Costs, Deadlines & Details

Our 2023 Pilgrimage - Is in 3 parts.  

• The Living Stones Pilgrimage.  May 1-14, 2023.  (13 Days/12 Nights of following in the footsteps of Jesus.) 
• The Jerusalem Extension.  May 14-16 (2 days/2 nights of Jerusalem at your own pace.)
• The Jordan Extension.  May 16-20 (5 days/4 nights in Jordan)​​

Main Pilgrimage

Living Stones Pilgrimage:
Israel & Palestine

14 Days / 12 Nights in the Holy Land

Not2023 Fees

​Total                            Fee US Dollars [1]           
Group Size                  Sharing Dbl Room         
24 - 28                              $4400
29 - 33                              $4100
34 - 40                              $3850
41 -  48                              $3650
49+                                    $3550                             Single Supplement :      $1100 [4]

Fees are billed based on group size at time of departure.​  As our group size grows, we all benefit.    For now we suggest you budget based on the minimum group size - as our group grows we will update. Note as at 11/24/2022 :  we are now at 31 booked -- so rate will be $4100.
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Limited Space - Register Early
Group Size:  We are starting out with 11 people already confirmed for this 2023 Pilgrimage.  (These are the very patient people who have been booked since 2020, whose pilgrimage has been delayed repeatedly due to Covid-19.)  

There is a lot of interest in pilgrimage at this time and given the pent-up demand for travel we anticipate that our group will likely be 30+ and we do think it is possible we will be sold out.​  ​Our maximum group is 50 total -- based on bus capacity. 

2023 will be very busy in Israel with hotels at capacity because of many groups rescheduling.  We presently hold a reserved block of 20 hotel rooms.  Subject to availability of rooms, we will be regularly adding rooms to this reservation block as people sign up for our pilgrimage.  (We can only add rooms to this block by paying non-refundable deposits.)  So it is vital that those who want to join our group register with us as soon as possible. By registering early you guarantee your place and all you risk is the non-refundable deposit, should you change your mind .    

What's included:

• Meet, Assist and Transfers at arrival and departure from Israel.  
• ​Hotel Accommodations with porterage:

               Golan Hotel, Tiberias for 4 nights
               Golden Walls, Jerusalem 8 nights.

• Transfers and tours by modern A/C Motor Coach.
• All meals: Breakfast and Dinner at Hotels and all 11 restaurant lunches on tour.
• Entrance fees to all sites
• English speaking private guide.
• Tips for Guides, Drivers, Hotels, Restaurants [2]

What is not included:
Air Fare[Note 3], Beverages of all kinds, Personal expenses, Travel Insurance, Meals in airports or in-flight. Ground transportation to and from Canadian airport(s). Optional donations made at charities visited. Anything not mentioned in the itinerary.

Payment Schedule: 
Date                        Amount due US$
On Reservation          $250
Dec.31, 2022                $300
Jan. 31, 2023                   $500
Feb 28, 2023                   $500
March 31, 2023             Full Balance
 
Cancellation/Refund Policy
New Bookings: The first US$250 is non-refundable until Jan 31. [Note 5]  After Jan. 31, as we will have expended some of the funds, cancellation fee becomes US$500 and as funds are expended, the cancellation fee continues to rise.  We suggest you purchase travel insurance as we can get no refunds at all on last minute cancellations.  Our operators have promised us more generous cancellation fees if a resurgence of the pandemic stops our travel.

​Notes:
[1] Fees above are based on quotations and estimates in hand in Aug. 2023 and $US/$CAD exchange at about $1.30.  Our largest costs are for Hotels, Guides, Site Admissions, Entry and Exit Visas, Buses & Drivers. For these major items, our quoted costs are up 19% over 2019-20.  Given the 3 years and economic realities we have concluded that these increases are reasonable unavoidable.  

As we have firm quotes in hand for most expenses, we do not anticipate any need to revise these fees.  However, in the event that we face unanticipated increases, a surcharge may become necessary.  In that case we will communicate this promptly and discuss the surcharge with all involved.

[2] Gratuities: Built into your fee are all tips which we pay to Local Tour Guide(s), Bus Drivers, Restaurant Lunch Servers, Hotels for Porterage and other Services.  

