Private Day Tour: St. George's Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Mar Saba, and Bethlehem
5
Private Day Tour: St. George's Monastery, Wadi Qelt, Mar Saba, and Bethlehem
By Michael Tours
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-120
Duration: 8h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Driver/guide
- Private tour
- Pickup from Checkpoint 300 or Bethlehem hotel
- Drop-off at Checkpoint 300 or Bethlehem hotel
What's not included- Gratuities
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Food and drinks
- Public transportation to the meeting point
- Start:
- Checkpoint 300/Bethlehem Road, JerusalemOnce you get off the bus or the taxi, walk through the checkpoint building (Follow the sign) to cross to Bethlehem's side where I'll meet you. Everyone there is either crossing to Bethlehem or coming from Bethlehem so it's easy to find your way. You can always ask anyone for help if you need it.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8676P4- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- A current valid passport is required on the day of travel
- Passport name, number, expiry and country is required at time of booking for all participants
- Walking is involved
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travellers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 8676P4
From
S$730.64
per group (up to 4)
Select date and travellers
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About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- RobinCressage0 contributionsA delightful and insightful tourGeorgette looked after us for the day on what was quite a full agenda (proposed by us!). She and the amazing driver (in a spotless car) drove us to each location, allowed us plenty of time to look at everything whilst providing really usefully information. Just as importantly she gave us an insight into the culture and people of the West Bank. We topped off the day with a delightful meal with a local family which gave us even more of an insight.Written 6 October 2023
- G375ACmarkr0 contributionsMichael Tours - Exceptional Knowledge & ServiceMy wife and I had the pleasure of spending 4 full days with Michael & Georgette on various tours, they were the perfect choice for getting acclimated during our first week in Palestine & Israel. Preferring to go with Private Guides on most of our vacations, the husband-and-wife team were some of the best guides we have ever used, anywhere! Whether its Culture, Religion, History, Food, Local Day to Day Life…they have got you covered. They are true professionals and all-around wonderful people…their knowledge, kindness and flexibility was something that started with our initial planning and continued once we were on the ground in Bethlehem (their specifics on what time to leave our hotel to cross the checkpoint / border was spot on and made the logistics very easy). Our first tour was the full day Bethlehem Tour, with Georgette as our guide and her Dad as our driver we were able to cover all the main sights including the Nativity Church grotto and meet some wonderful people along the way. Also, as part of that tour we opted to have lunch with a local Palestinian family and how great that it was her own!!! Got to meet her Mom, Aunt and new baby boy...and of course the food was DELICIOUS. Our next day tour was with Michael and we hit Jericho, Jordan River and the Dead Sea, all the while Michael had such great historic insights and details that made it all come to life. The next day we had our full day Jerusalem City Tour and once again their knowledge allowed us to see and experience all the highlights in each of the respective Quarters, while also making the walk down Via Dolorosa very special. Finally, Michael customized a St George Monastery and Masada trip for us which was also executed perfectly…our driver for that day even pulled over at a scenic overlook by the Dead Sea and whipped up some Arabic coffee for us from his portable stove in the van. If you are planning a trip to this part of the world you will definitely see higher prices in Israel proper for Hotels, Tours, Food, etc. once you start doing your research … but with Michael & Georgette as our Palestine based guides their prices were extremely fair & competitive…You get what you pay for…and in this case Michael Tours is worth every penny! While we started our tour(s) as clients, we left Michael, Georgette and their families as true friends. Thank You both once again for making our visit to the Holy Land so special. M&MWritten 28 September 2023
- AlfredoI2900 contributionsExtraordinary tour in the Judean DesertMichael is an excellent guide, fully knowledgeable on the history and geography of the Judean Desert and the West Bank in general. He has carefully chosen the places to visit, to stop, etc. He gives very useful information, but to the point, without excesive chatter. The whole trip was an extremely enjoyable experience. I emphatically recommend him.Written 27 September 2023
