Shalom Israel Tours met and exceeded my hopes and expectations! Everything they said they would do, was done! Sagi, our tour guide, was absolutely wonderful! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and genuinely interested in making sure our group was having the best experience possible. He was sensitive to the needs of our group. He did many “extras” to make our trip even better. He was willing to work with the agenda according to the needs and wants of the group.

I cannot say enough good things about this fine young man. He made Israel “come to life” for me. Waheb, the bus driver, was also wonderful! I took the classic tour with my two young-adult sons, and this tour was absolutely fantastic for that! Shalom Israel tours was with me from the very start to the end! I am so grateful I went with this company.

Took the 13-day Jewish Heritage Israel Tour in late November 2019. From the timely and precise answers provided by Shalom prior to booking the tour, to the delivery as we arrived in Israel and through the end of the tour I give the entire experience a superlative grade.

This was one of the top vacations we’ve ever taken and one that we will never forget!

Shalom Tours was recommended to us as a company who could work with a group that was multi-religiosity, multi level of Israel experience and multi-aged. Shalom Israel Tours was all of that due to great planning and to our tour guide Daniel. Further, with a December trip the weather was quite variable and Daniel and Shalom Tours were flexible and accommodating. They understood our primary focus was on giving the children an immersive experience and they succeeded on all counts.

We just got back from 12 days in Israel. We planned our tour with Shalom about a year ago, and we could not have asked for a more enriching experience. We traveled with our teenage boys and both sets of our parents. Most of of us “first timers to Israel”. We had my sons bar mitzvah at Masada and Shalom assisted us with everything. Our Rabbi (Rabbi Bandal) was wonderful. Our tour guide, Meni was unbelievable, he added so much to our trip.

He took us to so many special places when we had extra time. He got to know all 8 of us and at the end of our time together became like family. He was kind, funny, intelligent, compassionate and interesting, and always had our best interest.

Although there is so much to see in Israel, I’m not sure we missed much and we had the time to absorb it all. Thank you for making this family trip unforgettable with so much ease.

We recently returned from a 12 day Jewish Heritage Tour with Shalom Israel Tours. I must admit I am a skeptic of organized tours as I prefer to plan things on my own but I have no regrets after spending 12 says in Israel on this tour, From booking, to meeting my transport at the airport, arriving at the hotel, meeting our tour guide, visiting the sites, etc.. it was all seamless. I never had to think about any of the arrangements, it all happened like clockwork.

The actual itinerary is well thought out — a couple days in Tel Aviv, then off to Haifa and the Golan Heights, and finishing up in Jerusalem. My family of five including three teenage kids were never bored and enjoyed every single day.

Shalom Israel did a great job of creating an action packed trip with great accommodations. Everything was as advertised if not better. This is a family run business and it showed by the attentiveness and response time for all my questions. I highly recommend if you are planning to do a trip to Israel!

My wife and I just returned from the 15 Day Jewish Heritage Tour with Shalom Israel Tours. We have traveled fairly extensively over the years but this trip will rate as one of the best we have ever been on. We researched various companies before booking with Shalom because their itinerary was very extensive.

From the start his communication with us was outstanding. Although he hires 3nd party guides and transportation services he delivered on every account. Arrangements and pickup times were always met from the start of the trip till the end. He offers many hotel choices to fit your budget. We had the most wonderful guide named Meir. His love for his country was infectious as he drove us around filling our heads with history and emotions. Israel is a must on your vacation list and doing it with Shalom Tours was a dream come true.

Second Israel trip booked with Shalom Stark. Tel Aviv, Eilat, Jordan, back to Tel Aviv to Sea of Galilee and then to Jerusalem. He takes care of every detail no matter how small and takes safety seriously. If you are traveling to Israel you need to use this tour company.

My wife, two other couples and I began planning 10 months prior to the trip. Extensive research and several recommendations led us to Shalom. We wanted a private tour for the 6 of us with a guide and van. We had a good idea of what we wanted to see and which hotels we wanted. Shalom suggested several changes that we accepted and he organized the itinerary to maximize the travel time. He booked all the hotels and museums and got us a large comfortable van. Everything went without a hitch…could not have been better. 

We heard about a guide named Daniel. We requested him and sooo happy we did. Vast knowledge if the history, geography, culture and politics of Israel. He was so easy to be with. Happy, funny and engaged. He has lived in Israel for 15 years but was born and raised in the U.S. So he speaks American English with no foreign accent. He understands the American culture and could relate to us. He made the trip a wonderful experience. It was like traveling with a friend. 

If you’re looking for a tour that is “just right” in length and itinerary, with all the key sites and sights, the 10-day Jewish Heritage Tour will be ideal. Even with all the great reviews Shalom Israel Tours receives, we were a bit skeptical. Believe me … IT REALLY IS SENSATIONAL. From the accommodations to the pacing, the activities to the free time, it was a fabulous tour for first-timers. We saw all the essential aspects of the country … rich in history and diversity. They focus on Judaism but also expose you to the other religions as well. Our tour director, Isaac, was in a word, wonderful. Felt like a family member after 10 days. Every detail was buttoned-down perfect from the pre-planning communication to the gift bag at the hotel to the final transfer to the airport. Would I recommend Shalom Israel Tours? Absolutely!

Just finished our first visit to Israel, using Shalom Israel Tours as our tour operator. What a top-notch outfit! Shalom Stark, owner, is a great communicator and his prompt responses pre-and during the trip anticipated our questions and managed our expectations throughout. We had the most amazing guide, Meni Tabari, whose enthusiasm, knowledge and descriptions made the sites, history, culture, and customs of Israel come alive! We are seasoned worldwide travelers, and Meni is the best guide we’ve encountered! We hope to return someday, and would again contract with Shalom Israel Tours and request Meni as our guide!

From the moment I contacted Shalom Israel for information on booking our 10 day Jewish Heritage tour we were taken care of with excellent service. Shalom patiently answered all of my questions before we signed on, helped us add extra days at the end of our trip and provided tons of helpful information that made preparing for this trip a breeze. In fact it was so easy that this was one of the easiest vacations I have ever taken. The tour itself was fantastic with a packed itinerary of one amazing stop after another. It also helped that our tour guide Meni was fantastic. We will be back in a few years and will book through Shalom Israel again without hesitation!

