The Holy Land Exploration: An Off the Beaten Path Tour of Israel

What to expect on this itinerary
On this historically imbued 10-day tour of Israel, you will explore the Holy Land from a completely new perspective and will discover its most off-the-beaten-path treasures. Walk through the timeworn streets of Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood, uncover the ancient secrets of the Cave of the Patriarchs, traverse the streets of Israel’s controversial West Bank, and explore Judaism’s mystical Kabbalah a. From elusive blue grottoes in the north to the vast Negev Desert in the south, Israel is full of secrets that are waiting to be uncovered.
Customizable Itinerary
Jerusalem – Explore the Mea Shearim Area
You will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be met at baggage claim by your personal driver. Upon arriving at your luxurious accommodation that is ideally situated in the heart of the city, your guide will allow you to settle in and freshen up before meeting you in the lobby when you are ready. From here, you will be transferred to one of Jerusalem’s most unique and oldest neighborhoods: Mea Shearim. Dressing modestly or conservatively is required because Mea Shearim is home to Israel’s ultra-orthodox Jewish sect.
What's Included:
Jerusalem – Visit the Cave of the Patriarchs
Negev – Glamping Beneath the Stars
Eilat – Swim in the Dead Sea
Eilat – Relax at Eilat’s Picturesque Beach
Safed – Discover Mystical Kabbalah
Safed – Tour Haifa’s Baha’i Gardens
Safed – Traverse the Golan Heights
Tel Aviv – Tel Aviv’s Trendiest Neighborhoods
Tel Aviv – Uncover the Secrets of Jaffa
Trip Highlights
- Uncover the secrets of the ultra-religious Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem and taste the centuries-old delicacies that are tucked within its ancient corners
- Venture on the road less traveled as you explore Hebron and visit the illustrious Cave of the Patriarchs in Israel’s West Bank
- Marvel at Masada’s stunning fortress when you watch the sunrise over the glistening Dead Sea
- Delight in a night of pure luxury under a sky of endless stars as you enjoy glamping in the Negev Desert
- Float weightlessly in the waters of the Dead Sea, which will alight all your senses
- Experience the beauty of Ein Gedi’s magnificent waterfalls and admire the Mediterranean charm of Eilat’s gorgeous beaches
- Discover the birthplace of mystical Kabbalah in the Blue City of Safed and visit Rosh Hanikra’s stunning blue grotto
Detailed Description
From the ancient blue streets of Safed to the delightfully trendy boutiques, restaurants, and rooftop terraces of Tel Aviv, Israel exists at the crossroads of modernity and antiquity. You will experience complete weightlessness as you float through the infamous Dead Sea and alight all your senses as you revel in the stunning beauty of Ein Gedi’s magnificent waterfalls. On this 10-day tour through Israel, you will have the opportunity to savor the best of Israel through its most unique and off the beaten path experiences.
Your trip will begin in Jerusalem, where you will enjoy a private guided tour of Mea Shearim, one of the city’s most elusive neighborhoods. Here you will discover the customs of the ultra-religious world while sampling some of the region’s most tantalizing delicacies. Next, you will continue onto the Cave of the Patriarchs in Israel’s fascinating and controversial West Bank, where you will learn of the history and religious significance of this ancient site. Moving south, you will delight in experiencing the vast Negev Desert and the warm and hospitable Bedouin people who inhabit it.
As your tour continues, you will float in the otherworldly Dead Sea and take in the serene beauty of Eilat, Israel’s southernmost point. From there, you will return to the north of the country, where you will uncover the secrets of Judaism’s mystical Kabbalah in Safed, delight in Haifa’s beautiful Baha’i Gardens, and traverse the rugged and alluring Golan Heights. Your trip will end in Tel Aviv, where you will have the opportunity to explore Israel’s most cosmopolitan city, visit the stunning beaches, and meander through the ancient streets of Jaffa. On this comprehensive tour of Israel, prepare to uncover the most unique treasures of the Holy Land.
Starting Price
$5,200 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 17 reviews
We worked with the travel company to build out a 2 week custom itinerary that started with a few days in Jerusalem, then the Dead Sea and Eilat. We then crossed over to Jordan and saw Wadi Rum, Petra, Amman and then crossed back into Israel and saw the northern part of Israel ending our trip in Tel Aviv.
Overall the trip was very good and we really enjoyed all the sites, learning about the history. Our guide in Israel was excellent - very knowledgable, friendly and extremely flexible. We had changes and he was very accommodating and we appreciated that. Same was true as well as the tour company/guide/driver in Jordan. The new Wadi Rum camp was absolutely fantastic.
The only part of the tour that was disappointing was the lack of attention to detail on meals. We had advised the travel company that we were vegetarian. Our guide had no idea that we were vegetarian or where to take us to eat, nor were our dietary restrictions communicated to the Jordan tour company or guide. We ended up having falafal lunches most days or pizza at a strip mall. In Jordan, our lunch comprised of french fries and cold salad at rest stops. Dinners were fine since we did them on our own. If you have any kind of dietary restrictions, I would highly recommend work closely with the travel company to ensure they understand expectations. If it was not for the meals, I would have given them a 5 star review.
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We booked a one-week private tour for two on very short notice -- less than a month. Despite the short notice, our travel agency was able to put together a beautiful itinerary for us, covering most of the highlights of Israel. We started in Tel Aviv, then headed north to Haifa, Akko and the Golan Heights, then down to Jerusalem via Beit She'an, then down to Eilat via Masada, a one-day side excursion to Petra, Jordan, then back to Tel Aviv. Our travel agency provided excellent service throughout. The hotels we stayed at were all very nice, and our guide/driver was extremely knowledgeable. Our travel agent called me personally on our first night in Tel Aviv just to check in and make sure we had arrived safely, which I thought was a very nice personal touch. In short, we were well looked after from the time our plane landed in Tel Aviv until we were dropped off back in Tel Aviv at the end of our visit.
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My trip to Israel was wonderful! This travel company helped me plan a two-week trip starting in Tel Aviv, traveling north along the coast to Akko, then to Tiberias/Sea of Galilee/Golan, and finally on to Jerusalem. I had read a lot about the country and had ideas about where I wanted to visit and what I wanted to see. This travel company creatively incorporated my ideas into a terrific itinerary and suggested other places and activities based on my interests. I originally contacted several other travel companies for comparison, but this travel company was by far the easiest to work with and developed the best itinerary for me. They were always willing to incorporate changes and responded promptly by email and phone.
My guide (also the owner) was extraordinarily knowledgeable about Israel, both ancient Israel and the modern Jewish state. From archaeology to military history to modern politics, he shared his extensive knowledge and experience. He was happy to go into greater detail or just give me a general overview based on my interest. He also sometimes shared personal stories from a lifetime in Israel that were a great addition to the history. His love and pride in this amazing country shone through. He also gave me a good orientation to each city I stayed in so that I could explore on my own.
This is a great travel company and I highly recommend them. While in Jerusalem, I was happy to have the opportunity to meet the owner's wife and son and office staff. They are all terrific people and will help you plan a memorable Israeli adventure!
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