A small yet diverse country on the east of the Mediterranean, home to 9 million people, 5 geographical regions and a destination like no other. From the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to the Holy City of Jerusalem. Tel Aviv, the ‘Mediterranean capital of cool’, and the Galilee, the rich in Natural beauty and biblical importance. The Negev Desert, one of the world’s most friendly deserts, and Eliat, a Red City resort with year round sun. Nearby, Petra, one of the 7 Wonders of the World, and the magic of Jordan. Israel is a fashionable and in demand destination, with growing flight connections, cultural exports including Jerusalem’s famous food scene and Tel Aviv’s famous nightlife.

Israel Cuisine

Because settlers came to Israel from all over the world, Israel food is an electric mix of various food ideologies fused with Middle Eastern flair, with high quality fresh produce grown in Israel. Despite originating in Egypt, falafel has been perfected in Israel and can be found on almost every street corner. Other Middle Eastern inspired food that has been perfected in Israel include hummus, shwarma and shalshooka which is a concoction of tomatoes, onions, garlic as well as crucial spices such as sweet paprika. In the last 20 years, Israel has been making a name for itself in the wine world despite the region having not made wine since biblical times. Quality wines are produced in the Golan Heights region as well as Galilee and the Judean Hills. There are now over 300 wineries in Israel producing both Kosher and non Kosher wine varieties.

Weather in Israel

Given Israel’s geographical location, the north and western coastal regions experience a Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot dry summers with maximum temperatures of about 30 degree Celsius and cooler winters with the possibility of some rainfalls, mainly December and February. the eastern and southern regions experience a more arid, typically Middle Eastern climate, with very hot summers with temperatures reaching around 40 degrees Celsius and warm winters of around 20 degree Celsius with negligible rainfall.

THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA!

Tel Aviv is a thrilling hub serving as Israel’s business, financial and cultural centre – a hedonistic nirvana like no other, a playground of self expression and a city pulsing with energy and historical tales, set amid flashes of contemporary design. Defined as the ‘city that never sleeps’ , the city is celebrated for its liberal spirit, youthful vibrancy and as a destination that flourishes with beachfront activities, alluring markets and effervescent nightlife. Tel Aviv is an area ideal for sightseeing, vacation and soaking up in the city’s warmth. Whether for fine art, culture, the endless opportunity for shopping, extraordinary dining or buzzing nightlife, the non-stop has it all. Visitors can soak up in the sun, splash in the ocean, dine out at any time, party all night and enjoy a host of social interactions during their stay.

Herzliya

For those interested in a more laid back experience, but with all the advantages of Tel Aviv close at hand, Herzliya, just a short ride up the Mediterranean Coast, is an ideal selection of all visitors, especially for families in the summer. Located in one the country’s most luxurious districts, adjacent to some of Israel’s finest resort hotels, its white sandy beaches are a treat. The Herzeliya Marina, located in the southern part of Herzaliya on the Mediterranean coast, and reflective of the French Riviera, is the largest marina in Israel an excellent option as a venue for all types of special events. Adjacent to the marina, is a popular Arena mall, for shopping, dining and entertainment centre. For those who wish to hike, the Apollonia National park, located north of the city, an idyllic spot for all types of hikers and offers a breath-taking view of the coast from the lookout point.

Jaffa

A magical ancient city where you can spend hours exploring the markets, wandering the galleries and dining at the port at a fish restaurant serving the catch of the day, among other local delights. A blend of religions and cultural beliefs, Jaffa has become the trendiest sports for shopping and eating out. Many of its focal tourism areas are the famed flea market, Old Jaffa central square and the ancient port. Jaffa is popular at nights, when the balmy Mediterranean air is tempered by sea breezes, tourists enjoy strolling through the alleyways, stopping off at a café restaurant or night club.

WHAT TO SEE:

THE SEA: Tel Aviv has a 14km stretch of 13 beaches which are buzz year round with activity, especially during the summer months, when many visitors across the globe and locals descend onto the shore’s promenade.

THE CITY BREAK TREND: City break has become a big trend across Europe, with the Israel Ministry of Tourism expanding its promotion across cities. Given the breadth of entertainment and activities options, visitors can easily spend a week soaking up the sun on the beaches and exploring its culinary and nightlife spots.

