Coaches Tours to Lourdes

We have organised a number of pilgrimages throughout the year by coach at reasonable cost to coincide with Holy days and special feast days in Lourdes.
All our coach pilgrimages depart from WESTMINSTER CATHEDRAL. If required, we can arrange connecting transfers from the North of the UK at an additional cost.

Our coach pilgrimages include:

• Luxury air conditioned coaches
• Courier and/or Spiritual Leader
• Regular comfort stops
• Full spiritual programme with prayer book and badge
• Departure from Westminster Cathedral
• Dover – Calais ferry crossing with P&O ferries

For all our coach tours, we have included our excellent high quality coach operators together with a great 3 star hotel in Lourdes. You will have one of our guides throughout the pilgrimage together with badge and prayer book.

This pilgrimage is also available to any group or parish at any time.

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

In 2019 it will be 161 years since Bernadette saw Our Lady by the river Gave in what was the small town of Lourdes. Celebrate with us this wonderful feast day of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes.’ You will have two full days in Lourdes staying full board in a  3 star hotel which is a short walk to the Domain. Whilst in Lourdes you will be able to participate in our full pilgrimage programme. Please note that the coach does travel through the night on this pilgrimage.

10th – 13th February 2019 (1 night)
Price: £225 per person, sharing a room
Single room supplement: £30 per person for the duration
Travel insurance: £28 per person

Easter Weekend in Lourdes

Easter in Lourdes is full of joy and celebration. Depart Westminster at midday, arriving in Lourdes for two days full board accommodation.
You will have the opportunity to celebrate in our full pilgrimage programme over this wonderful time in the liturgical year. Please note that the coach does travel through the night.

19th - 22nd April 2019 (1 night)
Price: £225 per person, sharing a room
Single room supplement: £30 per person for the duration
Travel insurance: £28 per person

The Feast of the Assumption

The assumption of Mary into heaven is a beautiful feast day and is a time of great celebration in Lourdes. Depart Westminster at midday, arriving into Lourdes on the 14th. You have the opportunity over three days in Lourdes to follow a full pilgrimage programme enjoying the celebrations. Please note that the coach does travel through the night on this pilgrimage.

13th – 17th August 2019 (2 nights)
Price: £330 per person, sharing a room
Single room supplement: £60 per person for the duration
Travel insurance: £30 per person

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Our Lady spoke to Bernadette in Lourdes using the words ‘I am the Immaculate Conception’. Join us in Lourdes to celebrate this holy day. Depart Westminster at midday, arriving into Lourdes on the 8th.
You will have two days in Lourdes staying full board in a 3 star hotel which is just a short walk to the Domain. Whilst in Lourdes you will be able to participate in our full pilgrimage programme. Please note that the coach does travel through the night on this pilgrimage.

7th – 10th December 2019 (1 night)
Price: £225 per person, sharing a room
Single room supplement: £30 per person for the duration
Travel insurance: £28 per person

All the above pilgrimages involve overnight travel.  

We offer a variety of other destinations throughout Europe, each with its own story to tell of spiritual revelation.
If you would like us to arrange a pilgrimage to a particular destination on behalf of your group, please contact us. With over 45 years experience of arranging pilgrimages we can provide you
with all the support and information you need to visit the shrine of your choice.

Below are just a few examples of the shrines to which we have taken pilgrims over the years:

Spain - Santiago de Compostela Pilgrimages and the Cathedral of St James.
          (See: The Camino - Sarria to Santiago de Compostela or Lourdes, Burgos, Santiago de Compostela & Fatima
Bosnia Herzegovina - Medjugorje Pilgrimages
Poland Pilgrimages - This pilgrimage includes a visit to the city of Krakow, home of the late Pope, John Paul II.
Czech Republic - Prague, a most beautiful city, Shrine of the Infant.
England - Our Lady of Walsingham
England - Holy Island of Lindisfarne.
Ireland - Marian shrine of Knock.
Scotland - Isle of Iona, cradle of Scottish Christianity.
Hungary - The lovely city of Budapest and the stunning cathedral of St. Stephen
France - Rocamadour - A picturesque village whose Chapel of the Black Madonna was one of the mediaeval world's most popular shrines.

