Touring Israel
Touring Israel is a privately held luxury private-tour operator founded in 1997, designing fully bespoke guided tours of Israel for high-net-worth families, religious heritage travelers, and small private groups. It serves clients globally via a consultative sales model, leveraging 30+ licensed expert guides and exclusive editorial and DMC partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersJezreel, Israel
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Touring Israel does
Touring Israel Ltd. is a privately held luxury private-tour operator founded in 1997 by Joe Yudin and headquartered in Jezreel, Israel. The company designs and delivers fully customized, private-only guided tours of Israel — explicitly excluding prescheduled group tours and package tours — serving high-net-worth individuals, multi-generational families, religious heritage travelers, and small private groups from North America, Europe, and elsewhere. The product portfolio spans Christian heritage tours, Jewish heritage tours, adventure and active tours, culinary and lifestyle tours, private cruise excursions at Haifa and Ashdod ports, custom multi-day itineraries, and Jordan extensions covering Petra, Wadi Rum, and Amman. A newly launched October 7th Solidarity Tour line addresses demand from diaspora Jews and Israel supporters seeking structured visits to Gaza Envelope communities and meetings with affected citizens and IDF personnel.\n\nThe underlying technology is deliberately lightweight: a content-driven, SEO-optimized website and inquiry management system that captures inbound interest and routes prospects to a consultative sales process. There is no proprietary platform, app, or software product; differentiation rests entirely on a roster of 30+ licensed tour guides with advanced academic credentials (including PhD-level expertise in Israel Studies, history, archaeology, and religious studies) and on exclusive supply-side relationships with selected hotels, boutique wineries, and chefs such as Chef Tali Friedman.\n\nCommercially, Touring Israel operates as a sales-led, quote-based professional services business. Every engagement begins with a website, email, or phone inquiry and proceeds to a personalized consultation that designs a bespoke itinerary, with transparent itemized pricing across guide fees, vehicle and driver costs, hotel bookings (negotiated rates better than direct), VIP airport transfers, and premium add-ons such as helicopter tours, jeep safaris, yacht charters, and culinary workshops. The company does not advertise standard pricing and does not offer self-service booking. Demand is generated primarily through earned media placements in Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Bloomberg, OutThere Magazine, and Wendy Perrin's Wow List (where the founders are the sole Trusted Travel Experts for Israel), plus organic content, social media, and word-of-mouth referrals from past travelers. The legal entity is Touring Israel Ltd., domiciled in Israel, privately held and controlled by founder Joe Yudin, with no institutional investors, parent company, or M&A activity disclosed.
Touring Israel firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Touring Israel
- Legal name
- Touring Israel Ltd.
- Website
- https://touringisrael.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Touring Israel is a privately held luxury private-tour operator founded in 1997, designing fully bespoke guided tours of Israel for high-net-worth families, religious heritage travelers, and small private groups. It serves clients globally via a consultative sales model, leveraging 30+ licensed expert guides and exclusive editorial and DMC partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Touring Israel industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Private Tour Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152), Travel Agencies (56151), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private/Customized Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Guided Tours & Personal Tour Guides (THAJALAA), Jewish Heritage & Israel Pilgrimage Travel Agencies (THAKAHAC), Luxury & VIP Destination Services (Concierge/Chauffeur) (THAKAEAG), Luxury Multi-Day Tour Operators (THAKADAE), Private Events & Celebrations (Proposals, Weddings, Milestones) (THAJALAK)
Keywords
Where Touring Israel is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jezreel
- HQ country
- Israel
- HQ region
- Middle East
Markets served
Touring Israel business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Luxury Tour Services: Touring Israel earns revenue by designing and delivering fully customized private tours of Israel. Every tour is bespoke — built from scratch around the client's interests, timeline, group size, preferred guide, accommodation level, and activities. Revenue is generated through fees for the tour guide service (licensed, expert guides with vehicles), VIP airport assistance, internal transportation, and coordination logistics. The company also earns commissions or negotiated rates through its selected hotel partners, wherein clients book accommodations through Touring Israel at rates better than direct booking. Additional revenue derives from arranging premium add-on experiences such as helicopter tours, jeep safaris, yacht charters, culinary workshops, and hot air balloon rides.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom Private Tour — Fully Bespoke Itinerary |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Touring Israel product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Touring Israel designs and delivers fully customized, private luxury tours of Israel (with optional Jordan extensions), assigning each client a dedicated licensed expert guide with advanced academic credentials. Services include VIP airport assistance, luxury vehicle transportation, hotel reservations, restaurant and event bookings, and coordination of premium add-on experiences such as helicopter tours, jeep safaris, yacht charters, culinary workshops with Chef Tali Friedman, and winery tastings. The company does not offer budget touring, prescheduled group tours, or package tours; every itinerary is built from scratch around the client's dates, group size, guide preference, accommodation level, and activities.
