בס"ד
Leah's Fun and Inspiring Tours in and Around Jerusalem
Also offering Zoom Tours for an Israel Experience from your home!
Embassy Community Tours
On this page I am offering discounted rates on excellent tours of Jerusalem for the Embassy Community, guests and those who work in affiliated fields.
Tours are good for first timers or those who have toured extensively.
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For more information about tours or to make a reservation,
contact me at tourguideleah@gmail.com or WhatsApp at +972-50-6558670
(I do not answer calls/messages on the Jewish Sabbath or holidays. Feel free to send a WhatsApp message or email anytime, and I will reply asap).
A HALF DAY TOUR (up to 4 hours)
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Fast-paced tour of the highlights of the key holy sites and the 4 quarters including history, archaeology, culture and more.
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Half day tours leaves you plenty of time to explore on your own
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Perfect for very hot or cold weather or family tours
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Includes a 15 minute snack break
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Typical route: Meet at Jaffa Gate, Go up to the Tower of David for a spectacular view of the Temple Mount, Old City and the Mount of Olives, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, enjoy a 15 minute break and brief tour of the Jewish Quarter, approach the Western Wall, and walk through the the Old City Market. Route can be custom designed.
950 Shekels (approx. $245 USD)* plus VAT
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A 3/4 DAY TOUR - (up to 6 Hours)
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6 Hour Tour allows for additional sites and/or a more relaxed pace
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Best value
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Includes a lunch break to recharge
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Can include a visit to the Mount of Olives with a driver (additional fee approx $140 USD for up to 5 people)
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A typical route includes: Mount of Olives (several sites), Jaffa Gate, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Cardo, Jewish Quarter, Western Wall, Excavations around Southern steps of the Temple Mount/Davidson Center or Via Dolorosa, and the Old City Market. Route can be custom designed.
1150 Shekels (approx. $305 USD)* plus VAT
A FULL DAY TOUR (Up to 8 Hours)​
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Combine Modern Jerusalem with an Old City Tour
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Good for adults with a lot of energy for walking and learning about Jerusalem, or who only have one day to tour in Jerusalem
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Lunch break and two short "coffee" breaks.
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A typical route includes: Yad Vashem and/or Mt. Herzl National Leaders and Military Cemetery, Light rail train, Lunch at Mahane Yehuda Market, Go up to the Tower of David for a spectacular view of the Temple Mount, Old City and the Mount of Olives, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Western Wall, Old City Market. Route can be custom designed.
1350 Shekels (approx. $360 USD)* plus VAT
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*IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ TO THE END*
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FEES AND PAYMENT
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Guiding fees are for tours booked as of December 15, 2023. *Fees listed above do not include entrance fees (generally minimal), driver fees (if any), or meals. All fees are detailed in advance.
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Guiding fees listed here are discounted rates for your group, not per person.
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A group is up to 10 adults or one family (with children under age 12).
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There is an additional 100 shekel fee for peak season holiday weeks.
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I offer a 75 shekel discount if the tour is for an individual traveler.
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Guiding fees are quoted in Shekels (ILS or NIS). USD amounts are listed only to give a general sense of the amount, but the exact shekel/dollar rate fluctuates frequently.
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Payment is due by the end of the tour in Shekels cash or by credit card on a secure app on my phone. If the tour is for a group of colleagues where more than 2 people are sharing the cost of the tour, payment is in cash only and exact change is requested.
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There is no deposit required for Embassy tours, and no cancellation fees in the event of unexpected restrictions on visiting the area for government employees of your country.
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Please note: Drivers generally accept payment in cash only. Some sites with small entrance fees such as 5-10 shekels pp will only accept payment in cash as well.
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VAT is currently 17% (receipt is provided)
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TEMPLE MOUNT
Tours do not include a guided tour of the Temple Mount. We will see the Dome of the Rock/Temple Mount from various vantage points which enable us to see and learn alot. If you would like to go up to the Temple Mount, ask me for more information.
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MOUNT OF OLIVES
Many visitors are very happy they have chosen to go up to the top of the Mount of Olives for a breathtaking view of Jerusalem and the meaningful and fascinating sites to visit there. Although it's just behind the Old City, it's necessary to go with a driver. For various safety and logistical reasons, it's not possible to go with your own car. I go with local professional drivers who are experts at navigating the complex roads of the Mount of Olives. I can also connect you to an excellent driver for a half day visit to Bethlehem. I offer this as a free service, payment goes directly to the driver.
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TOURS WITH CHILDREN UNDER AGE 12
I provide games and prizes throughout the tour to engage young visitors in the content of the tour. Its ideal to keep the group to the immediate family (plus perhaps a few adult relatives), rather than a tour for two families or a tour of children and/or many adults. This way, I can give the children extra attention and age-appropriate explanations, and everyone has a good time. Let me know children's ages so I can bring the right games. If two families with young children feel it would work well to tour together, it's possible to do a tour for both for an additional fee of 125 shekels for the additional family.
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ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If the group starts late or takes longer than planned for breaks, we might not see everything planned. When possible, I am happy to give a few extra minutes to finish the route, at no additional charge, because it's hard for me to know exactly how long visiting each site will take due to many variables. Drivers, however, generally do charge for each additional 15 minutes.
Feel free to browse other pages on my website. The other Embassy tour pages do not appear in the general website menu, so in order to return to these pages, use the link you received by email or WhatsApp.
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MOBILITY
An Old City tour generally involves a lot of walking and stairs. Let me know if anyone has limitations on mobility and I can suggest options for a more accessible Jerusalem tour.
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OLD CITY SHOPS
Time permitting, and if you are interested, it can be nice to introduce you to some shop owners in the different quarters because it is a wonderful way to meet residents of the old city, many of whom have fascinating family stories about their connections to Jerusalem. I do not take commissions from stores, and I try to encourage the shop owners to give you their best prices. However, it's still worthwhile to bargain with them a little beyond their initial price quote.
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WHAT TO WEAR/BRING ALONG?
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Comfortable walking shoes with good treads (white not recommended). Old City and Mount of Olives walkways can be slippery.
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Water, sunhat, sunscreen
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Snacks just-in-case (helpful for tours with kids/teens)
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Tissues and hand sanitizer for under-stocked bathrooms.
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Cover shoulders and knees for holy sites, no low-cut shirts. Capris, pants and skirts are fine. Men need a head covering for the Western Wall, any hat is fine.
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Reminder: Check the weather the day before your tour. Jerusalem is cooler than other areas such as the coast.
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For winter rain, umbrellas and waterproof shoes and jackets, and fleece and flannel layers can be helpful. There can be deep puddles in the Old City even though many areas are covered.
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For hot summer days, insulated water bottles half full with ice can make a difference.