Bethlehem Private Tour plus Mount of Olives Group Tour

From$340

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Ride the train along Highway 1 and pass the morning traffic jam
  • Private Tour of Bethlehem the Birthplace of Jesus
  • Visit the Church of Nativity
  • Stoll through Manger Square
  • Mount of Olives Group Tour
  • Garden of Gethsemane
  • Visit the Church of All Nations

DESCRIPTION

Israel is fully accessible by train! Ride the Israel Railway to Jerusalem where your private taxi to Bethlehem will be waiting for you. In the afternoon join the Mount of Olives group tour, making the most out of your day.

BETHLEHEM PRIVATE TOUR

Once in Jerusalem, your driver will bring you to the checkpoint to meet your local Bethlehem specialized guide. A visit to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and forms the backdrop to the Nativity, is a must for most travelers. Your guide will show you Bethlehem’s Old City, which is where the tour will be concentrated. The main Christian Holy Land sites are Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity and the surrounding Churches and Chapels, as well as the Milk Grotto.

MOUNT OF OLIVES – GROUP TOUR

The next part of the tour starts at the Jaffa Gate where you will meet your group to visit the Mount of Olives. You will see a Sandeman guide holding a red umbrella. The Mount of Olives is a sacred site for Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike. Both the Jews and Muslims believe this is where the gates of Heaven will open on Judgment Day.
This 3-hour walking tour leaves from the Jaffa Gate at 14:00 PM. Learn and discover from a licensed guide and visit the important sites such as the Chapel of Ascension, Mary’s tomb and take in the marvelous view of the Old City walls from the top of the Mount of Olives.

What’s included

train

Train

Roundtrip ticket Tel Aviv – Jerusalem
Valid until the last train of the booked day

local-transportation

Local transportation

The IsraelRail Rav Kav Card is valid for local buses, trains and the Light Rail in Jerusalem

Guide

Guided Group Tour

Mount of Olives 3-hour guided group tour

Guide

Bethlehem Private Tour

4-hour tour of Bethlehem with your local private tour guide

Itinerary

Map of Jerusalem

8-10 hours
1-4
Availability

N/A
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Meet a local IsraelRail representative at the Tel-Aviv Hahagana train station in order to receive your travel itinerary packet

Tip

Lunch – if you would like to have lunch in Bethlehem, speak with your guide or if you prefer to eat in Jerusalem, there will be enough time before your Mount of Olives tour. There are many restaurants near the Jaffa Gate and Mamilla Mall.

Meeting Point

For Bethlehem – Take the train from the Hahagana train station and meet your private driver at the Jerusalem Gold Hotel. (3-minute walk for the train station)

For Mount of Olives – Aim to arrive at Jaffa Gate at 13:50 PM. Your Sandemans tour guide will be holding a red umbrella and the tour will begin at 14:00 PM. Sandemans-meeting-point

Dropoff Point

The tour finishes within a 15 minute walk from the Jaffa Gate at the Lion’s gate

Itinerary

Tel Aviv Train Station
Start at the Tel-Aviv Hahagana Train Station

Meet a local representative of IsraelRail and collect your travel itinerary packet which includes your itinerary, the IsraelRail card and a map

Itzhak Navon Station Jerusalem
Arrive at Itzhak Navon Jerusalem Station

Arrive at the Jerusalem Itzhak Navon station after a short 34 minute ride. Exit the station and walk to the Jerusalem Gold Hotel

Jerusalem Gold Hotel
Meet your Private Driver

Meet your private taxi driver in front of the Jerusalem Gold Hotel. (3-minute walk for the train station)

Bethlehem Church of Nativity
Private tour of Bethlehem

Visit the Church of Nativity, Manger Square, the Milk Grotto and more! Your Private Bethlehem Tour lasts for 4 hours and can be customized to your interests.

Sandemans Red Umbrella Jaffa Gate
Mount of Olives Group Tour

After Bethlehem, your driver will bring you within a 10 minute walk to the Jaffa gate. Here you will meet your Sandemans tour guide – who will be holding a red umbrella, at 13:00 PM. Your Jerusalem Mount of Olives Tour lasts for 3 hours

Mount of Olives
Jerusalem Mount of Olives 3-hour Tour

Amazing view of Old City Jerusalem
Explore the gardens of Gethsemane
See the Jewish Cemetery
Visit the Church of All Nations
Stop in at Dominus Flevit
Step down into tomb of the Virgin Mary
Visit the Chapel of the Ascension

Jerusalem Old City
Continue exploring Jerusalem on your own

After the guided tour feel free to discover more of the Old City or other parts of Jerusalem

Tel Aviv City
Heading back to Tel Aviv

The last train leaves from Jerusalem Itzhak Navon Station at 21:30. We recommend leaving arriving 20 minutes early, not to miss the last train!
Arriving back in Tel-Aviv you can exit any station

ADDITIONAL INFO

Departure Time
We suggest taking the 08:01 AM train arriving in Jerusalem Itzhak Navon train station at about 08:55 AM
Exit the train station and meet your private driver at the Jerusalem Gold Hotel. (3-minute walk for the train station)
If you prefer you can also take an earlier train, starting from 06:01 AM. Trains leave the Hahagana train station every 30 minutes. Check the updated train schedule here!

What to Bring
Please bring your Passport with you! You will need your passport to enter Bethlehem.
Remember to wear comfortable shoes for walking and bring a hat to protect against the sun & drink lots of water in the summer months. When visiting holy sites you will be asked to cover your shoulders and knees.

Cancellation Policy
Any cancellation prior to 48 hours advance of travel date will incur a fee of $10 USD for the refund procedure.
Upon notice 48 hours advance of departure – the trip is non-refundable!

Unfortunately, these tours are not wheelchair accessible.


Train Station Security Checks

Entry to all train stations is subject to a personal baggage check.

Every station entrance is manned by security guards who operate in accordance with Israel Police guidelines and are committed to upholding your dignity and safety during the security check.

Please be aware that lines may develop at the security check stations during peak hours in the morning and afternoon/evening (6:00am-9:00am and 15:00-19:00), so it is important that you arrive sometime prior to your train’s departure.

In cooperation with:
Israel Railways and SANDEMANs NEW Europe