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An 11-Day Pilgrimage to
the Holy LandEquestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Fr. Massimo Botta, FSSP, KHS, Chaplain
Fr. Ralph Oballo, FSSP, KHS, Chaplain
October 5-15, 2026
Starting at $4,195 per person -
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Join Fr. Massimo Botta, FSSP, KHS and Fr. Ralph Oballo, FSSP, KHS on an unforgettable "Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem' Pilgrimage to the Holy Land!
Stand on sacred ground with us as we walk in the footsteps of Christ, journeying with other Knights and Dames of the EOHSJ from Canada and the United States.Our American escort will be Sir John Sonnen, KHS and our local Catholic guide will be Sir Amer Shehadeh, KCHS. Our itinerary will include a special visit to the Latin Patriarchate for participants to be received in audience and given the Pilgrim's Shell, an award given to distinguished members of the Order who have made a formal pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
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Pricing
Double Occupancy Price: $4,195*
Single Occupancy Price: $5,395*
*Price includes cash discount
*Price does not include airfareAll rates above are per person, land-only. Airfare from your preferred airport of departure is available upon request. To learn more, please review the "Flight Information" section.
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What's Included
- Accommodations at the best 4-star hotels with baggage handling
- All tours and transfers in an air-conditioned deluxe motorcoach
- All meals included (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- Admission tickets and private tours through all shrines, monasteries, abbeys, and historical sites on our itinerary
- Whisper headsets
- A local, English-speaking pilgrimage guide for the entire duration of the pilgrimage
- An American pilgrimage escort, John Sonnen, STL, KHS
- All tips for local guides and drivers
- Daily Traditional Latin Mass, confessions, and spiritual guidance with Fr. Botta and Fr. Oballo
- Two pre-departure information meetings
- A custom neck wallet and luggage tag for each pilgrim
What's not included:- Airfare (airfare from your airport of choice is available upon request)
- Alcoholic beverages at meals
- ETA "electronic travel authorization" fees (estimated $7/pilgrim)
- Travel Insurance (optional, but highly recommended)
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Our Itinerary
- Days 1 & 2 - Oct 5 & 6
- Day 3 - October 7
- Day 4 - October 8
- Day 5 - October 9
- Day 6 - October 10
- Day 7 - October 11
- Day 8 - October 12
- Day 9 - October 13
- Days 10 & 11 - Oct 14 & 15
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Across the Atlantic ~ Arrival in Tel Aviv ~ TiberiasDepart today on board your overnight flights to Tel Aviv, arriving the following day. Enjoy a full meal service as well as in-flight entertainment.
Welcome to the Holy Land! Upon arrival in Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), we will meet our local guide and driver at the airport arrivals hall where they will escort us to our deluxe, air-conditioned motorcoach. We will then transfer to our religious guesthouse in Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee, enjoying the scenic drive at dusk through the picturesque countryside. Guesthouse check-in and festive group welcome dinner, followed by Mass. Overnight in Tiberias. (D)
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Nazareth ~ Wedding Church at Cana ~ Mt. TaborAfter breakfast we will set out for Nazareth, the hometown of the Holy Family. We will begin with Mass on the main altar of the Basilica of the Annunciation, a modern church constructed over the site of the home of the Blessed Mother. Here we will have time to pray in silence before the cave where Our Lady lived and where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her (Luke 1:26-38). Next we will walk to the nearby church of St. Joseph, built atop the site where the Holy Family lived. We will descend into the crypt to see the childhood home of Christ. After, we will drive to Cana of Galilee to pray where Christ performed his first public miracle. At the Wedding Church at Cana, we will have the renewal of wedding vows for married couples (John 1:1-12). Following lunch, we will drive to Mt. Tabor to visit the mighty church of the Transfiguration, an architectural gem completed in 1924 (Luke 9:28-36). Group dinner at our guesthouse. Overnight in Tiberias. (B, L, D)
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Mt. of Beatitudes ~ Capernaum ~ Tabgha ~ Sea of GalileeFollowing breakfast we will depart for the short drive to the location of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), a majestic setting overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Here we will have Mass amid the enchanting setting of gardens and palm trees. We will also have time to pray inside the chapel built atop the site called the Church of the Beatitudes. Next we will drive to nearby Capernaum, the town on the Sea of Galilee where Christ and the Apostles lived. We will see the ruins that include the old synagogue and the home of St. Peter’s mother-in-law (today a church stands over the site). For lunch we will enjoy St. Peter’s fish, a freshwater tilapia fish, served to pilgrims and locals alike with fresh lemon and french fries. After, we will visit the Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha, where Jesus fed a multitude, including 5,000 men (Mark 6:34-44). We will conclude the day with a boat ride on the breathtaking Sea of Galilee. Group dinner at our guesthouse. Overnight in Tiberias. (B, L, D)
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Peter's Primacy ~ Caesarea Philippi ~ Golan Heights ~ Druze Village ~ Mt. HermonFollowing breakfast we will drive to the nearby Church of the Primacy of St. Peter at Tabgha. Here we will have morning Mass in the peaceful gardens. This is the site where after Christ rose from the dead, he appeared to his Apostles and laid out a breakfast for them after a miraculous catch, saying to Peter: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:1-24). After, we will drive north to the Golan Heights to visit Caesarea Philippi, where Christ also declared the primacy of St. Peter (Matthew 16:13-20). We will stand at the same brook amid the same cave where Christ said, “But who do you say that I am?” For lunch we will visit a Druze village, tasting their delicious local food. See Lebanon and Syria from across the border, as well as Mt. Hermon, covered in snow where locals ski. Return to the guesthouse for our group dinner. Overnight in Tiberias. (B, L, D)
