Private day tour
Gush Etzion Family Day
Caves, an underground aqueduct you walk through, a farm with snakes and donkeys, and the story of Gush Etzion from 1947 to today: a full day built for a family.
A full day in the hills of Gush Etzion built for a family: caves, water, animals, a view worth the climb, and enough history to make the place make sense.
Herodion
A massive complex built by Herod the Great, and quite possibly his tomb, sitting on the ridge between Gush Etzion and Jerusalem.
Shlomo’s Farm
Meet and hold snakes, rabbits and a two-meter lizard, and take a donkey ride.
The Biyar Aqueduct
A watery, thoroughly enjoyable hike through an underground tunnel. The aqueduct is part of the water system Herod built to carry water to Jerusalem and the Temple, and the water inside runs thigh-high most of the way.
The Lone Oak
This tree is where it all began. Pilots used it to know which way they were flying. Standing beneath it we get into the story of Gush Etzion from 1947 to today.
Underground swimming
All over the Gush there are cisterns with ladders down into ancient pools. Jump into a hidden pool and swim through cave-like chambers beneath the ground.
Additional options
The day can be built around what your family is actually up for. Any of these can be swapped in.
UTV adventure in Meitzad — Take the wheel of a UTV, and the kids can drive too. Follow a yeshivish hilltop cowboy through rugged trails, remote mountaintop communities and pioneering farms, hearing how these communities are building, farming and holding a Jewish presence across the hills of Judea.
Nahal Tekoa and the Haritun Cave — Difficult. Scramble down into the cliffs of Nahal Tekoa and explore the enormous Haritun Cave hidden deep inside the canyon.
Deerland zipline — Fly across the valleys of Gush Etzion on one of Israel’s longest and most exciting ziplines.
Caliber 3 — Israeli counter-terror training as an action-packed program led by experienced security professionals.
Chesed for soldiers — Bring treats to the soldiers protecting the area and take a moment to say thank you in person.
Practical notes
A full day, roughly seven to nine hours, built around what your family is actually up for.
Bring swimwear and a towel. The Biyar Aqueduct is walked in thigh-high water through an underground tunnel, and the cisterns are for swimming.
Closed shoes that can get wet are the right footwear. A torch helps in the aqueduct.
The water is cold year-round underground. The hills above are exposed and hot in summer, so bring water, hats and sunscreen.
