American and Canadian citizens and most western countries need only a valid passport when visiting Israel. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date you enter Israel.

Additional information can be found at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You can also view the Tourist Visa Table provided by the Ministry.

The short answer is yes. Millions of visitors travel to Israel each year, amazed and inspired. In fact, it’s far safer to visit Israel than many major cities in the US. When visiting, take the usual tourist precautions: don’t leave personal items unattended, use the safe deposit box at your hotel, be mindful where you go at night, and travel in groups when possible.

If you are interested in visiting areas under the Palestinian Authority such as Bethlehem, you’ll need to carry your passport for exit and re-entry to Israel. Crossing from Jerusalem to Bethlehem is direct, easy, and no prior authorization is required — hundreds of tourists make the crossing every day. As always, it’s important to consider the political situation before entering Palestinian Authority areas. For more information please contact the IDF Public Relations office.

We have never had a tour cancellation in Israel. Even at times of heightened political conflict, the holy sites visited on our tours tend to be away from areas of protest or trouble. The only cancellation for political instability we ever experienced was in Egypt several years ago — tour guests opted for the Israel/Jordan portion of the tour instead.

The following cancellation options apply to our Land Tours in the event of political instability:

1. Postpone your trip to a future date within one year of the confirmed travel date.
2. Total trip cancellation: full refund of land price less a 4% credit card refund processing fee (if paid with credit card) to cover bank fees. 100% refund if paid with cash or check.
3. While traveling, if a specific day tour is canceled due to security concerns, it is replaced with an alternate tour for the day. No refund would apply.

Airline tickets are subject to the specific airline’s policies, which usually include the option to postpone to a future date — some airlines may also allow a full refund. At the time of purchase we strongly recommend the purchase of optional travel insurance that can cover any cancellation fees incurred.

No problem. Like many countries in Europe, Israel no longer stamps visitors’ passports, so your passport will not indicate you visited Israel. This allows you to travel freely to other countries in the region after your Holy Land visit.

With years of experience knowing when to visit Israel, we schedule our tour departure dates for the best available periods. We normally have few if any tour departures in September or October (depending on where the Jewish Holidays fall that year) due to limited hotel availability and higher airfare rates. Besides the Jewish Holiday season, we recommend tours to the Holy Land year-round.

Israel is considered a year-round destination thanks to its climate — long warm, dry summers and mild winters, with cooler weather in the hill regions like Jerusalem.

We have visitors from all over the world. Call toll-free 1-800-933-4421 (US/Canada) to find the best available flights — rates, seats, departures, and connections. Let us help you find the perfect flights for your trip.

Note that our listed website prices do not include airfare. Some of our tour participants prefer to make their own travel arrangements to use personal mileage points or for other reasons. When this is done, we coordinate all transfers based on your flight schedules.

All transportation is included during our scheduled itineraries, including transfers on arrival and departure. For those wanting to tour on their own during leisure time, Israel has an excellent system of highways, buses, trains, and domestic flights.

• Bus — The most popular form of transportation in Israel. Purchase tickets at any city’s central bus station or from the driver. Note that most buses do not operate on Saturdays (Shabbat).
• Train — Israel Railways is an affordable, easy way to travel between major cities. Trains do not operate on Saturdays (Shabbat). Visit the Israel Railways website for schedules and fares.
• Private Taxi — A more expensive option; taxis can be flagged down or ordered by phone almost anywhere and will take you around town or between cities.
• Rental Car — International car rental chains have offices in Israel and at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. We recommend reserving in advance before arrival.

The currency is the New Israeli Shekel (NIS). We advise you to check the exchange rate prior to and during your trip. You can use your ATM card to obtain Shekels at ATMs throughout Israel. American Express, Mastercard, and Visa cards are accepted at most Israeli hotels, restaurants, and stores.

Most hotels in Israel offer Wi-Fi for guests at no charge or for a customary fee. Many cafes and restaurants provide complimentary Wi-Fi service. Tel Aviv offers a citywide free Wi-Fi network with more than 80 free Internet hot spots across the city.

For cell phones: if you have an international plan, your phone may work in Israel — check with your carrier before traveling. Cell phone rentals are also available upon arrival. Some hotels, such as the Leonardo hotels, offer free international calling. The country code to dial Israel is +972.

Hebrew and Arabic are Israel’s official languages, however many Israelis also speak English. You’ll even find many street signs written in English. If all you know in Hebrew is “Shalom” (hello and goodbye), don’t be afraid to travel to Israel — you’ll get along just fine.

Tap water in Israel is safe and clean. You’ll also find bottled water everywhere. Some areas of Israel are very dry and hot, so it’s important to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated throughout the day.

Travel insurance (including medical coverage) is highly recommended for all foreign travel. Israel is a modern country with excellent healthcare and has one of the world’s highest numbers of doctors per capita.

• No vaccinations are required unless you recently traveled to an area with epidemics of yellow fever, cholera, or Ebola.
• You can find most standard over-the-counter drugs in Israel equivalent to those in North America.
• You may bring supplies of your prescription drugs. If you need to bring syringes and vials of medicine, carry a letter from your doctor attesting to your needs.

We offer small, intimate group tours of no more than 44 guests, with an average of approximately 20 guests per tour departure. This keeps the experience personal and spiritually focused — not a crowded bus tour.

Absolutely. Many of our clients have made lifelong friends during our tours and you’ll experience Israel in a warm, group setting. Single travelers pay the single rate for hotel accommodations. Please note that we do not match passengers to share a room.

Besides having a fully escorted tour with our expert guides able to help with most situations, you’ll be provided with a 24-hour local contact number as well as a contact number in the United States. You’re never alone on a Holy Land Tours Travel tour.

One of the spiritual highlights of visiting the Holy Land is the baptismal site of Yardenit on the Jordan River — where the Holy Spirit descended like a dove when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13–17).

If you wish to enter and be immersed in the water, all that is required is to rent a locker for your belongings and a white baptismal robe, paid directly to the site custodian, Kibbutz Kinneret. Many travelers describe this experience as a transformative moment of personal renewal.