Product overview
Touring Israel is a luxury private tour operator offering fully customized, tailor-made private tours of Israel with dedicated expert guides. The company does not offer prescheduled group tours or package tours. Their core offering consists of private guided tours with services including VIP airport assistance, luxury vehicle transportation, hotel reservations, restaurant bookings, and special experiences. The product portfolio includes themed tour categories (Christian Tours, Jewish Tours, Adventure Tours, Culinary Tours, Lifestyle Tours), duration-based options (Private Day Tours, multi-day Custom Tours), specialized excursions (Private Cruise Excursions for cruise passengers), and cross-border extensions (Jordan Extensions). All tours feature licensed guides with advanced degrees, late-model air-conditioned vehicles, and personalized itineraries designed entirely around client preferences, interests, and schedule.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Touring Israel has served hundreds of families for Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations and has conducted thousands of private tours since its founding in 1997.
Companies that use Touring Israel
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles7 records
Touring Israel technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Touring Israel partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Condé Nast TravelercoreJoe Yudin and Jonathan Rose are listed as Condé Nast Traveler Travel Specialists — a prestigious designation reserved for hand-selected travel experts. This listing positions Touring Israel in front of Condé Nast Traveler's high-net-worth readership and serves as a primary trust signal and customer acquisition channel. The magazine is widely regarded as the most influential luxury travel publication in the world.
- Travel + LeisurecoreJoe Yudin and Jonathan Rose are both members of the Travel + Leisure A-List, the publication's curated group of top travel advisors. With a readership of 4.8 million and annual World's Best Awards, Travel + Leisure provides Touring Israel with access to a global audience of luxury travelers actively seeking expert guidance.
- Wendy Perrin / wendyperrin.comcoreJoe Yudin and Jonathan Rose are the only Trusted Travel Experts for Israel on Wendy Perrin's Wow List. Wendy Perrin is a former Condé Nast Traveler Director of Consumer News who has spent decades building consumer trust in travel advisory. The Wow List directs qualified leads specifically seeking Israel expertise to Touring Israel.
- XO PrivatecoreTouring Israel is featured in XO Private's catalog as the exclusive/solely listed DMC (Destination Management Company) for Israel. XO Private serves ultra-high-net-worth travelers seeking luxury experiences, yachting, unique accommodations, and destination specialists. This exclusivity positions Touring Israel as the definitive luxury DMC for Israel in the XO Private network.
- BloombergminorTouring Israel was featured in a Bloomberg.com article by Nikki Ekstein titled 'These Tours Use Food To Bridge The Gap Between Israel and Palestine.' Joe Yudin was quoted extensively about bespoke food-focused activities that allow tourists to understand Israeli and Palestinian food culture. The article serves as high-authority earned media that drives brand credibility and customer acquisition.
- OutThere MagazineminorTouring Israel was featured in OutThere Magazine in an article by editor-in-chief Uwern Jong titled 'Outside the Box,' covering unique touring experiences from Tel Aviv to Akko on Israel's northern Mediterranean coast. The article highlighted Touring Israel's innovative approach to luxury destination management.
- PURE Life ExperiencesminorTouring Israel has been a member of the PURE Life Experiences global community since 2012. PURE brings together high-end travel suppliers, Private Travel Designers, and international media for an annual conference in Marrakech. Membership requires meeting exacting entry criteria and provides Touring Israel with networking, visibility, and partnership opportunities within the global luxury travel ecosystem.
- Selected Hotel Partners in IsraelcoreTouring Israel works with a curated selection of hotel partners in Israel — not all hotels. The company states it has excellent relationships with selected partners and that its hotel pricing is better than direct booking. Clients are strongly encouraged to book hotels through Touring Israel rather than directly or via online platforms, as the company's personal relationships with hotels ensure clients receive exactly what was booked with no surprises.
