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Jerusalem & Bethlehem Day Tour - From Jerusalem

Jerusalem & Bethlehem Day Tour - From Jerusalem
Jerusalem & Bethlehem Day Tour - From Jerusalem

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This tour takes you to the most sacred Christian destinations in the world – Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Experience Bethlehem, the birth town of Jesus See world famous classical landmarks of Jerusalem, the City of Gold

About this activity
  • Printed or mobile voucher
  • Rapid confirmation
  • Live guide
  • Pick-up service
  • Secure Payments

Hilights & Itinerary
Tour Description: 
 
Our day begins at the Mount of Olives with a breathtaking panoramic view over Jerusalem then we continue on to the Byzantine Cardo, an ancient main road which runs through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. We take a look at the Wailing Wall (Kotel) and then follow the sacred route Jesus took carrying his cross along the Way of Sorrows (Via Dolorosa). We stop as several of the Stations of the Cross and reach the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre where Jesus was crucified and where his burial tomb is located. We take a stroll through the bazaars of the Christian and Moslem Quarters and then depart Jerusalem and make our way to Bethlehem. 
In Bethlehem, our main focus is the Church of the Nativity where Jesus was born.
Our journey begins at the Mount of Olives overlooking the ancient Jewish cemetery where it is believed that the resurrection will begin when the Messiah comes (Zech 14:4). From this elevated location we can see across the Old City and down to Temple Mount where the Holy Jewish Temple once stood. We continue on towards the Zion Gate by driving passed the Garden of Gethsemane, the Church of All Nations and the Kidron Valley where we see the Jewish burial tombs of Absalom, King David's son; Jehoshaphat and the Hezir family (benei Hazir). At the Zion Gate we enter Jerusalem's Old City and make our way through the Armenian Quarter. Then we follow the 1500 year old excavated Byzantine Cardo which has been restored and is now home to modern shops which line a section of the ancient road.  We carry on through the Jewish Quarter and on to the Western Wall which was part of the outer walls of the Holy Jewish Temple that stood on Temple Mount almost 2,000 years ago.  We then walk where Jesus once walked the Way of Sorrows along the Via Dolorosa, as thousands of pilgrims do each year. We stop at several of the Stations of the Cross where Jesus stopped briefly as he carried his cross to Golgotha (Calvary). The final station on the Way of Sorrows is at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher marking the site where Christ was crucified and where his burial tomb is located. The Basilica was constructed during the Byzantine Era and underwent renovations and reconstruction over the years. Before we leave the Old City we meander through the typically Middle Eastern markets and then set off for Bethlehem, the city of Christ's birth. We arrive in the City of Bread, Bethlehem, which was home to Jesse, King David's father as well as being Christ's birthplace (Matthew 2:1).
From Manger Square we enter the 4th century Church of the Nativity which is the oldest church in Israel still in use. Beneath the church is the Grotto of the Nativity where a star indicates the place where Jesus was born. Also in the Orthodox Church is an alter dedicated to the Three Wise Men. This is the place where the well-known story of Christmas night took place and a visit here is a moving experience for all Christians.

The Church of the Nativity was neglected for centuries following the expulsion of the Crusaders and was also damaged by an earthquake and fire. However during the British Mandate and more recently under Israeli authority the church has been restored and repaired.  On the way out of the church we see the Armenian Chapel of the Kings or Magi and we visit the Crusader Church. From the Church of St. Catherine we go down into a two room cave which connects with the Grotto of the Nativity. It was here that Saint Jerome spent 30 years translating the Hebrew Bible into the Latin version called The Vulgate. This is the perfect place for us to take a moment and sing some Christmas carols. In Luke 2:8-11 we read of an angel appearing to shepherds who were tending their sheep in a nearby field. We stop to see Shepherds Field, and the contemporary Church of the Angels designed by Antonio Berluzzi with panels retelling the story of Jesus' early life. On our way back towards Jerusalem we pass the Field of Ruth. Here Ruth, King David's great grandmother worked in the fields of Boaz. (Ruth 2:1)

