Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Join us in Jesus’ footsteps!

‘A deeply inspiring journey through the sacred landscape of peace, joy and Divine love.’

27 OCTOBER – 6 NOVEMBER 2023

Pilgrimage has always been an important component of all religious and spiritual traditions: a precious opportunity for purification and to receive great blessings for one’s life.

A pilgrimage with Ananda is an unforgettable experience, made up of deep attunement, inspiring spiritual practices, joyful chanting and sharing. With Ananda, you are much more than a tourist or a pilgrim: you are part of a spiritual family that includes members and friends from Ananda centres around the world.

Yogananda writes in his Autobiography of a Yogi about his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1935, ‘Wandering day after day over the Holy Land, I was more than ever convinced of the value of pilgrimage. The spirit of Christ is all-pervasive in Palestine; I walked reverently by his side at Bethlehem, Gethsemane, Calvary, the holy Mount of Olives, and by the River Jordan and the Sea of Galilee. Our little party visited the Birth Manger, Joseph’s carpenter shop, the tomb of Lazarus, the house of Martha and Mary, the hall of the Last Supper. Antiquity unfolded; scene by scene, I saw the divine drama that Christ once played for the ages.’

Nazareth

Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth and the Church of St. Joseph, and the ancient synagogue where Jesus announced that he was the Messiah

The Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias)

Where Jesus chose some of his disciples and addressed the crowd from the boat, calmed the storm and appeared to his disciples after the resurrection

The places of Jesus

Tabgha, The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the place where the third encounter of Jesus with his disciples happened
Cafernao, where Jesus preached and performed many miracles
Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount
Mount Tabor, a place of retreat and contemplation, the holy mountain, with the Basilica of the Transfiguration of Jesus
Mount Carmel, where Elijah challenged the priests of Baal, with a cave dedicated to the memory of the prophet Elijah and a shrine dedicated to the Virgin of Carmel
The Jordan River, where John baptized Jesus
The Dead Sea, 416 m. below sea level
Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1946 and which was the location of the spiritual community of the Essenes
Jericho, Mount of Temptation
Bethlehem, the Shepherds’ Field and the Church of the Nativity

Jerusalem

Visit the Old City of Jerusalem, the Western Wall (the most important place in Judaism, sometimes referred to as the ‘Wailing Wall’), the Temple Mount with the El-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock (cannot be visited inside), the Jaffa gate, Mount Zion, the room of the cenacle, the tomb of David and the church of the Dormition of Mary. We will have the opportunity to pray in the church of St. Anna and the pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic. Other highlights are the meditation in the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives and our journey along the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa), arriving at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.

WHERE WE STAY

Golden Crown Old City Nazareth – Golan Hotel Tiberias – Oasis Hotel Gerico – Sergei Palace Jerusalem

Your guides will be Nayaswami Premi, who has been guiding this wonderful tour for a number of years, along with Narya Tosetto, Kriyacharya from Ananda Assisi and his wife Laura Brun. With their guidance and spiritual support you will explore the mystical places of Jesus Christ and of other great saints.

Programme Fees

Accommodation in double room, with no flight: ca. € 1895,00

Supplement for single room: ca. € 600.00

Advance payment by bank transfer by September 10th, balance by October 10th.

The price includes:

Assistance on arrival and departure by our local staff
Air-conditioned GT bus for the duration of the tour
Accommodation as mentioned above in a double room with bath
Half board from dinner on the first day to breakfast on the last day
Local guide for the duration of the tour
All required entrance fees
Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee

The price does not include:

Flight to Tel Aviv (there will be a group flight)
Tips of € 40 need to be paid upon arrival to cover all restaurants, porters, tour guides etc,
Personal expenses and anything not mentioned