Walkabout Israel
Walkabout Israel
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About
Hi I'm Gila, I am a licensed Tour Guide, a global citizen and a local expert. Come Walkabout Israel with me, learn the history, experience the cultural diversity and have a taste of the unique flavours that make up this dynamic little country. I place Israel in the context of world history and help you understand the role it plays on a global level. I believe that travel is all about making beautiful memories. At Walkabout Israel we are happy to accommodate your needs and tailor a tour to suit you, with a feminine touch to detail to ensure that your trip runs smoothly. There are many options for private day tours of Jerusalem/Tel Aviv as well as multi day trips (Masada/Dead Sea/ Cesarea/ Akko/ Mitzpe Ramon). Feel free to read my website for ideas and email for further details!
Jerusalem, Israel
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Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
384 reviews
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avidexplorer123
4 contributions
Jan 2020
I just returned from a 10 day trip all over the country of Israel with a group of 40 college aged woman. Gila was with us for the entire time and let me tell you she was incredible. She not only is extremely knowledgeable about Israel but she is an excellent communicator and organizer. She would coordinate what time we had to get up and meet every morning as well as coordinated an extensive itinerary and adapted it to overcome any hold ups with ease. We were a Christian group and Gila has extensive knowledge of how the New Testament and Old Testament connect. At every Christian holy site she had Bible passages for us to read and gave an entire explanation of what had happened there as well as connected it to the Old Testament. Gila has extensive knowledge on every place in Israel as well as the Biblical and cultural history. She had maps and pictures prepared for us at every sight to help us visualize exactly how the places looked back in the day and to understand the geopolitics. She even helped us learn Hebrew words and sing Hebrew songs on the bus which was so fun!!! Gila was funny, informative, and enjoyable as a tour guide. I would not have enjoyed this trip as much if it wasn't for Gila. If you are coming to Israel, book Gila!!!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much! I have such special memories of your time together and I am so happy that you enjoyed the trip and I hope it will stay special to you for many years to come! I loved showing you around Israel and I hope that you will come back to visit soon!
Written January 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travellingems
Auckland, New Zealand21 contributions
Dec 2019
We are a couple in our 30's who booked Gila for a two day tour, one day in Tel Aviv and one day in Jerusalem.
We had never been to Israel before and wanted to learn the history of this remarkable country. We are from New Zealand and Gila was born in Australia so we had some common antipodean ground from the beginning. Gila is a caring person as well, she was concerned we were cold however we had just came from the freezing UK... 19 degrees was luxury!
Gila is a fantastic guide who kept our attention for both full days as there was just so much to learn and discover. Our Tel Aviv tour started in Jaffa and went through the Florintin graffiti district and into the newer age part of Tel Aviv. Gila is not only knowledgeable on the history, but also on the graffiti artwork and we particularly found her descriptions and interpretations of different artists fascinating. Gila tailors the tour based on your religion and preferences. For instance we were both interested in property and architecture so places relevant to that were pointed out. She also took us to some amazing food places (we love food) which served the freshest ingredients and amazing hummus and falafel.
Jerusalem was just wow. You must book Gila for this, it is a full day experience. Gila will take you to some off the beaten track parts and will tailor your experience according to your preferences. There is so much to learn about this place and Gila is the one to tell you about it in an interesting and captivating way.
As we were just a couple the tour price was quite expensive, however the experience far outweighed the value and we definitely have no regrets.
It was interesting talking to Gila about living in Israel generally too, it gave us some insight into what it is like to be a local. This was a nice personal touch and helped us understand Israel for what it really is (not always what you hear in the media!)
Book now you won't regret it.
We had never been to Israel before and wanted to learn the history of this remarkable country. We are from New Zealand and Gila was born in Australia so we had some common antipodean ground from the beginning. Gila is a caring person as well, she was concerned we were cold however we had just came from the freezing UK... 19 degrees was luxury!
Gila is a fantastic guide who kept our attention for both full days as there was just so much to learn and discover. Our Tel Aviv tour started in Jaffa and went through the Florintin graffiti district and into the newer age part of Tel Aviv. Gila is not only knowledgeable on the history, but also on the graffiti artwork and we particularly found her descriptions and interpretations of different artists fascinating. Gila tailors the tour based on your religion and preferences. For instance we were both interested in property and architecture so places relevant to that were pointed out. She also took us to some amazing food places (we love food) which served the freshest ingredients and amazing hummus and falafel.
