Judea

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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.

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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.

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King Herod (ruled 37 BCE – 4 CE) was one of the cruelest rulers of Eretz Yisrael of all time, but he was also a master builder. The Temple Mount (Har HaBayit), Masada and Caesarea are among his most famous accomplishments. But the monument that he built and named for himself in the Judean Desert is nothing short of awesome. He even built the infrastructure for his own royal funeral. From a distance Herodion (or Herodium) looks like a flat-top mountain, but it’s really an artificial cone! The palace and bathhouse built inside the structure are marvelous, as is the public room which was used as a synagogue by Jewish rebels during the revolts against Rome. Newly opened to the public is the theatre and access to where Herod’s tomb was found. Particularly cool are the huge underground cisterns, and hideout caves, that we will wall through. In short, this is a tour not to be missed. Notes: Terrific for children and adults; requires a lot of walking uphill and climbing stairs. TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours on-site MEETING POINT and ENDING POINT: Herodion National Park (upon request, we can arrange for a meeting point on Derekh Hevron in Jerusalem) PRICE (total per group): ₪800 (~$250) NOT INCLUDED in the PRICE: Entrance fees for Herodion (₪29 per adult; ₪15 per child; ₪25 for student with ID; ₪15 for senior citizen with ID)

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Journey into the Judean Desert and discover a landscape shaped by cliffs, caves, silence, and centuries of spiritual searching. Beyond Jerusalem, early Christian monks came to these isolated places seeking solitude, prayer, and a different way of life. As we travel through the desert, we will follow their stories and explore how communities survived in such demanding surroundings. How did monks find and store water, grow food, prepare bread, and organise their days? Viewpoints and possible visits can reveal the practical world behind monastic life, including cisterns, bakeries, dining halls, agriculture, worship, and strict daily routines. Depending on access arrangements and the route selected, we might encounter monasteries such as St George’s or Mar Saba and observe how their buildings became part of the cliffs themselves. The desert landscape is not simply a backdrop. It helps explain why these places were chosen and how the communities developed. The experience can be adapted to your interests and preferred pace, with greater emphasis on early Christianity, monastic life, desert landscapes, architecture, or the practical challenge of building communities in isolation. The sites mentioned are possibilities, and the final route will be planned according to current access and conditions.

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Descubre las estribaciones de Judea con Eli Romanovsky en un día privado entre paisajes bíblicos, ciudades antiguas y mundos escondidos bajo tierra. Podemos comenzar con la vista desde Tel Azekah sobre el valle de Elah, tradicionalmente relacionado con la historia de David y Goliat. Desde allí, continuaremos hacia Beit Guvrin, donde generaciones de habitantes excavaron viviendas, sistemas de agua, cámaras funerarias, talleres y refugios en la roca caliza blanda. Las cuevas de Beit Guvrin revelan un mundo que resulta fácil pasar por alto desde la superficie. Podremos caminar por antiguas cámaras, columbarios, cisternas, cuevas pintadas y pasadizos que cuentan la historia de la vida en esta región a lo largo de muchos siglos. Para quienes prefieren una experiencia más activa, el recorrido puede incluir un complejo de escondites de la época de Bar Kojba. Otras posibilidades son visitar una granja de cabras y participar en un taller de elaboración de queso, conocer la Cueva de las Estalactitas de Avshalom o añadir una actividad relacionada con la seguridad y la defensa personal. El recorrido se puede adaptar a familias con niños, viajeros interesados en la historia bíblica o grupos que simplemente buscan un día variado fuera de Jerusalén.

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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.