February 18 – March 03, 2024
ITINERARY: AMMAN / MT. NEBO / PETRA / NAZARETH / CANA / TIBERIAS / CAESAREA / JERUSALEM / EIN KAREM / BETHLEHEM / JERICHO / QUMRAN / DEAD SEA / ST. CATHERINE / CAIRO
FEB 18 CHECK-IN AT NAIA TERMINAL 3 AT 2000HRS / DEPARTURE FROM MANILA TO AMMAN, JORDAN
FEB 19 AMMAN
Arrival in Amman airport in the afternoon. Meet and assist by a local guide. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.
FEB 20 AMMAN / MT. NEBO / PETRA / AMMAN
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land before he died. Then drive to the fabled “Red Rose City” of Petra, the 2000year old Nabatean capital, now one of the world’s wonders. Take an optional horseback ride to the SIQ. Then walk to the Treasury, a rose-colored monumental building artfully carved out of sheer rock. Visit the other temples and tombs carved into the mountainside. Return to the hotel in Amman for dinner and overnight.
FEB 21 AMMAN / NAZARETH / CANA
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out for border crossing into Israel. Meet and assist at the border then proceed to “Yardenit” or most commonly known as the Jordan River, the baptismal site. There will be renewal of Baptismal vows. Move on to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of Annunciation where the Archangel Gabriel announced to Virgin Mary the birth of Jesus Christ. Visit also St. Joseph’s workshop and Home of the Holy Family. Then proceed to Cana, where Jesus performed His first miracle. He turned the water into wine at the Wedding in Cana. (Those who wish may renew their Wedding vows at the Church). Then proceed to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.
FEB 22 TIBERIAS
Breakfast at the hotel. Have a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Drive to Capernaum, the town where Jesus made His home after leaving Nazareth. View the remains of the ancient Synagogue in which He taught, and on to Tabgha, where the Miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes took place. Drive to Mount of Beatitudes; this is the site of the Sermon on the Mount and St. Peter’s Primacy Church. Then proceed to Mt. Tabor to see Basilica of Transfiguration. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
FEB 23 CAESAREA / JERUSALEM
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Drive down to Caesarea, which was built by Herod the Great to catch sight of the Aqueducts and the Roman Theater. This is where St. Paul was imprisoned. Enroute to Haifa to visit Stella Maris Church where one can enjoy a panoramic view of the Mediterranean. Transfer to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.
FEB 24 JERUSALEM
Breakfast at the hotel. Start the full day tour at Mount of Olives to visit the Ascension Chapel where Jesus ascended into Heaven. Visit the Church of Pater Noster to witness the “Lord’s Prayer’ written in several languages. Proceed to the church of Dominus Flevit (God Wept) where God wept over Jerusalem. Move on and continue by walking down the Palm Sunday Road to the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane to see the Rock of Agony the place where Jesus prayed before the Roman soldiers came for Him. Visit the Mount Zion area to see the Upper Room where Jesus and His disciples had their last supper. See also King David’s tomb, the Dormition Abbey and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
FEB 25 JERUSALEM / EIN KAREM /BETHLEHEM
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit the Church of St. Anne, Pool of Bethesda. Then continue to Via Dolorosa starting at the Ecce Homo where Pontius Pilate washed his hands. Proceed to the Flagellation and go through all the Stations of the Cross until you reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was crucified, died and rose from the dead. Visit the Wailing Wall. Drive to Ein Karem to visit St. John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitation (Magnificat) where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited Elizabeth. Move on to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Visit also the Basilica and Grotto of the Nativity and the Manger Square. Return via Shepherds Field, the site where the star appeared to the shepherds which lead them to the manger where baby Jesus was born. Visit also the Milk Grotto. Then back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
FEB 26 JERUSALEM / JERICHO / QUMRAN / DEAD SEA / ST. CATHERINE
Breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Visit to the Dead Sea and Qumran, the caves of the Essenes where Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a wandering shepherd boy. Drive to Jericho to view the Mount of Temptation where Jesus Christ spent 40 days fasting and where he was tempted by the devil. Cross Eilat border for crossing into Egypt. Will be met and assisted for drive to the hotel for check-in, dinner and overnight.
FEB 27 ST. CATHERINE / CAIRO
Early morning (optional) climb to Mount Sinai. Hotel breakfast and check-out. Visit the St. Catherine Monastery. Have a long-distance drive to Cairo. Check-in at the hotel in Cairo for dinner and overnight.
FEB 28 CAIRO
Breakfast at the hotel. Have a visit to the Egyptian Museum, one of the richest museums in the world. Proceed to the Pyramids and Sphinx. Stop at the Papyrus factory and the perfumery. In the evening, we will have Dinner Cruise at Nile River before returning to the hotel for overnight.
FEB 29 CAIRO / MANILA
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Visit the Hanging Church and the Crypt of the Holy Family. After lunch, transfer to Cairo Airport to catch flight to Manila.
MAR 01 MANILA
“HOME SWEET HOME!!!”
OPTIONAL DUBAI EXTENSION TOUR:
FEB 29 CAIRO / DUBAI
Breakfast and check-out at the hotel. Visit the Hanging Church and the Crypt of the Holy Family. After lunch, transfer to Cairo Airport to catch the flight to Dubai. Transfer to the hotel for check-in and overnight.
MAR 01 MORNING FREE / AFTERNOON
DESERT SAFARI WITH BBQ DINNER (B/D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the morning free on your own (no coach provided). In the afternoon, you’ll be picked-up from your hotel for your Desert Safari with BBQ Dinner. Drive in a 4×4 to the interiors of the desert experiencing the unique thrills of a roller-coaster ride over the sand dunes. The tour takes a break at the highest sand dune to take in the breathtaking beauty of the setting sun. It continues to a Bedouin camp in the middle of the desert where soft drinks, water, tea and coffee are made available. You can take camel rides, enjoy a seesha, feast on a true Arabic BBQ dinner, and watch belly dancing, a fascinating dance choreographed to the beats of Arabic music. Return to the hotel for overnight stay.
MAR 02 DUBAI (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Drive through the scenic route of Dubai for photo stops at Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Mosque, Burj Khalifa Tower and the Sheikhs Palace. Have a photo stop outside the Dubai Museum. Then experience an Abra (water taxi) creek crossing towards Spice Market and Gold Souk. Afternoon is free at your own leisure (no coach provided). Dinner on your personal account. Overnight at the hotel.
MAR 03 DUBAI / MANILA
After an early check-out of the hotel, transfer to Dubai Airport to catch your flight back to Manila. Arrive in Manila.
