Travelink
TRAVELINK has specialised in group and particular person journey to the Holy Land and different biblical locations, via its Excursions for Christians web site, since 1983.
As 95 per cent of its excursions have been primarily based within the Holy Land, the corporate is now specializing in selling excursions to locations that beforehand constituted a small a part of its enterprise: Turkey, Greece, Italy, Egypt, Jordan, and Poland.
For church leaders involved in exploring the opportunity of a parish journey to Turkey, it’s providing a church leaders’ “Seven Church buildings of Revelation within the Footsteps of St Paul” journey, 10-17 March, priced at £798 pp sharing a double/twin room (£199 single complement), together with half-board lodging in four-star motels, all transport (together with flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul and a home flight from Izmir to Istanbul), and all entrance charges and ideas.
“Hopefully, they are going to be persuaded to take their very own teams to Turkey in subsequent years,” Travelink’s Josh Jones says. For church leaders who e book a parish journey inside 18 months (taking 20+ individuals), Travelink will refund the £798 fee.
The journey consists of visits to the places of the seven church buildings: Ephesus, Pergamum, Izmir (Smyrna), Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, in addition to Istanbul (Blue Mosque; St Sophia Mosque; Topkapi Palace; Grand Bazaar); Troas (the place St Paul noticed a imaginative and prescient throughout his second missionary journey), and the volcanic scorching springs of Pamukkale.
This 12 months, Travelink can also be selling an all-inclusive cruise, “The Iconic Aegean”. The journey consists of flights to Athens and two nights within the metropolis (visiting the Parthenon and Mars Hill, the place Paul preached) earlier than the four-night cruise, stopping at Kusadasi (visiting Ephesus and Patmos); Rhodes; Crete, and Santorini, alongside the way in which. Weekly departures accessible from April to October. Group charge for church teams of 20+ individuals, from £1600 pp; particular person bookings might be taken, priced at about £200-300 pp extra.
istock Go to the Meteora monasteries, following Paul’s missionary journey in Greece, with Travelink
Additionally new this 12 months is an eight-day pilgrimage to Poland, “Following John Paul II”, taking in Warsaw, Kraków, and a go to to Auschwitz. There’s additionally a visit following Paul’s missionary journey in Greece (Athens; Mars Hill; Corinth, Delphi, Meteora monasteries; Thessalonica), worth on request.
Travelink was meant to run a church leaders’ journey to the Holy Land this month, now postponed to 29 January-4 February 2025, for which there’s nonetheless availability.
Most teams travelling to the Holy Land final 12 months acquired refunds; a number of selected to postpone. However excursions leaving early this 12 months are having to attend till the final minute for Overseas Workplace journey recommendation, owing to the ticket state of affairs with the airways (EasyJet takes full fee on the time of reserving, whereas BA takes a big deposit to carry seats). “That signifies that we will’t refund till the flights are cancelled as a result of their tickets are nonetheless in play.” Holidays with flights are ATOL-protected.
Contact: 020 8931 8811, or go to: toursforchristians.com/excursions
JC Journeys
JC JOURNEYS has been arranging journeys for Christian teams to pilgrimage websites and routes since 2016. It has been providing bespoke group and household journeys to the Holy Land since 2018.
Holy Land journeys quantity to at least one third of the corporate’s enterprise. “It’s like Covid another time,” the director, Jane Roberts, says. “We had been getting just a little bit higher identified, and we had some huge journeys to the Holy Land booked. It’s not as if they’d wish to go to France, or Spain, or the remainder of Europe: that’s the place they wish to go; so we’ll simply have to attend one other 12 months.”
Each time it’s deemed secure to journey by the Overseas Workplace, Ms Roberts expects that, for some, the urge for food for such a visit might have gone. She urges church buildings, nevertheless, to not overlook fellow Christians. “Whether it is secure to go, there is a component of supporting the Christians within the Holy Land. We work intently with the charity Buddies of the Holy Land . . . and life is hard for them.
“An necessary function on journeys to the Holy Land with JC Journeys are the alternatives to fulfill with different Christians. It’s not only a journey going from church to church to church, as a result of that fades into the reminiscence. It’s necessary to spend time assembly the clergy and the native Christians, and to talk with them concerning the challenges and the nice elements of their Christian worlds.”
Ms Roberts is eager, when journey to the area is secure once more, that parishes additionally take into account spending time in Jordan, which, she says, needs to be seen as a part of the Holy Land.
