Nazareth and Sea of Galilee tour: Biblical sites with guide

Walk the biblical sites where Jesus lived and taught

A full-day guided tour of Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee with pickup included, visiting the Basilica of the Annunciation, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum and the baptism site at the Jordan. The guide speaks English or Hebrew. The itinerary covers eight to ten hours including travel time between stops, and groups run up to 30 people.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour Nazareth and Sea of Galilee

• Drive through Nazareth city
• Visit Basilica of the Annunciation
• Optional visit to St Joseph's church
• Optional stop at Cana of the Galilee
• Visit Mount of Beatitudes
• Visit at least one church in Tabgha
• Visit Capernaum site
• Visit Jordan River baptism site

The experience

You start with pickup from your hotel and travel to Nazareth, the city where Jesus spent his childhood and young adulthood according to the New Testament. The Basilica of the Annunciation stands on the site where the angel Gabriel is believed to have announced to Mary that she would bear Jesus. If time allows, you also visit the Church of St. Joseph, traditionally held to be the house where Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived. Driving through the modern city itself, you see how Nazareth today is an Israeli city with a Christian and Muslim majority.

From Nazareth you head to the Sea of Galilee, stopping at several sites tied to Jesus's ministry. The Mount of Beatitudes is where he delivered the Sermon on the Mount. The church there, built in 1936–1938, is octagonal in shape to represent the eight verses beginning with "blessed" from that sermon, and its windows are inscribed with those verses. In Tabgha, you visit at least one of two churches: the Multiplication Church, marking where Jesus fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish, or the Church of St. Peter, believed to mark his reinstatement of Peter as chief apostle. Capernaum, where Jesus made his center of activity and where several apostles lived, sits on the northern shore. The tour ends at the baptism site where the Jordan flows out of the Sea of Galilee toward the Dead Sea. The site has a souvenir shop with Dead Sea products and religious items if you want to browse before heading back.

The vehicle is air-conditioned and has WiFi on board. A minimum of six participants is required for the tour to run, and groups can be up to 30 people. Travel time between sites is built into the eight to ten hour total, so you're not waiting around between stops.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi on board.
• English or Hebrew-speaking guide.
• entry to the Basilica of the Annunciation and the other biblical sites visited.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

GroupUp to 90

Live guideEnglish and Hebrew

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by GIl Hagbi

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour, so you travel with up to 30 other people and follow a fixed itinerary. It suits someone visiting the Galilee for the first time who wants the major biblical sites covered in a single day without arranging their own transport or guide.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Hebrew.

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 Basilica of the Annunciation and why is it important?

The Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth stands on the site where Christian tradition holds that the angel Gabriel announced to Mary she would bear Jesus. It is the primary stop on this tour and one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in the Holy Land.

Can I be baptized at the Jordan site on this tour?

The tour stops at the baptism site on the Jordan River where it flows from the Sea of Galilee. The site is set up for baptisms, though you would need to arrange this separately. The tour itself includes the visit and time to explore the location.

How much of the day is spent driving versus at the actual sites?

The eight to ten hour total duration includes all travel time between attractions. The itinerary covers multiple sites across the Galilee region, so driving connects them, but the major stops (the Basilica, Mount of Beatitudes, the churches at Tabgha and Capernaum) are where you spend the substantial time.

Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?

This is a shared group tour with a maximum of 30 people per departure. A minimum of six participants is required for the tour to operate, so group size varies by date.

Are meals included in the tour price?

Food and drinks are not included. You'll need to arrange your own lunch during the day. The tour does include pickup, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle and WiFi on board.