Judean Desert Monasteries Private Tour from Bethlehem

Walk into fourth-century monasteries carved into desert cliffs

A full-day private tour from Bethlehem visiting four monasteries built between the fourth and fifth centuries in the Judean Desert, with an English-speaking guide and hotel pickup. The tour includes Mar Saba Monastery on the Kidron cliffs, St. George's Monastery in Wadi Qelt, the Monastery of the Temptation on Mount Jericho reached by cable car, and St. Gerasimos Monastery. Women cannot enter Mar Saba but will see its panoramic setting. Modest dress and a scarf are required for St. George's.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Judean Desert Monasteries

• Meet guide at Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint
• Drive to Mar Saba Monastery
• View Mar Saba Monastery. Men tour inside
• Drive to St. George’s Monastery in Wadi Qelt
• Walk to St. George’s Monastery
• Drive to Jericho
• Take cable car to Mount of Temptation
• Walk to Monastery of the Temptation
• Visit Monastery of St Gerasimos / Deir Hajla
• Drive back to Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint

The experience

You start at Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint, where your guide meets you for a drive into the Judean Desert. The first stop is Mar Saba Monastery, a fifth-century complex built into the southern cliffs of the Kidron Valley. Men enter the monastery to walk its interior. Women view the site from outside and absorb the scale of the structure perched on the rock face. The guide explains the monastery's founding by Saint Sabas and its centuries of expansion and fortification.

After roughly 40 minutes of driving, you reach St. George's Monastery in Wadi Qelt, a fourth-century site where monks first settled in the desert. The route passes St. Theodosius' Monastery, where tradition holds the wise men hid after visiting the infant Jesus in Bethlehem, and al-Eizariya, believed to be Lazarus' village of Bethany. You walk a short distance down Qelt Valley to the monastery entrance. The site is also connected to the Prophet Elijah, who was fed by ravens here according to Christian tradition.

The tour then drives to Jericho, described as the lowest and oldest city on earth. You take a cable car up Mount of Temptation and walk to the Monastery of the Temptation, where Jesus was tempted by the devil and spent forty days fasting and meditating in a cave. From the cable car, you see the ancient Jericho archaeological site spread below. Before returning to Bethlehem, you visit St. Gerasimos Monastery, founded in 455 AD, where an underground chapel marks the spot where tradition says the Holy Family sheltered during their flight from Herod. The drive back to Bethlehem takes about an hour.

What’s included

• Pickup from Bethlehem 300 Checkpoint or your hotel in Bethlehem.
• private English-speaking guide for the full day.
• air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers between sites.
• visits to four monasteries in the Judean Desert.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Wednesday and FridayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Michael Tours

Is this one for you?The tour involves moderate walking and a full day away from Bethlehem, so plan for seven to eight hours of travel and exploration. The cable car ride and short walks to the monasteries are manageable for most visitors, though the itinerary is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health.

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Top questions

Can women visit all the monasteries on this tour?

Women cannot enter Mar Saba Monastery but will see its dramatic clifftop setting from outside. St. George's Monastery welcomes women who dress modestly and bring a scarf. All other sites on the tour are open to everyone.

What is Mar Saba Monastery and why is it built on a cliff?

Mar Saba Monastery dates to the fifth century and was founded by Saint Sabas. It sits on the southern cliffs of the Kidron Valley and has been expanded and fortified over centuries. The clifftop location was chosen by early monks seeking isolation in the desert.

Do I need to pay extra for the cable car to Mount of Temptation?

The cable car fee to Mount of Temptation is not included in the tour price and you pay it separately when you reach Jericho.

How much walking is involved in this tour?

Walking is moderate. You walk a short distance down Qelt Valley to reach St. George's Monastery and walk to the Monastery of the Temptation after the cable car. Most travel between sites is by air-conditioned vehicle. The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included. The tour provides bottled water, and you'll have time in Jericho to purchase food if needed.

What is the Monastery of the Temptation and what happens there?

The Monastery of the Temptation sits on Mount Jericho and contains a cave where Jesus is believed to have fasted and meditated for forty days and nights. The site marks the location of Jesus's temptation by the devil, as described in the Gospel of Matthew.