GREEN LUNGS: Tel Aviv parks and expanses of green are a real enjoyment four tourists and locals alike, who can spend the entire day among the green pastures of fresh air. Endless attractions to suit all tastes are available across the park, including kayaking, pedal boating, outdoor games, jogging, cycling and bird watching.

MUSEUMS: As befits a modern Israel city with an ancient past, Tel Aviv has a number of fine museums dedicated to various aspects of Jewish culture and history.

WHITE CITY: Coined the ‘white city’ due to its cluster of 4000 Bauhaus style buildings lining the city’s streets, this Tel Aviv assortment of buildings was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The boulevard is a popular district brimming with activity from day to night along the 1.5km stretch that connects Hibima Square to Neve Tzedek in south Tel Aviv.

NIGHTLIFE: After midnight, the serious night life begins, as Tel Aviv’s younger residents and visitors flock to the dance clubs in south Tel Aviv and around Allenby street.

Weave yourself into the colourful narrative of History, in the region that has captivated the world for 3500 years, the birthplace of faith, the stage of biblical drama, a collage of cultures and religions, and the pace where Israel’s modern history began. Experience the new and the old, ancient history and modern hotels, visitors centres, hot springs and spas, exciting water sports and walking tours, breath-taking nature and scenery, exquisite fine dining and tasty street food, colourful markets, sacred tombs of the sages, Christian Holy sites and much more. Tiberius and the Sea of Galilee has it all – your complete tourist destination.

WHAT TO SEE:

BERENIKI MOUNTAIN: towering over the Roman City of Tiberius and accessible from a gravel road, the mountain road bears the ruins of an ancient church and monastery. It provides an excellent panoramic view of the Roman Site, the Golan Heights, the Sea of Galilee and the present day bustling city of Tiberius.

TOMBS OF THE SAGES: Tiberius is the burial place of several sages, including Maimonides, Rabbi Yachana Ben Zakai, Rabbi Meir Baal Haness, Rabbi Akiva,Rabbi Yachanan Ben Nafcha, Rabbi Mosche Haim Luzatto, the tomb of the Matriarchs, the tomb of Rabbi Chiye and his sons and many more.

JEWISH COURT: Etz HaHaim (Tree of Life) synagogue, built by Rabbi Haim Abulafia, one of the 18th century group of people responsible for reviving the Jewish settlement in Tiberius; Karlin Hassidic synagogue, founded by Rabbi Shmuel Hacohen in the 19th century.

MOUNT OF BEATITUDES: according to Christian tradition, this is the site where Jesus gave his famous “Sermon on the Mount”, known in Hebrew as Har HaOsher.

TABGHA: the site where Jesus performed the miracle of the fish and loaves. The site is also called Ein Sheva because of the 7 flowing springs in the area. The church is built on top of the remains of a church from the 5th century, with a magnificent mosaic floor.

“JESUS BOAT” -Yigal Allon Museum: a unique ancient wooden boat from the period of Jesus, found in the area.

CHURCH OF APOSTOLES: the Greek Orthodox Church located in Capernaum.

CAPERNAUM: remains of a Jewish fisherman village and a glorious Jewish Synagogue built of lime stone. One of the homes is identified as the home of Petrus, who was one of Jesus’ Apostles. Jesus made the village the centre of all his activities where he performed his greetings, blessings, preaching and healing.

YADERNIT: a baptismal site located on the Jordan River.

Welcome to Eliat, the beautiful resort city at the southern most tip of Israel, where the desert meets the sea, the Red Mountains touch the crystal clear water of the Red Sea, and the underwater world is as fascinating as the life up on the beach.

Attractions in Eilat

Eilat, the year round sunny holiday resort, offers its visitors a variety of attractions, from Jeep tours in the desert to sea sport activities and from diving to shopping. Eilat has many unique attractions; the Underwater Observatory, Dolphin Reef, Kings City, WOW SHOW- an international entertainment show, Ice Park, The Max 3D and many more. Whether you come alone, with a partner or with a family, you will always leave the city after experiencing activities you have always dreamed of doing.

