Homeric Faith Tours

Faith Tours

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT From the infancy of Christianity people traveled to spread the word of God. What a wonderful way to spend your vacation following in their footsteps and visiting these undeniably historical places in time. Let us take you to the Holy Land were it all began and trace Jesus’ life while on earth. Let us help you retrace the footsteps of Apostle St. Paul who traveled throughout Ancient Greece, Cyprus and Asia Minor. Imagine visiting the seven early churches in today’s modern day Turkey or Jordan’s sites and their undeniable involvement in early Christianity. Let us take you to Egypt and visit St. Catherine’s Monastery with its magnificent collection of manuscripts. Climb Mount Sinai where Moses received the 10 Commandments which will undoubtedly strengthen your Christian faith.

Visit the site from which John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Cruise the various Greek Islands including Patmos and view the Book of Revelations written by St. John the Apostle while he lived in exile in Patmos. Tour the Vatican with its awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel or Medjugorje in Croatia where innocent children in today’s world were visited by the Virgin Mary many times over. What a wonderful way to deepen your faith by visiting these significant biblical places while also learning the culture and history of the area you choose to visit. Whether you are of Christian Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical faith or any other form of Christian worship, the common thread of Christianity bonds us all together. What a better way to combine not only your vacation but also enhance your faith by visiting these timeless and very special places on earth.

Since 1969 Homeric Tours has set the industry standard by providing great vacations. Long established as the leader to Greece, the Mediterranean and the Middle East we have expanded our focus to offer the faith-based traveler itineraries that inspire and touch the Christian soul. You will find our packages to be affordable with excellent services, centrally located accommodations but most important, reliability in that Homeric Tours will seamlessly make sure that your experience is one that will last a lifetime. Let Homeric’s many years of experience in the very areas that Christianity began offer you an experience that you will soon not forget.

Nikos Tsakanikas President

Table of Contents GREECE FOOTSTEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL...3 or 4-day Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 - 5 JOURNEY OF APOSTLE PAUL...3 or 4-day Cruise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 - 7 CYPRUS FOOTSTEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

TURKEY SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION & NICAEA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 FOOTSTEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 - 11 ISRAEL HOLYLAND PILGRIMAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 - 13 JORDAN JORDAN & HOLYLAND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 - 15 CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 - 17 EGYPT EGYPT & JORDAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 ITALY CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 PILGRIMAGE TOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 ITALY & MEDJUGORJE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 GERMANY - POLAND - CZECH REPUBLIC FOOTSTEPS OF THE POPES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 - 23 POLAND BELOVED HOMELAND OF JOHN PAUL II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 FOOTSTEPS OF ST. FAUSTINA’S VOCATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 GERMANY FOOTSTEPS OF MARTIN LUTHER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 GREAT BRITAIN WESLEY HERITAGE TOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 FRANCE FRANCE - SHRINES OF FRANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 - 29 POLAND - CZECH REPUBLIC - AUSTRIA - HUNGARY EASTERN EUROPE PILGRIMAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 HOLLAND - BELGIUM RELIGIOUS TOUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 SPAIN & PORTUGAL MARIAN SANCTUARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 - 33 IRELAND FAITH AND HISTORY OF THE IRISH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

AIRLINES USED BY HOMERIC TOURS

GREECE - IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL – 3 or 4-DAY CRUISE

9 or 11 Days

buildings. Continue to Olympia for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D)

--TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Greece included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5 star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Two nights accommodations in Athens with breakfast and dinner daily • Six full days of Christian sightseeing tours on land in Greece included • Choice of 3 or 4-day cruise to the Greek Islands and Turkey included • Optional shore excursions available • All transfers included • All entrance fees included • Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

DAY 4, TUE / FRI: OLYMPIA – DELPHI After breakfast at the hotel, visit the archaeological site where the athletes of antiquity performed in honor of the King of Deities. Learn about the history of those original Olympic Games as you walk among the impressive remains of the Gymnasium and the Temples of Hera and Zeus. A visit of the museum is also included and here one can view Praxiteles’ magnificent statue of ‘Hermes’. Continue on to Delphi and check-in to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D)

Agia Triada Monastery, Meteora - Greece

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1, MON / TUE: DEPART USA Depart for Greece on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2, SUN / WED: ATHENS Upon arrival in Athens, you will be met by a Homeric Tour representative. Begin a half-day city tour, visiting the Dipylon Gate, the Roman Market, the Temple of Hephastos, the Ancient Agora, the rebuilt Stoa of Attalus and its museum, the water-clock of Andronicos and Hadrian’s Library. Climb Mars’ Hill, where St. Paul addressed the councilors and philosophers of the Areopagus and see St. Paul’s well and the foundations of the church dedicated to Dionysius the Areopagite, one of St. Paul’s converts (Acts 17:16-34).

After visiting the famous Acropolis, continue on to the Filopapou Monument,

Meteora

TURKEY

Kalambaka

GREECE

Delphi Corinth

Athens Patmos

Piraeus Olympia

Land Tours

Mykonos Santorini

Cruises Additional ports Crete

4

Ephesus

Rhodes

Hadrian’s Arch and the Olympic Stadium, built when the Olympic Games were revived in 1896. Visit the National Archeological Museum to see outstanding treasures from throughout Greece and then transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (D) DAY 3, MON / THUR: ATHENS – CORINTH – CANAL – CORINTHMYCENAE – EPIDAURUS – NAUPLIA – OLYMPIA Breakfast at the hotel. Corinth - (Acts 18:1-18). Depart Athens and cross the Corinth Canal. Then proceed to Ancient Corinth, where St. Paul arrived in A.D. 5051 to spread the teachings of Christ. Stop at the archeological site housing many statues and artifacts, including the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Agora, the Bema Courthouse, where St. Paul’s enemies brought him before Gallio, the pavement inscription of Erastus, the Roman Lechaion Road and the Lower Fountain of Peirene. It was here in Corinth that St. Paul wrote First Thessalonians and also, most likely, his Epistle to the Romans.

Then continue on to visit Mycenae, the most powerful, brilliant and sovereign influence in Greece up to 1100 B.C. when it was destroyed by fire. One enters the acropolis through the Lion Gate, the oldest example of monumental sculpture in Europe. Inside its walls, excavations have uncovered the palace complex, a grave circle with six royal tombs, courtiers’ houses, sanctuaries and other important

DAY 5, WED / SAT: DELPHI KALAMBAKA Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a visit of the impressive archeological site of Delphi, the ancient site associated with the mythology and history of the ‘Oracle’. Among the many points of interest are the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Doric Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Way, the 5,000 seat theater where the Delphic Festivals were held, the stadium where the Pythian Games took place every four years, the Castalian Spring, the Sanctuary of Athena, and the Tholos Rotunda. A visit of the museum is also included and here one can view the amazing bronzed sculpture of ‘The Charioteer’. Then it is on to Kalambaka for dinner and overnight accommodations at the hotel.

(B,D) DAY 6, THUR / SUN: KALAMBAKAMETEORA – THERMOPYLAEA – ATHENS. After breakfast at the hotel, visit the fantastic landscape of Meteora with its 24 rock-top monasteries. We have selected to visit two of them: Varlaam Monastery, famous for its frescoes, and St. Stephen’s, featuring a unique collection of icons and an incredible panoramic view. Then begin the return journey to Athens, past the town of Larisa to the comfortable coastal highway. An additional highlight today is a visit to Thermopylae, the site of the heroic battle of Leonidas' 300 doomed Spartans against Xerxes’ huge Persian army. Two more sites along the way back to Athens give your tour director welcome

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

voyages. The crusading Knights of St. John left the magnificent medieval city of Rhodes behind when Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent defeated them.

Return to the ship and sail onward to the next destination. (B,L,D) DAY 10, MON / THUR: (SEE BELOW) PIRAUES – ATHENS – USA (FOR 3 DAY CRUISE ONLY) After breakfast onboard, you will disembark in Piraeus and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

(B)

Mykonos - Greece

opportunities to display his/her vast knowledge of Greek history and legend: Thebes, the setting of Sophocles’ ‘Oedipus Rex’, and Marathon, where in 490 B.C. 10,000 Athenians defeated more than twice that number of Persian invaders. Return to Athens and your hotel, where dinner is included. (B,D) DAY 7, FRI / MON: 3-DAY OR 4-DAY GREEK ISLAND CRUISE: DEPART PIRAEUS – MYKONOS After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Piraeus to board your ship and cruise the Greek Islands and Turkey. The first port of call will be the island of Mykonos. Beneath its sophisticated surface lies a

best preserved of the original Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2:1-7). Visit the ancient city with its impressive temples, marble streets, library, agoras, baths and theater that seats 24,000 people. It was in this theater that riots against St. Paul took place. It was also here that St. Paul made his headquarters, spending two years and writing his First Letter to the Corinthians (Acts 19:1-20:1). Also visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, where St. John brought Mary after the death of Christ. This small house was built for her on Bulbuldagi (Mt. Nightingale) and is where she spent the last days of her life. We will then visit the beautiful chapel, Panaya Kapula, built on the mount Setimisses. Pope Paul VI prayed here during his visit to Turkey in 1967. This afternoon, sail to Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation during his exile by the Roman authorities. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island’s highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its treasury. Return to the ship and sail to the next destination. (B,L,D)

ADDITIONAL PORTS FOR THE 4-DAY CRUISE ITINERARY DAY 10, THUR: CRETE – SANTORINI After breakfast, one has a choice of excursions to visit Heraklion, the capitol of Crete and its principal commercial port. Just three miles away are the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos. Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture.

This afternoon, depart for the island of Santorini, maybe the most breathtaking of all Greek islands.

Around 1500 B.C., a volcanic eruption destroyed the center of the island, leaving a crescent shaped rim of cliffs around a harbor formed in the volcano’s caldera.

The town of Fira, with its whitewashed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques, clings to these cliffs, accessible mostly by cable car or donkey. To the south is Akrotiri, where recent Minoan excavations support the theories that Santorini might be the fabled lost continent of Atlantis. Return to the ship and cruise to the next destination. (B,L,D) DAY 11, FRI: PIRAUES – ATHENS – USA (FOR 4-DAY CRUISE ONLY) After breakfast onboard, disembark and transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

(Note: – on the 3-day cruise, visit Patmos in the morning and Kusadasi/Ephesus in the afternoon.)

quintessential Greek island. Hundreds of tiny chapels dot the island and sheep graze in the shadow of white washed houses. Find a table on the waterfront and bask in the serenity of sunset over the picturesque harbor. Be sure to send your regards to Pete the Pelican. Then sail through the night. (B,L,D) DAY 8, SAT / TUE: KUSADASI / EPHESUS – PATMOS Morning arrival in Kusadasi, Turkey, where an optional excursion can be booked, taking you to Ephesus, the

DAY 9, SUN / WED: RHODES Today is spent visiting the beautiful ‘Island of Roses’ with its rich and varied history. On a hill above the charming town of Lindos, rises an ancient acropolis dedicated to the goddess Athena. Below, lay the Bay of St. Paul, where the apostle landed during his Library of Celsus, Ephesus - Turkey

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

5

GREECE – JOURNEY OF APOSTLE PAUL WITH 4-DAY CRUISE

13 Days TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip AIR USA - Greece included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Two nights accommodations in Thessaloniki with breakfast and dinner daily • One night accommodation in Kalambaka with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Delphi with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Corinth with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights accommodations in Athens with breakfast and dinner daily • Six full days of Christian sightseeing tours on land in Greece included • 4-Day cruise to the Greek Islands and Ephesus included • Optional shore excursions available • All transfers included • All entrance fees included

The monasteries of Meteora - Greece

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1, MON: DEPART USA Depart for Greece on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight..

DAY 2, TUE: ATHENS – THESSALONIKI Upon arrival in Athens, connect to your flight to Thessaloniki, the capital of Macedonia in Northern Greece. Here, a Homeric Tours representative will meet and transfer you to the hotel. St. Paul had a genuine affection for the inhabitants of Thessaloniki, ‘from whom sounded out the Word of the Lord’. Dinner and overnight accomodations at the hotel.

(D) DAY 3, WED: THE MACEDONIAN CALL – AMPHIPOLIS – KAVALA – PHILIPPI – THESSALONIKI Breakfast at the hotel. Amphipolis - Acts 17:1. Traveling east by coach, pass Apollonia to arrive at Amphipolis and visit part of the extensive site, including the North Wall. See both the Beta and

• Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

GREECE

Thessaloniki

Meteora Kalambaka

Delphi Patras

TURKEY

Corinth Athens

Patmos

Piraeus Mykonos

Land Tours

Santorini

Cruises

Ephesus

Rhodes

Gamma gates, and the remains of Strymon Bridge. View the 4th Century B.C. Lion Statue that was prominent on the ancient Egnatian Way that St. Paul would have traveled.

Kavala - (Acts 16:11). Stop near the harbor of Kavala (biblical Neapolis), St. Paul’s gateway to Europe - a busy port with its striking castle and imposing aqueduct.

See the Greek Orthodox seaside church of Agia Sophia, which marks the location of St. Paul’s landing.

Philippi - (Acts 16:12-40). As a prosperous colony, Philippi had a spacious forum and Agora, as well as a theater that was also a gladiator arena. Nearby there is a crypt, which has been honored since the fifth century as the place of St. Paul’s first imprisonment, where Paul and Silas sang hymns before an earthquake set them free. Philippi is also the place where the Apostle Paul arrived on the European mainland in response to the vision of a Macedonian he saw at Troas, an ancient city in Asia Minor. Outside this ancient city, the River Gangites still flows through the quiet countryside reminiscent of where St. Paul addressed his first European congregations and the businesswoman Lydia, a “seller of purple,” was the first to be baptized. There is a fine chapel commemorating the event.

Return to Thessaloniki via the coast road for dinner and overnight accommodations at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 4, THUR: THESSALONIKI – PELLA – VERIA – VERGINA – KALAMBAKA Breakfast at the hotel. Paul and Silas took the road through Amphipolis and Apollonia and came to Thessaloniki (Acts 17:1-9). In Roman times, this com-

mercial and military center reached a population of 200,000, becoming the capital of Macedonia. See the churches of St. Paul, the Holy Spirit, Panayia Halkeon, Ahiropoietos, George (the Rotunda) and David. At St. Dimitrios, descend to the crypt where St. Paul is believed to have preached and Dimitrios was later martyred. Pause at the Cave and Well of St. Paul, the Monastery of Vlattadon and the “House of Jason”, where St. Paul stayed for about three weeks. Depart Thessaloniki and drive west into the mountains to Pella, visiting this royal city of Ancient Macedonia and the birthplace of Alexander the Great, including the house of the Lion Hunt and the outstanding mosaics preserved in the museum. Berea - (Acts 17:10-15).

Approach Mount Vermion and Veria, (biblical Berea) to see the Hellenic tower and walls, “St. Paul’s Steps” commemorating the willing audience the apostle found among both Gentiles and Jews and the Ayios Christos Church, which marks the growth of the gospel. Then it is on to Vergina with a stop to visit the local museum and view the Macedonian Tombs. Continue to Kalambaka for overnight and dinner. (B,D) DAY 5, FRI: CENTRAL GREECE – THE METEORA MONASTERIES – DELPHI Breakfast at the hotel. On the western edge of the plain of Thessaly, just as the Pindus range begins to form, one comes upon a unique phenomenon of nature 24 perpendicular rocks on which Byzantine monks chose to worship God and built Meteora, their monastic community, about 600 years ago.

The ‘Monasteries Hanging in the Air’ are

Crete

6

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

board the ship and cruise the Greek islands and Turkey. The first port of call will be the island of Mykonos. Beneath its sophisticated surface lies a quintessential Greek island. Hundreds of tiny chapels dot the island and sheep graze in the shadow of whitewashed windmills. Find a table on the waterfront and bask in the serenity of sunset over the picturesque harbor. Be sure to send your regards to Pete the Pelican. We then sail through the night. (B,L,D)

The Churches of Santorini - Greece

known for their ancient icons. How the monasteries were built on the top of these virtually inaccessible rocks is a subject of fascination for all who see them. Visit two of these stunning mountain monasteries. Depart for Delphi, traveling through a diverse landscape. Upon arrival in Delphi, check-in to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D) DAY 6, SAT: CENTRAL & SOUTH GREECE – DELPHI – PATRAS Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a visit of the impressive archeological site of Delphi, the ancient site associated with the mythology and history of the ‘Oracle’. Among the many points of interest we see are the Sanctuary of Apollo, the Doric Temple of Apollo, the Sacred Way, the 5,000 seat theater where the Delphic Festivals were held, the Stadium where the Pythian Games took place every four years, the Castalian Spring, the Sanctuary of Athena, and the Tholos Rotunda. A visit of the museum is also included. East from Delphi lies Ossios Loukas Monastery. This Byzantine monastery is situated on the edge of an inspiring valley of olive trees surrounded by steep mountains and is still used by Greek Orthodox monks. The architecture and icons are particularly beautiful in this restful place of prayer. The monastery is dedicated to St. Luke Stiris, whose uncorrupt body is sometimes made available for viewing in the church. Continue on to Corinth for dinner and overnight at the hotel.

