Bethlehem & Jericho Day Tour
A beautiful overview of the City of Bethlehem (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Elisha's refreshing water Spring Fountain (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Elisha's fresh water Spring Fountain (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
An expansive view of Jericho (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The Sycamore Tree that Zacchaeus climbed up in the New Testament (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Take a tour through the ancient ruins in Tell es-Sultan/Jericho (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The ancient ruins in Tell es-Sultan/Jericho (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The holy Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
A splendid overview of the City of Bethlehem (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The entrance to the Church of the Nativity(Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Walk down the grand halls of the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Inside the holy Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Delve into the Nativity Cave in the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The silver star that represents the birth of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The silver star that represents the birth of Jesus Christ in the Church of the Nativity (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
The entrance to the Church of Saint Catherine (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
Visit the Church of Saint Catherine (Photo courtesy of Bein Harim)
- Duration
1 day - Departure days
Mon, Wed, Sat - Languages
English, French, German, Spanish
Overview
The Bethlehem & Jericho Tour will begin in the most ancient city in the world, Jericho, to view the many holy sites, pass-by the Mount of Temptation where Jesus defied the seductions of the Devil, then finish the tour in Bethlehem: the birthplace of Christianity.
Absorb the rich history of the 2 most exemplary cities in the area and take a rare chance to explore the many critical religious landmarks. Like the incredible holy Church of the Nativity: the oldest and most important church in the Holy Land. To Manger Square: the center of Christmas celebrations to this day.
Highlights
- Explore the ancient Church of the Nativity and experience the holy site where Jesus Christ was born in the grotto underneath.
- See the over 2,000-year-old Sycamore Tree that Zacchaeus climbed in the Bible. (Luke 19:1-10)
- Visit the Manger Square, the center for all of the Christmas celebrations in Bethlehem.
- Drink the waters of Elisha’s Spring, where the Prophet Elisha healed the water in the Bible. (Kings II 2:19-22)
- Tour the Tel Jericho archeological site where ancient peoples settled and flourished 10,000 years ago and observe the many stages of civilization.
- Enter the Church of St. Catherine, and discover the underground caves that hold old shrines and tombs of saints.
Itinerary
Pick-up Times:
6:30 am: start pickup from hotels in Netanya
7:00 am: start pickup from hotels in Herzliya
7:15 am: start pickup from hotels in Tel-Aviv
8:30 am: start pickup from hotels in Jerusalem
Drop-off Times:
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: tour ends in Jerusalem
6:00 pm – 7:00 pm: tour ends in Tel-Aviv
6:30 pm – 7:30 pm: tour ends in Herzliya
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm: tour ends in Netanya
All times are approximate
- To see all available pickup hotels, please click “book now” and choose the desired date and city.
What to expect
We drive east from Jerusalem in the direction of the Dead Sea. On the way we pass the Inn of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) and continue on through the Biblical wilderness of the Judean Desert. We pass Wadi Kelt and can see the 5th century Monastery of Saint George.
We pause at the mark which indicates that we have reached sea level and from there we continue on to Jericho, 258 meters below sea level. This ancient city features in both the New and Old Testament. Joshua led his troops around the city walls until they fell (Joshua 6) and Jesus entered Jericho after his sojourn in the wilderness (Luke 19:1-10). When Jesus entered Jericho, The City of Palms, the tax collector Zachaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see him better and we stop to take a look at this ancient tree.
Jesus spent forty days and forty nights on the nearby Mount Temptation, here the devil tried to turn Jesus away from God but Jesus responded “Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Mathew 4:1-4).
Our journey takes us back towards Jerusalem and the Judean Mountains where we visit Bethlehem, both the home of Jesse, King David’s father and the place where Jesus was born (Mathew 2:1).
From Manger Square we enter through a small door into the Church of the Nativity. The church was built in the 4th century over the grotto where Jesus was born and later in the 6th century the church was reconstructed. In recent times the church has been restored and renovated. Within the church is the Grotto of the Nativity where a star marks the spot where Jesus was born, the Manger and an altar to the three Wise Men. Next we visit the Crusader Church of Saint Catherine and see the underground grotto where Saint Jerome painstakingly translated the Bible from Hebrew to Latin, creating the Vulgate.
We make another stop in Bethlehem at the Milk Grotto where Mary nursed Jesus then we leave Bethlehem and travel to Shepherds Field where an Angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds on Christmas night to tell them of the imminent birth of the savior.
Tour Languages by Day
Pickup Cities and Prices
Additional Notes
- What to bring and wear: Modest dress is required for holy places, a passport, comfortable walking shoes, and water.
- This tour is subject to Palestinian Authority regulations.
- Changes of vehicle required for transfers of pick up / drop off destinations to save time, avoid traffic and delay!
- If you would like to be dropped off at different locations other than the cities listed above, there is an additional payment per person that can be booked online with your ticket reservation.
- Age: 4+
Cancellation Policy
- No refunds will be provided for no-shows or cancellations on the day of travel
- Cancellations are accepted 24 hours or more before tour begins.
- Cancellations will incur a 4% commission fee if booked by credit card or Paypal.
Have any questions about this tour?
FAQ About the Bethlehem & Jericho Day Tour
Can I bring along my luggage on the tour?
Yes, you can bring your luggage with you on the tour for no additional cost, it will be stored in the trunk of the van or bus during the tour.
Please be advised as we do not take any responsibility for any damage or loss of luggage.
It is recommended that you let us know that you are travelling with luggage.
Can I be dropped off in a different city from where I was picked up?
Yes, when booking you can select a different drop-off location when booking, though there maybe an additional fee depending on where you need to be dropped off.
What is the difference between economy and business class tours?
A Economy Class tour will travel as a large group in a luxury tourist bus with up to 50 people.
A Business Class tour will travel as a small group in a luxury tourist van with up to 22 people for an additional fee.
There are no other differences between the tours
Can I get picked up and dropped off at my hotel?
Yes. When booking, you can select the hotel where you will be staying at, for pick-up and drop-off.
If you are not staying at a hotel, you can choose the hotel closest to you on the list provided, when booking.
Which languages does the tour take place in, and how do I choose my tour?
The tours take place in English, French, Spanish and German. Check the tour itinerary, above, to see which days offer your desired language for the tour.
When booking, you can select the language you want, and it will show you on which days it is available.
Will we be visiting the Mount of Temptation?
We will not be visiting the Mount of Temptation, but we will be passing-by it during the tour.
What do I do about food?
The options are:
- You can bring money to buy lunch and snacks during the tour.
- You may bring your own food, but we would recommend that you keep the food in a cooler bag, as it can be very hot on the tour.
Is there a tour discount for children or students?
Yes, for both children under the age of 12, and students (with a valid student card) receive a 10% discount. This is automatically applied when booking.
How long will the half day tour take?
The tour is approximately 5 hours long.
What should I do if I don't receive a confirmation email?
We work hard to make sure that you receive a confirmation e-mail after booking, but on the off-chance, you don’t receive it:
- Please check your Spam or Promotional folder.
- If you still don’t find the email confirmation, there may have been a mistake in your email address. Please double-check by contacting our customer support team at the following number or email.
Telephone: +972-3-542-2000
Email: [email protected]