- 801blj0 contributionsRecommended!!Thank you for the interesting and well-tailored tour. Also the kids enjoyed + we took very nice picsWritten 23 September 2023
- Navigator7552310 contributionsPersonal Tour of BethlehemMy husband and I found Michael Tours through TripAdvisor and we spent the Day with Georgette and her Father Isa (spelling?). Isa is my husband’s age and Georgette our 2 daughter’s age. Georgette and Isa are natives to Bethlehem and born there. The personal touches and stories they provided of life in Bethlehem was so warm and friendly and loving, We were interested in seeing the important Christian sites, most importantly, the Church of the Nativity. Georgette was married there!!, here brother-in-law, is the pastor and she and. Isa even invited us to Georgette’s first son’s christening the following day!. As we toured the country-side on the way to the Jordon River where Jesus was baptized by St. John, they told us of local life and customs and recent joys and challenges as Palestinians. We saw Mary’s Church of the milk dedicated to new mothers (* Georgette is one! ). Which was really special to her and to us. We had lunch in a local cafe and met some of her friends and colleagues. She ordered for us so that we’d enjoy local food favorites (*which were awesome!). They drove us to the Dead Sea and waited for us after they advised us how to best enjoy the lowest point on earth!!. We shared stories of our families and our respective lives. They asked us questions about our culture and recent political events and we did the same. We learned so much from each other in a spirit of global humanity and love. We hugged and cried and learned things about Bethlehem and Palestinian culture we would never had learned had we not spent the day making father to father and mother to daughter connections. It was a day to remember for a lifetime. Not just sites of Christian and historical significance did we see. We made heart to heart connections with Georgette and her Dad Isa. In my opinion, this is why we travel, and so should you. To learn more, and to love more. Georgette and Isa showed us both. They will warm your hearts and make your trip!! Thank You Georgette and Isa!!Written 9 September 2023
- Curiosity591439547920 contributionsSimply the best!Michael is an absolutely fantastic guide - one of the best we've had throughout our travels - and we would gladly hire him again. From the outset, Michael took time to help customize our tour so that we could fit everything we wanted to see into our trip. He also did a great job coordinating before the tour and, during the tour, ensured we were comfortable and that we stayed on schedule, without making things feel rushed. We met Michael near Checkpoint 300 in Bethlehem and from there, after stopping for some roadside coffee, went onward to see religious and historic sights in Jericho and surrounds, stopped for a dip in the Dead Sea, and then ended the day seeing sights in Bethlehem. Throughout, Michael made us feel welcome and shared his knowledge of the area's history, religious sites, and daily life. Michael is truly a first-class guide with unmatched hospitality, expertise, and openness. Thank you, Michael!Written 8 September 2023
- Diane D0 contributionsMichael's Tour was awesome!So thankful to been able to work with Michael. He arranged for a van to pick us up in Tel Aviv and bring us to Bethlehem for his tour, which is not easily done, and then take us to our hotel in Jerusalem. Very special! Book with him. Excellent communication. Excellent guide.Written 27 August 2023
- Mark711110 contributionsThe Best, Will not disappoint!This was our second time with Michael. We had booked a day tour of Bethlehem and the Desert Monasteries back in September 2019 and enjoyed our time with him. We had the opportunity to return to Jerusalem this August 2023 and Michael was our first choice as a guide. We booked 2 separate tours with him, both private. First was a walking tour of Jerusalem. We walked the walls and streets of Jerusalem, saw many churches and other sites. And walked the Via Dolorosa. Our second tour was a 2-day tour of Bethlehem, Hebron, Herodion, St George Monastery and Jericho. The first day was all the sites outside of Bethlehem: the monasteries, Herodion and the Monastery of Temptation in Jericho. The second day was filled with the sites of Bethlehem, from the Church of the Nativity to the Sheperd’s Field. All this while Michael described the history of what we were seeing and letting the stories from the Bible come to life. As he would say the Fifth Gospel is the Holy Land itself. We even asked to spend an evening with a local family in Bethlehem for dinner. We spent a wonderful evening with his parents and family. The food was delicious and the company even better. Thank you and your family for your hospitality. I highly recommend Michael. You will not be dissatisfied. Thanks again Michael!Written 27 August 2023
