Israel and Palestine - Oct. 27 - Nov. 6, 2017
Friday October 27 TO THE HOLY LAND
Depart the Canada (or the USA) to Tel Aviv.
Most of our group will travel together from Toronto to Tel Aviv. (Some may fly out of Boston or Winnipeg and meet us at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. ) Don't buy your tickets yet. Please wait a little while and we will coordinate ticket purchase so that we all arrive on the same flight or at least two or three flights at about the same time. Doing this facilitates easy transfer from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem.
As we get a bit closer to our travel times we be in touch with all booked travellers to give airline and flight recommendations. We will assist anyone who needs assistance purchasing tickets. The reason we do it this way is that these days airlines seem geared up to deal with individuals who book online. There seem to be no significant discounts for group purchases and indeed, individuals who shop a bit will find there are very good deals to be had on airfare. On our last pilgrimage tour in 2015 our group travelled two groups, by Air Canada or British Air, and our airfares cost between C$1,100 to C$1,400 per person, economy.
Most of our group will travel together from Toronto to Tel Aviv. (Some may fly out of Boston or Winnipeg and meet us at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. ) Don't buy your tickets yet. Please wait a little while and we will coordinate ticket purchase so that we all arrive on the same flight or at least two or three flights at about the same time. Doing this facilitates easy transfer from Ben Gurion to Jerusalem.
As we get a bit closer to our travel times we be in touch with all booked travellers to give airline and flight recommendations. We will assist anyone who needs assistance purchasing tickets. The reason we do it this way is that these days airlines seem geared up to deal with individuals who book online. There seem to be no significant discounts for group purchases and indeed, individuals who shop a bit will find there are very good deals to be had on airfare. On our last pilgrimage tour in 2015 our group travelled two groups, by Air Canada or British Air, and our airfares cost between C$1,100 to C$1,400 per person, economy.
Saturday, Oct. 28 ARRIVE in JERUSALEM
We arrive at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, are met by Albina Tours personnel and are transferred the Golden Walls Hotel in Jerusalem. www.goldenwalls.com. We will stay our first four nights at this hotel, just across the street from the ancient walls of Jerusalem. From the Golden Walls, we are just a five minute walk to the Damascus Gate, one of the ancient gates into the Old City and the biblical sites we shall be visiting. After we settle into our rooms we will share dinner together.
Our daily rhythm will be to have breakfast and supper meals at our hotel – with lunch at restaurants while out on our adventure. Middle-Eastern hospitality is legendary – and the Golden Walls is a wonderful place.
After dinner, some will want to retire to their rooms early. Depending upon our time of arrival, others may have time and energy for a short early-evening walk to the Damascus Gate and about the souks (markets) of the Old City. Fr. Vicars will be glad to lead a little walk with those who would like a little evening walk.
Our daily rhythm will be to have breakfast and supper meals at our hotel – with lunch at restaurants while out on our adventure. Middle-Eastern hospitality is legendary – and the Golden Walls is a wonderful place.
After dinner, some will want to retire to their rooms early. Depending upon our time of arrival, others may have time and energy for a short early-evening walk to the Damascus Gate and about the souks (markets) of the Old City. Fr. Vicars will be glad to lead a little walk with those who would like a little evening walk.
Sunday, Oct. 29 INTRODUCTION TO JERUSALEM AND WORSHIP
Sunday, Oct. 29 INTRODUCTION TO JERUSALEM AND WORSHIP
Our Sunday program begins with a short drive to the summit of the Mount of Olives for an awesome panoramic view of the walled city of Jerusalem. This viewing of the Old City really helps with orienting yourself to the geography. As we look across the Kidron Valley we see the Golden Gate, the Dome of the Rock and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. With the Old City spread out before us, this is the perfect place to get the ‘big picture’ of the Old City. Then, starting on the summit of the Mount of Olives, we walk Jesus's Palm Sunday Route, pausing at the Pater Noster Church, Dominus Flevit Chapel (where Our Lord wept over Jerusalem), and the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane.
[Optional Extra for Early Risers: You can accompany Canon Hodge for a very early Sunday morning visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to pray with the various communities at worship. Copts, Armenians, Syrians, Ethiopian Orthodox, Latins, Greek Orthodox.... all celebrating the Resurrecton of Jesus Christ in their various languages and colourful liturgies. (Those who want to do this will meet in the lobby at 5:45 AM.]
