Three Countries-
 France, Spain & ​Portugal
And Their Shrines to the Catholic Faith

A Church of St. Francis Adventure
June of 2022
​Notre Dame Cathedral, Lourdes, La Familia Sagrada & Fatima  
Plus fantastic food, great wines, and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites

​This trip is strictly limited to 16 people
Day One
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​​We will meet in the 'City of Light', Paris, a UNESCO World Heritage city (UNESCO Paris and the river Seine). Join us at our hotel as we sip Champagne and have our introduction and welcome meeting.

We will be off for our tour of the Cathedral of Notre Dame. A fine example of Gothic architecture this cathedral called 'Our Lady' is steeped in history. We will take our time and allow for private prayers inside the cathedral. 

You can have the rest of the afternoon to visit, on your own, any of the landmarks that Paris is famous for including the Eiffel Tower, The Champs Elyse, the Louvre, the Arc de' Triomphe,  + much more. We will be on hand to help you choose.

Later we will have a multi-coursed dinner featuring French delicacies and wine pairings.
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Welcome drink and introductions/ Tour of the Cathedral of Notre Dame Paris/ Welcome Dinner/ Overnight Paris / UNESCO World Heritage Site-Paris
Day Two

​We leave Paris by fast train, heading south to near the Spanish border and the Pyrenees mountains for the world famous pilgrimage site of Lourdes, France.  In 1858 Lourdes rose to prominence in France and abroad when apparitions claimed to have been seen by Bernadette Soubirous a fourteen year old girl and soon the small market town became one of the most visited sites for pilgrims looking for miraculous healings. 

We will settle into this mountain town and have a short orientation walk before joining in fellowship with pilgrims from around the world for the afternoon mass procession.  We'll have a multi-course dinner together with wines from the region. Later you have the option of joining the spectacular candlelight procession on the grounds of this sacred spot. 
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Breakfast/ Transport to train station/ Fast Train/ Shuttle from train station to Lourdes/ Orientation Walk and Devotional Processionals/ Dinner together/  Candle light processional/ Overnight Lourdes
Day Three

​We are off early to visit the sacred Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, including the shrine (grotto), where the visions of Bernadette Soubirous took place. We will have an in depth tour and take our time visiting.We will have a break for lunch on your own and then our tour continues as we visit the actual house that Bernadette and her family lived.

Later we will go to the taps to gather Lourdes Water and those who want to can take in the baths for a full immersion in the healing waters

We will meet later in the evening and go to dinner together for more local specialties. 
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Breakfast/ Guided Tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes/ Devotional time at the monuments of your choice/  Baths/ Lourdes Water Taps/ Dinner together/ Overnight Lourdes
Day Four

​In the midst of the loverly mountains of the Pyrenees we will have a restful morning. Sleep in and have a leisurely breakfast later, or get up early and visit any one of the many churches in town. You have a free morning to walk around the lovely town of Lourdes and shop or partake in other activities such as taking the cog railway up the Pic du Jer for spectacular views of the mountains and Lourdes below. We will be on hand to facilitate any activities you want to do. 

Join us later in the day as we have a wine tasting of fantastic French vintages before you pick a place for dinner on your own. There are many places to choose from for another multi coursed meal to your delight!
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Breakfast/ Morning Off/ Optional Activities/ Wine tasting/ Overnight Lourdes.
Day Five

​We'll shuttle to the city of Toulouse where we will board our fast train to Barcelona. We'll watch from our comfortable coach as the countryside roll by as we cross from France into Spain.

​The bustling city of Barcelona will be our destination. We will check into our hotel and have a walk down the Ramblas to the spectacular seaside, before heading to dinner for a multi-course meal of some of the finest Spanish dishes including tapas along with local Spanish wines. Feel free to stroll along the quay, seaside in the evening. 
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Breakfast/ Private transfer to train station/ fast train to Barcelona/ Private transfer to our hotel/ Walk of the center of Barcelona/ Dinner together/ Overnight Barcelona
Day Six

​We'll start our day with a walking tour of Barcelona starting with the medieval part of the old city and ending with the modernists: Gaudi's houses and everything in between.

After a break for lunch we will head to La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family) one of Gaudi's most famous works and named the largest unfinished Roman Catholic church in the world. We will have our private tour of this magnificent minor Basilica (consecrated so by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.​  

In the late afternoon you can continue seeing the sites that Barcelona has to offer on your own-the beach, Montjuic, or Parc Guell.

Dinner is on your own at any number of spots in town. 

Breakfast/ Walking tour of Barcelona Including the Old Town/ Guided tour of La Sagrada Familia/ Devotional Time/  UNESCO World Heritage Site-The Works of Antoni Gaudi/ Overnight Barcelona

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Day Seven

Barcelona is at your feet today. Visit a chocolate factory or shop the main avenue. There is so much to see today and you have the entire morning off to explore it. 

Be ready in the afternoon as we take off on an optional excursion to the monastery at Montserrat. Montserrat literally means 'serrated mountain' in Catalan and is the home of the
Santa Maria de Montserrat a Benedictine monastery known for its enshrining of the Virgin Mary. We will have  guided tour by a local of this holy place with devotional time. 

