Region
Jerusalem
The spiritual heart of three faiths: the walled Old City with the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the golden Dome of the Rock, ringed by ancient gates, bustling souks and the olive groves of the Mount of Olives.
Destinations · Asia
Israel.
Ancient Jerusalem, Mediterranean beaches & the Dead Sea.
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The country
Few countries hold as much history in so small a space as Israel. In the course of a single week you can stand at the Western Wall in the heart of Jerusalem's Old City, float effortlessly on the mineral-blue surface of the Dead Sea, and dine at a sidewalk cafe in cosmopolitan Tel Aviv as the sun drops into the Mediterranean, with each stop only an hour or two from the last.
This is a land of layers, where three faiths and four thousand years of stories share the same hillsides. Mornings might begin in the lanes of a walled city that has been fought over and rebuilt for millennia; afternoons drift to a beachfront promenade or a quiet vineyard in the Galilee hills; and evenings turn to the long, generous tables of a country that takes its food and its hospitality seriously. The mood shifts from the sacred hush of Jerusalem to the easy energy of the coast, and moving between the two is part of the pleasure.
We design Israel itineraries that balance the headline sights with the quieter moments in between: a private dawn walk through the Old City before the gates fill, a cable car up to the desert fortress of Masada, a long lunch of mezze and fresh fish by the sea. However you want to travel it, we build the route so each stop has room to breathe.
- Capital
- Jerusalem
- Currency
- Israeli new shekel (₪)
- Ideal trip
- 7–10 nights
- Best for
- Faith, history & the Dead Sea
When to go
The best time to visit Israel.
Israel is a country of hot dry summers and mild green winters, and the two shoulder seasons either side are where it shines. This is how we'd sketch the year across the desk — the comfortable primes, the punishing midday heat to plan around, and the quiet winter that still keeps the Dead Sea warm.
March–May
Our favorite window: warm, comfortable days, wildflowers across the Galilee hills and the desert at its greenest, all before the fierce heat of high summer settles in.
September–November
Soft autumn light, still-warm Mediterranean water and pleasant days for both the cities and the desert. Ideal for pairing Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with the Dead Sea without summer's heat.
June–August
Peak summer: hot and dry, with the coast and beaches at their liveliest. Jerusalem stays bearable in the evenings, but the Dead Sea and the desert can be punishing at midday, so we plan early starts.
December–February
Mild, quiet and good value, with occasional rain and cool evenings in the hills. Jerusalem can be chilly, but the Dead Sea and Eilat stay warm, making winter a fine time for a sun-and-history trip.
Where to go
The regions of Israel.
Israel packs a remarkable range of landscapes and ways of life into a country smaller than many travelers expect, from the sacred heart of Jerusalem to the surf of the Mediterranean and the silence of the desert. These are the regions we weave together most often, each with its own scenery, table and pace.
Region
Tel Aviv & the Mediterranean coast
The country's modern, sun-loving counterpoint: long sandy beaches and a buzzing seafront, Bauhaus boulevards and a famous food and nightlife scene, with the ancient port of Jaffa at its southern edge.
Region
The Dead Sea & Masada
The lowest place on earth: a mineral-rich, impossibly buoyant sea hemmed by desert cliffs, the cliff-top fortress of Masada above it and the spa resorts and oasis of Ein Gedi along its shore.
Region
The Galilee & the north
Green, rolling and steeped in stories: the Sea of Galilee and its lakeside villages, the hill town of Nazareth, the holy city of Safed and the vineyards and waterfalls of the Golan Heights beyond.
Region
The Negev Desert & Eilat
The wild, empty south: the vast Ramon Crater, red-rock canyons and Nabataean ruins, trailing down to the Red Sea resort of Eilat with its coral reefs and year-round sunshine.
A sample journey
One way to spend a week in Israel.
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1 Days 1–2Tel Aviv & Jaffa
Begin on the coast: the beaches and Bauhaus boulevards of Tel Aviv, the markets and design studios of the city center, and the ancient stone lanes and harbor of Jaffa as the sun sets over the Mediterranean.
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2 Days 3–4Jerusalem
Up into the hills to Jerusalem: a private walk through the Old City to the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Dome of the Rock, then the markets, museums and viewpoints of the Mount of Olives.
