SusieTours Licensed Tour Guide Israel

10/01/2024

Are you visiting Israel during January 2024? Do you live in Israel and looking to get out and do some touring in Jerusalem?

Join me, Susie Ben-David of SusieTours, for a special tour of the newly renovated TOWER OF DAVID JERUSALEM MUSEUM. Through creative interactive displays, video art installations, and tailored films, the museum follows 4,000 years of the rich history of Jerusalem. This is a 2.5-hour, easy walking, morning tour, perfect for kids and adults from 10 years old and up. In addition, this is a perfect rainy-day tour, as most of the exhibitions are indoors!

The tour starts at Jaffa Gate at 9:30 and continues into David’s Citadel to enjoy the 2.5 hour insiders' tour. The tour is in English.

The price is 110 NIS or $30 per person (children and adults).
Upcoming dates are:
Monday, January 15th
Thursday, January 18th
Monday, January 22nd

Registration and payment are in advance. So what are you waiting for? Contact me today at: [email protected]

About me: I am a licensed Israeli tour guide (native English speaker). Contact me today to book private, personalized, insider tours of the Machane Yehuda market, Nachlaot, the Old City and the Ramparts, and so many other places.
Book all your tours with SusieTours!

Contact me: [email protected]

29/12/2023

Join me, Susie Ben-David of SusieTours, for a special tour of the renovated Tower of David Jerusalem Museum. The museum showcases archaeological discoveries and ancient artifacts through creative interactive displays, video art installations, and tailored films. This is a 2.5-hour, easy walking, morning tour, perfect for kids and adults from 10 years old and up. In addition, this is a perfect rainy-day tour, as most of the exhibitions are indoors!

The tour starts at Jaffa Gate at 9:30 and continues onto the museum to enjoy a 2.5 hour insiders' tour.

The tour is in English.
The price is 110 NIS or $30 per person (children and adults).
Available dates are Monday January 15th | Thursday January 18th | Monday January 22nd.

Registration and payment are in advance. So what are you waiting for? Contact me today at: [email protected]

About SusieTours: I am a licensed tour guide. Contact me today to book private, personalized, insider tours of the Machane Yehuda market, Nachlaot, the Old City and the Ramparts, and so many other places. Book all your tours with SusieTours! Contact me: [email protected]

08/09/2023

We celebrate the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah 5784, next Friday night, September 15, 2023, through Sunday night, September 17 ,2023.
To our family, friends, and clients, both in Israel and around the world, we wish you a sweet year filled with health, happiness and prosperity.
May we all be written in the Book of Life and find joy and pleasure in our families and our friends and in experiencing all the beauty of our wonderful country, Eretz Yisrael.
Shana Tova from SusieTours. www.susietours.com

