Jerusalem & Bethlehem from Ashdod: Private cruise tour

A day through Bethlehem's Nativity church, Jerusalem's Old City, and the Wailing Wall

A private tour from Ashdod port to Jerusalem and Bethlehem with a live guide in English or French, including air-conditioned transport and hotel or port pickup. The itinerary covers the Church of the Nativity in Manger Square, the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock, the Christian Quarter, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Jewish Quarter, and the Wailing Wall, ending with lunch in the Old City before return to port.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Church of the Nativity1h
2. Old City of Jerusalem4h

Jerusalem and Bethlehem private tour

• Drive to Bethlehem
• Visit Manger Square and Church of the Nativity
• Visit Calvary and Jesus' tomb
• Enjoy view of Temple Mount
• Enter Old City of Jerusalem
• Visit Christian Quarter and Via Dolorosa
• Visit Church of the Holy Sepulcher
• Explore oriental bazaars and Cardo street
• Visit Jewish Quarter and Wailing Wall
• Lunch in Old City
• Return to Ashdod port

The experience

The tour leaves Ashdod port with pickup included and drives to Bethlehem first, where you visit Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. From there the route heads into Jerusalem to see the Temple Mount framed by the Dome of the Rock and the El Aqsa Mosque: the view the itinerary calls one of the most photogenic scenes in the city. An air-conditioned vehicle carries the group through each stop, and your guide speaks English or French throughout the day.

Once in Jerusalem's Old City, you walk the Christian Quarter and the Via Dolorosa to reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Calvary and Jesus' tomb are located. The route then moves through the oriental bazaars and along the Cardo, the reconstructed main street of Byzantine Jerusalem. You visit the restored Jewish Quarter and finish at the Wailing Wall, Judaism's holiest site. Lunch in the Old City is included before the drive back to Ashdod port.

Because this is a private tour, the schedule is yours to shape. The nine-and-a-half-hour span gives you time at each major site without the pace of a shared group, and the guide can adjust stops based on your interests, whether that means lingering at a particular church, spending more time in the bazaars, or moving through certain sections faster.

What’s included

• Air-conditioned vehicle.
• pickup from Ashdod port or hotel.
• live guide in English or French.
• entry to the Church of the Nativity, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and access to the Old City sites including the Wailing Wall.
• lunch in the Old City.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Ron Lev Israel Private Customized Tours

Is this one for you?Pickup from Ashdod port is included, so you don't need to arrange transport or navigate to Jerusalem on your own. The guide handles the route and timing. The private format means you set the pace and can linger at any site that matters most to you, rather than moving with a larger group schedule.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Church of the Nativity and why is it the first stop?

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem marks the traditional birthplace of Jesus and stands in Manger Square. It is the opening stop on the route because Bethlehem lies between Ashdod and Jerusalem, making it a natural first destination before heading into the city proper.

What can I see at the Temple Mount?

From a viewing point, you see the Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the El Aqsa Mosque. The itinerary notes this as one of Jerusalem's most photogenic views, though the tour does not include entry to the Mount itself. The vantage point is from outside the Old City walls.

What does the Old City route include?

The Old City walk covers the Christian Quarter, the Via Dolorosa (the traditional path Jesus took to his crucifixion), the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the oriental bazaars, the Cardo (the reconstructed Byzantine main street), the Jewish Quarter, and the Wailing Wall. Lunch in the Old City is part of the day.

How long does the entire tour take?

The tour runs nine and a half hours from pickup at Ashdod port to return, covering both Bethlehem and Jerusalem with stops at each major site.

Can I book this tour if I'm staying in the port area?

Yes, pickup is included from Ashdod port or your hotel. The private format means the guide will arrange collection at your location before heading to Bethlehem.