[3]Air Fare has been about CAD$1500 return for the past few years.  Air Fares are higher presently. -- in the range of $1800 for Toronto-Tel Aviv return (non-stop) and about $2000 for Toronto-Tel Aviv, Amman - Toronto.  Best prices are usually posted about 120 to 90 days before departure.  We start watching prices carefully in November and once the price seems right, we try to book all our flights at the same time. A travel agent will be recommended but you may book directly or use your preferred agency. Assistance is provided as needed for this.

[4] Fees based on Double Occupancy.  If you are travelling alone, we may be able to introduce you to another person who is also travelling alone, in order that you might share a room and avoid the supplement.  Reserve early and let us know your desires here and we will accommodate you if possible.

[5] For those rescheduled from 2020:  The first US$500 of fees paid remains non-refundable.  (This is because we have already expended funds on your behalf.)

Two Optional Extensions

Jerusalem Extension
Explore the Holy City

2 Additional Days & Nights in the Holy City

2023 Fees

Jerusalem Extension:    US$400
(Based on a minimum 16 people sharing a Double Rooms.)  
Single Supplement:    US$175

What's included:
Golden Walls Hotel (2 nights) with Porterage,   Breakfast and Dinner at Hotel,  Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport, Tips for hotel staff and airport transport driver.

What is not included:
Air Fare and meals in-transit, tour guides or drivers, beverages, lunches & server tips, personal expenses, travel insurance or optional donations made at charities visited. Anything not mentioned in the itinerary. ​

Payment Schedule
Due Date             Amount due US$
Dec. 31, 2022             $150
March 31, 2023        Full Balance



​

Jordan Extension

Explore highlights of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

5 Days / 4 Nights in Petra and the Kingdom of Jordan

The fee depends upon group size:      
Total Group Size       Cost US Dollars 
13 - 16                              $1500
17 - 19                              $1400                     
20 - 22                             $1300  
23 - 28                             $1200  
29 and up                        $1100                           
Single Supplement :       $220

Group Size:   Our best guess at this early point in planning is that we will be a small group of perhaps 13-20.  

What is included:
Transfers at Araba Crossing,  Amman Airport, border assistance, Hotels in Petra and Amman (4 nights) with Porterage.  Transfers and tours by modern A/C Motor Coach. Breakfast and Dinner daily at Hotels, all lunches on tour, all Entrance fees, Tips, English speaking private guide, Israel departure tax, Jordanian entry Visa.  One short horse ride in Petra from main entrance to the beginning of the Siq.

What is not included:
Air Fare.  All Beverages. Personal expenses. Porterage at the Border. Carriage ride in Petra (optional). Travel Insurance.  Meals in airports or in-flight. Ground transportation to and from Canadian airport(s).  Optional donations made at charities visited. Anything not mentioned in the itinerary. 

Payment Schedule
Date                       Amount due US$
On Reservation         $200
Dec. 31, 2022              $300
Jan. 31, 2023               $250
March 31, 2023          Full Balance

​

All above amounts are in US Dollars. 
You can pay according to the above schedule -- or prepay if you like.  Some people like to pay it all up-front and not worry about exchange rate fluctuations.  Others want to spread it out, paying according to the schedule.  It is up to you.  We maintain a $US bank account for this purpose and deposit funds as received.  If you prefer, you can pay us in C$ we will convert to US Funds and credit you with the amount we receive.
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If you have questions or to discuss deposits/payments speak with either Canon Vicars Hodge 519-466 6870 or Trinity Church's Administration Manager, Ms. Rachel Phillips at 519-542-9261. You can send funds by Interac Transfer to trinity@trinitysarnia.org.   Please mark your payment "Pilgrimage."  Of course you can mail or deliver payments to the Trinity Parish office:                 
                                           Trinity Anglican Church,
                                          1194 Murphy Rd., Sarnia,
                                          Ontario, Canada   N7S 2Y2
​

Please send your deposits ASAP
If you plan to participate, you should reserve your spot as soon as possible.  
Many pilgrimages are being rescheduled into 2022 and 2023.   So Spring 2023 will very likely be very busy.

We presently hold a block of 25 rooms.  Hotels regularly ask for rooming list updates and will only hold rooms for a limited time without deposits in hand.  When the season is busy, they may ask for deposits sooner than usual.  (Room still available for a few additional people._

We can add more rooms provided that space is available.  Given how busy 2023 will be, those who want to book at the last minute may be disappointed.  So please -- as soon as you know that you want to travel with us -- send in your deposit.