My 12-day Jewish Heritage Tour with Shalom Israel Tours ended on November 25. This tour was very good choice.
When I was planning my trip to Israel and surfing the web, I came across with Shalom Israel tours. In comparison to another websites I decided that this is a best choice: thoroughly planning, very good itinerary, a lot to see. I liked the option to select the range of the hotels from 3 stars to 5 stars. And 3 stars hotels were very good. Clean, big rooms, excellent service and food, snacks in the afternoon. All hotels in the tour are centrally located allowing us to tour on our own, especially on Shabbat. The Kibbutz Lavi Hotel was a very good choice, the important addition to the knowledge of Israel. The hotel was comfortable, big rooms, good service, the food was excellent,

Our group was small, 9 people. We traveled with a mini bus. We did not have any problems with the bus.

Shalom Stark, the manager of the tour company, provided excellent service before, during the trip, and even after the trip, promptly answering questions, concerns, needs by emails.
He changed the plan of the trip, when a rain was by a forecast. We did not lost the opportunity to go to Masada and Dead sea.

The Tower of David Museum “Night Spectacular” (included in the tour) was SPECTACULAR!. Is must to see.

Pick up service in the airport and going to the airport was well planned, always in time, comfortable.

Our tour guide Yaki was energetic, very knowledgeable in the history of the Israel and the modern culture of the country, friendly, humorous and he made the tour unforgettable I can highly recommend Shalom Tours and Yaki as a guide.
Israel is must to see.

We recently returned from a ten day private tour in Israel with Mordechai Weiss. It was an excellent trip. Our guide, Mordechai became part of the family as we traveled all around Israel. He was constantly talking and explaining the various sites that we visited. Driving from site to site he pointed out various landmarks as we were passing them and gave us their history. He is an expert in Judaism as well as historical facts.

We are a family of four, our sons are grown and he treated each of us in a very special personalized way throughout the entire trip. I do not think you could find a better guide for a family trip. Through our conversations we discovered that Mordechai was a Rabbi from Teaneck N.J. This was very pleasant surprise.

From the moment I contacted Shalom Israel for information on booking our 10 day Jewish Heritage tour we were taken care of with excellent service. Shalom patiently answered all of my questions before we signed on, helped us add extra days at the end of our trip and provided tons of helpful information that made preparing for this trip a breeze. In fact it was so easy that this was one of the easiest vacations I have ever taken. The tour itself was fantastic with a packed itinerary of one amazing stop after another. It also helped that our tour guide Meni was fantastic.

We will be back in a few years and will book through Shalom Israel again without hesitation!

Dear Shalom Tours,

Where to begin?  AHARON.  His historical understanding  of Israel is beyond measure, and though I do not know his last name, it was he who made every site come alive with detail and vivacity.  He was an excellent guide and spokesman for your beautiful country.  He was inspirational, added humor, and praise of him would not come out as wonderfully as his guidance throughout Israel.  I would recommend him to ANYONE interested in an educational and thorough trip through his understanding of your country.  His voice was priceless in all we saw and did.

There was not one “glitch” on the entire tour.  The only “heads up” I might add is that with both Tel Aviv and Jerusalem we had some hotel confirmation difficulties in the check-in process.

We LOVED both hotels and the 2 nights at the kibbutz.  We stayed at the Tel Aviv Beach Hotel in Tel Aviv (GORGEOUS!!!!) and the Orient Hotel (PAMPERED in all ways possible).  My travel companion selected these, and her call was a great one.  Just so you know, we have never stayed anywhere we felt so indulged.  The “chader ochel” in the Orient was phenomenal, especially you head staff person who made us a photo of us on the latte!!!!  We couldn’t drink it-we just kept taking photos of our own coffee photos!!!  They put shame on American hotels, believe me.

It was Chris Linton’s first visit, and she will never forget her time there.  Upon return to our little town in New Mexico, she and I call or text every morning with a memory from Israel.  Aharon would always say to our group on the bus, “Wakey/Wakey” to point out something on the right side or left side of the bus.  Chris and I greet one another with the same expression and probably always will.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for an amazing adventure for us in Israel.

Sincerely,

Deborah Stein Geary

Our guide Daniel was great. He is knowledgeable, interesting and fun. The itinerary that Shalom designed for us worked out so well. Daniel knew just where to take us to fill in any free time such as the De Karina chocolate factory. He really understood our vacation style and helped us choose perfect meals and activities. Hotels were beautiful especially the Orient in Jerusalem.

We enjoyed all of the sites and hearing Daniel’s perspective which really enhanced our experiences. We enjoyed Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, walking in the Western Wall Tunnels, City of David, Golan Heights, and the list goes on. We learned so much about Israel and felt that we grew personally. This was a vacation that was meaningful to us and let us bring home a healthy perspective for our lives and a higher level of appreciation for Israel.

We decided to book a trip for my son’s Bar Mitzvah. I did a ton of researched and narrowed down the selection to 5 tour operators. Shalom was responsive and flexible! We had a short amount of time to squeeze in all of the sights (just 8 days). Shalom helped us to select the activities that best suited our family. Our kids (13 and 15) were engaged the entire time. Mordecai was our guide. He was the perfect fit for us. He knew how to keep the kids interested, and he answered every question clearly. Our joke was “another pile of rocks”, but my kids can explain the historical significance and time period of every site we visited. Shalom also arranged for the Rabbi (Rabbi Bandel) and the Bar Mitzvah ceremony. Rabbi Bandel skyped with my son on Sundays for weeks before we left, so the Rabbi knew my son before we arrived, which made the experience even more special. Shalom also arranged for our restaurants, and anything else we needed. We just asked, and received confirmation the next day! If you are traveling with teens, request Mordecai as your guide – he was the perfect combination of a buddy, and the best history teacher ever!

Our guide Daniel was great. He is knowledgeable, interesting and fun. The itinerary that Shalom designed for us worked out so well. Daniel knew just where to take us to fill in any free time such as the De Karina chocolate factory. He really understood our vacation style and helped us choose perfect meals and activities. Hotels were beautiful especially the Orient in Jerusalem.
We enjoyed all of the sites and hearing Daniel’s perspective which really enhanced our experiences. We enjoyed Masada, floating in the Dead Sea, walking in the Western Wall Tunnels, City of David, Golan Heights, and the list goes on. We learned so much about Israel and felt that we grew personally. This was a vacation that was meaningful to us and let us bring home a healthy perspective for our lives and a higher level of appreciation for Israel.

