Portugal, Spain and Lourdes – On the road to the great sanctuaries

Pilgrimage to the great shrines from May 4 to 17, 2023 (12 days / 12 nights)

Experience an accompanied group pilgrimage to the great shrines: Our Lady of Lourdes, Santiago de Compostela and Fatima in spring 2023.

THIS JOURNEY IS GUIDED IN FRENCH

4,699.00$5,475.00$

Type : Aux sources de la foi
badge Programme officiel certifié
badge Sélection voyages associés
Novalis
Profil : voyages culturels

CULTURAL TRIPS

Profil : Pèlerinage chrétien

CHRISTIAN PILGRIMAGES

Description

Associated trip in collaboration with Novalis / Prions en Église

Experience an exceptional pilgrimage that will take you to three great European nations and three world-famous shrines: Our Lady of Lourdes, Santiago de Compostela and Our Lady of Fatima. The route follows the coastal path (camino del norte), skirting the Atlantic Ocean with its landscape of cliffs, beaches, fishing ports and vineyards. Those who wish to do so can walk the last ten kilometers of this route to Compostela. You will also have the chance to visit the beautiful city of Oporto, cradle of the eponymous wine, Tomar with its emblematic castle, and Lisbon, the beautiful Portuguese capital. All along this route, discover sites of great patrimonial, cultural and religious wealth.

Highlights

  • Torchlight Processions to the Shrines of Lourdes and Fatima
  • Optional walk of the last 5 or 10 kilometers of the Camino de Compostela
  • Cruise on the Douro

The most

  • Celebrations in Fatima on May 13
  • Exploration of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites
  • Visit of the Port wine cellars with tasting of this famous wine
  • Pilgrimage supported in prayer by the entire Prions en Église community
  • Pierre Murray

    Pierre Murray

    Pierre Murray is a native Montrealer with degrees in theology and philosophy. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Montreal in 1991. For more than 20 years, he worked in various parishes while teaching philosophy and pastoral theology. He was later Episcopal Vicar for the Diocese of Montreal, worked in communications and is since 2018 General Secretary of the Assembly of Quebec Catholic Bishops.

  • Jonathan Guilbault

    Jonathan Guilbault

    Jonathan directs Novalis Editions and Prions en Église. He is the author of “Les avenues de la foi” (2015), a book of interviews with the philosopher Charles Taylor, and he has collaborated in the collectives “Demain l’Église” (2019), “Entre l’arbre et l’écorce?” (2020), “L’Église autrement?” (2021), “Rencontrer le Christ” (2021) and “Cette Parole qui m’habite” (2022).

  • DAY 1 ǀ THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2023 | DEPARTURE FROM MONTREAL

    Meeting in the afternoon at P.E. Trudeau airport (Montreal). International night flight to Toulouse on Air Transat.

  • DAY 2 ǀ FRIDAY 5 MAY 2023 | ARRIVAL TOULOUSE – LOURDES

    Arrival in Toulouse at 9:30 am Free time for lunch and visit, among others, the Place du Capitole, the Chapel of the Carmelites, nicknamed the “little Sistine of Toulouse”. Then, we will head for Lourdes. Dinner and overnight stay (S)

  • DAY 3 ǀ SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2023 | HEAVY

    After breakfast, visit of the sanctuary city: from the famous Grotto of the apparitions to the church of Saint Bernadette and the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, let’s discover the sanctuaries of Lourdes which total 22 places of worship and gathering. Mass in the morning. In order to better understand the message of the grotto, it is interesting, in the afternoon, to walk in the footsteps of Bernadette Soubirous, the little girl of Lourdes who, for more than a century and a half, “made the world go round” as the guardians of public order reproached her: the dungeon, her father’s house, the mill of Boly, the hospice of Saint Bernadette. Rest of the day free. Dinner and overnight stay (PD/S).

  • DAY 4 ǀ SUNDAY 7 MAY 2023 | LOURDES – PIC DU JER – LOURDES

    After breakfast, we cross the French-Spanish border through the Pyrenees to the city of San Sebastian. Well known for its bay of La Concha, the city offers a breathtaking panorama and is the ideal starting point for pilgrims wishing to do the Camino del Norte to Santiago de Compostela. In the afternoon, we will continue our journey to Santander. Dinner and overnight stay (PD/S)

  • DAY 5 ǀ MONDAY MAY 8, 2023 | LOURDES – SAN SEBASTIEN – SANTANDER

  • DAY 6 ǀ TUESDAY, MAY 9, 2023 | SANTANDER – SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA

    After breakfast, departure for Santiago de Compostela along the road that follows the Atlantic coast. We will stop in Ribadeo to observe the cathedral-like rocks. At the end of the afternoon, we will go to Lavacolla to allow those who wish to do so to walk the last 10 kilometers to Santiago de Compostela. We will attend the pilgrims’ mass in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela at 6 pm. Dinner and overnight stay (PD/S).

  • DAY 7 ǀ WEDNESDAY MAY 10, 2023 | SAINT-JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE

    This morning, departure for Porto. Stop en route in Braga, known for its heritage and religious events. Guided tour of the city of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Discover its spectacular train station with its frescoes painted on the walls, the clergy tower, the cathedral, etc., then a stop in Vila Nova de Gaia to visit a Port wine cellar and taste this wonderful Portuguese wine. Free evening. Overnight stay in Porto (PD/S).

