Depart USA for your overnight flight to Prague. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board.

Upon arrival at Prague airport, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the arrival hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. After a warm welcome to Prague, be escorted to your transportation and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy a free afternoon to stroll the quaint streets of Prague before meeting your group for a welcome dinner and a show at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, make your way to the Church of Our Lady Victorious, home of the famous Child Jesus statue called the Infant Jesus of Prague. The statue, a 16th-century depiction of infant Jesus holding a globus cruciger, (an orb and cross), was donated to the Carmelite friars in 1628. Following Mass, visit Old Town Prague. In Prague’s Castle district, visit St. Nicholas Church, St. Vitus Cathedral, St. George Basilica, Loreto Church and Strahov Monastery. Continue by crossing the Medieval Charles Bridge that is adorned with many baroque statues. View the Astronomical Clock of Prague and walk on Wenceslas Square, one of the main city squares. The square is named after Saint Wenceslas, the patron saint of Bohemia. It is part of the historic center of Prague, a World Heritage Site. Return to the hotel for dinner and a restful overnight.

Leave Prague for Altotting, one of Germany’s most celebrated shrines and a city whose purpose is pilgrimage. Upon arrival celebrate Mass at the center of the pilgrimage complex, the Chapel of Mercy. The chapel houses a 13th century statue of the Blessed Virgin to which numerous miraculous cures are credited. While there, you will have the opportunity to visit the Basilica, the Panorama of the Crucifixion and St. Konrad’s Monastery. Continue to Salzburg, the lovely birthplace of famed composer Mozart. Salzburg, also known as “Alt Stadt”, is known for its beautiful baroque architecture and its amazing views of the Eastern Alps. Free time before dinner and an overnight in Salzburg.

After breakfast, your full day tour begins with Mass at St. Peter’s Abbey. Following Mass, explore the historic center of Salzburg on foot. Its narrow streets and secluded passageways are evidence of its medieval roots. The heritage of the Catholic Church is evident in the Archbishop’s Residence at DomPlatz. Visit Mirabell Palace with its beautiful gardens. Mirabell Palace, is one of the most important shooting locations from the famous Hollywood musical “The Sound of Music” – Maria and the children dance around the Pegasus Fountain in front of the palace, singing the song “Do Re Mi”. Experience the unique views across Mirabell Gardens towards the Hohen Salzburg Castle. You will have a chance to visit the mighty Romanesque Cathedral as well as the Nonnberg Convent of Benedictine nuns. In the Getreidegasse, view Mozart’s birthplace, now one of the most visited museums in Austria. Make a stop at Hellbrunn Palace to enjoy its gardens and hidden trick fountains. Enjoy a delicious dinner before retiring for the evening.

After breakfast, board the motor coach and travel east through the mountain of Austria to Mariazell, the most important pilgrimage place in Austria. Visit the Mariazell Basilica, also known as Basilica Mariä Geburt (Basilica of the Birth of the Virgin Mary). Mariazell Basilica is a Marian basilica, which holds the miraculous statue, housed in the Lady Chapel or Chapel of Miracles, built directly over the place where Magnus established his monastic cell in 1157. Continue to Melk, which is best known as the site of a massive baroque Benedictine monastery named Melk Abbey. Overlooking the Danube River, the Abbey, holds the tomb of Saint Coloman of Stockerau and the remains of several members of the House of Babenberg, Austria’s first ruling dynasty. Enjoy free time in the lovely town of Melk before continuing to Vienna, Austria’s capital for dinner and a restful overnight.

After breakfast, enjoy a sightseeing tour of Vienna, home of Johann Strauss and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Visit the spectacular St. Stephen’s cathedral, the symbol of Vienna. Construction commenced in the 12th century. Today, it is one of the most important Gothic structures in Austria. At St. Stephen’s, see the miraculous image of Our Lady of Mariapoch and tour the Cathedral and its catacombs. Those brave enough may climb the 343 steps to the top of the Cathedral spire. Continue with a visit of the Schonbrunn Royal palace, a summer residence with 1,441 rooms including a Hall of Mirrors where Mozart performed at the age of six before a young Marie Antoinette Louis. Schonbrunn Palace was put on the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites in December 1996. Continue your journey in Vienna and view the Belvedere Palace, well known for its beautiful gardens. Back in the city center, go to Karlsplatz with its Church of St. Charles Borromeo and Otto Wagner’s Stadtbahn pavilions. Somewhere along the way, have a little coffee break to enjoy the famous Vienna pastries such as Sacher cake. Dinner and an overnight in Vienna.

