West Bank Tour from Jerusalem
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Jerusalem, Israel
- 10 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Witness the world of the West Bank and explore its history and culture on this full-day guided tour from Jerusalem. See where Jesus was born in Bethlehem and where he was baptized in the Jordan River. Visit the town of Ramallah and see the tomb of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Stop at Jericho to see the oldest city in the world.
- Full-day tour of the West Bank, the region spread along the west of the Jordan River
- See the ruins of ancient Jericho and the spot where Jesus is said to have been baptized
- Explore vibrant Ramallah and view the tomb of Yasser Arafat
- See the main religious sites of Bethlehem, including the Church of the Nativity
- Enjoy a tasty Arabic-style lunch at a restaurant in Bethlehem
- Learn about the rich history and culture of the West Bank from an expert guide
What's Included
- Transport by air-conditioned minivan
- Local guide
- Lunch
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks, unless specified
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Abraham JerusalemHa-Nevi'im St 67, Jerusalem, 9470211, Israel
Upon arrival, please enter the lobby of Abraham Jerusalem (Abraham Hostel).
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.7:30 am
Itinerary
Make your own way to the prearranged meeting point in Jerusalem New City to join up with your guide and group. Then, hop inside an air-conditioned vehicle and travel through hills and desert landscape to the landlocked West Bank.
Stop first at the Palestinian town of Ramallah, considered the unofficial capital of the West Bank. Walk around the busy streets and visit the tomb of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Continue to Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Explore some of the archaeological evidence that supports the historical accuracy of the Bible here.
Next is Qasr-el-Yahud on the banks of the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
In Bethlehem, enjoy an Arabic-style lunch at a local eatery before exploring this holy city. Explore the Church of the Nativity and the Grotto, a holy place with a cave in which the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is said to have occurred. Manger Square is where the majority of religious activity in Bethlehem takes place, with the Church of the Nativity and the Mosque of Omar, the oldest and only mosque in the old city of Bethlehem and a site of great meaning for those Muslims who live there.
In Manger Square, see where Jesus was placed in a manger after his birth and visit the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) took refuge before they fled to Egypt following Jesus’ birth. Tradition has it that while Mary was nursing Jesus here, a drop of milk fell to the ground, turning it white. See the separation wall that divides the city from Israel before returning to Jerusalem.
Stop first at the Palestinian town of Ramallah, considered the unofficial capital of the West Bank. Walk around the busy streets and visit the tomb of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Continue to Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Explore some of the archaeological evidence that supports the historical accuracy of the Bible here.
Next is Qasr-el-Yahud on the banks of the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
In Bethlehem, enjoy an Arabic-style lunch at a local eatery before exploring this holy city. Explore the Church of the Nativity and the Grotto, a holy place with a cave in which the birth of Jesus of Nazareth is said to have occurred. Manger Square is where the majority of religious activity in Bethlehem takes place, with the Church of the Nativity and the Mosque of Omar, the oldest and only mosque in the old city of Bethlehem and a site of great meaning for those Muslims who live there.
In Manger Square, see where Jesus was placed in a manger after his birth and visit the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) took refuge before they fled to Egypt following Jesus’ birth. Tradition has it that while Mary was nursing Jesus here, a drop of milk fell to the ground, turning it white. See the separation wall that divides the city from Israel before returning to Jerusalem.
1
Ramallah Tourist Information Center
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Jericho Tourist Information Center
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
3
Qasr Al-Yahud Baptismal Site
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Church of the Nativity
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Israeli Citizens: Please note that this tour is not available to Israeli passport holders (Even if you hold an additional passport).
- Valid Passports (Original, not a copy), Hats, Sunscreen, Comfortable Shoes, Scarfs/Shawls and Drinking Water are required.
- Included in this tour are visits to sacred sites. Please avoid wearing sleeveless shirts, shorts and short skirts.
- In the event that access to Ramallah is restricted, the tour will include extended time and additional content in Jericho and Bethlehem as an alternative.
- The order of visiting cities and sites may vary based on your guide’s discretion, local conditions, and special events.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 34 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Martin_M
This was our first visit to Israel. We wanted to learn as much as possible about the country and history and about significant biblical sites. Our visit would not have accomplished this without our visit to the West Bank. The tour was incredible. Our guide, Kamal, was funny and extremely informative. He is highly interactive (and we were grateful for the other guests’ knowledge of the Bible so they could more intelligently guess answers to his questions - it got us off the hook :). Our guide was Palestinian and his insights and perspective regarding his and his family’s lives as Palestinians living in Palestine (West Bank) will open your eyes, as will the tour itself. I highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in better understanding the very complex situation between the Israelis and Palestinians and for anyone interested in seeing first hand what life is like in Palestine. Among other things, you’ll see the oldest city in the world (Jericho), dip your feet in the Jordan river, see the birthplace of Jesus, and see, first hand, Israeli settlements in Palestine as you drive through the West Bank. An amazing experience that I will never forget. Brush up on your biblical knowledge of significant places in the Bible and a bit of the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict before you go if you want to deepen your experience....or just show up (like we did) and you will learn a great deal. We had about 18 people on the tour in total and we were in a brand new vehicle, which was really nice, and our guide spoke excellent English. Thanks for the incredible tour.
