ONLY 8 SEATS LEFT IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE KNIGHTS A pilgrimage in the footsteps of the to mark the 50th anniversary of the Australian foundation of the Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller. May/June 2019

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IN THE FOOTSTEPS The knights OF remained in RhodesTHE KNIGHTS After worship at the cathedral this ITINERARY June 2nd: June 9th: for 213 years. Here they established a community, morning, we enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon, taking a You are welcomed on arrival in Tel May 25th: TEL AVIV practically their own independent state. They fortified beach-front drive in the south of the island. [B] Aviv Airport and transferred to a beachside hotel in Tel the island and withstood attacks by the Sultan of Egypt Aviv. Meet your fellow pilgrims over dinner tonight. [D] June 10th: To ROME We join our flight this morning to in 1444 and by the Ottoman Turks in 1480. We begin Rome, the Eternal City, and this afternoon we begin an We drive north today to the May 26th: GALILEE our sightseeing today, the walls and the gates. [B] exploration of the classical sights – the Colosseum, the Galilee region where spent most of his life, June 3rd: RHODES Sightseeing today includes Forum, the Pantheon. [B] visiting Nazareth & Cana on the way to our hotel on the Grand Master’s Palace, the Armouries, and St Lake Galilee. [B,D] June 11th: ROME Catholic Rome today. We cross to Catherine’s Hospice. [B] Vatican City and visit St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican May 27th: GALILEE Today we cross Lake Galilee on a June 4th: RHODES A scenic drive today down the Museums and the Sistine Chapel (left), Michelangelo’s fishing boat to the Mount of the Beatitudes, then visit West Coast of the island of Rhodes. [B] masterpiece. [B] the Mount of Transfiguration and Caesarea Philippi. Back to our hotel on Lake Galilee. [B,D] June 5th: To MALTA Our flight today from Rhodes to June 12th: ROME An excursion today on Italy’s flagship ST PETERSBURG 3 Malta requires two connections, in Athens, then Rome. train, the high speed Frecciargento, to Amalfi, the very Heading south today, we May 28th: JERUSALEM We arrive tonight in Malta’s capital, Valetta. [B] birthplace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. It was visit the site where Jesus was baptized in the Jordan a group of pious merchants from Amalfi who set up River, and on to Jerusalem. We pause for a spectacular June 6th: MALTA Until 1530 Malta was an extension a hospital in Jerusalem sometime between 1060 and view of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus, and a visit of Sicily. It was the Spanish Emperor Charles V who 1070 AD to care for Christian pilgrims. On a pilgrimage to the Garden of Gethsemane, before arriving in our bequeathed Malta to the Sovereign Military Hospitaller visit to Jerusalem, Gerard Thom of Amalfi stayed at Jerusalem hotel. [B,D] Order of St. John of Jerusalem, who ruled over Malta from 1530 to 1798 for the annual rent of one Maltese the hospital, and became leader of the community, a Today we visit the Temple May 29th: JERUSALEM Falcon. Malta’s capital, Valetta, was purpose- built as religious community based on the Benedictine rule. Mount and the Western Wall. We explore theMOSCOW colourful And so the OSJ was born [B] 3 the capital by the Knights Hospitaller, so every part of bazaars, and walk the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the the city has significant OSJ associations. We commence June 13th: ROME The last day of our tour. A free day FLY ON TO Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre,EASTERN EUROPEAN said to CAPTITALS TOUR our discovery of the city on today’s walking tour. [B,D] for the shops of Rome. It will be possible to make an be built on the spot of Jesus’ Tomb. In the afternoon excursion today to the beautiful hill village of Assisi, we visit Jesus’ birthplace, in the nearby village of June 7th: MALTA Surrounding the in home of everybody’s favourite saint, Francis. Our Bethlehem and visit the Shepherds’ Fields, the Manger the South of Malta, the three walled towns known as Farewell dinner tonight. [B,D] Square and the Church of the Nativity. [B,D] the - Vittoriosa, Cospicua and - offer a fascinating glimpse into Malta’s maritime June 14th: FAREWELL Our tour ends after breakfast. It is fairly certain that the first May 30th: JERUSALEM history. Home to the Knights of St John, there are There is a shuttle to the airport for your homeward (or OSJ hospice was opened in Jerusalem in 1048 next to churches, grandiose palaces and imposing bastions. onward) flight. [B] the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We visit theST OSJ’s PETERSBURG 3 There were knights on Malta from 8 different European historic sites in Jerusalem today. [B,D] national or language groups, called langues, and each May 31st: TEL AVIV The Knights Hospitaller were built their own auberge (hostel) at nearby . Three removed from Jerusalem when it fell again into Muslim still stand, and we see them today. [B] hands. They relocated to Acre, and we visit Acre today, June 8th: MALTA On today’s sightseeing we wander then to our beachside hotel in Tel Aviv. [B,D] through St. John's Co-Cathedral, built to serve as the June 1st: To RHODES Acre fell in 1291 and Christians heart of the Order, with eight chapels, one for each Faithful to the historic mission of the Order of St were expelled from the Holy Land, effectively marking langue and view the stunning Baroque architecture and John of Jerusalem – Knights Hospitaller “to care MOSCOW the end of the Crusades. The knights moved briefly to Italian artwork. There3 are two paintings by the Italian for the poor and the sick in the name of Christ”, we Cyprus then, in 1309, to the island of Rhodes. We follow will donate $200 from every booking for this tour to master Carravaggio.FLY ON TO St John’s Co-Cathedral is one of EASTERN EUROPEAN 5 ROME CAPTITALS TOUR their footsteps today on our flight to Rhodes. [B,D] the world’s truly stunning cathedrals. [B] the Hamlin Fistula Hospital in Ethiopia.

