Author: Oriel Moran

If you’re planning a stop in the Holy Land, whether, for a well-deserved vacation or a business trip, the last thing you want is the hassle of untangling the ins and outs of a foreign country, a strange language, and an unfamiliar culture. It takes time, and can be daunting to inexperienced travellers.

Travelling is made easy when you know someone on the inside – someone responsible, knowledgeable, and able to take you from point A to point B smoothly and confidently.

For over 20 years, we at Gold Carpet Tours have been providing guided tours as well as V.I.P. services. We take care of your every need before you arrive, throughout your visit, up till your very last moment with us.

 

V.I.P. – Airport and Vehicle Services

Our services include different V.I.P Airport packages to make your landing, taking off and everything in between a piece of cake. You can expect us to meet you at your gate or plane, brisk through security checks, handle your baggage and all incoming flight procedures. And of course, the same for your outgoing flight! So you can sit back and relax in a V.I.P lounge or private room with refreshments galore – and we’ll take care of the rest.

And if you’d like, a premium, safe, and well air-conditioned vehicle will await to take you to your next destination and beyond. Our vehicles, suitable for individuals or groups, are driven by licensed, English-speaking drivers and are under the supervision of our Traffic and Safety Officer.

Forget about sorting out car-rental insurance paperwork. That way, you can stay focused on what matters most to you.

 

 

Your Schedule, Our Responsibility

Your dream vacation or business trip is of utmost importance, and we’re here to make sure your hard-earned money and time is spent well. We will work with you to craft your schedule, tailor-made to your interests and purpose and fitting comfortably within your budget.

We will plan in detail every moving part, from your transportation and accommodation to ensuring you arrive on time at locations, meetings and events. Leave it to us to make sure every moment is exactly how you envisioned it.

Guides – Professional, Knowledgeable, and Experienced

The best tour guides are the ones who recognize your particular interests and know how to adjust to your needs. We hand select the best of Israel’s professional guides, competent in different languages and experts in their fields. Your trip is best enhanced by a guide who has had years of field experience. No individual or group is the same, and it’s our pleasure to make sure that the purpose of your visit is fulfilled.

And, if soaring through the sky and seeing the beautiful landscapes of Israel is more your cup of tea, allow us to take you on the helicopter ride of a lifetime. Our guides will faithfully tell the unforgettable stories that will unfold its beauty.
Whether you are airborne or land-bound, we’ll make sure your experience is unforgettable.

 

 

We hold to the highest standards of the tour agency business and prioritize the customer above everything. Over the years we’ve had the honour of serving customers such as Israel’s Ministry of Defense, universities, Israel’s aviation industry, high-tech and biomedical companies, and more.

Our services are for individuals, groups, business people, company guests, mission trips, families . . . whoever you may be!

What are your interests? perhaps your trip is geared towards archaeology, history, or agriculture; perhaps it is for a family celebration like a bar/bat mitzvah; perhaps you are scouting for a business venture; or perhaps you are merely exploring – whatever your plan is, we’ve got you covered.

Check out the wide variety of tours we have to offer, as well as our V.I.P. Airport and Transfer Services, and we’ll get to work on the perfect, hands-off trip that you deserve.

The Old City sits like a jewel in the crown that is the capital city, Jerusalem. Wars and victories, events that have changed the course of history, political controversies, and celebrations of different cultures and different faiths – all have happened within this 0.9 square kilometers (0.35 square miles) guarded by a high stone wall and 12 massive gates (some working, some not).

What is the Old City? Up until 1860, when the famous neighborhood of Mishkenot Sha’ananim was established, the Old City housed the entire population of Jerusalem. Today, it is divided into four uneven quarters: Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian.

Its narrow stone alleyways, blend of cultures, and tourist attractions make it one of the most intriguing and welcoming places for visitors and locals alike.

 

The Western Wall

The Western Wall (also known as the Wailing Wall) is a small remaining segment of an ancient and much longer retaining wall. The wall was erected as part of the expansion of the Second Temple. This site is considered the holiest place for Jews to pray at, as they believe the Temple, built by King Solomon, was the dwelling place of the presence of God.

Traditionally, people of all beliefs, nationalities, and ages come here to seek God in prayer, write their requests on notes, place them between the crevasses of the ancient stones, and experience spiritual connection. Coming-of-age celebrations (bar/bat mitzvahs) are celebrated there with the reading of Holy Scripture, and cultural events are held in the large plaza in front of the wall.

