• The Virgin Mary is prayed to by millions of Catholicsmadonna, holy mary, head, icon close-up image by alma_sacra from Fotolia.com
  
  Lourdes pilgrimage season lasts from the beginning of April to the end of October. During these months daily processions and international Mass take place. Lourdes is a Catholic place of pilgrimage due to the story of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to a little girl called Bernadette back in 1858. Located in the Pyrenees, Lourdes attracts more than five million visitors each year who come to pray and be healed through devotion.
  
  

206 Tours

• 206 Tours, a company based in New York, offers a 14-day tour to Lourdes, Fatima, Spain and Medugorje. Transatlantic flights from New York are included in the price with a supplement for traveling from another U.S. city. The tour begins in Lisbon, where pilgrims meet their priest, guide and fellow travelers. Fatima is visited first for two days and then the coach travels on to Burgos before arriving in Lourdes on day seven. On the way, the coach stops in towns and cities such as Salamanca to see the cathedrals and churches of religious significance. Two days are spent in Lourdes where travelers visit the Basilica, the Sanctuary, the baths and the Grotto. Flights are then taken on to Medugorje where travelers stay for two days before returning to the U.S. by plane from Dubrovnik airport.
  
  Tours cost from $3,599 to $4,099 depending on date of travel with a single supplement of $749, as of September 2010. . This includes breakfasts and dinners, transportation, admission fees as per itinerary, daily Mass, local Catholic guides and a priest for spiritual direction.
  
  206 Tours Inc
  
  333 Marcus Blvd.
  
  Hauppauge NY 11788
  
  800-206-8687
  
  206tours.com
  
  

Aladdin Travel

• A shorter eight-day trip that concentrates on Lourdes is offered by Aladdin Travel, based in Syracuse, N.Y. Air travel from New York to Lourdes is included in the price with supplements for traveling from other U.S. cities. Coach transfers are included to your hotel where you can meet fellow pilgrims. This tour is designed for those who wish to stay exclusively in Lourdes and take advantage of the atmosphere of prayer by joining in the candlelight processions and Masses. The trip costs from $2,349 per person with breakfasts, dinners, guide and transfers included, as of September 2010.
  
  Aladdin Travel
  
  2507 James St Suite 212
  
  Syracuse, NY 13206
  
  315-474-3393
  
  pilgrimagetrips.com
  
  

Portugal Travel

• From $2,899 to $3,599 per person sharing, as of September 2010, Portugal Travel offers a 10-day coach tour of Fatima, Spain and Lourdes. A professional guide and priest will accompany the pilgrimage throughout. Flights from New York to Lisbon are included with supplements to fly from other U.S. cities. Churches, cathedrals and other sites of religious significance are visited on the way from Lisbon to Lourdes with stops along the way including Santarem, Salamanca, Alba del Tormes, Avila, Burgos and Loyola. Two days are spent in Fatima and three days in Lourdes. All admission fees as per itinerary are included as are breakfasts and dinners.
  
  Portugal Travel
  
  800-652-9151
  
  portugal.com