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Private Tours in Israel

Private Bethlehem and Jericho Tour

Full day
Pickup: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Netanya
4.4/5 company rating on TourRadar

DurationFull day
Starts08:30 AM, hotel pickup
GuideEnglish
Group sizeUp to 10 travelers
CancellationFree cancellation up to 48 hours before the start time.

Overview

Two of the most storied towns in the Bible, one quiet private day. This private bethlehem and jericho tour takes your group from your hotel through the Judean Desert to Jericho, often called the oldest city in the world, and then to Bethlehem, the city of the Nativity, with your own licensed guide and air-conditioned car.

On this private Bethlehem and Jericho tour, the desert road passes the Inn of the Good Samaritan and look down on the cliff-hanging Monastery of St. George in Wadi Kelt. In Jericho you see the ancient mound of Tel es-Sultan, Elisha's Spring, the Mount of Temptation and the sycamore tree linked to Zacchaeus. In Bethlehem you visit Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity, the Church of St. Catherine and Shepherds' Field.

A private Bethlehem and Jericho tour suits pilgrims, Bible study groups and curious travelers who want to read the stories in the places they happened. Your guide sets a calm pace, gives you time to pray, and adapts the order of the day to crowds and weather.

Allow about 10 hours door to door. A valid passport is required for both towns. English is standard, other languages on request. Prefer a shared group? See the Bethlehem and Jericho tour. To add Jerusalem instead of Jericho, book the private Jerusalem and Bethlehem tour, or see our Bethlehem day tour.

Highlights

Your own licensed guide and private air-conditioned car
Hotel pickup in Tel Aviv, Herzliya or Jerusalem with a flexible start
Desert views of the Inn of the Good Samaritan and St. George's Monastery
Tel es-Sultan, one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites on Earth
Elisha's Spring and the Mount of Temptation
The sycamore tree of Zacchaeus in Jericho
The Church of the Nativity and the Grotto of the Nativity
The Church of St. Catherine and Shepherds' Field

Itinerary & route

Loading route map…

Numbers match the itinerary below. Solid lines are walking legs, dashed lines are drives. Map is for orientation only.

1

08:30 AMPrivate pickup
Your guide and driver meet you at your hotel or private address in the Tel Aviv area. Pickup in Herzliya or Jerusalem can also be arranged. Keep your passport with you for the day.
2

09:45 AMInn of the Good Samaritan
On the old road from Jerusalem to Jericho, stop near the Inn of the Good Samaritan, the setting of one of the best-known parables of Jesus, with a small mosaic museum nearby.
3

10:15 AMWadi Kelt and St. George's Monastery
Look down into the Wadi Kelt canyon at the Monastery of St. George, clinging to the cliff since the 5th century. It is one of the most photographed views in the Judean Desert.
4

11:00 AMTel es-Sultan, ancient Jericho
Walk up the mound of Tel es-Sultan, where archaeologists found a stone tower over 10,000 years old. This is the Jericho of Joshua's story, and from the top you see the green oasis spread toward the Jordan Valley. The baptism site nearby features on our Jericho and Jordan River tour.
5

11:45 AMElisha's Spring and the Mount of Temptation
See Elisha Spring, the spring the prophet is said to have healed, and look up at the Mount of Temptation, where tradition places the temptation of Jesus by the devil. A Greek Orthodox monastery hangs on its cliff face.
6

12:30 PMZacchaeus sycamore and lunch
See the old sycamore tree linked to Zacchaeus, the tax collector who climbed a tree to see Jesus. Then break for lunch in Jericho at a place your guide recommends.
7

02:15 PMManger Square and the Church of the Nativity
Drive to Bethlehem and enter the UNESCO-listed Church of the Nativity from Manger Square. In the grotto below, a silver star marks the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Your guide times the visit to keep the line short.
8

03:15 PMChurch of St. Catherine
Visit the Church of St. Catherine next door, where the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass is broadcast worldwide, and the grottoes where St. Jerome worked on the Latin Bible.
9

04:00 PMShepherds' Field
End at Shepherds Field in Beit Sahour, where tradition says angels announced the birth of Jesus. See more of Bethlehem on the Bethlehem day tour.
10

05:00 PMReturn to your hotel
Drive back to Jerusalem or the Tel Aviv area for drop-off at your door, usually between 17:30 and 18:30.