At 11 AM we join the congregation of St. George’s Anglican Cathedral for Holy Communion. After worship we enjoy for Lunch at St. George’s Guesthouse. This is the first of several opportunities for interaction with the “Living Stones” - the local Christian Church. We then drive to West Jerusalem and the picturesque village of Ein Karem where we visit the Church of John the Baptist that marks his birthplace. We continue our orientation to Jerusalem visiting to the Israel Museum to view the large-scale model of ancient Jerusalem and to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book. Our Sunday concludes with dinner and overnight at the Golden Walls.
[Optional Extra for Early Risers: You can accompany Canon Hodge for a very early Sunday morning visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to pray with the various communities at worship. Copts, Armenians, Syrians, Ethiopian Orthodox, Latins, Greek Orthodox.... all celebrating the Resurrecton of Jesus Christ in their various languages and colourful liturgies. (Those who want to do this will meet in the lobby at 5:45 AM.]
At 11 AM we join the congregation of St. George’s Anglican Cathedral for Holy Communion. After worship we enjoy for Lunch at St. George’s Guesthouse. This is the first of several opportunities for interaction with the “Living Stones” - the local Christian Church. We then drive to West Jerusalem and the picturesque village of Ein Karem where we visit the Church of John the Baptist that marks his birthplace. We continue our orientation to Jerusalem visiting to the Israel Museum to view the large-scale model of ancient Jerusalem and to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book. Our Sunday concludes with dinner and overnight at the Golden Walls.
Monday, Oct. 30 THE OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM – VIA DOLOROSA
We enter the Old City through Dung Gate and visit the Western Wall before ascending Haram esh-Sharif or Temple Mount to view the El Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock (entrance to the actual Mosque is not allowed). We then visit the Pool of Bethesda, the crusader Church of St Anne and the Lithostrotos (stone pavement where Jesus was condemned by Pilate) before continuing along the Via Dolorosa through the narrow streets of the Old City to the traditional site of Jesus crucifixion, burial and resurrection at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We will lunch in the Armenian Quarter at the Bulghourji Restaurant and then visit the richly ornamented Armenian Cathedral of St. James. We then walk through Zion Gate to Mount Zion and visit the Upper Room, Dormition Abbey, and the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu (traditional site of the house of Caiphus, The High Priest.) Our afternoon concludes with Holy Communion at the Garden Tomb. We return to the Golden Walls for dinner. After Dinner we will meet with the Rev. Canon Husam Naom, Dean of Jerusalem and pastor of St. George’s Cathedral. Canon Hussam will tell us a bit about the various Christian Communities that make up the Church in this land. He will help us to better understand the faith and the life circumstances of the Living Stones who are are our brothers and sisters in faith in this land.
Tuesday, Oct. 31 JUDEAN DESERT, MASADA, THE DEAD SEA, JERICHO, BETHANY
Today includes an excursion to the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth at 1401 ft. below sea level. We drive into the Judean wilderness to Herod's desert fortress of Masada, which we ascend by cable car. Later we have an opportunity to float in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. We then drive to the desert oasis of Jericho, and view the Mount of Temptation. After lunch in Jericho at the Al-Rawda Restaurant, we drive to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, Qasr el-Yahud where John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus. Here at the Jordan River, those who wish may participate in a renewal of baptismal vows. The final part of our days journey is to Wadi Qelt, for a spectacular view of St George's desert monastery. On our return we stop at Bethany on the summit of the Mount of Olives, the village of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. We visit the Church and tomb of Lazarus. We return to the Golden Walls for dinner.
Wednesday, Nov. 1 SAMARIA – JACOB’S WELL -- SEBASTIA – YAD VASHEM
This morning we check-out of our Jerusalem Hotel. We then drive to Schechem, now Nablus and visit Jacob’s Well where Jesus met the Samaritan Woman. After visiting this site we will have a time to connect with some local Christians either at St. Luke’s Anglican Hospital (Nablus) or St. Phillip's Church (details still being sorted out.) Continuing north, we have lunch in Sebastia at the Samaria Restaurant, before visiting the Old Testament era Ruins of Sebastia. We then return to West Jerusalem to visit the moving Yad Vashem Memorial to the Holocaust. We drive to Bethlehem and check into the Manger Square Hotel where we will enjoy our Dinner. The Manger Square is only a couple blocks from the Church of the Nativity built over the grotto where Jesus was born. Over dinner and afterwards there will be opportunity to reflect on the things we have seen and done over the past days.