COST: OPTION B: 15 days excluding Israel, In the Footsteps of the KnightsTURKEY OPTION A: 22 days including Israel. commencing Rhodes on June 1st. $14,950 per person twin share. Single supplement $10,950 per person twin share. Single supplement $1,500 includes: $1,200 includes: 4 • 21 nights 4 star hotel accommodation, • 14 nights 4 star hotel accommodation, 5 MALTA RHODES SYRIA with full buffet breakfasts with full buffet breakfasts • 10 dinners • 3 dinners • Economy Class airfare from your Australian capital city LEBANON • Economy Class airfare from your Australian capital city 2 GALILEE • Economy Class airfares Tel Aviv – Rhodes – Malta – Rome • Economy Class airfares Rhodes – Malta – Rome 2 TEL AVIV • All sightseeing and entrances per itinerary • All sightseeing and entrances per itinerary 3 JERUSALEM • All tipping and porterage • All tipping and porterage LIBYA • Transport in air-conditioned coaches or First Class rail • Transport in air-conditioned coaches or First Class rail JORDAN BULGARIA EGYPT • Local expert guides • Local expert guides BOSNIA • The services throughout of an Australian Christian • The services throughout of an Australian Christian historian Tour Director, who is also the Tour Company historian Tour Director, who is also the Tour Company SERBIA principal and a member of OSJ. principal and a member of OSJ. BULGARIA 5 ROME MACEDONIA Meals: Throughout Israel, and on the first night in each other stop, from the tour cost and arrange your own airfares. Costs are based on ITALY ALBANIA dinner is included in the tour cost. In Rome the included dinner is on exchange rates and airfares valid at January 31st 2018 the last night, a Farewell Dinner. On other nights, the Tour Leader will GREECE suggest or accompany tour members to local authentic restaurants. PAYMENT DETAILS: A deposit of $2,500 per person guarantees your seat, with the balance due 3 months before departure. The tour Airfare upgrades: Australia – Tel Aviv and Rome – Australia only size is strictly limited to 20 persons, so early booking is essential. In the Footsteps of the Knights[not available within Europe] Travel insurance is mandatory. Please ask for a quote. Premium economy - $2,500. Business - $ 6,000 Should you wish to purchase the tour as land content only, commencing in TOUR LEADER: The Tour Director is Stan Klan, of Toowoomba, a 4 5 MALTA Tel Aviv on May 25th and ending in Rome on June 15th, (or commencing Church Historian, a former School principal, and the owner/operator of RHODES Rhodes on June 1st and ending in Rome on June 15th) deduct $1,500 Great Trains of Europe Tours.

2 GALILEE

TEL AVIV 2 3 JERUSALEM Travel Insurance: A condition of joining a Great (iii) a place on an alternative Great Trains of Europe Trains of Europe tour is either the purchase of travel Tour. Each tour is sold as a package and there BOOKING CONDITIONS insurance through Great Trains of Europe Tours, or can be no refund for any element of the tour (eg. a meal or an excursion) not utilised by the traveller Great Trains of Europe Tours (ABN 75 325 documentary evidence of a sufficient level of travel insurance purchased elsewhere. by her / his own choice. Tour costs have built into 010 987) is an accredited travel agent them the costs associated with researching tours, (ATAS #12982). We are members of IATA European Rail Travel: The standard of rail travel communicating with overseas suppliers, brochure in Europe ranges from small and basic local trains preparation and marketing. Great Trains of Europe (Licence #968366100 and the Concorde to luxury High Speed International trains. On rare Independent Agents’ Network. Tours does not claim or imply that some of the occasions European rail companies may change inclusions in our tours may or may not be available timetables, classes of travel available or rolling stock at a lower price direct from the overseas supplier. Costs: All costs in this brochure are expressed in within the period of validity of a travel brochure. Australian dollars and are based on airfares, and Travellers are reminded, however, that purchases Descriptions of trains & routes provided in this made direct with overseas suppliers are generally land transport and accommodation costs, and brochure are accurate at the time of printing and Australian dollar exchange rates effective as at not covered by Australian Travel Agents licensing provided in good faith. It is not possible to request protections or the Australian Travel Compensation July 27th, 2017. 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Bookings Other Important Advice: All tours will proceed of the difference on the spot. cancelled within 45 days of departure will incur a if a minimum of 12 travellers have paid deposits Contract: The contract between the traveller 100% cancellation charge. Travel insurance will by 90 days before scheduled departure. In the and Great Trains of Europe Tours, entered into cover cancellation because of illness, death in the highly unlikely (unprecedented) event that there by your signing the Booking form, shall be family etc. Travel insurance is therefore considered are insufficient travellers for a tour, you will be construed in accordance with the laws of the mandatory. offered either (i) a full refund of all monies paid, State of Queensland. (ii) a modified cost structure for a smaller group, or

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