ESCORTED PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Flights NYC-Lourdes-Paris-NYC - Other departure cities available.

• Airline fuel surcharges

• 9 nights First Class accommodations

• 3 nights Lourdes

• 3 nights Mont Saint Michel

• 3 nights Paris

• All transfers

• 19 meals: 9 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners

• Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motorcoach

• Services of English-speaking tour escort/manager throughout

• Services of local guides in all major cities

• Entrance fees per itinerary

• Donations to local churches

• Restaurant tips

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Basilica of Saint Pius X, Lourdes

• International Mass, Lourdes

• Saint Michael's Abbey, Mont St. Michel

• Landing Beaches, Normandy

• Basilica Saint Thérèse, Lisieux

• Saint Gildard's Convent, Nevers

• Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

• Shrine of the Miraculous Medal, Paris

• Eiffel Tower 2nd floor, Paris

• Wine, mineral water & coffee with all included dinners

• Soft drink & coffee with all included lunches

NOT INCLUDED: airport taxes, fees and September 11th Security Fee, and tips to guides, driver, and tour escort/manager (call for terms and conditions).

TOUR ITINERARY

DAY 1, Monday
Depart the USA to France. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey

DAY 2, Tuesday
Arrive at Pau Airport and transfer to your hotel in Lourdes. Balance of the day at leisure. This evening, enjoy an orientation meeting with your tour escort, followed by a welcome dinner (D): LOURDES

DAY 3, Wednesday
Today, visit the Basilica of St. Pius X, the world's largest underground church, and the Boly Mill where St. Bernadette was born in 1844. The tour continues to the "Cachot" (Jail) where St. Bernadette lived at the time of the Apparitions, and on to visit the Grotto of Massaibelle, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette. After dinner, attend the Torchlight Procession, starting from the Grotto (B, D): LOURDES

DAY 4, Thursday
This morning, attend the International Mass at the Grotto: the cave of the Apparitions of 1858. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore the town of Lourdes on your own. After dinner, attend an evening Torchlight Procession (B, D): LOURDES

DAY 5, Friday
Transfer in the early morning to board your flight to Paris. Upon arrival, board your coach and drive to the French commune of Chartres. After lunch at local restaurant, visit the UNESCO World Heritage Chatres Cathedral. Widely considered the finest Gothic cathedral in France, and by far the largest, this 13th century church features an internal labyrinth of complex design and twelve enameled images of the apostles. The tour continues to Mont St. Michel, a rocky tidal island off France's northern coast (B, L, D): MONT SAINT MICHEL

DAY 6, Saturday
This morning, tour the medieval town of Mont Saint Michel, including a visit to the Abbey of St. Michael. Beautifully adorned by a gold leaf statue of St. Michael, the abbey is by-and-large the most impressive architectural feature on the island, as it is uniquely built atop a cluster of rocks jutting out of the English Channel. Enjoy the afternoon exploring Mont Saint Michel on your own (B, D): MONT SAINT MICHEL

DAY 7, Sunday
Celebrate Sunday Mass this morning, and afterwards, continue on a full day excursion to the Normandy Coast. Dedicated to the memory of the Normandy Invasion and the deployment of the allies in 1944 (known to Americans as D-Day), you'll stop at the Caen Memorial Museum or Peace Museum for a commented visit and film. We then depart for the landing beaches with a stop at both the Pointe du Hoc and the American cemetery of Saint-Laurent at Omaha Beach. From here, we visit a German battery of artillery, followed by a stop at Arromanches. The tour concludes with a visit to the landing beaches of Normandy, including Gold, Juno and Sword, where the Canadians, French and British came ashore (B, D): MONT SAINT MICHEL

DAY 8, Monday
Today, depart Mont St. Michel and drive to Lisieux, a small commune situated at the basin of the River Touques. Upon arrival, you will visit St. Peter's Cathedral, a fine example of Norman Gothic architecture, and the Basilica dedicated to St. Thérèse of Lisieux ("The Little Flower"). It was in 1925 that Pope Pius XI canonized St. Thérèse, calling her "the greatest saint of modern times." The tour continues to the Carmelite Convent where Thérèse lived as a nun. Here, you'll visit the Relics Room to view the historical objects and sacred possessions belonged by St. Thérèse. After lunch at local restaurant, continue to Paris for an overnight (B, L) PARIS

DAY 9, Tuesday
Today's sightseeing includes a full day excursion to Nevers, with lunch. While in Nevers, you'll visit the Cathedrals of St. Cry and St. Judith, and St. Gildard's convent to see the uncorrupted body of St. Bernadette. Mass will be celebrated before returning to Paris this afternoon (B, L): PARIS

DAY 10, Wednesday
This morning, continue your tour of Paris with visits to the Shrine of the Miraculous Medal and Saint Chapelle. Afterwards, proceed to Notre Dame Cathedral, where you will attend Mass. From here, we travel to the Eiffel Tower for an elevator ride up to the second floor for spectacular panoramic views of the city below. Enjoy lunch at local restaurant, and afterwards, visit the Church of the Sacred Heart (Sacré-Cœur) and St. Vincent Du Paul Church. The remainder of the day is free to explore Paris on your own (B, L): PARIS

DAY 11, Thursday
Transfer to the airport for your return flight home (B).

Click map for a larger image

DATES & RATES

2008 - Available only for groups of 20 or more.
Operates April through October. Please inquire.