- Chef Tali FriedmanminorTouring Israel partners with Chef Tali Friedman, one of Jerusalem's leading chefs and food educators, to offer private cooking workshops. The experience includes a guided walk through Mahane Yehuda Market followed by a hands-on cooking session in Tali's private kitchen. The company also partners with Chef Tali for solidarity events abroad, bringing Israeli cuisine to diaspora communities as part of outreach programming.
- Private Wineries (Galilee, Golan Heights, Judean Hills, Negev)minorTouring Israel partners with boutique wineries in Israel's northern wine regions (Galilee, Golan Heights) and southern regions (Judean Hills, Negev) to offer private tasting experiences led by winemakers. Featured wineries include Nana, Pinto (Negev), Castel, Clos de Gat, and Flam (Judean Hills). These partnerships enable exclusive access to limited-production, award-winning Israeli wines.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Touring Israel competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Eldad Travel: Long-established Israeli tour operator offering Christian, Jewish, and general tours of Israel. Competes head-to-head with Touring Israel in the inbound Israel private-tour market, particularly for faith-based and family heritage travelers.
- Jacada Travel: Luxury private travel company designing bespoke itineraries with private guides, concierge service, and high-touch client relationships. Directly comparable to Touring Israel in business model (B2C luxury private tours), target market (HNW travelers), and consultative sales motion.
- Classic Journeys: Luxury small-group and private guided walking/cultural tour operator across multiple countries. Comparable in its emphasis on expert local guides, immersive cultural experiences, and premium private-travel positioning.
- Bein Harim Tourism: One of Israel's largest inbound tour operators offering daily group and private tours. A direct competitor in the Israel private-tour market, though positioned more toward value/mid-market than Touring Israel's ultra-luxury niche.
- Ayelet Tours: U.S.-based tour operator specializing in Jewish heritage and Israel group/mission trips. Overlaps with Touring Israel's Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Jewish heritage traveler segment, though typically with a more group-oriented (vs. private-bespoke) model.
Broad incumbents
- Kensington Tours: Luxury private tour operator offering fully customized itineraries across 100+ destinations. Comparable in its consultative sales motion, bespoke itinerary model, and high-net-worth clientele, though it operates as a multi-destination aggregator rather than a single-country specialist.
- Abercrombie & Kent: Globally established luxury tour operator offering private guided tours across many countries. While not Israel-specialized, A&K competes in the same ultra-luxury, private-guide segment that Touring Israel targets and serves as a benchmark for premium private travel scale.
Emerging players
- Black Tomato: Boutique luxury travel company focused on bespoke, experience-led itineraries for discerning travelers. Comparable to Touring Israel in its "no two trips alike" philosophy, premium positioning, and high-touch consultation model, with similar global aspirations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Touring Israel social profiles
Digital presenceTouring Israel financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Touring Israel leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Touring Israel funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Touring Israel M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Touring Israel
What does Touring Israel do?
Touring Israel designs and delivers fully customized, private luxury tours of Israel (with optional Jordan extensions), assigning each client a dedicated licensed expert guide with advanced academic credentials. Services include VIP airport assistance, luxury vehicle transportation, hotel reservations, restaurant and event bookings, and coordination of premium add-on experiences such as helicopter tours, jeep safaris, yacht charters, culinary workshops with Chef Tali Friedman, and winery tastings. The company does not offer budget touring, prescheduled group tours, or package tours; every itinerary is built from scratch around the client's dates, group size, guide preference, accommodation level, and activities.
Is Touring Israel a public or private company?
Touring Israel is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Touring Israel founded?
Touring Israel was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Touring Israel based?
Touring Israel is headquartered in Jezreel, Israel, in the Middle East region.
How does Touring Israel make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Luxury Tour Services.
Who are Touring Israel's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Eldad Travel, Jacada Travel, Classic Journeys, Bein Harim Tourism and Ayelet Tours. Broad incumbents are Kensington Tours and Abercrombie & Kent. Black Tomato is listed as an emerging player.
Does Touring Israel have an API?
No public API is recorded for Touring Israel.
What industry is Touring Israel in?
Touring Israel's product category is Luxury Private Tour Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKADAC, Private/Customized Multi-Day Tour Operators, with a secondary code of THAJALAA, Private Guided Tours & Personal Tour Guides. Its NAICS code is 561520.