Israel Private Gourmet Tour (8 days)

TLV VIP makes traveling easier and stress-free by providing you with priority treatment beginning the moment you and your guests land at Ben Gurion Airport International.

Our Airport VIP Assistance stewards meet you from the plan exit, escorted to VIP desk for expedited immigration, assisted with baggage collection and privately transported to your hotel in a luxury private vehicle.

For the richest culinary experience possible in Jerusalem, you cannot miss on a visit to the Machane Yehuda Market. The market is visited by over 250,000 people each week who shop, sit for coffee, explore its boutique Delis, or simply come to soak in the Market’s lively spirit.

During the market tour we shop for the groceries required for the cooking seminar at the Atelier. First, we explore the various stands and taste the produce of the market and the menu is created together with the participants. At the butcher’s we discuss the different body parts of the cow and how to cook them.

We then jump between the turmeric flowers and the vanilla sticks and taste oils, cereal mixtures and spices. At the fishmonger’s we learn to tell when the fish is fresh. At a famous stand, we experience the flavor of some of the world’s most famous cheeses from Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy and more.

Our chef guide takes guests on a tour of the market, where you buy the ingredients and then go up to the charming studio apartment and together cook a feast.

Our chef guide is a professional chef with deep roots in Jerusalem, studied and attended programs at the kitchens of master chefs, and graduated from the elite LeNotre School in Paris. Like all of us at TLV VIP, our guide loves Jerusalem and is in love with the market.

A culinary tour in the market where you hear stories, select and buy fresh produce, and finally cook a splendid meal together in your chef/guide’s charming atelier. For special occasions, the studio offers unusual chef meals served on her magnificent rooftop overlooking the Mahane Yehuda Market.

Begin the day with a magnificent view of Jerusalem from the Mt. of Olives, visit the garden of Gethsemane, on to Mt. Zion, and visit the Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City and walk through the newly restored Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall, Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and visit the fascinating markets that Jerusalem has to offer.

Light Traditional Falafel Lunch
Your guide will take you and your guests to a local Falafel or Hummus eatery to enjoy the local Meat and Vegetarian options available. This is an amazing experience in itself to eat with locals.

Continuing onto the Tower of David Museum to walk above the walls of Jerusalem you can also experience an exhilarating sound and light show on the wall of the Citadel. Drive to Yad Vashem, memorial to the Holocaust.

Tower of David Light show
Ending your day, we visit the Night Spectacular, a 45-minute light-and-sound display using the walls beneath the Tower of David as a backdrop, but a simple written description doesn’t really do the concept justice.

It’s hard to fully conceive of what a titanic expanse of age-old monolithic city wall looks like when used as a backdrop for the movies until you’ve seen it done. The moving images, sent from 20 projectors and two projection rooms, tell a wordless, politically neutral pictorial tale of the history of Jerusalem from the time of the Israelite kings down almost to the present day, treating viewers to dramatically larger-than-life reenactments of the deeds of David, the Romans, the monks, Muhammad, the Crusaders, Suleiman the Magnificent and the rest of the historical family. The action hums alongside a booming orchestral soundtrack.

Dead Sea – Floating and Mud Bath
Prepare for an early morning departure from your hotel for floating on the Dead Sea. Relax with a cocktail under the sun before heading to the beautiful Ein Gedi spa and botanical gardens, where you will enjoy a 30 minute massage and lunch before a short tour of the Kibbutz.

Masada – Tour of the Masada Fortress and Sunset
Arriving to Masada in one of our luxury air-conditioned vehicles with a private licensed tour guide, you can enjoy a unique pit-stop for a refreshing coffee and restroom break on the way where you will have the opportunity to take unforgettable pictures with a famous camel – at your request!

Upon arrival at Masada, you will be guided to visit the UNESCO world heritage site and explore Herod’s fortress and the legacy of the first century AD revolt against the Romans. Travel up the mountain via cable car for a beautiful scenic view of the Dead Sea.

Sunset at Metsok Haitikim- Metookai Dargot
We will travel onto a steep uphill climb (in the vehicle) to watch a stunning sunset go down over Israel.

Dinner experience – Wilderness BBQ in the Desert
The site is in the Ramon Machtesh in a Wadi with fantastic wilderness backdrop.

Menu:
• Tabbouleh salad with Quinoa and Pomegranate
• Baked Aubergine with chopped tomatoes hot peppers and onion
• Baked Aubergine served with Techini and a glaceing of date syrup
• fresh vegetable salad
• cabbage in a soy vinaigrette topped with baked pine nuts
• Pita bread, Humous and Techini
• Potatoes baked in Rosemarie and crushed salt
• Rib eye steak grilled to perfection
• chicken steak, kebab and spicy beef sausages
• fruit of the season and Baklawaha
• black coffee and herb tea
• a selection of cold drinks, cold water, beer, red and white wine

After dinner, you can sit and relax around the camp fire

Your licensed wilderness guides drive and host you in air conditioned and comfortable jeeps through the desert, explaining geology, history and ecology of the area on an eye opening trip.

