Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Monday, Nov 28 

Depart the USA on our way to Egypt.

Tuesday, Nov 29 

Arrive to Cairo airport. Meeting and assistance by Ami Travel representative. Transfer to our Cairo hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Wednesday, Nov. 30 

Cairo and the Khan al Halil Market. Full day orientation of Cairo including a visit to the Egyptian Museum. Designed by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon, the museum is located in a handsome neo-classical building on Tahrir Square. Its collections exceed 120,000 masterpieces, ranging from the pre-dynastic era, to the Pharaonic and Greco- Roman periods. Undoubted highlights are the collection of rare treasures of King Tutankhamen. Before returning to your hotel stop by the vibrant coloured Khan al Halil market. The shops and bazaars display and sell a dizzying array of trinkets and artworks, giving you the chance to take home a small piece of Egyptian culture and civilisation. Buy souvenirs for your friends or simply meander around the bustling shops. Dinner and overnight Cairo.

Thursday, Dec 1 

Giza Pyramids, Sphinx and Sakkara -Full Day Tour. Finally, you'll head over to Memphis. Not the home of Elvis, of course, but the ancient capital of Egypt. Start your tour by visiting the Great Pyramids - Cheops, Chephren and Mykerinos. The highlight of this section is getting close up to the Sphinx - the legendary guardian with a lion’s body and the head of King Chephren. Admire the impressive statue and get your photo taken beside it. You will then visit Sakkara, a 27 km journey away from Cairo. The highlight of this section is the Step Pyramid. Built for King Zoser, it is considered an important part in the process of the pyramid evolution. Dinner and overnight Cairo.

Friday, Dec 2  

Bus trip to Mt Siani, St Helens Monastery Overnight

Saturday, Dec 3  Drive to Caesarea where Paul was imprisoned and Cornelius baptized, visit the Roman Theater, Aqueduct, and the Crusader ruins. Ascend Mt. Carmel- where the Prophet Elijah confronted the pagan priests ( 1st Kings 18). Continue to our hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight stay.

Sunday, Dec 4 

Tour the Sea of Galilee, the Mount of the Beatitudes and Tabgha - the site of the Feeding of the Multitudes and the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy. Visit Capernaum and Simon Peter's house for Mass celebration. We shall take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee and enjoy a lunch of St. Peter’s Fish. Visit the newly excavated Magdala. Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Monday, Dec 5 

Ascend to the top of Mount Tabor - the site of the Transfiguration - where we shall celebrate Mass. On to Cana – where we shall renew our marriage vows. Ascend to the top of Mt Precipice where Jesus escaped the crowds. Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.

Tuesday, Dec 6 

Start the day by celebrating Mass in Nazareth at the magnificent Church of the Annunciation built on top of Virgin Mary's house. Visit the synagogue where Jesus stood to proclaim and preach the stirring words of Isaiah (Luke 4:16-27). Drive via the Jordan Valley to the Jordan River to renew Baptismal vows and continue to Masada site of the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Romans. See the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written discovered and enjoy a floating experience in the Dead Sea. Ascend the Holy City. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem/Bethlehem 

Wednesday, Dec 7 

Begin our journey in nearby Bethlehem to visit the ancient Church of Nativity where we shall celebrate Mass. Enjoy your shopping in a Bethlehem bazaar and later visit Manger Square and the beautiful Shepherds' Fields. Return to Jerusalem to explore Mt. Zion: David's Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper and the Dormition Abbey - site of the Assumption of the Virgin. Dinner and overnight stay in Jerusalem/Bethlehem.

Thursday, Dec 8 

Morning Mass inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Continue to Mt of Olives: Chapel of Ascension and Palm Sunday Road. Walk Inside the Old City of Jerusalem along the Stations of the Cross; visit the various quarters and the underground excavations. See the Temple ruins and the Western Wall amidst the buildings of old Jerusalem. End the day at St Peter in Gallicantu (cock-crowing) built over the palace of the High Priest Caiaphas. Dinner and overnight Jerusalem/Bethlehem.

Friday, Dec 9 

Morning Mass at Gethsemane followed by a free day: we shall direct you to places you may visit at your own pace, or do your last shopping. Farwell dinner and our last night in the Holy Land... Overnight Jerusalem/ Bethlehem.

Saturday, Dec 10 

Morning transfer to the airport for our flight back home. Same day arrival to ORD Airport. 

• Package price per person:  In a shared double room occupancy: $3,325 For single room supplement: add $798  Add 3.5% for credit card payment  Final payment due: August 15, 2022  Package price includes:      Airfare ORD / CAI and TLV / ORD **     

• All transfers in Egypt and Israel     Accommodation in 4-Star hotels     Luggage handling and hotel service charges     Breakfast and dinner daily      Nile River dinner cruise with a show     Farewell dinner on last evening in Israel     Sightseeing with a private guide in air-conditioned private transportation in Israel     Personal earphone for usage during touring in Israel     Entrance fees to sites per itinerary, including: A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, St. Peter's fish lunch in Tiberias and cable ride to Masada  
• Price does not include:      

• ** International departure taxes and fuel surcharge (as of July 2019: $670 per passenger). Final amount to be determined at time of ticketing     Visa and border crossing fees     Suggested gratuities to guides, drivers and hotel staff (suggested $130 per participant)     Lunches     Optional Travelers Insurance (highly recommended)  

• Learn More  LEBBIE CHUNG   AMI Travel  Travel Consultant   5809 N. Cicero, floor 1  Suite 1, Chicago, IL, 60646   [office] 773-777-4900   [toll free] 800-821-8947   [fax] 773-777-4921   [email] lebbie@amitravel.com  [general] tours@amitravel.com