In this study, Au-Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 (Au-CeZr) and Sm modified AuCeZr catalysts were synthesized by organic deposition-precipitation method using gold acetate and samarium acetate as Au and Sm precursors and tetrapropylammonium hydroxide as precipitating agent. The synthesized nanocrystalline Au-CeZr and Sm modified Au-CeZrmaterials found be effective catalysts for benzyl alcohol oxidation at low reaction temperatures. The catalystswere characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, DRIFT spectra after pyridine adsorption, N2-physisorption, XPS and H2-TPR techniques. The Au nanoparticles are highly dispersed on CeZr support and XRD reflections due to presenceof Au metal were not observed for the samples which contained less than 1.0 wt% Au. The XPS and H2-TPRresults revealed that at lower Au loadings, strong Au-CeZr interaction resulted an easy exclusion of surfaceoxygen ions in Au-CeZr and Sm-Au-CeZr catalysts. Pyridine adsorption results indicated an increase of Lewis acidsites of the CeZr support after Au deposition and Sm modification. The 2.0Sm-0.5Au-CeZr catalyst is most activeand selective catalysts for benzyl alcohol oxidation among the synthesized catalysts due to optimum loading ofAu and Sm. An optimal surface acidity and redox properties is accountable for the improved catalytic activity of2.0Sm-0.5Au-CeZr catalyst in the benzyl alcohol oxidation.