Our first visit to Israel, March 7-21, was inspiring, eye-opening and surprisingly emotional. Shalom Stark, through Shalom Israel Tours, provided an excellent itinerary, impeccable lodging and an extraordinary tour guide for our 2 week Jewish Heritage tour. Needless to say, we were more than satisfied.

We were lucky enough to travel on a small bus with six other couples who quickly became friends and helped make the trip even more enjoyable.

The tour was phenomenal. Every tour day was full of history and amazing sites, locations that we wanted to see, and many others that we had never heard about but rounded out our knowledge of the country. We travelled from the modern city of Tel Aviv to the thousands year old city of Jerusalem, from the heights of Masada to the depths of the Dead Sea and finally from the resort city of Eilat to the historical city of Petra in Jordan. We were surprised at how beautiful the scenery was and the change from the Golan Heights to the Negev Desert. We could not ask for a better tour.

Our guide, Eli Dabi, was amazing and made the history of the country and its people come alive. He was passionate about his country, knowledgeable about its history and funny. He helped us understand what it took to be a settler and what it is like to live in Israel today. We could not have asked for a better guide.

Shalom Israel Tours took care of everything and everything worked like clockwork, from the person who met us after customs in Tel Aviv, to the driver who picked us up at our hotel in the middle of the night to take us back to the airport for our flight home. The hotels we selected were centrally located allowing us to tour on our own, especially on Shabbat. Shalom Stark was a pleasure to deal with when we first started to consider the tour and was always responsive to our questions and needs even after we came home. We highly recommend Shalom Israel Tours to anyone contemplating a trip to Israel.

The man is absolutely amazing as to his knowledge of the various locations and the biblical history associated with each site. Each location was punctuated with knowledge, insight and humor. As a travel agent i have traveled with many groups and find this one being exceptional. I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to see the wonders of Israel and to be led by someone who is both passionate and knowledgeable about this country.

We had an amazing trip to Israel thanks to Shalom Tours and our wonderful guide, Shimon who made the experience so special for us! We couldn’t have been happier and would highly recommend Shalom Tours and Shimon to anyone traveling to Israel!!!

I went on this tour with my husband and in-laws in November. It was an 8 day comprehensive tour covering most of the highlights in Israel. We had an absolutely amazing tour guide, Ze’ev! He was so knowledgeable about history, geology, religion, culture, architecture and was very enthusiastic about sharing and conveying his knowledge. We did something amazing every day! 17 people on the tour total for first part and 15 the remainder. Everyone got along very well. Great meals included and activities. This was the way to go to see and learn as much as possible while in Israel. Tour was somewhat tailored for older adults and the desires of the group in general. No young kids. I would highly, highly recommend.

My wife and just returned from the Jewish Heritage Tour 15 day tour with Petra. (Nov 1 -15th). I booked Shalom Tours because of they were very attentive to my many questions and I felt a comfort level with Shalom Stark. My wife and I have travelled a lot but this was our very first tour and I must honestly say we couldn’t have done everything we did on our own. Nor could we have learned as much as we did without our guide Aaron. His knowledge and the way he “presented” and shared information with us at every stop was great! He answered questions and made the trip better. Israel is a very beautiful and diverse country and my wife and I now have even a great appreciation of it.

We arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday and received our welcome pack from Shalom Tours when we checked in. Thursday morning Aaron picked us up at the hotel along with some others. We made a few more stops to pick up some others. As soon as we were all on the bus he welcomed us, told us about himself and you could see the pride in face and hear it in his voice. He was ready to share it all with us!

Be prepared for full days with each day being better than the previous. My wife and I enjoy exploring for restaurants. Shalom provided some suggestions in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and we also found our own. The dinners were always great. the food is so fresh and wonderful.

I would recommend Shalom Israel Tours and Shalom Stark to everyone. We had the trip of a lifetime and I know you will too!

Terrific tour–the guide, Mali, could not have been better–knowledgable, enthusiastic, and a great people person. Shalom Stark went out of his way to help. Would recommend to anyone looking for a Jewish Heritage tour.

My wife and I just returned from Shalom Israel’s 15 day Jewish Heritage tour. From arrival in Israel until the ending of our tour, everything promised in the tour description was delivered and so much more. Shalom Stark handled all of the logistics of airport arrivals/departures, hotel reservations, tour bus driver and guide perfectly. We’ve been on several guided tours before, but our tour director, Ilan Cohen was the best ever. His knowledge about the history and people of Israel was incredible. His interaction with our tour group made the tour even more interesting, always eager to answer everyone’s questions. Even though he conducted this tour or ones like it many times over the years, he always kept everyone’s interest and was never boring. If I could give Shalom Israel tours and our tour director Ilan Cohen more than 5 stars I would.

We just returned from the 12 day Jewish Heritage tour and it was a wonderful experience. We saw so many things in a short period of time – and really had the chance to experience the highlights of the country. Our tour guide, Mali Harel, was a font of information and truly enjoyed sharing her knowledge, energy and love of Israel with everyone on the tour. All details were covered – and some of the special extras (wine when we arrived in Jerusalem, Tower of David show, cookies on our departure) made the trip more meaningful. Our group of fellow travelers were fun and added to the enjoyment. For a first time visitor (my husband) or someone who has been to Israel before (me), there were many interesting things to see and do. I highly recommend Shalom Israel tours for everyone!

We just got back from our fabulous private 13 day classic Israel tour arranged by Shalom Tours. For most of us on the tour, it was our first trip to Israel and Petra. From the time we were met at the airport through out the entire tour, we had a great experience. Our guide, Eli, was spectacular. He related well to everyone in our group. His knowledge of the various sites that we visited was completely engaging. We wanted to customize the tour and Shalom was very accommodating. We got to see more of what Israel has to offer than we thought we would. Shalom kept in touch with us during the trip and was particularly responsive to our needs. We would highly recommend Shalom Tours and especially Eli.

