PILGRIMAGE TO ITALY & MEDJUGORJE

The Experience

Day 1: Depart on your international flight.

Day 2: After landing at Rome’s international airport, you will meet your tour manager after the baggage claim area, board your bus, and drive to Assisi. Stop for lunch on the way. You will also stop along the way in the Valley of Assisi to visit Santa Maria degli Angeli and to celebrate Mass. See the Porziuncola, the chapel where St. Francis founded the Franciscan Order. Check in at the hotel in Assisi, then enjoy dinner and experience the rich flavors of Umbrian cuisine. (B, D) Overnight in Assisi.

Day 3: After breakfast, visit the Basilica of St Claire to celebrate Mass. Today, you will see the Basilicas of St Claire and St. Francis, where you can explore the lower and upper churches and visit the tomb of St. Francis. Marvel at the frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue. Enjoy time on your own for lunch. This afternoon, you will visit the Sanctuary of the Spoliation in Assisi, where St. Carlo Acutis is buried. This afternoon, you will have time at leisure for personal activities. (B, D) Overnight in Assisi.

Day 4: Day Trip to Siena: St. Catherine of Siena After an early breakfast, drive to Siena. Visit the Basilica of San Domenico to venerate the relics of St. Catherine, including her head and finger. You will also see St. Catherine’s House, the birthplace of St. Catherine of Siena, which has been converted into a monastery. Break for lunch at the Piazza del Campo and then enjoy some time at leisure. Optional visit to the Duomo of Siena (the Divine Beauty). Return to Assisi for dinner. (B, D) Overnight in Assisi.

Day 5: Depart Assisi and drive to Orvieto (approximately 1.5 hours). Visit the Orvieto Cathedral, where you can see the relic of the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena. Celebrate Mass here, then enjoy lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, drive to Rome. Arrive at your hotel in Rome and check in. (B, D) Overnight in Rome.

Day 6: After breakfast, start the day with a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel – Continue to San Peter’s Basilica. Explore St. Peter’s Basilica and its treasures, including Michelangelo’s Pietà. Take a break for lunch on your own. This afternoon, you will walk throughout the streets of the “centro storico” city center to see iconic sites like the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon. Celebrate Mass and enjoy time at leisure for shopping. Return to the hotel for dinner. (B, D) Overnight in Rome.

Day 7: Early-morning transfer to St. Peter’s Square. Attend the Papal Audience and the lunch break. This afternoon, you will visit the other three major basilicas in Rome, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Celebrate Mass and then return to your hotel in Rome. (B, D) Overnight in Rome.

Day 8: Depart from Rome for Montecassino. Visit the Abbey, the site where St. Benedict lived and established the Benedictine Order. Celebrate Mass, then enjoy lunch at leisure near Montecassino. Continue to San Giovanni Rotondo and check into your hotel. (B, D) Overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Day 9: This morning, visit the Sanctuary of Padre Pio. Visit the Shrine of Padre Pio, including his tomb, the old church, and the new church designed by Renzo Piano. Celebrate Mass at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie and then have lunch in San Giovanni Rotondo. In the afternoon, drive to Monte Sant’Angelo. Visit the Sanctuary of St. Michael the Archangel, a pilgrimage site visited by many saints, including Padre Pio. (B, D) Overnight in San Giovanni Rotondo.

Day 10: Depart for Lanciano. Visit the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle, where the miracle of the host turning into flesh and wine into blood occurred. – Celebrate Mass and then enjoy time at leisure in Lanciano. Continue to Ancona. Arrive in Ancona, check in for your overnight ferry to Split, and embark. Enjoy dinner on your overnight ferry. (B, D) Overnight on the Ferry.

Day 11: Arrive in Split in the early morning. Disembark from the ferry and drive to Medjugorje. Have lunch at your hotel in Medjugorje, and this afternoon, with your guide, you will climb Apparition Hill, where the Virgin Mary appeared to the children. Attend the 5:30 pm Mass in English. (B, D) Overnight in Medjugorje.

Day 12: This morning, hike up Cross Mountain, where a large cross was erected in 1933, and participate in the Stations of the Cross. Return to your hotel for lunch and then depart for Sarajevo. Check into your hotel and enjoy dinner. (B, D) Overnight in Sarajevo.

Day 13: Transfer to Sarajevo International Airport for your departure.

