Check-in at Ramada Royal Hotel or similar for dinner and overnight stay.                                                                                                                                           

16 NOV JERUSALEM – BETHLEHEM (B,D)

Start your day with a visit to the Mt. of Olives, visit the Church of the Ascension where Jesus ascended to heaven. Next stop is the Church of Pater Noster where Jesus taught the “Our Father”. Walk along the Palm Sunday Road to the Church of Dominus Flevit where Jesus wept for Jerusalem.  Then visit The Church of All Nations.  Here you will see the traditional Rock of the Agony in front of the main altar.  See the oldest olive tree in the Garden of Gethesemane, where Jesus spent his last hours before He was arrested. Then drive to Bethlehem to visit the Basilica of the Nativity where Jesus was born.  At the Grotto of Nativity, see the star that has 14 points and the site of the Holy Manger.  Next to it is the altar devoted to the Three Wise Men.  Celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St. Catherine.  Underground are the Cloister of St. Jerome, Chapel of the Innocents and Chapel of St. Joseph. Proceed to Shepherd’s Field where the angels announced that the Son of God was born.  Then on to Bethany, home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  Dinner then Overnight at Hotel Intercontinental Bethlehem

17 NOV JERUSALEM (B,D)

Today is a visit to the Pool of Bethsaida, where Jesus healed the paralytic man.  Celebrate Mass at the Church of St. Anne, house of Mary’s parents.  Then we  begin at Via Dolorosa  tracing the 14 Stations of the Cross stopping and praying at each station until we reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre which is erected on the site of the Crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Next proceed to the Western or “Wailing” Wall, remnant of the Second Temple, where the Jews gather for public worship, celebration and pray for Israel’s restoration.  Then to the Temple Mount and have a glimpse of the Dome of the Rock, one of the most beautiful shrines in the Islamic world.  At Mt. Zion, we visit the Upper Room where Jesus and His Disciples had the Last Supper.  Below is the Tomb of King David who established Jerusalem as the capital and worship center of the God of Israel.  We then visit the Dormition Abbey where Mary slept and went to heaven.  A wooden and ivory effigy of Virgin Mary asleep in death graces the crypt of the church.  Then visit the Church of St.Peter in Gallicantu where Peter denied Jesus three times before cock crowed; and the former House of Caiaphas where Jesus spent the night before his trial in the Prison Pit.  Proceed to Ein Karem, the birth place of John  the  Baptist  and  see the Church of St. John.   Nearby is the Church of Visitation where the famous Magnificat is translated into several languages.  Dinner then overnight

18 NOV JERUSALEM – QUMRAN – DEAD SEA – JERICHO – ST CATHERINE (B,D)

Travel along the Judean Wilderness by the shores of the Dead Sea arriving at Qumran where the Bedouins and

archaeologists  found  in the caves the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 that includes the Hebrew Bible; commentaries on Scriptures  and biblical literature.  Continue past the oasis of Ein Gedi to the ancient Fortress of Massada for viewing from a distance. This mountaintop fortification was where 960 Jewish zealots took their own lives rather than surrender to the Roman Army.  If time and weather permits take a dip in the Dead Sea and test its buoyant waters.  The high salt content makes it impossible to drown. Drive to Jericho passing by the oldest Sycamore Tree before going to view Mount of Temptation, where Jesus was tempted by the devil for forty days.  Pass by Ahava Factory for the Dead Sea Products before driving to Eilat/Taba Border crossing to go Egypt.  Transfers to hotel then Check-in at Morgenland Hotel for dinner and overnight.                                 

19 NOV ST. CATHERINE – MOUNT SINAI -CAIRO (B,D)

Early morning climb at Mount Sinai.  Visit The Basilica that has 3 halls:  The Sanctuary; the Altar and the Nave. It has the oldest and most beautiful mosaics in the Eastern Orthodox Church.  See The Chapel of the Burning Bush; The Library; The Mosque and around is the museum of the monastery.  At Moses Mountain called Mt. Moneiga as the highest summit is where God spoke to Prophet Moses and gave the Ten Commandments.  Then on return, have breakfast at hotel.   Enjoy long drive to CAIRO CITY passing by SUEZ CANAL and MOSES SPRING.  Check-in at Grand Pyramids Hotel or similar for dinner then overnight at hotel.                      

20 NOV DEPART  CAIRO (B,L,)

Breakfast in the hotel.  Start your visit at EGYPTIAN MUSEUM which opened in 1863 that boasts a pride of collection of artifacts recovered from Tutankhamun’s tomb and has excellent pieces from every period of ancient Egyptian history.  Its galleries has Old and New Kingdoms; Tutankhamun Galleries; Middle Kingdom Models; Royal Mummy Room and miscellaneous exhibits.  Then proceed to the great Giza Pyramids and Sphinx another World Wonder.   Visit to the Hanging Church/Coptic church.  Visit a PAPYRUS STORE.  For dinner we board the boat for our Nile river cruise and see the attractive belly dancer performing before the group.  Back to the hotel

21 NOV DEPART  CAIRO (B,)

Breakfast in the hotel.  Morning free time for some last minute shopping or own activity.  Check out of the hotel then

Transfer to Cairo Airport for flight back to Manila via Dubai on Emirates Airlines.

22 NOV MANILA

Arrive Manila in the afternoon.

TOUR COST: 

PER PERSON BASED ON TWIN SHARING           USD    $ 2, 988.00

Travel tax:                                                                             PHP  P1,620

Airport terminal fee:                                                         PHP  P   550

OTHER PACKAGE INCLUSIONS:

BORDER TAXES & VISA FEES:  JORDAN, ISRAEL, EGYPT

Airline Fuel Surcharges

Tips and Gratuities

TOUR ITINERARIES AND PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE.

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

TOUR COST PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE Extra cost of excess luggage over the twenty (20 ) kilos allocation; drinks and beverages taken during meals; expenses that is personal in nature such as laundry, telephone, fax, room service, mini-bar, bellboys, waiters, room boys.

ORGANIZED BY:
RAMONCITO S. ORTEGA
ALEXA TRAVEL & TOURS INC.
Rm 204 Barko Bldg., Cor P. Ocampo & Arellano Sts. Malate Manila
Tel. Nos.: 2111080 / 5250334 / 5250336
Mobile No. 09178932295 or 09228724486
e- mail address: chito_ortega@yahoo.com