Join Father Daniel Dailey on this beautiful pilgrimage to France and Spain, including Lourdes, Bordeaux, Nevers, Chartres, Paris, Toledo, and Avila. Render homage to Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Bernadette Soubirous, St. Teresa of Jesus, and many other revered saints. Highlights of the trip include praying before the Veil of Our Lady in Chartres and the incorrupt body of St. Bernadette in Nevers. Also enjoy a free day to explore the enchanting city of Paris and walk through the medieval towns of Toledo and Avila.

Do not miss this wonderful opportunity! Excellent accommodations and amazing sites. Benefit from daily Mass and enjoy the companionship of your fellow travelers, and the safety and ease of group travel!

HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE

Lourdes: Our Lady of Lourdes apparitions, St. Bernadette Soubirous

Bordeaux: Cathedral of St. Andrew, wine tasting

Nevers: incorrupt body of St. Bernadette

Chartres: 13th-century Cathedral housing the Veil of Our Lady and boasting over 150 stained glass windows

Paris: Seine River cruise, Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Montmartre, Notre Dame Cathedral

Toledo: Cathedral, Iglesia de Santo Tome

Avila: St. Teresa of Jesus

CONTACT US TO REGISTER

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GENERAL TERMS/CONDITIONS

TRAVEL INSURANCE

ITINERARY

Day 1. Monday, May 11: Transatlantic flight to Toulouse, France

Day 2. Tuesday, May 12: Toulouse – Lourdes

Welcome to France! Upon arrival in Toulouse, your motor-coach will take you to Lourdes and drop you off at your hotel. Relax and explore Lourdes on your own. Tonight enjoy a welcome dinner with your travel companions at a local restaurant. Overnight in Lourdes. (WD)

Day 3. Wednesday, May 13: Lourdes

This morning, enjoy a walking tour of the main sites related to St. Bernadette and the apparitions. Spend the afternoon at leisure for private devotions. Dinner on your own and overnight in Lourdes. Tonight, you may participate in the rosary and candlelight procession. (BB)

Day 4. Thursday, May 14: Lourdes – Bordeaux

Today travel to Bordeaux, famous for its high-quality wines and elegant architecture. Visit the Cathedral of St. Andrew, known for its impressive Gothic architecture, featuring twin towers that reach 266 feet high and a magnificent interior with cross – ribbed vaults and chapels richly decorated. Continue to St. Emilion for a wine tasting and dinner experience. Overnight in Bordeaux. (BB, D)

Day 5. Friday, May 15: Bordeaux – Nevers

This morning, journey to Nevers. After taking the veil in 1867, St. Bernadette lived for 12 years as a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Nevers. Throughout her life, she suffered from and eventually died of asthma at the age of 35. Visit the convent of St. Gildard, and pay homage to St. Bernadette’s incorrupt body, miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Dinner and overnight in Nevers. (BB, D)

Day 6. Saturday, May 16: Nevers – Chartres – Paris

Today, travel to Chartres to visit its majestic Cathedral and pray before the Veil of Our Lady, miraculously preserved during a fire in 1194. Admire the glorious collection of over 150 stained glass windows, illustrating biblical stories and daily life in the 13th century. Continue to Paris for dinner and overnight. (BB, D)

Day 7. Sunday, May 17: Paris

Today, enjoy a cruise on the Seine River offering views of the city’s iconic landmarks. The rest of the day is at leisure. Dinner at a restaurant or the hotel. Overnight in Paris. (BB, D)

Day 8. Monday, May 18: Paris

Today, visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Montmartre, which was built on the site of the martyrdom of St. Denis and his companions. Continue to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, rebuilt ad reopened to the public after a devastating fire in 2019. It remains an icon of Paris, and a magnificent example of Gothic architecture. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Dinner on your own. Overnight in Paris (BB)

Day 9. Tuesday, May 19: Fly Paris – Madrid – Toledo

This morning transfer to CDG airport to take your direct flight to Madrid. Upon arrival to Madrid, board your motorcoach to travel to the spectacular city of Toledo, situated on a granite hill surrounded by a loop of the Tagus River. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Toledo. Overnight in Toledo (BB, D).

Day 10. Wednesday, May 20: Toledo

Today, visit the massive Toledo Cathedral, one of the greatest cathedrals of Europe and the seat of the Primate of all Spain. Afterwards, visit the Iglesia de Santo Tome, a church with a beautiful Mudejar tower that houses El Greco’s masterpiece, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and independent dinner. Overnight in Toledo. (BB)

Day 11. Thursday, May 21: Toledo – Avila excursion

This morning travel to Avila, where superbly preserved 11th-century walls surround the medieval city. Visit Its cathedral, one of the most beautiful in Spain. Inside the city walls, is the Convento de Santa Teresa that was built on the site of the saint’s home. After some free time to explore Avila on your own, return to Toledo for a farewell dinner with your travel companions. Overnight in Toledo. (BB, FD)

Day 12. Friday, May 22: Homebound flight

Transfer to Madrid airport for your flight home. (BB)

Buffet Breakfast (BB); Dinner (D); Welcome Dinner (WD); Farewell Dinner (FD)

* In case of unforeseen events, this itinerary is subject to change.