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Mt. Carmel ~ Haifa ~ Caesarea Maritima ~ JerusalemWe begin the day with breakfast and guesthouse check out as we board our bus for the beautiful drive to Mt. Carmel, an ancient place of pilgrimage overlooking the majestic Mediterranean Sea. We will pray inside the cave of Elijah and celebrate Mass in a chapel inside the adjoining Stella Maris Carmelite convent. After, we will participate in a relaxed lunch in the convent refectory served by the nuns with Italian cuisine. Enjoy the serene views of the sea and the distant coast of Lebanon and the beautiful port city of Haifa. On our way to Jerusalem we will make a quick stop at Caesarea Maritima, the ancient Roman city that was for centuries a prominent port, today part of the Caesarea National Park. Pontius Pilate lived here and it later became a Crusader port. St. Peter baptized Cornelius and his household here, the first time Gentiles were baptized (Acts 10:1-48). Philip the deacon brought Christianity here and gave hospitality to St. Paul, who was a prisoner here for two years (Acts 23-26). After our visit and tour of the seaside ruins, we will board our bus for the holy city of Jerusalem. Arrival at our hotel and check in. Celebratory group dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, L, D)
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Bethlehem ~ Ein KarimFollowing breakfast, we board our bus and set out for Bethlehem, making time to shop for religious items at a cooperative run by Christian families. Afterwards, we will arrive at the ancient Basilica of the Nativity. We will enter the cave where Christ was born, a peaceful grotto under the sanctuary of the Basilica. We will see and pray where Mary laid Christ in a manger (Luke 2:1-20). We will also visit the adjoining Church of St. Catherine and visit the caves where St. Jerome lived. Next we will visit another nearby cave, called the Chapel of the Milk Grotto, the place where the Holy Family found refuge during the Massacre of the Holy Innocents (Matthew 2:16-18). We will then board our bus for lunch next to Shepherds’ Field, followed by Mass among the caves where the shepherds lived and beheld the star of Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-20). Inside the Chapel of the Shepherds’ Field, pilgrims gather to sing Christmas carols. We will sing together “Silent Night.” Afterwards we will board our bus for Ein Karim, the location of the Church of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56), where Mary gave us the Magnificat, one of the most ancient Marian hymns. Group dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, L, D)
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A Day in JerusalemOur morning begins with breakfast before we set out in the footsteps of Christ, visiting Mt. Scopus and the Mt. of Olives. From here we will have a stunning view of Jerusalem and its surrounding environs. On our leisurely walk we will visit some of the most important churches in the city, including the Pater Noster (today a French Carmelite monastery), the Dominus Flevit Church (where “the Lord wept” in Matthew 24:1-51), and the Church of All Nations (where Christ sweat blood) at the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). After lunch in Jerusalem we will visit Mt. Zion to see Dormition Abbey where Our Lady was assumed into Heaven, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu (the ruins of the house of Caiphas) where St. Peter denied Christ three times (Matthew 26:69-75). We will conclude the day by visiting the Upper Room of the Last Supper (John 13-17). Group dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, L, D)
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Jerusalem: The Passion of Christ ~ Visit to the Latin Patriarchate
Today we spend the day in the Old City of Jerusalem, walking in the footsteps of the Passion of Christ. We begin with an early rise before dawn to trace the footsteps of Christ on the Via Dolorosa, participating in the Stations of the Cross, a devotion introduced by the Crusaders. We start at the location of the former Praetorian Palace of Pilate where Jesus was condemned to die (John 18:28-40), also the location of the scourging and the crowning with thorns. We follow all 14 Stations through the quiet pre-dawn streets of Jerusalem, leading finally to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. Here we will visit where Christ died on Mt. Calvary and have Mass there as the sun rises on Jerusalem. The culmination of our pilgrimage will be visiting the empty tomb of Christ, the true highlight of our time in the Holy Land. Next we will return to our hotel for breakfast and a rest. After lunch we will visit St. Stephen’s Gate, where the first martyr was killed (Acts 7:54-60) and St. Anne’s church built by the Crusaders in 1138 at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:2), also believed to be one of the childhood homes of Our Lady. We will also include today an audience at the Patriarchate (pending permission). The purpose of this meeting is for qualifying members of the EOHSJ to be awarded the Pilgrim’s Shell, a rare distinction and the highest honor bestowed upon members of the Order by the Latin Patriarchate. Group dinner at our hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, L, D)
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Jordan River ~ Jericho ~ Qumran ~ Dead SeaOur morning begins with Mass and a visit to the desert and the Jordan River for the renewal of baptismal promises, a common custom at the site where Christ was baptized. Then we will visit Jericho, also known as the “world’s oldest city.” From a distance we will see the Mount of Temptation and hear the story of Christ in Jericho with Zacchaeus the publican (Luke 19:1-10). After a delicious outdoor lunch in Jericho in a shaded garden, we will visit Qumran to see the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls, as well as where St. John the Baptist lived with the Essenes. We will make time for an optional “float” in the Dead Sea, the lowest part of the earth. For those interested, don’t forget to bring your bathing suits! We will board our bus and return to Jerusalem for dinner. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B, L, D)
At an early hour we will check out of our hotel and transfer to the Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) for our return flights home.