During a pilgrimage to the Holy Land you will have the opportunity to bring to life the stories that we have all read or heard in our local parishes. The story of the Nativity, Cana and Mount Olives are just a few places we will visit.
Mancunia's philosophy is to support the Christians of the Holy Land and ensure that when we travel with our groups we only use the services of Christian guides, hotels, coach drivers etc. There are exceptions to this in places like Galilee where we use Jewish accommodation as that is all there is; however we fully support the Christian community when we can. Our local Mancunia representatives will guide you through Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other places. You can rest assured that safety is paramount and we assure you that it will be an experience you will never forget.

Whilst journeying highlights include:

Nativity Church: The church structure is built over the cave that marks the birthplace of Jesus and is one of the oldest operating churches in the world.

River Jordan: The baptism of Jesus marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, it was here that John baptised Jesus.

Cana: Cana marks an important part of Jesus’ life as it was his first of many miracles. Here we visit the site at which Jesus turned the water into wine.

Mount of Olives: A place mentioned in the Old and more often in the New Testament. Jesus spent time on the mount teaching and prophesying to his disciples.

Church of Beatitudes: The location of Jesus’ most famous sermon where he spoke to his followers about how they should lead their lives which is still a key teaching for Christians today.

Pater Noster Church: Named after the ‘Our Father’ (Latin: Pater Noster) the church stands upon the traditional site in Jerusalem where Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

Golgotha & Via Dolorosa ‘the way of suffering’: Walk the steps Jesus walked to Golgotha, this path is where many say they feel closest to the story of Jesus’ final moments before his death on the cross.

Our tours can also include visits to: St Peter in Gallicantu, the old city of Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Jericho, Church of the Annunciation, Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Capernaum, Mount Tabor and the Garden of Gethsemane.

Recent conflicts in the Middle East have not deterred visits to this holy place and over the last few years it has become the primary destination for many Pilgrims.

Our Pilgrimage Itinerary (can be tailored to your group)
Mancunia offers a number of different itineraries for groups. Here is an example of a typical one that our groups will follow, however this may be subject to change:

Fly direct to Tel Aviv from Manchester or London and meet your guide for transfer by luxury air-conditioned coach to Jerusalem for your first night’s accommodation.
In Jerusalem we will visit the Mount of Olives, the Pater Noster Church and follow the Palm Sunday Route visiting the chapel of Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemane.
We include a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and a walk along the Via Dolorosa starting with the first stations at the Ecce Homo and the Chapel of Flagellation, and ending with the last stations in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
We then leave Jerusalem for Bethlehem. Whilst in Bethlehem, we will visit the Nativity Church, the birth place of Christ. There will be time available for you to explore and shop in the local area.
We continue our pilgrimage to Tiberias, stopping en route at the Dead Sea, travelling along the Jordan Valley.
We visit Nazareth, where among the many historical sites is the Church of the Annunciation.
After Nazareth we will spend time in Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee. Our last stay will be in Tiberias. On the final day we transfer, stopping en route at Mount Carmel, to Ben Gurion airport for the return to the UK.

Spring in the Holy Land - Two centre

7th – 14th May 2019  (7 nights)        
     
LONDON airport departures only.

Price: £1,363 per person.

Package price includes return flights, half-board hotel accommodation and coach transfers from/to Tel Aviv airport to your hotels and to/from places being visited. Our representatives are on hand to help you at any point during your pilgrimage, as well as a Spiritual Director.

Extras:                        
Single room supplement: £275 for the duration.
Travel insurance: £67 per person.

Autumn in the Holy Land - Three centre

12th - 19th November 2019 (7 nights)

Led by Fr Innocent Abonyi

LONDON airport departures only

Price: £1426 per person.

Package price includes return flights, half-board hotel accommodation and coach transfers from/to Tel Aviv airport to your hotels and to/from places being visited. Our representatives are on hand to help you at any point during your pilgrimage, as well as a Spiritual Director.

Extras:  
Single room supplement: £360 for the duration.
Travel insurance: £67per person.

The above-mentioned dates are those that Mancunia Travel has its own organised pilgrimages, but we are also offering pilgrimages to a large number of other groups, including the Catenians, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, the Archdiocese of Birmingham and Westminster, the diocese of Southwark and many more from around the UK.

