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

5.0
(2 reviews)

8 to 11 hours (approximately)
Offered in: English

The Tour of the Monasteries is one of the most informative and history intensive tours we have. in addition to the visit to Bethlehem Old City, This tour is one of our new tours that covers most historical places in the Judean Desert. We recommend this tour for you if you prefer learning more about the history and see archeological sights.
We will Cover the most important biblical sites in Bethlehem City and the neighboring city Beit Sahour. Our tour will cover a guided tour to the Chapel of the Shepherd's field. Then we will continue to visit the old city of Bethlehem where lies the Church of the nativity, the place where Jesus Christ was born. Then we will visit the Church of the Milk Grotto. A short but refreshing stop at a local olive factory is provided before we continue our tour through the Judean Desert to go visit Saint Saba Monastery, Saint George Monastery and Mount of Temptation Monastery.
All times are approximate, Switch of vehicles are Required

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Tour Guide in Bethlehem City Only
A visit down to the Nativity Cave isn't always available
Monasteries We usually visit in afternoon , not always open even during opening hours
Cable Car 60 NIS Each

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point
You can choose from multiple locations at checkout.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Duration: 8 to 11 hours (approximately)
  • 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 Admission ticket free
  • 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 Admission ticket free
  • 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.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • 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 Admission ticket free
  • 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."

    5 hours Admission ticket free
  • 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.

    1 hour Admission ticket free
  • Blessings Gift Shop and The Olive Wood Factory (Pass by)

    Pass By Blessings Gift Shop and Olive Wood Factory.

    Admission ticket free
  • 7
    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 Admission ticket free
  • Cave of St. Jerome (Pass by)

    "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."

    Admission ticket free
  • Tomb of Rachel (Kever Rachel) (Pass by)

    "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."

    Admission ticket free
  • Tel es-Sultan (Pass by)

    "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."

    Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • 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
Supplied by Elijah Tours & Travel

Tags

Day Trips
Full-day Tours
Bus Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Car Tours
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

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

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Rating

5.0 Based on 2 2 reviews
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