(B,D) DAY 7, SUN: CORINTH – MYCENAE – CORINTH CANAL – ATHENS

Breakfast at the hotel. Corinth - (Acts 18:1-18). This morning, visit Corinth, where St. Paul arrived in A.D. 50-51 to preach the teachings of Christ. Stop at the archeological site housing many statues and artifacts, such as the Temple of Apollo, the Roman Agora, the Bema Courthouse, where St. Paul’s enemies brought him before Gallio, the pavement inscription of Erastus, the Roman Lechaion Road and the Lower Fountain of Peirene. It was here in Corinth that St. Paul wrote First Thessalonians and also, most likely, his Epistle to the Romans. Then it is on to Mycenae, the most powerful, brilliant and sovereign influence in Greece up to 1100 B.C., when it was destroyed by fire. One enters the acropolis through the Lion Gate, the oldest example of monumental sculpture in Europe.

Inside its walls, excavations have uncovered the palace complex, a grave circle with six royal tombs, courtiers’ houses, sanctuaries and other important buildings. A visit of the museum is also included. Continue to Athens and cross the Corinth Canal, stopping briefly to learn the history of this famous man-made construction - one of the Seven Wonders of the modern world. Then arrive in Athens, the most important city-state in ancient Greece, and the capital of modern Greece since 1834. In New Testament times, Athens was the intellectual capital of the Mediterranean world. Check-in to the hotel in Athens with dinner included.

(B,D) DAY 8, MON: 4-DAY GREEK ISLAND CRUISE / DEPART PIRAEUS, MYKONOS After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Piraeus, where you

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

DAY 9, TUE: CRUISE TO KUSADASI/EPHESUS – PATMOS Morning arrival in Kusadasi, Turkey, where an optional excursion can be booked, taking you to Ephesus, the best preserved of the original Seven Churches of Revelation (Rev. 2:1-7).

Visit the ancient city with its impressive temples, marble streets, library, agoras, baths and theater that seats 24,000 people. It was in this theater that riots against St. Paul took place. It was also here that St. Paul made his headquarters, spending two years and writing his First Letter to the Corinthians (Acts 19:1-20:1). Also visit the House of the Virgin Mary in Ephesus, where St. John brought Mary after the death of Christ.

This small house was built for her on Bulbuldagi (Mt. Nightingale) and is where she spent the last days of her life. We will then visit the beautiful chapel, Panaya Kapula, built on the mount Setimisses. Pope Paul VI prayed here during his visit to Turkey in 1967.

This afternoon, sail to Patmos, where St. John wrote the Book of Revelation during his exile by the Roman authorities. The Monastery of St. John, built on one of the island’s highest points, houses priceless icons and manuscripts in its treasury. Return to the ship and sail to the next destination. (B,L,D) DAY 10, WED: CRUISE TO RHODES Today is spent visiting the beautiful ‘Island of Roses’ with its rich and varied history. On a hill above the charming town of Lindos, rises an ancient acropolis dedicated to the goddess of Athena. Below, lay the Bay of St. Paul, where the apostle landed during his voyages. The crusading Knights of St. John left the magnificent medieval city of Rhodes behind when Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent defeated them. The Turks then occupied Rhodes for almost 400 years leaving mosques, minarets and a Turkish bath to mark their presence. Return to the ship and sail onward to the next destination.

(B,L,D)

DAY 11, THUR: CRUISE TO HERAKLION (CRETE), SANTORINI After breakfast, one has a choice of excursions to visit Heraklion, the capitol of Crete and its principal commercial port. Just three miles away are the fantastic ruins of the Palace of Knossos.

Discovered in 1899 by Sir Arthur Evans and partially reconstructed, the elaborate palace is believed to be the mythical Labyrinth of King Minos and the seat of ancient Minoan culture.

This afternoon, depart for the island of Santorini, maybe the most breathtaking of all Greek islands. Around 1500 B.C., a volcanic eruption destroyed the center of the island, leaving a crescent shaped rim of cliffs around a harbor formed in the volcano’s caldera. The town of Fira, with its whitewashed houses, narrow streets, open-air cafes and glittering boutiques, clings to these cliffs, accessible mostly by cable car or donkey. To the south is Akrotiri, where recent Minoan excavations support the theories that Santorini might be the fabled lost continent of Atlantis. Return to the ship and cruise to the next destination. (B,L,D) DAY 12, FRI: PIRAUES – ATHENS CITY TOUR Disembark in Piraeus and transfer to Athens for a half-day city tour, visiting at the Dipylon Gate, the Roman Market, the Temple of Hephastos, the Ancient Agora, the rebuilt Stoa of Attalus and its museum, the waterclock of Andronicos and Hadrian’s Library. Climb Mars’ Hill, associated with St. Paul’s address to the councilors and philosophers of the Areopagus and see St. Paul’s well and the foundations of the church dedicated to Dionysius the Areopagite, one of St. Paul’s converts (Acts 17:16-34). After visiting the famous Acropolis, continue on to the Filopapou Monument, Hadrian’s Arch and the Olympic Stadium, built when the Olympic Games were revived in 1896. Visit the National Archeological Museum to see outstanding treasures from throughout Greece and then transfer to the hotel. A farewell dinner has been arranged at a local, typical restaurant in ‘Plaka.’ (B,D) DAY 13, SAT: ATHENS – USA After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

7

CYPRUS – IN THE STEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL

8 Days

Jerusalem before continuing to Limassol for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES: • Round trip air USA - Cyprus included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Three nights accommodations in Larnaca with breakfast and dinner daily included • Christian religious tour of Larnaca, Nicosia, Politiko & Lefkara included

Kykkos monastery, Troodos Mountains - Cyprus

TOUR ITINERARY:

• Three nights accommodations in Limassol with breakfast and dinner daily included

DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Cyprus on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

• Excursions to the Troodos mountains, Kyllom Monastery & Byzantine Churches

DAY 2 – LARNACA Upon arrival into Larnaca you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

• All transfers included

• All entrance fees included • Porterage of one suitcase included

DAY 3 – LARNACA – NICOSIA – POLITIKO – LARNACA After breakfast at the hotel, begin your tour by visiting the Venetian Walls, the Cathedral of St. John, the Byzantine Museum at the Archbishop’s Palace, and the Cyprus Archaeological Museum, with a fascinating collection of Cypriot antiquities and art treasures from the Neolithic Age to the Byzantine Period. Free time in Laiki Yitonia, a pedestrian area in the old part of Nicosia with shops, galleries and cafes. In the afternoon visit Saint Eraklidios Monastery, which is operated

• Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

Nicosia

CYPRUS Lefkara

Paphos Limassol

8

Larnaca

by nuns. Here Saint Paul met Eraklidios, who later converted to Christianity. Return to the hotel in Larnaca for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 4 – LARNACA – LEFKARA – LARNACA After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Larnaka to visit Saint Lazarus Church, which houses the holy relics of the saint.

On the way to visit Hala Sultan Tekke, a well-known Moslem mosque, pass the Salt Lake and then visit the Byzantine Angeloktisti Church at Kiti village, dating to the 6th Century. Afterwards, visit the Neolithic settlement of Choirokitia that dates from 6,800 B.C. (UNESCO), then on to Ayios Minas Monastery, famous for its icon paintings, before continuing on to the picturesque village of Lefkara, well known for its embroideries, laces and silverware and then return to Larnaca for our dinner and overnight.

(B,D) DAY 5 – LARNACA – LIMASSOL After breakfast at the hotel, depart for your daily sightseeing, driving through the citrus groves of Phassouri to visit the Greco Roman Theatre of Kourion with the well-preserved mosaic floors at the house of Eustolios and the large Grecoroman theatre, which still hosts performances of ancient and modern drama.

Continue to the Sanctuary of Apollo Hylates, the ‘God of the Woodland’ and protector of the city of Kourion. During his journey St. Paul passed through the area, stopped at the stadium to meet with those who knew of his preaching.

Visit Kolossi Castle, headquarters of the Knights of the Order of St. John of

DAY 6 – EXCURSION TO THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS KYKKO MONASTERY AND BYZANTINE CHURCHES After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the Troodos Mountains. Your first stop is at the Kykko Monastery, the most famous and richest monastery in Cyprus, founded in 1100 A.D. and dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It possesses one of the three surviving icons ascribed to St. Luke. Visit the only museum in the world specializing in the history of Christianity during the Byzantine time, housed within the monastery’s complex. In the afternoon, visit the monastery of Ayios Ioannis Lampadistis, in the village of Kalopanayiotis and then continue to the village of Kakopetria. Here at the Karkotis River, St. Paul baptized St. Eraklidios into the Christian faith. In Kakopetria, you will also visit the Church of Ayios Nikolaos Tis Stegis, entirely painted with frescoes and a UNESCO world heritage site.

Return to Limassol and the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 7 – LIMASSOL – PAFOS – LIMASSOL After breakfast at the hotel, travel to the region of Pafos, one of the most beautiful areas of the island. Stop at the village of Kouklia, where St. Paul spoke to the masses that came to hear him speak.

Drive by “Petra Tou Romiou”, the legendary birthplace of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love and Beauty and in Geroskipou village visit Ayia Paraskevi Byzantine Church dating back to the 9th Century. Here you will see its vaulted basilica, nave and two aisles surrounded by five domes and its frescoes that date back to the 15th Century. Finally arrive in the town of Pafos. It was here in Pafos that the Roman emperor Sergio Paul converted to the Christian faith after hearing St. Paul’s speeches. Also see St. Paul’s Pillar, where he was tied and given 39 lashes for preaching Christianity and finally visit the House of Dionysus and the House of Theseus at the Pafos Archaeological Park. Transfer back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 8 – LIMASSOL – LARNACA – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport in Larnaca for your return flight home. (B)

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

TURKEY – SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION & NICAEA

of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John and the antique city of Ephesus, where St. Paul stayed and taught for two years (Acts 19:10), and where he promised on his second journey, “I shall come back to you if it is God’s will” (Acts 18:21). Proceed to Izmir where you will visit St. Polycarpos Church before continuing to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

The Byzantine Hagia Sophia, Istanbul - Turkey

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Turkey on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and, after a brief orientation tour, you will be transferred to your hotel, with free time before dinner. (D) DAY 3 – ISTANBUL After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a city tour including Topkapi Palace, the imperial resident of Sultans that is famous for its treasure and is the second largest palace in the world, St. Sophia Church, the largest church of its era and the architectural glory of Byzantine architecture, the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets as well as its interior blue tiles and the Hippodrome, where the chariot races were held and finally to the Grand Bazaar, the largest covered bazaar with more than 4,000 shops. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

(B,L,D)

ing Izmit Bay by ferry (or driving along the coast) to arrive in Iznik, where we visit this ancient city of Nicaea, the most important city of Bithynia at the time of Paul’s visit, and where two church meetings, the First and Seventh Ecumenical Councils, were held. Visits include St. Sophia Church, the place of the latter meeting and St. Trifon Church. Continue to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, for a tour to include the Grand Mosque, the Silk Bazaar and the Green Mausoleum, before transferring to your hotel for diner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 4 – ISTANBUL After breakfast, visit St. Chora Church, one of the first churches of the Byzantine Empire and famous for its golden frescoes. Proceed to Pantocrator Church in the historical district of Zeyrek.

After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a 2-hour cruise on the Bosphorus River and then back to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

DAY 6 – BURSA – SARDIS – PHILADELPHIA – HIEROPOLIS – PAMUKKALE After breakfast, depart for Sardis, one of the most picturesque sites of the Seven Churches, including visits to the Artemis Temple, the Byzantine Church and the Acropolis. Continue to Philadelphia where the church was not strong but its members were loyal. In the afternoon, travel to Pamukkale, about which St. John wrote, “I know all your ways; you are neither hot nor cold. How I wish you were either hot or cold! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-17). Then visit the ancient city of Hieroplis, famous for its early Christian remains and the site where the Apostle Philip was martyred, as well as being the hometown of Papias, a disciple of St. John. Transfer to your hotel in Pamukkale for dinner and overnight.

(B,D)

DAY 5 – ISTANBUL – IZNIK (NICEA) – BURSA Following breakfast, cross the Intercontinental Bosphorus Bridge, cross-

DAY 7 – PAMUKKALE – EPHESUS – IZMIR After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Ephesus. Visits here include the House

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

DAY 8 – IZMIR – THYATIRA – PERGAMUM – ASSOS – CANAKKALE After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Thyatira for visits to the remnants of the Christian Church and the temple, before proceeding to the ancient city of Pergamum where you will visit he Asklepium Sanctuary and the Acropolis, including the Altar of Zeus, which is said to be ‘the place where Satan has his throne’ (Revelation 2:13), the Trojan Temple, the world’s steepest theater and the Red Basilica, which was originally a center of pagan worship and afterwards used as a church dedicated to St. John.

Then a visit to Assos, where St. Paul is said to have walked from Alexandria Troas on his third journey (Acts 20:13-14). Continue to Canakkale and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D) DAY 9 – CANAKKALE – ISTANBUL After breakfast, visit the famous ancient city of Troy where the mythological Trojan War took place. Excavations are being done since 1872 and several layers of cities built on top of each other have been brought to light. Afterwards, proceed to Istanbul, crossing the Dardanelles Strait by ferry and transferring to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (D,B) DAY 10 – ISTANBUL – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

10 Days TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Turkey included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Four nights accommodations in Istanbul with breakfast and dinner daily included • One night accommodation in Bursa with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Pamukkale with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Izmir with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Canakkale with breakfast and dinner included • Eight full days of Christian sightseeing tours in Turkey included • All transfers included • All entrance fees included

• Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan • Optional: Six-day cruise from Istanbul to the Greek islands may be added. Please ask for details

Istanbul Iznik Canakkale Bursa

Izmir

Ephesus

TURKEY Sardis

Pamukkale

9

TURKEY – IN THE STEPS OF APOSTLE PAUL

14 Days TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Turkey included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • One night accommodation in Istanbul with breakfast and dinner included • Air from Istanbul to Adana included • Two night accommodations in Adana & Cappadocia with breakfast and dinner daily • One night accommodation in Antalya & Pamukkale with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Izmir with breakfast and dinner included • Nine full days of Christian sightseeing tours in Turkey included • All transfers included • All entrance fees included • Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan • Optional: Three day cruise from Kusadasi to the Greek islands may be added please ask for details

Dark Church, Cappadocia - Turkey

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Turkey on you overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL Arrive in Istanbul and after being met by your Homeric Tours representative, transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (D) DAY 3 – ISTANBUL – ADANA After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a half-day city tour including Topkapi Palace, the imperial resident of Sultans that is famous for its treasure and is the second largest palace in the world, St. Sophia Church, the largest church of its era and the architectural glory of

Istanbul

Canakkale Troy

TURKEY

Cappadocia

Izmir Pamukkale Konya Ephesus

Antalya

10

Adana

Byzantine architecture, the Blue Mosque, famous for its six minarets as well as its interior blue tiles and the Chora Church, one of the first churches of the Byzantine Empire and famous for its golden frescoes. Transfer to the airport for a flight to Adana, where you will be transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D) DAY 4 – ADANA – ANTAKYA – SAMANDAGI – ADANA After breakfast at the hotel, board your coach to travel to Atakya (Antioquia), where the disciples were first called ‘Christians’ (Acts 11:26). Visit St.Peter’s Church, one of the first Catholic Churches in the world, Antakya Museum of Mosaics, the most impressive mosaic museum in the Near East before driving Georgia on to Samandagi (Seleucia Pereira), the port from where Paul and Barnabas sailed to Cyprus on their first journey Armenia (Acts 13:4). Return to Adana for dinner and overnight accommodation at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 5 – ADANA – TARSUS – CAPPADOCIA Breakfast is followed by an early departure for Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul.

