Traveler Testimonials
Touring Israel will arrange for you a truly custom tailored tour of Israel with the best guides and the highest levels of service in Israel. But don’t just take our word for it! Here are some of the nice things our past customers have felt compelled to share with you:
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Unbelievable experience! We spent four days hiking through northern Israel. Every hill had a story and Joe knew them all. He brought together ancient history, recent history, and current events seamlessly. I’m going back every year.
Journey of a LifetimeApril 11, 2023
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Thank you Touring Israel for providing the journey of a lifetime. You listened to our interests, built an amazing itinerary, matched us with the perfect guide, and paid attention the smallest detail.
Ofer Zemach was an exceptional guide; knowledgable, collegial, and flexible. When he found out we were art lovers (a detail we failed to mention when our trip was being planned), he adjusted on the fly to include galleries in Tzfat and the Chagall windows in Jerusalem, two of the high points of our visit. His knowledge of Jewish, Christian and Israeli history enhanced our visit at every location, and his local food and wine expertise led us to wonderful dining experiences.
We enjoyed all the hotels, but loved The Drisco in Tel Aviv. Lovely property, great staff, wow breakfasts, great proximity to the promenade and Jaffa.
Lunch with the Druse family, IDF briefing at the Golan Heights, and meeting with journalist Khaled Abu Toameh were also highlights.
Thank you Jonathan and Monika for all your work behind the scenes to create an amazing visit!
Journey of a LifetimeApril 11, 2023
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Thank you Touring Israel for providing the journey of a lifetime. You listened to our interests, built an amazing itinerary, matched us with the perfect guide, and paid attention the smallest detail.
Ofer Zemach was an exceptional guide; knowledgable, collegial, and flexible. When he found out we were art lovers (a detail we failed to mention when our trip was being planned), he adjusted on the fly to include galleries in Tzfat and the Chagall windows in Jerusalem, two of the high points of our visit. His knowledge of Jewish, Christian and Israeli history enhanced our visit at every location, and his local food and wine expertise led us to wonderful dining experiences.
We enjoyed all the hotels, but loved The Drisco in Tel Aviv. Lovely property, great staff, wow breakfasts, great proximity to the promenade and Jaffa.
Lunch with the Druse family, IDF briefing at the Golan Heights, and meeting with journalist Khaled Abu Toameh were also highlights.
Thank you Jonathan and Monika for all your work behind the scenes to create an amazing visit!
Traveler from Washington, USAJuly 20, 2018
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Touring Israel was truly an amazing find – we are grateful that we were able to see Israel with this company. Landing in Tel Aviv, our family of six was met by an agent who whisked us through special customs lines in no time and saw us to our car and driver who then delivered us to our hotel for our first restful night in Israel. We met our guide the next morning who took great care of us, even inviting us to a few family events which made us feel right at home. We were keenly interested in both history as well as current issues, and Daniel was well-prepared and knowledgeable beyond our expectations. — The planning stage for the trip was personal and thorough as the consultant asked us what our interests were so he could make suggestions as to what we should see and do. The resulting itinerary was perfect! Contact Touring Israel with Joe Yudin, you will have the trip of a lifetime – until the next one, that is!
Traveler from New York City, NYJune 24, 2018
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We recently returned from a weeklong family trip to Israel… my wife, our 13-year old son, our 10-year old daughter, and my wife’s parents in their early-70s. The occasion was for our son’s Bar Mitzvah, and our children and I had never been to Israel. We selected Joe and Touring Israel on the recommendation of a trusted friend, and after meeting with Joe personally in NYC. Our trip was extraordinary, and exceeded all of our expectations. Circumstances were such that we only had a week to see the country, but from our bases in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, we were able to accomplish A LOT. Joe and Rivka were meticulous in their planning, and customizing an itinerary to meet our interests. Some activities that we were initially skeptical of turned out to be real highlights of the trip. Joe also allowed for flexibility within the schedule itself, which was so helpful given the age gap in our group. Some activities we cut short, some we extended, some we canceled, etc. Joe (along with our excellent driver, Yuri) even managed to find us an express laundry/dry cleaning/pressing service in Jerusalem in a tight time crunch! I cannot recommend Joe Yudin highly enough. He was a tour guide, security guard, professor, and friend. His knowledge of the region’s history is voluminous. All of his personnel resources — the food-tasting guides, the Bar Mitzvah Rabbi, the helicopter pilot — were top-notch. Our trust in Joe was so absolute that despite our initial reluctance to take our children to Yad Vashem, we knew they would be ok with Joe as our personal guide. I almost cannot imagine seeing Israel without him, and look forward to returning again soon.
