December 19, 2017
What an incredible trip, tailored to our interests and implemented with such grace and skill by the extraordinary Joe Yudin and his staff and guides. We were two couples with mutual interests in history, religion, culture, food, music, and Israel’s military. We did not want to be part of an impersonal, unwieldy large entourage. We’ve been on trips like that and now try to avoid them if possible. Touring Israel hit all the targets we were aiming for, plus many more, and our comprehensive tour would not have been possible with a larger group.
In just 10 days, we climbed Masada, viewed Syria from the Golan Heights, floated in the Dead Sea, waded in the Jordan River, marveled at the wonder of Petra, met with IDF military trainers, shared breakfast with an Arab Israeli journalist, prepared a meal with a charming and beautiful Druze woman, touched the rock of Golgotha, ate street food that spanned the culinary landscape, toured the Judean desert, sipped delicious wine next to vines planted and tended by an intrepid winemaker, and the list goes on.
A special thanks goes to the travel agent assigned to make all the arrangements, Monika. She’s a gem and charming.
Finally, the guide assigned to us, Bena, was perhaps the best we’ve ever encountered: funny, resourceful, enthusiastic and very knowledgeable. Bena met us in Tel Aviv and spent the entire time with us. With Bena leading the way, we bypassed long waiting lines and met wonderful street food vendors and interesting characters wherever we went.
Thank you, Joe Yudin and team for making our pilgrimage something we’ll think and talk about for the rest of our lives. We want to return and when we do, it will be through Touring Israel. A traveler from San Antonio, Texas