Traveling to the Holy Land is a once in a lifetime experience for those visiting for religious reasons. Israel is Christianity’s birthplace and there are several key sites dotted across the country that are referenced in the bible. Due to this fact, it’s crucial to organize your one and only trip to Israel in the right way – if you plan on coming once, you might as well do it right. That is why we highly recommend the best tour guide in Israel: Danny the Digger.
His tours have received hundreds of 5-star ratings on review platforms – from Tripdavisor to Google, and everything in between. No other tour operator in Israel boasts such a consistently happy customer base. Danny’s Christian tours lead guests on fascinating pilgrimages to holy destinations like Jerusalem and Nazareth. These journeys can be as long as 15 days or just a day, depending on how deeply you want to explore spiritual spots.
Not only does Danny run biblical trips but he also covers a wide range of tour categories. Because some travelers might be more interested in archaeology and nature, or the geopolitics of the region, rather than religion. Whatever brings you here, Danny the Digger has an adventure or two that you will love. Below we go into detail about who Danny Herman is and why you should consider booking with him for your Israeli vacation.
Who is Danny “the Digger” Herman?
Danny Herman (“Danny the Digger”) is a passionate archaeology lecturer and master tour guide. His nickname was given to him after years of educational work in archaeology. He lectures at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem about Christian Archaeology and the New Testament. In his spare time Danny runs a YouTube vlog and podcast, and often appears on news and TV programs discussing all things related to biblical archaeology.
Danny founded his company in 2007 in order to showcase the cultural and natural beauty that his nation offers. The idea was to create a boutique agency that takes the planning and stress out of a trip, and provides insider information that only knowledgeable locals know about. After 15 years of running successful private and VIP tours across the country, Danny and his team are regarded as one of the most reputable agencies in Israel.
With nine other tour guides now working alongside Danny, his small business has gone from strength to strength. This is primarily due to expert organization and planning skills, personalized journeys (each itinerary can be customized to suit the interests and needs of the guests, so no one ever misses out on their dream experiences), educated and friendly guides, and no silly terms & conditions like down payments and cancellation fees.
Tour Types in Israel with Danny the Digger
No matter how you choose to experience Israel, Danny the Digger has a tour that will exceed your expectations. On offer are a series of day tours that take you to incredible places like the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv, and multi-day tours which can make up an entire visit – be it a luxury getaway for couples, a family vacation or a religious pilgrimage. Within these two options are a number of specific tour types that cater to different groups.
The first option is a classic private tour which can be up to 18 days. These include classic destinations with the optional extra of touring Jordan. The 7-Day Israel Private Tour Package, for example, makes for the perfect introduction for Christians as guests visit historic sites relating to the Old and New Testament. This includes Jerusalem, Valley of Elah (where David and Goliath battled), Dead Sea, Galilee region, Golan Heights and Jaffa.
Another classic private tour is the 13-Day Israel Private Tour Package + Petra. Many topics are covered on this trip, not just biblical ones, so it’s ideal for those who wish to get a broader perspective of the country. It takes you to the cosmopolitan parts of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, to stunning nature reserves, to medieval castles and to foodie hotspots. By finishing in Wadi Rum and Petra, it will be a two week period that you will never forget.
Then there are luxury tours that provide some pampering. Luxury hotels, including King David Hotel which affords views of Jerusalem’s Old City and Beresheet Hotel which comes with an infinity pool, mean guests will be staying in comfort and style throughout their trip. During the day, luxurious experiences will keep travelers enthralled for hours – be it helicopter flights or winery visits. You can check out the best luxury tours in Israel here.
As exciting as these tours sound, traveling to a new country is always full-on and for some, especially seniors and people with disabilities, it can become exhausting. That is why Danny the Digger created Israel tours for seniors – similar to the other day tours but modified ever so slightly. Whether you need to slow down the pace of an excursion due to old age or health, or require wheelchair access – Danny and his team of guides can help.
In addition to Christian tours (mentioned above), Danny the Digger has experience leading Jewish heritage tours. These are suited for the Jewish diaspora who seek to reconnect with their homeland and see the revival of the state of Israel. Jews will be able to discover the rich history of their land and marvel at the Jewish character that is present – in combination with the multicultural and multi-religious makeup of modern day Israel.
And if all of that wasn’t enough, there are even specially designed tours for Jewish boys and girls entering adulthood: a bar/bat-mitzvah ceremony and celebration. The bar-mitzvah tours in Israel involve careful planning around things like accommodation, transportation, activities, a ceremony and a celebratory meal. This is such an extraordinary way to mark this important life event, exploring the land of the bible with the entire family as you go.
Last but not least of the tour types are the Latter-Day Saints tours in Israel. These experiences are crafted with this Christian group in mind – and Danny’s team even managed to get their hands on a rare copy of the Book of Mormon in Hebrew. They have studied the text and incorporated aspects of it into the itineraries – taking LDS families and groups all over Israel, into certain parts of the West Bank and an optional extension into Jordan.
Is Danny the Digger the Best Tour Guide in Israel?
In short, yes. Danny the Digger is the best tour guide in Israel because the variety of tours available to book for different groups, the consistent 5-star reviews, and the 15 years of experience running tours in this part of the world mean Danny and his team can safely lay claim to that title. Why not read through the stellar reviews on Tripadvisor and see for yourself what all the fuss is about? Your travel journey to Israel will be life-changing.