Here a visit to his house, which still stands today. Then proceed to Cappadocia for an orientation tour S y r i a

through Urgup Village. Dinner and overnight accommodations are at your hotel in Cappadocia. (B,D) DAY 6 – CAPPADOCIA After breakfast, a visit to the Goreme Open Air Museum with its chapels and churches carved out of soft rock, famous for its well-preserved frescoes. In the afternoon, visit the Zelve Valley, a site most famous with its troglodyte dwellings, then on to the subterranean city of Ozkonak, an underground city built by early Christians fleeing Roman persecution. Return to Cappadocia and your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D)

Azerbajan

I r a n

q This itinerary can Iber amodified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Acropolis, including the Altar of Zeus, which is said to be ‘the place where Satan has his throne” (Revelation 2:13), the Trojan Temple, the world’s steepest theater and the Red Basilica, which was originally a center of pagan worship and afterwards used as a church dedicated to St. John. Continue to Alexandria Troas where St. Paul is said to have visited at least twice; first when he and Timothy had wanted to go to Bythinia but were prevented by the Holy Spirit (Acts 16:8) and the second time when he preached for 12 hours without stopping (Acts 20:11) while on his way to Jerusalem.

Dinner and overnight is at your hotel in Canakkale.

(B,D)

Aspendos Theater, Antalya - Turkey

DAY 7 – CAPPADOCIA – KONYA After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Konya (Iconium) where St. Paul and Barnabas were threatened by being stoned (Acts 15:5). Visits to St. Paul’s Church and the Mevlana Museum, the dervish lodge of the of the Melevi order, better known as the whirling dervishes. Return to your hotel in Konya for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D) DAY 8 – KONYA – YALVAC – ANTALYA Breakfast at the hotel and then depart for Antalya. On the way is a visit of Yalvac (Pisidian Antioch), which St. Paul used as a base while spreading Christianity in the region (Acts 13:14-50). Continue to Antalya for dinner and overnight accommodations at your hotel. (B,D) DAY 9 – ANTALYA – PERGE – ASPENDOS – ANTALYA This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, visit Perge, where St. Paul and Luke stayed and preached with people upon their return from Antioch (Acts 14:25).

Then you visit Aspendos, with its amazingly well-preserved theater, before returning to Antalya (Attalia) for a short tour to include the Hadrianus Gate and the Groove Minaret Mosque. Dinner and overnight accommodations at your hotel in Antalya. (B,D) DAY 10 – ANTALYA – COLOSSAE – HIERAPOLIS – PAMUKKALE After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Colossae which St. Paul did not visit, however he sent a letter saying ‘to the Saints and faithful brothers of Christ who are at Colossae; grace be on you, and peace from god and

Jesus Christ’ (Colossians 1:2). Then continue to Pamukkale, and a visit of Hierapolis, the center of Epaphra’s work (Colossians 4:13). A visit to the Cascades of Pamukkale is also included. Dinner and overnight accommodations at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 11 – PAMUKKALE – EPHESUS – IZMIR After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Ephesus. Visits here include the House of the Virgin Mary, the Basilica of St. John and the antique city of Ephesus, where St. Paul stayed and taught for two years (Acts 19:10), and where he promised on his second journey, “I shall come back to you if it is God’s will” (Acts 18:21).

Proceed to Izmir where you will visit St. Polycarpos Church before continuing to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations.

(B,D)

DAY 13 – CANAKKALE – TROY – ISTANBUL After breakfast, visit the famous ancient city of Troy and hear the fascinating story of this city. Continue to Istanbul and a visit of the Grand Bazaar before transferring to your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D) DAY 14 – ISTANBUL – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

Medieval Church of Chora, Istanbul - Turkey

DAY 12 – IZMIR – PERGAMUM – ALEXANDRI ATROAS – CANAKKALE After breakfast, drive to Pergamum and visit the Asklepion Sanctuary and the

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

11

ISRAEL – HOLYLAND PILGRIMAGE

9 Days

4:13-17). Then on the Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (Matt. 5-7) and to Tabgha, the chapel dedicated to the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (Mark 6:3444). You then proceed to upper Galilee and the site of Peter’s confession (Matt.

16:16) at Caesarea Phillipi and to Mt. Hermon (Psalm 89:12), the probable site of the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-8) and the present day Golan Heights, where Israel, Lebanon and Syria come together.

Follow the fresh mountain waters of Mt. Hermon to the Sea of Galilee and stop at the beautiful Pilgrims Park at the Jordan River. Return to your hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES: • Round trip air USA - Israel included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • One night accommodation in Tel Aviv with breakfast and dinner included

Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth - Israel

• One night accommodation in Galilee with breakfast and dinner included

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Israel on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

• One night accommodation by the Dead Sea with breakfast and dinner included • Three nights accommodations in Jerusalem with breakfast and dinner daily

DAY 2 – TEL AVIV Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and

• Six full days of Christian sightseeing tours throughout the itinerary is included • All transfers included

• All entrance fees included • Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan 34˚

35˚

LEBANON

S Y R I A Capernaum Tiberias

Nazareth

Tel-Aviv

WEST BANK

Mediterranean Sea Jerusalem Dead Sea

ISRAEL 12

transferred to the hotel in Tel Aviv. The rest of the day is at leisure until this evening, when dinner will be served at the hotel. (D) DAY 3 – TEL AVIV – TIBERIAS After breakfast at the hotel, , drive through the citrus groves and farms of the rich land of Sharon, northward to Caesarea, the Roman city of Herod where sights include Crusades fortifications and the Roman aqueducts and amphitheater.

Driving through the Jezreel Valley to the fields of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16) and Megiddo and continuing north along the Mediterranean Sea to Haifa and Mt. Carmel, the biblical site of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Bael (I Kings 18).

Traveling westward across Galilee, view Mt. Tabor (Psalm 89:12), Deboriya, the hometown of the prophet Deborah, at the foothills of Mt. Tabor (Judges 4 & 5).

Then it is on to your hotel for dinner and overnight on the shores of the beautiful Sea of Galilee. (B,D)

DAY 5 – TIBERIAS – CANA – NAZARETH – JERICHO – QUMRAN – DEAD SEA After an early breakfast, depart for Cana, where Jesus performed his first miracle, changing water into wine, before proceeding to Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, where we will visit the Church of Annunciation (Luke 1:5-42) and Mary’s Fountain (Luke 4:16-22). Drive past Bethshean and then south through the Jordan Valley to ancient Jericho where the walls came tumbling down (Joshua 6:5-20), and a commanding view of the Mt. of Temptation (Matt. 4:1-11) and Elisha’s Fountain. Continue to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered for a visit of the remains of the Community Center of the Essenes and the Caves of the Scrolls. Travel to the

DAY 4 – TIBERIAS – CAPERNAUM – CAESAREA PHILLIPI – MT. HERMON – TIBERIAS After breakfast at the hotel, depart for an exciting day of touring in the Galilee area. Depart from the Roman hot springs resort city of Tiberias for a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (John 6:24) to visit the ancient ruins of the first century synagogue where Jesus preached (Matt.

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Bazaars to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Visit the Garden Tomb and Golgoths, Place of the Skull, for a worship service. This afternoon continue your tour to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus, Shepherds’ Fields (Luke 2:1-20) and then the Field of Boaz and Ruth (Ruth 1:16-17 & 4:13). Drive past Rachel’s Tomb, gravesite of the biblical

matriarch, before returning to Jerusalem and your hotel for dinner overnight. (B,D) DAY 9 – JERUSALEM – TEL AVIV – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B) Basilica of Annunciation, Nazareth - Israel

Church of St. Gabriel, Nazareth - Israel

Dead Sea and back to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 6 – DEAD SEA – MASADA – BETHANY – JERUSALEM After breakfast at the hotel, drive via the Judean Desert to Masada, a truly remarkable piece of history. Ascend by cable car to visit the magnificent ruins of the fortress where from 70-73 A.D. Jewish defenders made the last stand of the Judean Revolt against Rome and where the remains of the Byzantine church are still on view. Then visit the Inn of Good Samaritan (Luke 10:2537), and Bethany, the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1-46) before traveling to Jerusalem. (B,D) DAY 7 – JERUSALEM After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Mt. Scopus and the Mt. of Olives (Matt.

24:3) for a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem, and also visit the Chapel of the Ascension, the Church of Peter Nostar and Dominus Flevit, built by the Byzantines to commemorate the event of Jesus’ weeping over Jerusalem. Walk along Hosanna Road to visit Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, which stands on the Rock of Agony, where Jesus was betrayed by Judas (Matt. 26:36-57). See the Pillar of Absalom, the Eastern (Golden) Gate and the Pinnacle of the Temple. Then drive to Mt. Zion to visit the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, built on the site

of Caiphes’ House, where it is said that Peter denied Jesus, the Room of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20) and the Tomb of King David. Continue your tour by visiting New Jerusalem, including the Hebrew University, the Shrine of the Book that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and Yad Vashem, the immensely moving memorial to the six million martyrs of the Holocaust, as well as model city of Jerusalem, which depicts in miniature the Holy City as it appeared in the first century. Visit the area of Ein Karem, where according to christians, John the Baptist was born, before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 8 – JERUSALEM – BETHLEHEM After breakfast at the hotel, start your day at Western Wall (Wailing Wall) where the faithful Jews cry their petitions to God. Continue to the Temple Arc of Mt. Moriah and visit the El Aksa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, which is built on the ancient site of Solomon’s Temple (Genesis 22:9-14), over the Rock of Sacrifice where Abraham offered Isaac (Genesis 22) and the ceremonial sacrifice of animals took place. After this, walk along Via Dolotosa to Pilate’s Judgment Hall, the Chapel of the Flagellation, the Ecce Homo Arch (John 19:13), where Jesus was tried before Pilate (Mark 15:6) and then continue through the Old City Mount of Olives - Jerusalem - Israel

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

13

JORDAN & HOLYLAND

14 Days

name is Pisgah, ‘and Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho’. Continue to Amman and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Jordan and Israel included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Two nights accommodations in Petra with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights Amman with breakfast and dinner daily • Three full days of Christian sightseeing tours in Jordan included • Two nights accommodations in Galilee with breakfast and dinner included • Five nights accommodations in Jerusalem with breakfast and dinner daily • Seven full days of Christian sightseeing tours in Israel included • All transfers included • All entrance fees included

Church of the Annunciation, Nazareth - Israel

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Jordan on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – AMMAN – PETRA Upon arrival in Amman and after being met by your Homeric Tours representative, transfer to Petra and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (D) DAY 3 – PETRA After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a two hour walking tour of Petra, the ‘red rose city’. It begins with a walk through the Siq to the Treasury, then through the main street with magnificent structures on each side carved into the mountains, to the colonnaded street, ending at the Petra Museum. Lose yourself in the history of the Nabateans who meticulously carved massive structures out of the rose-colored sandstone. See the influence of the people that followed, including the architecture of the mighty Romans and a beauti-

• Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

34˚

35˚

Capernaum Tiberias Nazareth

Tel-Aviv

WEST BANK

Amman

Mediterranean Sea Jerusalem

Dead Sea

Bethlehem

JORDAN ISRAEL

Kerak

Petra

14

ful Byzantine chapel decorated with ancient mosaics, all carefully preserved.

Enjoy a free afternoon for shopping, exploration or rest before dinner at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 4 – PETRA – KERAK – MADABA – MT. NEBO – AMMAN After breakfast, depart for the ‘King's Highway’ and a visit of Kerak and its castle, the largest of all mountain-top Crusader Castles. Next it is on to Madaba, ‘the City of Mosaics’, to visit St. George Church where there is a clear map of the Holy Land, including Israel,

Palestine and Lower Egypt, before continuing on to visit Mt. Nebo, where Moses was laid to rest, and where the late Pope John Paul II traveled his first pilgrimage of the millennium. Visit the Sanctuary at Nebo, the memorial of Moses, the presumed site of his death and burial place and a center for pilgrimages since early Christian times. You will be inspired by the biblical feel from start to finish as you experience this divine tour. The site's association with the last days of Moses is described in moving words in Deuteromony (34:1-7). The episode of Balak and Balam (2:13-26) also took place here. The site's other

DAY 5 – AMMAN – DEAD SEA – JERASH – AMMAN After breakfast, depart for the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth, and visit the Museum of the Dead Sea Scrolls and then free time for bathing in the healing salt waters. Continue on to Jerash, nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, where the grandeur of Imperial Rome is on display. Located here is one of the largest and best preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy. To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates, remain in exceptional condition. Return to Amman and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 6 – AMMAN – TEL AVIV After breakfast, depart for Israel. Upon arrival, your Homeric Tours representative will escort you to your hotel on the coast. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

(B,D) DAY 7 – TEL AVIV – CAESAREA – HAIFA – MUKHARA – CANA – NAZARETH – GALILEE After breakfast at the hotel, travel via the coast to Caesarea where the Romans held St. Paul prisoner and visit the ruins of the Romans and the Crusaders. Drive

through the Carmel Mountains and in Haifa, visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery with the Madonna of Mt. Carmel. Continue to Mukhraka where Elijah confronted the false prophets of Baal and where the Carmelite Order was started. Drive to Cana, the village of Jesus' first miracle of changing water into wine. Continue to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth where we will visit Mary's Well and the Church of the Angel Gabriel before continuing on to

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Church of All Nations, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem - Israel

the Sea of Galilee and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 8 – GALILEE – TIBERIAS – CAPERNAUM – CAESAREA PHILIPPI – GALILEE After breakfast at the hotel, you have a full-day of sightseeing included. Some of today's highlights are a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to see the synagogue and St Peter's House, a visit to the Mount of the Beatitudes where the Sermon on the Mount was given, to Tabgha to see the splendid mosaic about the miracle of the loaves of bread and fish and to the nearby Church of Peter's Primacy where Peter was told ‘feed my lambs, feed my sheep’. In the afternoon, visit Caesarea Philippi, location of the testimony of St. Peter and where Jesus answered him ‘You are the Rock and upon this Rock, I will build my Church’.

Return to Galilee for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 9 – GALILEE – JORDAN RIVER – MT. TABOR – SEPPHORIS – JERUSALEM After breakfast at the hotel, travel to the Jordan River where Christ was baptized and then continue to Mt. Tabor, scene of the transfiguration. Proceed to Sepphoris, a regional city at the time of Jesus. Then drive down the Jordan Valley for Jerusalem and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 10 – JERUSALEM – BETHLEHEM – JERUSALEM After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a full-day tour to include some key sites around the city. This includes a dramatic view of the Old City from the Mount

of Olives, revealing a city with 4,000 years of history. From this vantage point, you will see much of what makes Jerusalem such a unique city to the three major religions – Judaism, Christianity and Islam. We then head to the village of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist and to the

last prayer before his arrest. Visit the Cave of Betrayal and then the Cave of

the Assumption of Mary. Back at the Mount of Olives, visit the Pater Noster with the Lords Prayer inscribed in many languages and the site where Jesus ascended to Heaven. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

(B,D) Church of Visitation where the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, and proclaimed the 'Magnificat'. This afternoon, drive to the Shepherd's Fields where the angels announced Jesus’ birth and then visit the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, standing on the site where Jesus was born. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 12 – JERUSALEM AND SURROUNDING AREA After breakfast at the hotel, an early morning departure to retrace the last steps of Jesus. As you walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of Sorrow) through

the markets of the Old City praying the Stations of the Cross and reflecting on the greatness of His sacrifice. Arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre travel to the Old City of Jerusalem to visit St. Anne’s Church, the home of the Virgin Mary and her parents saints Joachim and Anne. We pass the Ecce Homo, where Pilate proclaimed ‘behold the man’, then the Wailing Wall, the most holy place for Jews. Nearby is the Dome of the Rock and the Haram al Sharif, or Temple Mount. Then exit at Mt. Zion and at the Cenacle, visit the Upper Room of the Last Supper. Next, it is on to Dormition Abbey, which is where many of the faithful believe the Blessed Virgin Mary died. End the day at the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter denied Jesus three times.

Return to the hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 13 – JERUSALEM AND SURROUNDING AREA After breakfast at the hotel, explore the desert east of Jerusalem that is rich in the Christian tradition. Just off the Roman road that Jesus 'walked', is the Wadi Qelt Gorge, site of the Monastery of St George. At the oasis town of Jericho, visit the excavations of the oldest city in the world and view Mt. Temptation where Jesus fasted and was tempted by Satan. On the way back, there is time for a swim (or rather a float!) in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea, renowned for its healing properties. In the afternoon, there will be free time for you to revisit some of your favorite sites and time for last minute buying of gifts for your loved ones. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem. (B,D) DAY 14 – JERUSALEM – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

DAY 11 – JERUSALEM – BETHANY – MOUNT OF OLIVES – JERUSALEM After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Bethany where Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Then on to the Mount of Olives to walk the Palm Sunday route stopping at Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem.

