21 May 2022
I booked this through an intermediary (Viator) and somehow when booking it I booked a private tour. Private tours are usually hundreds of $/£ and I don’t really like them anyway but this one worked out to be just fabulous. Our guide was knowledgeable and got us into places that we wouldn’t have alone or in a group. He sweet talked guards to let us in the back way to avoid lines, snuck us in parking spaces and treated us to falafel. The itinerary was...
- Church of the Nativity
- Milk Grotto
- Shepherd's Sanctuary
- The Walled Off Hotel
- Olive wood factory and shop. While I'm dubious the items sold are really from the workshop next door the owners were lovely, the items reasonable and varied. There was no pressure to buy anything but we really wanted to. We got some lovely bits and pieces for us and gifts.
The whole morning was filled with caves, ancient history, churches and a lot of fun. Both the taxi driver who ferried us too and from our hotel to Palestine and the guide were so full of knowledge and their English was great. There was no pressure to tip either one although we wanted to.
I really was thrilled with this tour and would definitely recommend it.