Bethlehem, Desert Monasteries Tour from Tel Aviv: Biblical Sites

From the birthplace of Jesus to cliff-hanging monasteries in the desert

This eight to eleven hour tour from Tel Aviv covers Bethlehem's major biblical sites and three remote monasteries in the Judean Desert, with a guide through the Old City and vehicle transport to each stop. You visit the Church of the Nativity and its grotto, the Milk Grotto chapel, Shepherds' Field where angels announced Christ's birth, then travel into the desert to Saint Saba Monastery (one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited), Saint George Monastery perched above Wadi Qelt, and Mount of Temptation. A stop at a local olive factory breaks the journey before the afternoon monastery visits.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Church of the Nativity40m
2. Milk Grotto30m
3. Jerichopassing by

Visit Bethlehem and Judean Desert Monasteries

• Visit Shepherds' Field Chapel
• Tour Bethlehem Old City
• See Church of the Nativity
• Visit Milk Grotto Chapel
• Stop at local olive factory
• Visit Saint Saba Monastery
• Visit Saint George Monastery
• Visit Mount of Temptation Monastery

The experience

The day starts with pickup at 7:45 from Tel Aviv (or from Bethlehem if you choose that option) and heads to the Church of the Nativity, the basilica built over the grotto where Christian tradition holds Jesus was born. The guide walks you through Bethlehem's Old City to the Milk Grotto chapel, a Catholic shrine in a cave where pilgrims have come since Byzantine times. From there you reach Shepherds' Field in nearby Beit Sahour, the chapel marking where, according to tradition, angels first announced the birth to shepherds watching their flocks.

The route then turns toward the Judean Desert, passing through an olive wood factory for a short stop before entering the remote monastery sites. Saint Saba Monastery (also called Mar Saba) sits on a cliff overlooking the Kidron Valley halfway between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea. It has been continuously inhabited since around AD 500 and is considered one of the oldest active monasteries in the world. Saint George Monastery clings to the walls of Wadi Qelt, a Greek Orthodox complex that emerged from a cave in the 420s and now houses the relics of Saint George and Saint John of Choziba. Mount of Temptation, the traditional site where the Devil offered Jesus rule over all the kingdoms of the world, completes the desert leg. The guide is with you only in Bethlehem. The monastery visits happen as stops along the route.

Vehicle changes occur during the day as the tour moves between zones. Entry to the Church of the Nativity's Birth Grotto and Saint Jerome's Grotto cannot be guaranteed: access depends on church services, restoration work, queues and available time. The monasteries in the afternoon are not always open even during their official hours. An air-conditioned vehicle and English-speaking guide are included. The tour runs eight to eleven hours depending on crowds and monastery access.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle throughout the tour.
• English-speaking guide in Bethlehem's Old City.
• access to the Church of the Nativity, Milk Grotto chapel, and Shepherds' Field.
• visits to Saint Saba Monastery, Saint George Monastery and Mount of Temptation in the Judean Desert.
• a stop at a local olive wood factory.

Options for this experience

2 options

Pick-up and drop-off in BethlehemGuide in English · 08:15Pick-up and drop-off in Bethlehem: pick-up at 8:15 from the Walled Off Hotel, with return only there after the tour finishes. Starting point: The Walled Off Hotel, Caritas Street 182, Bethlehem

Pick-up and drop-off in JerusalemGuide in English · 07:45David Citadel Hotel pick-up: pick-up and drop-off at the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem only. Starting point: David Citadel Hotel, King David St 7, Jerusalem, 9410119, Israel

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:45 and 08:15

Book up to2d before

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.

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?Choose the Jerusalem or Bethlehem pickup option if you're staying in those cities and want to avoid the longer Tel Aviv departure. The eight to eleven hour span accounts for monastery access that may be limited or unavailable, so book this tour if you're flexible about how much time you spend at each site and want to see the range of biblical locations rather than spend hours at one stop.

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Top questions

What is the Church of the Nativity and why is it significant?

The Church of the Nativity is a basilica in Bethlehem built over a grotto that Christians believe is the birthplace of Jesus. The grotto itself 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. A 14-pointed silver star beneath an altar marks the spot where the birth is said to have occurred.

Can I go down into the grotto beneath the Church of the Nativity?

Entry to the Birth Grotto and Saint Jerome's Grotto is subject to church access, religious services, restoration work, queues and the time available during your tour. Entry to either grotto cannot be guaranteed, so access may be limited or unavailable on your visit.

What are the three monasteries visited in the Judean Desert?

Saint Saba Monastery (Mar Saba) overlooks the Kidron Valley and has been continuously inhabited since around AD 500, making it one of the oldest active monasteries in the world. Saint George Monastery is built into the cliffs of Wadi Qelt and houses the relics of Saint George and Saint John of Choziba. Mount of Temptation is the traditional site where the Devil offered Jesus dominion over all the kingdoms of the world.

Are the monasteries always open when the tour visits them?

The monasteries are usually visited in the afternoon, but they are not always open even during their official opening hours. Access can be limited or unavailable depending on the day and circumstances.

What happens at the Milk Grotto chapel?

The Milk Grotto is a Catholic chapel in a cave in Bethlehem, built in 1872 over a site pilgrims have visited since Byzantine times. Christian tradition says the Holy Family took refuge here during the Massacre of the Innocents before fleeing to Egypt. The chapel contains three different caves and is visited by people seeking healing and answered prayers.

Where does the tour pick up and drop off?

You can choose either Jerusalem pickup and drop-off or Bethlehem pickup and drop-off at checkout. If you select Tel Aviv, pickup is at 7:45 in front of the David Citadel Hotel. Drivers carry your booking name on their phones. Confirm you see your name before boarding. WhatsApp contact is available for easier coordination and to confirm vehicle and driver details early in the morning.