Private Day Tour: Jericho, Mount of Temptation, Hisham's Palace and Bethlehem | La Vacanza Travel

Private Day Tour: Jericho, Mount of Temptation, Hisham's Palace and Bethlehem

Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Destination: Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Bethlehem
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Check Availability

  • 7 to 8 hours
  • Bethlehem
  • E-Voucher
  • Lowest Price
  • Not-Cancellable

Overview

Enjoy a comprehensive overview of historic Jericho and Bethlehem. You'll visit religious monuments, including an overview of St. George's Monastery, visit to Mount of Temptation Monastery, ancient Jericho the oldest city in the world, Hisham's Palace, the Church of the Nativity, the Church of St. Catherine, the Milk Grotto Shrine, the Cave of St. Jerome, and Shepherd's Field, where the angel appeared to the shepherds and see some of Banksy's graffiti art.

Greet your private guide-cum-driver at 8am your Bethlehem hotel or the Bethlehem side of Checkpoint 300 if coming from Jerusalem: Checkpoint 300 is about 30 minutes from Damascus Gate by bus.

Relax in air-conditioned comfort as you drive for around 45 minutes to Jericho. Along the way, you'll pass by various religious sites: St. Theodosius' Monastery, where some believe the wise men hid from Herod the Great after they visited the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, and al-Eizariya, which many believe to be Lazarus' Bethany village.

Enjoy a panorama view St. George Monastery is believed to be the site where the Prophet Elijah hided from Queen Jezebel and was fed by ravens. before driving a few minutes towards Jericho to Mount of Temptation.

In Jericho, take the cable car and overview ancient Jericho that dates back to 10,000 years BC. Walk to Mount of Temptation, the place where Jesus was tempted by the Satan while he was fasting for 40 days in the desert. The Monastery dates back to the Byzantine period, the current building dates back to 1892 AD. There you will have a nice panorama view looking over Jericho.

Next you will visit Hisham's Palace, this is a spot not to be missed. The sprawling winter hunting retreat of Caliph Hisham Ibn Abd al Malik must have been magnificent on its creation in the 8th century, with its baths, mosaic floors and pillars – so much so that archaeologists have labelled it the ‘Versailles of the Middle East’.

Your next stop is Beit Sahour, considered the city of the shepherds. Visit the Shepherd's Field, where the angel appeared to the shepherds and told them about Jesus' birth, then drive to a local restaurant for a classic falafel lunch.

From here it's not far to Bethlehem proper, where you'll start at the famous Church of the Nativity,  a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's built on the spot where many believe Jesus was born: it's the world's oldest church in regular daily use. You'll also visit the Cave of St. Jerome, below the church, where many believe he translated the bible.

Finally, you'll visit the Church of St. Catherine and the Milk Grotto shrine, and see Banksy's graffiti pieces, before you drive back either to Checkpoint 300 or your Bethlehem hotel, where your tour will finish at 4pm.

Inclusions
  • Private tour
  • Pickup from Checkpoint 300 or Bethlehem hotel
  • Drop-off at Checkpoint 300 or Bethlehem hotel
  • Air-conditioned vehicle

Exclusions
  • Gratuities
  • Cable Car to Mount of Temptation in Jericho
  • Lunch
  • Entrance Fees
  • Public transportation to the meeting point and back to your hotel
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
  • Stroller accessible
  • Walking is involved
  • Dress code is smart casual
  • Near public transportation
  • Most travelers can participate
  • A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Departure Point

Checkpoint 300/Bethlehem Road, Jerusalem


Return Details

Returns to original departure point

Voucher info

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

Duration

7 to 8 hours


User's Reviews

elliottl144

06 Jun, 2023

Michael was both a terrific guide and an engaging person. He gave us exactly what we wanted, which was an in-depth exploration of the history and ethnology of this ancient hub of religions and civilizations. He also adapted the tour to us specifically: We had no desire to float in the Dead Sea, so he showed us St. Gerassimus' Monastery instead. He skillfully worked around the tour groups (which tend to obstruct individual visitors because of their numbers), giving us a full and intimate experience of each site. We recommend Michael's Tours without hesitation!

Diane B

13 May, 2023

Our tour with Michael was absolutely perfect! I can't recommend him enough! His communication with us prior to the start of the tour was effective, reassuring, and timely. During the tour itself he showed that he was very knowledgeable about the area and history of the sites we were visiting, providing many details that were new to us. It was so nice to have a private guide as we were able to spend our time where we chose and he helped us avoid the huge tour bus crowds - giving us "fast pass" access!

lourdesd119

06 May, 2023

Michael gave us the best experience for our tour. The bible came alive with his explanations and stories. He made sure that we were comfortable during the entire tour and he had such a very positive personality. I highly recommend Michael Tours to everyone. He exceeded our expectations. A 6 * ratings from me. Thank you so much Michael! God bless you. Maria

vlawlaw

04 Apr, 2023

We had a wonderful time and Michael is very thoughtful in planning the details. We couldn’t find breakfast early in the morning and Michael drove us to the most delicious bakery in town. I definitely recommend him.

I1000RWandreasm

24 Feb, 2023

We had a wonderful day with Michael and an excellent tour in Jericho, Bethlehem and at Dead Sea. We wanted to see some more places so we asked prior to booking for customizing the tour, It was very easy to customize it. He meet us at checkpoint 300 and he drove us to all sites we wanted to see as planned. We enjoyed eating lunch with him. Michael is an amazing tour guide with excellent knowledge of the historical, religious and geo-political stuff. I highly recommend Michael as a tour guide in Palastine

User's Picture Gallery

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The Best!

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Amazing! If we could give a higher review we would

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A safe and enriching tour through Palestine

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Palestine history and adventure

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A must if in Israel.

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I strongly recommend this tour!!

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West Bank Private tour

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An EXCELLENT Day in the West Bank with Michael

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