Thursday, Nov. 2 BETHLEHEM – BASILLICA OF THE NATIVITY -- HERODION
Today we explore Bethlehem, Jesus birthplace. We begin with Manger Square and a visit the Basilica of the Nativity, Grotto of the Nativity and St Jerome's Caves. We will visit the Al-Shrouq School for the Blind in Beit Jala.(An amazing Christian Ministry in the Bethlehem area -- a chance for us to meet and understand the ministry of the local Church.) Then we will visit the Shepherds’ Fields where we will celebrate Holy Communion. After lunch in Beit Sahour at the Shepherds’ Valley Restaurant, we drive south into the Judean hills to visit Herod’s mountain palace/fortress of Herodion. We return to Bethlehem at days end and before dinner have time to shop in an olive wood shop. Dinner and overnight at the Manger Square Hotel.
Friday, Nov. 3 CAESAREA MARITIMA & MEDITERRANEAN COAST -- ACRE
Checking out of our Bethlehem Hotel, we drive north along the Mediterranean Coast to the Roman capital of Caesarea Maritima. Here we visit the restored amphitheatre, aqueduct, and city where Cornelius, a Roman Centurion became the first gentile Christian. We lunch in Caesarea at Portcafe Restaurant, on waterfront.
In the afternoon, we drive to Acre, once the headquarters of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John. Acre or Acco is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We then drive to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for dinner and check-in at the lakefront Ron Beach Hotel where we will enjoy three nights of excellent hospitality. http://www.ronbeachhotel.com
In the afternoon, we drive to Acre, once the headquarters of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller of St. John. Acre or Acco is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We then drive to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for dinner and check-in at the lakefront Ron Beach Hotel where we will enjoy three nights of excellent hospitality. http://www.ronbeachhotel.com
Saturday, Nov. 4 SEA OF GALILEE -- CAPERNAUM -- CAESAREA PHILIPPI
Today we visit the sites associated with Jesus' life and ministry around the Sea of Galilee. We drive from Tiberias a few miles to Tabgha (Seven Springs) and visit the Church of the Loaves and Fishes. We visit Mensa Christi (The Table of the Lord) where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection. There we will share in Holy Communion on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We then visit the ruins of Capernaum – seeing the ancient synagogue and Peter’s home. We will lunch by the lake at St. Peter’s Restaurant. In the afternoon, we drive to Banias (Caesarea Philippi) and see one of the sources of the Jordan River. Returning through the Golan Heights, we finish the day with a sail on the Sea of Galilee, docking at our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Sunday Nov. 5 NAZARETH – MT. TABOR
Our second Sunday in the Holy Land begins with a visit Cana, site of Jesus first miracle. At 10:00 AM we join with Fr. Nael Abu Rahmoun and local believers for the Holy Communion at Christ Church (Anglican) in Nazareth. We visit the nearby Nazareth Village, a reconstruction of 1st Century Galilean life. After lunch in Nazareth at the Holy Land Restaurant, we walk from Gabriel’s Church (Mary’s Well), via the Synagogue Church to the Basilica of the Annunciation. We then drive to Mount Tabor, navigating its winding road by taxis to reach the beautiful Basilica of the Transfiguration with its magnificent views over the Plain of Armageddon. After Dinner at the Ron Beach Hotel, we will spend a little while together reflecting on the shared memories of the past 9 days.
Monday, Nov. 6 HOMEWARD BOUND - or - TRAVEL TO JORDAN
In the morning we share breakfast and check out of our Galilee hotel. For some in our party, this morning is their transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for the return journey home. Others will continue to on with our journey to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. We will visit the decapolis city of Gerasa (now Jerash if time permits), View the Land of Israel from Mount Nebo, visit Madabe and see the byzantine mosaic Map, Visit the Crusader Castle of Kerak, and the Lost City of Petra.
For information on the Jordan extension click here. |
Cost & Details (The Principal Tour):
Per Person: US$ 2,200
Based on Double Occupancy. Single Suppliment $550
* If you are travelling alone, we may be able to introduce you to another person who is travelling alone in order that you might share a room and save the supplement. Reserve early and let us know your desires here and we will accommodate you if possible.
What is included:
What is not included:
Air Travel -- a word of explanation:
Basically everything you need on this pilgrimage tour in included, the only exceptions as noted above.
You will note that Air Fare is not included. This saves everyone money.
Trinity's goal is to make Holy Land Pilgrimage possible for as many as possible -- and for reason we are really serious about trying to keep the cost affordable. We have compared prices of our pilgrimage with many others over the years -- and we are consistently less expensive when all the factors are included. We have included just about everything in the package (even lunches and tips which many tours leave out.)