Language Schedule

 
 
English * * * * * * *
French   *     *   *
Spanish *   *     *  
German       *      
 

What To Expect

This Jerusalem and Bethlehem tour starts on Mount Scopus with a breathtaking view of Jerusalem.
You can see the Old City walls and beyond the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. Then, we descend from Mt. Scopus to the Kidron Valley on the way to the old city we pass Christian landmarks like the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations.
The Jerusalem tour enters the Old City via the Zion Gate and continues through the Armenian Quarter arriving at the Jewish Quarter. Here we see the Byzantine Cardo, an excavated ancient street that was once a bustling thoroughfare. We stop at the Western Wall, the one part of the Second Holy Temple that survived destruction in 70 AD. After placing a prayer note at the wall we continue on to the Via Dolorosa. Following the path, Jesus took from his judgment to his crucifixion the Via Dolorosa leads us to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This ornate 12th-century church encompasses the last Stations of the Cross including Calvary where Jesus was crucified and the burial tomb where he was laid to rest. We leave the Old City via a typical Middle Eastern market.
The Jerusalem and Bethlehem tour moves on to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. Arriving in Manger Square we enter the Basilica of the Nativity. This church was built above the Grotto of the Nativity where Christ was born. While in the church we see 12th-century mosaics as well as the original floor and mosaic from the first church that was built by St’ Helen in the 4th century. If possible, we also visit the adjacent Church of Saint Catherine where we descend to subterranean caves and see sacred tombs and chapels. We make our way back to Jerusalem passing the Church of the Angels in Shepherds Field and the Field of Ruth where King David’s great grandmother met Boaz.

enlightened Please Note!
Booking must be confirmed manually, so if you you wish to book for the next coming day please contact us.
 Guaranteed departure.
 This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking; comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
 Modest dress is obligatory for visits to holy sites; covered knees and shoulders.
 Passport compulsory for visit to Bethlehem.
 Tour may be bilingual (English and another language). 
 

Additional Information

The tour includes:

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off service
  • A fully qualified and licensed tour guide
  • Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
  • Entrance fees
     

The tour does not include:

  • Food and drinks
     

Notes:

  • Guaranteed departure
  • This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking; comfortable walking shoes are recommended
  • Modest dress is obligatory for visits to holy sites; covered knees and shoulders
  • Passport compulsory for visit to Bethlehem
  • Due to visitors overload a visit down to Nativity cave is not always possible
  • It is possible to have pick ups/ drop offs in different cities. However, we do not disperse to specific drop off locations

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellation fee of 4% charged for notification up to 2 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 25% charged for notification up to 1 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 100% charged for notification on the day of the tour.
  • Non Show - 100% Cancellation fees
enlightened Please Note!
Booking must be confirmed manually, so if you you wish to book for the next coming day please contact us.
 Guaranteed departure.
 This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking; comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
 Modest dress is obligatory for visits to holy sites; covered knees and shoulders.
 Passport compulsory for visit to Bethlehem.
 Tour may be bilingual (English and another language). 
 

Additional Information

The tour includes:

  • Hotel pick-up and drop-off service
  • A fully qualified and licensed tour guide
  • Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
  • Entrance fees
     

The tour does not include:

  • Food and drinks
     

Notes:

  • Guaranteed departure
  • This tour includes a reasonable amount of walking; comfortable walking shoes are recommended
  • Modest dress is obligatory for visits to holy sites; covered knees and shoulders
  • Passport compulsory for visit to Bethlehem
  • Due to visitors overload a visit down to Nativity cave is not always possible
  • It is possible to have pick ups/ drop offs in different cities. However, we do not disperse to specific drop off locations

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellation fee of 4% charged for notification up to 2 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 25% charged for notification up to 1 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 100% charged for notification on the day of the tour.
  • Non Show - 100% Cancellation fees

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