 

 

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Between the winding walls of the Christian Quarter stands, tall and proud, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Dating back to the 4th century, it contains the two holiest sites in Christianity. It is believed to be the site called Golgotha (which means ‘skull’ in Hebrew), where Jesus was crucified, and the place of his burial and resurrection. The tomb is enclosed by a shrine called Aedicula.

You will be overwhelmed by a feeling of reverence as you smell the sweet aromas of anointing oil and incense, listen to the sound of prayers echoing off the magnificent structure, and walk the 9-14 stations of the cross in quiet contemplation.

 

The Temple Mount/Dome of the Rock

The Dome of the Rock is an Islamic shrine, located on the Temple Mount. Beneath the golden dome is the Foundation Stone, which is protected and surrounded by exquisite arches and pillars and ancient Arabic inscriptions.

In Islamic tradition, it is known to be the starting point from which the Prophet Muhammad started his Night Journey into the heavens on his legendary horse, El-Burak. In Abrahamic religions, it is believed to be where God began the creation of the world, where Abraham attempted to sacrifice his son, and the dwelling place of God’s divine presence.

 

 

The Old City and its exceptional religious landmarks present a rare opportunity to experience a beautiful melting pot of cultures that is hard to find in other places.

We would love to take you there on one of our daily tours. You can walk through the open market, stop at the different quarters, and visit the sites that have had people from all over the world flocking to Jerusalem’s Old City every year.

A festival is like a party to which everyone is invited, and everyone can bring a friend. The brightly colored lights, the sounds, the tastes, and the smells: all mix together to create an ecstatic atmosphere for those hungry for excitement, inspiration, and a good time.

After you’ve had your fill of ancient archeological sites, if you’re up for some fun and for creating memories, any one of these festivals in Jerusalem will make for the perfect evening.

 

Jerusalem Wine Festival

The annual Jerusalem Wine Festival is where you want to be if you love wine-tasting, great food, and live music.

Receiving more than 20,000 visitors over four evenings in the summery month of July at the Israel Museum, it is every wine lover’s dream. With the wine glass, you’ll be given to take home as a souvenir, you can sip on liquors and bubbly champagnes or swirl the richest and finest of Israel’s more popular and boutique wines. You can also get a bite to eat from the food stands, sample a cheese-and-bread platter, and buy smooth chocolates, local olive oil, condiments, jams, or other mouth-watering specialties.

Grab your favorite bottle of wine and enjoy the night with your date or your friends. Feel perfectly carefree as you dance the night away to live music.

As a bonus, the festival offers a festival-museum combo ticket, so you can roam the museum as well. Give all your senses a feast!

 

 

Jerusalem Film Festival

Films are best watched with other film lovers, and this 11 day festival in July is dedicated to doing precisely that. It delivers non-stop screenings of more than 200 Israeli and international feature films, documentaries, and shorts. You’ll get to know the city as you visit the different indoor and outdoor cinemas and watch the most talked about, prestigious, and award-winning films.

The festival does a great job of incorporating all the aspects of film that made you fall in love with it and isn’t short on international and Hollywood guests such as directors, actors, and producers.

Among many one-of-a-kind highlights, each year the festival chooses a film (one of the classics like ‘Jaws’ or ‘Back to the Future’) and gives the audience a musical experience like no other. While you watch the movie, the Jerusalem Orchestra plays the full soundtrack live, in front of you. You’ll feel the emotion behind every scene as the strings, percussion, and brass resonate louder than any home speaker.

 

Jerusalem Festival of Light

The Festival of Light takes full advantage of every wall, corner, building, and alleyway of the Old City and uses it as a creative canvas. High-tech light projectors tell stories on the stone buildings, and artistic structures surprise you at every turn. Actors dressed up in lighted costumes walk around to create a magical, ethereal experience. Come between June and July and take full advantage of the city.

 

 

Sound of the Old City

Come March, another exciting festival takes place. The Sound of the Old City – that’s a night to remember! Follow different routes to the diverse music areas and you’ll find musicians playing everything from rock to pop to jazz – even ethnic-sounding music from the Far East. Visitors can let loose at a silent dance party or create their own music at various creative stations. All this music is made even better by the food vendors selling cotton candy and popcorn.

If there’s anything that you should take away from your visit to Israel, it’s the culture that makes the country so unique. You deserve to have the full experience of all Israel has to offer, and our daily tours can give you just that. Let us be your guide into all things cultural and memorable!

A Bat / Bar Mitzvah is a milestone in life and a truly joyous occasion for every Jewish family. The Bar Mitzvah age of 13 (12 for girls) is the age of becoming an adult in the sense of becoming accountable for one’s actions and of knowing the difference between right and wrong. According to Jewish custom, it also means that one is considered old enough to have certain rights and responsibilities, such as performing acts of charity and observing certain traditions and such as being morally and ethically accountable and as having binding legal rights.