Then it is on to Gethsemane and the Rock of Agony where Jesus prayed His

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem - Israel 15

JORDAN – CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGE

9 Days

ple from Old Testament times. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight at your hotel. (B,D) Umm Qais and Jerash, in the northern part of the Kingdom, are biblical sites that Jesus visited: ‘then they sailed to the country of the Gadareans which is opposite of Galilee’ Luke (8:26-37) Mark (5:1-20) also mentioned in John (4:1-3) and Mathew (8:28-34).

TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Jordan included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English speaking licensed guide included • Two nights Amman with breakfast and dinner daily • Sightseeing tour of Umm Qais, Propylaeum Church, St. Genseiuse and the Church of Bishop Isaiah and more • One night accommodation in Bethany with breakfast and dinner included • Christian religious tour of Bethany included • One night accommodation in Kerak with breakfast and dinner included • Christian religious tour of Kerak included • Two nights accommodations in Petra with breakfast and dinner included • Christian religious tour of Petra included • Sightseeing tour of Wadi Rum included • All transfers included • All entrance fees included

DAY 4 – AMMAN – BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN – DEAD SEA AREA After breakfast at the hotel, begin your day with a city tour by visiting the Archaeological Museum, the Citadel and its museum to view the Dead Sea Dead Sea - Jordan

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Jordan on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – AMMAN Upon arrival in Amman, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to your hotel .The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

(D) DAY 3 – AMMAN – UMM QAIS – JERASH – PELLA After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the Roman city of Umm Qais, also known as Gedara, situated on a hilltop overlooking the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan Valley and this is where the miracle of the Gadarene swine took place.

The remains of its theaters and temple

• Porterage of one suitcase 34˚ 35˚ included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

Jerash

Jordan River

WEST BANK

Amman

Bethany Dead Sea

Madaba Wadi Rum

Kerak

JORDAN Petra

16

are major attractions in this city.

Afterward, travel southward to Jerash, nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, where the grandeur of Imperial Rome is on display.

Visits include St. George, the Propylaeum Church, St. Genseiuse and the Church of Bishop Isaiah, as well as the ruins of

Bethany beyond the Jordan

Jerash, the Street of Columns, the Amphitheater, the Oval Plaza and the Temple of Zeus & Artemis. Continue our visit to the Jabbok River to visit Pella, the site where Jacob crossed (‘he arose that night and he took his two wives, his two maid servants, and his eleven sons and crossed over the ford of Jabbock’).

Modern day Pella, ancient Penuel, meaning ‘the face of God’, was so named by Jacob after he wrestled there all night with God in the form of a man or angel (Genesis 32:24-30). A massive Bronze and Iron Age temple recently discovered is thought to be the best preserved tem-

Scrolls, the Roman Amphitheater and the modern part of the city. Then continue to the settlement of John the Baptist.

Some 2,000 years ago, he lived and baptized in an area known as ‘Bethany beyond the Jordan’ (John 1:28). This important site of early Christianity, which Jesus also visited, ‘Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing’ (John 1:28), and also mentioned is an incident when Jesus escaped from hostile crowds in Jerusalem and ‘went away again across the Jordan to the place where John at first baptized’ (John 10:40). This Bethany area in Jordan, sometimes referred to in the Bible as Perea, is not to be confused with the village of Bethany near Jerusalem, the hometown of Lazarus. The Bible recounts that Elijah parted the waters of the Jordan River and walked across it with his successor the Prophet Elisha, then ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:5-14). The small hill from

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

The "Treasury" at Petra - Jordan

which Elijah ascended to heaven has been known for centuries as Elijah’s Hill, and forms the core of the settlement at Bethany in Jordan. The ongoing survey excavations at Bethany in

Jordan have uncovered a 1st Century A.D. settlement with plastered pools and a water system that was used almost certainly for baptism, and a 5th6th Century A.D. late Byzantine settlement with churches, a monastery, and other structures probably catering to religious pilgrims. Afterwards, proceed to the Dead Sea, the lowest

spot on earth, and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 5 – DEAD SEA AREA – MADABA – MT. NEBO – MUKAWIR – UM AL RASAS – KERAK After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the King's Highway for a visit of Madaba, ‘the City of Mosaics’, to visit St. George Church where there is a clear map of the Holy Land, including Israel, Palestine and Lower Egypt, before continuing on to visit Mt. Nebo, where Moses was laid to rest, and where the late Pope John Paul II traveled his first pilgrimage of the millennium. Visit the Sanctuary at Nebo, the memorial of Moses, the presumed site of his death and burial place and a center for pilgrimages since early Christian times. You will be inspired by the biblical feel from start to finish as you experience this divine tour. The site's association with the last days of Moses is described in moving words in Deuteromony (34:1-7). The episode of

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Balak and Balam (2:13-26) also took place here. The site's other name is Pisgah, ‘and Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho’. Continue on to Mukawir, where John the Baptist was beheaded at the palace of Herod Antipas, before proceeding to the Um Al Rasas, where just outside the city walls is the recently unearthed Church of St. Stephen, with its perfectly preserved mosaic floor.

Then it is on to Kerak for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

the Siq to the Treasury, then through the main street with magnificent structures on each side carved into the mountains, to the colonnaded street, ending at the Petra Museum. Lose yourself in the history of the Nabateans who meticulously carved massive structures out of the rose-colored sandstone. See the influence of the people that followed, including the architecture of the mighty Romans and a beautiful Byzantine chapel decorated with ancient mosaics, all carefully preserved.

Of the mountains that encircle the great bowl of Petra, none is more commanding than Aaron's Mountain (Jabal Harun). At 4,000 feet above sea-level, it is the highest peak in the area and it is a place of great sanctity to the local people for here, it is believed, Moses' brother Aaron died and was buried. A 14th century mosque stands here with its white dome visible from most areas in and around Petra. Return to the hotel and enjoy a free afternoon for shopping, exploration or rest before dinner at the hotel. (B,D)

DAY 6 – KERAK – PETRA After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Kerak and its castle, the largest of all mountain-top Crusader Castles, before continuing on to Petra and your hotel.

The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 8 – PETRA – WADI RUM – AMMAN After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Wadi Rum, a desert characterized by colorful hills and canyons. Tour the area by 4x4 jeeps in the rosy desert of southern Jordan. This ‘Valley of the Moon’ is a truly magical place. Desert terrain washed with softly colored sands and wind-sculpted mountains offer both deep relaxation and high adventure. Lie back against the cushions and linger over fragrant mint tea or cardamom-flavored coffee while enjoying lunch under a Bedouin tent. Go rock-climbing and look for ancient ‘rock art’ inscriptions or take a camel ride for a traditional view of the desert. Then proceed to Amman and your hotel for your final dinner and overnight in Jordan. (B,L,D)

DAY 7 – PETRA After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a two hour walking tour of Petra, the ‘red rose city’. It begins with a walk through

DAY 9 – AMMAN – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B) 17

EGYPT & JORDAN

9 Days

including the architecture of the mighty Romans and a beautiful Byzantine chapel decorated with ancient mosaics, all carefully preserved. Enjoy a free afternoon for shopping, exploration or rest before dinner at the hotel. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Egypt & Jordan included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Three night accommodations in Cairo with breakfast and dinner daily included • Two full days of Christian sightseeing tours in Egypt plus the Pyramids and Egyptian Museum • Air from Cairo to Jordan included • Two nights accommodations in Petra with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights accommodations in Amman with breakfast and dinner daily • Four full days of Christian sightseeing tours in Jordan included • All transfers included • All entrance fees included • Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

Coptic Church, Cairo - Egypt

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Egypt on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – CAIRO Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met by your Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D) DAY 3 – CAIRO Depart after breakfast to travel south to view Joseph's River and Lake, created by Joseph during the period of the seven years of famine. Visit a grain silo of the kind established under Joseph's rule to store grain during these years of famine.

Tour the rural region of traditional Egyptian farming and stop at an old corn water mill. Travel as Abraham did to Memphis (the Biblical town of Noph) and on to Sakkara where you will see the Djoser’s Step Pyramid, the world's oldest stone structure. Return to your hotel in Cairo for dinner and overnight. (B,D) 34˚

35˚

Jerash

WEST BANK

Amman Madaba

Dead Sea

Kerak

EGYPT Cairo

18

Petra

JORDAN

DAY 4 – CAIRO – GIZA – CAIRO After breakfast at the hotel, depart for your full-day tour of the Pyramids at Giza. Here, see the Great Pyramid, built 4,500 years ago, and view its inner burial chambers while also exploring the pyramids built by Mycerinus and Chepheren.

View the mighty Sphinx, protector of the Pharaohs, before following the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt as you explore the many icons and pictographs of the Coptic Hanging Church. Then it is on to the Egyptian Museum, containing the largest collection of relics from the Pharaonic Period. Afterwards, a tour of the Citadel of Saladin, the Mosque of Mohamed Ali, Old Cairo’s Coptic Church and the century-old Ben Ezra Synagogue is included before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 5 – CAIRO – PETRA After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the airport for a short flight to Amman, where you will be transferred to Petra and your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Depending on the flight schedule, free time can be arranged for independent or group activities in Cairo, Amman or Petra (B,D) DAY 6 – PETRA After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a two hour walking tour of Petra, the ‘red rose city’. It begins with a walk through the Siq to the Treasury, then through the main street with magnificent structures on each side carved into the mountains, to the colonnaded street, ending at the Petra Museum. Lose yourself in the history of the Nabateans who meticulously carved massive structures out of the rose-colored sandstone. See the influence of the people that followed,

DAY 7 – PETRA – KERAK – MADABA – MT. NEBO – AMMAN After breakfast, depart for the ‘King's Highway’ and a visit of Kerak and its castle, the largest of all mountain-top Crusader Castles. Next it is on to Madaba, ‘the City of Mosaics’, to visit St. George Church where there is a clear map of the Holy Land, including Israel, Palestine and Lower Egypt, before continuing on to visit Mt. Nebo, where Moses was laid to rest, and where the late Pope John Paul II traveled his first pilgrimage of the millennium. Visit the Sanctuary at Nebo, the memorial of Moses, the presumed site of his death and burial place and a center for pilgrimages since early Christian times. You will be inspired by the biblical feel from start to finish as you experience this divine tour. The site's association with the last days of Moses is described in moving words in Deuteromony (34:1-7). The episode of Balak and Balam (2:13-26) also took place here. The site's other name is Pisgah, ‘and Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho’. Continue to Amman and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 8 – AMMAN – DEAD SEA – JERASH – AMMAN After breakfast, depart for the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth, and visit the Museum of the Dead Sea Scrolls and then free time for bathing in the healing salt waters. Continue on to Jerash, nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, where the grandeur of Imperial Rome is on display. Located here is one of the largest and best preserved sites of Roman architecture outside of Italy. To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates, remain in exceptional condition. Return to Amman and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 9 – AMMAN – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

ITALY – CATHOLIC PILGRIMAGE

9 Days TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Italy included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Two nights accommodations in Rome with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights accommodations in Naples with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Giovanni Rotondo with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Assisi with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Florence with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights accommodations in Padua with breakfast and dinner included • Nine full days of Christian sightseeing tours of Italy including Venice • All transfers included • All entrance fees included

Basilica San Marco, Venice - Italy

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Italy on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – ROME Arrive in Rome where you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the city for a half-day tour, including such sites as the Coliseum, the Imperial Forums, the Arch of Constantine and the Roman Forum.

Free time to relax and freshen-up for dinner at the hotel. (D)

DAY 4 – ROME After breakfast at the hotel, a full-day at leisure to explore this unique and beautiful city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 5 – ROME – NAPLES After breakfast at the hotel, you depart for Naples for a half-day city tour including St. Severo Chapel. In the afternoon, free time. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)

DAY 3 – ROME Breakfast at the hotel followed by a halfday tour visiting the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, with its ceiling painted by Michelangelo, including the

DAY 7 – FLORENCE AREA – SIENA – FLORENCE (MONETCATINI TERME) Breakfast at the hotel and then depart for Siena to view the architectural wonders of this beautiful town, especially its cathedral and the Piazza del Campo.

Time at leisure before returning to your hotel in Montecatini Terme for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D) DAY 8 – FLORENCE (Montecatini Terme) – VENICE (Mestre) After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Venice for a panoramic half-day city tour.

Afternoon at leisure for personal activities. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in nearby Mestre. (B,D)

• Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

DAY 9 – VENICE – USA After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your return flight home. (B)

Venice

famous ‘The Last Judgment’ and also visiting St. Peter’s Basilica. Afternoon at leisure for individual or group activities.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)

DAY 6 – NAPLES – FLORENCE (MONTECATINI TERME) Following breakfast at the hotel, depart Naples for Florence. Upon arrival, enjoy a panoramic half-day city tour including the Duomo, Baptistery, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Croce Basilica. Rest of the afternoon at leisure to shop for good deals on leather and gold. Dinner and overnight at our hotel in the nearby town of Montecatini Terme. (B,D)

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

ITALY Florence

Vatican City

Rome

Naples

19

ITALY – PILGRIMAGE TOUR

11 Days

Giovanni Rotondo. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Italy included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Two nights accommodations in Rome with breakfast and dinner included • Two nighst accommodations in Naples with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Giovanni Rotondo with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Assisi with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Florence with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights accommodations in Padua with breakfast and dinner included • Nine full days of Christian sightseeing tours of Italy including Venice • All transfers included • All entrance fees included

DAY 7 – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – LANCIANO – ASSISI Breakfast at the hotel and then visit the Friary of Padre Pio, including his tomb, cell confessional and the Old Church, where he received the stigmata. Then it is on to Lanciano where we visit the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle.

Continue to Assisi for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Venice - Italy

TOUR ITINERARY:

and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Italy on your overnight transAtlantic flight.

DAY 4 – ROME – GENAZZANO – NAPLES Breakfast at the hotel and then depart for Genazzano to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Then on to Naples for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 2 – ROME Arrive in Rome where you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the city for a half-day tour visiting the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Basilica of St. John in Lateran plus the Holy Stairs. After arriving at your hotel, the afternoon is at leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (D)

DAY 5 – NAPLES – CAPRI – SORRENTO – NAPLES Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the pier in Naples for your hydrofoil

DAY 3 – ROME After breakfast, attend a Papal Audience followed by a half-day tour visiting the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, with its ceiling painted by Michelangelo, including the famous ‘The Last Judgment’ and also visit St. Peter's Basilica. Dinner

• Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

to Capri, where a panoramic city tour of this beautiful island is included. Then transfer by hydrofoil to Sorrento to enjoy the fine local craftsmanship and romantic atmosphere. Return to Naples for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Venice Padua

ITALY Florence Assisi Adriatic Sea

Vatican City

Rome

San Giovanni Rotondo

Naples

20

DAY 6 – NAPLES – POMPEII – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Pompeii for a half-day tour including visits to the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary and the ancient excavations. Continue to the village of San

DAY 8 – ASSISI – FLORENCE (MONTECATINI TERME) After breakfast, enjoy a half-day tour including the basilicas of St. Francis and St. Clare, then visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. In the afternoon, depart for Montecatini Terme, near Florence, for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 9 – FLORENCE (MONTECATINI TERME) – PADUA This morning, after breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Florence city center for a panoramic half-day city tour including visits to the Santa Croce Basilica, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its magnificent dome by Brunelleschi, the Baptistery with the golden bronze doors by Ghiberti and Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio. In the afternoon, depart for Padua, the home of St. Anthony, for a visit to his tomb inside the Basilica of St. Anthony, which contains the remains of the saint. Dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 10 – PADUA – VENICE – PADUA After breakfast, transfer to Venice Island by private boat (vaporetto) for a half-day city tour to visit the Golden Basilica of St. Mark, St. Mark's Square, the Bridge of Sighs and the Doges' Palace. Free time in Venice before returning to Padua.

Dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 11 – PADUA – VENICE – USA After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport in Venice for your return flight home. (B)

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

ITALY AND MEDJUGORGJE

14 Days

Church, where he received the stigmata.

In the afternoon, depart for Monte Sant’Angelo to visit the Grotto of Saint Michael the Archangel. Return to San Giovanni Rotondo and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - Italy included • Choice of 3, 4 or-5 star hotels throughout • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • English-speaking licensed guide included • Two night accommodations in Padua with breakfast and dinner included • One night accommodation in Assisi with breakfast and dinner included • Round-trip overnight ferry accommodation with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights accommodations in Medjugorje with breakfast and dinner included • Two nights accommodations in San Giovanni Rotondo with breakfast and dinner included • Three Nights accommodations in Rome with breakfast and dinner included • Ten full days of Christian sightseeing tours of Italy including Venice • All transfers included • All entrance fees included

DAY 11 – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – POMPEII – ROME After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Pompeii for a half-day tour including visits to the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary and the ancient excavations before traveling on to Rome and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

The Vatican, Rome - Italy

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Italy on your overnight transAtlantic flight.