04/08/2023

Just recently I had the pleasure of guiding a lovely young family on a fun-filled five-day tour of many of the most meaningful places in Israel.
On our first day we enjoyed the best of Jerusalem beginning in Mamilla, then onto a walk on the Ramparts and from there a tour of different sites around the Old City and of course, the Kotel!
On our second day everyone enjoyed the ‘Dig for a Day’ adventure; a fun-for-the-whole-family archeological experience; digging and exploring in the Beit Guvrin National Park, including crawling through a candle-lit cave.
On the third day it was time to give back to the community, as we spent time at Pantry Packers in Jerusalem, an incredible organization that organizes volunteers to help pack care packages for needy families and then on to Ein Prat for a refreshing water walk. And we weren’t finished yet! From there we went on to Eretz Beresh*t (Genesis Land) where we learned ‘first hand’ about the ancient biblical stories surrounding Abraham and his helper Eliezer, dressed in period clothing, rode camels and made pita and more.
On the fourth day we toured Ir David, the City of David, and as we walked the ancient paths and Hizikaya's water channel, I talked about how King David conquered this area and built this eternal city. And from the ancient stone paths we went on to the always exciting Machane Yehuda open air market, where we enjoyed the sights, sounds, aromas of the market, as well as sampling dishes, such as the Middle Eastern delicacy k’nafe, as well as a dizzying array of cheeses from around the world, jachnun, Yemenite Jewish pastry, and more.
On the fifth and final day of our whirlwind tour together we traveled to Gush Etzion and visited Caliber 3, a Counter Terror, Security & Defense Training Academy that not only trains armies and defense organizations in Israel and around the world, and is also a tourist destination teaching important lessons about the IDF, its vital mission to protect Israeli citizens of all religions and its strong moral character. Everyone got to shoot real rifles (paintball for the 11 year old) Lastly, we took an hour and a half ATV excursion from Deer Land Park in Gush Etzion; enjoying a tour of this beautiful stretch of land rich in ancient Jewish history, as well as its natural forest, water springs, orchards and lush vineyards. The park also offers a small zoo, an extreme park and so much more!
Here's an excerpt of what this wonderful family wrote about me on TripAdvisor:
“Before our trip, Susie spent hours talking to me and helping create the perfect itinerary… She planned a variety of activities that catered to our family unit; this included …the old city and shuk, …, archeological digs, and much more. We truly valued her advice and instructions on what to bring and what to expect, which really prepared us for our experiences.”
What sites do you dream of visiting in Israel. Let me make your dreams a reality and book your group or individual Israel tour today http://www.susietours.com/contact-me
SusieTours provides day-tours and multiple-day in-person tours anywhere in Israel, as well as virtual, personalized tours and prepares tour itineraries. Book all your tours with SusieTours! Contact me 050-779 0222 or http://www.susietours.com/contact-me

27/07/2023

Along with seeing the sights, why not use your vacation time to connect with Israelis working to make the world a better place?

21/07/2023

21/07/2023

Next Wednesday at sunset, July 26th, begins the second most important fast in the Jewish calendar, the Fast of the 9th of Av, and lasts through Thursday evening, July 27th. On this day we mourn the destruction of the first and second Holy Temples in Jerusalem. Sadly, many other calamities befell the Jews on this day; including the start of the First Crusade in 1096 destroying the Jewish communities in France and the Rhineland, about 200 years later the Jews were expelled from England and 100 years after that they were expelled from France and of course, in 1492 the Jews were expelled from Spain. Perhaps two lesser-known calamities occurred during the Second World War; in 1941 the ‘Final Solution’ was approved on this date and in 1942, the mass deportation of Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto began. And for these reasons I've chosen to talk this week about the Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Museum https://www.yadvashem.org/ in Jerusalem.
I've had the honor of gently escorting and guiding people through this deeply moving experience. With so much to experience; including testimonies, photographs, artwork and artifacts, it's an overwhelming encounter for almost every visitor, especially first-time visitors. As your private guide, I can help you find your way through some of the 4,200 square meters of the museum and provide a unique perspective, sharing personal stories of my own family and their stories from the holocaust.
The museum’s very structure and architecture begins to tell you the story of the Shoah and has been designed as a long structure that is like a knife that cuts through the mountains severing life, and at one end you can see the hills of Jerusalem and understand that we and the State of Israel are alive and thriving. It's always cathartic to get back onto the museum’s balcony and breathe the fresh Jerusalem air.
This week’s images (photography is not allowed inside the museum) show the original architecture of the outside of the museum. Photo credit: David Nabozny
I invite you to consider a visit to the Yad Vashem during your next visit to Jerusalem. As always, you must reserve your visit online. Only children over the age of 10 are permitted to visit the museum.
As we remember the destroyed Holy Temples, may we be rewarded to rejoice in its rebuilding!
SusieTours provides day-tours and multiple-day in-person tours anywhere in Israel, as well as virtual, personalized tours and prepares tour itineraries. Book all your tours with SusieTours! Contact me 050-779 0222 or http://www.susietours.com/contact-me

08/06/2023

Another good one!
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02/06/2023

I'm thrilled to announce that the Tower of David Jerusalem Museum (https://www.tod.org.il/en/) has officially opened its doors to the public on June 1 2023. After an ambitious multi-million dollar, 10-year restoration and installation program, the 2,800-year-old citadel is open to retell the rich history of Jerusalem with ultra-modern techniques. Meticulous conservation practices and a deep respect, love and care for the very stones and history of the citadel is felt throughout.

