Jerusalem and Bethlehem Private Tour from Haifa Port

Pickup from Haifa Port. The guide will be waiting for you with the *Israstar* sign at the exit arrival terminal. Pick up all group members and proceed with the tour. Start driving to Jerusalem.

Drive to Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city. One of the city's most famous landmarks is the Mount of Olives. It separates the most holy place, the Temple Mount, from the Judean Desert to the east. We know it to be the place from which Jesus the Messiah ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11), and where He will one day return. The Mount of Olives is frequently mentioned in the New Testament as part of the route from Jerusalem to Bethany and the place where Jesus stood when he wept over Jerusalem (an event known as Flevit super illam in Latin). ... Jesus ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives according to Acts 1:9–12. *This point can be changed with another viewpoint, as it depends on the traffic congestion and possible jams.

Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem where, according to the four Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus underwent agony in the garden and was arrested before his crucifixion. It is a place of great resonance in Christianity. There are several small olive groves in church property, all adjacent to each other and identified with biblical Gethsemane.

Stop at Mount Zion to visit King David's Tomb, Room of Last Supper. In biblical usage, however, “Mount Zion” often means the city rather than the hill itself. ... Mount Zion is the place where Yahweh, the God of Israel, dwells (Isaiah 8:18; Psalm 74:2), the place where he is king (Isaiah 24:23) and where he has installed his king, David (Psalm 2:6). The Tomb of King David is one of the most sacred sites for the Jews. Nonetheless, according to the researchers, there is no certainty that this is in fact King David’s burial site. The Bible mentions that King David was buried in the City of David, which is located at the foot of the Temple Mount. Located on an upper floor of King David's Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper, also called The Cenacle, is considered one of the holiest sites for Christianity in Jerusalem, since according to tradition, it was the place where the last supper took place.

We enter the Old City on foot through one of the massive gates in the 16th-century walls and pass the Western Wall excavations as we walk towards the Western Wall. This sacred Jewish site is all that remains from the 2,000-year-old holy Jewish Temple that once stood on Temple Mount

Continue to the Christian Quarter. Walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of Holy Sepulchre. The Via Dolorosa is a processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem. It represents the path that Jesus would have taken, forced by the Roman soldiers, on the way to his crucifixion. Via Dolorosa (Latin for “Sorrowful Way” or “Way of Suffering”) is a narrow, stone path believed to be the route Jesus took to His Crucifixion nearly 2000 years ago. ... It is here that Christians relive and celebrate Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection. The Via Dolorosa is filled with religion and ritual.

The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is the most sacred site in the world for millions of Christians. This is the site of the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Helena identified this place as The Calvary, where Jesus was crucified. Calvary, or Golgotha, (Aramaic: “Skull”) also called Calvary, (from Latin calva: “bald head” or “skull”), skull-shaped hill in ancient Jerusalem, the site of Jesus' crucifixion. It is referred to in all four Gospels (Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22, Luke 23:33, and John 19:17). According to the New Testament, Jesus was crucified at a spot outside Jerusalem called Golgotha, which in Aramaic means “place of the skull.” The Latin word for skull is calvaria, and in English many Christians refer to the site of the crucifixion as Calvary.

then we drive to Bethlehem the Birthplace of Jesus was born walk through Manger Square, to the Church of the Nativity ,explore the Milk Grotto where the Virgin Mary was said to have nursed Jesus. It is also possible to visit the Roman Catholic St. Catherine’s church, as well as the Greek Orthodox Church nearby. late afternoon return to the Port with your guide to Board your cruise ship. NOTE: Passport, Modest dress (no shorts or sleeveless shirts), and head covering are required for visiting holy sites.

Continue to Bethlehem for an overview of Shepherds' Field; Visit the Church of Nativity and Manger's Square. Church of Nativity contains a grotto where Jesus is said to have been born. This grotto is also the oldest continually used site of Christian worship. For this reason, the site is incredibly significant for those making religious pilgrimages, or those who are interested in religion and the history. The Gospels of both Matthew and Luke place the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The Gospel of Luke states that Mary gave birth to Jesus and placed him in a manger “because there was no place for them in the inn. Far from the Christmas-card image, the place of Christ’s birth is a dimly-lit rock cave. Instead of a star above, a 14-point silver star on the marble floor of the Grotto of the Nativity bears the words “Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus natus est” (Here Jesus Christ was born to the Virgin Mary). Af the end of the excursion, we start driving back to Haifa Port

Return transfer to Haifa port. Have a great evening. Hope you enjoyed and we are sure that you will keep fond memories of your spiritual adventure with us. If you ever want to repeat the authentic experience and spiritual feelings, we always will be here to assist you.