One Week in Holy Land

What You Should Know Before Going On A Holy Land Tour

So, you have decided you want to make a trip to visit the Holy Land. You’re curious about what all these trips entail? What the weather will be like? What are the must see destinations?

What are the countries of the Holy Land?

countries that are in the Holy Land are Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Territories. Most Holy Land tours run somewhere between one week and two, depending on the route. If you’re going for a week long visit, most trips start and end in Tel Aviv, a modern city on the beautiful Mediterranean, or in the historic city of Jerusalem.

Common stops on the tour include The Dead Sea, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jaffa, and Masada. When people think of visiting the Holy Land, they think of visiting the Basilica of the Annunciation, built on top of the Virgin Mary’s home where the announcement of the birth of her son took place. People dream of a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, or floating in the salty Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth.

Spend a morning strolling through the historic city of Jerusalem, filled with cobblestone streets, complete with a visit to the Western Wall, and an afternoon following Via Dolorosa, following the path Jesus took on his way to his crucifixion. Depending on the Holy Land tour you select, there are some with easy/light physical activity, as well as some with more strenuous activities.

What is the weather like in the Holy Land?

The weather will depend on what time of year you go. While it’s always a good time to visit the Holy Land, winters are rainy and can start off chilly, but by afternoon, you could be able to go out without a jacket. In January, the weather in Jerusalem averages around 54 degrees F. Tel Aviv is a bit warmer, with a January average of 64 degrees, and about ten days of rain. Similar weather is likely if you visit the Dead Sea, with winter averages of low 70s.

Summers are peak travel season, filled with hot and dry days. Averages in Jerusalem from June-September range from highs in the mid 80s, with lows in the high 60s. Jerusalem averages 0 days of rain during this period. You will have similar weather in Tel Aviv, but nights are a bit warmer, averaging low-mid 70s.

As most tours visit the Dead Sea, it’s important to point out that summers are extremely hot. Averages are in the upper 90’s, and often times exceed 100 degrees F. Many people still make the trip with this heat, but it’s necessary to come prepared with proper protection from the deep sun, including hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

Spring and Fall are good times to visit as well, getting between season weather. While you will still average mid 80’s to low 90s in the Fall (September-November) if you visit the Dead Sea, Spring is a nice time to visit, with March and April averages in the high 70’s-low 80’s. Tel Aviv averages mid 70s in the Spring, and mid-70’s to mid-80s in the Fall. Both periods average between 2-5 days of rain during Spring and Fall months. Expect similar rain fall in Jerusalem, but a bit cooler weather, with averages in the 60’s-70s in Spring and Fall.

Is it safe to visit the Holy Land?

Yes, it is Safe to visit the Holy Land. Over 3.6 million people visited the Holy Land in 2017! Booking group tours is a great way to ease your mind, knowing that you are in good hands with professional tour guides who know the ins and outs of the city. Tour guides can provide insider tips that you may not find on your own! As with any travel, take precautions such as not flashing your money around, and not wearing expensive jewelry.

Local language

It never hurts to learn a few phrases in the local language before you take off. Some common Hebrew phrases include:

Hello/Good-bye (literally, “peace”) shalom

Good morning! yom tov / boker tov 

Good evening! → erev tov

Good night! → laíla tov

Good bye/See you again!l → ehitra’ot 

Yes → ken

No/not → lo 

Please/you're welcome →bevakasha 

Thank you → toda

Excuse me/sorry→slee’ha

How much does it cost? → kama zeh oleh 

Where is the restroom? →eifo ha-sherutim

Do you speak English? → atah medaber anglit (Males)/at medaberet anglit (Females)

Other crucial information for visiting the Holy Land

Bank information

Israel uses the New Israeli Shekel (NIS), and bills come in 200, 100, 50, and 20 shekels. Coins come in shekels of 1, 2, 5, and 10, and 50 and 10 agurot (also known as our cents). One shekel is equal to 100 agurot.

The most important tip is to remember that international travel can differ from what you are accustomed to. This isn’t anything to worry about; that’s why we travel. Travel opens up the opportunity to open our mind-  learn new perspectives, new cultures, try new food. Israel heavily focuses on political and spiritual opinions, which may be an unknown territory for those who have not spent time in the area. Use this travel as a learning experience.