It is customary to mark this once in a lifetime occasion with a memorable event for all family members. Combining this with a family tour to Israel to visit the Jewish homeland is an ideal and exceptional way to confirm and connect to one’s Jewish heritage and identity. Give your children something that they will carry with them forever, the pride of being Jewish and the joy of having found it in Israel. It just does not get any better than that! We at Gold Carpet Touring understand the deep significance of this special moment and our Israel bar mitzvah tours are designed for families seeking a uniquely meaningful experience for this important life cycle event, by combining the excitement of the Bat / Bar Mitzvah ceremony with the magical history of Israel.

Our professional staff will help you in making the Israel Bat / Bar Mitzvah family tour a most meaningful experience. We will design a special itinerary that includes sites and activities of special interest for young people, and coordinate a private Bat / Bar mitzvah service in Israel for the family at unique locations, such as the Western Wall or at the South Wall in Jerusalem, the old synagogue on Mt. Massada or an ancient synagogue or archeological site in the Galilee or the Golan heights. Mazal – Tov.

 

Client’s Testimonial:

“I once experienced this activity in the United States with a Jewish family, but never knew what it was until I got to see it again on my Israel bar mitzvah tour. I knew it was called the bar/bat mitzvah and that it was the ceremony of ‘coming of age’. As we got to Mount Massada, I was privileged to partake in the religious service. A young girl stepped out to perform this service, guided by the rabbi to read from the holy book called the Torah. It was an exciting and soul-lifting worship. I inquired why it was a child performing this activity as compared to adults that we had back in the US in regular religious services. My findings were really intriguing.

Both sexes male and female can perform these rites, for as long as they have been well tutored by a rabbi over a period of years. The young female child attains this position having reached the age of twelve, which of course is seen as the age of development for girls. At this point, I was told that girls, as well as boys, become responsible for their decisions and in some sort are treated like adults. This Jewish tradition has long been upholding and is often accompanied with some ceremony. My quest for more information made me ask for the activities that actually take place before the child is allowed to perform these services. He promised to give me a video clip showing such. I enjoyed wearing the skull cap or yarmulke during this service, it was humbling.

When handed over a video clip as promised, I watched this exciting party held for a young lad having become bar mitzvah at the age of 13. It was a bit confusing until the following day when the guide told me there was a show he wanted to me to see firsthand. I was excited as it had been fun all the way. When we arrived at this home, we were greeted by a rather soft-spoken elderly man, who took us in and we sat quietly on a mat. My guide whispered to me it was a bar mitzvah ceremony for his cousin. Now it was rather confusing because the clip I watched was a real funfair, whereas here I was sitting quietly on a mat lost in soul-lifting thought. Seeing my confused state he explained that there are various movements in Judaism such as the Conservatives, Orthodox, Reform, etc. He just wanted me to witness first hand another form of Bar Mitzvah ceremony.”

For many, Nazareth is a distant and mythical place, the childhood home of Jesus, a small and humble town where shepherds roam the fields and sheep graze – that is, if it still exists at all.

This fantastic city does indeed exist today, but – be prepared – it is very different to what you would imagine.

Nazareth is considered to be the largest city in northern Israel. Having more than 77,000 residents (70% Muslim and 30% Christian), it is known as the “Arab capital of Israel.” The city, built on the entire side of a mountain and the valley that winds beneath it, has steep and windy roads meandering through it. The sounds of Muslim mosques calling for prayer and church bells ring through the air. And, oddly enough, all live together in harmony.

Mount Precipice 

The best view of the modern city and its surroundings is from Mount Precipice, known for being the mountain from which the angry mob tried to throw Jesus after his bold proclamation in the Nazareth Synagogue (Luke 4:16–30). From high up the mountain (don’t worry, you can drive up part way and leisurely walk the rest), you can survey the whole city of Nazareth, the Valley of Jezreel with its farming fields, and Mount Tavor.

You can also explore the modern city! Visit the Shuk (“bazaar”) with its shops selling spices, Persian-style carpets, middle-eastern foods and desserts, and bargain for anything you can imagine. Or, for all you Christmas lovers, visit the extravagant Christmas market at Mary’s Well Square (open during December). Buy your nativity sets, lights, and ornaments, and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

 

 

 

The Church of the Annunciation

Just laying eyes on the beautiful structure of the Church of the Annunciation is enough to move even an unbeliever to tears. 

Protected within its two stories is what is believed to be the remains of the childhood house of Saint Mary (also known as Miriam, the mother of Jesus), where the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced she would give birth to the Savior, Jesus.

