Bethlehem and Jericho Private Tour

After being picked up at your hotel take a drive through the Judean Hills and stop at the Chapel of the Shepherds’ Field, also called the Sanctuary of Gloria in Excelsis Deo. This Roman Catholic church marks the place where shepherds watched their flocks on the first Christmas Eve and the angels appeared before the shepherds to announce the birth of Christ. The church was designed by renowned architect Antonio Barluzzi and is shaped like a shepherd’s tent. The glass dome lets in light that reflects off the chapel’s brilliant murals.

Continue to Bethlehem and Manger Square, where the city’s annual Christmas mass is held. Flanking the square are the Church of the Nativity, Saint Catherine’s Church, the Mosque of Omar, and the Peace Center. Located in the center of Bethlehem the square once served as the town’s marketplace, but today it is the heart of Christianity in Bethlehem. 

Visit the Church of Nativity, an ornate basilica built in the 4th century on the traditional site of Christ’s birth. The church has been renovated several times over the last 1700 years, but you can still see part of the original mosaic floor and several elements from earlier periods in history. The massive church covers 1275m² and holds beautiful altar screens and religious artifacts. But the most important part of the church is the Holy Grotto or the Grotto of the Nativity.

Visit the Grotto of Nativity, and see where Jesus is believed to have been born. The grotto leads to an underground tunnel that connects to a series of other caves. Some of the caves run beneath the adjacent Saint Catherine’s Church, including a 5th-century two-room cave known as Saint Jerome’s Sanctuary. This is where Saint Jerome is believed to have sat as he painstakingly translated biblical texts from Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek into Latin. 

We leave Bethlehem and drive south to Jericho passing the Inn of the Good Samaritan where Jesus set his famous parabel. As we descend through the desert mountains, we stop for a photo at the sea elevation marker. This sign tells us that we are now continuing our journey below sea level, towards the lowest point on Earth. After a break for lunch, we arrived at the famous sycamore tree in Jericho. The Bible tells us that Zacchaeus, a short tax collector, climbed the tree to see Jesus. Jesus then called him down and visited his home, prompting Zacchaeus to change his ways and give to the poor. 

Our next stop is at Tel Jericho (Tell es-Sultan), an archaeological mound that holds immense historical significance. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of human occupation dating back over 10,000 years. They have excavated ancient fortifications, early agricultural tools, and pottery. Perhaps the most important discovery is an 8-meter-high Neolithic tower. From here we make our way back to your hotel.

Note that while it was compiled by our experts, this itinerary is just one suggestion; you can customize your tour and see much more of the area: See Herod's Palace in Jericho, go to the Qasr al-Yahud baptismal site, visit the Mount of Temptation with a cable car and more (see FAQ section for details).