In the morning, we will depart towards the
Judean Desert, stopping en route to visit the Inn of the Good Samaritan. From the Inn of the
Good Samaritan we overlook the breathtaking view of the moon-shaped landscape of the Judean Desert. We make a short stop when we reach sea-level and then proceed to
Jericho, The City of Palms. In Jericho we stop at the Zacchaeus Sycamore, a very old sycamore tree. Then we will visit the
Tell es-Sultan, (Sultan's Mound).
Leaving from Jericho, we will drive towards Judean Mountains to the city of
Bethlehem, via the Nativity Circle and visit Bethlehem's
Manger Square. We will visit the main
Basilica of the Nativity, designed in the typical Roman-style and constructed on the ruins of its predecessor in 565 AD, as well as the Catholic Church of St. Catherine, adjoining the Basilica of the Nativity.
Underneath the Church stands the
Grotto of the Nativity. Our last stop in Bethlehem will be to a beautiful overview of the Shepherds' Fields, and the special Church of the Shepherds' Fields.
* Due to visitor overload, a visit down to the Grotto of Nativity might not be possible because of tour time schedule.