Chartres. Cathedral 1. MBomberger 2014.JPG

Nevers. Bernadette. 2015. DSC05116_small.jpg

CHAPLAIN

Originally from Smithville, Missouri, Father Daniel Dailey comes from a large family of eight brothers and three sisters. He attended the Society of Saint Pius X's Saint Vincent de Paul Academy in Kansas City from grades 1-12 and entered St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary after high school, studying seven years of philosophy and theology before his ordination in 2010.

Father Dailey spent his first five years as a priest at La Salette Academy in Georgetown, Illinois, and he has also ministered at Our Lady Help of Christians Academy in Watkins, Colorado; Holy Angels' Novitiate in Winona, Minnesota; and served as principal of Immaculate Heart of Mary Academy in Oak Grove, Minnesota. Today, Father Dailey is principal and middle school religion teacher at Our Lady of the Angels Academy in Arcadia, California.

TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Currently, there are no restrictions to travel to the visited countries. For current travel advisories by country, please visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/

It is projected that sometime in 2026, non-European Union (EU) tourists planning to visit Europe’s Schengen Zone (most of Europe) will need to apply for the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). This new requirement affects travelers from visa-exempt countries, aiming to boost security measures while making the process smoother for short-term visitors. While the ETIAS is not a visa, it does require non-EU tourists to get pre-approval before their trip. (Information taken from www.etias.com)

The ETIAS is likely to cost around $7 per person and it is projected to be a very quick process; however, we would ask travelers to obtain it at least one month prior to travel.

Currently, there is no ETIAS registration site yet. We will be monitoring this possible new travel requirement, and when applicable, we will notify travelers and ask them to acquire their ETIAS independently.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations for this pilgrimage are in first-class hotels.

Rooms in double occupancy are for two people to share; they have two twin beds or one double bed. Rooms in single occupancy have a single bed and are for one person to occupy; a “single supplement fee” is added for single occupancy rooms.

Lourdes: 2 nights, Hotel Eliseo Lourdes or similar https://www.hoteleliseolourdes.fr/en/hotel-restaurant-lourdes-france

Aix en Provence: 2 nights, Mercure Villefranche en Beaujolais Ici & La or similar https://all.accor.com/hotel/9783/index.en.shtml

Villefranche sur Saone: 1 night, Mercure Villefranche en Beaujolais Ici & La or similar https://www.mercurevillefranchesursaone.com/#

Nevers: 1 night, Mercure Nevers Pont de Loire or similar https://all.accor.com/hotel/3480/index.en.shtml

Lisieux: 1 night , Ibis Styles Lisieux Normandie or similar https://all.accor.com/hotel/1725/index.en.shtml

Paris: 3 nights, Les Jardins Du Marais or similar https://en.lesjardinsdumarais.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAm4WsBhCiARIsAEJIEzVD31t-0nUVwjwoh3Btrl4dHjMvoPucv-EpXRy49y6WwPzbY5IUz38aAivREALw_wcB"

FLIGHT SCHEDULE

The group air reservation is with Air France (AF). The outgoing flight departs from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) airport. Please do not purchase any air tickets until we notify that the group is fully formed. The group air schedule could undergo minor changes from the airlines; if a major change occurs, we will modify the listed flight schedule.

Flight AF137 OCT14 departs Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at 5:10PM, arrives Paris (CDG) at 8:15AM OCT15
Flight AF7404 OCT15 departs Paris (CDG) at 12:15PM, arrives Toulouse (TLS) at 1:35PM
Flight AF136 OCT25 departs Paris (CDG) at 1:10PM, arrives Chicago O’Hare (ORD) at 3:10PM

TRIP PACE

The pace for this pilgrimage is “on the go”.. There is daily walking and standing. Pilgrims must be in active enough condition to walk 3-4 hours and stand for 2-3 hours per day. We strongly recommend preparing oneself by walking before the trip, building up to at least 2-3 miles per day.

Sometimes walking is up or down slopes, and at times sidewalks and terrain will be uneven. Pilgrims must have full mobility and be able to climb several stairs, since many of the visited places have no other access. A certain pace must be kept by all pilgrims in order to cover the scheduled sightseeing. Some days may have several hours on the motor-coach.

Also see the “PHYSICAL HEALTH & FITNESS” section in the General Terms & Conditions.

PRICING INFORMATION

Pilgrimage price per person (pp) with air from Chicago O’Hare (ORD): $4,640 (includes estimated air taxes & surcharges of $555 as of December 2023, subject to change)

Land-only pilgrimage price in double occupancy: $3,705 pp
Single supplement: $1,270
Non-refundable deposit of $250 pp is due by: July 10, 2024
Balance due by: August 9, 2024

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Scheduled roundtrip transatlantic flight Chicago (ORD) to Toulouse (TLS) then returning from Paris (CDG) to Chicago (ORD)
Accommodations in first-class hotels
Daily Holy Mass
Deluxe motor-coach for scheduled transfers and sightseeing
Daily breakfasts and most dinners
Services of a professional English-speaking tour escort
Admission fees for all included sightseeing
Porterage for one suitcase per person at the hotels
Service charges, government fees
What’s not included: