Judea

Qumran sits above the northern Dead Sea, surrounded by the stark landscape of the Judean Desert. It is closely connected with the Dead Sea Scrolls, found in nearby caves and among the most important ancient manuscripts ever discovered. A visit to the site offers a chance to consider the community that lived here, its ritual practices, water systems, and relationship to Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Combined with a visit to the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem, Qumran gives the scrolls a powerful physical setting. The story of Qumran is one of a small community that chose the desert to live by its own strict vision of faith, order, and purity, then left behind writings that transformed our understanding of the biblical world.

Visit the Christian Quarter and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditionally associated with the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This is one of Christianity’s most important pilgrimage sites. A private walk can include the Via Dolorosa, the Church of Saint Anne, the Pools of Bethesda, the Ethiopian and Coptic chapels, and the busy lanes surrounding the church. It can focus on the Gospels, Christian pilgrimage, the church’s architecture, or the communities that share it. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is also the story of Christian communities that have prayed, negotiated, protected, and sometimes competed over the same sacred space for centuries.

Explore Israel’s wine country with David Perlmutter on a full-day private tour through the Judean Hills. The Judean Hills, west and south of Jerusalem, are one of Israel’s oldest wine-growing areas. Vineyards have been part of this landscape since biblical times, and ancient wine presses, terraces, and archaeological sites can still be found among the hills. In recent decades, the region has become home to some of Israel’s most respected wineries, from established estates to small family-run producers. This day is an introduction to the wines, people, landscapes, and stories of the Judean Hills. We will visit selected wineries, taste local wines, and learn about the region’s long connection to grape growing and winemaking. Along the way, there will be time to enjoy the countryside, stop for lunch, and take in the views. Each tour is planned around the group’s interests, the season, and winery availability. Whether you know wine well or simply enjoy good food, beautiful landscapes, and local stories, this is a relaxed day out in a part of Israel many visitors never get to see. Best for: • Wine lovers of all levels, from curious drinkers to experienced collectors • Couples, adult private groups, and small groups of friends • First-time visitors looking to spend a full day beyond Jerusalem, in a landscape they might not otherwise see • Returning visitors to Israel who want a slower, more specialised day • Kosher-observant travellers. A fully kosher winery route can be arranged Before you go: • No designated driver is needed. David drives • Wear comfortable shoes for walking in vineyards and around wineries • Bring a sun hat and water. The Judean Hills can be hot in summer • Expect a modest amount of walking at each winery • The day includes several wine tastings, so it is worth pacing yourself. David will guide the tastings. Included: • Full-day private guiding with David Perlmutter • Private off-road transport from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv • Two or three winery visits, arranged in advance • Tasting fees at the scheduled wineries • Lunch arrangements, with the meal paid separately Not included: • Lunch. David will arrange the restaurant; payment is made directly • Wine purchases at the wineries • Accommodation before or after the tour Other options: • A half-day Judean Hills tour is also available for travellers with less time. It lasts three to four hours and includes one or two wineries. • Longer wine trips can also be planned, including the Galilee and Golan, Negev boutique wineries, or a north-to-south wine journey. Ask for a custom quote.

Explore the Judean foothills with Eli Romanovsky on a private day of biblical landscapes, ancient cities, and underground worlds. Begin with the view from Tel Azekah across the Elah Valley, traditionally associated with David and Goliath. From there, continue to Beit Guvrin, where generations of people cut homes, water systems, burial chambers, workshops, and hiding places into the soft limestone beneath the hills. The caves at Beit Guvrin reveal a world that is easy to miss from above ground. Walk through ancient chambers, columbaria, cisterns, painted caves, and passages that tell the story of life in the region over many centuries. For those who want a more active day, the tour can include a Bar Kokhba hiding complex. Other options include a goat farm and cheese-making workshop, the Avshalom Stalactite Cave, or a security and self-defence experience. This private tour can be shaped around your group, whether you are travelling with children, interested in biblical history, or simply looking for a varied day beyond Jerusalem.

The Dead Sea is a place of extremes: the lowest point on land, a landscape of salt and stone, and a body of water so dense that floating comes naturally. A day here can combine the desert’s stark scenery with water, rest, and a walk through one of Israel’s most striking oases. At Ein Gedi, springs emerge from the Judean Desert to form streams, waterfalls, pools, and green vegetation beneath the cliffs. Ibex and rock hyrax are often seen along the paths. The reserve is one of Israel’s largest oases and offers a complete contrast to the barren slopes around it. The day can end at Ein Bokek, where public beaches and the mineral-rich Dead Sea offer time to float, swim, and rest. The route can also include Masada, Qumran, or other Dead Sea stops, depending on your interests and the time available. The deeper story is the tension between abundance and fragility. The same region holds ancient settlement, desert springs, salt, minerals, tourism, and a rapidly changing shoreline, making the Dead Sea one of the most extraordinary and vulnerable landscapes in the country.

Mount Zion lies just outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls, but it carries stories from many periods and traditions. It is associated with King David, the Last Supper, early Christianity, Jewish prayer, the Holocaust, and the divided city of Jerusalem after 1948. A private walk can include David’s Tomb, the Room of the Last Supper, Dormition Abbey, the old city walls, and the nearby streets around Zion Gate. The visit can focus on Jewish history, Christian tradition, sacred geography, modern Jerusalem, or the different meanings attached to the same buildings. Mount Zion shows how Jerusalem’s sacred map has never been fixed. A few streets and buildings have been claimed, reinterpreted, and remembered differently by Jews, Christians, Muslims, pilgrims, residents, and modern Israelis.