If the above dates are unsuitable, please contact us as you may be able to join one of our other groups, or why not lead a group yourself? Our groups department will be pleased to provide a tailor-made itinerary for you, please contact us for details. We would advise groups to book at least 8 – 10 months prior to departure.

Hints & Tips

• Advisable to book early as the Holy Land is once again becoming a popular pilgrimage destination.
• Passports need to be valid for 6 months.
• Due to the limitations of assistive services in this part of the world, this pilgrimage is not suitable for the less mobile traveller.
• No vaccinations are required for this trip.
• Visas are not necessary for British passport holders.
• The official currency in Israel is shekels, dollars and pounds are widely accepted.

Pilgrimages to the Holy Land include:

• Direct Flights
• Inclusive of all tips, taxes and service charges
• Fully accompanied by English speaking guides
• Spiritual Leader
• Half board accommodation (unless listed otherwise)
• Full pilgrimage itinerary including all transfers and coach travel

Accommodation

In offering pilgrimages to the Holy Land it is our intention to support the Christians in Palestine and Israel by using, when and wherever possible, hotels, hostels and guest houses which are owned by Christians.
Mancunia Travel is pleased to work with a number of 3 star (or better) hotels inside the city walls of Jerusalem, the centre of Bethlehem and by the Sea of Galilee. Please note that accommodation will be confirmed closer to departure date.

Lourdes Pilgrimages 2019

“Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of God is yours.”

Read about Saint Bernadette and The Lourdes Story

Pilgrimages with Mancunia Travel

We understand the unique needs and expectations of Pilgrims and have built our service and programmes around the years of experience and knowledge gained from specialising in pilgrimages to this Holy Shrine.

We are proud to offer an all encompassing package ensuring a friendly, courteous and comfortable pilgrimage right from your initial enquiry through to your journey home.

Always available for our Pilgrims!
Pilgrims travelling with Mancunia enjoy an organised programme which includes Masses, walking tours and excursions offered exclusively for our pilgrims and guided by English speaking Spiritual Leaders and our resident representatives in Lourdes.

Introduction to Lourdes
Upon arrival you will meet with a Mancunia representative who will show you to your hotel. You will also be invited to join our our complimentary guided tours of Lourdes depicting the life and times of St Bernadette.

Mass
The Mancunia Lourdes office will arrange daily Mass in English, including at least one Mass celebrated at the Grotto.

The Baths and Personal Devotions
Our programmes include the opportunity for you to visit the Baths and allow time for your own personal devotions.

Torchlight Processions, International Mass
Your religious programme will include participation at The Blessed Sacrament Procession, Blessing of the Sick, Stations of the Cross, the Marian Torchlight Procession and attendance at an International Mass.

Excursions
Our optional excursions include trips to Bartrès (a small village outside of Lourdes where Bernadette lived for part of her life), Gavarnie and Pont d’Espagne (wonderful scenic towns situated in the Pyrenean Mountains) and are accompanied by a local guide and/or Spiritual Leader.

Our Lourdes team
Our pilgrims are welcomed on arrival by our team, all English and French speakers. They are experts on the activities, facilities and services Lourdes has to offer and are on hand should you need any assistance during your pilgrimage. They will provide you with the best advice and support available.

Other Attractions in Lourdes

Pic du Jer
Overlooks Lourdes and can be recognised by its large cross illuminated at night. Take the 100-year-old funicular railway transporting you to the summit, some 1,000m in altitude in only 6 minutes. Enjoy the fantastic view over Lourdes, Pau, Tarbes and the Pyrenees.

The Little Train
This excursion covers 4.6 miles (7.5 km), and lasts about 45 minutes. It offers you the chance to see the Cité Mariale, the old quarters, the upper town and its historic buildings.Lourdes Museum
Discover the history of Lourdes at the time of the Apparitions.

Chateau Fort
A fort has existed on this site since Roman times; the museum contains several exhibitions and is well worth a visit.

The Little Lourdes
The Little Lourdes takes visitors into the past, in a miniature world, to discover what life was like for Bernadette in 1858.

La Salle Bernadette - Cinema
Daily screenings of Jean Delannoy’s film about Bernadette’s life (shown in several languages daily).