Our 6 day private tour was incredible! From the start, Shalom helped us create a tour that was perfect for our small group. This was our first trip to Israel for my son’s bar mitzvah and I wanted to make sure that we saw all the must see sights including activities that would be fun for the whole family. And that is exactly what Shalom created! We planned for a year and made some tweaks to the plan along the way and Shalom was always very accommodating. Anytime I had any questions, he always replied quickly and gave me the best information. As soon as we got to Israel, Shalom’s top notch service began as we were met by a greeter as soon as we disembarked from the airplane. He ushered us through the entry process quickly and was very helpful with all our questions and helped up carry our bags to our driver that was waiting for us to take us to our hotel in Jerusalem.

Once we checked in, Shalom’s welcome packages were waiting for us in our room and he even had a box of cookies sent to our rooms on Shabbat! We began our tour at the end of the week after my son’s bar mitzvah. Our tour guide Meni was recommended to us from a friend and Shalom was able to book him for us. Meni was an outstanding guide! He was very engaging and passionate about everything he talked to us about. We learned so much from him and it left us wanting more!! He went above and beyond to educate us and show us the realities of life in Israel and so much of Israel’s history. He really enlightened us and made us feel very safe! Meni’s enthusiasm was contagious. My hard to impress son, was thoroughly engaged with all of Meni’s stories and knowledge wherever we went as we all were. We truly enjoyed his company everyday. He is a very kind and warm person and my family quickly came to adore him.

We hated to have to say goodbye. However, we think we have made a new life long friend and hope to keep in touch! On our departure day, a driver was waiting for us at our hotel as planned to take us to the airport. Everything went very smoothly. Throughout the trip, Shalom kept in touch with helpful reminder emails and replied promptly whenever I had a question. We hope we can return again in the not too distant future as there is so much that we still want to do and see in Israel. We highly recommend Shalom Israel Tours to everyone wanting an outstanding tour of Israel and of course request Meni as your tour guide and you will not be disappointed!!!

Thank you Shalom & Meni for an amazing trip to Israel that has given us so many incredible memories that we will always cherish!!

Shalom Tours is a first class operation. From the arrival in Israel to the tour and the departure from Israel they were on time everyday. Our tour guide Daniel Gutman was extremely knowledgeable, funny, responsible and was aware of our dad’s limitations (age 92) in recommending what he can and shouldn’t do in the tour. We spent 12 days in Israel. We loved staying at Royal Beach Hotel in Tel Aviv and David Citadel in Jerusalem. Dan was very flexible in our tour. If we wanted to stay longer in one place , he adjusted and made recommendations. Dan showed us so many great places that I ended up taking 2,000 pictures. A highlight of the trip was meeting Dan’s family as they had a surprise cake for my brother in laws 60th birthday. What a nice surprise. Exploring caves, Masada, Dead Sea, Western Wall and King David Tower light show are a few must do’s in Israel.

All in all I want to thank Daniel and Shalom for making this trip so memorable, safe and fun for our family..

We used Shalom Israel to book a private tour for four of us. Shalom helped us plan a fabulous itinerary, which we adjusted before and during our trip. From the moment we stepped off the plane, Shalom’s staff gave us VIP treatment. Someone met us at the gate and ushered us to the terminal and through customs, and saw us to the driver who took us to our hotel. The next day, we met our tour guide Shimon, who gave us a fascinating and informative 8-day tour of Israel from the coast to the Golan Heights to Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, and Masada. Shimon adjusted the schedule daily to our needs and interests, and made sure that we learned a lot and had fun, fun, fun. We had extra days to spend in Jerusalem, and Shimon gave us many suggestions for things to do, how to get there. Thanks to Shalom and Shimon, we experienced the trip of a lifetime! I will call them again for my next trip.

We just completed a phenomenal two-week tour designed by Shalom Stark (Shalom Israel Tours) and guided by Eli Dabi. Last year I sent several agencies a list of sites/activities in Israel and asked them to create an itinerary for my three-generational family. Shalom responded within a few days and was the ONLY agent who seemed to have read my email. I received the stock 12-day tour from all the others. Shalom took into consideration our ages, our wishes, and our need to have active time for our grandchildren. He answered all questions within a day or two and was willing to make changes and fulfill any requests. While in Israel, he checked in with us to make sure that everything was going well and was in contact with our guide throughout our visit.

Eli Dabi is an incredibly nice man and very knowledgeable. I’m sure that there are many guides with those qualities. What sets Eli apart is his passion for Israel, his sharing of Israeli customs, his sharing of personal details, and his wonderful sense of humor. On most days, he showed us sites beyond our scheduled itinerary. He was willing to spend long days with us and never made us feel he was rushing to end the day. We developed a feeling for the land and a very good sense of Israel’s borders. After our last stop, we talked to our family and ended with playing Hatikvah. Our 12-year-old grandson removed his cap and placed his hand on his heart. Thanks to Eli for instilling us with his own passion.

Whether you are booking a tour or creating a private journey, please contact Shalom Stark and please request Eli as your guide. You will have an unbelievable experience that will enrich your life. And you will return home with indelible memories of Israel and a yearning to return.

We just returned from our first trip to Israel, and are so glad we chose Shalom Israel. We saw so many sights – not all the usual stops, either. Our guide, Aaron, was extremely knowledgeable and shared his personal stories and perspectives, which made the trip even more memorable. He was truly a treasure. There were a few unique touches: the cookies sent to our hotel room for Shabbat from Shalom Tours, for example. Our driver to/from the airport was also terrific, and our tour bus driver was extremely professional and timely.
I can’t say enough about this. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY. Just please realize that this is a structured tour, and your free time will be limited. You will see a great deal of sites, but not enough very much shopping time. Get advice from the guide about what to do on Shabbat, when many things are closed. We managed to fill every day until we dropped.
THANK YOU, SHALOM TOURS!!!!

I am not even sure where to begin to describe how incredible Shalom and his team are . From the moment Shalom was contacted, he responded immediately, worked with us to make this a personal trip instead of a tour. This was a special trip for my family as it was the firs trip to Israel and my Mom’s 70th birthday. Shalom proposed the perfect trip with just enough downtime amongst all the incredible sites he managed to put in our trip.