The museum is a masterpiece of the history of Jerusalem, portraying the Jewish, Christian and Islamic periods of the city and the events, large and small, that took place here. The compound includes magnificent grounds and gardens, ancient stone walls and 10 galleries refitted to tell the stories and multifaceted history of the greatest city in the world - Jerusalem. Employing cutting edge technology, including animated displays, 3D digital modeling, interactive multimedia walls and video mapping, along with original authentic artifacts from thousands of years ago to mere decades ago, the museum is a love letter to the city of Jerusalem. And of course, the museum has provided a rich, fun environment for kids and adults alike, with interactive computer games. This museum truly has something for everyone!

Let me take you on a journey to the beginning of the history of the city of Jerusalem and explore with me how the different cultures, religions and peoples have made it the jewel it is today. I invite you to join me on an hour and a half tour as we explore, learn, touch and are immersed in one of Jerusalem's ancient locations. Join me in the museum's magical experience and I know you’ll want to visit again and again. Enjoy a taste of the museum experience in the pictures below.

I was happy to meet Sharon Altshul, a photojournalist for the Baltimore Jewish Life, when she was visiting the museum. Check out her article and a bit about me 🙋‍♀️ here:
https://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=164617

As always, you must make reservations in advance. This is a wonderful time to discover the rich history of our country. Book your group or individual tour today http://www.susietours.com/contact-me

SusieTours provides day-tours and multiple-day in-person tours anywhere in Israel, as well as virtual, personalized tours and prepares tour itineraries. Book all your tours with SusieTours! Contact me 050-779 0222 or http://www.susietours.com/contact-me

05/05/2023

Recently, I had the pleasure of guiding a corporate group on their yearly outing. The theme of the tour was rediscovering the rich history of the pre-State of Israel; which was timed perfectly having just celebrated Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) and with Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Reunification Day) just two weeks away. The first stop of our tour was in Rehovot at the Weizmann house, once the residence of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, the first president of the State of Israel and his wife Dr. Vera Weizmann, and now part of the world-renowned Weizmann Institute campus. Today the house is open to the public as a museum, with its manicured grounds, with the modest graves of the Weizmanns are close by. The Weizmanns’ prodigious contributions to creating a modern homeland for the Jewish people cannot be underestimated.
From here we went to Machon Ayalon (or the Ayalon Institute). This was an underground, clandestine bullet factory, established by the Hagana (the precursor of the Israel army) in Rehovot in 1945 and continued to manufacture ammunition until 1948. The location was disguised as a kibbutz, with a laundry and a bakery cleverly concealing the ammunitions factory eight meters (25 feet!) underground. The story of the bravery of the 45 young people who kept the factory running and kept the secret of the locations’ true identity is inspiring! If you want to hear fascinating stories of Jewish ingenuity come join me on a tour of Machon Ayalon!
After talking about the importance of ammunition for the protection of the burgeoning State, it’s time to visit the location of some of the fiercest battles of the War of Independence: Khan Sha'ar HaGai. The Khan is a national memorial site located on Road 1, the main road to Jerusalem, and is dedicated to those who fought valiantly to break through the Arab blockades to free Jerusalem. Before 1948, Road 1 was a narrow, dangerous road that was known as the Road of Courage and is today a super modern, six-lane highway. The memorial site enables visitors of all ages, to learn about this difficult period in our history through old armored vehicles from convoys, short videos and even interactive activities where you need to make quick decisions to dilemmas that faced the brave commanders and volunteers under fire right on this road..
As always, you must make reservations in advance to visit any of these sites. This is a wonderful time to discover the rich history of our country. Book your group or individual tour today http://www.susietours.com/contact-me
SusieTours provides day-tours and multiple-day in-person tours anywhere in Israel, as well as virtual, personalized tours and prepares tour itineraries. Book all your tours with SusieTours! Contact me 050-779 0222 or http://www.susietours.com/contact-me

26/04/2023

Love these drone videos of amazing Israel!