The Wax Museum
More than 100 life-size wax characters, presented by the designers of the famous Musée Grévin of Paris. Scene after scene, you will relive the fascinating story of Jesus Christ and Bernadette’s life.

You may also be interested in our Fatima, Santiago and Lourdes pilgrimage

Medjugorje

Since 1981, in a small village in Bosnia-Hercegovina named Medjugorje, the Blessed Virgin Mary has been appearing to six people and giving messages to the world. She tells us that God has sent Her to our world and that her mission is one of peace. She has come to earth to re-educate us and to help us convert and re-center our lives back to God. Our Lady's role has always been one of guiding people to Her Son, Jesus. Since the apparitions began over 40 million people of all faiths, from all over the world, have visited Medjugorje and have left spiritually strengthened and renewed. Countless unbelievers and physically or mentally afflicted, have been converted and healed.

Dates and Prices

12th – 16th June 2017     

LONDON airport departures only.    

Price: £399 per person PLUS flight costs.

Package price does NOT include flights, but includes half-board hotel accommodation and coach transfers from/to your hotel and to/from places being visited. Our representative is on hand to help you at any point during your pilgrimage, in addition to a spiritual director.

Extras: Single room supplement: £55 for the duration.
Travel insurance: £28 per person

 

Poland - Krakow

Poland is the much loved homeland of the late Pope John Paul II and Krakow, where we are based for the duration of our pilgrimage, is the ancient capital of Poland known for its beauty, historical monuments and role in the life of John Paul II. Famous landmarks include the Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Basilica and the largest medieval square in Europe.

Dates and Prices

2nd – 6th October 2017          

LONDON airport departures only.

Price: £439 per person PLUS flight costs.

Package price does NOT include flights, but includes half-board hotel accommodation and coach transfers from/to your hotel and to/from places being visited. Our representative is on hand to help you at any point during your pilgrimage, in addition to a spiritual director.

Extras: Single room supplement: £125 for the duration.
Travel insurance: £28 per person

 

Over a hundred years has passed since ‘Our Lady Queen of Peace’ chose Fatima, a little hamlet in Portugal, to bring the message of love to the world divided in 1917 by the horrors of the First World War.

On the 13th May 1917 Our Lady appeared to three little shepherds while they were watching over their flocks at a place called Cova da Iria in the rocky unproductive area of central Portugal, now known the world over as Fatima. The Lady from heaven asked the children to return six times at the same hour on the 13th of every month, May to October.
The three children, Lucia de Jesus (10), her cousins Francisco Marto (8) and his sister Jacinta Marto (7) had already been prepared for the arrival of Our Lady by the visit of an Angel during the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 1916. The Angel of Peace (or Angel of Portugal), as the Angel is now called, gave an urgent request for continued prayer and this was later re-enforced by Our Lady’s insistence for greater devotion to the Rosary.
‘Our Lady of the Rosary’ subsequently made it known to the children that she wanted a chapel to be built there in her honour. She also told them that the First World War would soon end and that Our Blessed Lord was outraged and offended by the behaviour of mankind. She stressed the importance of praying the Rosary every day and for penance in reparation for the sins committed by man.

Many pilgrims from all over the world, sometimes up to one million at a time, make the pilgrimage to Fatima on the 12th and 13th of the months of May to October to pray to Our Lady of Fatima.

During the centenary celebrations Pope Francis, on the 13th May, gave the Portuguese people two new young Saints in Francisco and Jacinta. In the history of the Catholic Church, Francisco and Jacinta are the first child Saints who are not Martyrs.

We offer pilgrimages to Fatima for May, June, and October, by air, for 4 nights and in September for 6 nights.

The flights for the pilgrimages detailed below all depart from LONDON HEATHROW but we can sometimes arrange flights from Manchester provided the timings are similar to the London flights.
We can also arrange pilgrimages for groups of 20+ pilgrims on any date to suit your requirements, so do please contact us for details.

Dates and Prices 2019

11^th – 15^th May, June & October (4 nights)

Hotel Catolica - £580 per person, sharing                 Single Room Supplement - Add £92

Hotel Steyler Fatima - £635 per person, sharing      Single Room Supplement - Add £92

Travel Insurance £30 per person

11^th – 17^th September (6 nights)

Hotel Catolica - £679 per person, sharing                 Single Room Supplement - Add £138

Hotel Steyler Fatima - £759 per person, sharing      Single Room Supplement - Add £138

Travel Insurance £33 per person

The hotels we use in Fatima are located a short walk from the Sanctuary.