DAY 2 – MILAN – PADUA Upon arrival in Milan, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and then transfer to Padua, the home of St. Anthony. Visit his tomb containing his remains inside the Basilica of St. Anthony and then transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D) DAY 3 – PADUA – VENICE – PADUA After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Venice for a half-day city tour with visits to the Golden Basilica of Saint Mark, the Bridge of Sighs, St. Mark’s Square and the Dodge’s Palace. Return to Padua in the evening for dinner and overnight.

(B,D) DAY 4 – PADUA – FLORENCE – ASSISI Following breakfast at the hotel, depart for Florence for a panoramic tour including the Duomo, the Baptistry, the Piazza della Signora and Santa Croce Basilica.

In the afternoon, depart for Assisi, home of the venerated St. Francis. Transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

(B,D) DAY 5 – ASSISI – CASCIA – ANCONA – SPLIT After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a tour of Assisi including the basilicas of St. Claire and St. Francis, which includes the tomb of the saint, and a visit to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels. Then

depart for Cascia to visit the Monastery of Saint Rita before traveling to the pier at Ancona for your ferry to Split. Dinner and overnight onboard. (B,D) DAY 6 – SPLIT – MEDJUGORGE Breakfast onboard the ferry and then an early morning arrival at Split before transferring to Medjugorge and your hotel. Check-in and then begin religious activities. Dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 7 – MEDJUGORGE After breakfast at the hotel, the entire day is dedicated to religious activities.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 8 – MEDJUGORGE – SPLIT After breakfast at the hotel, this morning is dedicated to religious activities. Then, in the afternoon, transfer back to the pier in Split for your ferry to Ancona. Dinner and overnight onboard. (B,D) DAY 9 – ANCONA – LORETO – LANCIANO – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO Breakfast onboard the ferry and then an early morning arrival at Ancona before transferring to Loreto to visit the Sanctuary of the Holy House. Then it is on to Lanciano where we visit the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle before continuing on to San Giovanni Rotondo and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 12 – ROME After breakfast, begin a city tour visiting the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, with its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo, including the famous ‘The Last Judgment’, St. Peter's Basilica, the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the Basilica of St. John in Lateran plus the Holy Stairs.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure for independent or group activities before dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 13 – ROME After breakfast, begin a city tour to include sites associated with Imperial Rome, including the Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, the Coliseum, Circus Maximus and the Basilica of St. Paul from the outside.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure with free time for shopping or to relax as you choose. Tonight, dinner and overnight.

(B,D)

• Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

DAY 14 – ROME – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

Venice Padua Milan

ITALY

CROATIA Adriatic Sea

Split

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA Medjugorgje

Florence Assisi

DAY 10 – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO – MONTE SANT’ANGELO – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a visit to the Friary of Padre Pio, including his tomb, cell confessional and the Old

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Vatican City

Rome

San Giovanni Rotondo

21

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE POPES – JOHN PAUL II & BENEDICT XVI

12 Days TOUR FEATURES: • Round trip air USA – Germany & Poland included • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach • English speaking guide included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels • Six nights hotel accommodations in Krakow • Breakfast daily included

• Guided visit to Jasna Gora in Czestochowa • Sightseeing tour of Krakow including entrances to Wawel Cathedral and St Mary’s Church

Pope Benedict XVI

TOUR ITINERARY:

• Funicular ride up to Gubalówka Hill in Zakopane

DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Munich on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

• All transfers as per itinerary • Hotel taxes and service charges included

DAY 2 – MUNICH Arrive in Munich and after completing passport control obligations, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the city to begin a tour, focusing on the places related to the life and work of Benedict XVI, including the university and the cathedral, where Benedict XVI was ordained as a bishop. A visit to some of the other sites of this magnificent city is also planned to include the Opera House, City Hall and a drive along Maximilian and Leopold streets. The day’s visit ends with a tour of Nymphenburg Castle before transferring to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

• Professional tour director throughout • Porterage of one suitcase included • USTOA One Million dollar Protection Plan included

DENMARK

Warsaw

LANDS

POLAND

POLAND

Czestochowa

GERMANY Prague

Wadowice

Prague

CZECH REPUBLIC

Regensburg Freising

E

Munich

CZECH REPUBLIC

Passau

Krakow

DAY 3 – MUNICH – FREISING – MUNICH After breakfast, depart for Freising, where the brothers Joseph and Georg Ratzinger were ordained priests in the local cathedral. It was also here where Joseph Ratzinger was nominated to

become a future Bishop of the See of Freising-Munich. Sightseeing today also includes the Benedictine Abbey in Weihenstephan, where you can try the delicious beer that has been brewed here since 1040. The monks still produce their beer using the same timeless methods of brewing that have remained virtually unchanged ever since. Return to Munich in the afternoon with the rest of the day at leisure. Tonight, dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 4 – MUNICH – ALOTTING – MARKTL – PASSAU – DEGGENDORF Depart for Altotting after breakfast. This truly Bavarian town is concentrated

around a star shaped square where five different streets meet at Kapellplatz. Its shrine of the Virgin Mary is one of the most significant sanctuaries dedicated to the Mother of Jesus. The shrine, renowned for its picture of the Black Madonna, was a frequent place of pilgrimage for the Pope’s family during his childhood. A visit to Maktl where Benedict XVI was born follows, including a visit to the museum that was set up in his former home. Here, the faithful are introduced to the strong connections this place has with the present day Pope.

Afterwards we continue to Passau, the city of the Three Rivers, which is located at the confluence of the Danube, the Inn and the Ilz. Admire the architecture of its historic old town and the beautiful houses and residences of ancient bishops and princes. Also view the cathedral, home to the biggest church organ in the world and Oberhaus Castle. Transfer to the town of Deggendorf and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 5 – DEGGENDORF – REGENSBURG – PRAGUE After breakfast, depart for Regensburg, home to the renowned university where Benedict XVI was a professor from 1969 to 1977. This old city, founded some 2,000 years ago, has a history stretching back to the times of Ancient Rome. A walk through the streets of town will include St Peters Cathedral, the Old Town Hall and a look at some of the houses of wealthy patrician families, with their fascinating interiors and their own chapels. You will also pay a visit to the famous Thurns & Taxis Palace as well as several Gothic and Romanesque buildings. In the afternoon, depart for Prague where you check-in to the hotel with free time to enjoy a stroll in the Old Town. Dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 6 – PRAGUE Breakfast will be followed by a sightseeing tour of Prague to include a visit to Castle Hill, Charles Bridge, Market Square and the Jewish Cemetery. Prague suffered considerably less damage during World War II than some other major cities in the region, allowing most of its

SWITZERLAND

22

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

covered with flowers left by visitors. Afternoon visit to Wadowice and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, places significant to all Poles and their history. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is a pilgrimage destination, home to the Bernardine Abbey, St. Mary’s Church and one of Europe’s oldest Ways of the Cross, called by some, Polish Jerusalem. The whole sanctuary is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The town of Wadowice is the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla, later Pope John Paul II. Here you will visit the museum, dedicated to his life and other places closely linked to his presence in this area. Afterwards, return to Krakow and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Bronze Statue of Pope John Paul II

historic architecture to stay true to form. It contains one of the world's most pristine and varied collections of architecture, from Art Nouveau to Baroque, Renaissance, Cubist, Gothic, Neo-Classical and ultramodern. The afternoon is at leisure for free time to wander and sightsee or shop on your own. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Wieliczka, an extraordinary area listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The tour of the Salt Mines starts 65meters below ground and ends up 135-meters below ground. The mine complex, full of secrets, underground lakes, and salt grottos is certain to remain a lasting memory. Transfer to Krakow and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 7 – PRAGUE – KRAKOW After breakfast at the hotel, set off for Krakow, with sightseeing en route. Visit Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic. It lies at the crossroads of ancient trade routes that have joined Northern and Southern European civilizations for centuries. You will begin a walking tour with a stroll through the city’s beautiful medieval streets then visit St. Peter and Paul Cathedral, then make your way to the town, stopping en route at Cabbage Market Square and the Parnassus Fountain. Continue on to Namesti Svobody Square featuring the Monument to the Plague built in 1680 and surrounded by townhouses with ornate façades. Then board the coach and continue on your journey to Krakow for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

DAY 9 – MUNICH – AUSCHWITZ – BIRKENAU – WADOWICE – KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – KRAKOW Depart after breakfast for Auschwitz, location of the former Nazi concentration camp, where you will visit the martyrdom museum. The camp area witnessed one of the cruelest crimes against humanity in the 20th Century. The visit to this notorious site, now a moving memorial, includes the Death Wall, the place of execution, and the former Death Block, which is permanently

DAY 8 – KRAKOW – LAGIEWNIKI – WIELICZKA – KRAKOW Breakfast is followed by a short sightseeing tour of Krakow during which you we will see St Mary’s Basilica and its famous Wit Stwosz Altar, the Franciscan Church with its links to the life of John Paul II and the magnificent Castle Hill. After lunch on your own, proceed to Lagiewniki, home of God’s Mercy Basilica and Sisters of Mercy Nunnery, the former home of Saint Faustina, to whom the picture of the Merciful Jesus was revealed. It was here during his pilgrimage to Poland in 2002, that Pope John Paul II symbolically entrusted the world to God’s Mercy. In the afternoon, travel to the Salt Mines at This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

DAY 10 – KRAKOW – CZESTOCHOWA – WARSAW Depart for Czestochowa after breakfast. This town is of special importance to John Paul II. He stayed here six times while Pope and chose it as the place for the 6th World Youth Day. It was also the first town in the world whose offer of honorary citizenship he accepted. Jasna Góra (Bright Mount) is the most important Marian Shrine in Poland and a destination for hundreds of pilgrimages every year. Its focal point is the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin and its miraculous icon of the Black Madonna. When the Pope traveled to Jasna Góra, he always made his way to the Chapel of the Miraculous Image where he would pray, entrusting the Church and the world to the hands of the Virgin Mary. Time for lunch on your own before departing for Warsaw and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B) DAY 11 – WARSAW Breakfast will be followed by a half-day city tour of Warsaw, Poland’s capital. The city was turned to ruin at the end of the World War II, but thanks to the hard work of its citizens, it regained some of its former shape and splendour. It is now the economic hub of the country, home of many international companies and Polish government buildings. Today’s sightseeing includes the Old Town, St. John’s Cathedral, the Royal Castle from the outside, the elegant Royal Way, Lazienki and the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, which Helena Kowalska, known as St. Sister Maria Faustina Kowalska, entered in 1925. In the afternoon you are invited to attend holy mass. Then return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 12 – WARSAW – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

23

BELOVED HOMELAND OF JOHN PAUL II

priest in Poland until his ascension to the papacy. You will also have time to stop and visit St. Peter’s Church, to which the Pope had a close attachment.

On the way back to Krakow, a stop can be made to pray at the Shrine of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, where the pope visited on many occasions. A stop will also be made at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Kagiewniki, which John Paul II consecrated in 2002. Return to Krakow and the hotel for dinner and overnight.

(B,D)

8 Days TOUR FEATURES: • Round trip air USA - Poland included • Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach • English-speaking guide included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels • Six nights hotel accommodations in Krakow • Breakfast daily included

• Sightseeing tour of Krakow including entrances to Wawel Cathedral and St Mary’s Church • All transfers as per itinerary • Hotel taxes and service charges included

• Professional tour director throughout • Porterage of one suitcase included • USTOA One Million dollar Protection Plan included

Pope John Paul II

and heard confession and a visit to Wawel Cathedral where Bishop Karol DAY 1 – DEPART USA Wojtya sang carols at Christmas time. An Depart for Poland on your overnight added highlight is a visit to the trans-Atlantic flight.

Sukiennice Cloth Hall, one of Krakow’s most notable sites, which dates back to DAY 2 – KRAKOW LITHUANIA the 13th Century. Dinner and overnight.

Arrive in Krakow, a city with strong (B,D) connections to Pope John Paul II and the only city in the world that includes sites RUSSIA covering almost his entire life. After completing your passport control obligations, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

TOUR ITINERARY:

DAY 3 – KRAKOW After breakfast at the hotel, begin a guided tour of the city, including a visit to the Bishop’s Palace where the Holy Father Pope John Paul II resided on each of his pilgrimages to Krakow. Today’s sightseeing also includes entry into St. Mary’s Church where John Paul II gave sermons

NY

POLAND

Czestochowa

ZECH PUBLIC Wadowice

Mogita Krakow

24

DAY 4 – KRAKOW – WADOWICE – KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – KRAKOW After breakfast at the hotel, begin visiting Wadowice, the family home of Karol Wojtya. ‘In this city, in Wadowice everything began. Both life began and my education began and my priesthood began.’ You will see the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the market square as well as the old building of the secondary school that he attended as a teenager. You will visit the Pope’s family home, now a museum documenting his life and work as a

DAY 5 – KRAKOW – CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW After breakfast at the hotel, you will visit Zakopane, a town lying in the Tatra National Park in the heart of the magnificent Tatra Mountains. A sightseeing tour of the town will include a funicular to the top of Mount Gubaówka where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Tatras, as well as a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, built as an offering of thanks to her for saving the Pope’s life after the assassination attempt in 1981. The pope’s love of the Tatras and the Podhale region was fostered in his youth when he used to trek through the mountains with his father and brother. Return to Krakow and the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 6 – KRAKOW – MOGITA – BIENCZYCE – KRAKOW After breakfast at the hotel, visit the village of Mogita, just outside of Krakow, to see the Cistercian Monastery, visited by Pope John Paul II in 1979. You will also pray in the Ark of the Lord Church in Bieczyce, whose construction would not have been possible without the efforts of the pope. This enormous church was built thanks to the obstinacy and profound faith of the people of Nowa Huta, support from many of Krakow’s priests and with aid from around the world.

Return this afternoon to Krakow for dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 7 – KRAKOW – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ST. FAUSTINA’S VOCATION

St. Mary’s Basilica, Krakow - Poland

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – OVERNIGHT FLIGHT DAY 2 – WARSAW Arrival in Warszawa. Upon arrival enjoy a half-day tour of Warszawa, visit the Old Town, St. John’s Cathedral, the Royal Castle from the outside, the elegant Royal Way, Tazienki and the Convent of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, which Helena Kowalska, known as Saint Sister Maria Faustyna Kowalska, entered in 1925. Optional afternoon mass. Overnight stay in Warszawa. (D) DAY 3 – WARSAW – NIEPOKALANOW – PLOCK – WARSAW Today we will take you to Niepokolanow, home of one of the biggest Franciscan monastic complexes devoted to the cult of St. Maximilian Kolbe. It is also a Marian shrine and a destination for many pilgrimages each year. In the afternoon you will travel to Plock, where you will visit the former Benedictine Abbey and the Divine Mercy Shrine in Plock. It was here that Saint Sister Faustyna Kowalska had her first vision of Jesus as King of Divine Mercy. Overnight stay in Warszawa. (B,D) DAY 4 – WARSAW – GLOGOWIEC – WINICE WARCKIE – LODZ Travel from Warszawa to the village of Glogowiec. It was here in a small village house that Saint Helena entered the

world in 1905, the third of ten children of Marianna and Stanisław Kowalski. It is difficult to imagine today, but this large family all lived in one room. The second room was used by Helenka’s father as a workshop. In Swinice Warckie, which lies 2 km from Glogowiec, you will see the parish church where Helena was baptised. Following in the footsteps of Saint Faustyna you will then travel to Lodz where Helena worked to financially support her parents. In a nearby spot where Saint Faustyna had a vision, a church was built under her invocation.

Overnight stay in Lodz. (B,D) DAY 5 – LODZ – CZESTOCHOWA You will leave Lodz for Czestochowa. In Czestochowa you will visit Jasna Gora “Bright Mount”, which is the most important Marian shrine in Poland and a destination for hundreds of thousands of pilgrimages every year. Its focal point is the Chapel of the Blessed Virgin featuring the icon of the Black Madonna, which has been credited with many miracles. The Museum, TreasuryGERMANY and Arsenal are also worth visiting.

Overnight stay in Czestochowa. (B,D)

8 Days

DAY 7 – KRAKOW – WIELICZKA – KRAKOW This morning we will take you to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site monument. Highlights include the underground lake with its stunning colours and the beautiful St. Kinga’s Chapel, a remarkable underground ‘cathedral’ where every feature is carved out of solid salt! Afternoon holy mass in Lagiewniki. Here, in the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, Sister Faustyna worked and lived for many years. She also died in the congregation house and was buried in a small cemetery next to it. In 2002, the new Basilica and pilgrimage centre were consecrated during the Pope’s visit to Krakow. Overnight stay in Krakow.