- T2404YUseanm0 contributionsGreat tour and great guide!Michael did a great job from pick up to drop off. He was very informative throughout the tour about Israel, Palestine, the history and importance of the places we saw. He never rushed us, took us for a great meal, his English is excellent, and he really knew the details of the holy sites. Thank you Michael for a great tour!Written 11 August 2023
- Culture383548963460 contributionsNice tour with a good guide!We where blessed to have Michael as our guide for a full-day-tour to Jericho, Bethany and Bethlehem. A good guy with lots of knowledge and flexibility. All was arranged with professionality and to the best for our 12 pax family-tour. Hans Markhus, NorwayWritten 30 July 2023
- williameugenef0 contributionsExcellent tour and tour guide. The best.Fantastic tour. The best. I would highly recommend taking this tour with Michael Tours. The sights you see are incredible. The information that Michael provides is extensive. He is one of the best tour guides I have experienced in my life. And super nice person. Everything about the tour is completely professional, safe, and comfortable.Written 27 July 2023
- Z6228GNwendyg0 contributionsAn Israel experienceMicheal was amazing his knowledge was fantastic his manner kind and generous the experience was truly incredibly unforgettable.Written 22 July 2023
- JBF09170 contributionsA historical and cultural “masterclass” of a tourMichael is a true local and fantastic guide. We met him in Bethlehem and he took us to the Church of the Nativity, Saint Jerome's Courtyard and Caves, Saint Catherine Church, and the Church of Milk Grotto. His car was super clean and comfortable and had a couple bottles of water stocked for us (he pays attention to the details). His pace was perfect for us as we worked our way through the tour. There was a good mix of walking, resting, and talking that made this one of the more relaxing tours we took in Israel. Would definitely hire Michael as a guide again.Written 19 July 2023
- ku9710 contributionsThe perfect guide and tourMichael is the perfect guide: he is highly knowledgeable, professional, helpful and covered everything that I wished to see. My tour with him was excellent.Written 16 July 2023
- Happiness1625350 contributionsExcellent Bethlehem and Hebron tourMichael is a knowledgeable tour guide. He showed us a lot of places on the Hebron and Bethlehem tour. He provided bottled water and ensured that we were comfortable on the tour.Written 29 June 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
33 reviews
Excellent
32
Very good
0
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
smvNYC
New York City, NY363 contributions
Jun 2022
We booked the tour weeks before arriving. Michael worked closely with us to customize the itinerary. We wanted to stop at a monastery (not included in the itinerary) to visit and Michael went above and beyond to find out if it is open. and ensure out trip goes as plan. The day of the tour he waited for us right after the checkpoint and on our way we went! The stops were amazing and his knowledge of the area, of the culture and of the people were a great asset. We never felt rushed and enjoyed the places at leisure. We are thankful for the coffee he shared with us, as well as the excellent lunch suggestion. Michael also helped us find a second tour few days later that went equally well! We recommend him unreservedly.
Written 8 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing your experience with millions of travelers around the world. That means a lot for me. I am happy to hear how much you enjoyed the tour. All the best.
Written 23 October 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sara C
Brentwood, UK4 contributions
Feb 2023
We went for a fantastic tour of the desert monasteries and Bethlehem sites with Michael. There were some specific things that I wanted to see, and Michael tailored our visit to fit those in. Michael's friendly and kind personality, along with his expert knowledge of the sites, really made this a special experience. As well as the historical experience, it was a truly worthwhile insight into those living in the West Bank. My son really enjoyed seeing the Banksy art and we had lunch with Michael at a delicious falafel restaurant. This really was an amazing day, and my son and I would highly recommend Michael as a tour guide. We learnt so much, historically and politically, and were very, very well looked after!
