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Aerial view of the Old City of Jerusalem with view of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Israel.
Old City of Jerusalem
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Israel

The Holy Land

Israel Tours and Vacation Packages

Discover ancient ruins, vibrant cities, and unique landscapes on your trip to Israel.

Despite its modest size, Israel is one of the most culturally and religiously significant nations in the world. This compact country is sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River and packed with an amazing variety of attractions for travellers. It is steeped in fascinating history and bursting with religious interest, while maintaining Western comforts and lifestyles. Geographically, it is made up of the coast, mountains, valleys and desert. Every tree you see was planted in a country where they did not naturally grow.

Chief among its attractions is Jerusalem, one of the holiest cities in the world. Home to three religions, it is one of the oldest cities in the world. Nearby Bethlehem in the West Bank as well as other biblical centres add to the country's religious aura. But it's not just for religious travellers. Tel Aviv is a rapidly growing metropolis on the Mediterranean with good shopping, restaurants, nightlife, and excellent beaches. A side trip to the old scenic port of Jaffa is well worthwhile on travel to Israel. The Dead Sea and Ein Gedi Nature Reserve offer natural highlights, while historical travellers will want to visit the mountaintop fortress of Masada or Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee.

At a Glance

Population

9,196,002

Languages

Hebrew

Currency

Israeli New Shekel (ILS)

Capital

Jerusalem

Places To Go

Handcrafted journeys to our most popular places to visit in Israel

01

Jerusalem

Jerusalem skyline at sunset, Israel
02

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv skyline with views of Bograshov Beach along promenade
03

Golan Heights

Nimrod Fortress Ruins overlooking Golan galilee and banias
04

Dead Sea

Colourful image of the famously salty waters
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Exploring Israel is a Journey into the Soul

It's hard to overstate the religious and cultural significance of Israel. Its biblical history makes it the Holy Land for Christians, Muslims, and Jews, its geographic location and cultural history make it central to Jewish and Arab culture, and its strong relationships with Western nations make it something of a modern standout in a typically traditional region. But the appeal of a trip to Israel goes beyond the history. This is a nation where the very stones themselves seem alive with a spiritual pull that's palpable from the moment you arrive.

Floating in salty water of Dead Sea and reading newspaper

The Culture

Israelis tend to be quite informal. This is expressed in the dress code of the country which is very casual. The exception is when visiting religious sites. In these instances, modest attire is required. More upscale restaurants and nightclubs may require smarter dress. When visiting a home, normal courtesies should be observed. The expression shalom (peace) is often used for hello and goodbye interchangeably.

The Shabbat (Saturday) forbids smoking in certain restaurants and many hotels. This is always very well-marked and indicated, therefore, to ignore this would be considered very rude to Orthodox Jews.

Hebrew is the official language in Israel while Arabic is used officially for the Arab population. English is the most widely spoken foreign language due to the fact that it is a compulsory school subject.

The majority of the people in Israel are Jewish making up approximately 80% of the population. A further 18% of the population is Muslim, while the remaining population belongs to Christian and Druze minorities.

 

Travel Stories

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