(B,D)

TOUR FEATURES: • Round trip air USA - Poland included • Two Nights hotel in Warsaw (Fri-Sun) • One night hotel in Lodz • One night hotel in Czestochowa

• Three night hotel in Krakow • Seven breakfasts

• Dinner included at the restaurant in the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec • Sightseeing tour of Warsaw included • Guided visit to Jasna Gora in Czestochowa

DAY 8 – KRAKOW – AUSCHWITZ – WADOWICE - KALWARIA ZEBRZYDOWSKA – KRAKOW You will begin today with a visit to Auschwitz Museum - a moving testimony to the many lives lost as a result of Nazi atrocities across occupied Europe. In the afternoon we will take you to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and Wadowice, both of which are of great religious significance to Poles. The first is a centre of pilgrimage and the second is the birthplace of Karol Wojtyła - Pope John Paul II. Overnight stay in Krakow. (B,D)

• Sightseeing tour of Krakow including entrances to Wawel Cathedral and St Mary’s Church • Wieliczka Salt Mine tour with entrances included • Tour of Auschwitz with entrance fee included • All transfers included as per itinerary LITHUANIA • Touring by modern air-conditioned coach RUSSIA

• Professional tour director throughout

DAY 9 – KRAKOW – USA After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

DAY 6 – CZESTOCHOWA – KRAKOW CZECH After breakfast you will head for Krakow, REPUBLIC with a half-day tour of Krakow. In the evening, enjoy an optional dinner at the “Biesiada u Mnicha” restaurant in the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec. Overnight stay in Kraków. (B,D)

• Porterage of one suitcase included • USTOA One Million dollar Protection Plan included

Plock Warsaw

POLAND Lodz

Czestochowa Wieliczka Krakow Wadowice

25

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

SLOVAKIA

UKRAINE

A TOUR IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MARTIN LUTHER

8 Days

Crucifixion surrounded by scenes from the Old and New Testament. Continue to Eisenach where a local guide will show you St. George's Parish Church where Luther preached on May 2, 1521, despite the fact that he was officially banned from the Holy Roman Empire.

Also visit the 14th century house where he lived from 1498 until 1501 while a student at Latin School. Also included is a visit to Wartburg Castle, perched on a rocky spur, to view Luther's room.

Return to Erfut and your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES: • Round trip air USA – Germany included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • One night hotel accommodation in Berlin with breakfast & dinner • One night hotel accommodation in Wittenberg with breakfast & dinner • One night hotel accommodation in Erfut with breakfast & dinner • Three nights hotel accommodations in Munich with breakfast dinner daily • Seeven days of sightseeing tours following the Ft Steps of Martin Luther • All transfers included as per itinerary • Touring by modern air-conditioned coach • Professional tour director throughout • Porterage of one suitcase included • USTOA One Million dollar Protection Plan included

Martin Luther's gravestone in Castle Church, Wittenberg - Germany

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Germany on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – BERLIN Arrive in Berlin and after completing passport control obligations, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the hotel in this metropolis of Central Europe. After check-in, you will be met by your local guide for an orientation city tour that includes the main monuments of interest such as the Reichstag, the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and many more famous monuments. Welcome dinner and overnight accommodations at your hotel in Berlin. (D) DAY 3 – BERLIN – WITTENBERG Free time this morning after breakfast to visit the old city or shop at your own Berlin Eisleben

Eisennach

Wittenberg

Erfurt

GERMANY

Munich

26

8˚

pace. After lunch on your own, motorcoach to Wittenberg, also called Luther's town. Here he taught philosophy at the university and was the town preacher. It was also in this city that he posted his famous 95 Articles condemning the abuses practiced by the church on the door of Castle Church. The church has been rebuilt since that time but the doors are still the original ones. Luther's tomb is also located in this church. Also visit Luther's house and the Reformation Museum. If time permits, visit Melanchton's House. This was the residence of Luther's companion, who was the more tolerant of the two, trying to reconcile the different factions of the Reformation. Transfer to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 4 – WITTENBERG – EISLEBEN – ERFUT After breakfast, drive to Eisleben to see the houses where Luther was born and died. A highlight today will be a visit to the restored Augustinian Monastery, which was built in 1277 and where Martin Luther lived and worked as a monk in the early 1500’s. Travel to Erfurt and your hotel for dinner and overnight.

(B,D) DAY 5 – ERFUT – EISENRACH – ERFUT Breakfast at the hotel is followed by an excursion to Weimar and visits to Goethe's House and the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, where Luther was christened and the famous Cranach Triptych can be seen representing the

DAY 6 – ERFUT – LAUF AN DER PEGNITZ – MUNICH After breakfast at the hotel, travel to Lauf an der Pegnitz, with parts of the old medieval city wall and defensive towers still standing, typical decorative Frankish Fachwerkhouses and protected historical square, church and town-hall all adding an aura of romance and beauty to this town. Continue on to the Bavarian capital of Munich and check-in to your hotel fro dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 7 – MUNICH Breakfast at the hotel and then drive through the fairy tale land of Bavaria and its stunning landscape of mirrored lakes and majestic Alps as you head to Neuschwanstein Castle. This famous castle was the creation of the Mad King Ludwig and the inspiration for Walt Disney’s ‘Cinderrella’s Castle’. From here, drive to Oberammergau to see the Passion Play Theater, where every ten years the famous Passion Play is held in this quaint village. Return to Munich for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 8 – MUNICH After breakfast, meet your local guide for a half-day city tour to see the Olympic Sites, the Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel, the Opera and Nymphenburg Palace. The afternoon is free for a suggested museum visit or shopping. Then back to the hotel to freshen-up for a farewell dinner in the Hofbrauhaus, a local beer-garden before returning to the hotel for your overnight.

(B,D) DAY 8 – MUNICH – USA After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

WESLEY HERITAGE TOUR UK

10 Days

Crypt. He was at Oxford with the Wesley brothers and became an ardent member of their Holy Club. Known as the greatest orator of his day, Whitefield's talents led him to minister in America. St. Mary de Crypt also produced Robert Raikes, founder of the Sunday School Movement.

Both Whitefield and Raikes had a profound influence upon John Wesley, who left his fellowship at Lincoln College to take over Whitefield's Bristol Ministry, leading to the founding of the ‘New Room’. St. Mary de Crypt is also known as the site of the founding of the first Women's Society. Dinner and overnight.

(B,D)

St. Paul’s Cathedral, London - UK

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Departure for your overnight flight.

DAY 2 – LONDON Arrival London, where you will meet your tour escort. City tour of London where you will view Westminster Abbey, where royalty are Christened, married and buried. We will visit St. Paul’s Cathedral, where John Wesley often worshiped. On the day of his conversion, Wesley came here for an afternoon service and was deeply moved by the choir. On to your hotel, rest of the day at leisure and independent sightseeing.

Welcome dinner and accommodation in London included.(D) DAY 3 – LONDON Full day tour of London,including Buckingham Palace, Marble Arch, Speakers Corner, Trafalgar Square, Harrods, National Gallery, Tower Bridge.

A lecture at City Road Chapel, site of Wesley’s home and grave is included.

Across the street in Bunhill Fields Cemetery, Susanne Wesley is buried along with other famous people such as John Bunyan and Daniel Defou. Walk on Aldersgate Street, where on May 24, 1738, John Wesley had his ‘Warming of the Heart’ experience. You will walk past the entrance of ‘Little Britain’ where Charles Wesley had his incursion experience just three days earlier. Rest of the day free for shopping or individual sightseeing. Evening: optional theater visit.

Dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 4 – BRISTOL – BATH Breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to the ancient port city of Bristol, where you will attend a lecture in one of Wesley’s early centers of ministry, the ‘New Room’, the oldest Methodist building in the world. Then proceed to Bath,

N o r we g i a n S e a

a spa town of Roman origin, where, 61˚ since the first century, its warm waters have refreshed and healed. Visit the unique RomanN obaths with your local rth Mainland S e awalking through this guide and enjoy Lerwick beautiful town and browsing its quaint 60˚ shops.

Dinner and overnight. (B,D) N O RT H

SHETLAND ISLANDS

AT L A N T I C OCEAN 1˚30'W

DAY 5 – BATH – COVENTRY – BIRMINGHAM Early breakfast followed by a visit to the city of Coventry. During the evening of November 14, 1940, a holocaust of bombs and fire destroyed most of the city. Visit the beautiful famous cathedral, beautiful and remarkable because the old ruins sit next to the exciting architecture of the modern cathedral. On to Birmingham, visit the boyhood home of Francis Asbury, who Wesley sent to America, where he became the first elected bishop of the American Methodist Church. Dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 6 – BIRMINGHAM – EPWORTH After breakfast, travel through typical English countryside to Epworth, where Samuel and Susanna Wesley raised their children in the Old Rectory while he served in the parish church for 39 years.

Hear about the early life of their children, John, Charles and Samuel Jr. Wesley when you visit their childhood home. Also visit Memorial Church, built with contributions from around the world. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air USA - England included • Choice of 3-4- or 5-star hotels throughout • Three nights accommodations in London • One night accommodation in Bath • One night accommodation in Birmingham • Two nights accommodations in Epworth • One night accommodations in Stratford on Avon (or Warwick) • Breakfast and three course dinner daily. Drinks not included.

• All entrance fees according to the itinerary • All transportation by private coach • Homeric Tours escort throughout the tour • Specialized guides for tours/lectures at City Road Chapel, Lecture in Bristol and London and Oxford.

• Hotel taxes and service charges included • Porterage of one suitcase included • All transfers included • USTOA One Million Dollar Protection Plan included

DAY 8 – GLOUCESTER – THE COTSWOLDS After breakfast at the hotel, explore the charming villages of the Cotswolds, where honey colored cottages cluster together in secluded valleys. Even the names are charming—Stow-on-the-Wold, Bourton-onthe-Water. Complete this storybook day with an English Cream Tea and a visit to some of the quaint shops in Broadway, where the tale of Peter Pan was written.

Dinner and overnight.

(B,D) DAY 8 – STRATFORD – OXFORD – LONDON Breakfast at the hotel and then you will glimpse life as it was in the day of William Shakespeare when visiting his birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, including the beautiful thatched-roof cottage and garden of his wife, Anne Hathaway. Then pass Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare is buried. Then it is on to Oxford, where a visit to Christ Church College at the university, is included. Here you will learn about the educational background of the Wesley brothers. London for dinner and overnight. (B,D) DAY 8 – LONDON – USA After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.

Epworth

Birmingham

DAY 7 – EPWORTH – WORCESTER – GLOUCESTER Breakfast at the hotel before traveling to Worcester. On the banks of the River Severn stands the great Cathedral of Worcester, which you will visit before traveling on to Gloucester. Here is a small church that changed the world!!! You will learn about George Whitefield, who grew up in the congregation of St. Mary de

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Coventry

UNITED KINGDOM

Worcester Oxford

Gloucester

Bristol

Bath

London

27

SHRINES OF FRANCE

12 Days TOUR FEATURES: • Round-trip air USA - France included • Choice of 3-4- or 5-star Hotels • 2 Nights hotel accommodations in Lisieux • Sightseeing tours in Lisieux included • Three nights hotel accommodations in Paris • Three full days of sightseeing tours in Paris included • One night hotel accommodation in Nevers • Sightseeing tour of Nevers included

The Upper Basilica of Lourdes - France

TOUR ITINERARY:

• One night hotel accommodation in La Salette

DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for France on your trans-Atlantic flight.

• Sightseeing tour and Mass in La Salette included

DAY 2 – LISIEUX Arrive in Paris and meet your driver and escort. You will be transferred to Lisieux, the home of St. Therese whom Pope Pius called the greatest Saint of modern times. St Therese, born on January 2, 1873, became a Carmelite at the age of 15. She died on September 30 1897. You will check into your hotel. In the afternoon you will have Mass at the Chapel of the Basilica of St. Peter. Consecrated in 1954, contains the tombs of her parents. Welcome dinner and overnight at Lisieux. (B,D)

• Two nights hotel accommodations in Lourdes • Sightseeing tour and Mass in Lourdes included • Breakfast and dinner daily included • All entrance fees according to the itinerary are included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • Porterage of one suitcase included • All transfers included

• USTOA One Million Dollar Protection Plan included

D-Day landing beaches. Start at Omaha beach where Americans took the German fortifications. You will visit the American cemetery. Today the American Cemetery stretches along the bluff. You will have the opportunity to pay respect at the hundreds of crosses and Stars of David for the deceased. Mass will be held at the visitor centre of the Cemetery. Continue to the marvel of French Architecture, Mont St. Michel for a guided tour. This Mass of granite rising 400 feet from the sea was begun in 709 A.D. and we visit its famous Benedictine

DAY 3 – LISIEUX After breakfast you will travel to the

Lisieux

Paris

monastery. Back to Lisieux for dinner and overnight. (B,D) Nevers

FRANCE

Lourdes

28

Ars

DAY 4 – PARIS In the morning view the statue depicting the Virgin Mary who smiled at St Therese during an ecstasy before curing her illness. You will visit her house Le Buissonnets. Continue to the Carmel Chapel to celebrate Mass. On display are relics, clothing and personal objects

belonging to the Little Flower‚. In the afternoon depart for Paris on the way you will stop at Giverny, with a guided visit Claude Monet’s house and beautiful garden, the inspiration for his water lily paintings. At the end of the afternoon you will arrive in the capital of France.

Check into your hotel and dinner will be served at a local restaurant. (B,D) DAY 5 – PARIS After breakfast the color and excitement of Paris comes to life during a guided city tour. See the Champs-Elysees, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel tower, Opera and see the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame. At the end of the tour you will walk up the steps or take the funicular to the Sacre Coeur—a place of perpetual pilgrimage and located in the heart of the artists’ quarter. From the gallery of the dome there is an incomparable panorama over the whole metropolitan area.

In the afternoon you will visit the Louvre museum, during a guided tour you will get an impression of one of the worlds greatest museum. Mass will be celebrated at a local Church near the hotel. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant. (B,D) DAY 6 – PARIS After breakfast you will drive into the country to visit the impressive Palace of Versailles. Built by King Louis XIV the palace became the envy of every other European ruler. Our guided tour takes us through the State Apartments, including

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

spending up to 17 hours a day in the confessional, sleeping only two hours a night. People continuously flowed into Ars from every part of France seeking his spiritual guidance and healing. The charity and love for people of this simple curate of Ars became famous all over the Christian world. Dinner and overnight in Ars. (B,D)

Glass Painting of St. John Vianney

the famous Gallery of Battles and the Hall of Mirrors. In the afternoon back to Paris. Mass will be celebrated at the Church of rue du Bac, Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. View the incorrupt body of St. Catherine Laboure whose guardian angel led her to the Chapel where the Blessed Virgin displayed a vision of the miraculous medal and later the green scapular. The Virgin promised bountiful graces for all who wore these. Rest of the afternoon will be at leisure. Your escort will provide suggestions. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant. (B,D) DAY 7 – NEVERS In the morning you will say goodbye to Paris and leave for Nevers by way of the picturesque Loire Valley. On the way you will stop at Orleans and see the Cathedral and Place du Martroi, with its statue of Joan of Arc. You will visit the house of Joan of Arc. Continue to Nevers, set in terraces on its limestone hill with tall town houses and their roofs of slate and tile dominated by the high square tower of the great cathedral and the graceful silhouette of the ducal palace. A local guide will inform you about the main sights of Nevers. After taking the veil in 1867, Bernadette Soubirous lived for 12 years as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers. Throughout her life she suffered from and eventually died of asthma at the age of 35. See Bernadette’s incorrupt

body at the convent of St. Gildard, miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Mass will be held at the St. Gilard convent. Dinner and overnight in Nevers. (B,D) DAY 8 – ARS After breakfast depart to Paray le Monial, known as the City of the Eucharist. This is the site of the Shrine of the Sacred

DAY 9 – LA SALETTE In the morning after breakfast you will celebrate Mass at the Church in Ars. Continue to La Salette located in a high alpine pasture in the French Alps. La Salette is the site where the Virgin Mary appeared in 1846 to two shepherds, Melanie Matthew and Maximin Gird. A spring forever marks the spot where the Virgin appeared and where millions of pilgrims come in order to drink the fresh spring water and to pray. The stunning mountain scenery and lush mountain trails make La Salette one of the most spectacular pilgrimage sites in France. A local guide will inform you about the details. Mass will be celebrated at the beautiful Basilica built to honor the Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight at La Salette. (B,D) DAY 10 – LOURDES After breakfast you will leave La Salette for Lourdes. On the way you will make a stop to celebrate Mass at St. Maria de la Mer. Continue to Lourdes at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains in southwestern France, nestled between the spectacular

Heart of Jesus and Margaret Mary Alacoque. A local guide will show you the main sights. Visit the Chapel of the Visitations, the Chapel of St. Claude, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and enjoy an audio-visual presentation. Mass will be celebrated at the Chapel of the Apparitions at the Bacilica du Sacre Coeur Continue to Ars, where you will visit the house and shrine of St. John Vianney, the Patron Saint of Parish Priests and enjoy an audio presentation on his life. He gave a great part of his holy life giving powerful sermons and

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

mountain-river Gave de Pau. One of the most important pilgrimage sites for over 140 years, Lourdes is the birthplace of St. Bernadette to whom Our Lady appeared in 1858 at the Grotte of Massabielle.

