Day 1 - USA - Lisbon

Board your overnight transatlantic flight to Lisbon. Dinner and breakfast are served on board.

Day 2 - Arrive Lisbon

Meet your tour guide. Drive through Lisbon, we stop and visit St. Anthony's Church. Saint Anthony was born and grew up in Lisbon. Traditionally, the invocation of his name is considered the best means of locating lost objects. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon.

Day 3 - Lisbon - Santarem - Fatima

After breakfast depart Lisbon for Santarem, where one of the oldest cities in the world is located. We will walk through its narrow streets to the Church of St Stephen, containing the oldest recorded Eucharistic miracle. This miracle has been on continuous display since 1269. We will then continue on to Fatima, the place where the Blessed Mother appeared in 1917 to three simple shepherd children and exhorted mankind to pray for world peace. Dinner and overnight in Fatima

Day 4 - Fatima

Six times the Virgin Mary appeared to three novices belonging to the diocese of Leiria, from May 13 to Oct 13, 1917. A new big basilica is under construction, however just as beautiful, an older basilica was constructed here in 1928, and millions of pilgrims visit each year. Fatima is one of the most visited holy places for Catholics from around the world. The atmosphere of intense spirituality and the importance of Fatima have been attested to by the visits of two Popes: Paul VI and John Paul II.

We will tour Fatima, see the Little Chapel of the Apparitions, Basilica, the site of Francesco and Jacinta's graves, the Hamlet of Aljustrel, where the children lived, and Valinhos, the site of Our Lady's appearance after the children's return from prison. Follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Sacra (The Sacred Way) culminating in the Chapel of Calvary, which overlooks over all Fatima. Join pilgrims from around the world in an evening candlelight procession to pray the rosary. Dinner and overnight in Fatima.

Day 5 - Fatima - Avila "city of stones, city of saints"

After breakfast depart for Avila. On the way to Avila we stop in Alba de Tormes, where St. Teresa of Avila is buried. Arrive at Avila for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 - Avila - Burgos

Here the atmosphere has changed very little since the days of St. Teresa of Jesus, to whom the city is dedicated. St. Teresa the great mystic, was the first woman to be named a Doctor of the Church. In Avila we will visit: the Cathedral, which contains many of St. Teresa relics; The crypt of the Convento of La Santa, built on the site of the house where she was born, is home to the most comprehensive museum dedicated to her life, and La Encarnacion Convent, the first convent she found.

Afternoon we depart to the city of Burgos, the historic capital of Old Castile. After dinner explore Burgos (on your own), and admire the magnificent limestone Cathedral.

Day 7 - Burgos - Loyola - Lourdes

After breakfast we depart Burgos, heading for Lourdes, France. En route we stop in Loyola, the birthplace of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. Here, we will see the 17th Century Basilica dedicated to St Ignatius. Behind the sanctuary is the family home of St. Ignatius, which we will also visit. The most venerated place in this building is the room where Ignatius at age 30, was brought following his serious wounding at the Battle of Pamplona.

Later we drive through the Pyrenees Mountains into Lourdes. Here, between the spectacular mountain-river, Gave de Pau, stands picturesque Lourdes, the birthplace of St Bernadette to whom Our Lady appeared in 1858 near the Grotto of Massabielle. Settle into your hotel, explore the surroundings before dinner, followed by a candlelight procession (every evening from Apr through Oct) before retiring for the evening.

Day 8 and 9 - Lourdes

After breakfast, our guided tour of Lourdes will include the sanctuary; the Basilica of St Pius X, the world's largest underground church; and the baths where hundreds of miraculous cures have taken place. Enjoy a video presentation telling the story of Lourdes, and 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 in prayers with pilgrims from around the world as you pray for the sick, drink water from the miraculous spring, pray at the Grotto and submerge yourself in the healing baths.

Experience Christ's love as you walk the life-size Stations of the Cross overlooking the holy Grotto. Kneel in the chapel built on the very rock of the Grotto in obedience to the request of the "Immaculate Conception." Attend the blessing for the sick and participate in nightly candlelight processions requested by Our Lady and take time for private devotion. Each evening, dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Day 10 - Lourdes - USA

Early morning we depart Lourdes for our homebound flights. Arrive back home.