Discover Israel with a private guide

Start your holiday in style with included airport lounge access before your flight to Tel Aviv. On arrival, a private transfer will see you to your chosen hotel, where you’ll have the rest of the day to relax or explore at your own pace.

Stay: Arthur Hotel (Superior) or Mamilla Hotel (Deluxe)

A full tour of the Old City of Jerusalem will introduce you to this place of intense sanctity to Jews, Christians and Muslims, where holy sites tumble over each other. Your expert guide will unpeel layers of history and provide an overview of what Jerusalem means to the three monotheistic religions. Amongst other sites, you’ll visit those most holy to these three faiths – the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Kotel (Western Wall of the Second Temple), and the Dome of the Rock, which you’ll either visit or view depending on the day of your visit.

Stay: Arthur Hotel (Superior) or Mamilla Hotel (Deluxe)

No visit to Jerusalem would be complete without delving into the treasures of the New City. In the company of your expert guide, you’ll visit the internationally acclaimed Israel Museum, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls (the Shrine of the Book), and the celebrated model of Second Temple of Jerusalem. Time permitting, you’ll also visit the nearby Knesset building of the Israeli parliament and gain some insight into Israel's parliamentary democracy. Yad Vashem, Israel’s monument to the Holocaust, is weighty and important and well deserving of a visit before you head to Mahane Yehuda market to enjoy an included lunch amid the colourful bustle.

Stay: Arthur Hotel (Superior) or Mamilla Hotel (Deluxe)

Arguably Israel’s most dramatic site, Masada’s mountaintop ruins, set against the extraordinary backdrop of the Judean desert, are a spectacular stage for the retelling of a heroic and ancient tale, now engrained in national mythology. With your expert guide as storyteller, you’ll hear about the lives of the final Jewish resisters to Roman rule, relive their struggle against the mighty Roman army, and wonder at their heroic end. Masada is a totally unique site, well deserving of its UNESCO World Heritage status. You’ll then continue on to the shores of the Dead Sea for a dip in the mineral-rich waters. Just remember to bring your flip-flops and pack the cheap bathing suit – the saltwater’s known to play havoc with any material! End the day amid the desert oasis of Ein Gedi, where you’ll have more chances to swimming and to spot desert wildlife, including hyraxes, ibexes and an abundance of birds.

Stay: Arthur Hotel (Superior) or Mamilla Hotel (Deluxe)

Join your guide for a private transfer to Tel Aviv, pausing to explore ancient Jaffa, replete with history from the Biblical, ancient Egyptian, Roman and Ottoman eras. You’ll then head on to Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s prettiest and oldest neighbourhood, where you’ll hear about how the city grew out of the region’s barren sand dunes. Continuing into central Tel Aviv, you’ll visit Rothschild Boulevard, take in the grand exterior of Independence Hall and see the World Heritage-listed Bauhaus buildings of White City. It’s then on for a hummus lunch in the hipster neighbourhood of Florentine, followed by ice cream from one of Tel Aviv’s famous ice cream bars and coffee at a small Ethiopian heritage centre, where you’ll hear remarkable stories of how this community was rescued from war and famine, and brought to Israel through the audacious plans of the local government.

Stay: Lily & Bloom (Superior) or The Norman (Deluxe)

Enjoy two days at leisure, exploring Tel Aviv at your own pace. Perhaps spend some time relaxing in one of the city’s superb beaches, further explore the city’s wonderfully eclectic dining scene or even sample its world-leading nightlife, showcased in everything from swanky lounge bars to bustling rooftop bars.

Stay: Lily & Bloom (Superior) or The Norman (Deluxe)

After a final breakfast at your hotel, take a private transfer to the airport in time for your flight home.