Mass will be celebrated at one of the Chapels. Dinner and overnight in Lourdes. (B,D) DAY 11 – LOURDES In the morning you will attend a video presentation telling the story of Lourdes.

Together with a local guide walk in the footsteps of St. Bernadette. See Boly Mill where St. Bernadette was born and the Cachot, an abandoned prison where Bernadette’s impoverished family lived.

Join your prayers with those of pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous spring or submerge yourself in the healing baths. Experience Christ’s love as you walk the life-sized Stations of the Cross overlooking the holy Grotto. Kneel in the chapel built on the very rock of the Grotto, in obedience of the request of the Immaculate Conception. Mass will be celebrated at the St Anne Chapel.

Afternoon will be at leisure. After a farewell dinner join the Candlelight Procession where thousands of visitors pray the Rosary and sing hymns in honor of the Mother of God. (B,D) DAY 12 – DEPARTURE After breakfast say goodbye to Lourdes, transfer to Toulouse for your return flight home. (B)

Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris - France

29

EASTERN EUROPEAN PILGRIMAGE

12 Days TOUR FEATURES: • Round-trip air USA – Austria included • Choice of 3-4- or 5-star Hotels • Choice of two or three Nights accommodations in Vienna

• Two nights hotel accommodations in Budapest • Three nights hotel accommodations in Krakow • Two nights hotel accommodations in Prague • Breakfast and dinner daily included • Homeric Tour escort throughout the tour included

Esztergom Cathedral , Budapest - Hungary

• All entrance fees according to the itinerary are included

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPARTURE Fly in and out of Vienna, the ideal starting and finishing point for this round trip pilgrimage. Well known asFINLAND the city of musicians and home of the Waltz, Vienna also has something special to offer to the pilgrims.

• Hotel taxes and service charges included • Porterage of one suitcase included • All transfers included

NORWAY

• USTOA One Million Dollar Protection Plan included

DAY 4 – BUDAPEST From Vienna you will head east into Hungary, bound for the capital city of Budapest. Again, not only will you experience Budapest as the "Paris of the East" during a tour of the divided city, but you will continue to learn the history of the Church as you go. (L,D)

DAY 5 – BUDAPEST DAY 2 AND 3 – VIENNA On the second day of your stay, travel to During your two night stay, you will have nearby Esztergom, one of Hungary's the opportunity to visit one of the most most historic cities. Visit the Christian ESTONIA spiritual places in Austria, Mariazell. The Museum and the Primate's Palace as church celebrated its 8th centenary in well as the Esztergom Cathedral, the 1957, thanks to the Habsburgs' cult of largest cathedral in Hungary, placed high the Virgin of Mariazell and the continued LATVIA on a hill overlooking the Danube. (L,D) devotion of the people. Take a special tour of the city to learn as you go of the DAY 6,7 AND 8 – KRAKOW turbulent as well as glorious years expeContinue your pilgrimage through LITHUANIA rienced by the Catholic church throughpeaceful Eastern Slovakia into Krakow, out the 20th century in Europe. (D) Poland, one of the most important stops on your trip. Spend three nights here, in the third largest city in Poland, where BYELARUS kings ruled the land from Wawel castle until 1596. In addition to a visit to Wawel castle, there will be two full days of spiritual retreat, one to Czestochowa and the

SWEDEN

ARK

POLAND

Prague

CZECH REPUBLIC

AUSTRIA

UKRAINE Budapest

HUNGARY

LAND 30

DAY 9 AND 10 – PRAGUE The last destination of your spiritual tour is Prague, better known as the "Jewel of the East". In addition to visits to Hradcany (Prague) Castle, the glorious cathedral and Vysehrad, you will visit places that were of significant imporRUSSIA tance in the history of religion in Czechia. Among these is the church of "Our Lady of Victory" where you will find the Infant Jesus of Prague. (B,D) DAY 11 – VIENNA From Prague return to Vienna where you will spend your last night before returning home. **Or, after breakfast, transfer to the Prague airport for your flight back home.

DAY 12 – VIENNA – USA Transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Set out on a journey of inner peace

Krakow

Vienna

other to Zebrzydowski. Czestochowa is the spiritual heart of Poland, site of Jasna Gora, the Pauline monastery founded in 1382 and location of the Black Madonna.

Zebrzydowski is visited by pilgrims from all over the world who wish to honour the Funeral and Ascension of Maria and to visit Wadowice, the birthplace of the Pope. (B,D)

in the East. Although the Communist Regime that governed most of these countries for years abolished religion, some of Europe's most beautiful and spiritual sights are to be found in the former Eastern Block countries of mainland Europe

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

HOLLAND AND BELGIUM – RELIGIOUS TOUR

9 Days

monks have been known for producing excellent beer! Dinner and overnight.

(B,D)

Cathedral in Amsterdam - Holland

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – AMSTERDAM Arrival to Amsterdam Airport. Welcome and assistance by your tour escort.

Transfer to Amsterdam. Upon arrival in the city orientation tour before checking into your hotel. In the afternoon you will enjoy a boat ride through the canals.

While gliding through the old centre of the city you see warehouses dating back to the 16th and 17th century, arched bridges and houseboats. Mass will be held at a Church near the hotel.

Welcome dinner and overnight. (D) DAY 2 – AMSTERDAM In the morning, a Mass will be held at the address where Ida Peerdeman lived.

Ida Peerdeman received many messages from Mary, the "Lady of all Nations", beginning in 1945. After the mass, visit the grave of Ida Peerdeman at the cemetery in Amsterdam-West. Continue with a visit to the church of Our Lady in the Beguinage in the old section of the city.

Rest of the day free for leisure. Optional excursion (not included): excursion to Haarlem, to visit the Corrie ten Boom Museum. This museum is dedicated to Corrie ten Boom, a woman who survived the Ravensbrück concentration camp. She was placed in the camp because her family had Jews hiding in their house during the occupation.

Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

blin

DAY 3 – MAASTRICHT After breakfast depart to Kevelear, just across the German border. Visit the Shrine of Mary. Continue to Steyl for a visit of the Upper and Lower Church of the Society of God's Word and the

Mission Museum. Mass may be organized in either Kevelear or Steyl. Proceed to Maastricht in southern Holland.

Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES: • Round-trip air USA – HOLLAND included

DAY 8 – AMSTERDAM After breakfast depart to Amsterdam.

Afternoon free for leisure, the tour leader will provide some suggestions. You can visit the Anne Frank house, a houseboat, visit the Flower market near the Munt tower or visit the hidden Church Our Lord in the attic. Or make some stops on the way from Bruges to Amsterdam, like Kinderdijk, to see the 19 windmills in a row and visit to Delft. In Delft, admire the beautiful Market with medieval town hall and New Church where all the members of the Dutch Royal family are buried. In Delft we will pay a visit to the factory 'Porceleyne Flesch', producing Delft Blue porcelain. Farewell dinner in Amsterdam or surroundings. Overnight (B,D)

• Choice of 3-4- or 5 star Hotels • 3 Nights hotel accommodations in Amsterdam

NORW

• One night hotel accommodation in Maastricht • One night hotel accommodation in Luik

O

• One night hotel accommodation in Brussels • Two nights hotel accommodations in Bruges • Breakfast and dinner daily included • Homeric Tour escort throughout the tour included

DAY 9 – AMSTERDAM – USA After breakfast transfer to the airport for your return flight. (B)

• All entrance fees according to the itinerary are included

DAY 4 – LUIK After breakfast, city tour Maastricht to see the main sights. If possible celebrate Mass in the St. Servatius Church.

Continue to Banneux, where 8 apparitions took place in 1933. Visit the Notre Dame, the Lady of Banneux, the different chapels and the Stations of the Cross. On to Luik for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

• Hotel taxes and service charges included • Porterage of one suitcase included • All transfers included

DENM

• USTOA One Million Dollar Protection Plan included

DAY 5 – BRUSSELS After breakfast depart to Hasselt to visit the St. Quintinus Cathedral where a miracle took place in 1317, celebrate Mass.

Continue to Louvain for a visit to the St. Antonius Chapel at the tomb of father Damian, whose beatification took place in 1994. On to Brussels for an afternoon city orientation tour. Dinner and overnight..

(B,D)

U. K.

DAY 6 – BRUGES After breakfast visit the site of the Eucharistic Miracle and possible mass here. Continue to Gent for a city tour including a visit to the famous Adoration of the Lamb by the brothers van Eyck.

On to Bruges for dinner and overnight.

(B,D) DAY 7 – BRUGES Half day sightseeing Bruges, including a visit to the Holy Blood Chapel, church of our Lady and the Beguinage. Mass in one of the many old and picturesque churches of Bruges. Optional visit to a beer brewery at a monastery. Since the Middle Ages

This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

Amsterdam

HOLLAND

Bruges Brussels

Maastricht

BELGIUM

31

MARIAN SANCTUARIES

12 Days TOUR FEATURES:

• Round-trip air USA – PORTUGAL & SPAIN included • Choice of 3-4- or 5 star Hotels • Two nights hotel accommodations in Fatima • Excursions to Coimbra, Ciudad Rodrigo & Salamanca • One night hotel accommodation in Salamanca • Excursion sightseeing tours to Alba De Tormes, Avila and Seovia • One night hotel accommodation in Seovia • Excursion sightseeing tours to Aranda De Duero and Burgos • One night hotel accommodation in Burgos • Excursion sightseeing tours san Sebastian and Lourdes • Two nights hotel accommodations in Lourdes • Excursion sightseeing tours to Andorra and Montserrat • Two nights hotel accommodations in Montserrat • Full day excursion sightseeing tour to Barcelona • Excursion sightseeing tours Zaragoza and Madrid • Two nights hotel accommodations in Madrid • Breakfast and dinner daily included • Homeric Tour escort throughout the tour included • All entrance fees according to the itinerary are included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • Porterage of 1 suitcase included • All transfers included • USTOA 1 Million Dollar Protection Plan included

Fatima Sanctuary - Portugal

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Depart for Lisbon on your overnight trans-Atlantic flight.

DAY 2 – LISBON – FATIMA Arrive in Lisbon and after completing passport control obligations, you will be met by a Homeric Tours representative and transferred to the city to begin a tour. Discover the different districts of Portugal’s capital, such as La Alfama, El Chiado and La Baixa with its urban development subsequent to the 1755 earthquake. Also visit Belem and the Hieronymites Monastery, built in the Manuelino Style from the early 16th century and a pantheon to both the royal family and Vasco da Gama. With every step you take, true Portuguese history comes alive and can be easily understood at the Monument of the San Sebastain

Burgos

FRANCE Lourdes

Barcelona

Salamanca

PORTUGAL

Segovia Avila

Fatima Lisbon

32

Madrid

SPAIN

Andorra

Discoveries. Travel to Fatima and for dinner and overnight accommodations. (D) DAY 3 – FATIMA After breakfast at the hotel, begin a fullday of sightseeing and religious reflection. The appearance of the Virgin in 1917 transformed the small town of Fatima into a destination for thousands of believers who make the pilgrimage every year and gather on the great esplanade outside the great NeoBaroque basilica with its colonnades and Chapel of Apparitions. In the afternoon, visit Valinhos and Aljustrel. Take part in the celebration of Holy Mass as well as the various religious activities and evening procession. Dinner and overnight accommodations are at the hotel. (B,D)

enter Salamanca from the south, crossing the well preserved Roman Bridge.

The homogenous mix of students and visitors beckons us to stroll through its lively streets and to indulge in the festive atmosphere. Notable monuments include the university, the Plaza Mayor and the two cathedrals. Dinner and overnight accommodations are at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 5 – SALAMANCA – ALBA DE TORMES – AVILA – SEGOVIA Breakfast at the hotel and then travel to the town of Alba de Tormes, where St.

DAY 4 – FATIMA – COIMBRA – CIUDAD RODRIGO – SALAMANCA After breakfast, transfer to Coimbra, the former capital city for more than a hundred years, boasting the oldest university in Portugal. Visit the university’s library and Romanesque cathedral before strolling down the narrow streets to the Carmelite convent where Sor Lucía, one of the Fatima shepherds lived and died.

After a brief stop in the border town of Ciudad Rodrigo, arrive in Salamanca which is now, and has always been, more than anything else, a university city. Check in to your hotel before venturing out to enjoy an evening stroll and This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

will find the Marian Sanctuary of Montserrat with ‘La Moreneta’. Transfer to the hotel fro dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D)

River View of Lourdes Cathedral - France

Teresa died and is buried and where the Discalced Carmelites preserve her memory. Then travel to Ávila, her birthplace, which welcomes you with its impressive cathedral, the St. Vincent Basilica and the Carmelite Monastery of the Incarnation, and the house where St. Teresa was born. Continue to Segovia and your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D) DAY 6 – SEGOVIA – ARANDA DE DUERO – BURGOS After breakfast, enjoy a visit of Segovia by strolling from the Roman aqueduct and passing the Gothic Cathedral to the medieval citadel. Along the way, discover noble houses and palaces, the Jewish Quarter and countless Romanesque churches. Later, travel to the Fuencisla Sanctuary and the Discalced Carmelites Convent, burial site of the great mystic and poet St. John of the Cross, who reformed the fraternal branch of the order. In the afternoon, travel to Burgos, stopping briefly in Aranda de Duero, capital of the Ribera del Duero wine region to visit a local winery for a tour and wine tasting. Overnight in Burgos at your hotel with dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D)

DAY 10 – EXCURSION TO BARCELONA After breakfast, travel to Barcelona and enjoy a scenic tour visiting the grand avenues of the Eixample District with its modernist buildings, notably the homes on the Paseo de Gracia such as Lleó Morera, Amatller, Batlló and Milá, and the Sagrada Familia, masterpiece of the architect Gaudí, flowed by a stop at another of his better known works, Guell Park. Then travel to the top of Montjuich with its magnificent views of the city and coast. Explore the vast historical district on foot and visit St. María del Mar, the Gothic Quarter, the cathedral and Las Ramblas, the emblematic pedestrian walkway.

Return to Montserrat and your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B)

DAY 8 – LOURDES After breakfast, spend the day experiencing the spiritual aura of this fascinating town. In the 19th Century, a sanctuary was created in this lovely town surrounding the grotto where the Virgin appeared to Bernadette in 1858. Visit the Neo-Gothic Basilica, the Rosario Church, the Underground Basilica, the Via Crucis and St. Bernadette’s home, with the opportunity to take part in various religious activities and end the day with a torchled procession before transferring to the hotel for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D)

DAY 11 – MONTSERRAT – ZARAGOZA – MADRID This morning, after breakfast, depart Catalonia and enter Aragon, discovering its capital city of Zaragoza. The city has important monuments including the Aljafería, the ancient palace of the Arab emir, its Gothic cathedral, the Seo of San Salvador and the Basilica del Pilar, site of the Virgin’s appearance to apostle Santiago. Continue on to Madrid for dinner and overnight accommodations at your hotel. (B,D)

DAY 9 – LOURDES – ANDORRA – MONTSERRAT Breakfast at the hotel before traveling along the French Pyrenean valleys, crossing the mountain range by way of Andorra. Enter Spain in the heart of Catalonia, Monserrat, a peculiar geological formation declared a natural park and picturesque from any angle. Here you

DAY 12 – MADRID After breakfast at the hotel, meet your local guide for your first glimpse of Madrid provided by a scenic tour that will allow you to appreciate the dimension and beauty of this city as well as its vital points, such as Paseo de la Castellana, Gran Vía, Alcala Street and Plaza de Espana. Nearby we find one of the best examples of the Bourbon urban layout: the Paseo del Prado with its fountains, gardens and museums. Of special interest are the Mile of Art, the Prado Museum, the Reina Sofia Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. Also visit its Cathedral La Almudena as well as the historical center with the main square and the Puerta del Sol. Return to your hotel to freshen-up for a special farewell dinner accompanied by a flamenco show. Then back to the hotel for overnight accommodations. (B,D)

DAY 7 – BURGOS – SAN SEBASTIAN – LOURDES Breakfast at the hotel and then meet your local guide to discover Burgos, one of the most important stops on the Path of Saint James, with its outstanding Gothic Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the possibility of attending Holy Mass. Transfer to San Sebastian to walk along La Concha Beach before heading towards France, arriving this evening at our hotel in Lourdes for dinner and overnight accommodations. (B,D) This itinerary can be modified & tailored to the specific needs and budget of your group.

