Day 1
Departure from the United States
We depart on our overnight flight to Lisbon.
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Upcoming departures to Portugal. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.
Lisbon, Santarém, Fátima, Aljustrel and Lourdes, by motorcoach in Portugal and again in France, with one internal flight from Lisbon to Toulouse between the two countries.
One night in Lisbon, three at Fátima and four at Lourdes, with unhurried time at both sanctuaries rather than a full programme every day. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.
“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”
Patrick MadridTell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.
These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group
Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work
If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill
Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage
Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works
Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.
Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.
The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.
Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.
Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.
The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.
A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.
Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.
“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”
Chris StefanickThe Candlelight Marian Procession at Lourdes runs from April through October, and it is one of the things pilgrims remember most, so we generally recommend travelling within that window. At Fátima the 13th of each month from May to October marks the anniversaries of the apparitions and draws very large crowds, 13 May and 13 October most of all. Some groups plan for those dates and others plan around them.
Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.
Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.
You will need a passport valid for at least three months beyond the date you leave Europe. United States citizens do not currently need a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days within any 180 day period, and Portugal and France are both in the Schengen area, so the internal flight involves no further border formalities. The European Union has an online travel authorisation, ETIAS, which is expected to add a short registration step for visa-free travellers; we will let your group know in good time if it applies to your departure.
Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.
Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.
A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.