“John the Baptist was baptising throughout the Jordan, which means the east facet of the River Jordan, and the precise website is there. That’s an attractive place. And there’s Mount Nebo, the place Moses seemed over into the promised land, and the place he died. There’s an incredible view from Nebo, the place you possibly can see Jericho within the distance, and the entire of the Lifeless Sea.”
istock Travellers can see the Blue Mosque, in Istanbul, on the “Seven Church buildings of Revelation within the Footsteps of St Paul” journey, with Travelink
Within the capital, Amman, Ms Roberts recommends that teams take into account a go to to the Our Girl Queen of Peace Centre, which helps youngsters with psychological and bodily disabilities. “There are Christians and Muslims working collectively. . . It’s outstanding, the work that they do to assist youngsters stroll once more.” North of Amman, Jerash can also be price visiting, she says. “We’ve been to many Roman websites round Europe, however that’s the best-preserved Roman website that I’ve ever seen, as a result of it was buried underneath the sand.” In Madaba, within the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, there’s the oldest identified mosaic map of Jerusalem, which dates from the sixth century.
Along with the same old archaeological sights and desertscapes at Wadi Rum and Petra, JC Journeys can hyperlink teams with a church there that runs an “wonderful” undertaking for Iraqi refugees, she says.
Whereas the Holy Land is closed to overseas airways, different locations with JC Journeys embody the Greek island of Patmos (June to September), the place John wrote Revelation, and the corporate’s “Cradle of Christianity” tour to 4 places of the seven church buildings of Revelation, together with the not too long ago excavated ruins of Laodicea. “There’s a whole lot of wonderful theatres to see, early mosaics, stays of church buildings, and Jewish synagogues,” she says. The corporate may also provide church-group journeys following any of Paul’s journeys round Greece and Turkey.
All JC Journeys embody sightseeing and rest time, communal eating, each day talks, and prayers. Lodging is in family-run motels and guesthouses, or convent and monastery stays. The corporate additionally affords a choice of strolling holidays for people, and artistic “Religion in Artwork” breaks for people or {couples}. Holidays with flights are ATOL protected.
Contact: 01886 812862; or go to: jcjourneys.com
Particular Pilgrimages
SPECIAL PILGRIMAGES is a third-generation family-owned firm, with its origins in Jerusalem, and an workplace nonetheless there right this moment. It has greater than 40 years’ expertise of organising bespoke parish and diocesan journeys to the Holy Land, in addition to to in style pilgrim websites and shrines all over the world.
The corporate helps Christian charities, significantly in Bethlehem and Jerusalem.
For parishes whose Holy Land journeys have been affected by the battle, the managing director, Issa Tahhan, studies a 50-50 cut up on teams asking to be refunded or to postpone. “Some individuals have requested to go to simply Jordan. But it surely’s very shut proximity; so we advise them to not.”
For parishes open to different locations, the corporate is selling the Camino de Compostela, different European locations, and opera excursions to Germany and Hungary, for bespoke journeys of 15+ individuals.
“Compostela is rooted in historical past as a substitute vacation spot to the Holy Land, as a result of, when the Muslims took the town [Jerusalem] within the eleventh century, Christians had been not allowed to go for pilgrimage. In order that they began going to Compostela and coming again with the St Jacques seashell.”
Particular Pilgrimages is providing an eight-day Compostela journey, with pick-ups accessible for many who want to stroll solely a part of the ten-mile each day route. The eight-day/seven-night itinerary, for a half-board keep at four-star motels, in addition to some lunches, is priced at £1695 pp for teams of 15+. As all journeys are bespoke, nevertheless, length, actions, or star-rating of motels can all be tailored.
Parish journeys might be booked for any time within the 12 months, however Compostela is greatest between Could and October, Mr Tahhan says.
Different in style locations for excursions embody Italy (Rome has designated a Jubilee 12 months for pilgrims in 2025), and Turkey (within the footsteps of Paul). In France, Particular Pilgrimages organises parish journeys to Lourdes, in addition to different Christian locations and monasteries. Journeys to websites in Britain and Eire embody Knock, Iona, and Walsingham. Poland has develop into “fairly costly”, Mr Tahhan says, however the firm can run journeys supplied {that a} group numbers a minimum of 15.
“We have now a lot of expertise in lots of locations; so we will positively assist parishes discover the vacation spot appropriate for them and their wants,” Mr Tahhan says. Bookings with flights are ATOL-protected.
