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Private Expert Tours
 

Private Expert Tours of Jerusalem

 

In-depth, custom-designed tours for travelers who want to truly understand Jerusalem: its ancient roots, its layered history, it's inspiring stories, and the realities of the city today.

  • Built around you: each tour brings together the places of Tanach (Bible), Rabbinic sources, archaeology, history, and today's political and geopolitical picture, shaped around what interests you most.

  • Beyond the highlights. Move between major sites and lesser-known corners of the city, with behind-the-scenes insight that connects past and present.

  • Expert guiding. Led by a licensed guide with an M.A. in Political Science (Religion and Middle East Politics, with a focus on Jerusalem), more than 2,000 tours in the Old City, and over 14 years of experience guiding U.S. diplomats, VIPs, and those who love to learn about Yerushalayim.

  • Up to date. Leah's ongoing work in news, social media and her original research about Jerusalem means you hear the latest on what's happening, not just what's in the guidebooks.

  • For every traveler. Ideal for professionals, curious adults, and couples looking for a special way to celebrate an anniversary or birthday, whether it's your first visit or your tenth.

  • Professional service. Discreet, responsive, and reliable, with official receipts provided.

 

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A HALF DAY TOUR (up to 4 hours)

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  • Fast-paced tour of the highlights of the Old City  archaeology, geopolitics, culture and more. 

  • Half day tours leaves you plenty of time to explore on your own

  • Perfect for very hot/cold weather, adults on tight schedules

  • Includes a 15 minute snack break

 

*1595 Shekels

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Southern Excavations Temple Mount

A 3/4 DAY TOUR - (up to 6.5 Hours)

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  • Tour allows for additional sites and/or a more relaxed pace

  • Best value

  • Includes a lunch break to recharge

  • Exact route is custom designed.

 

*1895 Shekels

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A FULL DAY TOUR (Up to 8.5 Hours)​

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  • Option to combine Modern Jerusalem with an Old City Tour

  • Good for adults with a lot of energy for walking and learning about Jerusalem, who want to include maximum number of sites or just enjoy a more leisurely pace

  • Lunch break and two short "coffee" breaks.  

  • Old City sites, Har HaZeitim (Mount of Olives) in Depth, as well as sites outside the Old City such as Yad Vashem, Mt Herzl Military Cemetery, Shuk Mahane Yehuda, Israel Museum, and more. It's possible to combine Old City with Hebron.

  • Exact route is custom designed.

 

*2195 Shekels 

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​ABOUT THE GUIDE

Living in Israel with my family since 1993, I bring both an authentic local perspective and a strong academic background to every tour. Originally from the Detroit area, I graduated with honors from Cranbrook School and completed a BA with distinction from the University of Michigan. I also interned for Senator Carl Levin while studying political journalism at Georgetown University. More recently, I completed an MA in Political Science (Religion and Politics in the Middle East with a focus on Jerusalem) at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Over the past 15 years, I have guided more than 2,000 tours in the Old City, including hundreds of tours for diplomats. Ongoing professional development is important to me, and I regularly participate in advanced training courses focused on different aspects of Jerusalem. I am also a guide with the Western Wall Heritage Foundation, as well as with several other organizations offering tours in Jerusalem.

 

My goal is to provide a high level of service on every tour by being responsive to inquiries and requests, offering clear and transparent information about itineraries and fees, and guiding engaging, in-depth experiences that include behind-the-scenes insights alongside the must-see sites. Every tour is unique—just as each visitor brings their own interests, background, and knowledge to the experience.

 

If you will be touring with children, please let me know. I enjoy making tours extra special for childen or teens of all ages. Please see my family tour page.

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*IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ TO THE END*

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*FEES AND PAYMENT

  • Guiding fees are for tours booked as of October 4th, 2026. Fees listed above do not include entrance fees, driver fees (if any), or meals.  All fees are detailed in advance. 

  • Guiding fees listed here are discounted rates for your group, not per person.

  • A group is up to 10 adults. Larger groups may have additional fees. Please ask for details.

  • I offer a 50 shekel discount if the tour is for an individual traveler. 

  • 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.

  • 25% non-refundable deposit is required to hold the date and the balance of payment is due 24 hours before the tour by credit card on a secure links I will send you. If the tour is for a group of colleagues, I can send individual links so each one can pay separately. 

  • 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. Waitstaff in restuarants prefer cash tips as well.

  • VAT is currently 18% and is included in the fees listed (I provide tax receipts for my fee).

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TEMPLE MOUNT

I do not provide 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 during our tour, let me know and I can provide more information.

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HAR HAZEITIM - 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 area.​

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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.

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MOBILITY

An Old City tour generally involves a lot of walking and climbing stairs, although the pace is comfortable, and includes many stops. Let me know if anyone has limitations on mobility and I can suggest options for a more accessible Jerusalem tour.​​​​

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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 Har HaZeitim walkways can be slippery.

  • Water, sunhat, sunscreen  

  • Snacks just-in-case 

  • Tissues and hand sanitizer for under-stocked bathrooms.

  • 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.

  • Reminder: Check the weather the day before your tour. Jerusalem is cooler than other areas such as the coast or desert.

  • 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.

  • For hot summer days, insulated water bottles half full with ice can make a difference.

© 2026 by Leah Bowman, Licensed Guide. Use of any part of the text or pictures without permission is forbidden. Copyright will be enforced.

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