Written 4 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a positive review of your experience touring the desert monasteries and Bethlehem sites with me. It brings me great joy to hear that you had a fantastic time and that I was able to tailor the tour to fit your specific interests.
I am thrilled to hear that you and your son enjoyed seeing the Banksy art and that you found the tour to be both a historical and political learning experience. It is important to me to provide a well-rounded and informative tour for my clients.
Thank you again for your kind words and for recommending me as a tour guide. I would be honored to show you and your family more of Palestine on your next visit.
Written 16 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dianne C
2 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
We are a pastor and wife from Grand Rapids Michigan. We hired Michael for the day and had a wonderful time with him. He is warm, personable, and very wonderful. His knowledge and understanding of the Bible and history helped our ministry in great ways. We highly recommend him.
Written 21 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mariangela B
Italy26 contributions
We had a great tour with Michael today! He is a reliable person full of knowledge. He customized our tour as per our request and was always available in case of any doubts. We fully recommend to organize tours with Michael you will not regret for sure!
Written 25 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind words and for choosing me as your tour guide. It was my pleasure to customize the tour to your preferences and to provide you with the best experience possible. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour and found it informative. Thank you for your recommendation, and I hope to have the opportunity to show you more of Palestine in the future!
Written 16 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
laureen
Seattle, WA49 contributions
There is absolutely no comparison to having a private local tour compared to a large group. Michael was amazing. We had wonderful one on one time and he was so knowledgeable, interesting, passionate and kind. Worth every penny and more. Thank you to Michael and his fiancée Georgette who added valuable input too. We had such a great experience. Book with Michael Tours. You won’t regret it.
Written 19 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you a million for your nice review. I am glad to hear how much you enjoyed my tour and we also enjoyed our time with you as much as you enjoyed it with us.. Thanks again :)
Written 22 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
montykatie
Armidale, Australia473 contributions
We actually met him in 2018/2019 but we forgot to write the review. We thought he was really super knowledgeable & passionate about all. We had many different tour guides in the different countries in the past but he had somehow more personal touch to it. We(my husband & our adult nephew) totally loved the experience. Thanks Michael & sorry to write our review this late!
Written 6 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Many thanks for remembering me and thank you for your amazing review. No worries at all for the late review. It's much appreciated and it thanks again for your support and time to write this review. I am always happy to hear how much you enjoyed my tour. All the best :)
Written 22 June 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alison M
6 contributions
Mar 2023
What an amazing experience of Bethlehem and the monasteries of the Judean desert. Michael even adjusted the tour for some closings to include the Herodion. Michael has an intimate knowledge of these sites, a wonderful appreciation of them and he is personally connected with the entire region. What a gift to have found him! We not only had a day of wonderful and meaningful experiences, but gained an insight into the region that we never would have acquired without him.
Written 18 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm so glad to hear that you had an amazing experience exploring Bethlehem and the monasteries of the Judean desert! I am happy I was able to adjust the tour to include the Herodion despite some closings. I'm so happy to hear that you gained meaningful insight into the region. Thank you for sharing your positive experience, and I hope you have many more enjoyable travels in the future!
Written 16 April 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jvhend
Amsterdam, The Netherlands102 contributions
I can’t recommend highly enough that you hire Michael to guide you in Palestine.
My husband and I have just returned from a day with him tailored to the things we were interested to see, including visiting St George’s Monastery and Wadi Qelt, Mar Saba Monastery and a range of sights in Bethlehem (Church of the Nativity, old town, refugee ‘camp’, Banksy art).
