I guide a lot of 1 day tours but it is a very different experience to create a multi-day tour for a family or group and then be with them guiding for a week or more – it’s an opportunity to go deeper, to get to know each other and this land. For people planning a trip to Israel I would like to share a 10-day tour that I created for a small group. In general, hotel accommodation in Israel includes a buffet breakfast; this tour also included dinner except for Saturday night. The group got to experience a lot and visit some places less travelled.

Some participants’ comments:

Thank you for all your efforts to arrange a trip as diverse as Israel itself. You were always there for us and that allowed us to focus on the subjects at hand. Because of you we learned much more than we could have expected and your personal touch enriched all of our lives. We will think of you and your family every time we recall our experiences in Israel. A.B. Irvine, CA

It was much much more than we ever expected. Thank you for taking the time, preparation and sharing your knowledge and enthusiasm, history, variety of both places and people. Thank you again for a wonderful picture of Israel. Much love. EB and RG. San Rafael, CA

Here is the itinerary I worked out with them. I am happy to do the same for you.

Day 0 airport pickup and transfer to hotel in Tel Aviv

Day 1

• drive to Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Nature Reserve
• drive to Tel Aviv-Jaffa and walk along the beach
• explore Old Jaffa and the neighborhood of Neve Tzedek
• dinner in Neve Tzedek and dance performance at Susan Delal center
• overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 2

• morning walk in Yarkon park
• visit the Eretz Israel museum in Ramat Aviv
• Palmach museum
• Tel Aviv port
• Holon Design museum
• overnight Tel Aviv

Day 3

• travel north along the coastal highway
• explore Akko: underground Crusader city, multi-media presentation in old Turkish hamam, tour of British prison
• Lohamei HaGetaot Holocaust museum
• Bahai gardens and tomb of Bahá’u’lláh outside Akko
• overnight Kibbutz Ein Gev guest house

Day 4

• watch video of famous battle of 1973 Yom Kippur War on Golan Heights, Oz 77 and Emeq HaBacha
• visit the site and monument to the battle
• Hula Nature reserve for bird watching
• overnight Kibbutz Ein Gev

Day 5

• drive to Katzrin and visit Museum of the Golan
• wine tasting tour at the Golan Heights winery
• drive the Jordan Rift valley to Jerusalem
• Mahane Yehuda market before Shabbat
• overnight Jerusalem

Day 6, Shabbat

• day of rest
• afternoon visit to the Israel museum
• Israeli folk dancing
• overnight Jerusalem

Day 7

• walking tour of the Old City:
  • Temple Mount, Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque
  • Davidson Archaeological park
  • synagogues in the Old City: Hurva and Ohel Yitzchak
  • panorama from roof top
  • Church of Holy Sepulcher
• overnight Jerusalem

Day 8

• Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found
• desert botanical garden at Kibbutz Ein Gedi
• Masada
• Dead Sea spa
• overnight Ein Gedi

Day 9

• visit the Joe Alon Bedouin Culture museum
• Bedouin life and hospitality (lunch) at Women’s Center in Lakiya
• Ben Gurion’s hut at Sde Boker
• evening walk to edge of makhtesh
• overnight in Mitzpe Ramon

Day 10

• jeep tour in Makhtesh Ramon
• Ayalon Institute
• tour of Weizmann Institute
• farewell celebratory dinner in Tel Aviv-Jaffa
• depart for airport

How much do you estimate a 10 day tour in Israel costs? Of course it depends on the size of the group, hotel accommodations chosen, itinerary and meals; it also depends on the expertise of person doing the arranging. I can organize and guide a tour like this (not including airfare), customized to your interests from $2500. per person.