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3 Days 5–6The Dead Sea & Masada
Down to the lowest point on earth: a cable car to the cliff-top fortress of Masada at dawn, the oasis waterfalls of Ein Gedi, and an afternoon floating on the mineral-blue Dead Sea with the desert cliffs all around.
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4 Days 7–8The Galilee & the north
Finish in the green north: the Sea of Galilee and its lakeside churches, the hill town of Nazareth, the artists' quarter of Safed and the vineyards and waterfalls of the Golan Heights beyond.
Every itinerary we build is bespoke: this is a starting point, not a package.
Getting around
- By private driver-guide
- The country is compact, and a private driver-guide turns the short transfers into part of the trip, with someone who knows the history beside you at the Old City, Masada and the Galilee. It's how we build most Israel itineraries.
- By car
- A hire car gives the freedom to roam the northern hills, the vineyards of the Golan and the desert at your own pace, on modern, well-signed highways.
- By rail & domestic flight
- A fast train links the two big cities, and the old quarters are best on foot. For the far south, a quick flight drops you in Eilat for a few days of Red Sea diving.
Where to stay
- Jerusalem
- We favor stays just outside the Old City walls, around the German Colony or the boutique hotels of the city center, for walkable access to the holy sites by day and atmospheric, quiet evenings once the day-trippers have gone.
- Tel Aviv
- A seafront hotel along the promenade puts the beach and the Mediterranean on your doorstep, while the leafy streets around Rothschild Boulevard and Neve Tzedek suit travelers who want the city's design, dining and nightlife close at hand.
- The Dead Sea
- The spa resorts along the shore at Ein Bokek are built for floating, mud treatments and desert sunsets, and make a relaxing one or two-night base for visiting Masada and Ein Gedi at the cooler ends of the day.
- The Galilee
- A country guesthouse or boutique winery stay in the green hills of the Upper Galilee or Golan gives you lakeside villages, vineyards and Nazareth within easy reach, and a gentler, more rural pace to end the trip.
Car hire, driver-guides, rail tickets and any domestic flights are all arranged as part of every itinerary — the logistics are handled before you arrive.
Good to know
Israel travel questions.
How many days do you need in Israel?+
Seven to ten nights is the sweet spot. A week comfortably covers Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea, since the distances are short and the highlights are close together. Closer to two weeks lets you add the Galilee and the north, the Negev Desert or a few days of diving in Eilat on the Red Sea at an unhurried pace.
When is the best time to visit Israel?+
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are ideal: warm, comfortable days, green hills and the desert at its best, without the fierce heat of high summer. Summers are hot and dry, especially at the Dead Sea and in the Negev, while winters are mild and good value, with some rain and cool evenings in the Jerusalem hills.
Is it easy to get around Israel?+
Yes, and that is one of its joys. Israel is a compact country, so Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea are each only an hour or two apart. A hire car or private driver-guide gives the most freedom for the Galilee and the desert, a fast train links Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and short flights reach Eilat in the far south. We arrange it all as part of the itinerary.
Can you really float in the Dead Sea?+
You really can. The Dead Sea is so saturated with salt and minerals that you bob on the surface effortlessly, and it is one of the most memorable experiences of any Israel trip. The mineral-rich mud is famous for its skin benefits, and the spa resorts along the shore are built around floating, treatments and desert sunsets. We build in a relaxed day or two there.
Is Masada worth visiting, and how do you get up?+
Absolutely; Masada is one of the great set pieces of the country, a desert fortress on a high plateau above the Dead Sea with a dramatic history and sweeping views. A cable car carries you to the top in minutes, or the fit and early-rising can climb the Snake Path for sunrise. We arrange tickets, a guide and the timing so you see it at the cooler, quieter end of the day.
Ways to Explore
How to travel Israel.
Tailormade Trips
A private journey designed entirely around you, your pace, and your people.
Cruises
River, ocean and expedition voyages, from the Danube to Antarctica.
Escorted Tours
Expertly guided, end to end, with the world's finest local operators.
All-Inclusive
Effortless resort escapes; we cut through the haze to the right one.
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