+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
+1 (800) 653-0017 hello@canterburypilgrimages.com
The Route

Thirteen stops across the Holy Land

From Tel Aviv to the Sea of Galilee for Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum, Tabgha and Magdala, then over Mount Tabor and along the coast at Caesarea Maritima to Jerusalem, with days out to Ein Karem, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Dead Sea.

Itinerary · AS_IL-10D-01

Our Standard Holy Land Pilgrimage

This is the route we most often run for groups in the Holy Land. 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.

Day 1 – 2

Arrival and the Sea of Galilee

A wooden boat on the Sea of Galilee at first light
The Sea of Galilee at morning
Day 1

Departure from the United States

Our pilgrimage begins as we depart the United States on our overnight flight to Tel Aviv, Israel. Dinner and breakfast will be served during the flight.
Day 2

Arrival in Tel Aviv and the Sea of Galilee

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we are greeted by our Canterbury tour manager and travel north by motorcoach to the Sea of Galilee. After check-in we gather for a welcome dinner to begin our pilgrimage together.Dinner and overnight at the Sea of Galilee.
Day 3 – 4

Nazareth, Cana and Capernaum

The ruins of the white synagogue at Capernaum
The synagogue at Capernaum
Day 3

Nazareth and Cana

In Nazareth we begin at Mary’s Well, walk the pilgrimage path to the Basilica of the Annunciation, built over the home of the Virgin Mary, and celebrate Mass, pausing at midday to pray the Angelus at the Grotto. We continue to Cana, where Our Lord worked His first miracle; spouses may renew their wedding vows at the Wedding Church.Dinner and overnight in Tiberias or Nazareth.
Day 4

The Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Tabgha and Magdala

A morning boat ride carries us across the Sea of Galilee. We visit the Mount of Beatitudes, then Capernaum, where we celebrate Mass over the house of St. Peter, and continue to Tabgha and the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy, finishing at Magdala, hometown of St. Mary Magdalene.Dinner and overnight in Tiberias or Nazareth.
Day 5 – 7

Up to Jerusalem and Bethlehem

The Judean wilderness above Jericho
The Judean wilderness above Jericho
Day 5

Mount Tabor, Caesarea Maritima and Jerusalem

We ascend Mount Tabor to celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Transfiguration, then follow the coast to Caesarea Maritima and its Roman theater and aqueduct before continuing to Jerusalem, arriving to a first view of the Holy City from Mount Scopus.Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 6

Ein Karem and Bethlehem

We visit Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, and the Church of the Visitation, then continue to Shepherd’s Fields and Bethlehem, where we celebrate Mass at the Basilica of the Nativity on Manger Square.Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 7

The Mount of Olives and Mount Zion

From the Mount of Olives we take in the panorama of Jerusalem, visit the Pater Noster Church and walk down Palm Sunday Road past Dominus Flevit to the Garden of Gethsemane, where we celebrate Mass at the Rock of the Agony. We conclude at St. Peter in Gallicantu and the Cenacle, site of the Last Supper.Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 8 – 10

The Jordan, the Old City and home

The southern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem
The southern wall of the Temple Mount, Jerusalem
Day 8

The Jordan River, Jericho and the Dead Sea

We celebrate Mass before driving to the Jordan River, where pilgrims may renew their baptismal vows at the traditional site of Our Lord’s Baptism. We continue to Jericho for a view of the Mount of Temptation, then float in the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem.Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 9

The Via Dolorosa and the Holy Sepulchre

Early this morning we walk the Via Dolorosa through the Old City, praying the Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where we celebrate Mass. After breakfast we visit St. Anne’s Church, the Pools of Bethesda and the Western Wall, with the afternoon free. This evening we gather for a farewell dinner.Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 10

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the grace of pilgrimage, we transfer to Tel Aviv Airport for our return flight home to the United States.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Jerusalem seen at first light from the Mount of Olives
JerusalemThe Old City at first light, seen from the Mount of Olives.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell 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.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

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

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

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.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Light falling through the dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
The Church of the Beatitudes above the Sea of Galilee
The Church of the Beatitudes
The Via Dolorosa in the Old City of Jerusalem
The Via Dolorosa, Jerusalem
A pilgrim boat on the Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee from the water
Sunrise over the Dead Sea
Sunrise over the Dead Sea
The rooftops of the Old City of Jerusalem
The rooftops of the Old City

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to the Holy Land?

Spring and fall bring mild weather across both Galilee and Jerusalem, and most groups travel between March and May or September and November. Summers are hot, especially in the Jordan Valley and by the Dead Sea, and winters are mild, quieter, and often the best value.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

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.

What is generally not included?

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.

Do I need a passport or visa for the Holy Land?

You need a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. US citizens do not need a visa, but Israel requires an approved ETA-IL, an Electronic Travel Authorization, before departure. Entry to Israel is denied without one, and each pilgrim is responsible for completing the application before travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

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.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

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.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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