  • DAY 8 ǀ THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2023 | SAINT-JACQUES DE COMPOSTELLE – BRAGA – PORTO

    This morning, departure for Fatima. Stop en route at Coimbra with its well-preserved medieval old town and historic university. Overnight stay in Fatima (PD/S).

  • DAY 9 ǀ FRIDAY 12 MAY 2023 | PORTO – COIMBRA – FATIMA

    This morning, walking tour of Fatima including the famous shrine of Our Lady, the basilica and the Capelinha where Our Lady appeared to the three children. Afternoon free to meditate and enjoy the place. Free evening. Possibility to participate in the procession at 9:00 pm. Overnight stay in Fatima (PD/S).

  • DAY 10 ǀ SATURDAY 13 MAY 2023 | FATIMA

    Day trip to Tomar and Batalha. Tomar is a city with a lot of charm thanks to its artistic and cultural richness (a favorite of Spiritours!), while Batalha is known for the monastery of Santa Maria da Vitória, better known as the monastery of Batalha. This monument has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians in the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. The construction of the monastery was for two centuries the building site of the Portuguese monarchy where an original national Gothic style was developed, influenced by the beginnings of the Renaissance, of which the royal cloister is the perfect illustration. Return to Fatima. Possibility of participating in the procession at 21:00. Dinner and overnight stay in Fatima (PD/S).

  • DAY 11 ǀ SUNDAY 14 MAY 2023 | FATIMA – TOMAR – BATALHA – FATIMA

    Every year, on May 13, crowds of pilgrims converge on the shrine of Fatima to celebrate the apparition of the Virgin to the three shepherd children in 1917 to convey her message of redemption. Day of retreat and prayer. At the end of the day, drive to Lisbon. Dinner and overnight stay in Lisbon (PD/S).

  • DAY 12 ǀ MONDAY 15 MAY 2023 | FATIMA – LISBON

    This morning, you will discover the Hieronymites’ monastery, an absolute masterpiece that testifies to the opulence of the era of the great discoveries. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Lisbon, you will discover the Avenue of Freedom, Baixa – a section of the city that was completely rebuilt after the earthquake of 1755. Then, an essential stop to taste the famous Pastéis de Nata, these small Portuguese pastries! Free evening. Dinner and overnight in Lisbon (PD/S).

  • DAY 13 ǀ TUESDAY 16 MAY 2023 | LISBON

    After an early breakfast, transfer to Lisbon airport for your return flight to Montreal. ***Itinerary subject to change ***.

  • MAP

PRICE

  • Book early: $4,599 / pers. (double occupancy). Early bird discount of $100 if registered before January 4, 2023.
  • Regular price : $4 699 / pers. (in double occupancy)
  • Single room supplement: + $776 / pers.

* Spiritours offre la possibilité de vous jumeler, mais exceptionnellement, Spiritours ne peut pas assumer les coûts supplémentaires pour une occupation simple si nous ne pouvons pas vous jumeler.

* All prices are based on the exchange rate in effect on September 1, 2022

THE PACKAGE INCLUDES

  • Flights Montreal/Toulouse and Lisbon/Montreal with Air Transat
  • 12 nights accommodation in 3 & 4 star hotels in double occupancy
  • 2 meals a day
  • All transfers in air-conditioned minibus
  • All visits mentioned in the itinerary
  • Services of a local French-speaking guide, a Novalis guide and a spiritual leader
  • All taxes.

THE PACKAGE DOES NOT INCLUDE

  • Travel insurance
  • Tips
  • Meals not mentioned
  • Baggage handling
  • The contribution to the Compensation Fund for clients of OPC travel agents, of $3.50 for $1,000 spent

INSCRIPTION

Registration deadline: March 4, 2023 (60 days before departure or when the maximum number of passengers is reached). Possibility to register after this date, additional fees may apply.

To register: you can register on our website (see top of the trip webpage, on the right) or download and fill out the PDF form and send it to us with your $750 deposit. Please register as soon as possible as space is limited. Please include a photocopy of your passport and proof of travel insurance with your registration.

Travel insurance: for travel insurance, contact us to find out your premium. Please note that cancellation insurance is not refundable if the trip is cancelled due to lack of registrations. We therefore suggest that you purchase cancellation insurance when the trip is officially confirmed.

Number of participants
Minimum 30 – Maximum 50

Documentation required: All Canadian travellers to Europe must be in possession of a passport valid for at least three months beyond the expected date of return.

For more information please contact

Anne Godbout (514) 374-7965, ext. 201 anne@spiritours.com

Video testimony of Father Emmanuel Zetino who made this pilgrimage with Spiritours in May 2018. At the end of his testimony he shares some beautiful video images of his experience: https://www.facebook.com/anne.godbout.1/videos/10156451564068143

Travel SAFELY

Travel insurance is undoubtedly a PEACE OF MIND that allows you to live and fully enjoy your trip. It allows you to deal with the unexpected without finding yourself with a financial burden. Travel insurance allows you to travel in complete SAFETY. Did you know that when you take a group trip with Spiritours, you automatically get a 10% discount on your insurance? Check with your agent for more information, or click below to shop for an individual insurance premium with Blue Cross.

N’oubliez pas vos achats! / Don't forget your shopping!

Avant de partir, n’oubliez pas de vérifier votre panier d’achats, réserver le voyage de ressourcement de vos rêves aujourd’hui avant qu’il n’y ait plus de place. / Before you leave, don't forget to check your shopping cart, book your dream retreat today before it sells out.