10 MUST-DO activities for a memorable trip to the Holy Land…and side trip to Petra!

Just get off the couch and get your religion on in Israel! Hiking, history, and hummus!

“Israel is slightly smaller than New Jersey. Moses in effect led the tribes of Israel out of the District of Columbia, parted the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, and wandered for forty years in Delaware”

-P.J. O’Rourke

Israel is a super small country, with approximately 9 million people within its borders. Therefore, you can drive from North to South in about 6 hours. Due to its small size, you can easily see and do ALOT with a bit of planning. So lets go! There is so much going on here!

Good info to know before you go:

Should you rent a car?

Israel is a modern country, with smooth roads and a vast infrastructure. It is not the "Middle East" that you see in the news. Renting a car here is easy if you want to make the most of your trip. Just keep in mind that some car rental agencies may not be open on Friday, the Sabbath Day. Be sure to check hours at the facilities you plan on renting from. (Most airports locations ARE open on Fridays.) Additionally, there are areas that may not be safe to drive. Waze Israel can guide you through the “safe” neutral zones. The rental car company may be able to provide a device that differentiates the route as well. Check on this before you commit to renting a car.

Do you need a guide?

We typically hire a guide when we are in a third world country, if there is a significant language barrier, or the roads/infrastructure are difficult to navigate. None of these applied here! However, we decided to hire a guide in Israel for two reasons:

There is SO much to see and we had a limited amount of time. The guide could facilitate our travels quickly and efficiently

Due to the unrest in the Middle East, we thought it in our best interest to travel with a local guide to navigate the travel Zones (Zones A, B,and C), which are navigable only if you are of a certain ethnicity. We rented a car, but he drove.

We used http://IsraelTravelCompany.com to work with us. We would recommend this company, however, I would not recommend our guide. Please feel free to contact us directly for further information. We used this company for the entirety of our 10 day trip. They can help put together an itinerary, but be clear on the types of activities you want to do and the places you want to see.

10 MUST-DO Activities for Active Travelers

Float in the Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is a salt lake bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, and its main tributary is the Jordan River.

Its surface and shores are 430.5 metres (1,412 ft) below sea level, Earth's lowest elevation on land. It is 304 m (997 ft) deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. It is approximately 38% salt, which allows you to float freely on the surface of the water. It is so fun!



The public beach area is typically touristy. There is a spa, Dead Sea Salt Store, or hotel on every block. (How many stores can possibly sell salt?) However, we did not find it terribly busy or annoying during late October. I would expect the summer months are waaaaaay more crowded.

By the way- you do NOT swim in the Dead Sea, you just float! You can also paddle board or kayak to do something more interesting while there. Check out :https://israel-extreme.com/sites/dead-sea-boating-and-kayaking/ to plan your adventure! If you choose to just float around-be sure to sweep the surface of the sand in the Dead Sea. You can get your hands on some really large chunks of salt deposits to bring home for a souvenir!

Paddle board in the Red Sea

The Red Sea, located on the southern tip of Israel, contains some of the world’s hottest and saltiest seawater. With its connection to the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, it is one of the most heavily traveled waterways in the world, carrying maritime traffic between Europe and Asia. Its name is derived from the color changes observed in its waters. Normally, the Red Sea is an intense blue-green; occasionally, however, it is populated by extensive blooms of the algae Trichodesmium erythraeum, which, upon dying off, turn the sea a reddish brown colour. Its a beautiful destination to check out, surrounded by mountains!

We stopped at the Red Sea in Eliat when we returned our rental car at the airport. (This location was NOT open due to it being the Sabbath, but we were able to leave the car and put our keys in a drop box.)

Eliat is a typical beach resort town. But take a break, go paddle boarding, and enjoy Israels fabulous summer-like weather! Coral Beach is a great place to start. Check out: https://eilat.city/en/sup for the most up-to-date pricing and directions. There is also wonderful hiking in the Eilat Mountains- take the Red Canyon Shuttle to easily get to the trailhead. There is also some of the worlds best diving here, with gorgeous coral reefs to explore.

Tour the Old City of Jerusalem

This is where I would ABSOLUTELY recommend having a local guide. There is SO much to see and SO many tourists, it can be quite daunting, exhausting, and frustrating! Besides, there is such historical significance within the walls of the city that an educated narrative from your local Israeli guide is a must! Remember to bring paper and a pen to write a note for the Wailing Wall. Also, dress modestly, in pants or a long skirt, if you plan on entering any of the temples or mosques. It is not a necessity, but you certainly do not want to be turned away from a place you want to see. Keep those Daisy Dukes at home, ladies! Wear comfortable shoes, too. I believe we walked 9 miles that day! (The picture below is at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher- believed to be the place where Jesus’ body was laid before he was buried.)