Jerusalem was just wow. You must book Gila for this, it is a full day experience. Gila will take you to some off the beaten track parts and will tailor your experience according to your preferences. There is so much to learn about this place and Gila is the one to tell you about it in an interesting and captivating way.
As we were just a couple the tour price was quite expensive, however the experience far outweighed the value and we definitely have no regrets.
It was interesting talking to Gila about living in Israel generally too, it gave us some insight into what it is like to be a local. This was a nice personal touch and helped us understand Israel for what it really is (not always what you hear in the media!)
Book now you won't regret it.
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! Thank you so much for this review! I had such a great time talking to you as well and hearing about your adventures and I'm so happy that you added Israel to your list and that I got to share with you my home. Enjoy the rest of your travels and come back soon!
Written January 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JonB2374
Tel Aviv, Israel6 contributions
Jun 2020
If you're looking for something unique to do this summer I highly recommend taking Gila's tour of the Central Bus Station! My wife had done a similar tour 6 yrs ago, but it was first time for me and our kids (ages 14, 10), and we all loved it. It's really fascinating and has something for everyone: interesting history, weird architecture, creepy tunnels, amazing graffiti, cool ethnic stores (incl ones that sell American candy we haven't seen anywhere else, not to mention ethnic foods you can't buy anywhere else either), artist studios and exhibits, and a HUGE collection of Yiddish books and other Yiddish historical paraphernalia. The bottom line though is this place is literally the most diverse place in all of Israel, all under one huge concrete roof. It was a little over 2 hour tour, and there is a bit of walking so wear comfy shoes. Gila is a WONDERFUL guide and has a terrific personality and is able to keep EVERYONE adults and kids similarly engaged and interested in what you're seeing. Thank you again Gila!
Written June 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks so much Jon, I'm so happy that you could join this tour and I am glad to hear that all of your family enjoyed it! It was so great to meet you and share an adventure together! Hope to see you back in Israel sometime soon!
Written June 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kelsey Good
5 contributions
Jan 2020
Gila is truly the best of the best. She led our group of 36 students for 10 days seamlessly! She was not only fun and hilarious, but she is incredibly informative, passionate and knowledgeable. I could not put into words the blessing it was to be led by Gila and the tone she set that made all of us feel welcomed, safe and inspired to learn. She answered all of the group's crazy and hard questions about Israeli history, current conflicts, religion, biblical history, and everything in between. She made sure we got to experience everything on our schedule, then intentionally added fun stops that she knew our group would love. I will remember this trip forever. If you want to have the best experience in Israel, make sure you go with Gila!
Written January 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wow! So many memories! Thanks for the pics, they remind me of all the fun and make me want to go back again! I can't believe we did so much in such a short amount of time and before we knew it, it was all over. I am so happy to have met you and all the 'Young Women' and I hope you will come back soon and we can do it all again!
Written January 9, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Yesica G
1 contribution
Dec 2019
Gila is an incredible guide. She is knowledgeable, brilliant, hilarious, intentional and really goes the extra mile to give you the best experience possible. She shows you the hidden gems that many tours overlook, and was great at answering my group's many questions. I learned a lot during my time in Israel, and a lot of that is because of Gila. I also had a lot of fun. Gila even taught us a Hebrew song that I love singing to this day. Whether you sing or not, I highly recommend you book your next tour (or first tour) in Israel with Gila- you will not be disapointed!
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Yesica! I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to show you Israel for your first time and I hope to have inspired you to come back!
Written February 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Surfacing1982
Kuwait City, Kuwait115 contributions
Feb 2020
We arranged this tour with Gila by email two weeks before the tour date. She replies to emails promptly and in detail, leaving no questions unanswered.
I liked Gila’s approach as a tour guide; she’s knowledgable in the history of the city such that you feel like you’re taking the tour with a college professor, but also it doesn’t feel like a lecture, but rather like being in a story throughout different periods of human history.
As many city tours as I’ve experienced, this is one of the more memorable ones - not only because of the significance of the history itself, but because what I learned during the tour with Gila ties all the bits I had learned earlier in school into a more cohesive understanding of why things are the way they are today.
I liked that Gila gave us our time whenever we needed to stay longer at certain spots of the old city, whether it was to take more pictures, or to contemplate the significance of the place. She was attentive to our needs and interests - from the very beginning she picked up on our level of prior understanding and build up on it. I was never lost in the details of her explanations, like I often am with some other tour guides :-P
I liked Gila’s approach as a tour guide; she’s knowledgable in the history of the city such that you feel like you’re taking the tour with a college professor, but also it doesn’t feel like a lecture, but rather like being in a story throughout different periods of human history.
As many city tours as I’ve experienced, this is one of the more memorable ones - not only because of the significance of the history itself, but because what I learned during the tour with Gila ties all the bits I had learned earlier in school into a more cohesive understanding of why things are the way they are today.
I liked that Gila gave us our time whenever we needed to stay longer at certain spots of the old city, whether it was to take more pictures, or to contemplate the significance of the place. She was attentive to our needs and interests - from the very beginning she picked up on our level of prior understanding and build up on it. I was never lost in the details of her explanations, like I often am with some other tour guides :-P
Written March 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much, this was very sweet of you! I'm so happy that you enjoyed your time and it was pleasure to be able to let you experience the city at your pace and I am so glad to hear that you gained knowledge out of the day we spent together. It was so interesting to meet you and I wanted to thank you for coming to visit Israel!
Written March 28, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chloe J
4 contributions
Dec 2019 • Friends
Wow! How to put into words my experience in Israel with Gila? When traveling with 35+ college age girls, chaos is to be expected. But, with Gila, our experience went without a hitch. This was my second time in Israel, so my expectations were high, but Gila exceeded them! She is so knowledgeable in all areas, the Bible, religion, politics, business, etc. and answered our endless questions without hesitation. She is adaptable, fun, and shows you a side of Israel few get to see. From taking us to the oldest cafe in Israel for a special treat, to showing us how locals stay caffeinated at Aroma, we got the full experience and more. I would recommend Gila for all age groups and all backgrounds. She will charm you with her Australian accent, impress you with her extensive knowledge of all things Israel, and keep you dancing to Israeli music. Gila, you’re awesome!
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chloe thank you so much! I am so happy that you had an amazing time and that I got to be a part of it...it's all about the moments (boyhood reference). I feel privileged to have been a part of your experience from the Golan to Jerusalem. I hope you will come back again soon! Lots of Love xx
Written January 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Matt Jackson
1 contribution
Jan 2020
Gila was our tour guide for two amazing days in Israel. The first day was around Old City Jerusalem. The second around Jaffa and Tel Aviv. Gila has put together very interesting tours with the right blend of history, culture, people and scenery. She is very knowledgeable and we found the tours incredibly informative.
We were travelling with our two children (12 & 10). Gila was great with the kids (they rave about her) and she delivered a tour that was interesting and fun for both the adults and the kids. We probably walked 10km each day and not a single complaint!
We were travelling with our two children (12 & 10). Gila was great with the kids (they rave about her) and she delivered a tour that was interesting and fun for both the adults and the kids. We probably walked 10km each day and not a single complaint!
Written January 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much! I had so much fun with your family, you were great walkers and also very entertaining! I'm so happy you enjoyed the tours and I hope it has inspired you and your kids to come back again! Enjoy all of your future travel adventures!!
Written January 18, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jane
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia16 contributions
Apr 2021
Gila took me and my 11 year old son on a day trip to the old city of Jerusalem and it was wonderful! She met us at the train station in Tel Aviv and gave us a full briefing on how to get to Jerusalem by public transport. She gave us a very detailed overview of the various periods of Jerusalem history and managed to draw a very engaging analogy of the various historical conflicts with my son's favourite online game. Gila loves to walk and so do we - we walked along the city walls, through each quarter where Gila explained each community, key interesting features and places in each area of the old city. She helped us put our written prayers in the Western Wall, we ate some delicious hummus for lunch, had coffee and strudel in the Austrian hospice, and we witnessed the ceremony for handing over the key for the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We bought spices and even, spontaneously, a shofar (Ram's horn). Gila's knowledge is extraordinary - covering both current and historical Israel - and she explained that she an all Israeli guides complete a two year course which is like a master's degree in Israeli history. Gila was such a great host and she provided us with so many other tips on places we could go and how t to get there. The poems, maps, quotes and materials she brings with her are also fascinating. I highly recommend Gila for anyone wanting to get a better understanding of the old city of Jerusalem.
