Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Jeff and Emily Cavins with Fr. Peter Hughes

Depart on an overnight flight to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast will be served on the flight. Optional premium economy and business-class rate quotes are available upon request and will be provided once we are within 120 days of departure. (Please note: specific seat assignments and requests are not possible with group air. We suggest booking land only with us and your own air if seat location is a priority)

Upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport, the group will be greeted by our airport representative and assisted through passport control to the baggage area. Pick up your luggage and take the bus to the Tel Aviv hotel to check in. We celebrate Mass at the hotel and have a welcome orientation to meet our priests and pilgrimage leadership before dinner. Dinner and overnight in Tel Aviv. Meals: Welcome Dinner

After breakfast, which is included each morning, we check out of the hotel in Tel Aviv, meet the guides, and board the bus according to the color-coded assignment in our paperwork. Our first stop is Caesarea Maritima, where Jeff Cavins will greet the entire group in the ancient theatre. After a teaching by Jeff, our guides will lead us through the ancient harbor town built by Herod, where we will see the ruins of his palace and the hippodrome. We then proceed to Mt. Carmel, where we celebrate Mass at the Muhraka Church. After Jeff’s teaching, we travel through the scenic Carmel Mountain Range for lunch, then visit Tel Megiddo, the Biblical site of the final battle. We continue towards the Sea of Galilee to check into our hotel, our home for the next four nights. Dinner is at our hotel at the Sea of Galilee. Meals: B, L, D

Today, we head for Nazareth. At the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth, we celebrate Mass, visit the Grotto, and see St. Joseph’s Church, where the remains of a workshop can be seen. In the afternoon, we live like a 1st-century Jew, eating traditional foods and making bread and cheese at Kfar Kedem Farm. Our last stop for the day will be the Wedding Church at Cana, where Christ performed his first miracle. Here, married couples can renew their marriage vows. Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee. Meals: B, L, D

This morning, we drive north to the biblical city of Tel Dan near the base of Mt. Hermon. At this site in 930 BC, following King Solomon’s death, King Jeroboam built an alternative “temple” for pagan sacrifices (1 Kgs 12:29). We hike to the high altar along a beautiful trail (weather permitting). Further on is a recent archaeological dig that uncovered a remarkable 4,000-year-old mud-brick city gate entrance from the time of Abraham (Gen. 14:14, circa 2000 BC). Nearby, we stand on the exact spot at the ancient city gate of Tel Dan, where the famed House of David inscription was discovered in 1993, the only extra-biblical mention of the House of David. A short drive further is Caesarea Philippi, a city built to honor Caesar by Philip (Herod’s son) in 14 AD. For centuries, the site had served as a center of worship for Baal, Pan, and other forms of pagan deities. It was here that Jesus asked Peter and the disciples a profound question, “Who do you say I am?” (Mt. 16:15). This location is one of the sources of the Jordan River. We have a teaching session with Jeff. Following lunch, we return to the Galilee area and visit Capernaum, Jesus’ ministry headquarters, and one of the first towns where the gospel was preached. Jeff teaches about Jesus choosing his disciples. Here, we see the home of St. Peter and celebrate Mass. We stop at Tabgha, the spot of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, return to our hotel for dinner, and overnight at the Sea of Galilee. Meals: B, L, D

We enjoy a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, with Jeff’s teaching. We visit the Boat Museum to see the 1st-century boat found along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We then take a short ride to the beautiful Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the peaceful waters of the Sea of Galilee. Following our lunch today of St. Peter’s Fish, we visit the 1st-century synagogue at Magdala on the Sea of Galilee site and celebrate Mass at Duc in Altum’s boat chapel. Tonight, following dinner, we have the opportunity for confession at our hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee. Meals: B, L, D

We check out of the hotel, visit and celebrate Mass at St. Peter Primacy, then depart from Galilee and travel towards Jerusalem. Our first stop is the archaeological site of Bet She’an, where we tour the partially reconstructed ancient city. Emily excavated here in the 1990’s. Next, we stop at the Sachne Natural Springs and enjoy a picnic lunch. We make our ascent to the holy city of Jerusalem, entering the city and stopping to view the Old City from atop Mt. Scopus and say a traditional pilgrim’s blessing. Overnight in Jerusalem. Meals: B, L, D

