Private Day Tour: Jericho, Mount of Temptation, Hisham's Palace and Bethlehem

Greet your private guide-cum-driver at 8am your Bethlehem hotel or the Bethlehem side of Checkpoint 300 if coming from Jerusalem: Checkpoint 300 is about 30 minutes from Damascus Gate by bus.

Relax in air-conditioned comfort as you drive for around 45 minutes to Jericho. Along the way, you'll pass by various religious sites: St. Theodosius' Monastery, where some believe the wise men hid from Herod the Great after they visited the baby Jesus in Bethlehem, and al-Eizariya, which many believe to be Lazarus' Bethany village.

Enjoy a panorama view St. George Monastery is believed to be the site where the Prophet Elijah hided from Queen Jezebel and was fed by ravens. before driving a few minutes towards Jericho to Mount of Temptation.

In Jericho, take the cable car and overview ancient Jericho that dates back to 10,000 years BC. Walk to Mount of Temptation, the place where Jesus was tempted by the Satan while he was fasting for 40 days in the desert. The Monastery dates back to the Byzantine period, the current building dates back to 1892 AD. There you will have a nice panorama view looking over Jericho.

Next you will visit Hisham's Palace, this is a spot not to be missed. The sprawling winter hunting retreat of Caliph Hisham Ibn Abd al Malik must have been magnificent on its creation in the 8th century, with its baths, mosaic floors and pillars – so much so that archaeologists have labelled it the ‘Versailles of the Middle East’.

Your next stop is Beit Sahour, considered the city of the shepherds. Visit the Shepherd's Field, where the angel appeared to the shepherds and told them about Jesus' birth, then drive to a local restaurant for a classic falafel lunch.

From here it's not far to Bethlehem proper, where you'll start at the famous Church of the Nativity, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that's built on the spot where many believe Jesus was born: it's the world's oldest church in regular daily use. You'll also visit the Cave of St. Jerome, below the church, where many believe he translated the bible.

Finally, you'll visit the Church of St. Catherine and the Milk Grotto shrine, and see Banksy's graffiti pieces, before you drive back either to Checkpoint 300 or your Bethlehem hotel, where your tour will finish at 4pm.