Forget boring and impersonal tours of the usual historical sites. Newly trending culinary travel has become a way to get more out of your time abroad through individualized and interactive experiences that are run by knowledgeable locals. These are the people who are passionate about what they do, and are itching to share their most-coveted foodie secrets with their guests.
The following are just a few unbelievably awesome food-related experiences and tours, awaiting you on your next vacay to the Holy Land.
Galilee: Galileat
Galileat connects foodies to Galilean hosts for traditional Arabic and Druze meals, cooking workshops, and once-in-a-lifetime culinary experiences. Full day culinary tours in Northern village markets, winter foraging sessions for wild greens, and participating in the annual olive harvest are all on the menu.
Haifa: Haifa Street Food Tours
© Lora Wiley
Haifa Street Food Tours offers walking tours of Haifa’s culinary backstreets, that play out like a crash course on Israeli lifestyle and hospitality. Expect a wide variety of generous tastings of local food and drink from some of the city’s longest standing and most refutable street food establishments.
Tel Aviv: Be Tel Aviv Tours / TLVeg Tours
Here you'll find vegan tours in Tel Aviv, designed to showcase the city’s reputation as one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world. Check out their other offerings as well, ranging from graffiti tours to trendy nighttime bar crawls.
Country-Wide: My Israel Wine Tours
© My Israeli Wine Tours
These tours lead guests to the best boutique wineries in the country on multi-day wine tours, from the fruitful Tuscan-like North, to the remote Nabateanwine trail of the Southern Negev Desert.
Tel Aviv and Country-Wide: Delicious Israel
Israel’s longest running food tour creates personalized “shuk and cook” experiences, exquisite Shabbat meal hospitality, and insider culinary market tours in Tel Aviv, as well as varied food and wine tours in other areas of the country. Owner Inbal and her team of seasoned foodie guides are sure to give you a unique and eye-opening experience.
Tel Aviv: The Curious Foodi
The Curious Foodi takes guests through the authentic hidden markets of Tel Aviv, and connects people to Israeli culture through a tapestry of alluring ethnic foods and their stories. Get connected online to learn about weekly group tours you can join, or contact owner Tahlia for an exclusive private tour.
Jerusalem: Bracha Arnold-Personal Chef and Caterer
© Personal Chef and Caterer
On Bracha's menu: custom-built cooking workshops in a range of Mediterranean flavors and special catered meals by Bracha for you and your family and friends during your time in Israel. Whichever option you choose, the food is sure to be inspired by the seasonal bounty found in the local markets.
Jerusalem: Fun Joel's Israel Tours
Get ready for culinary tours of Jerusalem’s Machne Yehuda open-air market (and more!) with owner and licensed tour guide Joel Haber. Joel will take you around the famous market’s back alleys, while you learn about the remarkable history surrounding you, and taste some unexpected Israeli treats.
Jerusalem: Shabbat of a Lifetime
It's time for informative traditional Shabbat host experiences in Israel’s holiest city. Shabbat of a Lifetime is designed for anyone who wants to experience a traditional Friday night meal, served with warm hospitality.
Jerusalem and Country-Wide: Ronit Peskin - Naturally Frugal-Foraging Wild Edible Walks and Classes
Ronit offers interactive and educational outdoor foraging workshops on wild seasonal plants here in Israel. Ronit shows you how to spot them, pick them, and use them to make divine culinary delights.