We’re not usually the take-a-tour or hire-a-guide type of travellers, but we found the widely available advice about driving ourselves in Palestine confusing so we went for it (I’m no clearer now, and I’m very glad we didn’t try it ourselves). Aside from travel logistics - Michael’s knowledge of the history of this region and the places we visited made our trip; as well as red carpet treatment at crowded sites and the inside scoop on the best falafel in town. He was also happy to answer all our questions and chat openly about life in Palestine today, which we really enjoyed.
On practicalities: this tour was much better value than what we were quoted for similar trips departing from within Jerusalem. Communication ahead of our meeting was clear and easy. And meeting Michael on the Palestine side of checkpoint 300 was super simple - we caught a 20 min bus from Jerusalem (get on at the first stop, get off at the last stop - it’s impossible to get lost) and then walked across the checkpoint and Michael was there and waiting and recognized us straight away.
Thanks for a wonderful day Michael!
My husband and I have just returned from a day with him tailored to the things we were interested to see, including visiting St George’s Monastery and Wadi Qelt, Mar Saba Monastery and a range of sights in Bethlehem (Church of the Nativity, old town, refugee ‘camp’, Banksy art).
We’re not usually the take-a-tour or hire-a-guide type of travellers, but we found the widely available advice about driving ourselves in Palestine confusing so we went for it (I’m no clearer now, and I’m very glad we didn’t try it ourselves). Aside from travel logistics - Michael’s knowledge of the history of this region and the places we visited made our trip; as well as red carpet treatment at crowded sites and the inside scoop on the best falafel in town. He was also happy to answer all our questions and chat openly about life in Palestine today, which we really enjoyed.
On practicalities: this tour was much better value than what we were quoted for similar trips departing from within Jerusalem. Communication ahead of our meeting was clear and easy. And meeting Michael on the Palestine side of checkpoint 300 was super simple - we caught a 20 min bus from Jerusalem (get on at the first stop, get off at the last stop - it’s impossible to get lost) and then walked across the checkpoint and Michael was there and waiting and recognized us straight away.
Thanks for a wonderful day Michael!
Written 19 March 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
THanks for your recommendation and the nice review. I am always happy to hear how happy my guests are and their amazing reviews.
You are always welcome again. All the best
Written 24 May 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
David P
1 contribution
Aug 2019 • Friends
He showed us places that are difficult to reach, such as St. George' monastery, Mar Saba or Bansky grafitys around Bethelem... We also wanted to visit Jericho and altough it was not in our tour, he showed us around!
He always cared about us, from the moment we crossed the border until the very last minute. He gave us all the indications to cross the border safely. He explained us not only the places but the history and present situation of the country. If we have to repeat we wouldn't doubt in do it with Michael.
See you soon Michael!
He always cared about us, from the moment we crossed the border until the very last minute. He gave us all the indications to cross the border safely. He explained us not only the places but the history and present situation of the country. If we have to repeat we wouldn't doubt in do it with Michael.
See you soon Michael!
Written 20 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for this wonderful review and I always happy to hear how much people enjoy my tours. You are always welcome back and I hope to see you once again.
Written 3 September 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Anna T
Brooklyn, NY8 contributions
Mar 2019
Michael is a truly fantastic guide with a wealth of knowledge about the origins of Christianity and the local area. As a foreigner, it is often difficult to fully understand the impact of geopolitical grandstanding on the local population. Michael is insightful and provides both perspective and context on the issues that we read in the news.
Michael's full day tour of Bethlehem, St George Monastery, Shepherds' Valley, and the Separation Wall was well-paced and informative and peppered with anecdotes. A true highlight of my trip to Israel and highly recommended.
Michael's full day tour of Bethlehem, St George Monastery, Shepherds' Valley, and the Separation Wall was well-paced and informative and peppered with anecdotes. A true highlight of my trip to Israel and highly recommended.
Written 11 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks Anna for the nice review. I hope to see you again. You are always welcome here.
Written 12 August 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
pnmerkl
Quebec City, Canada
Hello,
do you accept kids on the your ? What is the price for the kids ? It's 330 per person?
thanks you,
Written 27 May 2018
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