We advocate tourism that takes account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impact, by meeting the needs of visitors, professionals and host locals.
Who we are?
Specialists in "Original" tailor-made travel in Israel
ËRETZ is an English and French speaking boutique local agency (DMC)* based near Tel Aviv. We specialize in creating tailor-made trips to Israel that are 100% customizable.
The word “Original” in our motto is not there by coincidence.
The double meaning of the word is at the heart of ËRETZ's DNA : “Straight from the origin and out of the ordinary”.
Enabling our travelers to experience a different side of Israel through experiential and responsible tourism based on our core value of authenticity defines our goal and our commitment perfectly. We do provide unexpected moments of discovery off the beaten path while ensuring complete safety and total freedom.
Our strength lies in our passion and our in-depth knowledge of Israel as local experts who have lived here country for more than 25 years.
We also goal to share with you lesser-known spots, the latest trends and activities, secret locations and fresh perspectives on all the must-see places. Our aim is to constantly improve our services according to your wishes.
Our service providers are carefully selected and vetted before we offer them to you, and they are regularly tested and approved in order to ensure the highest level of service, at fair and competitive rates.
All ground logistics are organized to the finest detail. A flexible French and English-speaking concierge service is available 24/7 to handle all of the details needed to facilitate your trip, as well as to address unforeseen events, or make spontaneous changes that you may request in order to enjoy your holiday in complete serenity...
*Destination-Management-Company
Our travel philosophy
We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children
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Sustainable tourism
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Slow tourism
We believe that really getting to know a destination happens at its own pace. Rather than a form of tourism, this is a way of life where you meet local people and step off the beaten trail.
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Ecotourism
We believe that really getting to know a destination happens at its own pace. Rather than a form of tourism, this is a way of life where you meet local people and step off the beaten trail.
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Participatory tourism
We help build relationships between host populations and our Clients. Reinventing hospitality, our travellers participate in local life through original and authentic experiences.
The inspiration and the journey
The inspiration behind ËRETZ, which in Hebrew means “The land (of Israel)”, or “country”, a local travel agency that specializes in creating tailor-made trips, inspired by my own personal roots...
Born in 1976 in Marseille, France, a cosmopolitan city known for its mix of different cultures, I was able to witness first hand, the richness that diversity brings.
Having grown up close to my grandparents, both of whom were skilled craftspeople, one a hairdresser and the other a seamstress. Over the years I have absorbed the values of meticulous, refined work that requires care and creativity. One of the skills of these creative jobs is the art of being able to adapt every hairstyle or every stitch to an individual’s wishes, expectations and personal situation, in other words “made-to-measure"!
I was immersed in tourism from an early age thanks to my mother, who was a travel agent; I have always been passionate about travelling and searching for the freedom. After finishing my professional tourism studies in France, I decided to cross the Mediterranean for an extraordinary group living experience for over two years in Israel. I sought out the local society, its customs, culture and nature.
As a child in the 80's and 90's, I used to spend my summer vacation in Israel with my family, there we would always stay in the beautiful Kibbutz Be'eri, located in the Negev desert (Southern Israel), at the home of our close friends Rony and Noa Levy.
Thanks to Rony Levy, our "local guide", I was able to really get to know Israel as a local, its history, its geography, understand the special way of life in the Kibbutz and also discover unique and off-the-beaten-track places by crisscrossing the country from North to South in a rental car (without air conditioning at the time)!
These memorable, simple and authentic moments are still my sources of inspiration and have imbued me with the desire to create a unique and original journey for each and everyone of our clients.
A love for this country made me decide to settle here and enroll in university studies in the "Geography and History of the Land of Israel" before beginning my professional career in Israeli incoming tourism.
Over the years I worked through and learned the ins and outs of several areas of tourism, from educational tourism to the MICE sector (Meeting, Incentive, Conference, Event) to finally specialize in a "niche tourism" based essentially on leisure, culture and nature.
I have held various positions in the tourism industry, all of which have been incredibly enriching and rewarding. From operations and marketing to sales, I eventually had the opportunity to serve as the general manager of one of the Israel’s most distinguished tour operators.
20 years of experience in the Israeli tourism industry have provided me with an in-depth knowledge of the country from a tourism perspective at the highest level. The years have also driven me to establish my own company and to explore new horizons, eager to share my passion for this country and to help people discover my homeland, that is to say, “My ËRETZ”!
*In tribute to my grandparents (Mady and Robert Koïn) and my "uncle" Rony Levy
David Koïn
Founder & CEO