Self-Launched Christian Jerusalem & Holy Land, 3 Days
3 days · Jerusalem, Israel
Bein Harim Tourism Services charges £507
No-markup version: ~£280 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Explore the spiritual heart of the Holy Land independently — Jerusalem's Old City, Bethlehem, Masada, the Dead Sea, and the footsteps of Jesus on the Mount of Olives. This self-launched version covers every key site from the Bein Harim group tour at a fraction of the cost, using public buses, shared taxis (sheruts), and self-booked guided day tours via GetYourGuide. You'll stay in a well-rated budget guesthouse in Jerusalem's Old City or city centre, within walking distance of most Day 1 and Day 3 sites. All cost estimates are approximate and per person.
Day-by-day
Old City Jerusalem & Bethlehem
Jerusalem & Bethlehem
Start early at Mount Scopus for sweeping panoramic views over Jerusalem. Head down into the Kidron Valley, stopping at the Church of All Nations and the Garden of Gethsemane. Enter the Old City through the Lion's Gate and explore the Jewish Quarter's Byzantine-era Cardo, then make your way to the Western Wall — allow time to soak in the atmosphere. Walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the most sacred sites in Christendom. In the afternoon, take bus 21 or a shared taxi (sherut) from Jerusalem's Damascus Gate to Bethlehem (approx. £2 each way — note you'll cross the checkpoint on foot). In Bethlehem, visit Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity, and the Church of St. Catherine. If queues allow, descend into the Nativity Grotto. Return to Jerusalem by sherut before dark.
🚌Walk or take the light rail to Mount Scopus. Use Jerusalem's public bus network (Egged/Dan) or sheruts for the Old City. Take bus 21 or a sherut from Damascus Gate to Bethlehem (~£2 each way).
🛏Abraham Hostel Jerusalem (highly rated, dorms from ~£22/night, private rooms from ~£55) or Citadel Youth Hostel in the Old City (~£20/night dorm). Book direct or via Hostelworld.
- →Mount Scopus viewpoint (free, self-guided)
- →Church of All Nations & Garden of Gethsemane (free entry)
- →Kidron Valley walk (free)
- →Byzantine Cardo in the Jewish Quarter (free to walk, small museum entry ~£3)
- →Western Wall (free)
- →Via Dolorosa walk (free, self-guided)
- →Church of the Holy Sepulchre (free entry)
- →Bus/sherut to Bethlehem (~£2 each way)
- →Church of the Nativity & Manger Square, Bethlehem (free entry)
- →Optional: Nativity Grotto (free but queues can be long)
Masada, Ein Gedi, Qumran & the Dead Sea
Judean Desert & Dead Sea
This is the one day where a shared day tour makes strong practical and cost sense — public transport to Masada and Ein Gedi is limited and time-consuming. Book a budget shared day tour via GetYourGuide (search 'Masada Dead Sea day trip from Jerusalem', from ~£55–70pp) departing Jerusalem early. Alternatively, take bus 444 from Jerusalem's Central Bus Station to the Ein Gedi/Dead Sea area (~£6 one way) and arrange Masada separately. The day covers: the Inn of the Good Samaritan museum, a cable car ride to the Masada summit to tour Herod's palace-fortress, a stop at the Ein Gedi nature reserve and oasis, the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and afternoon free time at a Dead Sea beach for the famous float. Return to Jerusalem by bus or shared tour vehicle by early evening.
🚌Recommended: Pre-book a shared GetYourGuide day tour from Jerusalem (~£55–70pp, includes transport and some entry fees). Budget option: Bus 444 from Jerusalem Central Bus Station to Ein Gedi (~£6), then sherut or taxi between sites. Return by bus 444 to Jerusalem.
🛏Same as Day 1 — Abraham Hostel Jerusalem or Citadel Youth Hostel.
- →Inn of the Good Samaritan museum (~£5 entry)
- →Masada cable car (return ~£16) + National Park entry (~£10)
- →Masada palace-fortress self-guided tour (included in park entry)
- →Ein Gedi Nature Reserve (~£10 entry)
- →Qumran National Park (~£8 entry)
- →Dead Sea beach swimming (some beaches charge ~£15–20 for facilities; free public beaches exist at Mineral Beach area)
Jerusalem in the Footsteps of Jesus — Mount of Olives & Via Dolorosa
Jerusalem
A full day tracing Jesus's final days in Jerusalem on foot — most sites are free or low cost. Start on the Mount of Olives at the Church of the Ascension (small entry fee), then visit the Church of Pater Noster with its tiled Lord's Prayer wall, and Dominus Flevit chapel (where Jesus wept over Jerusalem). Descend past the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations again for reflection. Enter the Old City via St. Stephen's Gate and find the Pools of Bethesda and the beautiful Crusader Church of St. Anne (entry ~£4). Walk to the Convent of the Sisters of Zion in the Via Dolorosa and follow the first stations of the Cross through the Muslim Quarter. End the day with a wander through the Old City's souks before departure. Most hotels in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv are reached by sherut or bus by early evening.
🚌Entirely walkable from central Jerusalem or the Old City. Take a Jerusalem light rail or bus back to your hotel area. For Tel Aviv departure, take bus 480 from Jerusalem Central Bus Station (~£6, ~1 hour).
🛏Check out this morning. Store luggage at Abraham Hostel or your guesthouse while you explore.
- →Church of the Ascension on the Mount of Olives (~£2 entry)
- →Church of Pater Noster (~£2 entry)
- →Dominus Flevit Chapel (free)
- →Church of All Nations & Garden of Gethsemane (free)
- →Pools of Bethesda (included with St. Anne entry)
- →Church of St. Anne (~£4 entry)
- →Convent of the Sisters of Zion & Ecce Homo Arch (~£4 entry)
- →Via Dolorosa — first stations walk (free, self-guided)
- →Old City souk browse and optional souvenir shopping
Self-launched vs. Bein Harim Tourism Services
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bein Harim Tourism Services | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£280 | £507 |
| Duration | 3 days | 3 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £227 per person (45%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bein Harim Tourism Services-style trips? Check them out here.~£280
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Christian Jerusalem & Holy Land, 3 Days cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £280 per person for 3 days in Jerusalem, Israel. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bein Harim Tourism Services?+
Yes — Bein Harim Tourism Services charges around £507 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £280 — a saving of roughly £227 (45%) per person.
How long is the Jerusalem, Israel trip?+
This itinerary runs 3 days, covering 3 day-by-day stops through Jerusalem, Israel.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, city-breaks, backpacker trip through Jerusalem, Israel, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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