Bethlehem and Dead Sea tour from Jerusalem: Float the salt waters

You float in the Dead Sea's salt water instead of sinking, and the mud coats your skin.

A guided tour from Jerusalem visits Bethlehem's biblical sites (the Church of the Nativity, Shepherds Field, Milk Grotto and an olive wood factory), then drives through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea for two hours of bathing and floating. Transport by air-conditioned vehicle, a live English-speaking guide for Bethlehem, and hotel pickup from David Citadel Hotel are included. The Dead Sea entry fee and food are separate. Bring your passport for checkpoint passage. The tour runs 8 to 11 hours depending on crowds and vehicle changes en route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bethlehem15m
2. Milk Grotto15m
3. Church of the Nativity1h
4. Dead Sea2h

Bethlehem and Dead Sea tour

• Visit Shepherds Field
• Visit St. Catherine Church
• Visit Milk Grotto
• Visit Nativity Church
• Visit Olive Wood Factory and Store
• Drive to Dead Sea
• Bathe and float in Dead Sea
• Return to Jerusalem

The experience

The day starts at 7:45am with pickup from David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem. A guide leads you through Bethlehem's main sites: the Shepherds Field, where the chapel marks the spot tradition holds as the announcement to the shepherds. St. Catherine Church adjacent to the Nativity basilica; the Milk Grotto, a Catholic chapel carved into the rock; and the Church of the Nativity itself, built over the grotto Christians believe is Jesus's birthplace. The waiting lines to see the birth grotto can stretch 1–2 hours during high season, and access is sometimes closed for services on Sundays and holidays. You'll spend roughly 3–4 hours in Bethlehem, including a 25-minute stop at an olive wood factory and store where there's no pressure to buy.

After Bethlehem, you return to Jerusalem and switch vehicles for the drive north through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea. The route itself crosses terrain few day visitors see from a car. At Niv Medbar Beach on the Dead Sea, you have about two hours to immerse yourself in the mineral-heavy water (the salt content makes floating effortless), and coat yourself in the therapeutic mud. The driver waits. No guide accompanies this part.

The return journey heads back toward Jerusalem, with drop-off at David Citadel Hotel. All times are approximate because checkpoint passages and crowds shift the schedule. You'll need your passport for the West Bank crossing. After booking, add the operator on WhatsApp to confirm your vehicle type and driver name the morning of the tour.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle transport from Jerusalem.
• hotel pickup and return to David Citadel Hotel at 7:45am.
• live English-speaking guide for all Bethlehem sites including the Church of the Nativity, Shepherds Field, Milk Grotto, St. Catherine Church and the olive wood factory.
• approximately two hours at the Dead Sea for bathing and floating.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:45

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (2 to 17 years) · Infant (under 2)

GroupUp to 55

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 14.52

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Elijah Tours & Travel

Is this one for you?The 8–11 hour commitment means you leave early and return mid-afternoon, which works if your Jerusalem schedule has a full day free but rules out a leisurely morning or evening plans. The fixed itinerary and guide handle all the logistics of moving between sites and navigating checkpoints, so you're not organizing transport or timing yourself. You follow the group's pace through each stop.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 17 years); Infant (under 2).

What exactly is the Church of the Nativity and why do Christians visit it?

The Church of the Nativity is a basilica built over a grotto in Bethlehem that Christian tradition holds as the birthplace of Jesus. The grotto itself sits beneath the main church floor, and seeing it is the central reason most pilgrims come to Bethlehem, though access is sometimes closed during services.

Can I actually float in the Dead Sea, or is that just marketing?

You float because the Dead Sea's salt concentration is so high (about 34% salinity, roughly 10 times saltier than the ocean) that your body naturally stays on the surface. The mud at the bottom is also mineral-rich and people coat their skin with it during the two hours you spend there.

How long does this tour take from start to finish?

The tour runs 8 to 11 hours total, depending on checkpoint wait times, crowds at the Church of the Nativity, and vehicle changes. Bethlehem itself takes roughly 3–4 hours, and you have about two hours at the Dead Sea.

Do I need to bring anything special or know anything before I book?

Bring your passport because you'll pass through West Bank checkpoints. The Dead Sea entry fee (45 NIS per person) and any food or drinks are not included in the tour price. Wear swimwear under your clothes if you plan to bathe, and bring a towel.

What happens if I want to see the grotto beneath the Church of the Nativity but can't on this tour?

The grotto access is not guaranteed on group tours because it closes randomly when masses are booked, and waiting lines can reach 1–2 hours during peak season. If seeing the grotto is essential to your trip, the operator recommends booking a private tour instead.

Is there a guide the whole time, or just in Bethlehem?

A live English-speaking guide leads you through all the Bethlehem sites: the Shepherds Field, churches, and Milk Grotto. At the Dead Sea, the driver accompanies you but no guide is present. You're free to swim and float on your own.