Day 1: DEPARTURE DAY — (H) Dinner, breakfast and lunch are served on your trans-Atlantic flight to the Holy Land

Day 2: ARRIVE TEL AVIV — On arrival in Tel Aviv you will be met by the CPC Tours staff and transferred to your hotel. Tonight get to know the other group members at dinner. - (D)

Day 3: CAESAREA - MT> CARMEL - NAZARETH — Start the morning with a visit to Caesarea, the capitol of King Herod, where St. Paul was help in extended custody. See the Roman aquaduct and theatre, which still is in use to this day. Continue north through the plain of Sharon to Haifa. Enjoy spectacular views of Haifa Harbor and the golden-domed Baha'i Temple during the ascent of Mt. Carmel. Celebrate Mass at the Carmelite Monastery which contains the Chapel of the Holy Family and Elijah's Cave. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth. - (B, D)

Day 4: NAZARETH (EXCURSION TO SEA OF GALILEE - CAPERNAUM - MT OF BEATITUDES - JORDAN RIVER - CANA) — Drive to Capernaum on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. Visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue, site of the money-changers episode, and the House of Peter. At the Mt. of Beatitudes, see the site of the Sermon on the Mount and the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Board a boat to sail the Sea of Galilee. The crew will demonstrate fishing net casting as practiced at the time of St. Peter. After a St. Peter's fish lunch ashore, stop at the Jordan River to commemorate the baptism of Jesus. Then to Cana, site of Jesus' first miracle and an opportunity to renew your marriage vows. Dinner and overnight in Nazareth. - (B, L, D)

Day 5: NAZARETH - MT. TABOR - JERICHO - BETHANY - JERUSALEM. — Start the day with Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation, decorated with gifts from the faithful of many nations. The basilica also contains the House of Mary and Joseph, Joseph's carpentry shop and nearby Mary's Well. Later drive past Nain, where Jesus raised the widow's son, and ascend to the top of Mt. Tabor, site of the Transfiguration. Continue south along the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth and see the excavation of the ancient walls going back 8000 years. On the way to Jerusalem we stop at the Samaritan Inn and the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany. - (B, D)

Day 6: JERUSALEM / BETHLEHEM / MOUNT OF OLIVES — Celebrate Mass at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. Also view Shepherd’s Field and shop for hand-carved, native olive wood rosaries and artifacts before returning to Jerusalem. On the Mount of Olives visit the Ascension Chapel, the Pater Noster Church and the Garden of Gethsemane. Conclude with a visit to Mary’s tomb and the place of her Assumption. - (B,D)

Day 7: IN JERUSALEM — Ascend Mount Zion and enjoy a panoramic view over ancient Jerusalem. Visit the Room of the Last Supper, King David’s tomb and St. Peter in Gallicantu, where the crowing rooster made the Apostle Also see the stairs, tradition says, Jesus ascended after his capture. Enter the Old City through the Damascus Gate and follow the footsteps of Jesus along Via Dolorosa. Stop at St. Anne’s Church, Ecce Homo Arch, the Pool of Bethesda, Pilate’s Judgment Hall, and the Flagellation Chapel, before reaching the final destination, the Holy Sepulcher, site of Our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. - (B,D)

Day 8: MT. SINAI — Travel south to he Sinai Peninsula and across the wilderness that kept Moses and the Israelites for 40 years to Mt. Sinai where Moses received the Ten Commandments. On arrival, dinner and overnight. - (B,D)

Day 9: MOUNT SINAI - ST. CATHERINE MONASTERY - CAIRO — Morning visit of St. Catherine Monastery. It is one of the world's most important cultural and religious sites, founded by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine. We see the library and the site of the Burning Bush. En route to the Egyptian capitol we cross the Suez Canal, one of the world's most important trade routes, and reach Cairo on the banks of the Nile River in time for dinner. - (B,D)

Day 10: IN CAIRO — Visit the Egytian Museum and its fabled collection of Pharaoic antiquities, including the King Tut exhibit. Next explore Old Cairo: The Citadel for a panoramic city view; the amazinf Alabaster Mosque, and Abu Serga Church, where tradition says the Holy Family took refuge. We conclude with a walk through Khan El Khalili Bazaar with its myriad alleys and aromas, where shopping means bargaining. - (B,D)

Day 11: IN CAIRO (Excursion to the PYRAMIDS & SPHINX) — We drive (camels are at the disposal of those who prefer a more traditional approach) to the 4500-years-old Pyramids. Like visitor before over the past millenia we stand in awe when viewing these wonders of the ancient world, connecting temples and the Sphinx, silent guardian of the Plateau of Giza. The rest of the day is free with opportunity to shop for Egyptian artfacts and jewelery or to just relax around the hotel swimming pool. - (B, D)

Day 12: RETURN FLIGHT — Transfer to Cairo Airport for the return flight home. Arrival later today. - (B)