The next best part was our incredible guide- the one and only Mr. Eli Dabi, from the moment we met at the Dan Tel Aviv until our last dinner in Eilat, this man showed us Israeli hospitality at it’s finest. His love for his country is felt every minute of the day, his kindness and heart is ls bigger than any person I know. He is now a family member and hopefully will be part of our lives for a very long time. Shalom, the extra touches you provide are wonderful.

I would rate Shalom and his crew A plus plus. Thank you again and again.

We came as a family from Westchester, NY – 6 adults and 5 children – and stayed about 10 days. Shalom gave us an EXCELLENT tour program with a mini bus, driver and tour guide!!! Not a moment was wasted and every detail was taken care of expertly. We had a FABULOUS Bat Mitzvah experience near the Western Wall with a Rabbi and torah and it was definitely a highlight.

THANK YOU Shalom. We do not hesitate for a second to recommend Shalom Israel Tours.

Not sure where to begin….fantastic guide, Yaki made our trip of a lifetime great. Yaki is smart, funny, warm, street wise, an historian and a mensch. We traveled with 2 teenage boys who had a blast too! Favorite activities for all in our group were the keep tour, the Jerusalem walking day and Masada/Dead Sea. Shalom was always available and answered all of our questions in preparing for the trip. EVERYTHING was as expected and more! Go and enjoy!

Before selecting Shalom Tours, I looked at the offerings of many other tour companies. They omitted key sites of interest, or offered heavily faith-oriented programs. My husband and I wanted an itinerary with not only customary destinations like Jerusalem, the Galilee, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Dead Sea but also less frequently visited places like the Negev Desert, Mitzpeh Ramon Crater, Timna Mines, Israeli defense forces, Eilat, and the Red Sea. We also wanted a tour that was based in Israel, not crafted by Americans for Americans although our group were mostly Americans. My mother (age 78) and her sister (age 80) were also traveling with us. Though in good health, they needed a tour they could manage.

Only Shalom Tours offered a tour that met all our criteria. Ultimately, we chose the 11-Day Holy Land & Petra Tour. We opted out of the Petra Tour, and took a leisure day in Eilat, as we were visiting Jordan on a separate tour later. Shalom Stark was very prompt and detailed in his correspondence with us. He understood what we wanted and offered tours that best suited our needs.

From start to finish, our tour was well-planned and well-organized. An attendant met us at Ben Gurion Airport and helped us file a lost luggage report when part of our luggage did not arrive. Our first guide, Benayah, was extremely knowledgeable and had a good sense of humor. He knew how to engage all the diverse members of the group. He was also adept at reordering the itinerary (without leaving anything out) based on circumstances. The tour was fairly hectic, though this is understandable considering the wealth of sites that were packed into it. Nothing was left out – from the dazzling Mediterranean cities of Caesarea and Acco to the mind-blowing ruins at Capernaum. There was a prayerful presentation at the Garden Tomb given by a docent at the site, a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and a chance to bathe in the river Jordan at Yardenit. We even stopped at a scenic overlook in the Golan Heights where we could look across the border of Syria and see an ISIS checkpoint. There was literally something for every taste. Our only wish was to have spent more time at the Dead Sea. Our bus driver, Atef, was obliging, efficient, and skilled at navigating through tight areas.

After spending 6 days in the northern part of Israel with Benayah and Atef, we spent 5 days in the southern part of Israel with Eli, who served as our guide and driver. He alertly re-routed our trip to avoid a jammed checkpoint (we arrived during Eid) and took us on a fascinating drive that skirted Israel’s border with Egypt. Eli gave a fascinating account of Ben-Gurion’s life during a visit to the former prime minister’s desert home.

Another item on our wish-list was to stay in hotels that were Israeli-owned, not part of American-owned chains. We thoroughly enjoyed our stays in the Dan Panorama hotels in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, and at the Kibbutz Lavi in Galilee. The Dan Panorama in Eilat was also nice, but the service there was less attentive, possibly due to the large crowds of vacationers.

A couple of pointers: it can be searingly hot in Israel in early September, and many sites call for modest dress (especially the Temple Mount). Be prepared for the experience of blazing sun and heat! Also, be sure to set aside some gratuity money for your guides and drivers.

We were 100% satisfied with this tour and can enthusiastically recommend it to anyone (and already have!).

This was my first trip to Israel, and I’m so very glad I chose Shalom Israel Tours for this Jewish Heritage Tour. From the very first email I sent, Shalom Stark was prompt and informative in his replies. With every subsequent question I had (and I had many), Shalom was kind and patient. The smiling personalized pick up, luggage assistance and hotel transfer at Ben Gurion Airport was a special touch.

The tour itself was OUTSTANDING, and Mali, our guide, was a true gem. She is extremely knowledgeable and ever so patient. Her energy and enthusiasm was contagious making the trip all that much more enjoyable. The hotels were fantastic and, despite the weather not cooperating on our entry into Jerusalem, we didn’t let a little rain dampen our good spirits.

This trip was top notch!! To not hesitate to book with Shalom Israel Tours. You’ll be glad you did!!

We returned from our Israel trip that Shalom Israel Tours organized for us. Shalom did an excellent job listening to the needs of our group and put together a tour that we will remember for a lifetime. From the moment we were greeted at the airport we experienced a professional well organized knowledgeable guided tour of Israel. Shalom always answered all my many many questions. He arranged for my daughters Bat Mitzvah ceremony at Masada which was amazing. Something we couldn’t have even imagined.

Our tour guide Eli Dabi was just EXCELLENT he was very knowledgeable and made our entire tour perfect. He made our long touring days fun and made us laugh. During our trip he made any changes we requested last minute. He surprised us all the time and we are so grateful to him. He became part of our family and we were all very sad to say goodbye to him.

I would HIGHLY recommend Shalom Israel Tours to anyone who is experiencing Israel especially there first time. I would also highly recommend asking for Eli. When we come back to Israel we will ONLY use Shalom Israel Tours and would only want Eli.

We spent 10 fun filled and fulfilling days in Tel Aviv, the Golan, Galilee and Jerusalem, as well as Masada and the Dead Sea. Shalom planned a great itinerary that worked for all three generations in our family, with meaningful things for everyone. Our guide, Eli Dabi, did a fabulous job and became a member of our family. We visited historical sites, rode camels, rafted in the Jordan River, made chocolate and learned how shofars are made. We also visited pantry packers and did a mitzvah. We strongly recommend Shalom Israel Tours!

