Israel travel advice
Cultural advice
Daniel Saunders, from our supplier Encounters Travel, shares his Israel travel advice:
“Brush up on your political knowledge of the region, it’s complicated and a little understanding can go a long way. With so many religious sites to visit and an inherently conservative outlook, women should cover up as much as possible, so long sleeve shirts and baggy pants are recommended. Saturday is the Jewish day of rest and it starts at sunset on Friday and finishes at sunset on Saturday. This means shops will be shut and no buses will run. And learn a few words of Hebrew, it helps break the ice.”
“Brush up on your political knowledge of the region, it’s complicated and a little understanding can go a long way. With so many religious sites to visit and an inherently conservative outlook, women should cover up as much as possible, so long sleeve shirts and baggy pants are recommended. Saturday is the Jewish day of rest and it starts at sunset on Friday and finishes at sunset on Saturday. This means shops will be shut and no buses will run. And learn a few words of Hebrew, it helps break the ice.”
Our Israel Holidays
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Land of the Bible, where faith and history meet.
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Tour the historical & cultural sites of Jordan and Israel
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Private Tailor Made Authentic Tours of Israel
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Under 30s Israel & Palestine holiday
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Calming your nerves
Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier Exodus:“I think what people get wrong before they travel, is that they expect to see an army presence everywhere. And you don’t see that in places like the Sea of Galilee, Caesarea, or some of the old sites. It is only in places like Bethlehem, or in the Old City of Jerusalem, maybe around the Dome of the Rock, where you will see the Israeli Defence Force. If you feel nervous about travelling to Israel, you really do need to go with an incredibly reputable company that has been working there for years and that has really experienced ground handlers. And who are also up to date with all current affairs.”
Itinerary tips
Anthony Horrobin from our supplier, Encounters Travel:
“If you have time whilst in Tel Aviv definitely walk along the promenade to the small town of Jaffa, perched on a headland close to central Tel Aviv. The walk might take around an hour (maybe a bit less) but the contrast to Tel Aviv is immense. There’s also a small (but high-tech) underground museum in Jaffa and a great fish market to have a wander around. And don’t miss a chance to go to the Dead Sea. It’s a completely unique place and to experience the weightless feeling you get there is like nothing else. You have to try it!”
“If you have time whilst in Tel Aviv definitely walk along the promenade to the small town of Jaffa, perched on a headland close to central Tel Aviv. The walk might take around an hour (maybe a bit less) but the contrast to Tel Aviv is immense. There’s also a small (but high-tech) underground museum in Jaffa and a great fish market to have a wander around. And don’t miss a chance to go to the Dead Sea. It’s a completely unique place and to experience the weightless feeling you get there is like nothing else. You have to try it!”
Passport tip
Daniel Saunders, from our supplier Encounters Travel:“Politely ask to get your entry stamp on a separate piece of paper and not in your passport because if you plan to visit other Arab countries in the region it will prove difficult having an Israeli stamp.
Archaeology tips
Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier, Exodus Travels, is not only a keen archaeologist, but also created the original Israel itineraries for Exodus trips:
“At the archaeology sites, it is good to have a very good, trained archaeologist with you. Megiddo is a huge archaeological site, famous in the Bible, but when you actually stand there, as a normal punter, you won’t make head nor tail of it whatsoever. And that is the same with a lot of the large archaeological sites – what they call ‘tells’. Masada is also amazing, of course. I recommend walking up it, as it gives you an idea of just how impregnable it really was as a fortress.”
Packing tip
Anthony Horrobin from our supplier, Encounters Travel:“Travel light – most people will travel to different cities and stay in a number of different hotels when visiting Israel as the tourist sites are scattered throughout the country.”
Shopping tips
Andrew Appleyard, from our supplier Exodus:“Avoid buying antiquities in Israel, as there is a lot of dodgy trade in it, and a lot of faking them too.”