Contact: 01702 394000, or go to: special-pilgrimages.co.uk
Lightline Pilgrimages
LIGHTLINE PILGRIMAGES has been working bespoke parish and diocesan excursions of the Holy Land for twenty-four years, lots of that are marketed on its web site for others to hitch. Most of Lightline’s journeys are led by Anglican or Roman Catholic clergy, and embody a each day eucharist.
Lately, owing to demand, Lightline has centered completely on Holy Land journeys for UK church teams. Lightline is affected, as is each operator, by the airline coverage on flight cancellations. The managing director, Rene Siva, says that they’ve refunded about 60 per cent of eligible journeys; one other 40 per cent are rebooking. “Of that 60 per cent, we’re fairly assured that in all probability 50 per cent will rebook. So, general, I take into consideration 75 per cent will rebook.
“The Holy Land is exclusive; so you possibly can’t promote Rome, or one thing else. They’ve made up their thoughts: they wish to go to Israel. Previously, we’ve tried to supply different locations. Most likely out of ten teams, you would possibly get one which takes up a vacation spot like Italy, Greece, or Turkey, for instance. It’s one vacation spot individuals wish to do, and that’s it,” he says.
Lightline is guaranteeing the value on as many Holy Land rebookings as potential. “That’s in co-operation with motels in Jerusalem, Gaza, and Galilee. . . The danger we’re taking is on the flights, however, if we e book early sufficient, we hope we’ll get them on the identical charge.”
However, Lightline is placing collectively excursions to supply church buildings which are open to travelling elsewhere. “We would do a one-off Greek tour in June. We’re simply making an attempt to get the lodging lined up for 2 or three teams, for individuals who have gotten the time to go, and are already dedicated to going someplace. We’ll provide them that. Will probably be a St Paul’s journey, and an interdenominational group.”
The corporate additionally has two Pilgrimage of Rome and Assisi journeys accessible on the finish of the 12 months, open to all denominations (eight days; from £1995 pp).
For church teams seeking to organize journeys for 2025, Lightline is at the moment engaged on excursions specializing in Paul’s missionary journeys to Greece and Turkey.
“In Greece, the well-known journey that we will we begins in Thessalonica, within the north, and you’re employed your method right down to Athens, ending off at Mars Hill” (Paul’s second missionary journey).
“Alternatively, you possibly can tag on Turkey. So, you begin in Athens, head up north, then do Turkey — which I do advocate. We’ve completed that with a few diocesan journeys prior to now; so we’re making an attempt to reintroduce that.”
In Turkey, there are fairly a number of potential excursions, Mr Siva says, together with one alongside the western coast from Miletus (the place Paul landed on his third missionary journey, and exchanged tearful goodbyes with the Ephesian elders earlier than crusing on to Jerusalem). “And there are a number of church buildings you possibly can go to linked with the seven church buildings of Asia.”
Mr Siva is engaged on a crusing tour within the wake of Paul. The corporate ran diocesan and parish journeys prior to now, primarily based on conventional Turkish gulets (two- or three-masted picket vessels).
“In between your visits, you sail. It doesn’t matter how previous individuals are, as a result of they aren’t concerned in controlling the yacht. You simply sit down and luxuriate in your self, and are sorted. We did that for ten years, and it labored out so properly. So, we’re looking for yachts at affordable value.”
istock Strolling close to Burgos, in Spain, on the French Strategy to Santiago. Lightline is providing parish walks on the French Means from spring subsequent 12 months
Lightline can also be seeking to reintroduce journeys on the Compostela routes, the Portuguese Means, and the French Means. “I’m going to fly out and do a part of it myself, earlier than we promote it. We’ll see how a lot strolling is concerned. Previously, we had a coach back-up all the way in which. It’s an costly method of doing it, however it does give individuals the chance to stroll a part of it.”
Mr Siva estimates that journeys strolling the Portuguese Means might be accessible to church teams on the finish of this 12 months; bookings for the French Means from the spring of 2025 onwards.
Lightline has in depth expertise arranging excursions to different elements of the Center East prior to now, together with Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria.
“The present state of affairs is affecting journey elsewhere within the area, significantly Jordan. It does have its personal visitors, however a whole lot of it comes throughout as an extension to Israel. A tour operator there stated they’re down by 35 per cent, as a result of [people] are scared to be within the space.
“And Egypt — we’re going to offer that one other miss this 12 months. From historical past, we all know that when there’s hassle in Gaza, it additionally impacts Cairo.”
