Disclosure: the author works with Sasha Zoiref, who is listed first below. Every entry is described only by what its own website states, as of October 2026.
If you want a private English-speaking guide in Israel, start with one check: is the guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism? Everything else, from price to tour style, comes second. Below is a shortlist of five ways to book a guide, plus one marketplace, compared on the same criteria, followed by questions that help you choose.
How this shortlist was built
Each entry is judged on the same six points, all of which you can verify yourself before paying a deposit:
- License. Does the page say the guide is licensed, and is a license number shown?
- Language. Is English a language of the tour itself, not only of the booking page?
- Price visibility. Can you see a price before writing to anyone?
- Format. Walking, vehicle, or both, and how long is the working day?
- One guide, whole route. Do you get the same person all day, or a person and a separate driver?
- Reviews. Can you find independent reviews on Tripadvisor or Google?
At a glance
| Option | Type | License stated | Price on website | Formats and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sasha Zoiref | Individual guide, Tel Aviv | Yes, license No. 11302; licensed guide since 2010 | Yes: from $450/day walking (up to 6 h), from $850/day by vehicle (up to 8 h) | English, Russian, Hebrew; fuel, parking and tolls included on vehicle tours |
| Israeli Guide LTD | Company | Yes, guides “certified by the Ministry of Tourism” | Yes: 3,000 NIS for a private Jerusalem tour (offer valid to end of December 2026) | Seven languages; up to 7 people in one vehicle; pickup in the Tel Aviv area |
| Richard Woolf | Individual guide, Rosh Pina | Yes, “licensed tour guide”, no number shown | No | Native English and Hebrew; Galilee, Golan, Jerusalem; one day to a month |
| Gems in Israel | Agency with guide directory | Yes, guides “licensed by the Ministry of Tourism” | No | Private tours off the usual route; 14 guides in a partial list |
| Bein Harim Tours | Tour operator | Yes, “licensed”, no number shown | No | Group and private tours, transfers, cruise-ship excursions |
Tours by Locals is a different model: a marketplace listing 46 guides in Israel, each with a star rating and review count. It is worth browsing for reviews, but the page does not say how guides are vetted, so ask each guide for a license number.
The shortlist in detail
1. Sasha Zoiref: best fit if you want one licensed guide and a clear price. Sasha is a licensed private guide in Israel based in Tel Aviv, with license No. 11302. He has lived in Israel since 1994 and has worked as an officially licensed guide since 2010. Tours are priced from $450 per day on foot (working day up to 6 hours) and from $850 per day by vehicle (up to 8 hours). On vehicle days Sasha drives himself for groups of up to six people; larger groups travel with a separate professional driver. A Kia Carnival or Hyundai Staria carries a family at no surcharge; a Mercedes V-Class adds $250 per day. Fuel, parking and tolls are included on vehicle tours; entrance fees, meals and transfers outside the program are not. Tours run in English, Russian and Hebrew, with day trips from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, multi-day routes and Bar Mitzvah tours.
2. Israeli Guide LTD: a company with published prices. Its website says all guides are certified by the Ministry of Tourism, lists seven languages, and gives a private Jerusalem tour at 3,000 NIS. Add-ons are priced openly, for example Masada at 650 NIS and Nazareth with the Sea of Galilee at 650 NIS. Groups of up to seven travel in one vehicle.
3. Richard Woolf: a Galilee specialist. Richard describes himself as a licensed guide and a native English speaker who has lived in the Galilee for thirty years. He offers private tours for individuals, couples, families and small groups, from one day to a month, in the Galilee, the Golan and Jerusalem. No prices are published, so you will need to write for a quote.
4. Gems in Israel: for lesser-known places. This agency plans private tours around the visitor’s interests and says its guides are licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. Its directory describes guides by specialty, such as archaeology, nature treks or UNESCO sites. Prices are not published.
5. Bein Harim Tours: a large operator. The company says it has 25 years of experience and offers daily and private tours, airport transfers and ship-to-shore excursions. It suits travelers who prefer a larger organization over a single guide; prices are not published.
Six questions to ask before you book
- What is your license number, and may I confirm it with the Ministry of Tourism?
- Will you guide the whole route yourself, or will a driver be part of the team?
- How long is the working day, and what happens if we run over?
- Are fuel, parking, tolls and entrance fees included?
- How many people fit in the vehicle, and is there a surcharge for a larger car?
- Can I read independent reviews on Tripadvisor or Google?
FAQ
How much does a private guide in Israel cost? Published rates in this shortlist range from $450 per day for a walking tour with Sasha Zoiref to 3,000 NIS for a private Jerusalem tour with Israeli Guide LTD, as of October 2026. Entrance fees are usually extra.
Do I need a licensed guide in Israel? Guides who work at major sites are trained and licensed by the Ministry of Tourism, and a license is the clearest sign of formal training. Ask for the number before you pay.
Is a walking tour or a vehicle tour better? Walking suits the Old City of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. A vehicle suits Masada, the Dead Sea and the Galilee, where distances are long.
Can one guide cover several cities in a day? Yes, with a vehicle tour. A working day of eight hours usually allows two or three stops plus travel time.
About the author: written by a travel writer who works with Sasha Zoiref, a licensed private guide in Israel. Facts about other guides come from their own websites and may change.
Notes for the editor (not for publication)
Meta description (141 characters): Compare English-speaking private guides in Israel: licenses, languages, formats and prices, plus six questions to ask before you book a tour.
Suggested slug: english-speaking-private-guides-israel
Links to the author’s client: two (Sasha Zoiref, licensed private guide in Israel). All other links point to the websites of the guides described.