Shalom Israel Tours is the BEST tour company you can book whether you are traveling solo like me or as a couple or family. Really, you do not need to look any further, this is such an amazing tour company; the personal touch and attention to detail is incredible. If you are lucky enough to have Meni Tzabari as your guide you will learn so much, as he is passionate about Israel and so generous with his knowledge of the history, agriculture, geography, and religion of the country. Request to have Meni as your tour guide if this is possible but I am confident that the company will take care of you and any of your specific requests. Meni kept the group laughing every day and continuously made sure each person in the group was doing OK and having a good experience.
Shalom Stark answered every email promptly and in detail and helped with every aspect of planning my trip.

People who joined our group from other tour companies were jealous of the special touches, unique places we visited, and all-around exemplary service we received as compared to their experiences. Our group was made up of wonderful people from all over the US and Meni had a gift of bringing us all together to laugh, share meals and experience the beauty of the country.

I have had an amazing experience that will last a lifetime. I am on my last day of the 15 day Heritage tour and wanted to offer my review while I am still here. Thank you Shalom Tours and Meni for an experience that was more than just a trip. Thank you to all my new friends on the tour for the good times, laughs, the sharing of some great meals, and always making me feel so happy that I took this trip!

If you are shopping tours in Israel, you have found THE BEST! We just returned from a 14 day trip that included Petra. Our tour guide, Aharon, made every sight exceptional with his knowledge and his way of telling the story of what we were seeing. His love of Israel was always evident and made him a wonderful ambassador for Israel. Shalom tours picked exceptional hotels, bus driver (Alom) and sights for us to see. We were on the go from 8am to 6pm, seeing everything possible. Aharon had a way of keeping us all on time with little chance of delays and helping those with special needs and problems, which we experienced. I highly recommend Shalom Tours and be sure to request Aharon as your guide! You will feel safe and glad you went. Jane Kofender

We just returned from our adventure in Israel with Shalom Tours. Our guide and itinerary were exceeded our expectations Every day was a new, fantastic adventure visiting Tel aviv, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Lavi ,Safed, and Massada. Shalom’s extra touches included door to door roundtrip service from airport to hotel, cookies delivered to our room on shabbat, suggestions for great dinner spots, and attentive care and guidance from Jacky, our guide. We upgraded our accomodations in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, an option provided by Shalom, and can’t say enough about the fantastic service and beautiful rooms we enjoyed visiting. Shalom is always available to speak with online our by phone and even secured a private, fantastic guide for us on shabbat in Tel Aviv before our group tour started. See Israel with Shalom, and you will not be disappointed.

My wife and I just finished a 10 day trip to Israel (our first) highlighted by 6 days of guided touring arranged by Shalom Israel Tours. Our trip was wonderful – but we can not say enough about Shalom – and the tour. Since my review is long… the summary is;
1. Go to Israel.
2. Absolutely use Shalom Israel Day Tours. and
3. If you have the chance to cross paths with our guide Eli – jump at the opportunity!

My husband and I just finished a 13 day tour with Shalom Israel tours. We had two different guides, both Aharon & Eli were fabulous! There were only seven of us on the group tour and we all became like family at the end! We did so much each day that we almost had trouble staying up until 10 o’clock at night! Even though we had some early wake up calls, we were always eager to get going and see what the new day would bring. This is our first experience with a group tour and it went so well. Thanks, Shalom, for answering all our questions, being attentive to our requests and choosing wonderful guides!

We took the 15 day Jewish Heritage Tour starting in late October with Shalom Tours. It was our first trip to Israel and this tour was perfect in length and scope. We added the day trip to Petra which was amazing. Our guide Eli was wonderful. Can’t say enough about how great he was well informed, intelligent, very funny and personable. He did a great job integrating history geopolitics and the current societal issues. We were lucky to have Alam as our skilled and very pleasant driver. We stayed at the Dan Panorama hotels in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Eilat. The locations were excellent and the buffet breakfasts plentiful. We travelled with a wonderful group of people – we truly bonded during our two weeks and looked out for each other. Miss you all ‘Eli’s Group!’

After much indecision, thank goodness I went on this amazing tour of Israel! (I was worried about the physical challenges, and it was difficult due to the walking on uneven ground and so many steps!) We were so lucky to have Daniel Gutman as our guide, and never have a met a more, passionate, knowledgeable and personable tour guide. I would recommend no one else! We toured from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and surrounding areas and saw amazing sights every day, and had the opportunity to be at the top of Masada for the B’nai Mitzvah of Michael and Sydney. I can’t pick my favorite day, but I thank Sally for including me and my son, Greg, for this opportunity to see the amazing country of Israel and the home of my forefathers! I’m just sad my father didn’t live long enough to be there with us, but know he was there in spirit!

Though I’m sure Israel would have been amazing regardless, I do know that having Eli as a tour guide was by far the greatest gift to have while there. He was one of the family and we all cried when it was time to part with him. To have had someone that was able to show us and teach us so much in only one week as well as touch our hearts so much we still miss him made Shalom tours the only way I would ever tour Israel. Next time I’m there it is a guarantee that I will use Shalom tours and Eli to make my experience as amazing as my first one. Thank you!

This was our second time using Shalom Israel Tours. They did a fantastic job. Was traveling with my two children and Shalom planned things that were interesting for my children. All the details of our trip were perfect. Guides were fantastic, hotel was great, transfers were easy. When we had to make some changes, Shalom Israel Tours couldn’t have been more flexible. I will definitely use this tour company on our next trip to Israel.

We just came home after a 13 day tour of Israel. We were with our two kids, ages 19 and 15. We booked through Shalom Tours and our guide was Aharon (pronounced Aaron). The tour was called The Jewish Heratage Tour. I can’t say enough good things about the tour, about Shalom Tours or Aharon as our guide. Shalom Tours was always responsive both before, during and after our tour. Ahoron was interesting, organized and honestly, one of the best guides I’ve ever had. He explained the history and signifigance of all of the sights we saw, but also shared personal stories that gave everything more meaning. We saw so many sights, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Eilat, Petra, Northern Israel and The Golan Heights I would highly recommend.