Visit Yad Vashem in Jerusalem

If you have any feelings about the Holocaust then this is your place! Wow. No words. You can reserve an english speaking tour online on Fridays at 10am for about $20 and hear about the plight of the Jews during WWII. It is sad and fascinating to hear the stories of survival and perseverance. Afterward, head to the triangular opening that looks upon the land that Israelis are trying to preserve as their own.

Take a camel ride overlooking the Ramon Crater

The Ramon Crater in Israel’s Negev Desert is the world’s largest erosion crater or makhtesh. The Crater measures 40km in length and between 2 and 10km in width, shaped like a long heart, and forms Israel’s largest national park, the Ramon Nature Reserve. It is breathtaking to see, and a little scary to walk up to the edge, with no barrier, on the back of a camel! Afterward you can have a campfire dinner under 3 million stars and sleep in a bedouin camp. Enjoy!

Enjoy the waterfront and nightlife in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a fantastic old, yet modern city! Check out Jaffa, where the lively street scene will keep your belly happy and your booty buzzing all night long. The nightlife gets a late start, so be warned. If you are as Salty as we are, a good nights sleep is necessary to get an early start to bike in this fabulous town! Cycling has become a huge sport here- so if you are an avid cyclist there is no issue renting a road bike. The novice can rent a townie beach cruiser and do a quick 5k roundtrip ride along the waterfront.

Hike up to Masada, the mountain fortress
Masada is a rugged natural fortress, of majestic beauty, in the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It was built by Herod the Great, King of Judaea. This Unesco World Heritage site sits atop a huge mountain right next to the Dead Sea. The camps, fortifications and attack ramp that encircle the monument constitute the most complete Roman siege works surviving to the present day.

You can easily access the mountain top fortress via a cable car, which connects the visitor center with the summit.

A much more adventurous option is to hike up to the summit! Lace up those boots and get moving! The Masada Snake Path, at the West entrance, is one of the most iconic hikes in Israel. The Snake Path winds its way up approximately 400 meters from the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea. It then continues to the peak where archaeological remains tell a story of heroism and endurance, and magnificent views of the Dead Sea and the Moab Mountains of Jordan on the other side, can be enjoyed. The hike is approximately 2.7 km with a 350m climb. Be warned...it is loaded with tourists because it is just a moderate incline with switchbacks.

A second option is The Roman Ramp, off the Masada West Entrance. To speed up the overtaking of Masada (73 AD), the Romans built a ramp that led from the western cliff to the Masada wall. It is by far the easiest way to climb to Masada by foot. However, access by car to the west side is much longer, and it is not served with public transportation. Bonus: there are few tourists here. It is a 50m hike, but offers little in the way of a sense of achievement when the hike is done- other than reaching the top of Masada! If you want a real, full day hike with rewarding views, take the Elazar Path. It won't disappoint.

For the Yogi's out there- a unique Masada Sunrise experience offers travelers a hike via the Snake Path and a private yoga practice atop the mountain. Check out the Masada Sunrise Yoga, Ein Gedi Oasis, and Dead Sea Wellness Experience Tour which offers an unforgettable experience. This is so cool! Namaste, my friends...

Explore the underground tunnels in The Old City of Jerusalem

The most famous tunnel in the area is Hezekiah’s Tunnel. The tunnels were constructed to bring water to the people within the city walls, especially if the city was under siege. The tunnels are even recognized in the Bible: “the acts of Hezekiah and all his might, and how he made the pool and conduit, and brought water into the city” (2 Kings 20:20). There are three tunnel systems that you can walk through: the other two underground systems in the area are Solomon's Quarries and Solomon's Stables. There is more than a mile (two kilometers) of pathways beneath the city where you can escape the crowds under most of the city’s major historical attractions. Who knows, maybe you will find Solomon's long lost treasure while you are down there!!

To get to the entrance of Hezekiah's tunnel, walk from Dung Gate, head east (downhill) and take the road to the right; you'll find the entrance on the left. At the visitors center, you can watch a 15-minute 3D movie about the city. Of course, there's a shop where you can buy overpriced snacks, drinks and water (in summer, you'll need it) and a cafe serving sandwiches, pastries and coffee.