Later we will return to Barcelona where you can enjoy dinner on your own. We will have plenty of recommendations for you.

Breakfast/ Morning for personal time/ Optional excursion to Santa Maria de Montserrat including transportation and local guide / Cable car approach to the Mountain/ Overnight Barcelona.
Day Eight

​We are off by air* to Lisbon, Portugal this morning. Lisbon, considered the oldest western European city, predating even Rome and Paris, is built on seven hills.

We'll be in a very centrally located hotel, so as soon as we check in we will have our tour of the highlights of Lisbon and learn about its lengthy history. 

Lisbon has a swinging food scene. We will be on hand to recommend some great places so that you can sip some Portuguese wine and sample the delicious local food. 
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Breakfast/ Taxi to airport/ Flight between France and Portugal*/ Shuttle from the Airport to Hotel/ Highlight  tour of central Lisbon/ ​ Devotional Time / Overnight Lisbon

​* includes 1 checked in luggage and 1 carry on.
Day Nine 

​Fatima is our destination today, one of the most auspicious Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world. We will take off in our private transport for our 1.5 hour drive there through the countryside of Portugal.

​We have a lot to see today and we will immerse ourselves by visiting the Basilica of Our Lady of Fátima, the Chapel of the Apparitions, the Oak Tree and the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. We will have a break for lunch in the middle of our day, and have a rest. Then we will continue our way back into Lisbon with a stop at a beautiful village along the way.

Join us back at our hotel as we walk to dinner together and enjoy our farewell dinner together. 

Breakfast/ Private transport to Fatima/ Tour of Fatima/ Devotional Time / Village Stop/ Private Transport back to Lisbon/ Farewell dinner together. 
Day Ten

We will say goodbye this morning. After breakfast you can head to the airport for your return flight back to the states. 
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​Breakfast
What you get with this tour
Three Countries-Portugal, Spain & France
Champagne Welcome Drink
Cathedral of Notre Dame (inside tour)
Access to Paris Highlight Tour (we help you to book it if you desire)
Private Transport
Fast Train Travel
One flight (France to Portugal) 
The Pyrenees Mountains
​Lourdes
Guided Tour of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
Lourdes Baths
Lourdes Devotional Water
Bernadette's House
​Barcelona
Guided Tour of Barcelona
​La Sagrada Familia (the Sacred Family)
Lisbon
Private Transport to Fatima and Tour
Basilica of Our Lady of Fátima
The Chapel of the Apparitions
The Oak Tree
The Basilica of the Holy Trinity
Nine full Breakfast
Six Multi Course Dinners With Wine
French Cuisine and Wines
Spanish Cuisine and Wines
Portuguese ​Cuisine and Wines
Two Expert Guides with 21 Years Experience Putting Together Small Group Tours (Patricia & Manolis)
Expert Guides on the Ground at Each Pilgrimage Site
Plenty of Time For Devotional Meetings
Time Devoted for Mass
Centrally Located Hotels with Excellent Staff 
Fast Track Transport
Skip the Line Tickets
Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Trip Costs-
​16 participants  $TBD
12 participants  $TBD
10 participants   $TBD
 8 participants    $TBD


Trip costs include all of the above listed in the itinerary. Does not include transatlantic flights (see below for more information)

Single and traveling by yourself? Want to have a room to yourself for the entire trip? We call that a Single Supplement and it is $975 in addition to your trip cost.
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What is your responsibility?
Some meals where indicated (lunches & dinners). Any medications or medical needs while on tour. Any communication needs while on tour. In addition, trip insurance if you choose, and we will have plenty of recommendations for that.
Trans-Atlantic Flights-
Our tour starts in Paris and ends in Lisbon. You will fly into Paris (CDG) and out of Lisbon (LIS). We can book group airline tickets for the transatlantic flight for 10 people and more. Your flight will leave from the city of your choice (one for the entire group). 

For all those booking a group airline ticket with us, this booking will include pick up at Charles de Gaulle Airport and transfer to our starting hotel in Paris and a transfer at the end of our trip to Lisbon airport.*

At this time round trip air tickets are ranging from $900 to $1200 RT. As soon as final payments are in we will lock in a price. At this time we cannot be more precise as prices change rapidly.
 
 (* Transport from your house to departing airport in the U.S. and back is not included) 
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Paris to Lisbon An Exceptional Pilgrimage © Copyright The Olive Odysseys 2021-2022

Who are your leaders?

Manolis Hajifotiou

A native of Greece, Manolis has been leading tours in Europe for 21 years. Besides traveling, his passion is playing his guitar and creating his own music. He also likes to keep up with the stone house he shares with his wife, Patricia, especially trimming their olive trees.  He looks forward to showing you his favorite places and making sure you feel right at home.

Patricia Hajifotiou

A native of the U.S.A., Patricia has been leading tours in Europe for 21 years. She lives on the island of Evia, Greece, with her husband Manolis. When she is not on tour, she lives off the grid in a rock house, powered by the wind and sun. There she likes to spend her time digging in the garden. She looks forward to showing you the places she likes the best.