All I can say from start to finish the best tour company in Israel. From the first call to get a quote for our private family tour to making several changes as the day got closer to the awesome Rabbi Rodman Peretz for our Daughters Bat-Mitzvah at the Robinson Arch(Thanks for talking us out of Masada). Also arranging to allow us to have our entire family to join us at Genesis Land for a great Camel ride and Dinner. Now about Our Guide Mordechai Weiss. We were so privileged to have him as our Tour Guide. From the first day that we met him at our Hotel in Tel Aviv we knew he would fit right in with our family. Mordechai was like meeting that long lost family member who has been living in Israel all his life. From the time we left Tel Aviv to the last day in Jerusalem he made sure that we saw everything on planned tour and more. There was never a time that he was not filling us up with all his knowledge of Israel. The long drives never seemed long as we were always in conversation. Several times we went to places that were not on our list but well worth the stops.( The Jordan River was by far the best of those stops) We never felt rushed at any place we went, always a smile and we have plenty of time. Mordechai also knows the best places to eat for lunch. Tell your friend that he still has the best Falafels. When you book with Shalom Tours make sure you request Mordechai as your guide. You will not be disappointed. We have found the best Tour company in Israel and we are more than happy to recommend them to anyone going on Tour.

I want to thank you for ensuring our time in Israel was truly unforgettable. From the moment we arrived and were greeted at the exit of the airplane until we were delivered to the airport Monday morning, every detail was extremely well thought out. We could not have asked for a better experience. We will make sure to spread you name and company to those who plan to travel to Israel.

Eli was so much more than a tour guide. By the end of the tour we considered him family. He is an amazing person, so caring, thoughtful, anticipating our every need. His knowledge of the country, his patriotism and love of his job is admirable. He not only took us to every place on our itinerary, but included places that he thought should not be missed that were not included on our tour and we so appreciated him!!! Eli’s insight made us really understand what Israel has been through in the past and where Israel is going. His humor made us laugh at just the right moments, as well!

Thank you for making our experience a memory we will treasure for a lifetime!

We just completed a 10-day tour with our community. It is our second tour with Shalom Israel Tours and like the first it was truly amazing. This time we brought a group of community members in addition to our 3 children. The program was flexible enough to stimulate and accomodate both groups. That is no easy feat, and is a credit to the creativity and professionalism of Shalom Stark the director of our tour company.

We were also fortunate enough to have a wonderful tour guide, Yoni Berg join us for the trip. Yoni is a unique mixture of americana and Israeli idealist, with a wealth of knowledge about everything Israel. Yoni has the wit and charm to keep you listening to tale after tale, and the patience and sensitivity to handle a mixed group of children and adults.

Together they provided us a memorable journey we will never forget.

We had the best time this summer with Shalom Israel Tours! From start to finish, Shalom Stark helped us plan a trip that was geared toward our four children, ages 9-13, but also very enjoyable by the 10 adults, ages 45-73. He arranged a flexible tour that hit as many highlights as possible in our time frame. All airport and hotel pickups and drop-offs by Shalom Tours were on-time, seamless, and incredibly helpful. Everything that was supposed to happen did happen, including any pre-arranged meals, special reservations, and extra days besides the tour days. Hotel locations were wonderful. Our tour guide, Emmanuel Kushner, was a delight! As a former educator, he was perfect for our kids, engaging them at each site and teaching them historical information with a sense of humor. We enjoyed being with him for the long hours on the bus, as well as fun rafting in the Golan, some meals, and any other times we were together. He was sensitive to our need for some separate family time, while he added to the experience whenever we were with him. We highly recommend him for any Israel tourist. Our bus driver, Oded Glazer, deserves special mention for allowing us to break into groups if anyone needed to rest on the air-conditioned bus while others hiked around; for creating easy access to hilly places by dropping off at one location and picking up at another; for purchasing and stowing, at a small price, ice cold water every day for our use; and for his friendly presence with us on the bus during the whole tour. This was a wonderful experience for our family in Israel! Todah rabah!

My wife and I experienced Israel in terms of people, places and things and in each section, both physical and spiritual. And, before I forget, let me say Daniel and Maier made a wonderful team. In terms of things, the historical adventures and relics observed were amazing. In terms of places, the locations selected for our touring was wonderful.

In terms of people, the feeling, the energy of the country is fantastic and with Daniel, each place came alive. His very vivid descriptions and historical context was so astoundingly good. He made the people, places and things literally appear before us. He embedded each location with its specialness into our brains. And with Maier as driver, we never felt frightened even though Israeli drivers are “unique” and some roads and paths were steep, rocky and narrow! This was the very best tour experience Lois and I have ever had. We felt so connected.

My wife and I have taken tours with many companies and we’ve yet to find one we didn’t like, but our experience with Shalom Israel Tours exceeded any expectations we had entertained.  After our flight we (four adults and a teen) were met by a company representative who guided us through the airport, bypassing long lines at customs, and delivered us to a waiting van.  We were whisked from Tel Aviv to our hotel in Jerusalem and arrived with plenty of time to explore for the rest of the day.

The tour proper started when we met Pitch (Abraham Maayan), our guide, the following morning.  If there are better tour guides in this world, I have yet to meet one.  In spite of his extensive knowledge of history, geography, politics, religion, even food, he is completely unpretentious.  We didn’t get a predetermined mechanical presentation with Pitch; this man carried on a conversation with us.  He was patient when we bombarded him with naive questions, offered advice when it was needed (e.g., he dissuaded me from ascending at Masada without water and a hat), displayed a welcome sense of humor, and carried on without the condescension characteristic of so many guides.  Traveling with Pitch was like traveling with a good friend.  He made all the difference in the world on this trip.

Our accommodations were first rate, Shalom Israel Tours responded quickly to our questions, and they checked with us during our stay in Israel to ensure that we were satisfied and doing well.  I would recommend the company to anyone, especially if they have more guides like Pitch.

If you’re planning a trip to Israel, this is the tour company to hire.
We started to plan this trip, a full year in advance. Shalom Stark and his team got right on planning an itinerary, with some of my suggestions as to specifics, and within a few days, had a plan to review.
All throughout the year, there was some tweaking and updated itineraries showed up very quickly.
From the moment we landed in Tel Aviv, to the moment we departed, 2 weeks later, the trip was flawlessly enjoyed by all of us.