Our Itinerary includes:

• Flights from London Heathrow to Lisbon
• Transfer from Lisbon to Fatima
• Full courier service and Spiritual Leader
• Full board accommodation
• Prayer book and badge

In Fatima there is a daily programme available for you to include the following:

• A walking tour of the Sanctuary with visits to the Rosary and Holy Trinity Basilicas and the Chapel of Apparitions
• Concelebrated Mass at the Chapel of Apparitions with participation in the ceremonies, including (on 12th & 13th of months of May to October) the International Rosary and vigil Mass at the outside altar and the torchlight procession of Our Lady of Fatima.
• Mass and the Adieu to Our Lady of Fatima with the waving of white handkerchiefs (a tradition at the closing Mass on the 13th of the Feast day ceremonies).
• Walk the Stations of the Cross on the Sanctuary Esplanade
• Visit to Vanihos (place of the August apparition) and Cabeco (place of the Angel) and then to the small village of Aljustrel for a visit to the homes of the three children. If time permits, we will also visit the Fatima parish church.

There will be plenty of time for personal devotions throughout the pilgrimage.

Our Hotels in Fatima

The Catolica
Centrally positioned in the heart of Fátima, the Católica Hotel is only a 3-minute walk from the Shrine of Our Lady of Fátima. It has a restaurant serving traditional Portuguese cuisine. All rooms are neatly decorated, furnished in modern style and each has an ensuite bathroom with hairdryer. For added comfort, rooms are equipped with air conditioning and satellite TV.

The Steyler Fatima Hotel
A newly refurbished hotel near the centre of town. The bedrooms are very spacious, comfortable and all have private facilities. The hotel has air-conditioning throughout and has an excellent restaurant serving traditional Portuguese and continental dishes. It also has its own Chapel and Stations of the Cross which are available for guests to use.

Hints & Tips

Transfer time from Lisbon to Fatima is approximately 1hr 30mins.

Our hotels are a 5 minute walk from the Sanctuary.

Wheelchairs can get priority access for the celebrations but need to be booked whilst in Fatima and this can take two hours or more to arrange.

Main routes in Fatima are good but some side streets are quite uneven and not ideal for wheelchairs.

We have a small number of wheelchairs available but we DO NOT supply pushers.

Flight time from London APPROX 2hrs 30mins

Weather May - October is warm but take a hat and an umbrella!


 

We travel to Lourdes by air from London Stansted and spend our first three nights’ accommodation here, participating in our regular pilgrimage programme.

We then depart Lourdes by luxury coach for Santiago stopping en-route in the beautiful city of Burgos for one night. Whilst here we will visit the wonderful Cathedral where we will celebrate mass.

We leave Burgos and our pilgrimage continues to Santiago, the burial place of St. James and the final destination of thousands of pilgrims walking the Path of St. James. The old town is set around the Cathedral which is designated a UNESCO world heritage site. We will stay here for two nights before leaving for Fatima.

We will stay three nights in Fatima following the traditional pilgrimage programme for the 12th and 13th August.
At the end of our pilgrimage we will then depart Lisbon for our flight back to the London Heathrow.

This pilgrimage is also available for groups of 20+ on any date to suit your requirements, so please contact us for details.

Dates & Prices

5th – 14th August 2019 (9 nights)
Price: £886 per person, sharing a room, with flights included.
Single room supplement: £210 for the duration.
Travel insurance £38 per person.

*Tour route subject to change dependent on flights, departure airport and return airport may differ.

Camino de Santiago de Compostela - The French Way

Travel to Santiago de Compostela is by air and you will spend 8 nights' in Spain's Galicia region, walking the last 100km of the 'French Way' Camino. The daily trek will be between 13km and 24km and will take you through many picturesque villages and hamlets in the region. The culmination will be the Pilgrims Mass in St James’s cathedral on the penultimate day of your tour.

Dates & Prices

1st - 9th October 2019 (8 nights)
Price: £765 per person, sharing a room, - PLUS flight costs.
Single room supplement: £168 for the duration.
Travel insurance £38 per person.