Traveler from Sarasota, FLJune 21, 2018
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Touring Israel was definitely the way to experience Israel. Between organizing the trip, setting us up with an amazing guide, planning our hotels and providing a VIP service from start to finish, it was a great way to visit an amazingly rich and intense country.
VIP Israel Bar Mitzvah Trip June 24, 2018
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Touring Israel with Joe Yudin was truly the trip of a lifetime! We are grateful to travel extensively with our children and in the last five years have been to Alaska, Italy, California, Texas, Florida, Vancouver, Hawaii, London, Quebec City and Nevis but NOTHING could have prepared us for the memories made on our week-long visit to Israel. We looked at many possible tour guides to help us plan a Bar Mitzvah trip to Israel for us, our two kids and parents and I am so grateful that we went with Touring Israel as the experience could not be duplicated by any other guide. From the moment we stepped off the plane and were ushered through the airport with VIP treatment, it was clear that Joe has spent over a decade cultivating relationships with the most knowledgeable, friendly and warm individuals who specialize in their areas of expertise. Every person we met, from the guides who took us for tastings through the food markets in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to the humorous and brilliant helicopter pilot who took us to the Golan Heights, we felt safe and comfortable and in the best hands at all times. Touring a group whose ages range from 10-70 is not for the faint of heart but Joe was always professional, flexible and kept a great sense of humor. I particularly appreciated that he gave us choices for activities and took the pulse of the group and adjusted for our energy level that day (e.g., taking the tram up to Masada instead of climbing). He thought of activities for us that we would have never known about but that turned out to be some of our favorite experiences such as meeting with a Canadian/Israeli journalist who had a unique perspective on the conflicts in the region. This meeting shifted our paradigm and will inform how we seek out current events information in the future. Joe has an encyclopedic knowledge of Israel/World Religions and his pride in the country is clear and infectious. The only negative thing I can say is that we had to come home!!!!
Memorable Negev Hiking ExperienceMarch 25, 2018
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My husband and I spent two weeks hiking in the Negev supported by Touring Israel and Adam Sela. The highlight of the trip was a magical night we spent camping in the desert near the Nachal Mador. After a strenuous day clambering up and down cliffs in the desert guided by Evia, it was such a treat to walk into the camp — finding the tents set up, delicious refreshments and a camp fire. The stars are so clear and beautiful in the desert and Adam and his team provided everything for our comfort and enjoyment. We woke up the next morning to see the sun rise and then returned to the trail after a delicious shakshuka breakfast. Truly a memorable experience. A traveler from Arlington, Virginia
Traveler from New York City, NYApril 21, 2018
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I have never once written a review for anything, but the trip and service we received from Joe Yudin, our tour guide, Bena, Rivka and the rest of the Touring Israel staff was so extraordinary, I would be remiss if I didn’t share our experience! Touring Israel did a phenomenal job expertly planning every aspect of our trip and designing a personalized itinerary that was suited to everyone — no easy feat for a group that ranged from age 6 to 80! They listened to us about what we wanted and they spent hours upon hours (and countless emails) to make sure our expectations were met. From the minute we stepped off the plane, we had days filled with awesome sights, thrilling, unique activities, a beautiful, memorable bar mitzvah at the Wall for our son and phenomenal restaurants and hotels. All of the logistics that can make traveling so frustrating – particularly with a large group – were expertly handled by Touring Israel leaving us to enjoy our trip. Our tour guide, Bena, was nothing short of incredible. He was a fountain of information, he kept things interesting for everyone, he worked tirelessly to make sure everyone was having fun and seeing what they wanted to see, and he was an absolute joy to be be around. He quickly became a member of our family, and there were many in the group who were in tears when we had to say goodbye. It is rare that I can honestly say ‘that was worth every penny and exceeded my wildest expectations.’ The trip we had with Touring Israel was that and more!