Reviews
4.5
based on 186 reviews
christina_g, Jan 2023
Hurried but good coverage of Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem, including Banksy graffiti. Guide was OK. I hope Jericho gets funding for better upkeep.
Mark_B, Sep 2022
A memorable experience being able to go to the West Bank and see life there, and of course visiting Bethlehem is a must do as well. Amazing Tour Guides (Don and others), a great way to learn about the conflict from a Palestinian himself, a great Arabic meal, etc.
Tiago_E, Jun 2022
Our guide was very funny and made all the visits very pleasant. This trip really took us to the important places people should get to know on the West Bank. It is a must if you want to visit this part of the country. All went excellent, we had no problems at all.
Cheryl_W, Jun 2022
It was so interesting to hear about the realities of life in the West Bank and seeing the Wall was powerful. Such experiences underscore that there are two sides to every story.
Charlotte_J, Jun 2022
A very edicational trip filled with a good and varied selection of stops in Palastine - the tour guide was good and informativ but maybe a little bit one sided in his explination regarding the conflict.
Jacob_M, Apr 2022
I had an excellent West bank tour on 11th April. Our two guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. I highly recommend this tour!
Ryan_B, Mar 2020
I was a little nervous after reading mixed reviews, but it was 100% awesome. I am in my mid-30s and was on a trip with my father who is almost 70 and we couldn’t of had a better time!
Chris_T, Feb 2020
Great experience, very worthwhile to see the Palestinian side of the line. The food at lunch was good, the tour guide funny and insightful, and the separation wall very moving. Ramallah was a good example of a Palestinian city. Jericho was a quick stop to see some ruins and snap a photo. The church at Bethlehem will be important for religious tourists.
I now know that fresh knaffeh is delicious.
We also saw five famous Banksy artworks in situ, on and around the separation wall, which I thought was very cool.
Johan H, Jan 2020
Great guide and great tour! Would really recommend it! Enjoyed that the lunch were included aldo in very expensive Israel.
German_S, Jan 2020
This tour was way below our expectations. The negatives. They take you to Jericho but they don't take you to Hisham's palace or the Cable Car. You waste your time watching a ten minute video in a small dark room about the history of the city. Then you walk around a not so interesting archaeological site. In Ramallah, instead of taking you to the old city, they take you to an ice cream shop! Yes... an ice cream shop. It may make sense in summer, but definitely not in January... Once in Bethlehem, they take you to the Nativity Church but just for a few minutes. You never make it to the cave where Jesus was born. Then they take you to a souvenir shop instead of letting you walk around Manger Square. What to say about our guide... he would constantly confuse dates and facts. He said that Arafat was born in Jerusalem (he was born in Egypt) and that the Catholic Pope had been in Bethlehem in 2009. He was appointed Pope in 2013. The positives: i) the few minutes that you walk around Ramallah; and ii) visiting the wall and walled off hotel in Bethlehem. The rest is a scam. Look for other options.
Wendy L, Nov 2019
Our guide, George, was absolutely incredible - highly knowledgable about the history and culture, really thoughtful in helping us experience day-to-day life, and, let's be honest, herding 33 humans can be way more painful than he made it seem. He was also super open to answering all our questions ... we learned more in 8 hours than we have in all our years of schooling, and definitely more than mainstream media cares to share. Plus - lots of historic sites, a yummy home-cooked meal, and the Banksy hotel!
macavigo, Nov 2019
Enjoyed since minute one this trip. I was very interested in the West bank situation, and walking around with our guide around Ramallah was the best experience ... He explained quite well all the situation in Palestine, their way of leaving and how they organise their daily life.... Lunch in a Palestinian house was a highlight.
Don't doubt it, this full day trip is perfect to combine with the typical trip to Israel.
Salim_K, Nov 2019
Incredibly knowledgable, Housam gave us the background and the current situation.
At the Church of the Nativity, he went beyond his responsibilities and helped speed up the hundreds of people lined up ahead of us waiting to enter the cave beneath the church.
Kate_A, Oct 2019
Great tour, well organised. Makes you realise you cannot trust mass media. Eat all the proffered goodies, especially the pastries the best in the world!
Leen d, Sep 2019
Kamal, our guide during the first half of the tour was a superb narrator and took us on a journey worth to remember: Ramallah, Jericho... But right before dinner we got another guide and from then on, the quality of the tour dropped, unfortunately. It became a drag. Didn't see much after that.