Today’s visit to Bethlehem includes Mass at St. Catherine Church, a visit to the Grotto of Christ’s Birth in the Church of the Nativity, and shopping at a Christian store. We visit Shepherds’ Field to see the typical shepherd’s cave and to hear Jeff teach about Mary. We return to Jerusalem for dinner, or stay in Bethlehem for the optional Sharing the Bread dinner with a local Christian family*. For those not staying in Bethlehem for dinner, there is an optional visit to the Western Wall tunnels* after our dinner in Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem. Meals: B, L, D*You will have the opportunity to sign up for one of these options in the coming months, with more details to follow.

We visit St. Anne’s Church and the Pool of Bethesda, where Jeff teaches. Then, drive to Mt. Zion to celebrate Mass and visit St. Peter in Gallicantu, which was built at the site of Caiaphas’s house, and then the Upper Room, the spot of the Last Supper and the Day of Pentecost. Following our included lunch, we walk through the Jewish quarter and visit the Western Wall, to tuck a prayer into the ancient wall. Join Emily after dinner for a special presentation on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which we will explore together on Saturday. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem. Meals: B, L, D

We start our day on the Mount of Olives for an overview of the city, then walk down Palm Sunday Road and marvel at the panoramic view of the eternal golden city. We stop at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over the city, and Jeff teaches us the meaning of suffering. Continue along the Jewish cemetery with a view toward the Eastern Gate. See the Garden of Gethsemane and the Basilica of Agony, where we celebrate Mass and have the opportunity to reverence the Stone of Agony. After lunch, we visit the Davidson Center to sit on the steps of the Temple Mount that Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the Apostles would have walked upon. Hear inspiring teaching by Jeff. We visit the Israel Museum to see a scale model of Jerusalem from the time of Christ, and we meet for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Jerusalem. Meals: B, L, Special Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant

After breakfast, we visit Ein Gedi, a wildlife preserve, where we hear Jeff’s teaching about King David’s mighty men. We visit the Baptism site on the Jordan River for Mass, renewal of Baptismal Promises, and teaching by Jeff. Next, visit the Qumran Caves, where shepherds discovered the Dead Sea Scrolls. After lunch at Qumran, our last stop of the day will be the Dead Sea, where we can float in its mineral-rich waters (don’t forget to pack a bathing suit). Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. Meals: B, L, D

This morning, depart early for the Holy City. We pray the Stations of the Cross as we walk the Via Dolorosa, culminating in our visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we venerate the site of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. We then celebrate Mass at the Latin Patriarchate. The rest of the day, including lunch, is at leisure to explore

We arrive home today following our remarkable Holy Land pilgrimage. Those continuing to the Jordan Extension will depart for the border this morning; please see the Jordan Extension details for the full itinerary. Extension to Jordan

We depart for the border to cross into Jordan, where we will meet our Jordanian guide. We depart for Petra, stopping for lunch en route. Time permitting, we will visit the Tall el-Hammam archaeological site (biblical Sodom) in Jordan, where Emily excavated in 2023. Check into our hotel and have dinner. Overnight in Petra. Meals: B, L. D

We visit the incredible ancient city of Petra. Enjoy a guided tour followed by time to explore on our own. Later in the afternoon, we depart for the Dead Sea. Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea. Meals: B,D

Today, we visit Mount Nebo, where we look over the Promised Land just as Moses did before his death. We celebrate Mass before our visit to Madaba, where we see the famous 6th-century mosaic map of Palestine in St. George’s Church. Lunch is included today at Haret Jdoudna, an excellent local restaurant. Return to the hotel in the mid-afternoon. Enjoy time to relax or perhaps take a float in the Dead Sea. Dinner is at the hotel. Meals: B, L, D

Early this morning, we check out of our hotel and are transferred to the airport for our flight home. (Breakfast Box or Breakfast depending on flight times)