Bethlehem & Jericho Day Trip from Tel Aviv with Church Entry

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Duration11h

GroupUp to 40

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Biblical Sites from Tel Aviv: Jericho, Bethlehem & the Jordan River

You get hotel pickup, a professional guide who knows the sites inside out, and entry to the Church of the Nativity, Jericho's ancient landmarks, and the Jordan River baptismal location. The drive through the Judean Desert frames everything. Dress code applies (shoulders and knees covered), and you'll need a valid passport. Plan for a full day out — that's what fits all three major sites in.

11h

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Jericho, Bethlehem, and Qasr El Yahud

Pass through the Judean Desert
Visit the ancient city of Jericho
Visit Zacchaeus' Tree in Jericho
Spot the Mount of Temptation
Visit Bethlehem
Visit the Church of Nativity
Pass by the Church of St. Catherine
Visit Qasr al-Yehud baptismal site

The Experience

"Wait, you're saying the tree is actually still there?" Yeah, Zacchaeus' Tree in Jericho is real — or at least real enough that it's been standing in the same spot for centuries, and your guide will walk you right up to it. The day starts early with hotel pickup from Tel Aviv, then you're driving through the Judean Desert toward Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth, and honestly the landscape alone makes you understand why these places mattered so much. You'll see Mount of Temptation rising up, visit the ancient sites scattered through the city, and then move on to Bethlehem where the whole rhythm changes — you'll be met by a Palestinian guide at the border, and the vehicle might switch, which is just how it works there.

The Church of the Nativity is the centerpiece, and it's exactly as heavy as you'd expect — the Grotto underneath is where the tradition says Jesus was born, though fair warning: when visitor numbers are high, access down to the cave isn't guaranteed, so you might only see the church itself. You'll also pass the Church of St. Catherine nearby and stop at Shepherds' Field, which is quieter and lets you actually think for a minute. The whole Bethlehem & Jericho day trip from Tel Aviv is structured so you're not rushing between stops — there's time to absorb each place, and your guide fills in the history as you go.

Qasr al-Yehud is the last major stop, about 15 kilometers from Jericho toward the Dead Sea — it's the baptismal site on the Jordan River where John is believed to have baptized Jesus. It's a smaller, more contemplative space than the big churches, and the fact that it's right on the water gives it a different feeling entirely. By the time you're heading back to Tel Aviv in the late afternoon, you've covered roughly two thousand years of Christian history in one day, which sounds exhausting but somehow doesn't feel that way when you're actually there.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off from Tel Aviv, a professional guide fluent in the sites' history, entrance fees to the Church of the Nativity and all major attractions, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle through the Judean Desert, stops at Zacchaeus' Tree and Mount of Temptation in Jericho, the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem (subject to visitor capacity), Shepherds' Field, and Qasr al-Yehud on the Jordan River, where John is believed to have baptized Jesus. A Palestinian guide will meet you at the border when entering Bethlehem.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Bein Harim Ltd

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Tel Aviv who want to see Christianity's foundational sites without arranging transport, border crossings, or entry logistics themselves. Expect a full day out and a valid passport — that's what makes visiting three major biblical locations in one trip possible.