Israel Explorer — Self-Launched (Tel Aviv to Jerusalem)
8 days · Israel & the Palestinian Territories
G Adventures charges £1,850
No-markup version: ~£534 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, solo-friendly version of G Adventures' 8-day "Israel Explorer — Plus": Tel Aviv and Jaffa, the Carmel coast and Akko, Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee, Masada and the Dead Sea, then four nights based in Jerusalem for the Old City, Bethlehem and a Palestinian community visit. Rather than a private van and guide, you'll string it together with sheruts (shared 10-seat taxis), Egged buses and the Israel Railways coastal line — all cheap, frequent and easy to book yourself. You'll take self-bookable walking tours via GetYourGuide/Klook for the Old City, Masada and Bethlehem, and you can still meet Druze hosts, kibbutz residents and the Domari Society by booking directly. Costs are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights and travel insurance. Note: check your government's current travel advice for Israel and the Palestinian Territories before booking — some itineraries, including Bethlehem and Jericho, may be affected by local conditions.
Day-by-day
Arrive Tel Aviv — settle into Jaffa or Florentin
Tel Aviv
Land at Ben Gurion Airport and reach the city on your own. The public train (Israel Railways) runs from the airport to Tel Aviv HaHagana/HaShalom stations for around ₪14–20 (~£3–4.50), then it's a short bus or taxi hop to your hostel. The official airport taxi is a fixed-rate nesher/sherut shared taxi (~₪70/£15) or a metered taxi (~₪150–200/£32–43). Base yourself in Jaffa for atmosphere or Florentin for cheap eats. Spend the evening walking the Jaffa promenade at sunset and eating hummus, sabich or shakshuka for £6–9. Book tomorrow's Old Jaffa walking tour tonight on GetYourGuide or Klook.
🚌Israel Railways airport train ~£4, or shared nesher taxi ~£15
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Jaffa/Florentin (dorm £18–26, private £45–60)
- →Airport train to Tel Aviv
- →Sunset walk on Jaffa promenade
- →Evening street-food dinner in Florentin
Old Jaffa, Druze lunch in Isfiya, on to Haifa
Tel Aviv → Isfiya → Haifa
Morning self-launched walking tour of Old Jaffa and the historic port — either a GetYourGuide small-group tour (£20–30) or a free self-guided loop past the Clock Tower, St Peter's Church, the flea market and the Andromeda rock viewpoint. After lunch, take the train from Tel Aviv to Haifa Hof HaCarmel (~1 hr, ~₪30/£6.50). For the Druze community experience, contact a Druze hospitality/cooking-experience provider in Isfiya or Daliyat al-Karmel directly (search 'Druze home hospitality Isfiya' — many families offer lunch plus a cultural talk for £20–30 pp); otherwise take bus 37/192 up to Daliyat al-Karmel from Haifa. Evening in Haifa: stroll the Bahá'í Gardens terraces (free) and the German Colony.
🚌Train Tel Aviv → Haifa ~£6.50; local buses ~£3
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Haifa (dorm £20–28, private £50–70)
- →Old Jaffa walking tour (GetYourGuide)
- →Jaffa flea market and port
- →Druze home lunch and cultural talk in Isfiya/Daliyat al-Karmel
- →Bahá'í Gardens terraces, Haifa
Akko old city and markets, then Nazareth
Haifa → Akko → Nazareth
Take the short coastal train from Haifa to Akko (~25 min, ~₪15/£3). Wander the UNESCO-listed old city on your own — the sea walls, the fishermen's port, the souk, the Khan al-Umdan caravanserai and, if you fancy it, the Templar tunnels and Al-Jazzar Mosque (£4–6 each). Cheap knafeh and hummus in the market for lunch. Mid-afternoon take bus 271/272 or the train-plus-bus combo to Nazareth (~1 hr, ~₪25/£5.50). Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation (free), Mary's Well and the Old Market, then carry on by bus to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee (~45 min, ~₪20/£4.50) for the night.
🚌Train Haifa → Akko ~£3; bus Akko → Nazareth ~£5.50; bus to Tiberias ~£4.50
🛏Guesthouse in Tiberias or a Sea of Galilee kibbutz guesthouse (dorm £22–30, private £55–75)
- →Akko old city, port and souk
- →Al-Jazzar Mosque and Khan al-Umdan
- →Basilica of the Annunciation, Nazareth
- →Nazareth Old Market
Sea of Galilee, Capernaum and a kibbutz
Galilee → Jericho
Rent a bike or take local buses to loop the Sea of Galilee's northern shore: Tabgha (Church of the Multiplication), the Mount of Beatitudes and the ruins of Capernaum (£3–4 entry). Book a kibbutz visit directly — several Galilee kibbutzim (e.g. around Ein Gev or Degania) run guesthouse/country-lodging stays and short 'kibbutz life' talks or tours for £10–20; ask at your guesthouse, which often has family connections. In the afternoon head south: bus to Beit She'an, then a shared taxi/sherut or bus via the Bezeq junction into the Jordan Valley to Jericho (~2.5–3 hrs total, ~₪45/£10). Sleep in Jericho, the world's oldest continuously inhabited town.