29/03/2023

17/03/2023

Come and join me as we visit the Migdal Zedek National Park, a hidden treasure located between Rosh Ha’ayin and Petach Tikva, adjacent to Road 6.
The park is located on the site of an ancient crusader fortress and boasts a variety of walking and biking trails, including the Fortress Way Trail, an accessible walking trail that takes you around the fortress, with fabulous views of the surrounding landscapes and the Tomb Hill Path, which takes you past lush fields, a sheikh’s tomb and a climb up of a hill for views of Rosh Ha’ayin, the Sharon plain, second temple burial caves and more.
The Arabic name for the area is Majdal Yabba, which means Yaffo tower, since before all the modern, tall buildings were erected, you could see all the way to Yaffo from here.
This park has well-maintained bathrooms, a big picnic area, a coffee/ice cream snack bar in the castle (!), tons of wildflowers, olive and pomegranate trees and overlooks Via Maris road which was an ancient throughfare between Egypt and Mesopotamia and today is the route of Road 6.

As always you need to make a reservation in advance. You can learn more about Migdal Zedek National Park and make reservations here: https://en.parks.org.il/reserve-park/migdal-tzedek/

Enjoy some pictures from our recent visit to Migdal Zedek National Park; including a Greek inscription from a Byzantium tomb that was used by the crusaders as a lintel over a door.

With Passover and the warm weather season just around the corner- this is the perfect time to take a SusieTours tour and discover the hidden treasures found throughout our beautiful country.

SusieTours provides day-tours and multiple-day in-person tours anywhere in Israel, as well as virtual, personalized tours and prepares tour itineraries. Book all your tours with SusieTours! Contact me 050-779 0222 or http://www.susietours.com/contact-me

03/03/2023

Check out this great tiyul that I will be guiding with the Israel Center on March 21st! Join us for a special day!

03/02/2023

Did you know that you shouldn't shave for three days (!) before dipping into the Dead Sea? My name is Susie Ben David, owner of SusieTours, and through my years as a tour guide I've shared with my clients both my love of Israel and my intimate knowledge of the best ways to enjoy everything Israel has to offer. That "not shaving before going to the Dead Sea" rule has helped many a tourist fully enjoy a dip into the salt water.

In addition to guiding families, groups and individuals, I provide ITINERARY PLANNING SERVICES. Why is this service so important? No matter where you live in the world, I'm here, on the ground in Israel, and I help ensure that you understand the traveling time between one place or site to another, I'll check if there are English speaking tours and make reservations (where possible). I make site reservations and arrange transportation. I help you understand the myriad of religions, customs and cultures found at different sites, the acceptable dress codes, latest information on closing times, availability and reservations during high season and holidays and what are the best days of the week to visit.

How do I work? Once you hire me, I create a calendar of your planned arrival and departures dates. We then discuss your bucket list of places to see and things to do and then I go to work. I ask the important questions that will impact your visit: who are the people in your party, are there young children, teenagers, older people; are there people with food allergies or mobility issues or even phobias. My itinerary planning services are customized to match, as best as possible, your wishes and needs.

I also want you to enjoy your stay in Israel as a vacation and include time to visit family and friends, beach time, lazy-long breakfast time and shopping time. I include everything in an easy-to-follow calendar that is downloadable, updatable and printable.
I do, of course, provide blended packages of live guiding and itinerary planning services. With so much to do and see in Israel let me help you plan vacation of your dreams.

SusieTours takes the stress out of planning and touring and helps make your stay in Israel a dream-come-true with guided day-tours of Jerusalem or multiple-day tours anywhere in Israel, as well as full itinerary planning. Book your tour with SusieTours today! http://www.susietours.com/contact-me

10/01/2023

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