Different locations for bespoke group excursions, nevertheless, embody Portugal, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Malta, and Poland. Lightline can also be open to discussing new itineraries with clergy or different tour leaders. All journeys with flights are ATOL-protected.
Lightline helps Christian communities and firms within the Palestinian Territories and Israel, and a share of its income helps Christian charities in Nablus, Bethlehem, and Gaza.
Contact: 0845 610 6447, or go to: lightline.org.uk
McCabe Pilgrimages
LAST October, McCabe Pilgrimages celebrated 40 years’ specialising in parish and diocesan journeys to the Holy Land, and journeys following Paul’s missionary journeys.
The corporate kicked off its celebrations with certainly one of 4 anniversary journeys, to Nepal, the place its founder, Alistair McCabe, was born. Its second anniversary journey, to Jordan, runs subsequent month.
“There was to be an anniversary journey to the Holy Land, however that should run when journey there can resume. We end the anniversary 12 months in October, with an ‘Within the Wake of St Paul’ cruise across the Aegean,” the Revd Paul Ellerby, a McCabe director, says.
Regarding Holy Land journeys that haven’t run: “We’ve been very lucky each group scheduled, from October to early March, has been prepared to postpone one 12 months. Teams going from April we’ve got requested to attend till this month to resolve,” Mr Ellerby says.
“Actually, we discover ourselves explaining to clients who wish to cancel their 2025 journey to the Holy Land that it’s unreasonable to invoke the present journey recommendation for a visit that’s many months away.”
McCabe is guaranteeing the value for postponed journeys, besides when airways have levied a price, which can then be handed on.
McCabe is requesting these cancelling journeys to keep up their £20pp charity donation in the direction of the McCabe Academic Belief, which helps faculties and hospitals within the Holy Land. “With the assistance of our pilgrim travellers, the belief has raised £42,000 for the reason that battle started,” Mr Ellerby says.
As quickly as Israel determines that it has restored safety, and the Overseas Workplace adjustments its present journey recommendation, he says {that a} workforce will journey “to reconnect with our companions within the Holy Land, and to see what the state of affairs is on the bottom.
“However, in the primary, the pilgrim routes that we take individuals on, they could encounter individuals who have been affected — due to household and pals and family — however they aren’t going to witness the scenes of a battle zone.”
istock Take within the sight of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence, on McCabe’s “Pilgrim Methods and Classical Cities of Tuscany” tour
In the interim, McCabe is blissful to plan Holy Land journeys with church teams “who wish to look ahead, with hope and anticipation, that, in 2025, journey will resume”, Mr Ellerby says. “However we’re not anticipating a lot of individuals to enroll till the state of affairs is resolved.”
As an alternative, McCabe is selling its Journey Membership, launched in 2022 to supply locations to people and small church teams eager to broaden their journey horizons.
In 2018, 95 per cent of McCabe journeys had been to the Holy Land. Projections for 2024 (pre-conflict) had been 75 per cent. This 12 months, McCabe is providing its largest vary of non-Holy Land journeys ever, Mr Ellerby says. “This isn’t one thing we’ve completed as a direct response to what occurred in October, though we’re taking a look at what extra we will add.”
For these eager to journey in 2024, the Journey Membership is providing a alternative of 19 locations — six of them new for 2024. Journey Membership journeys are led by McCabe’s tour leaders, and are open to anybody to e book.
“We’ve been doing the Camino for a few years, however this 12 months we’ve simply launched the Camino Portuguese, which is the final 100 kilometres of the route, from Portugal in the direction of Santiago,” Mr Ellerby says.
The brand new Aegean cruise (departs 3 October; from £2999 pp) is being joined by the Songs of Reward presenter Pam Rhodes. Different new locations are: Venice and Verona Carnivals (subsequent month); the Path of St Barnabas and St Paul, in Cyprus, a mixture of coach touring and strolling (April).
There are additionally two new Journey Membership journeys in Italy: Ravenna, San Marino, and Assisi (April); and Pilgrim Methods and Classical Cities of Tuscany (September), combining a coach tour with pilgrim method strolling, staying in five-star seaside motels.
Mr Ellerby says that church teams have additionally approached McCabe to facilitate their very own parish pilgrimages and retreats to Journey Membership locations, and that is one other chance. McCabe permits pilgrimage leaders to advertise journeys to others on their web site, to assist to make journeys viable. Each journey provided via the Journey Membership is open to people. All holidays are ATOL- or AITO-protected.
Contact: 01252 226133, or go to: mccabe-travel.co.uk
