BEST TIME TO VISIT PALESTINE
On Easter Saturday, Christian Palestinians celebrate with a flame being passed from one village and town to another, Olympian style.![]()
Not just religiously symbolic, these Easter traditions are now also processions for peace. The best time to visit Palestine, especially if hiking, is outside the hottest months, June-Sep. So when autumn leaves start turning at home, turn your thoughts to wild and wonderful walking in Palestine. Spring is perfect, as cyclamen, iris and anemones are in bloom. Autumn rains fall during Oct-Nov, but never too severe. Christmas in Bethlehem is, of course, extraordinary for Christians, with Midnight Mass held at St. Catherine’s and Manger Square packed with pilgrims. Tickets are released for the service 1 September, and sell out quickly.
Palestine Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
5
13
137
FEB
5
15
111
MAR
7
17
88
APR
10
22
27
MAY
13
26
3
JUN
16
29
0
JUL
18
30
0
AUG
18
30
0
SEP
17
29
1
OCT
14
26
19
NOV
10
20
60
DEC
6
15
111
Our Palestine Holidays
Israel holidays, small group tour
Israel, a hidden gem this 8 day tour hits all the main spots
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£1599 to £1779
8 days
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Palestine and Israel small group tour
History, culture and landscapes await on a small group tour
From
£3250
11 days
inc UK flights
Israel and Palestinian tour
Experience ancient Israel from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv
From
£1780 to £2505
8 days
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Israel & the Palestinian Territories holiday
Jerusalem to Tel Aviv with an experienced guide
From
£2044 to £3240
7 days
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Under 30s Israel & Palestine holiday
Get a taste of the Middle East's contrasts
From
£636 to £830
5 days
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Israel & the Palestinian territories food holiday
Discover the food of Israel and Palestine
From
£2645 to £2970
9 days
ex flights
THINGS TO DO IN PALESTINE
Things to do in Palestine…
Things NOT to do in Palestine...
Always get up to date information at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) travel advisory department before travelling to Palestine and also ensure that your travel insurance covers your trip. Read more details on FCO and insurance here.
Don’t go it alone. Always go to Palestine with a specialist tour operator, and one that works with experienced hospitality experts and expert walking guides on the ground. There is a lot of vast wilderness to explore, and tiny villages that are far from violence and strife. But as you will discover while travelling around Palestine, maps and territories are always changing, and being on the safe side may be different from one year to the next. Or one day to the next in some cases.
Our top Palestine Holiday
Israel holidays, small group tour
Israel, a hidden gem this 8 day tour hits all the main spots
From
£1599 to £1779
8 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2023: 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 9 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 30 Nov, 7 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
2024: 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 18 Jan, 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 29 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov ...
2023: 19 Oct, 26 Oct, 2 Nov, 9 Nov, 16 Nov, 23 Nov, 30 Nov, 7 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec
2024: 4 Jan, 11 Jan, 18 Jan, 25 Jan, 1 Feb, 8 Feb, 15 Feb, 29 Feb, 7 Mar, 14 Mar, 21 Mar, 28 Mar, 4 Apr, 11 Apr, 18 Apr, 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 16 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 20 Jun, 27 Jun, 4 Jul, 11 Jul, 18 Jul, 25 Jul, 1 Aug, 8 Aug, 15 Aug, 22 Aug, 29 Aug, 5 Sep, 12 Sep, 19 Sep, 26 Sep, 3 Oct, 17 Oct, 24 Oct, 31 Oct, 7 Nov ...
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Palestine or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
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PALESTINE TRAVEL ADVICE
Understanding Palestine
Understanding Palestine
Marc Leaderman, from our leading Palestine holidays supplier, Wild Frontiers, shares his Palestine travel advice:
“Having led tours in over 50 countries over the last 15 years, my recent trip to Palestine was amongst the most rewarding and insightful I’ve ever had, offering not only an incredible diversity of scenery and historical wonders over such a small area, but more importantly a window into the rich cultural heritage of a people whose voice is all too often associated with conflict and suffering rather than warmth and hospitality. Come with an open mind and you’ll be sure never to view the Middle East the same way again.”
“I would certainly suggest reading up on the Israeli-Palestinian situation (ideally from both sides) although it can be quite challenging to find balanced sources. Some good films include ‘The Lemon Tree’ and ‘Five Broken Cameras.”
“Having led tours in over 50 countries over the last 15 years, my recent trip to Palestine was amongst the most rewarding and insightful I’ve ever had, offering not only an incredible diversity of scenery and historical wonders over such a small area, but more importantly a window into the rich cultural heritage of a people whose voice is all too often associated with conflict and suffering rather than warmth and hospitality. Come with an open mind and you’ll be sure never to view the Middle East the same way again.”
“I would certainly suggest reading up on the Israeli-Palestinian situation (ideally from both sides) although it can be quite challenging to find balanced sources. Some good films include ‘The Lemon Tree’ and ‘Five Broken Cameras.”
Itinerary tips
Itinerary tips
Andrew Appleyard is an archaeologist as well as International Sales Manager at our supplier, Exodus. He shares his tips on where to go in Palestine:
“My favourite place is actually Jericho. Probably because it is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the entire world, dating back to about 5000 BC. And it is an amazing old site. It is also one of the places where Israelis and Palestinians get on incredibly well and no one interferes with any of them. But Jericho is a fab town, and there are great restaurants there too. It really is an amazing place.”
“My favourite place is actually Jericho. Probably because it is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the entire world, dating back to about 5000 BC. And it is an amazing old site. It is also one of the places where Israelis and Palestinians get on incredibly well and no one interferes with any of them. But Jericho is a fab town, and there are great restaurants there too. It really is an amazing place.”
Marc Leaderman, from our supplier, Wild Frontiers:
“Absolute musts would include Jerusalem, Nablus, Wadi el-Qult and at least one homestay. When it comes to packing it’s worth noting that it can get very hot by the Dead Sea but surprisingly cold in the more elevated zones, such as Jerusalem. English is fairly widely spoken but learning a few words of Arabic would go a long way, especially at the homestays.”
“Absolute musts would include Jerusalem, Nablus, Wadi el-Qult and at least one homestay. When it comes to packing it’s worth noting that it can get very hot by the Dead Sea but surprisingly cold in the more elevated zones, such as Jerusalem. English is fairly widely spoken but learning a few words of Arabic would go a long way, especially at the homestays.”
Tips when to go
Tips when to go
Marc Leaderman, Wild Frontiers:
“I would say that although it can be visited year round, spring and autumn are definitely the best times to visit to avoid the extremes of summer and winter.”
“I would say that although it can be visited year round, spring and autumn are definitely the best times to visit to avoid the extremes of summer and winter.”
Andrew Appleyard, Exodus:
“If you can go to Midnight Mass in Bethlehem at Christmas – that is an incredible time to be there."
“If you can go to Midnight Mass in Bethlehem at Christmas – that is an incredible time to be there."
More about Palestine
A Palestine travel guide is a precious thing, in our view. With so much history, culture and natural heritage, we welcome it wholeheartedly onto our travel guide pages. Because Palestine is not just a place to view from afar, through the news or through activism websites. Palestine is a place that has to be visited to be understood. Meet the people, stay in their homes, walk their ancient trails and support a beautiful place where we hope that tourism can only be a force for good.
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.
