Israel Tours

Spring is one of the most popular times to visit Israel as the country falls into full-bloom after the winter rains, leaving behind breath-taking scenery. Summer temperatures can be uncomfortable which is why it is recommended to do activities, such as hiking, early in the morning, however, Israel offers excellent beach weather in the area of Tel-Aviv and rain is extremely rare.

Autumn provides similar temperatures to Spring. In October, the rainy season starts and continues throughout the season. During Winter, the amount of rain is moderate and at high altitudes, one can often find snowfall - particularly in the north.

For real-time information about Israel's weather patterns, visit Accuweather.

• Jerusalem - Synonymous for being a city sacred for millennia to the three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
  
• Akko (Acre) - Boasting an ancient walled port town and UNESCO World Heritage site which is home to multiple religions, namely: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Bahá'í, and Druze.
  
• Beer Sheva - The capital of the Negev Region.
  
• Eilat - A vibrant resort city known as the ‘Goa of the Middle East and Israel’s window to the Red Sea.
  
• Haifa - Home to the Shrine of the Báb and Terraces and the German Quarter, Haifa is the center of the Bahá'í Faith.
  
• Nazareth - The largest Arab city in Israel, famous for being the hometown of Jesus Christ, now the largest Arab city in Israel.

• Jerusalem - Synonymous for being a city sacred for millennia to the three religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
• Akko (Acre) - Boasting an ancient walled port town and UNESCO World Heritage site which is home to multiple religions, namely: Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Bahá'í, and Druze.
• Beer Sheva - The capital of the Negev Region.
• Eilat - A vibrant resort city known as the ‘Goa of the Middle East and Israel’s window to the Red Sea.
• Haifa - Home to the Shrine of the Báb and Terraces and the German Quarter, Haifa is the center of the Bahá'í Faith.
• Nazareth - The largest Arab city in Israel, famous for being the hometown of Jesus Christ, now the largest Arab city in Israel.

The official and most spoken language of Israel is Hebrew. Approximately 20% of the population are Israeli-Arabs who speak Arabic as well.

Arabic was formerly the official language up until 2018. However, English is the most widely spoken foreign language and Israelis study English in school from an early age. The older generation of Israelis are generally less fluent in English and therefore some knowledge of Hebrew will come in handy.

Falafel has become the official food of Israel and consists of small fried balls of mashed chickpeas, usually served with pita bread, salads and hummus. This is a relatively cheap lunch and can cost as little as ?10-15.

Another popular food is the Shawarma which consists of sliced meat, served inside a pita.

Hummus is also a popular food, made from creamed chickpeas, tahina, lemon and olive oil and often served with pita bread for dipping. Several restaurants which specialize in Hummus offer creative toppings such as: chickpeas, mushrooms, minced meat, fava beans and more.

Falafel has become the official food of Israel and consists of small fried balls of mashed chickpeas, usually served with pita bread, salads and hummus. This is a relatively cheap lunch and can cost as little as ?10-15.

Another popular food is the Shawarma which consists of sliced meat, served inside a pita.

Hummus is also a popular food, made from creamed chickpeas, tahina, lemon and olive oil and often served with pita bread for dipping. Several restaurants which specialize in Hummus offer creative toppings such as: chickpeas, mushrooms, minced meat, fava beans and more.

Head over to Wikipedia for more information about Israel's cuisine.

The best tours to Israel depends entirely on your budget and how long you want to spend in the country. At Encounters Travel we offer a wide range of tours to Israel – from small group tours to shoestring, and tailor-made.

All nationalities don’t require a visa when travelling to Israel - Israel an agreements in place with 65 countries where no visa is required and entrance is allowed on the production of a valid passport.

The following countries are exempted:

Africa: Central African Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland
Asia: Japan, Georgia, Mongolia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Taiwan.

Europe: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Republic of Slovak, Ukraine

Pacific: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, New Zealand, Republic of Palau, Tonga Vanuatu

The Americas: Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, The Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, The Bahamas, The Dominican Republic, Uruguay, U.S.A.

Israel to contrary belief is a very safe country to travel to - crime rates are low compared to many other countries.

The risk from hostile war-related activities to anyone traveling within Israel itself is very low and highly unlikely. Overall, you’re probability of being safe in Israel is about the same as travelling to any other country.

How much it will cost to travel in and around Israel depends on your preferences and how you want to spend your time in Israel.

If you want to travel on an budget in Israel, you should budget for at least 30-40 USD a day – this includes accommodation, some transportation, attractions, and of course, food.

As a western country, travel in Israel does cost more than in the rest of the Middle East.

A tour in Israel for one week usually starts around $1850 per person. So, a trip to Israel for two people costs about double that amount but, bare in mind that the amount you spend on a tour is dependent on the type of tour you choose to take.

You can visit Israel practically any time of year – you’re unlikely to encounter bad weather or particularly bitter temperatures.

Israel tours are popular in the shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. In spring, north Israel displays its diverse flora, and wildflowers carpet the hillsides. By summer, the temperature in the low-lying areas get really hot – the Dead Sea and the Red Sea can see heat in the 40°Cs.

Whenever you decide to go, check the calendar: Israel’s social diary is crammed with various religious festivals all year round.

Israel is an all year round travel destination and its highly plus you are unlikely to encounter any bad weather or uncomfortable temperatures.

Whenever you do decide to travel to Egypt, you should check the social calendar - Israel’s social diary is filled with various religious festivals all year round.