5-Day Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage: Bethlehem & Jerusalem

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5-Day Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage: Bethlehem & Jerusalem 5-Day Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage: Bethlehem & Jerusalem 5-Day Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage: Bethlehem & Jerusalem 5-Day Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage: Bethlehem & Jerusalem 5-Day Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage: Bethlehem & JerusalemView all 8 photos

Private 5-day Orthodox pilgrimage based in Bethlehem: Mar Saba and the desert monasteries, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and baptismal renewal in the Jordan. From $1,295 per person.

Description

The 5-Day Orthodox Holy Land Pilgrimage is a private program based in Bethlehem, built around the heart of the Orthodox faith: the desert monasteries and their saints, the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, and baptismal renewal in the Jordan. You stay four nights in Bethlehem with daily breakfast and travel out each day with a licensed local guide, then return to rest. Arrival and departure days are kept free, so the three touring days are unhurried.

  • Day 1, Arrival. Optional airport pickup, or arrive on your own, to your Bethlehem hotel. Nothing scheduled, settle in and rest.
  • Day 2, Bethlehem and the Desert Monasteries. The Church of the Nativity, the Orthodox Shepherds Field, the Milk Grotto, an olive wood workshop and store, then Mar Saba and the monastery of St Theodosius.
  • Day 3, Holy Jerusalem. The Mount of Olives, Gethsemane and the Tomb of the Virgin Mary, the Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre with Golgotha and the Holy Tomb, and Mount Zion. An early Divine Liturgy at the Sepulchre can be arranged in advance.
  • Day 4, Wadi Qelt, the Jordan and the Dead Sea. St George of Choziba in Wadi Qelt, the Tomb of Lazarus, the Mount of Temptation, baptismal renewal at Qasr al-Yahud, the lion monastery of St Gerasimos, and a float in the Dead Sea.
  • Day 5, Departure. Leave when you like with an optional airport transfer, or stay on and keep exploring the Holy Land.

This is a private pilgrimage for your own group, with relic veneration, the desert fathers, the Resurrection, and the Jordan at its center. The itinerary is a proposal and can be tailored to your group and your feast days.

Highlights

  • Four nights in Bethlehem with a licensed local guide
  • Mar Saba, St Theodosius, St George of Choziba and St Gerasimos
  • The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Golgotha and the Holy Tomb
  • Baptismal renewal in the Jordan at Qasr al-Yahud
  • The Orthodox Shepherds Field and the Church of the Nativity
  • Private program, arrival and departure days kept free

Includes

Included
4 nights in a Bethlehem hotel with daily breakfast3 full guided touring days with a licensed local guideAll ground transport on touring daysPrivate program for your own groupWhatsApp support throughout your stay
Not included
FlightsAirport transfers (optional add-on)Site entrance feesLunches and dinnersGratuities

Important information

Know before you go

  • Minimum 2 travelers. Book at least 14 days ahead so we can confirm your hotel and crew.
  • Mar Saba may be entered by men only; women view it from the Women's Tower and have full access to every other site.
  • Modest dress is required at all holy sites, with knees and shoulders covered.
  • The Grotto of the Nativity is under restoration, so access to the Grotto itself may be limited or closed through 2026, while the Church of the Nativity remains open.
  • To attend a Divine Liturgy at a monastery or the Holy Sepulchre, please arrange it in advance.

Who this tour is for

  • Orthodox and other Christian pilgrims who want the monasteries, the Resurrection, and baptismal renewal in one focused trip.
  • Parishes and small private groups traveling together.
  • Travelers who prefer Bethlehem as a base and a private, customizable pace.
  • Anyone who wants a deep Holy Land pilgrimage without rushing to Galilee.

Good to know

  • A valid passport and a B/2 entry visa (Israel entry permit) are required.
  • 4 nights in Bethlehem with daily breakfast, 3 full guided touring days.
  • Guiding is provided in English.
  • Airport pickup and the departure transfer are optional add-ons.
  • Private program, your own group only, no other travelers join.
  • A 25 percent deposit reserves your dates; the balance is due before arrival.

Frequently asked questions

How many touring days are there?

Three full guided days (Days 2 to 4). Day 1 is arrival and Day 5 is departure, both kept free so the pilgrimage is unhurried.

Why is there no Galilee?

To keep the program deep rather than rushed. Galilee adds long travel north; for that we suggest a longer 6 or 7-day program. This 5-day focuses on the monasteries, Jerusalem, and the Jordan.

Can women visit Mar Saba?

Mar Saba admits men only. Women view the monastery from the Women's Tower and have full access to St Theodosius and every other site.

Can I attend an Orthodox Divine Liturgy?

Yes, the monasteries and the Holy Sepulchre hold their own services. Please arrange attendance in advance; the tour visits during normal hours.

Is the airport transfer included?

No, airport pickup and the departure transfer are optional add-ons. Many pilgrims arrange their own arrival, so we keep it flexible.

What is the deposit and the minimum group?

A 25 percent deposit reserves your dates, the minimum is 2 travelers, and we build the program around your arrival day.

Elijah Tours

$1,295.00 USD
$1,295.00 USD
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