Traveler from Cheyenne, WyomingFebruary 13, 2018
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Our entire ten day experience with Touring Israel was exceptional and our guide Daniel was unbelievable. We arrived in September 2017 just weeks after our close friends were unable to visit Jerusalem due to tensions over security measures. Our security concerns were quickly dispelled by Daniel who has friends all over the Holy Land. He is fluent in both Arabic and Hebrew as well as English and moved easily throughout Israel and the West Bank. As an Arab Christian raised and educated in Jerusalem he provides a unique perpsective on the challenges facing Israel and her neighbors. At each site we visited, our faith was deepened as he shared his extensive knowledge of the religious and secular history of ancient and modern Israel. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is a superlative teacher. We were introduced to his family and many of his Christian friends and shared meals and stories with them. If your interest in visiting Israel is to expand your knowledge and enrich your Christian faith do not let security concerns deter you and ask for Daniel as your guide.
Traveler from Chicago, IllinoisJanuary 21, 2018
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We just returned home from the trip of a lifetime! We were in Israel to celebrate our son’s Bar Mitzvah with 16 family members ranging in age from 8 – 77. Joe Yudin and Maria on his team planned the perfect trip for our family from ATVing in the Golan Heights to hiking Masada, exploring Petra, traveling through the water tunnels beneath Jerusalem to helping us plan the perfect Bar Mitzvah ceremony for our son at Robinson’s Arch at the Wall. Our guide, Ari David was incredible. He blended the perfect amount of history with amazing activities during our 12 days in Israel. We cannot recommend Touring Israel enough.
Traveler from Houston, TXJuly 25, 2017
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This was our first visit to Israel. We found the Touring Israel website on Google and were very pleased with our 10 days of personalized touring around Israel, staying at great accommodations and accompanied by our superb local guide, Daniel. Touring Israel put together a tour itinerary that captured what we wanted to see – from a mixture of historic and current Jewish, Christian, and Palestinian sites across the country, to biking/Segway, unique cultural experiences, along with some great restaurants, food and home visits. Quality service started from the time you got off the plane until you left. Our driver and personal guide Daniel, was exactly what we were looking for – super friendly, helpful, considerate, flexible, safety conscious, and familiar with Israel’s history and current political environment. His personal background provided an added perspective on the religious and political complexities of Israel relating to Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. He is multilingual, speaking Hebrew, Arabic, and English, knows his way around, and had acquaintances and friends every place we traveled. Besides that, he drives a very comfortable Mercedes van. One of our highlights was an unplanned visit and lunch with some of his relatives in the Old City in Jerusalem. Touring Israel effectively managed a last minute unexpected hotel change in Jerusalem just prior to our arrival that was caused by the visit of US President Trump. They were able to get us in similar accommodations near the hotel originally booked. Follow-up service from tour planning, during the trip, and at the end was also excellent and appreciated. A couple of final comments – Bespoke travel in Israel is not the cheapest alternative, but is a great way to travel to avoid the large tour buses as well as to get a more personalized experience. Touring Israel does it well and their costs are reasonable when compared to other high end providers. For longer trips like the one we had, there is an expectation that you pay a security deposit prior to finalizing your itinerary and booking.
Phil, Tallahassee, FLAugust 22, 2017
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Just returned from a week in Israel with Daniel. Had a blast. Toured Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Caesarea etc. Daniel is very knowledgeable and an expert guide. I was traveling alone and Daniel and I quickly became friends. He gives the trip that extra touch that makes it unforgettable. Don’t forget to eat lunch at his cousin Freddie’s restaurant. Can’t wait to return and will be calling Daniel at Touring Israel!
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Joe was our strategic handler for our trip to Israel. He assigned us one of his best colleagues, and made sure everything was perfect. I would use Joe again in a New York minute.