Every vehicle was appropriately sized for us and our luggage, and our drivers, perfect.
Our Tour guide for 7 full days and several nights was Mordecai Weiss. There is no finer guide in all Israel. His personality meshed perfectly with us and his expertise regarding history made it so much fun to have Mordecai as our guide.

We toured north to south, east to west and made a special trip to Hebron to visit my friend and Chabad Rabbi Danny Cohen. Mordecai and Danny are old friends and we were treated by both, like family members.
I cannot say enough about Shalom Israel Tours. Glitch free, pleasure. They even made dinner reservations for us at several restaurants selected by us, in advance and their suggested restaurants where we had no idea where to eat, were perfect.

This whole trip was a 12 out of 10.
This is a top tier company that you can trust to provide a lifetime of memories.

Wendy and I are in our early 60’s, from Burlington, Ontario, Canada. This was our first trip to Israel and Shalom Tours easily exceeded our very high expectations. We want everyone to know that travel in Israel is very safe and that you should feel very, very proud to visit.

We began with a few days in Tel Aviv with tour guide Yaki (large bus), then joined guide Eli Dabi for the remainder of our Classic Israel tour, combining Jewish and Christian heritage sites. Yaki and Eli were superb, with a passion for Israel that made clear that this was more than a job to them.

We got to know Eli very well over the remainder of the tour, and we felt early on that we would be proud to have him as a friend for life (as perhaps we have). My favourite time of the tour wasn’t even scheduled. He asked whether anyone wanted to join him on a pre-dawn hike to see the sun rise over the Sea of Galilee. My photo shows this gorgeous morning, taken from the summit of the historic “Horns of Hattin” (Google it!).
We hope to return to Israel in 8 years to celebrate the country’s 75th anniversary. We’ll be calling Shalom.

We have just returned from an amazing trip to Israel courtesy of Shalom Stark. Shalom was very patient as we made change after change to our proposed itinerary. We got the perfect trip as a result. Our guides were knowledgeable and made the trip so meaningful and impactful with wonderful, rich details about Israel and its people. We saw so many things and places in such a short time our minds are still assimilating it all. All the pickups and transfers were flawless. There was nothing for us to do but explore, wonder, eat and enjoy.

We would highly recommend Shalom to other Jewish couples seeking the trip of a lifetime to Israel.

We just returned from our family trip to Israel. Shalom helped us to prepare an itinerary that was fun, interesting, meaningful and packed as much as we could into the time that we were there. The plan he made was flawless and every detail was exactly as we expected. Mid-way through the trip, I requested a change that required both a hotel and itinerary change. Shalom did not argue or complain, he simply said, “consider it done,” and made all requested changes within 10 minutes.

Our guide, Eli Dabi, was the highlight of our trip. His passion for his country and his job really showed and he was able to guide us safely and efficiently through our tour. He shared just the right amount of historical facts at each site to satisfy my husband’s desire to learn without boring my kids. He was flexible about stopping for meals, shopping, etc. It was clear that he was willing to do everything in his power to make us happy…and he did!!
Overall, I can not say enough good things about Shalom Tours or Eli Dabi. They, together, made this the best trip my family has ever been on. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone planning a trip to Israel.

My family recently returned from the 10 Day Jewish Heritage Tour and haven’t stopped raving about it yet. Shalom, the owner, was always easy to communicate with and made sure all was perfect. Our tour guide, Eli Dabi, was not only extremely knowledgeable, but passionate about sharing that knowledge. Eli Dabi brought humor and excitement to our tour.
If given a chance to tour Israel, this is the company and this is the guide.

The tour guide made the biggest difference in the world. Shalom only uses the best native Israeli guides – who convey the heart and everyday realities of an Israeli to the tourist. To get inside their head is a completely different experience, and very moving- to me, my husband and our 13yr old twins. They verbalized how the guide touched their minds and hearts. Other tours didn’t impact me this way. Also, Shalom is very responsive and helpful with advice & tips to ensure you’re prepared in every detail.

Yay Shalom Stark!

This our first trip to Israel. Our tour guide, Yaki, was both informative and entertaining. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in Jerusalem. Shalom arranged for Rabbi Mottle Wolf to perform a special ceremony to commemorate this event. Mottle was terrific. (Stuart and Wendy from the previous review participated in this event). Friday night at the Western Wall was something to behold. We would recommend, without reservation, Shalom Israel Tours.

We were on the 10 day Jewish Heritage Tour. It was my wife’s first visit to Israel and my second. The tour was very well organized, enjoyable and interesting. Our guide, Eli Dabi, was knowledgeable, passionate and funny and added much to the experience. Shalom Stark, the tour company owner, is very responsive to questions and needs. Highly recommended!

My son & I just came back from 10 Day Jewish Heritage Trip with Shalom Israel Tour. It was the most interesting, exciting trip we took. Our guide, Eli Dabi, was very energetic & knowledgeable in both Jewish history & theology. We both can’t wait to come back again!!!  I highly recommend this trip & our guide to anyone!

The standard that others should aspire to. I led a group of eight people on a 14 Day adventure through Israel and Jordan. Shalom tours organised the whole trip and what a job they did. Right from the outset they helped craft a unique tour for our group, even making changes we requested before arrival.

Our guide Rabbi Mordecai Weiss was just amazing. His knowledge surpassed other guides I have had in Israel in the past. As a Christian tour we had interests that you would think a Jewish Rabbi would not be helpful on, but this was not the case here. Mordecai was gracious and very caring of our faith, taking us on a journey of discovery through the bible and the land/people of Israel.

Nothing seemed to phase this company. When our domestic flights were canceled due too a sandstorm, a mini van was dispatched to pick us up and drive us five hours to our next destination. Service, that’s what they do, and they do it very well.
There is no question who I will be booking my next tour group with, it will be Shalom Tours. Thanks guys for making this trip so special and painless.

We were a party of eight…parents, two children and two sets of grandparents. Our tour was great from beginning to end. Our guide Meir and our driver, also Meir, did an outstanding job. We were in Jerusalem, Masada, Ramot and Tel Aviv. We had a wonderful experience as our grandson had his bar mitzvah on Masada all arranged by Shalom. I would recommend Shalom and his staff without reservation.