Unforgettable Palestine: 2-Day Private Holy Land Journey

Myself and my friend took the Ramallah and Bethlehem day tour. Firstly, following our late booking the night before the tour which turned out to be to late, Green Olive kindly offered to organise a private tour for the following day, which they did not have to. Anas, our guide was extremely knowledgable about the history of the Palestine and the specifics of the legal and cultural situations on the ground, it was great to hear about the Israel-Palestine situation from a Palestinian perspective. Anas was also extremely personable, despite the tour lasting from about 08:30-15:30 (I believe this would have usually ran longer however it was Eid on the day of our tour meaning that roads were less busy) there was never a lull in conversation, Anas took us to a great shawarma spot in Bethlehem away from the touristy area, after asking us what we would like to eat, and provided us with water on a hot day. I can’t recommend this tour enough!

I did four different day tours with Green Olive; Nablus, Bethlehem, the Gaza Border Tour, and East Jerusalem with 2 different guides (Mohammed, Anas, and Mustafa). They were all incredible. I felt like I learned and saw a lot and was very appreciative of all guides openness and willingness to answer my questions on topics that are often seen as difficult. I have done West Bank/ Palestine tours with other companies in the past but the Green Olive tours were far better. I highly recommend this company to all travellers coming to Israel and Palestine and looking to go beyond the typical tourist attractions. Thank you so much- I'll be back for more.

Our driver showed up with a luxury bus(leather seats and comfort). He picked up our group from our respective BNB's. Our Guide explained professionally everything as we went along. He braved all our questions even as we excitedly peppered him with question after question. I lamented on not getting a chance to go into Palestine and soon enough we were headed there. Once in Palestine we walked around and were surprised by offers of tea and cookies. The people had very little but willingly shared what they had. We were forever changed at hearing their stories. How they only get water turned on ONCE A MONTH. The wired prison walls. The refusal of food or safe passage. The Palestine is full of rich history being denied and destroyed by those who were once abused but have now become the abusers. Thank you Green Olive Tours

WE did the Bethlehem/West Bank day tour from Jerusalem. Green Olive was really easy to work with as far as booking, communication before the tour, etc. We'd booked a tour for 4 people and ended up being just the 4 of us, so got our own private tour! Driver picked us up in Jerusalem, drove us to West Bank where we met our guide and new driver. Stopped at a beautiful monastery in the hills and got to walk around and take in the gorgeous scenery. Then it was off to Bethlehem where we started with a self-guided tour of a museum about the Palestinian experience in the Banksy hotel. Got to see what a hotel room looks like as well - such a cool hotel! Then walked through a refugee camp, had lunch, then toured the Church of the Nativity. Great mix of sights, walking, etc. Our guide, Mohammed, had lots of stories and gave us the Palestinian perspective. I see some reviews that claim that it's one-sided, but on our tours in Israel, you definitely get the Israeli perspective, so I think it is extremely important to get both sides. Overall a wonderful tour and wonderful day!

The Gaza Strip Border Tour gave us a lot to think about and it added depth to our understanding of the area, history and people. Our guide, Anas, was very bright, passionate and funny. It was such a great day that we will remember for a long time. The day before, we had a private tour of Jerusalem with a different tour company that had a brochure in our hotel (it cost over twice as much). We hit up all the predicable spots and had all the predictable conversations and experiences and it was all fine, and this is probably what most people want. However, Green Olive tours is more than this. I highly recommend and will definitely go on another tour with them in the future.

Traveled with my teenager daughter to Jerusalem East, Ramallah, Bethleem, Hebron and Tel Aviv with Green Olive over 4 days. All tours with different guides from Israel, Palestine and New Zealand help get an insightful perspective on the region. We felt 100% safe in all areas. And the hospitality of our hosts in Bethleem was fantastic. I recommend Green Olive, and plan to go back in the future with my other teenager daughters.

A very confronting but worthwhile tour! Our tour guide Yamin (I hope that’s how it’s spelled!) was fantastic, very passionate, knowledgeable and engaging. He showed us around the confronting reality that is Hebron and Bethlehem, pointing out little details that gave the experience more meaning, and gave very interesting and eye-opening accounts into the everyday lives of ordinary Palestinians. I think this tour is an extremely beneficial way to gain a better understanding of the Apartheid-like situation in Palestine, and allows you to see the region for yourself and come to your own conclusions. Safety-wise, I felt very safe the entire trip. I was a little apprehensive as I’m a 21 year old solo female traveller, but I had no safety issues or concerns at all. I had elected to be left in Bethlehem at the end of the tour, and stayed one night at Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel, which was fantastic and I thoroughly recommend everyone finish their day-trip with a stay at this fascinating art gallery/museum/hotel! The next day, it was an easy walk to the bus stop and fairly straight-forward and safe to catch the public bus back into Jerusalem. I got a little lost on the way and happened to bump into Yamin the guide, who was more than happy to help me find my way to the bus stop! All in all, an extremely important and worthwhile tour into one of the most politically-contentious places on Earth! Would definitely recommend.

An interesting afternoon learning about the other side of Jerusalem. The van was clean and cool and as it was scorching outside, I was glad to sit and listen as we drove to the neighborhoods, settlements, separation barrier and other viewpoints in the larger city. This tour provided a good balance between the other, more traditional sites that people usually see. The guide H (Hasham?) was well-spoken, clear, friendly, and helpful. The drive back to Tel Aviv was smooth and it was all well coordinated. I recommend it!

We were three adults (a family) that took a private day trip to Hebron and Bethlehem. Cost was slightly lowered when I negotiated and our experience exceeded our expectations. Our driver/guide from Jerusalem, Rami, was very informative and friendly. We met our West Bank guide, Motasem, on the border of Jerusalem and West Bank. He was very intelligent, perceptive and did a great job at showing and explaining things at our pace as well as introducing us to locals he knew. Hebron was eye opening, as we saw soldiers, checkpoints, settlers, and the Ibrahimi mosque. Throughout we felt anxious but comforted by our guide who reassured us. Had a great lunch in Bethlehem and visited the nativity church, refugee camp, and the “wall.” One of our most unforgettable trips that we would highly recommend to anyone. The Green Olive tour company was prompt and helpful throughout, in terms of email and updates. A must do if you want to see the “other side” of the holy land and sites in a political/religious/social context.

We had learned about Green Olive Tours from a friend who works with Israelis and Palestinians. We were asking him who we might meet on our trip to Israel this year who could educate us in a way that we do not have much opportunity to get on typical tours of most Christian, Jewish, or Muslim sites in the Holy Land. We selected the three-day immersion in Palestine life. We met our guide on Monday morning at the Jerusalem Hotel and began our tour. We learned about the current Israeli Occupation of the West Bank. We saw settler homes and neighborhoods, and we saw the refugee camps which have been home to many Palestinians since 1948, something that was supposed to be temporary. We saw the dividing lines that interrupt ways of getting around the city. We visited the ancient towns of Nablus and Bethlehem. I really appreciated seeing the Banksy graffiti art. We stayed in a Palestinian home and learned more about day-to-day life.Our experience was unforgettable, and we are so grateful for this experience.