Action in Eliat

Eliat’s perfect weather conditions, especially during the frozen European winter season, offers the ultimate destination for visitors who seek to combine their holidays desert tours, sea sport activities or just have rest on the beautiful beaches of the Red Sea. Dozens of diving centres, sea sport clubs and desert tour companies offers the most professional services for visitors who come to Eilat to enjoy diving, gliding or riding Jeeps in the desert, in a place where the red mountains, the blue sea and the yellow desert blend together to create the fascinating city of Eilat.

Events in Eilat

Eilat enjoys wonderful weather conditions all year round making it a great venue for international sports competitions, festivals and events. Local tourism organisations also contribute and aid in developing these events and festivals which draw thousands of domestic and international visitors to the city each year. The Jazz Festival, Classical Music Festival, Triathlon, Iron Man and women’s tennis are a list of just a few of the annual events and festivals that takes place in Eilat.

Haifa has a spectacular scenery, a unique combination of the green Carmel forests, the blue sea and the long beaches, attractions like the Baha’i Gardens, Elijah’s Cave and wonderful observation points. Street parties and performances, unique pubs and clubs featuring trend music along alongside galleries and workshops of artist. From a small Jewish community to a modern city, Haifa is today’s Israel’s third largest city.

WHAT TO SEE:

Tourist Synagogue:

Is located in a beautiful Templer building. Twice a week during the entire year, visitors can sit together in a Hasidic gathering, listen to Hasidic tales, soul music, secrets of the Torah and Kaballah, drink a toast and nibble on Jerusalem Kugel and request a blessing from the Lubavitcher rebbe.

Baha’i Gardens:

Built by the members of the Baha’i faith who consider Mt Carmel a holy place, the Baha’i Gardens may be Haifa’s most famous attraction. At the centre of this beautiful meticulously maintained gardens, stands the Shrine of the Bab, the burial place of the religion’s founder, whose golden dome is reminiscent of a fantasy movie. The gardens offer splendid views of the Haifa Bay, the Galilee and the Mediterranean. The Baha’i Gardens are a holy place and visitors are asked to be modestly dressed, to keep the place clean and respect its special character.

Haifa Great Synagogue:

Despite Haifa’s popular image as a secular workers city, the city has a diverse religious population. It has an elegant Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) and a main prayer area with wooden beams and its open to worshippers all day long. The area outside the entrance has columns and arches are replica of the ten commandments and a pair of stone lions. Its an impressive building, attracting worshipers from the entire region.

Elijah’s Cave:

The Prophet Elijah’s cave, located above the Bat Galim neighbourhood and at the foot of the Stella Maris observation point, is one of the areas’ most important famous and revered locations, enhancing Haifa’s importance to the Jewish. Christians, Muslims and Druse religions . Magical qualities and healing powers attributed to the place by thousands of pilgrims who visit it, many of whom also take oaths on the spot. Muslims call the place Al-Hader, the Green. In scriptures left by previuos visitors cover the cave wall, as well as one text by a Roman soldier named Germanos. Some scholars believe that the cave was headquarters of the “Oracle of Carmel”, while Christian consider it holy because Jesus and his family may have taken refuge in it from King Herod.

Haifa Educational Zoo:

is situated in the heart of the city- in Central Carmel, the Zoo is home to more than 100 animal species, including rare species such as Bengal tigers, leopards and caracal wild cats. Cohen was Haifa’s first nature teacher and one of the founders of the legendary of the Reali School and the organisation that eventually gave birth to the society for the preservation of nature in Israel. The Zolohiya, in the Biological Institute Building, is home to dozens of species of snake native to Israel and from the rest of the world, plus several varieties of lizards and tortoise. Kids really enjoy themselves at the petting corner, hugging and taking photos with the animals such as goats, rabbits and hamsters and many others.

Hai Bar Carmel Nature Reserve:

Unlike zoos, the Hai Bar on the Carmel is dedicated to raising and then returning to nature and endangered animal species or those who have become extinct in the natural habitats for natural reasons, over the last 200 years. For that reason, the animal population of the reserve is relatively small, including mammals, predatory birds and amphibians. Hai Bar’s rich Mediterranean forest is also home to brought to Israel as part of a search for animals mentioned in the Bible and in the diaries of travelers who visited the land of Israel over the last few hundred years.