Traveler from Ft Lauderdale, FLAugust 25, 2017
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A trip to Israel is unique because for such a tiny country there are so many significant historical, religious, archeological, and cultural aspects going back thousands of years. It’s especially important to understand what you are seeing. And it is equally important that your tour and your timing are efficiently and intelligently planned. In planning my trip with Joe and his staff, I felt they really wanted to ensure we had the best experience possible. I wanted a 2-day tour of the Galilee and Golan Heights. We discussed possible itineraries and the final tour was excellent. They made the best hotel and restaurant reservations for me. At the hotel we had the nicest room and the nicest location. Our guide, Daphne, was super. We immediately felt very comfortable traveling with her. There wasn’t a question she couldn’t answer. As she got to know us better, she was able to make suggestions for tweaking the itinerary to include a few more things she thought we would especially enjoy. For our 2 lunches with us, Daphne took us to wonderful places where the locals eat. We really enjoyed the experience and the great food. We never would have found those places on our own. Thanks, Daphne. All of my communications with Joe were very efficient. Different time zones can make it tricky, but all questions were answered by the next business day. All arrangements were clearly explained and in writing. Joe’s assistant, Adi, was very easy to work with and very reliable. All of our stops were organized in advance. Everything went very smoothly. I can highly recommend this Tour company. We learned so much and had a lot of fun.
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Unbelievable experience! We spent four days hiking through northern Israel. Every hill had a story and Joe knew them all. He brought together ancient history, recent history, and current events seamlessly. I’m going back every year.
Marty F, San Jose, CAJuly 20, 2017
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The Only First Class Way to See Israel Touring Israel is without a doubt, the best way to see and experience Israel. It was my dad’s 90th birthday gift from me, his son. I wanted it to be something very special and it was without a doubt. I first spoke at length with Gil the trip planner. We spoke several times about what we wanted to see and the type of trip we wanted. For 12 days we could cover a lot of ground. He gave us a preliminary itinerary from which we could discuss and make changes. Once that was done, We set up all the bookings. We decided on 5 star hotels. Everything was arranged in advance and they provided us with helpful information on what to bring along. From the moment we landed in Tel Aviv, we were met and escorted through immigration and customs. We never stood in a single line. We traveled to Jerusalem and met our guide Bena/ Without a doubt, he was beyond superb; energetic, smart, and caring. It wasn’t long before he felt like family. The hotels along the way were magnificent. The Milia Hotel in Jerusalem was gorgeous. Wonderful staff and the most spectacular breakfast buffet every morning. We traveled in a comfortable 8 seater van throughout. We saw most of the Country traveling down south through the Negev Desert and then North to the Golan. Yes, we saw the classic sites along the way; floating in the Dead Sea, Masada, the Western Wall, as well as the West Bank, Tel Aviv. However, what made this so special were the out of the ordinary activities that were arranged. We had two special dinners; one with an orthodox family in Jerusalem and with a Druze woman in the Golan area. Homemade food and families from the region. We went on an archeological dig and actually uncovered 2000 year old pottery and artifacts. But no, we couldn’t take any with us. We planted trees in a forest, we met with a retired Defense Force officer who spoke to us about the current political situation. We toured the food markets with a foodie and tasted everything. We did star gazing in the Negev Desert, and met Palestinians in Bethlehem I could go on…but then again, experience it for yourself. You won’t be disappointed; in fact you won’t want to leave. And the memories you will have will be cherished always. I’ve been on many trips around the world, and in fact have been in Israel once before, but nothing like this. Let Touring Israel be your guide. Enjoy!
Top notch, from start to finishJuly 15, 2017
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We booked a 10-day trip for 3 adults (December 2016). Jonathan and Gil were very helpful formulating an ideal itinerary with suggestions based on our interests that we would not have thought of, or found, through online research. They were up front about pricing and time frames for each day. There were no unpleasant surprises, and everything went as anticipated. The team was easy to contact, and it was easy getting questions answered. We would also like to thank Ixora and Rivka for their help. On arrival to Tel Aviv, an agent met us on the jet bridge and promptly escorted us to our vehicle–no waiting in any lines. We have used several agencies but have never received this level of service. The hotel bookings were excellent, and our rooms offered incredible views. Our guide, Daphne, was energetic and passionate about her work. The tours were flexible, and sometimes spontaneous, which made for a really great time. Daphne fine-tuned our experience with special, last-minute stops along the way. Daphne always managed to provide fun surprises based on information gleaned from our conversations. Daphne will be forever in each of our memories! Overall, the experience was well worth the more-than-fair value. We hope to talk to and see you all again–especially Daphne!