🚌Local buses Galilee ~£5; buses to Jericho via Beit She'an ~£10
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Jericho (£30–45 private)
- →Cycle or bus-hop the Sea of Galilee shore
- →Capernaum ruins and Mount of Beatitudes
- →Kibbutz visit and communal-life talk
- →Evening in Jericho
Masada at sunrise and float in the Dead Sea
Jericho → Masada → Dead Sea → Jerusalem
Get an early sherut or taxi from Jericho south along the Dead Sea road to Masada (~1 hr, shareable for ~£25–35 pp; or take the bus to Jerusalem and join a GetYourGuide Masada + Dead Sea day tour, £55–70). Either hike the Snake Path at sunrise (free with the national park entry, ~₪29/£6.50) or ride the cable car (£8). Spend 2–3 hrs on the Herodian fortress and the siege ramp story. Then stop at Ein Bokek or Kalia beach for a Dead Sea float and mud (£8–12 entry with locker). Continue to Jerusalem by bus (~1.5 hrs, ~₪25/£5.50) and check into a hostel in the Old City or Musrara.
🚌Shared taxi/bus Jericho → Masada ~£25; Dead Sea → Jerusalem bus ~£5.50
🛏Hostel in Jerusalem Old City or city centre (dorm £22–32, private £60–85)
- →Masada sunrise hike or cable car
- →Masada fortress self-guided audio tour
- →Dead Sea swim and mud at Ein Bokek/Kalia beach
- →Evening in Jerusalem
Old City Jerusalem and Machane Yehuda
Jerusalem
Join a GetYourGuide/Klook Old City walking tour (£22–35) that covers the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif courtyard (Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa — note limited non-Muslim visiting hours, usually morning, closed Fri/Sat), the Via Dolorosa and Stations of the Cross, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the four quarters and the Western Wall. Dress modestly and carry your passport. Afternoon free: the Israel Museum (£11, book online) including the Shrine of the Book, or the Tower of David Museum. Evening: Machane Yehuda market food-and-beer walk — self-guided is easy (grab a £15–20 graze) or book a small-group tasting for £35–45.
🚌Walking; light rail or bus ~£1.50
🛏Same Jerusalem hostel
- →Old City guided walking tour
- →Temple Mount / Western Wall
- →Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- →Israel Museum (optional)
- →Machane Yehuda market food and beer
Bethlehem, Aida camp and the Domari Society
Jerusalem → Bethlehem → Jerusalem
Take bus 234 from Jerusalem's Damascus Gate to Bethlehem (~30 min, ~₪10/£2) — bring your passport for the checkpoint. Visit the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square, then walk or take a local taxi to Aida refugee camp and the Lajee Center or Bethlehem area guides for a community-led tour (£10–20 donation). Alternatively book a Palestinian-run Bethlehem and refugee-camp walking tour via GetYourGuide (£30–40). Back in Jerusalem, contact the Domari Society of Gypsies in advance by email to arrange a visit, lunch and chat with the women's literacy and employment programme (£15–25 donation) — this replaces the tour's G for Good moment. Evening free.
🚌Bus 234 to Bethlehem return ~£4; local taxis ~£6
🛏Same Jerusalem hostel
- →Church of the Nativity and Manger Square
- →Aida refugee camp community visit
- →Domari Society visit and lunch (book directly)
- →Optional Palestinian museum or Banksy wall art walk
Depart Jerusalem
Jerusalem → Tel Aviv / Ben Gurion
Last morning for a slow breakfast in the Old City or the Mount of Olives viewpoint (free, and best light early). Then take the direct bus 485 from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport (~1 hr, ~₪16/£3.50) or the train from Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon to the airport (~25 min, ~₪20/£4.50). Allow 3 hrs before an international flight given security checks.
🚌Bus 485 or Jerusalem–airport train ~£4
- →Mount of Olives viewpoint
- →Old City breakfast
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£534 | £1,850 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,316 per person (71%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£534
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Israel Explorer — Self-Launched (Tel Aviv to Jerusalem) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £534 per person for 8 days in Israel & the Palestinian Territories. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,850 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £534 — a saving of roughly £1,316 (71%) per person.
How long is the Israel & the Palestinian Territories trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Israel & the Palestinian Territories.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, foodie trip through Israel & the Palestinian Territories, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.