Map of Israel & the Palestinian Territories Real Food Adventure including Israel

Feast on classic dishes from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem

Not only is Israel and the Palestinian Territories steeped in religious history and longstanding cultures, it has a food and wine scene to rival any other. Embark on an epicurean odyssey, spending nine days exploring the sights and sounds of this country, with a focus on memorable and local culinary experiences. Feast on sabich in Tel Aviv, learn age-old food secrets at a traditional Druze village, explore Ramallah with a local chef, sample local drops in Nazareth and Taybeh, understand what life is like for Palestinian women at a village cooking demonstration. Indulging on daily sights and feasting on the history and culture surrounding you, both your hunger for the best food and your mind for the most authentic experiences will be filled.


Start
Tel Aviv, Israel
Finish
Jerusalem, Israel
Destination
Israel
Style
Original
Theme
Food
Code
EUZF
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Share authentic home cooked meals with Druze villagers and a local family in Bethany, and join an insightful cooking class with Palestinian women.

  • In between snacks, don’t miss any of the sights and sounds of this diverse country. Take a dip in the famously salty Dead Sea, discover the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, and see the sights in Jerusalem.

  • Feast on classic dishes in Israel’s legendary local eateries, from falafel, knafeh, and maqluba and fresh sabich to an institution in Nazareth acclaimed for its silky hummus.

  • Stay at guesthouse accommodation that is part of an NGO, originally a refugee camp and now a community initiative that aims to protect the ecology of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River Valley.

  • Locals always know best when it comes to the region’s best food and drinks and the winemakers, chefs, brewers and tahini producers you'll meet on this trip are no exception.

Is this trip right for you?

  • Israel and the Palestinian Territories is a great food destination for vegetarians. With wonderful fresh produce and many delicious local dishes, you’ll have a great time on this trip. For vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Israel and the Palestinian Territories which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.

  • The West Bank is full of welcoming people, markets and food. It's also one of separation and hardship, however, so crossing through the area can be confronting. This is a politically sensitive region, and we do our best to provide a balanced overview. We ask that travellers keep an open mind when they visit.

  • Major sites can become congested during peak travel periods with buses of large pilgrim groups. While we do our best to plan our visits around these times, it’s not always possible. There may be delays, queues and private services that prevent us from entering some sites. Your leader will manage this as best as they can on the day.

  • During your trip you will visit numerous religious sites. You will need to bring clothes that cover the arms and legs. Your leader will advise when such clothing is necessary.

  • Israel and the Palestinian Territories is by no means a cheap destination, so it’s important to budget accordingly. The good news is that your expert local leader is on hand to help you uncover the best local deals.

  • Known as 'baksheesh' in the Middle East, tipping is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry. While it may not be customary to you, it is of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Don’t be taken back if this tipping culture is even more apparent here.

  • Temperatures can vary across this region and throughout the year. From April to October, to avoid the midday heat, we start some days very early e.g. 6am. Be sure to review the ‘Climate and seasonal information’ section of the Essential Trip Information and consider the weather at the time of year you wish to travel.