There are lockers (for a price- about 2 bucks) if you want to change shoes or clothes....because the tunnels are filled with water! I wore flip flops and shorts and had no problem walking through the water on the stone surface. But if you are claustrophobic this may be scary for you! The water is about knee deep at the very beginning and at the end, (up to your ankles the rest of the way) and it is completely dark the entire way through. (There are also dry tunnels if you prefer not to get wet.) I wore a head lamp, but key chain lights can be purchased from the ticket office for $5.

Get to the ticket office at 8am when it opens. We were first in line, and had the tunnel completely to ourselves. (Imagine if you are in the tunnel behind a group of terrified teenage girls screaming wildly and jamming up the line of people behind them...again, get there early! It will be a much better experience for you!) Don't worry-you cannot get lost if you are the first people to enter the tunnel- there is only one way out! But, if you freak out in tight spaces, you cannot turn around. I am 5'4" tall, 120lb. and walked through standing upright ALMOST the whole way. It is about shoulder width wide.

Note that the entrance fee ($8 approximately) covers admission to the underground areas of the site (Warren's Shaft, Hezekiah’s Tunnel, the Pool of Siloam, Temple Road Ascent); admission should be free if you only explore above-ground areas.

Hike Wadi Prat (Wadi Qelt in Arabic) Nature Reserve

This is a great way to get out of the touristy areas and explore nature.

It is located about 20k or 30 minutes east of Jerusalem off Road 437 in an Israeli Settlement, Kfar Adumim in Palestinian Territory.

We drove to the trailhead and had a Palestinian cab pick us up to take us to the beginning of the hike, at the Nature Reserve entrance. You can get a National Park pass (about $40) if you plan on hiking more than one park, or pay the entrance fee for Wadi Ein Prat.

Wadi Prat is one of the most exciting hikes in hikes in Israel! There are so many things to see: The Faran Monastery, Ein Prat Spring, the Old Aqueducts, deep pools for swimming and dramatic desert scenery. Follow the Red trail markers for a fabulous hike in the Judaean desert!

It is a moderate hike that is approximately 9km long. Of course you can shorten the hike by walking out and back instead of hiking the whole trail. There is some scrambling, use of metal rungs drilled into the rock face, and streams to cross- so come prepared. Wear hi-top, Gore Tex hikers to protect your feet and ankles. You are in the desert, so bring plenty of water and snacks. We prefer gluten free Honey Stingers Waffles (https://www.amazon.com/Stinger-Gluten-Variety-Sampler-FLAVORS/dp/B075XSY4PJ) for a delicious, quick calorie load!

Not surprisingly, the stream you hike along, Chorath or Cherath, is mentioned in the Bible in 1 Kings 17:3 as one of the hiding places of the prophet Elijah. This has been identified by some as St. George's Monastery.

A tradition holds that the parents of the Virgin Mary prayed in Wadi Qelt to be blessed with a child. A Cave of St. Anne, inhabited by hermits until a few decades ago, is connected to this tradition.

Summer hours: Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 08:00 – 17:00, Friday and holiday eves: 08: – 16:00.

Winter hours: Sunday–Thursday and Saturday: 08:00 – 16:00, Friday and holiday eves: 08:00 – 15:00

Visit Akko for the Crusader experience 

Acre, or Akko, is a coastal city on the Mediterranean in the Northern District of Israel. It was a Crusader strong hold and now stands as a Unesco World Heritage site due to the remaining ruins and old restored castle. You can do a day trip here from Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, or stay the night and head to Haifa to see the Bahai Gardens. It is a beautiful, serene place! Additionally, the Mount of the Beatitudes are close by for a day trip from Akko as well. Be warned: There are bus loads of tourists there so go early! 

If you choose to stay in the city, I would definitely recommend the Akkotel Boutique Hotel -built into the city wall and right on the waterfront!  (The picture below was taken from the rooftop of the Akkotel)

http://www.akkotel.com/ The location is perfect and the ambience of the hotel is fantastic. 

The tour of the Crusader Ruins and restored castle are really cool. Make sure you stop at the Enchanted Garden- it is a respite from the bustling city outside the four walls of the garden and reasonably priced.

http://www.akko.org.il/en/Entrance-fees

If you stay the evening in Akko, there are several restaurants with rooftop dining overlooking the Mediterranean. We went to El Bourj to enjoy the view! The rooftop is pretty basic, but the food was great and the breeze from the Sea was even better!

As a side note: If you have extra time go to Petra, Jordan for 2 days. The history is incredible, the hiking is endless, and the people are wonderful. There is more to Petra than just The Treasury! (Photo below) Make time to hike at least one day to see all of the incredible ruins of the Nabataean people.



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