The picnic lunch is a modest affair with good food on a Bedouin style mat, under a tree or in the shade of a huge overhang, on which we sit. Plates and cutlery are glass and stainless steel so eco and user friendly.

Lunch menu:
• Pasta salad with diced antipasti and pastrami
• Pasta salad with tuna
• Freshly diced vegetables
• Humous
• Techini spread
• Coleslaw
• Cold chicken drumsticks baked in Rosemary leaves and crushed pepper
• Bread
• Fruit
• Coffee/tea and cake (Osem style)

Dinner Bedouin, drums and belly dancer – Arab Hospitality
The second part of your trip brings you to experience traditional Bedouin hospitality and learn about the Bedouin’s life. You’ll have a camel ride, followed by a lecture about the Bedouin way of life, and enjoy an ethnic meal in the tent camp. The “Bedouin” style evening will be in a private tent eating from a great Middle Eastern menu in a Bedouin style tent just a 10 minute drive outside Mitzpe Ramon.

Menu:
• Lamb Kebabs in supprito sauce
• Kebabs in tomato chammy sauce
• Spring chickens stuffed with rice and pine nuts and lemon
• Stuffed vine leaves
• Humous salad
• Finely chopped garden salad
• Tabbouleh salad
• Baked Aubergine salad
• Magagdra rice
• White rice with cardamon & pistachios
• Pita bread
• Mineral water, fresh lemonade
• Tea and coffee
• Baklawaha and Mamuleh biscuits
• Fresh fruits and dates
• Red and white wine

Yum!

Chartering your helicopter, you fly from Mitzpe Ramon to Be’er Sheva, over the Negev Craters, Sde Boker and onto the beautiful Jerusalem; some sites are dependent on visibility and you will be touched down for a landing in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.

Free day with shopping guide
TLV VIP’s experienced personal shoppers guide you to the shops you want to visit when you don’t speak the local language. Popular shopping venues range from art, jewelry, handbags, shoes, clothing, hi-tech accessories, to exotic foods and local health products. You will discover the main stream as well as the bohemian designer studios and boutiques all over town.

Tel Aviv
Food market in Dizengoff Centre
Food market in Tel Aviv Port
Erez Israel Museum
Take in a show at Habima or Gesher Theater
Enjoy a day on the beach (weather permitting)
Rent a Luxury Catamaran Yacht 3 berth with Skipper (Tel Aviv or Herzliya)

OR

Jerusalem
Bible Lands Museum
Mount Herzl Cemetery and Museum
Rockefeller Archeological Museum
The Menachem Begin Heritage Center Museum
Art Galleries the Israel Museum Installations
Mamilla Avenue – local crafts and enjoy some of the Art Shops that Jerusalem has to offer
Day of Pampering at a Hotel Spa
Drive desert buggies into the Jerusalem Hills and nearby streams with a winery visit

• Option 1 – Carmel Region Wine Tour (Non Kosher)
• Option 2 – Sharon Region Wine, Beer, and Cheese Tour (Kosher)

Option 1 – Carmel Region Wine Tour (Non Kosher)
Depart from your hotel and make your way to the Tishbi Esate, the fifth largest winery and first family owned winery in Israel. Enjoy a tasting of a variety of wines with home-made fresh bread, wine jams, and olive oil from the “Oshra Tishbi Fine Food” products.

The tour continues in Ramat HaNadiv, Rothschild’s Botanical Gardens and up to Zichron Yaakov to meet the owner and winemaker of the Somek Winery. End the tour and wine tastings at the Amphorae Winery, located in the middle of the Madkah Forest, with its beautiful surroundings and a large selection of delicious Israeli wines.

Excludes any additional winery fee. Option to upgrade by requesting a private transfer.

Option 2 – Sharon Region Wine, Beer, and Cheese Tour (Kosher) Learn about the wine making process at Recanati Winery with Gil Shatzberg, one of Israel’s leading winemakers.

Visit Alexander Brewery with the owner, Ori, who after retiring as an Israeli pilot, found his passion for brewing beer. Taste their Blond, Amber and Black beer and learn about the beer brewing process.

Continue on to Jacob’s Dairy where you will learn how they make unique European style cow, goat and sheep cheeses. Relax and enjoy a wonderful lunch at Tishbi Estate Winery with a pairing of wine and chocolate!

Excludes any additional winery fee. Option to upgrade by requesting a private transfer.

Private transfer to the airport with Airport VIP Assistance and fast track.
We keep it short as we don’t like goodbyes, see you soon!