But we have quite deliberately not included airfare. Years ago groups got a substantial discount when you bought a block of tickets at the same time -- today most airlines seem to prefer to deal with people individually over the internet. Group discounts seem to have largely disappeared. Our experience is that we get very good prices on tickets buying tickets directly -- about 3-4 Months before departure. If we included Air Fare, we would need to build in some margin for error as ticket prices fluctuate daily. Since Trinity is arranging this pilgrimage on a break-even basis we really have no room for speculation on ticket prices. So, Airfare is separate.
Here is how we do it:
About 4 months before departure we start sorting out possible flights. We then contact all who have registered for the pilgrimage and work with them to get them booked on the best flights for their departure city. We do try to get everyone on the same trans-Atlantic flight or on a couple flights with similar arrival times to make the logistics easiest. British Air and Air Canada were the best options on our 2015 pilgrimage. In the past, El Al and Al Italia have also been good choices. Once we have made our choice of preferred flights we will be in touch with all of those who are booked. Some of you are old hands at booking flights online and will just do it yourself. Others might like some help with that and if so we will gladly assist.
What will it cost?
At present, direct return flights through Toronto -- are in the range of C$1,000 to C$1,500. (Even cheaper tickets are possible, though usually they have stop(s) en-route. I saw a ticket for $770 not that long ago -- with 2 stops. Vicars's most recent ticket purchase -- an Air Canada direct flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv was $930 including all taxes!)
By doing it this way we will all save some money.
Per Person: US$ 2,200
Based on Double Occupancy. Single Suppliment $550
* If you are travelling alone, we may be able to introduce you to another person who is travelling alone in order that you might share a room and save the supplement. Reserve early and let us know your desires here and we will accommodate you if possible.
What is included:
- Albina Tours personnel will meet your flight at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, on arrival.
- Transfers to & from Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv) on arrival and departure.
- All Hotels (9 nights). Porterage at hotels.
- Breakfast and Dinner every day at our Hotels.
- 8 Lunches at restaurants while on tour.
- Transfers and tours by Modern Air Conditioned Motor Coach with WiFi.
- English speaking qualified private guide on tour.
- Entrance fees to all sites.
- All tips to hotels, restaurants, drivers, and guides.
What is not included:
- Airfare.
- Travel Insurance.
- Beverages of any kind. (Bottled water is provided at no charge at hotels.)
- Personal expenses.
- Anything not mentioned in the itinerary.
Air Travel -- a word of explanation:
Basically everything you need on this pilgrimage tour in included, the only exceptions as noted above.
You will note that Air Fare is not included. This saves everyone money.
Trinity's goal is to make Holy Land Pilgrimage possible for as many as possible -- and for reason we are really serious about trying to keep the cost affordable. We have compared prices of our pilgrimage with many others over the years -- and we are consistently less expensive when all the factors are included. We have included just about everything in the package (even lunches and tips which many tours leave out.)
But we have quite deliberately not included airfare. Years ago groups got a substantial discount when you bought a block of tickets at the same time -- today most airlines seem to prefer to deal with people individually over the internet. Group discounts seem to have largely disappeared. Our experience is that we get very good prices on tickets buying tickets directly -- about 3-4 Months before departure. If we included Air Fare, we would need to build in some margin for error as ticket prices fluctuate daily. Since Trinity is arranging this pilgrimage on a break-even basis we really have no room for speculation on ticket prices. So, Airfare is separate.
Here is how we do it:
About 4 months before departure we start sorting out possible flights. We then contact all who have registered for the pilgrimage and work with them to get them booked on the best flights for their departure city. We do try to get everyone on the same trans-Atlantic flight or on a couple flights with similar arrival times to make the logistics easiest. British Air and Air Canada were the best options on our 2015 pilgrimage. In the past, El Al and Al Italia have also been good choices. Once we have made our choice of preferred flights we will be in touch with all of those who are booked. Some of you are old hands at booking flights online and will just do it yourself. Others might like some help with that and if so we will gladly assist.
What will it cost?
At present, direct return flights through Toronto -- are in the range of C$1,000 to C$1,500. (Even cheaper tickets are possible, though usually they have stop(s) en-route. I saw a ticket for $770 not that long ago -- with 2 stops. Vicars's most recent ticket purchase -- an Air Canada direct flight from Toronto to Tel Aviv was $930 including all taxes!)
By doing it this way we will all save some money.