Alwin_v, Aug 2019
Our guide Kamal was absolutely the best. Nice guy. Wise guy. And very awesome tour. Best locations in one day is a bit short but then again it's a one day tour. We loved it from beginning till the end. Special greetings to the schöne mӓdchen Francisca who was also there!
Martin_M, Jul 2019
This was our first visit to Israel. We wanted to learn as much as possible about the country and history and about significant biblical sites. Our visit would not have accomplished this without our visit to the West Bank. The tour was incredible. Our guide, Kamal, was funny and extremely informative. He is highly interactive (and we were grateful for the other guests’ knowledge of the Bible so they could more intelligently guess answers to his questions - it got us off the hook :). Our guide was Palestinian and his insights and perspective regarding his and his family’s lives as Palestinians living in Palestine (West Bank) will open your eyes, as will the tour itself. I highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in better understanding the very complex situation between the Israelis and Palestinians and for anyone interested in seeing first hand what life is like in Palestine. Among other things, you’ll see the oldest city in the world (Jericho), dip your feet in the Jordan river, see the birthplace of Jesus, and see, first hand, Israeli settlements in Palestine as you drive through the West Bank. An amazing experience that I will never forget. Brush up on your biblical knowledge of significant places in the Bible and a bit of the history of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict before you go if you want to deepen your experience....or just show up (like we did) and you will learn a great deal. We had about 18 people on the tour in total and we were in a brand new vehicle, which was really nice, and our guide spoke excellent English. Thanks for the incredible tour.
Maxwell_C, Jan 2019
We travelled on 8/1/19. We were made to feel safe, we were educated and looked after. The destinations were well selected, we enjoyed Ramallah and Arafat’s tomb. Our guide was very informative and the personal stories added to our learning. The guide made the tour! Thank you!
mohsoli, Jan 2019
Great experience. Food was great. The lunch was in the tour guide’s home & his mom made awesome local food. Awesome tour guides. I highly recommend this tour!
Lynn_C, Jul 2018
While the locations were interesting there was not enough background on history. too much present day politics and not enough on the history of the locations. Also spent 1.5 hours at the Wall which, in my opinion, only merits 10-15 minutes. The restaurant for lunch was very good with excellent service.
Our family took a vote and we are saying 3 stars because we wanted more history. The time spent at the Wall was not a good end to the tour either.
Richard_F, Jul 2018
I would say beyond a shadow of doubt this is a MUST do!!! Make sure you don't sell yourself short by only staying in Israel. The sights and sounds of the West Bank were phenomenal!!! Palestine was awesome! The food on this trip was fantastic as well! It is a long day but the sights you get to see are once in a lifetime!!! We had a FANTASTIC tour guide and driver!!!
Marina D, Apr 2018
This was a great experience. Border crossing was fast and the Palestinian tour guide had a great sense of humor in explaining the conflict between Israel and Palestine. I was happy to visit the tomb of the late Palestine leader and talk to the solders guarding the tomb.
Abdul K, Mar 2018
The trip was good. The bus needs to ensure the microphone works properly. Was hard to hear tour guide at times. Tour guide needs to stand and face passengers when talking. He had great stories. Oh and please dont rush passengers when visiting nativity in Bethlehem. The guide our tour guide used to lead nativity scene tried to discourage us from waiting in line. Said it would be 3 hours. The wait was less than an hour. Many of us wanted to see thane actual spot so please dont rush us. Thx
Heriberto_D, Mar 2018
This tour was excellent While the sites were great, we had an amazing tour guide that made the whole day much better. Highly recommend it
Nina J, Feb 2018
Very interesting sights and places, highly recommend Ashraf.
Rochelle T, Dec 2017
Overall good would have liked to have spent more time at wall and skip Ramallah area that was pointless to stand in middle of city and look at flag. Jericho was slightly disappointing not the archeological site I was expected so go without expecting much and you will be fine. Bethlehem was great church of nativity is crazy busy but worth it just be aware the many other tourists will push through you to get to where Jesus was born.
Patrick R I, Dec 2017
This was really a great tour! Tamer was friendly, informative, sassy, and balanced in his presentation. We saw a good mix of the political Ramallah, Arafat's tomb, separation wall, historical Jericho, and seasonal/religious Jordan River, Church of the Nativity. It was a small group, which made it easy to move around places and pleasant at lunch. Anyone who goes to Israel should try to see how the other half lives, and this tour is a good way to start.
Neil B, Dec 2017
In addition to the comments made by others, what made it especially good was the attention to detail: the knowledge, passion and humour of our guide, the way we weren't flooded with information and the delicious Palestinian pastry at the end. Why wasn't I organised enough to buy some to take home!
Erik V, Oct 2017
I would recommend this tour to everyone. The tour guide was very good and the sights were all worth visiting. Dont miss this tour when you are in Jerusalem.
Samuel W, Oct 2017
Without some random stops on the way which I don't see necessary, this trip is well informed and educated.
From $141.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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