The Shrines of Southern France

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
Round-trip air from New York
9 nights Accommodation in 4-star or superior tourist class hotels as follows: (or similar)
1 night: La Salette
2 night: Paray Le Monial
6 nights: Hotel Eliseo in Lourdes
Breakfast and dinner daily
Transportation by air-conditioned motor coach
Tour Escort throughout

Guided tours & admissions fees
Spiritual Director and Mass Daily
Luggage handling in hotels and airports
Flight bag & portfolio of all travel documents

Not Included: Lunches, Beverages with dinners, Airport tax (approx. $200-$380 depending on departure city and routing, when inter-itinerary flights occur taxes can be higher). Travel Insurance optional at $99-$219. Tips to your guide & driver ($6 per day). Items of a personal nature.

Sample Day-by-Day Itinerary:

Day 1 – Depart USA

Departure from your home town for the overnight flight to France. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.

Day 2 – Lyon – La Salette

Upon your arrival in France this morning in Lyon Airport we will be met by our guide and driver and transfer 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. Our Lady appeared to these shepherds crying, lamenting over the lack of observance of Sundays and the profaning of her Son’s holy name. A spring forever marks the spot where the Virgin appeared and where millions of pilgrims come to 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 site in France, with a beautiful Basilica built to honor the Virgin Mary. In 1996 La Salette celebrated the 150th anniversary of Our Lady’s first appearance. Dinner and overnight in Corps.

Day 3 – La Salette – Paray Le Monial

Mass at Notre Dame De La Salette, then we continue our journey and travel North to Paray Le Monial. Dinner and overnight.

Day 4 – Paray Le Monial – Ars – Paray Le Monial

We start our day with Mass in hometown of the devotion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Visit the Chapel of the Visitation where Jesus exposed His Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during a number of apparitions, Reliquary of St. Margaret containing her relics, located underneath a wax figure of the saint. Next we head to the pretty little town of Ars where St Jean-Marie Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, spent a great part of his holy life giving powerful sermons and spending up to 27 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. He died in 2895 and his incorrupt body lies in repose, along with many relics from this saint who was canonized in 2925. Continue to Paray Le Monial.

Day 5 – Paray Le Monial – Lyon – Lourdes

After an early breakfast we depart Paray le Monial for Lyon airport where we will board our 2 hour flight to Pau or Toulouse Airport (this flight is not included for Land Only participants).

Upon your arrival in Lourdes transfer to your hotel. Relax or explore before dinner, followed by a candlelight procession before retiring. Dinner and overnight.

Days 6 thru 10 – Lourdes

This pilgrimage was designed for those who would like to spend more time in Lourdes, to pray and reflect. During your 6 nights stay in Lourdes you will have time to pray with your fellow pilgrims and pilgrims from around the world, to attend Mass at the Grotto, watch 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 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 to the request of the "Immaculate Conception." Evenings are free for optional Blessed Sacrament Procession before dinner.

Your role in the universal church will have new meaning as you join the candlelight procession and group rosary.

On one of the free days you may want to take advantage of some of the optional tours (Biarritz, Val D’Aran or Betherram) available through our local agent at a minimal additional cost.

Day 11 – Lourdes – USA

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, we leave by motor coach for Lourdes Airport for return flights home.

2009 Travel Dates
Mar 31 – Apr 11
Apr 14 – 25
Apr 28 – May 09
May 12 – 23
May 26 – Jun 06
Jun 09 – 20
Jul 21 – Aug 01
Aug 18 – 29
Sep 01 – 12
Sep 15 – 26
Sep 29 – Oct 10
Oct 13 – 24
Nov 03 – 14

2010 Travel Dates
Feb 02 – 13
Mar 02 – 13
Mar 16 – 27
Mar 30 – Apr 10
Apr 13 – 24
Apr 27 – May 08
May 11 – 22
May 25 – Jun 05
Jun 08 – 19
Jul 20 – Jul 31
Aug 17 – Aug 28
Aug 31 – Sep 11
Sep 14 – 25
Sep 28 – Oct 09
Oct 12 – 23
Nov 02 – 13

In categories: Tours for Groups