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Additional Information
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Designated Arrival and Departure Times
This is a land-only pilgrimage. Pilgrims are responsible for arranging their own airfare. Please reference the designated arrival and departure times below when purchasing your airfare:- Arrival Information
- Arrive by: October 6, 2026
- Arrival time: TBD - The designated arrival time will be posted on February 1st, 2026. Please do NOT purchase your airfare until the designated arrival time has been posted
- Arrival Airport: Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV)
- Arrival transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred in one group from the Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV) to the first activity on the itinerary.
- Departure Information
- Depart on: October 15, 2026
- Departure time: TBD - The designated departure time will be posted on February 1st, 2026. Please do NOT purchase your airfare until the designated departure time has been posted
- Departure airport: Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV)
- Departure transfer: Pilgrims will be transferred in one group from the hotel to the Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV).
Want to arrive or depart outside of the designated times?- Airport transfers outside of the designated arrival/departure times are not included in the pilgrimage fee.
- We can assist you with arranging your private airport transfer. Contact us at [email protected].
- As a reminder, airport transfers to your home airport are not included in the pilgrimage fee and are on your own arrangement.
Want help arranging your flights?- Our flight specialist is standing by ready to assist you with arranging your airfare. Contact Jody at [email protected] or call (507) 446-3683.
After your flights have been arranged, please email us a copy of your flight itinerary to [email protected] - Arrival Information
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Accommodations
- October 6-10, 2026 (4 nights) - Mount of Beatitudes Religious Guesthouse - Tiberias - Mount of Beatitudes, South Golan 12365, Israel - +972 4 6711200 - Website Link
- October 10-15, 2026 (5 nights) - Prima Kings Hotel - Jerusalem - King George St 60, Jerusalem, 9426224, Israel - +972 2-620-1201 - Website Link
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ETA-IL Travel Authorization
All pilgrims traveling to Israel are required to apply for the ETA-IL (electronic travel authorization):
- Each pilgrim holding a USA passport must apply for their ETA-IL individually, directly on the Israeli Government website: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/
- St. Charles Pilgrimages LLC cannot submit applications on behalf of our pilgrims. It is the SOLE responsibility of the pilgrim to submit the ETA-IL application.
- The ETA-IL application costs approximately $7 USD and is paid via credit card at the conclusion of the application.
- Most people will receive their ETA-IL approval email within 72 hours. Print and save this approval email.
- Your ETA-IL will be valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- Pilgrims should submit the ETA-IL application upon registering for their pilgrimage, but no later than 1 week prior to departure.
- If you do not have a USA passport, it your responsibility to check with your local government to see if you are required to submit an ETA-IL application to enter Israel.
- Remember, USA passport holders DO NOT need to request a B2 Visa. Only the ETA-IL is required.
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Travel Insurance
- We highly encourage each pilgrim to purchase a travel insurance policy. Ultimately, like all types of insurance, the level of coverage you purchase will have a direct correlation to the price of your policy.
- Some benefits (such as coverage for pre-existing medical conditions) are time-sensitive and must be purchased within 15 days of paying your initial deposit.
- To request a quote, please fill out this digital form:
Travel Insurance Request Form
* Please direct all travel insurance questions to Jody at [email protected] or call (507) 446-3683.
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Payment Schedule
- A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is due upon registration.
- Final payment/remainder of balance is due by July 5, 2026.
- Late bookings after 90 days prior to departure require payment in full at time of booking.
Payment Options
You have three payment options:- Mailed Check (not applicable for the initial deposit): Zero fees. Make your check out to St. Charles Pilgrimages LLC and mail it to 399 Draher Lane, Bainbridge, Ohio 45612
- ACH (eCheck): 1% + 0.30 cents processing fee
- Credit Card: 1% + 0.30 cents processing fee + 2.9% CC fee (AMEX is 3.9%)
Cancellation Policy- With the exception of the deposit, all payments are 100% refundable if a cancellation request is received before 90 days prior to departure.
- With the exception of the deposit, all payments are 50% refundable if a cancellation request is received from 90 days to 31 days prior to departure.
- There are no refunds for cancellation requests received after 30 days prior to departure.
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