Itinerary

Welcome to Israel and the Palestinian Territories – a region steeped in spirituality, and a rich tapestry of the many cultures, religions and nationalities that call it home, be that Palestinian Muslims and Christians, Sephardic Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Armenian Christians, Ethiopian Copts or Greek Orthodox monks. Your Real Food Adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6pm. After this briefing, take a short walk to the market area and get to know your fellow travellers over dinner, sampling sabich – a delicious vegetable and pita dish boasting fresh Mediterranean flavours with Middle Eastern roots.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tel Aviv - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Your first stop this morning is the Jaffa Old Port of Tel Aviv where you’ll have time to look around and take photos. Continue to Nablus, one of the West Bank’s largest cities, most famous for the Arabic sweet knafeh. Meet the local Samaritans - a Jewish minority group living in Nablus - who are the only group to hold Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian passports. After learning about their culture, visit a tahini factory to see how the sesame seeds are crushed and turned into the finished product. Next up, put that tahini to use in a Palestinian cooking class. Enjoy your creations over lunch and discover what life is like for women in this small Palestinian town. Afterwards, visit a knafeh producer for an insight into the production of this much-loved sweet and, of course, to enjoy a taste. By late afternoon, you’ll have reached Haifa. Make a stop to take in the view of the ornately landscaped Baha’i Gardens before heading to your hotel for a well-earned rest. Dinner is free this evening and your leader can make the best local restaurant recommendations.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Nablus - Samaritan & Tahini Factory visit
  • Haifa - Bahai Gardens view & photo stop
  • Nablus - Knafeh maker visit and tasting
  • Nablus - Palestinian cooking class at Bait Al-Karama
  • Jaffa - Old Port Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
This morning, drive to Akko, visit the Old Town and explore the Templar Tunnels built during the Crusades. Your next stop is a Druze village to meet a lovely host family, who will invite you in for a cooking demonstration, where you’ll share local culinary secrets and a delicious Druze lunch. Historically, the Druze have been an agricultural people, tending olive groves and fruit orchards, and growing mostly apples and cherries. Many families also grow their own vegetables, bake their own bread and live on a largely vegetarian diet. After lunch, travel to Nazareth where you’ll stop in at a local winery for some sniffing, swirling and sipping of Israel’s finest wines, before settling into your hotel for the evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Druze Village - Cooking demonstration and home-cooked meal
  • Akko - Old Town Walk, including Templar Tunnels
  • Nazareth - Wine Tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
After breakfast, your leader will show you around Nazareth, including a visit to the Church of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well. Before leaving town, visit a restaurant that has been owned by the same family for over 40 years. Those years have been well spent perfecting their hummus. Enjoy a lunch of hummus, falafel, pita, pickles and cabbage salad and see if you love it as much as the locals. Let your appetite rest this afternoon, as you visit the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of Tel Jericho and the banks of the Jordan River where Jesus is said to have been baptised. Head to your accommodation for the night – a former refugee camp turned eco guesthouse. Meet the manager of the guesthouse to learn about their local environmental projects, protecting the Jordan River and Dead Sea. Your evening is free to spend as you wish, your leader may be able to arrange an optional home-cooked dinner with a local family.
Accommodation
  • Guesthouse (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Nazareth - Church of Annunciation & Mary's Well
  • Nazareth - Old City walking tour
  • Jordan River - Baptism Site
  • Jericho - Tel Jericho
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Tonight you’ll stay at a guesthouse, where the accommodation is part of an NGO, originally a refugee camp and now a community initiative that aims to protect the ecology of the Dead Sea and the Jordan River Valley. The accommodation might be simple, but the experience is memorable. Rooms are twin share and have basic ensuite facilities.
This morning, visit the Dead Sea – the lowest-altitude place on earth! You will have the chance to experience what it's like to float in the world's saltiest body of water. Travel onwards to Bethany, known biblically as the site of the resurrection of Lazarus, to visit a local family for a home-cooked meal. Today you’ll feast on maqluba – an 'upside-down' style dish consisting of chicken and vegetables. Afterwards, drive to Jerusalem via the famous Mount of Olives – an important pilgrimage site and home of the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bethany - Home-cooked meal of maqluba
  • Dead Sea - Visit and float
  • Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
  • Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane
  • Jerusalem - Church of All Nations
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Enjoy a full day tour of Jerusalem, starting with a walking tour of Via Dolorosa (the Way of the Cross) in the Old City. Stop at one of the city's favourite eateries and watch a master prepare mutabbaq – a stuffed pancake of Yemeni origin - and taste it for yourself. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to visit the Golgotha – where Jesus was crucified – and then down to the tomb where he was buried. Walk through the spice market to the Jewish Quarter and witness the pilgrims at the Western Wall. Having worked up an appetite, head to the renowned Machane Yehuda food market for lunch. Your leader will likely select a variety of dishes for the group, allowing you to sample more of the vendors wonderful specialties. Get moving again with an afternoon tour of Nachlaot, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in West Jerusalem. The area is full of winding lanes, hidden courtyards and tiny synagogues, and has a fascinating history of different residents that has created a relaxed, creative and religious neighbourhood today. With a free evening, you may like to return to Machane Yehuda or ask your leader for their best restaurant recommendations.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jerusalem - Guided tour of Old City
  • Jerusalem - Guided tour of Machane Yehuda Market and Nachlaot
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
After breakfast, head north to Ramallah, the capital city of the State of Palestine. Learn more about the city and Palestinian food from a local chef, tasting as you go. You might try the city’s best falafel or kebabs, but be sure not to miss manakish – flatbread topped with fragrant za’atar and melted cheese. Travel a little further north to the town of Taybeh, home to the Taybeh Brewing Company. Established in 1994, this family-run brewery hasn’t just been crafting refreshing lagers and ales, they’ve been developing and evolving to become a sustainability champion in the region. Enjoy a tasting while hearing more of their fascinating story. Return to Jerusalem for a free evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ramallah - Food tour with a local chef
  • Taybeh - Brewery tour and tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Take a short drive to World Heritage-listed Battir, where villagers continue to practice ancient agricultural methods. The village is surrounded by an impressive Roman-era system of stone-walled terraces and a unique irrigation system fed by seven springs. Continue to the holy city of Bethlehem, and along the way, pass through a gap in the controversial separation wall that separates Israel from the West Bank. Take a leader-led walking tour of this acclaimed city, passing Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity. Head back to Jerusalem, where you might like to share one last delicious meal or drink with your newfound friends.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Battir - Guided Village Walk
  • Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity & Shepherds' Field
  • Bethlehem - Leader-led walking tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
There are no activities included and you’re free to depart your accommodation at any time today. If you would like to spend some more time in Jerusalem, we’re happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). Ask your leader for more tasty local recommendations if you plan to spend more time in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Due to strict security measures in Israel’s airports, we recommend that you allow a minimum of 3 hours to pass through airport security before your flight departure.

Meals

8 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights)

Included activities

  • Tel Aviv - Welcome Dinner
  • Nablus - Samaritan & Tahini Factory visit
  • Haifa - Bahai Gardens view & photo stop
  • Nablus - Knafeh maker visit and tasting
  • Nablus - Palestinian cooking class at Bait Al-Karama
  • Jaffa - Old Port Tour
  • Druze Village - Cooking demonstration and home-cooked meal
  • Akko - Old Town Walk, including Templar Tunnels
  • Nazareth - Wine Tasting
  • Nazareth - Church of Annunciation & Mary's Well
  • Nazareth - Old City walking tour
  • Jordan River - Baptism Site
  • Jericho - Tel Jericho
  • Bethany - Home-cooked meal of maqluba
  • Dead Sea - Visit and float
  • Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
  • Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane
  • Jerusalem - Church of All Nations
  • Jerusalem - Guided tour of Old City
  • Jerusalem - Guided tour of Machane Yehuda Market and Nachlaot
  • Ramallah - Food tour with a local chef
  • Taybeh - Brewery tour and tasting
  • Battir - Guided Village Walk
  • Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity & Shepherds' Field
  • Bethlehem - Leader-led walking tour

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Israel & the Palestinian Territories Real Food Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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