After breakfast, depart for Budapest, which is often compared with Paris. This glamorous city has something to offer every visitor. Enjoy free time to explore Budapest or relax before dinner and a restful overnight.

This morning celebrate Mass at the 13th-century Cathedral of St. Matthew. Next, visit the old city of Budapest. You will see the Citadel on Mount Gellert, the Royal Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion, the Parliament, Heroes’ Square, and the Church of St. Stephen. Dinner and a last overnight in Europe.

An early morning departure from Budapest for your flights to Medjugorje. Upon arrival, a tour guide and/or driver will greet you and take you on the 2.5-hour drive by private coach to the village of Medjugorje. Once there, meet your fellow pilgrims and be introduced to your host family, in who’s modern and comfortable house you will be staying for the next several nights.

The most beautiful feature of Medjugorje is its simplicity, and its peace. While in Medjugorje, you will have the opportunity to experience your faith grow, and share in the faith journey of pilgrims from all over the world. The local guide will accompany your group throughout your stay in the village.

Some activities that will accompany you in your spiritual journey:

Attend Daily Mass: Each morning, at 10:00A.M, your group will assemble at St. James Church for Mass (English-Speaking). At the end of each Mass, regardless of language, there is a blessing of the religious articles that you have with you.

On Feast Days, and Sundays: English Mass is at Noon

Climb Apparition Hill: This mountainous hill is where the visionaries first encountered Our Lady. Also, at the base of this hill is a Blue Cross, where it is said Our Lady appeared to the children while they hid from the communist police in the early days of the alleged apparitions. When climbing, your group is invited to recite the Rosary, pausing five times for each decade of the Rosary. At the top of the hill, you will witness the exact location of the first alleged apparition of Our Lady to the visionaries, and enjoy private time in prayer.

Climb Mt. Krizevac (Cross Mountain): In 1933, the villagers built a 30′ high cross atop a mountain to commemorate Jesus’ passion and death on the cross. Your group will have the opportunity to climb this mountain and venerate that very cross. When climbing, your group is invited to pray the Stations of the Cross (to meditate on Jesus’ suffering Road to Calvary), pausing fifteen times for each Station.

Apparitions: Each evening at 5PM or 6PM daylight savings time, your group will join the villagers and fellow pilgrims of Medjugorje in saying the Rosary as all anxiously await the alleged arrival of Our Lady to the visionaries. Following the apparition, at 6:40 P.M. (5:40 P.M. during Daylight Savings Time), feel free to stay at St. James Church and attend the Croatian Mass. Following the Croatian Mass there is a Blessing of the Sick.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Our Lady has always called us to be close to her Son. For this, you will have the opportunity to adore the Blessed Sacrament at the outside altar of St. James Church. Adoration is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays; Veneration of the Cross is held on Fridays inside the church. Additionally, there is an Adoration Chapel on the grounds of St. James Church. Adoration is held here in the afternoon hours.

Visit the Community of Cenacolo:
Pilgrims will have the opportunity to visit the Community of Cenacolo, founded by Sr. Elvira Petrozzi, for young men and women who have taken the wrong path and are on the road to recovery. You will be able to listen to their inspirational testimonies about their journeys back to Jesus Christ.

Prayer at the Statue of the Risen Christ: Located on the grounds of St. James Church, is the bronze statue of the Risen Christ. Many pilgrims sit and pray on the benches surrounding this peaceful statue. This statue miraculously seeps droplets of water at all times of the day, out of Christ’s right knee.

* Your time in Medjugorje is intended to provide a personal retreat. As such, your time in Medjugorje is not designed to be a “tour” but rather, to provide opportunities for prayer and reflection as you feel called. Upon arrival in the village, you will have an orientation tour. For the remainder of your stay, you will not have a guide however, a representative of 206 Tours will be available should you have any questions or requests. Daily Mass in English and English confessions are available at St. James Church in Medjugorje.

If you would prefer our traditional pilgrimage/tour of Medjugorje, we would recommend you consider our Tour #1 (www.206tours.com/tour1) that provides a tour escort and spiritual leader throughout your stay.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, you will leave by motor coach for Dubrovnik Airport (Split or Sarajevo) for return flights home.

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.