VFI Archaeology -Jerusalem Dig Program
Israel has Your Heart. Now Lend a Hand.
Volun-Touring in Israel
Volun-Touring is impactful travel in Israel that combines the joy of exploring new places and immersion in new cultures while volunteering your services with “hands-on” work.
Whether you’re drawn by history, service, or cultural immersion, you’re in for an unforgettable experience.
Program Overview
Immerse yourself in Israel’s history and culture with this VFI Volun-Tour program, perfect for both first-time and experienced visitors.
Volunteer in Jerusalem at the world-class City of David archaeological dig, working with professional archaeologists from Tel Aviv University. Uncover biblical artifacts where people actually walked in 586 BCE, just after the destruction of Solomon’s Temple.
Enjoy weekend touring with professional tour guide Julia Newman. No age limit and no Hebrew required!
Ready to make a difference? Complete our email form to learn more about this program.
Dates and Fees
Program Dates
The VFI Archaeology Volun-Tour Program is a 9-day program that begins on Friday and ends on the following Saturday evening. There is a modest level of physical activity in this program including steps and some uneven footing. Future dates for trips in the VFI Archaeology Volun-Tour Program are:
Oct 30 to Nov 7, 2026 (WAIT LIST ONLY)
Program Fees
The all-inclusive fee for this 9-day program bundles major costs including nights in big-city hotels, all transportation in an air-conditioned bus, most meals (food), all aspects of volunteering, all-day touring, entrance fees, private tour guide, archaeology support and tours, lectures, and gratuities.
For double occupancy at all hotels, the fee is $2,830. A supplement for single occupancy is $687. Each fee is subject to hotel room availability. It is based on a minimum group size of 6 participants, a maximum of 15, and is subject to adjustment for fewer than the minumum.
As a non-profit organization, VFI is committed to offering premium volun-touring experiences at the lowest possible price. Due to fluctuations in the dollar-shekel exchange rate and other economic factors, it may be necessary to occasionally increase trip fees above those published at the time of your deposit. We will make every attempt to ensure that fee increases are minimal and infrequent.
How to Register for the Jerusalem Dig Program
Complete VFI Application and Submit Deposit
To reserve your space in a program, submit a completed application which includes making a $500 refundable deposit. This deposit will be applied toward the final cost. VFI is a 501(c)3 non-profit so part of your payment may be tax-deductible. Please consult your financial advisor.
Travel Documents
- Passport: Traveling in Israel requires a passport that must be valid for at least 6 months AFTER your arrival date
- NEW VISA Requirement: All non-Israeli visitors to Israel must have a valid visa or ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) before they start their trip. The ETA-IL is valid for two years and multiple trips of 90 days or less. The cost is 25 NIS (about $7.00) per person and obtained by online application at: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/
Insurance
VFI requires individual medical coverage while in Israel. Medicare generally does not cover medical care outside the U.S., so you should confirm with your insurer whether your policy includes coverage for treatment in Israel. VFI strongly recommends obtaining trip cancellation insurance which may also include medical coverage*.
*For more information, see the Q&A on our Resources webpage.
Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Group size is limited, and a waitlist is maintained for fully subscribed programs.
Detailed Itinerary
Click on each day below to expand and view details of the complete 9-Day Archaeology
Day 1 -Friday – Welcome – Week One
Welcoming Shabbat dinner in Jerusalem hotel.
Day 2 -Saturday- All-day touring
Breakfast at hotel. Touring all day starting with a walking orientation tour of Jerusalem. Dinner at hotel. After dinner, private evening lecture and archaeology orientation at 8:00 PM by Prof. Yuval of Tel Aviv University.
Day 3 -Sunday – At the Dig
Pickup breakfast at hotel, transport at 6:45 am to the City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours – see the tentative program schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem Hotel.
Day 4 -Monday – At the dig
Pickup breakfast at hotel, transport at 6:45 am to the City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours – see the tentative schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem Hotel.
Day 5 -Tuesday – Volunteer at the dig, tour
Pickup breakfast at hotel, transport at 6:45 am to the City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours – see the tentative schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem Hotel.
Day 6 -Wednesday – At the dig, tour
Pickup breakfast at hotel, transport at 6:45 am to the City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours – see the tentative program schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem Hotel.
Day 7 -Thursday – At the dig, visit
Pickup breakfast at hotel, transport at 6:45 am to City of David archaeology site. Perform volunteer assignments and instructional tours – see the tentative schedule. Breakfast and lunch at dig site. Transport back to hotel. Free time. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem Hotel. Volunteer archaeological services are completed.
Day 8 -Friday – All-day touring, Jordan Valley, Tiberias
Breakfast at hotel, all day touring. Drive North along the Jordan Valley. Visit the small and beautiful museum of ancient mosaics, visit the River Jordan, approximately where Israelites entered the promised land. In Beit Shean we will enjoy a home-hosted lunch cooked by Etty – a cook and chef, confectioner, fund-raiser across the U.S. for community projects in Israel, and a former cook for the Jewish Federation. She will prepare our lunch and share her story. Visit Oren Farm located in the Jordan Valley to get familiar with modern Israeli agriculture, specializing in grape, fig, and date plantations. The highpoint of this farm visit is the production of healthy argan oil. Dinner at hotel, overnight in Tiberias, at kibbutz Ginnosar.
