In The Footsteps Of Pope John Paul Ii Tour

Following the Footsteps of Pope John Paul II on His Pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Egypt & Jordan in the Year 2000 (Upon Request)

Day 1: Egypt / Cairo

Arrive at Cairo Airport. Our hospitality staff will meet you, assist with visa processing, and transfer you to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Cairo / Pyramids / Sphinx / Memphis / Saqqara

After breakfast, enjoy a full-day tour of Cairo. Visit the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx. Continue to the Valley Temple and Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt. Proceed to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid and the Alabaster Sphinx. Visit the oldest factory for handmade carpets in Egypt, where profits help support needy children throughout the country.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Citadel / Alabaster Mosque / Khan El Khalili Bazaar / Egyptian Museum

After breakfast, we will visit Old Cairo, including the Citadel of Salah El-Din, the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali, and Khan El Khalili Bazaar, the oldest and largest bazaar in the Middle East. Later in the day, explore the fascinating Egyptian Museum, which houses one of the world’s largest collections of ancient artifacts, including the treasures discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922.

In the afternoon, visit the Church of St. Sergius (Abu Serga) and the Crypt of the Holy Family beneath it. Continue to the Hanging Church (Al-Muallaqa), dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and visit the Coptic Museum.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Sinai / Suez Canal / St. Catherine

Drive into the Sinai Desert and cross the Suez Canal. Continue to the oasis of St. Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai.

Dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Mount Sinai / St. Catherine Monastery / Red Sea / Jordan / Aqaba / Petra

Wake before dawn for the unforgettable experience of climbing Mount Sinai (approximately 3,700 steps). Watch the sunrise from the traditional site where Moses received the Ten Commandments.

Descend to the hotel for breakfast. Visit Saint Catherine's Monastery (if open).

Drive to the Red Sea and cross by ferry to Aqaba, Jordan, where your Jordanian guide will meet you. Continue to Petra for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Petra / Amman

After breakfast, walk through the Siq, the narrow canyon leading to the hidden Rose City of Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabataeans. See the magnificent Treasury, carved into pink sandstone, as well as the Roman theater, Coronation Tomb, and Palace Tomb.

Drive along the Desert Highway to Amman for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Madaba / Mount Nebo / Israel / Jericho / Beit Shean / Galilee

After breakfast, drive to Madaba to view the famous mosaic floor containing the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land. Continue to Mount Nebo, the traditional burial place of Moses.

Visit the baptismal site visited by Pope John Paul II.

Continue to the Allenby Bridge and cross into Israel. Your Israeli guide will meet you upon arrival. Visit the ruins of ancient Jericho and view the Mount of Temptation. Continue north through the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean.

Proceed to your hotel in Galilee for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Sea of Galilee / Capernaum / Primacy Church / Mount of the Beatitudes / Mount Tabor

Spend the full day following in the footsteps of Jesus. Begin with a cruise across the Sea of Galilee in a traditional wooden “biblical boat.”

Visit Capernaum, the Town of Jesus, the Primacy Church at Tabgha, and the Church of the Multiplication. Drive to the Mount of the Beatitudes.

Enjoy a delicious lunch featuring the famous St. Peter’s fish.

Continue to Mount Tabor to visit the Church of the Transfiguration.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 9: Nazareth / Mount Carmel / Caesarea / Jerusalem

Drive to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop, and Mary’s Well.

Continue to Mount Carmel to visit the Carmelite Church of Stella Maris.

Travel along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea. Visit the Roman aqueduct and theater, as well as the Crusader walls and moat.

Continue to Jerusalem through the Judean Hills. Enter the Holy City with a special welcome ceremony.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 10: Jerusalem / Mount of Olives / Old City / Via Dolorosa / Mount Zion

Enjoy a full-day visit to biblical Jerusalem. Begin by taking in the magnificent view of the Old City from the promenade on the Mount of Olives. Visit the Church of Pater Noster and the Chapel of the Ascension.

Walk through the ancient Jewish cemetery to the Chapel of Dominus Flevit. Continue to the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations, and Mary’s Tomb.

After lunch, enter the Old City through the Lions’ Gate. Visit the Pools of Bethesda and St. Anne’s Church, one of the best-preserved Crusader churches.

Walk the Via Dolorosa, stopping at each Station of the Cross, and conclude with devotions at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Continue through Zion Gate to Mount Zion to visit the Upper Room, King David’s Tomb, and Dormition Abbey.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 11: Model / Yad Vashem / Ein Karem / Bethlehem

Begin the day by visiting the Holyland Model, which depicts Jerusalem during the time of the Second Temple.

Visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial.

Drive to the village of Ein Karem and visit the Church of the Visitation and the traditional birthplace of St. John the Baptist.

After lunch, drive to Bethlehem. Visit the Shepherds’ Fields and the Church of the Nativity, built over the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

Enjoy free time to shop for unique olive-wood crafts made in Bethlehem.

Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Day 12: Judean Wilderness / Qumran / Masada / Dead Sea

Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem.

An optional excursion will be offered to the Judean Wilderness, Qumran, Masada, and the Dead Sea, where you may float in its mineral-rich waters.

In the evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner.

Day 13: Flight Home

Free time until your transfer to the airport for your flight home.