Jerusalem is a place where they integrate tradition with development, and holiness with secularism in an extraordinary way. Its a place where just by crossing the street you can keep from the modern life of the 21st century to a place lost in time. The hometown of prophets and kings, and holy to three monotheistic religions whose believers make up half of the world’s population. Walking around Jerusalem is like stepping into a time machine, here you can spend the morning following in the footsteps of the Bible and spend your evening dining or enjoying a live contemporary music or dance show. The Capital of Israel, Jerusalem is also its largest city and home to some of the best museums, cultural institutions and restaurants in the country.

The Old City

Aside from being one of the holiest places in the world, Jerusalem’s old city is saturated with historical significance and panoramic views. Its awe-inspiring diversity should not be missed.

The Main Gates:

The current walls of the Old City were built in 1538 under the Muslim Ottoman Empire and the Turkish sultan Suleman. The walls are approximately 4.5 km (2.8 miles), and a height between 5 and 15 metres, with a thickness of three metres. When you visit Jerusalem, you will be entering through one of its seven gates known as Damascus gate, Lion’s gate, Zion’s gate, Jaffa gate, Dung gate and the Mercy Gate, which is sealed off, awaiting the arrival of the Messiah.

Jewish Quarter:

During king Herod’s time, the quarter was an elegant residential neighborhood populated principally by Jewish priests and noble families. The quarter contains many sites including the Western wall, the Temple Mount tunnels, City of David, the Cardo,the Burnt House and synagogues of which the best known is Hurva.

Tower of David:

The Tower of David is located to the entrance to the Old City near Jaffa Gate, is the name given to the citadel that protected Jerusalem for thousand of years. Located at the Old City’s highest point, the citadel was a strategic asset in the defense of Jerusalem from the West.

The Western Wall:

The Western Wall is the western supporting wall of the Temple Mount Plaza, has survived since the days of King Herod and has been the holiest place for Judaism for two millennia. It attracts millions of tourists each year and thousands of worshipers each day, arriving around the clock. Visitors often place small slips of paper with various prayer requests written on them between the stones of the wall.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre:

This is the Christianity’s most important church, located at the centre of the Old City’s Christian Quarter. According to tradition, it is the place that Jesus was crucified by Roman soldiers on the eve of Passover, after an early-morning trial by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, Jesus was buried and then resurrected two days later. Lit from above facing the entrance inside the church is the Stone of Anointment. On the left is a structure, the tomb of Jesus, where the ‘holy fire’ comes down from the skies every year to the patriarch’s torch. The original cross, carried by Jesus is also there.

Eastern Jerusalem

Garden Tomb:

The Garden Tomb is believed by many to be the garden and sepulcher of Joseph of Arimathea, and therefore a possible site for the resurrection of Jesus. it is a quite, charming place, preserved for worship and reflection.

Bible Lands Museum:

Containing one of the most important collections of antiquities, this museum gives biblical stories an entirely new dimension. Exhibits are arranged chronologically, granting the visitor a clear understanding of how various cultures evolved and interacted with one another. The collection features many beautiful works from ancient Egypt, Syria, Anatolia, Mesopotamia and Persia. The wide variety of objects includes ancient inscriptions, jewelry, mosaics, seals, ivory carvings and scarabs.

Yad Vashem:

Situated on Jerusalem’s mount of Remembrance, Yad vashem comprises of indoor museums,and outdoor monuments, exhibitions, memorial sites, gardens, and world class research and education centres. All to explore the history of the Shoah, and commemorate its victims. You are invited to experience the Holocaust History Museum, discover the Museum of the Holocaust Art, visit the Children,s memorial and walk through the Avenue of the Righteous among the Nations.

Garden of Gethsemane:

A peaceful garden among a grove of ancient olive trees, the garden is the best known as the place where Jesus prayed his last prayer. Located at the foot of Mt of Olives, within the walled grounds of the Church of All Nations, the Garden of Gethsemane still contains dozens of ancient olive trees that date approximately 2000 years ago