Day 9 – Saturday – Jerusalem of Gold and Spirits
Visit some of the iconic landmarks, as well as some hidden gems – the Bell Park, the First Temple period burial cave famous for its amazing finds, the Windmill, the 4 Quarters of the Old City focused on the Jewish Quarter, walk to the Kotel and place a note, enjoy the bazaar and more…Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Drop off at the airport or stay in Israel.
Day 9 – Saturday – Jerusalem of Gold and Spirits
Visit some of the iconic landmarks, as well as some hidden gems – the Bell Park, the First Temple period burial cave famous for its amazing finds, the Windmill, the 4 Quarters of the Old City focused on the Jewish Quarter, walk to the Kotel and place a note, enjoy the bazaar and more…Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Drop off at the airport or stay in Israel.
Hotel Information
(Changing conditions in Israel may require the substitution of hotels different than but equivalent to those in the Typical Itinerary shown above).
Maxim Hotel in Tel Aviv – 86 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903, Israel. (855) 213-5953 972 3-517-3721 https://www.telavivmaxim.com/ OR email Mr. Said at reservation@telavivmaxim.com
Golden Crown Hotel in Haifa – https://www.goldencrown-hotels.com/
Prima Royale Hotel in Jerusalem – https://www.prima-hotels-israel.com/prima-royal-jerusalem-hotel
Golan Hotel in Tiberias – https://www.golanhotel.com/
Hotel Information
Ohalo Manor in Kinneret – https://www.ohalo-hotel.com/en/home-en/
Your Program Contacts
For more information about the trips in this program, please consult the Question-And-Answer section or feel free to contact our knowledgeable program leaders.
Primary contact: Larry Alssid
VFIARCHLA@gmail.com
516.680.2163
Other Contact: Lisa Bell
vfi.lisa9@gmail.com
954.298.7495
Request More Information
Fill out the form below to request more information about all our Volun-Tour opportunities.
RESERVATIONS ON A FIRST-COME BASIS
If you have more time to spend in Israel, check out our combined 16-day VFI Archaeology & Feed the Soldiers Program.
Program Testimonials
My experience volunteering with VFI at the archaeological dig in the City Of David National Park, was a dream come true! It fully exceeded my expectations in every way.
Our hotel in Jerusalem was comfortable and the staff was friendly and helpful. The archaeologists we worked with were informative and knowledgeable and provided us with everything we needed to fully immerse ourselves in the experience.
Julia Newman is an amazing tour guide. The touring choices were excellent. She was full of information and had many interesting stories to tell about the history of whatever place we were visiting. She was kind and friendly. She always let us know that if we had a problem, she would help us fix it. Thank you VFI and Julia!
Mickie Feiden, 2024
If you’re looking for a way to make a tangible difference in Israel while receiving numerous enriching and rewarding experiences, I encourage you to consider VFI. I’m glad I did, and will again!
I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of participating in a recent Volunteers for Israel (VFI) series of events. In sixteen days, I was part of a team at a leading edge archaeological dig in the City of David and helped support the IDF by preparing meals, painting on an army base, and painting and clearing debris from a neighborhood used by IDF soldiers.
What I found to be of at least equal value were the guided tours conducted by Julia, Barnea, and Missy of Livnot at various points during my visit. They served to add richness and meaning to this trip: by far the most impactful of my four visits to Israel to date.
Daniel Bobrow, Illinois 2024
This is my second experience with VFI and this trip far exceeded my expectations. I felt so alive and being able to assist was rewarding. Our group worked so well together and we accomplished our tasks. After the Givati dig, I will never look at dirt the same way again!
We had a wonderful, knowledgeable and patient team of archeologists guiding us. Just about every scoop of earth uncovered an ancient pottery shard or mosaic floor tile. I never wanted to stop – even at break time. Julia was the most excellent guide and every place we went was unique and special! What an adventure it all was and what terrific people I met. I hope to return to the program for trip #3 in the near future
Sue Theise
Working on a dig and going to Megiddo were 2 of my bucket list items and reading about this trip, I was excited. But I was also concerned that the actual trip would be a letdown. Actually, my expectations were not met, they were vastly EXCEEDED!
As an Orthodox Jew, I previously Volunteered 8 times, but this time I was concerned about my religious practice.
The ad for the Archaeology trip noted several differences from the usual VFI 2 weeks on a base. The group would be staying at hotels, traveling on Shabbat, and eating meals provided by Tel Aviv University. I had kosher concerns as well as how I could handle travel on Shabbat.
Actually, everything worked out fine. The hotels were kosher, as were TVU’s meals. While unable to travel on Shabbat, I left for Jerusalem Friday morning and rejoined the group Saturday night at the hotel.
All in all, IT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
Howard Lindenauer
VFI PLUS ARCHAEOLOGY is a wonderful program and an experience not to be missed!
The archaeology portion was especially rewarding with a group member finding a bronze bracelet that may well end up in a museum. The archaeologists took us to recently excavated areas and through tunnels unavailable to “regular” tourists. Standing on bedrock near the Jerusalem city walls, where our ancestors stood, and handling two thousand-year-old pottery, was absolutely awe-inspiring.
Barbara Erdsneker