Israel Travel Highlights

Israel is a fun and rewarding place to go. The country is full of traditional historical and non secular sites, unbelievable geographic change for such a small country, great food, generally glorious weather, and a fascinating blend of cultures. Unfortunately it's a country in conflict, and the portrayal of this region on the news scared lots of travelers away from this fascinating land. But supplied with a bit of information and basic care, traveling in Israel is truly quite safe.

From a geographic viewpoint, Israel is so different from region to region that it feels like many different states in one. The seaside plain which contains the towns of Tel-Aviv and Haifa features rolling sand dunes and palm trees, beautiful beaches, and mild but awfully humid subtropical weather. It's a great area to soak up the sun, enjoy nightlife, and soak up the ambience of modern Israel's culture. Yafo is part of Tel Aviv, and is a restored traditional city dating back to biblical times. Further north in Haifa you can visit the world headquarters of the Baha'i religion. Further north in Akko you may visit the Medieval old town and experience its Arabic atmosphere.

To the east of Haifa and Akko lies the Galilee region, the region where Jesus was raised. The city of Nazareth lies in this area lies in this area, and has a number of churches and cathedrals to honor Jesus. Nazareth is populated especially with Israeli Arab citizens, so you can experience the contrast with Jewish Israeli culture. To the east of Nazareth lies the town of Tiberias and the ocean of Galilee. This is where Jesus walked on water, and where John the Baptist was baptized. There is some beautiful views in the area, and some wonderful churches devoted to Jesus and events involving him in the area. A fun activity is to rent a cycle in Tiberias and ride the bicycle round the sea of Galilee. This will take an entire day, but if you can resist the heat, it's an amazing short trip.

In the south of Israel lies the Negev desert, the latest and driest part of Israel. Its main focal point is the resort city of Eilat, which is famous for scubadiving, snorkelling, and good weather year round. The summers in Eilat are freakishly hot, sometimes reaching fifty degrees. Bring a washing suit!

And of course the diamond in the crown of any trip to Israel is Jerusalem. Lying in the Judaen hills and having a religion heritage rivalled by no other town on Earth, Jerusalem has a cultural atmosphere like nowhere else in Israel. This is the place where King Solomon ruled, where Muhammad rose to heaven, and where Jesus was crucified. The Old city of Jerusalem lies in East Jerusalem and has a Palestinian majority, so you can experience the Palestinian way of life while also seeing the Jewish, Muslim, and Christian holy sites inside its walls. The city of Bethlehem lies just to the south of Jerusalem, but within the Palestinian autonomous area. Many tourists visit Bethlehem and it is generally safe. But check the news before traveling there, because sometimes there are Problems between Israeli troops and Palestinians in the area. The Church of the Nativity marks the spot where tradition asserts that Jesus was born.

Israel is a fascinating land with so much to see, and more than things to see there is so much to learn and experience. Speaking to Israelis and Palestinians and understanding their country, its conflict, and its cultures is a fascinating and eye-opening experience. I hope you can experience this land too.
.