Dates, Package Deposit & Payment Schedule

Reservation Dates

• Arrival Date: Thursday, April 15, 2027. 
• Departure Date: Tuesday, April 27, 2027

Spaces are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Trip Deposit & Payment Schedule

• A payment of $300.00 per person is all that is due to secure your spot for this pilgrimage. This includes a $100.00 per person non-refundable cancellation fee. SEE CANCELLATION POLICY BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS
• Full payment for your trip is due 120 days prior to travel. Reservations submitted after this date are due in full and are 100% non-refundable; neither space nor pricing space is guaranteed.
• If you would like a single stay, there is an additional supplement of $798.00 for the tour. These single supplement fees are in addition to the full price per person for your trip and will guarantee you will not share a room or stateroom during your trip.

Ability to Travel

Passengers registering for this tour accept the responsibility for being in good health and able to walk and travel on this tour. Because many of the sites are not accessible to the physically challenged, those needing oxygen, wheelchairs, or other ambulatory assistance will find the tour extremely limiting to their experiences.

Persons using C-Pap machines requiring distilled water will need to inform Hidden Gem Travel ahead of time, so we can work with local operators to prepare as it is not always available. We reserve the right to refuse or revoke travel to anyone who is, in the sole judgement of us, incapable of group travel without causing undue demands upon the staff or other tour participants. Accessible rooms are very limited and subject to confirmationn after receiving the registrant's written request.

This is an adult-only tour offering.

-Very Important - Please Read-

Reservation Cancellation Policy

Those registering for this pilgrimage should be aware of the following cancellation penalties: 

From the day of registration to 120 days prior to travel, you will be charged the $100.00 non-refundable cancellation fee plus any airline & land fees. Additionally, thereafter, you will be charged any airline penalties, land penalties and a single room supplement if your cancellation forces your roommate plus the following per-person charges: 119 - 75 DAYS PRIOR TO TRAVEL = $400.00; 74 - 60 DAYS PRIOR TO TRAVEL = $600.00; 59 - 31 DAYS PRIOR TO TRAVEL = 40% total cost of trip; 30 DAYS OR LESS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE = 100% NON-REFUNDABLE. Cancellations must be submitted in writing no later than 12pm CST on the day of cancellation.

Registrations reveived after the final payment due date have additional fees  starting at $100.00 per person. Additional fees will be advised after registering.

Statements of Responsibility

Hidden Gem Travel, and ETS Tours do not accept responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air schedules, hotel overbookings, other hotel related problems or causes, and/or travel supplier cancellations or postponements. Travel suppliers include all tour operators, cruise lines, airlines, hotels, bus companies, entertainment venues, agencies, and any other travel supplier used to operate the tour.

All such losses or expenses will be the responsibility of the passenger. ETS Tours reserves the right to make adjustments to the itinerary as deemed desirable by us, and we reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure. If a tour is canceled beyond the control of us, ETS Tours will provide a refund or a future travel credit to be used two years from the date of issuance for the value of all funds paid by the passenger less nonrefundable travel supplier prepaid deposits, travel supplier change fees, nonrefundable travel protection premiums, and a $150 administration fee collected by ETS Tours.

Travel Insurance

**If you have any questions about the travel insurance please call Travel Insured at 1-800-243-3174. We (Hidden Gem Travel) are not a licensed insurance company and cannot legally answer any insurance-related questions.**

Not purchasing travel protection could result in the loss of your travel money and/or require more money to correct the situation. Without protection, there is no way to recoup any costs, losses, or expenses incurred.  The price of Travel Protection is NOT included in the price of room selections and is non-refundable once purchased.

Having travel protection is definitely important and we recommend it for everyone. However, the choice to have travel protection is solely up to you, and you are welcome to purchase through any company you like.

Click here to purchase travel insurance.

When you click the link, you will need to answer a few questions about your trip, and you'll be redirected to a page with their policy plans and pricing.

The website offers plans like the "Worldwide Platinum Trip Protector" plan with optional add-ons like CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason), Optional Bed Rest to cover any quarantine expenses, and more. Travel Insured is the company we personally use and we highly recommend them for travel insurance needs.

If you want the CFAR (Cancel for Any Reason) benefit you will have to add it to the policy and you must purchase insurance no later than 20 days after you make your initial payment. CFAR is not available to NY residents.

The basic "Worldwide Platinum Trip Protector" plan which does not include CFAR can be purchased at any time, including more than 20 days after your first payment, but it will not cover the Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Waiver or the Bankruptcy/Default of an airline, cruise line, tour operator or any other travel vendors. However, you can still cancel for a covered reason and potentially receive up to 100% in refunds as long as it's a covered reason.

Depending on the reason for canceling, travel insurance will cover 75-100% of your trip cancelation and many other things like medical services, trip delay, lost luggage, and more.

We strongly suggest you call and verify which policy will be best for your travel needs. You can reach an insurance agent at 1-800-243-3174.