What's included

Included

Private hotel pickup and drop-off in Tel Aviv, Herzliya or Jerusalem
Private air-conditioned vehicle for your group only
Private licensed English-speaking guide
Church visits in Bethlehem (free entry)
Flexible start time and route

Not included

Entrance fee to Tel es-Sultan and the optional Mount of Temptation cable car
Lunch and drinks
Tips for the guide and driver
Personal expenses and travel insurance

Pickup & meeting point

Tel AvivNo pickup fee
JerusalemNo pickup fee
NetanyaNo pickup fee

You choose your pickup city when you book. We confirm the exact pickup time and place by email or WhatsApp the day before the tour.

Tour ends with: Return to your hotel

Know before you go

Pickup and Start Time

Pickup is from your hotel or private address in the Tel Aviv area at around 08:30. Pickup from Herzliya or Jerusalem can also be arranged. Because the tour is private, you can ask for an earlier or later start when you book, and we confirm the exact pickup time the day before.

What to Bring

Comfortable closed walking shoes
Hat, sunscreen and a refillable water bottle
Camera or phone with a charged battery
Valid passport (required for Bethlehem and Jericho)

Dress Code

Shoulders and knees must be covered at the churches in Bethlehem. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed inside holy sites. A light scarf or shawl is handy.

Physical Requirements

Expect 2 to 3 hours of walking, including dusty paths and some slopes at Tel es-Sultan and steps into the grottoes in Bethlehem. Jericho is one of the hottest places in Israel, so drink plenty of water.

Age and Children

All ages are welcome. Every guest, including children, needs a valid passport. Child seats are available on request.

Language

The tour is guided in English. Spanish, French, German and Russian guides are available on request for a supplement. Please ask before booking.

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the start time. Cancelling between 48 and 24 hours before the tour carries a 25% fee. Cancelling within 24 hours of the start time, or not showing up, carries a 100% fee.

Cancellation policy

When you cancel	Cancellation fee
48+ hours before the start time	Free cancellation
24 to 47 hours before	25% fee
Less than 24 hours before, or no-show	100% fee (no refund)

Need to change your date instead? Message us before the tour and we will do our best to move your booking. If we cancel or materially change a tour, you can choose an alternative date, a credit or a refund. Read the booking terms.

Frequently asked questions

How is the price of the private Bethlehem and Jericho tour calculated?

This is a private tour, so you pay one total price for your whole group, not a price per seat. The price steps up with group size because a bigger group needs a bigger vehicle: 1 to 3 guests, 4 to 6 guests and 7 to 10 guests each have their own group price. Choose your number of guests in the booking form and it shows the exact total for your group before you pay. The maximum group size is 10 guests. For larger groups, message us and we will build a custom quote.

Do I need a passport for Bethlehem and Jericho?

Yes. Both towns are in the West Bank, and every guest must carry a valid passport for the checkpoints. Your guide team handles the crossing logistics. For current travel advice, see the official Israel tourism site.

How long is the tour?

About 10 hours from pickup to drop-off, including the drive through the desert past the Inn of the Good Samaritan. You can ask for an earlier start or a different order of sites when you book.

Is the Mount of Temptation cable car included?

The standard plan views the Mount of Temptation from below. If you want to ride the cable car up to the monastery, tell your guide, and it can be added on the day for an extra ticket if time allows.

What should I wear?

Cover shoulders and knees for the churches in Bethlehem, and wear comfortable shoes with good grip for the dusty paths at Tel es-Sultan. Jericho is hot most of the year, so bring a hat and plenty of water. The Custody of the Holy Land shares dress guidance for the holy sites.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. The day mixes short walks with drives, and your guide adds breaks when needed. Children also need a passport for the checkpoints. Child seats are available on request. Families who prefer more city time can choose the private Jerusalem and Bethlehem tour.

Which languages can the guide speak?

English is included as standard. A private guide in Spanish, French, German or Russian can usually be arranged on request for a supplement. Please message us before booking so we can confirm a guide for your date. Guides are licensed by the Israel Ministry of Tourism.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included. Jericho has good local restaurants, and your guide will suggest one that fits your group. Traveling solo on a budget? The shared Bethlehem and Jericho tour is a good alternative.

Can we add the Jordan River baptism site?

The route can be customized. For a day with the baptism site at Qasr al-Yahud, see our Jericho, Jordan River and Dead Sea tour, or ask us to adapt this private day.

What is the cancellation policy?

Why book with Booking-Tours

Local operator in Eilat since 2008Our own office and team on the ground, not a call center abroad.
Licensed local guidesSmall details, good pacing and real stories at every stop.
Real people on WhatsAppHelp in English, Russian and Hebrew before and during your trip.
Secure online paymentPay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay through Stripe.