Originally built in the mid-4th century by Emperor Constantine I, the church has since been conquered by many rulers. It was destroyed and rebuilt time after time until 1969, when it was completely demolished and redesigned by the Italian architect Giovanni Muzio, then built by an Israeli firm. It is now under the control of the Franciscans. Entry is free of charge, and visitors are welcome to pray and tour the impressive interior of the church.

Nazareth Village

The Nazareth Village is where the saying “being transported in time” almost takes on a literal meaning. If you’ve read the accounts of the ancient city of Nazareth and wished you could see what it was like – now you can.

Quietly tucked away from the busy city is a calm, open-air museum that re-enacts authentic village life during the time of Jesus. If it sounds wonderful, that’s because it is. Actors dressed in period costumes will play out “a day in the life of a Galilean,” showing visitors the farm, domestic life, and craftwork with ancient tools. You’ll tour through old stone and wood houses, eat a biblical-themed meal, walk through wine and olive presses, pet donkeys and sheep, and listen to the parables of Jesus explained in the context of the time.

 

 

With the help of one of our trusted guides, your day in Nazareth can be a perfect balance between modern and ancient, free and structured. We’ll take you to places that will soon become favorites that you want to share with everyone you know. Your biblical journey in the City of Nazareth is waiting for you!

The Dead Sea is like no place you have ever been to. Not only is it the lowest place on earth, precisely 430 meters (1,412 ft.) below sea level, but also it is one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water; in fact, it is 9.6 times saltier than the ocean. Located south of Jerusalem in the Judean desert and bordered by Israel to the west and Jordan to the east, the salty sea and its surroundings hold a lot more appeal than meets the eye.

After just a short drive, you can enjoy the unique sensation of floating effortlessly in the salty water, hike Ein Gedi’s rushing freshwater trails, and pay a visit to Masada – a rocky mountain fortress with a shocking and heroic story. Each place is unique and captivating, with raw beauty in every direction.

Ein Gedi – Nature’s Best

Just a short distance from Ein Bokek is the nature reserve of Ein Gedi. It offers more than nine different hiking tracks of various difficulty levels, so no one will be left out. On each new level of the mountain, you’ll discover a fresh, breathtaking desert view. You will walk through freshwater streams that have carved their way into the orange stone for thousands of years. Around every corner await pools at the bottom of gushing waterfalls (such as David’s waterfall) and lush greenery, and you can stop to cool down in the water and shade while you watch the elegant gazelles and hyraxes perched on the warm stones. 

It’s an absolute must-do for nature lovers, hikers, and those who want to enjoy beautiful views and the quiet of the wilderness.

 

 

Masada National Park – A Mountain Fortress 

Masada is a fortress built into a mountain, towering high above the Dead Sea. How high, you ask? Masada’s plateau is 60m (196 ft.) above sea level – about 490m (1,509 ft.) above the surface of the Dead Sea. You can either take the cable car to the peak, hike up the Snake Path from the eastern side, or take the Roman siege ramp on the western side.

If you are the adventurous type, you can hike the Masada at night before dawn and watch the sunrise over the mountains in glorious colors.

Upon arrival, you’ll see the remains of two palaces of Herod the Great and hear the dark, heroic story of a thousand Jews who escaped the Roman army and took refuge at the top of Masada, eventually choosing to take their own lives over being captured and enslaved by the Romans. 

 

 

The Dead Sea – Ein Bokek

Ein Bokek, on the shoreline of the Dead Sea, is a hotel and resort district. The shaded areas for swimmers on the free beaches, the shops, the restaurants, and, of course, an array of hotels will make your stay, whether short or long, easy and breezy. While walking on the pebbly beach, you’ll see the hardened salt-forming diamond-like crystals. Wading into the water, you’ll be surprised by the sensation of effortlessly floating, thanks to the lake’s salinity. 

People also choose to holiday at the Dead Sea because of the health benefits of the climate and environment, such as the low level of UV rays from the sun and the minerals in the water and the smooth, black mineral mud. After all that purifying salt and mud, you can rinse off in the outside showers and feel clean and refreshed from your day out in the wilderness. 

 

 

Ein Gedi, Masada, Ein Bokek and the Dead Sea, are pearls of the desert – ones you sure won’t want to miss while visiting Israel.

We understand that driving through the narrow roads and finding your way can be daunting. That’s why we’re here to make your trip hassle-free with our daily tours designed for groups or individuals. In no time at all, you could find yourself on the vacation of a lifetime!

Let’s hit the road together and uncover the magic of the desert.