Our top Israel Holiday
Israel and Palestinian tour
Experience ancient Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv
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£1665 to £1975
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Small group travel:
2019: 17 Aug, 7 Sep, 9 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 12 Oct, 14 Oct, 19 Oct, 21 Oct, 26 Oct, 30 Oct, 2 Nov, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 23 Nov, 25 Nov, 7 Dec, 28 Dec
2020: 22 Feb, 29 Feb, 7 Mar, 11 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 25 Mar, 28 Mar, 1 Apr, 4 Apr, 18 Apr, 22 Apr, 25 Apr, 29 Apr, 2 May, 6 May, 9 May, 13 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 2 Sep, 5 Sep, 12 Sep ...
2019: 17 Aug, 7 Sep, 9 Sep, 14 Sep, 21 Sep, 12 Oct, 14 Oct, 19 Oct, 21 Oct, 26 Oct, 30 Oct, 2 Nov, 6 Nov, 13 Nov, 23 Nov, 25 Nov, 7 Dec, 28 Dec
2020: 22 Feb, 29 Feb, 7 Mar, 11 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 25 Mar, 28 Mar, 1 Apr, 4 Apr, 18 Apr, 22 Apr, 25 Apr, 29 Apr, 2 May, 6 May, 9 May, 13 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 2 Sep, 5 Sep, 12 Sep ...
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Israel or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Health & safety
FCO advice and Israel
Most visits are trouble free, however terrorism is sadly a reality of travelling in these times. Israel and the Occupied Palestine Territories have been areas of intense conflict for a long time, and terrorist activities are usually claimed as being retaliatory following a period of attacks. Recent attacks include a stabbing on a Tel Aviv beach and also on a bus in Petah Tikva in 2017, a spate of street attacks in East Jerusalem, Petah Tikva and Jaffa in 2016 and another bus attack in Tel Aviv in 2015, all carried out by Palestinian extremists.
Always get up to date information at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advisory department before travelling to Israel and also ensure that your travel insurance covers your trip. If, for example, you are travelling to regions that are not recommended by FCO such as the Gaza Strip or near Syrian border, you need to look at your options regarding FCO and insurance here.
Always get up to date information at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advisory department before travelling to Israel and also ensure that your travel insurance covers your trip. If, for example, you are travelling to regions that are not recommended by FCO such as the Gaza Strip or near Syrian border, you need to look at your options regarding FCO and insurance here.
HEALTH
SAFETY
More about Israel
The best time to visit Israel depends on where you’re going, just as much as the monthly temperature & rainfall forecasts, with Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Dead Sea all exhibiting varying climates to take into consideration whilst deciding when to visit Israel.
Discover Responsible Travel’s best & worst sides to Israel by leafing through our Israel travel guide that’s been designed to highlight the country’s high points as well as its lows to help you discover Israel like a local including information on food, shopping & people and a brief history of Israel.
From Rosh HaNikra close to the Lebanese border, to Masada National Park just to the south of the Red Sea, our Israel map & highlights page fills in the blanks and leads you on a Biblical journey complete with three suggested itineraries and travel times in Israel by train, by bus and on foot.
Our top activities in Israel include: religious sites, wilderness walks and sites, digs and tells to help you find a few things to do in Israel in order to compliment loaves, fishes & so much more.
Although there's not much chance of Israel & Palestine coming together any time soon, that doesn't mean that you can't include both states as part of a small group holiday.
If you want to know what Responsible Travel recommend when it comes to family holidays in Israel then read on as we’ve got all the info on family activities and what to do when travelling with kids in Israel including several top tips for families courtesy of our experts.
If you want to really travel right in Israel then there are several responsible tourism issues worth bearing in mind.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Edgardo W. Olivera] [Cultural advice: Israel_photo_gallery]
[Itinerary tips: Israel_photo_gallery]
[Archaeology tips: Israel_photo_gallery]
[Health & safety: Israel_photo_gallery]
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