Dr. Alan GoldmanJuly 12, 2017
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Excellent experience!!! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and fun. We created our own itinerary but allowed for “exceptions” and other experiences without any problems. Getting out of and back into the airport was remarkably easy with the guides. We picked our own guide, and hotels with appropriate help from the tour company. We cannot speak highly enough about our trip. Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! Thank you, so much.
Jolie B, Arlington, VirginiaJuly 10, 2017
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We just returned from a wonderful four week hiking trip in Israel. We hiked from Dan and the mountains in the north to Caesarea on the Mediterranean. Every day trip gave us a chance to experience the variety and beauty of Israel as we hiked up and down mountains, through rushing streams, ancient olive groves, exquisite pomegranate orchards and tangles of blooming cacti. We paused to explore world heritage sites, archeological digs, art installations, galleries and Druze, Bedouin, Arab villages. Everywhere people offered water or an invitation to share coffee. Every night after our day trip we relaxed and enjoyed delicious meals in venues ranging from the Kfar Bloom kibbutz Pastoral Hotel, to the historic Scots hotel, beautiful modern Dan Carmel by the Baha’i gardens, and the spectacular Elma Arts Hotel in Zichron Ya’akov. These day trips provided constant and unexpected pleasure… whether seeing fireworks outside our balcony on the sea of Galilee to a hang glider floating over a Huppa at a wedding in Zichron Ya’akov.. or sitting and having a cooling drink in a village founded by artists surrounded by amazing sculptures. Every day we could always expect some unexpected treat for the senses. We made arrangements through Gil Haran of Touring Israel. He laid out the hikes so we could be dropped off at the trail in the morning and picked up at a convenient point at the end of the day. The places he found for us to stay suited our interests and preferences — after a day of hiking we could relax with a massage and a glass of wine in a beautiful and interesting environment — surrounded by history, art and natural beauty. Gil arranged for our wonderful guide, Igal Volitzky, to pick us up and drop us off at the hotel each day. Igal was always waiting for us with chilled water at the end of a hot day of hiking and gave us the benefit of his many years as a guide with running commentary of the land and history as we drove to and from the trail. Igal having lived and worked in the area had friends everywhere, some of whom we had the privilege of meeting; giving us an even deeper appreciation of the land and the people. This was our seventh trip to Israel (all booked through Touring Israel) and the second one with the primary focus on hiking the Israel National Trail. The earlier trips were focused on a series of day trips to the many historical and religious sites. All of our other trips have been in the winter/spring — late February to early March. This time we hiked the north in June– and it was unseasonably hot. New rule — only hike the Israeli National Trail in the spring. Hiking the land like this is a spectacular way to experience Israel.
Traveler from Zurich, SwitzerlandJanuary 10, 2018
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Right after crossing the boarder, we were greeted by the tour operator. Due to some miscommunication, last minute changes had to be made – David from Touring Israel did it all and we had a fantastic tour of TLV and Jerusalem. Our Guide was Dor who gave us a great tour of the two cities, has lots of knowledge, answers all the questions and we have had various very interesting discussions! The tour was perfectly organised from the beginning until the drop-off at the airport.
Judi Milich, New York, NYJanuary 4, 2018
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This trip was truly unique. Joe Yudin is the most knowledgeable guide I have ever encountered. He showed us spots in Israel that we never knew existed. He engaged kids and adults as well. Smartness plus personality made for a fabulous experience. If you want an unforgettable trip in Israel contact Joe at Touring Israel.com.
Traveler from New York City, New YorkJanuary 3, 2018
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Our entire family went to Israel for our sons barmitzvah, it was the most incredible trip customized to our family and all the ages in the group which was from 13 to 80 Each day had something for everyone- we spent 12 days touring and it was super The trip was superbly planned from breakfast to dinner each day I highly recommend Joe Yudin and his company Touring Israel.
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