Written April 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for such a lovely review. I had a wonderful time getting to know you and your son and it was so much fun to go back out again after such a turbulent year and tour around! I hope we will be able to tour again somewhere else in Israel soon!
Written April 3, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sierra A
2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Gila is both a fabulous guide and a truly amazing individual. I had the opportunity to travel for several days in a group led by her throughout Israel. Throughout this time she shared with us her deep knowledge and love for the history and culture of this beautiful country. As we were a Christian group, Gila worked hard to ensure that she would provide great detail regarding the Biblical importance of the areas that we visited. I greatly appreciated her ability to communicate her expansive knowledge, particularly in regards to explaining the historical roots of Judaism and Christianity in Israel. Additionally, she welcomed us into the Israeli culture by teaching us common words and phrases and lyrics to popular Israeli songs. Gila provided her own unique twist to the tour by bringing us to her favorite local spots throughout Israel including to places with the best authentic cuisine, markets, and city overlooks. Gila’s liveliness, humor and knowledge made this an unforgettable trip for me and my group. Thanks Gila!
Written January 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sierra you are so sweet! It was an honour to take your group around Israel and I feel privileged to have been able to show you around the country that I love and call home. I hope I have inspired you to come and visit again! Lots of love xx
Written January 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Trish B
Vincentia, Australia
Hey Gila, our 19 year okd daughter is in Israel & woukd like to connect upto a tour. She has just spent 10 days at Yotvata, has family in Haifa & keen t o connect to an adventure. What are your suggestions. Available 14/1-24/1. Thank you. Trish
Written January 10, 2020
Hi Trish, please email me on the link in the profile . I do private tours but happy to give suggestions.
Written January 10, 2020
hello Gila, how can I contact you for a tour? thanks
Written June 11, 2019
quisiera hacer un Tour a Nazareth, Tiberiades y Galilea el 1 de julio. Somos dos personas. Ustedes hacen este tour? Mil Gracias! Hector
Written March 30, 2019
Hi !!! Will be there on the 15 -16 May 2018 do you have anytime for a private tour and what are the costs .. as it’s a short stay can you also recommend what are the must do things .
Kind regards
Camilla
Written May 9, 2018
HiCamilla
I recently did 7 exciting days with Walkabout Israel. I hope you can get her. You will not be sorry
As for costs. It depends on where you are and what you want to do. Good luck
Written May 10, 2018
Hi would you be available this Sunday 29/4 for a 1,5 days tour? if not could you please recommend one of your colleagues? thank you Balazs Marx
Written April 22, 2018
Hi unfortunately I'm not available could you please write to my email with your details so I can help you Gila.levitan at gmail
Written April 23, 2018
Bonjour, Nous sommes une famille de 6 et voudrions savoir si vous êtes disponible pour une visite de Jérusalem en français soit le : 6,7 ou 8 mai 2018. Si oui quels sont vos tarifs ? Merci d'avance Véronique
Written April 20, 2018
merci veronique... je ne parle pas beaucoup de francaise... je pense que il faut trouver une personne/guide francophone. Je suis desolee je ne connais pas.
Written April 21, 2018
My wife and I are visiting Israel again in August.
We will be staying in Tel Aviv then at the Dead Sea and finally in Jerusalem.
Whilst in Jerusalem we may be interested in having a Private Guide take us around City of David and the Southern Wall Excavations on August 15th 2018.
Please advise cost for 4 to 6 hours on that day.
Appreciate your early reply.
Thanks & Regards
................
Robert Marshall
Written April 11, 2018
Hi Robert, I sent you a private message to your tripadvisor inbox.
Thanks for being in touch.
Gila
Written April 12, 2018
Hi,
I am arriving at Jerusalem on Monday, are you available for private tours for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday?
We are a family of 5 people from Mexico.
Do you have an itinerary defined? Which is it?
How much would it cost?
We also want to go to Bethlehem and Nazareth, you do tours in this places as well?
We will be renting a car for transportation.
Greetings,
Francisco Silva
Written March 22, 2018
Hi, due to the busy time of year I am already booked out. I can try to help find you a private guide but can not guarantee however I can put you in contact with someone who operates tours to Bethlehem. Please privately email me if you would like further details - walkaboutisrael@gmail. Com
Written March 22, 2018
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