DAY 12 – MADRID – USA After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home. (B)

33

FAITH AND HISTORY OF THE IRISH

11 Days

DAY 7 – GALWAY – KILFENORA – KILLARNEY Take the scenic route across The Burren with photo opportunities. At Kilfenora, visit The Burren Centre. The newly restored ancient cathedral and Celtic crosses form an important center of early Christianity. Continue across The Burren for a visit to Bunratty. Lots to see and do here: visit the castle; stroll in the folk park which depicts Irish life in the early 1900s; browse the complex of smart shops; or try a refreshment in famous Durty Nelly’s Irish pub. Skirt the metropolis of Limerick and continue south via quaint Adare with its thatched cottages to the popular resort of Killarney, your destination for the next two nights. (B,D)

TOUR FEATURES:

• Round trip air, USA – Dublin included • Choice of 3, 4 or 5-star hotels throughout • Meet and Assist upon arrival by your Homeric Tours representative • Deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach throughout included • English-speaking licensed guide included • Three nights accommodations in Dublin with breakfast daily • Welcome dinner at the hotel in Dublin • One night accommodation in Knock with breakfast and dinner daily • Two nights accommodations in Galway with breakfast daily and 1 dinner • Two nights accommodations in Kilarney with breakfast daily • One night accommodations in Waterford with breakfast and dinner daily • Sightseeing tours with admissions as per itinerary, including an excursion to the Aran Islands • All transfers included • Porterage of one suitcase included • Hotel taxes and service charges included • USTOA One Million Dollar Consumer Protection Plan

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin - Ireland

TOUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 – DEPART USA Board your overnight transatlantic flight.

DAY 2 – DUBLIN Upon arrival your Homeric Representative will greet you and help transfer you to your hotel for your check in. The rest of the day is free to relax in the Irish capital. Before dinner, join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a toast to happy touring. (D) DAY 3 – DUBLIN An orientation drive in the “Fair City” includes visits to Our Lady Of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott Street, which contains the tomb of Venerable Matt Talbot. Next, visit St. Patcrick’s Cathedral. Then a visit to Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College, famous for the 1,200year-old Book of Kells and the magnificent Old Library. Balance of the day is at leisure. (B) DAY 4 – DUBLIN – KNOCK Head for dairy farm country in the center of the “Emerald Isle” before arriving in Knock, where the Virgin Mary

Knock

Murrisk

Dublin

Galway

Aran Islands

Killenora

IRELAND Waterford

Killarney

34

appeared to the townsfolk in 1879 and today attracts pilgrims from around the world. Visit Knock Shire, the Church of The Apparition, the Basilica, and the Folk Museum. (B,D) DAY 5 – KNOCK – MURRISK – GALWAY This morning, visit the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre at the foot of St. Patrick’s Holy Mountain in Murrisk. Afterwards, visit Kylemore Abbey, the massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland.

Arrive in the port city of Galway where you will spend the next two nights.

Tonight’s recommendation: join your Tour Director for an optional evening at Dunguaire Castle, where the intimate banquet has an enlightening literary theme. (B) DAY 6 – GALWAY. ARAN ISLANDS EXCURSION At Rossaveal, board a comfortable, modern Ferry for the 45-minute crossing to Kilronan on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands and where Gaelic is the first language of the islanders. Many Catholics fled to this island during Oliver Cromwell’s conquest of Ireland during the mid-17th century. In these harsh conditions, they developed a strong self sufficiency in order to survive. Your fascinating day continues with a visit to the Aran Heitage Centre, and after a lunch break, board a minibus to enjoy local commentary on a tour of the island, ending with a visit to clifftop Dun Aengus, one of the most spectacular and dramatic prehistoric stone forts in Europe. After a stop at the visitor Centre, there is time to shop for unique hand-knitted Aran sweaters before boarding your ferry back to the mainland. There are plenty of dining options in Galway this evening. (B)

DAY 8 – KILLARNEY. RING OF KERRY EXCURSION Join the famed “Ring of Kerry” for a 100mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Have your camera ready to snap photos of the spectacular scenery that includes both land and sea. In Killarney, enjoy a fun horse-drawn car ride through the National Park with beautiful vistas of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (B) DAY 9 – KILLARNEY – WATERFORD Cross the Kerry Mountains and drive into County Cork for a visit to the Blarney, renowned for its castle and magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork, Youghal, and Dungarven to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings in 853. Here, enjoy a visit to the world-famous Waterford Crystal Factory. (B,D) DAY 10 – WATERFORD – DUBLIN Today, visit Enniscorthy, site of the final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798, and Ireland’s oldest Handweaving Mill at Avoca. Take in views of the Wicklow Mountains on your way to the Glendalough Visitor Centre with its fascinating audiovisual show “Ireland of the Monasteries.” Your Local Guide will explain the ruins of one of the centers of Irish Celtic Christianity founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century and later destroyed by English troops in 1398. Back in Dublin your Tour Director will have dining suggestions for this evening. (B) DAY 11 – DUBLIN Your homebound flight arrives the same day. (B)

General Information and Tour Conditions TRAVEL PROTECTION & INSURANCE: (OPTIONAL) We highly recommend purchasing Homeric Tours insurance for your group. Below please find our rates. Insurance rates are based on the total cost of your itinerary, which must include all applicable taxes.

TRIP COST PREMIUM RATE UP TO $750.00……………..$69.00 $751 TO $1,500…………….$99.00 $1,501 TO $2,500…………$133.00 $2,501 TO $3,500…………$175.00 $3,501 TO $4,500…………$227.00 $4,501 TO $5,500………....$269.00 NOTE: The rates listed above may change without notice. please speak to our group agent for verification.

For review of policy please call TRIPMATE at 800-888-7292 or visit their website at: WWW.TRIPMATE.COM

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: An initial goodwill group deposit of $500.00 per group is required. Once received the process of requesting space will begin. If air seats are also required, a $100.00 per seat deposit is required within 7 days of air seat confirmation. At the 95 day prior to departure period a $200.00 per person deposit is required. On the 65th day prior to departure, full and final payment is required.

CHANGES IN BOOKINGS: HOMERIC TOURS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHARGE A $50.00 P/P CHANGE FEE SHOULD ANY COMPONENT OF THE TOUR BE VOLUNTARILY CHANGED INSIDE OF 95 DAYS PRIOR TO GROUP DEPARTURE. Once airline tickets have been issued, the tour participant is responsible for any airline imposed amendment fees for voluntary changes, including name changes or names not matching the passenger’s passport. Depending on the airline, these fees can range from $75.00 - $175.00 p/p, or more and tickets may, at times, be fully non-refundable. If any of our vendors (i.e. hotels, cruise companies, airlines, etc.) charge penalties in addition to those previously noted, it will be necessary for us to pass those costs on to you.

DEVIATIONS: Homeric Tours will be happy to assist any passenger who wishes to deviate from the normal group itinerary, and we will do all possible to accommodate the passenger’s request to the best of our ability and within the guidelines of our current vendor contracts. Additional fees may be assessed depending on vendor fees, which can range from $75.00 to $150.00 per person or more. Deviation requests received within 65 days prior to departure will be assessed an additional $50.00 per person administrative fee. Deviation requests received inside 45 days prior to departure cannot be honored.

CANCELLATIONS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE: INDIVIDUAL PASSENGER CANCELLATION More than 96 days prior

Full land refund less any applicable airline fees & insurance fees

95 – 65 days prior

$100 per person + Insurance + any applicable airline fees

64 – 46 days prior

$150 of total cost + Insurance + any applicable airline fees

45 – 36 days prior

$200 of total cost + Insurance + any applicable airline fees

35 – 10 days prior

50% of total cost + Insurance + any applicable airline fees

9 – Day of departure

100% of total cost + Insurance + any applicable airline fees

ENTIRE GROUP CANCELLATION More than 121 days prior

$250.00 note: a credit towards a new group will be awarded within 1year

120 – 96 days prior

$500 + any applicable airline fees

95 – 65 days prior

$1000 + any applicable airline fees

64 or less days prior

Individual cancellation policy will apply – See individual cancellation policy

A change of tour date within 45 days of departure will be treated as a cancellation and normal cancellation penalties will apply.

Additionally if extra hotel nights (pre/post) are cancelled 14 days or less prior to departure, 100% cancellation penalties will apply.

INSURANCE: Homeric Tours is not responsible or liable for loss, damage or theft of luggage or personal belongings, or for personal injury, accidents or illness while on tour nor is Homeric Tours responsible for any type of trip interruption.

REFUNDS AND CANCELLATIONS AFTER DEPARTURE: Once the tour commences NO REFUND will be made for unused features or voluntary modifications made by the tour participant.

REFUNDS: Applications for refunds must be submitted in writing to HOMERIC TOURS, INC, within 15 days of tour termination.

Processing will take from six to eight weeks from the date HT receives relevant documents. There will be no refunds for unused package tour services or features, including missed transfers due to airline changes and/or missed flights, unused meals, missed sightseeing tours, unused entrance fees and accommodations.

PASSENGER NAME: Passengers are responsible to ensure that the names printed on the invoice exactly match the first and last name written in their passport. Any name change may require airline reservations to be canceled and rebooked. Reservations are subject to availability at the time of rebooking.

Passengers will be required to pay airlines rebooking fee of up to $200 per ticket.

Homeric Tours will not be held responsible for the denial of services by a carrier due to any name discrepancy.

SPECIAL REQUESTS: We will be happy to advise hotels, airlines and cruises lines of any special requests, provided we receive the request at time of booking. However, we cannot guarantee all requests.

FLIGHTS: ALL FLIGHTS BOOKED BY HOMERIC ARE OPERATED ON SCHEDULED CARRIERS UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED. AIRLINES: Once issued, tickets may be nonrefundable. Airline schedules and flights are subject to change without notice. HT is not responsible for penalties incurred for tickets not issued by HT due to schedule or flight changes.

HOTELS: Hotel accommodations will be provided in accordance with the itinerary or similar. We reserve the right to substitute hotels of equal category. All rooms are twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, unless an upgrade was requested. Room selection is at the discretion of the hotel. Triple rooms consist of a standard twin-bedded room plus a sofa, folding bed or cot for the third person.

PRODUCED BY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL COMMUNICATIONS, WARREN, NJ

BAGGAGE: The less you bring with you, the better; we recommend that you take along one suitcase per person, plus a small overnight bag. On land, due to limited motor coach capacity, we request that only one bag per person be carried on motor coaches. If additional baggage is carried (other than overnight bag) a supplementary charge of $2.00 per additional suitcase per “lift” will be levied according to the number of lifts. For those tours that include a domestic flight(s) only one suitcase per person will be allowed.

Additional baggage charges according to airline tariff. Baggage is carried at owner’s risk and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.

PORTERAGE: Porterage of one suitcase per person is provided on our tours. However you should know that strict security precautions in Greece, especially going through Customs inspections, on entry or exit points, demand that you carry your personal piece of luggage for the Customs official. This procedure is seriously enforced in Greece and there are no exceptions to the rule. We ask that you bring with you only a small carry on piece and one suitcase. Both pieces you should be able to carry on your own, where necessary, when the law, for your own protection, demands it. This will be in Customs and security areas such as ports and airports. Our own people will be there beyond these areas to assist you.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS: United States citizens traveling to Greece require a valid passport only. It is required that the passport be valid at least (3) months beyond the conclusion of your trip. It is suggested that ALL participants check with the appropriate Consulates to determine if any visas are required. Those taking one of our Egypt and/or Turkey tours require a visa and should obtain one prior to departure.

RESPONSIBILITY: HOMERIC TOURS, INC. 17th fl., 55 EAST 59TH ST., NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10022 and/or their cooperating selling agents and/or their suppliers of services offer these tours for sale only on the express understanding that they themselves do not perform or in any way assume liability for the performance of the individual components (transfers, hotels, flights, car, motor coaches, etc.) of these tours and act only to combine these components into a single unit of sale for the convenience of the general public, and are not responsible therefore, either directly or indirectly, for any loss, accident, or injury which may result from any act, omission, negligence in or responsible for performing or providing these component services. The transportation companies concerned take no responsibility for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not aboard their conveyances. The passage contract issued by the transportation company shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation company and the passenger. ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF DELAY, CHANGE OF SCHEDULES, ILLNESS, WEATHER, STRIKES, HOSTILITIES, QUARANTINE, GOVERNMENT REQUISITION OF HOTEL SPACE, OR ANY OTHER REASONS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE TOUR OPERATOR OR TRAVEL AGENT, GROUP ORGANIZER,CHURCH, PARISH, PRIEST OR GROUP LEADER SHALL BE BORNE BY THE PASSENGER. TOUR OPERATOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SUBSTITUTE HOTELS OF SIMILAR CATEGORY IF NECESSARY AND TO ALTER ITINERARIES. Any and all disputes concerning this contract, the brochure,website or your trip shall be resolved solely by the courts of the city of New York, county of Manhattan.

BROCHURE PRINTING DISCLAIMER: The tour operator is not responsible for typographical or printing errors.

HOLIDAYS: During local or national holidays abroad, certain facilities such as museums, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited.

SUBSTITUTIONS: We reserve the right, at our discretion, to substitute carrier, aircraft, charter flight for scheduled flight, cruise line, entertainment, hosts, entertainers, hotels, restaurants, party & banquet locations, or other accommodations. We also reserve the right for good faith reasons to cancel any scheduled tour. In such event, we cannot take responsibility for your having chosen to purchase a non-refundable airfare.

CRUISES: Cruise cabins are assigned within a general cabin category on run-of-ship basis.

HT cannot guarantee a specific assignment.

Dining room seating will be done by the maitre d’hotel on board. HT will accept requests for dining time preferences.

SHIP SUBSTITUTIONS AND ITINERARY CHANGES: Cruise Lines reserve the right to substitute ships on any cruise, even at the last minute, based on decisions made by their senior management staff. Itinerary changes on any cruise are the sole responsibility of the cruise line and they may be implemented at the last minute based on factors determined by existing weather or traffic conditions. Homeric Tours as the Tour Operator cannot take any responsibility for ship substitutions or itinerary changes decided by a cruise line.

HANDICAPPED/ELDERLY PASSENGERS: Tour participants who require any form of assistance must be accompanied by a helper who is capable of and totally responsible for providing such assistance. Because of space limitations, wheelchairs and walkers cannot be carried on motor coaches. Please note that some of our tours require a lot of walking and moving around.

TIPPING: On land, tips are not included in any of the tour packages and are left at the discretion of each participant. While cruising, passengers wishing to express their appreciation should give their gratuities to the Chief Steward at the end of the cruise which in turn are distributed to the service personnel in accordance with established practice. Recommendations from the cruise lines are $10-$12 per person per day.

TOUR DOCUMENTS: Final documents are mailed, provided we have full payment and a signed contract, two weeks prior to departure date. One set per group. Documents may be sent to additional addresses for a $20 fee per address. Should final payment be received fewer than 60 days prior to departure, a $15 overnight mail fee will be applied to your invoice. This amount must be paid in full before documents can be released.

AIR-CONDITIONING: Please be advised that foreign air conditioning systems in public places, hotel and motor coaches are not up to USA standards.

ACCEPTANCE: Payment of deposit or full payment shall be deemed as consent by the passenger to the above conditions.

HOMERIC TOURS, INC. 55 East 59th Street New York, NY 10022 Tel: (212) 753-1100 (800) 223-5570 Fax: (212) 753-0319

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VISIT THE GREATEST RELIGIOUS SITES IN THE WORLD. Homeric Tours helps you focus on the most important aspects of your trip-sharing faith, community, and God's creation.

We offer trips ranging from vacations that explore the Footsteps of Apostle Paul, the Christian theology of C. S. Lewis to excursions following the heritage of Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI as well as the Footsteps of Martin Luther and our Wesley Heritage Tour. We bring you an outstanding selection of Christian Tours and Pilgrimages including The Lands of the Bible, The Lands of Protestant Christianity, The Lands of Catholic Faith, the Lands of Christian Orthodox Faith and the land of Lutheran Christianity.

Egypt

Cyprus

Jordan

Central & Eastern Europe

Morocco

Italy

CONSULT YOUR PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENT

Greece

Email: info@HomericTours.com Internet: www.HomericTours.com

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