Bethlehem, Jerusalem Desert and Monasteries Tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv

What's included

What you'll see and do

1. Church of the Nativity

   "The Church of the Nativity, or Basilica of the Nativity, is a basilica located in Bethlehem. The grotto it contains holds a prominent religious significance to Christians of various denominations as the birthplace of Jesus. The grotto is the oldest site continuously used as a place of worship in Christianity, and the basilica is the oldest major church in the Holy Land."

   40 minutes here

2. St. George's Monastery

   "The Monastery of Saint George of Choziba, also known as Monastery of Choziba (or Hoziba) or Mar Jaris,is a monastery located in Wadi Qelt. The cliff-hanging complex, which emerged from a larva established in the 420s and reorganized as a monastery around AD 500, with its ancient chapel and irrigated gardens, is active and inhabited by Greek Orthodox monks. It houses the relics of saint George of Choziba, after whom the monastery is named, as well as the relics of saint John of Choziba.

   40 minutes here

3. Mount of Temptation Monastery

   The Mount of Temptation is the supposed location of part of the Temptation of Jesus described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke in the New Testament, during which the Devil took Jesus to a "high mountain" and offered him rule over all the kingdoms of the world.

   60 minutes here

4. Shepherd's Sanctuary

   "The Shepherds' Field Chapel or the Sanctuary of the Gloria in excelsis Deo, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima and St. Theresa of Lisieux, is a Roman Catholic religious building in the area of Beit Sahour, southeast of Bethlehem. The chapel marks the place where, according to Catholic tradition, angels first announced the birth of Christ.

   40 minutes here

5. Bethlehem

   "Bethlehem is the cradle of Christianity, the site of the Church of the Nativity, which contains an underground cave where Christians believe Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable. A 14-pointed silver star beneath an altar marks the spot and the stone church is a key pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims alike."

   300 minutes here

6. Mar Saba Monastery

   "The Holy Lavra of Saint Sabbas, is a Greek Orthodox monastery overlooking the Kidron Valley in the Bethlehem at a point halfway between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea. The monks of Mar Saba and those of subsidiary houses are known as Sabaites. Mar Saba is considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world, and it maintains many of its ancient traditions.

   60 minutes here

7. Blessings Gift Shop and The Olive Wood Factory

   Pass By Blessings Gift Shop and Olive Wood Factory.

   Pass by without stopping

8. Milk Grotto

   "The Chapel of the Milk Grotto of Our Lady also called Grotto of Our Lady or Milk Grotto, is a Catholic chapel in Bethlehem, erected in 1872. Since Byzantine times, the place has been a center of Christian pilgrimage. Christian tradition says is the place where the Holy Family found refuge during the Massacre of the Innocents, before they could flee to Egypt. The name is derived from the story that a "drop of milk" of the Virgin Mary fell on the floor of the cave and changed its color to white." The space, which contains three different caves, is visited by some in hope of healing infertile couples,[8] the shrine allegedly being a place where prayers for children are miraculously answered.[9]

   30 minutes here

9. St. Jerome's Cave

   "Set among a maze of subterranean chambers under the Church of Nativity, here, in the late 4th century, Saint Jerome devoted 30 years of his life to translate the Hebrew and Greek bibles into Latin."

   Pass by without stopping

10. Tomb of Rachel (Kever Rachel)

    "Rachel's Tomb is a site revered as the burial place of the Biblical matriarch Rachel. The tomb is held in esteem by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The tomb, located at the northern entrance city of Bethlehem, next to the Rachel's Tomb, is built in the style of a traditional maqam, Arabic for shrine."

    Pass by without stopping

11. Tel es-Sultan

    "Tell es-Sultan, also known as Tel Jericho or Ancient Jericho, is a UNESCO-nominated archaeological site in the West Bank, located adjacent to the Ein as-Sultan refugee camp two kilometres north of the centre of Jericho. The tell was inhabited from the 10th millennium BCE, and has been called "the oldest town in the world", with many significant archaeological finds; the site is also notable for its role in the history of Levantine archaeology."

    Pass by without stopping

Where it starts and ends

Options you can book

• Jerusalem pick up and drop off

  David Citadel hotel pick up : David Citadel hotel pick up and drop off in Jerusalem only Starting point: David Citadel Hotel, King David St 7, Jerusalem, 9410119, Israel

• Bethlehem Pick Up & Drop Off

  Bethlehem pick up and drop off: Walled off hotel at 8:15 pick up and return only there after tour finish Starting point: The Walled Off Hotel, Caritas Street 182, Bethlehem

Before you book

Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Languages

en

Ticket

Mobile Only

Runs on

Every day

Group size

Up to 15 travelers per booking

Operated by

Elijah Tours & Travel

Know before you go

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Pick Up at 7:45 in front of the David Citadel Hotel - All our Drivers have your main booking name on their phones, make sure to see your name on the phone before you go to the Viechle/bus - Add us on WhatsApp for easier pickup we can tell you type of vehicle/driver name in the early morning only .
• You can check the ticket details for the phone number if you have question and queries before the tour/ about the meeting and pick up!!!
• We do not include a visit to the Birth Grotto unless you have booked the VIP option, as waiting times typically range from 1 to 3 hours, depending on the season and make sure it is not on sunday morning and or holidays as the grotto will be usually closed

Photos

Traveler reviews

2 verified traveler reviews for Bethlehem, Jerusalem Desert and Monasteries Tour from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.