We would strongly recommend Shatour if you are considering a family tour of Israel. We are a family of four — two parents and two girls ages 11 and 13 — and we used Shatour this summer for our first-ever trip to Israel. Shatour was very helpful in providing us with advice as we shaped our itinerary and made important choices about how we would spend our limited number of days in the country and in what order. They also provided guidance on selecting hotels.
Once we arrived, everything felt seamless and easy. Each day came off as planned, and we were provided with the flexibility to make adjustments along the way. Of our 14 full days on the ground, we spent 10 of them with our guide Lior. For a majority of these days, we were with Lior not only all day but also into the evening. He is one of the easiest people to be around that we have ever met, which was critical given all of the time that the 5 of us spent together. He also has the patience of Job (biblical reference only kinda intended), which is important when dealing with families.
In addition to being a pleasant and easy-going person, Lior is not just a knowledgeable guide but an archaeologist. We had not considered this before signing up with Shatour, but having this kind of expertise in your guide is invaluable as you view sites that are thousands of years old, particularly if you are like us and want to understand the difference between historical facts and best guesses.
When it is time to say goodbye to Israel, Shatour even arranges for a company to help you at the airport with all of the security hurdles involved with your departure. This was a fantastic trip!