Best for beaches: Tel Aviv
In search of perfect beaches (and bronzed bodies), only a four hour flight ride away from the UK? Tel Aviv – whose name means ‘Hill of the Spring’ – ticks both boxes. There’s a beach for every occasion and character: one to party, play sports, one for families (Metzitzim Beach), a religious beach (Nordau Beach where men and women are segregated) and another for the LBGT brigade (hello Hilton Beach). However Alma Beach, near the Charles Clore Park, is arguably where you go for the swankiest sand. This is the spot to stretch out your beach towel and enjoy the fabulous people watching opportunities, rest, relax and read that book that’s been sitting on your bedside table since Christmas.
When hunger pangs kick in, make for Rothschild Boulevard – an elegant avenue lined with imported oak trees and named after the famed Jewish family of financiers – that’s brimming with cafes and restaurants. The waterfront eateries at the Old Port (which was given a makeover in the early 2000s by the Tel Aviv municipality) also reward a visit. And the historic Old Railway Station (often referred to as HaTachna) is home to to a whole host of fashionable dining venues including Vicky Cristina – an outdoor tapas and wine bar named after the Woody Allen film – that’s currently the hottest ticket in town.
What else: buzzing beach aside, Tel Aviv is all about Bauhaus architecture (think curved corners, horizontal lines and an absence of ornamentation). So much so that the city’s beautiful white Bauhaus buildings (there are more than 400 in total) were declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2003. Two of the best examples of Bauhaus style buildings include the charming Cinema Hotel (Dizengoff Square) and Soshkin House (12 Lillenblum Street).
Best for history: Jerusalem
Jerusalem – which has been seducing travellers and pilgrims since time immemorial – is another must do Israeli destination. Nothing prepares you for a visit to the Old City where pilgrims mix with holy men and tourists with locals selling food and crafts. Every turn offers something new: another spicy food aroma, another colourful character jangling trinkets.
First up, follow the trail of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion walk, ending up on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to see the spot widely believed to have been where Christ was nailed to his cross and then later laid to rest in a nearby tomb. Expect to see Christians quietly praying in anticipation of their messiah returning, while tourists snap pictures of the impressive Ottoman baroque architecture. Next wander to the Wailing Wall – the remnants of the ancient wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple, god’s supposed footstool on Earth, and one of the most holy sites in Judaism. Other blockbuster sights include the Islam’s third most important mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and Christianity’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Once you’ve got the Old City out of the way, make a beeline for Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem. Wind your way through Bethlehem’s busy streets to the Church of Nativity, the site claimed by Christians to house the birthplace of Christ.
What else: make sure you visit Yad Vashem, the world’s leading museum dedicated to the memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. This impressive museum combines video testimony, letters and objects to bring a human dimension to one of history’s most evil chapters.
Best for R&R: The Dead Sea
You don’t truly understand the Dead Sea until you’ve been there. The lowest place on Earth isn’t actually a sea, but a massive salt lake whose shores are the lowest place on earth. The saltiness accounts for it’s incredible buoyancy (just don’t mistakenly stick your head under – salt stings!) and its high mineral content (water and mud) is celebrated for its health giving properties.
Entering it is like being in one of those floatation tanks that were popular back in the Eighties, but without the feeling of claustrophobia. To float here is to obtain a sense of tranquility; it’s quiet, just a gentle hub-bub and splish-splash as people wash off the healing black mud they’ve slapped upon themselves. Lying on your back, arms outstretched, as the black gloop melts away, all conflict is forgotten and a feeling of peace reigns supreme.
What else: combine your excursion to the Dead Sea with a trip to the astounding fortress of Masada, which has become one of the Jewish people’s most important symbols. Masada is an isolated sheer-sided rock plateau into which Roman ruler Herod the Great built a small city in order to serve as fortress in times of trouble.But in 66 AD a group of Jewish rebels captured Masada from the Romans and managed to resist a two-year siege by Roman forces. This group took the decision to commit mass suicide rather than surrender to the Romans. What’s left at Masada today is an astounding series of ruins that point to this extraordinary chapter of history.
Best for nature: The Galilee
Accounting for the northern third of Israel, the Galilee is generally considered the lush, green part of the country, thanks to its higher than average rainfall and lower (but not by that much) temperatures. It’s a diverse area that includes some unique flora and fauna and is a great place for bush walks.
The Galilee is also home to Lake Kinneret, sometimes called the Sea of Galilee, aka Israel’s largest fresh water reservoir that’s also the country’s largest and most important source of drinking water. All winter long, the most important part of the news report for Israelis is not the dollar-shekel exchange rate or the level of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange index, but rather the water level in Lake Kineret! The Galilee is also where Jesus was born (Nazareth) and he spent at least 30 years of his life ministering in the area. Other highlights here are the town of Safed – an ancient centre of Jewish mysticism – and Akko – a coastal town with a strong Ottoman, Arab and Jewish heritage.
What else: Galilee also serves as the gateway to nature reserves such as Jordan Park, the Beit Tsida Nature Reserve, Khamat Gader and Naharayim and The Golan Heights, Israel’s mountainous northern region that’s nicknamed the Israeli Texas owing to its impressive size.
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Classic Israel
A comprehensive 8-day tour that explores the Mediterranean coast, Nazareth and the Golan Heights as well as the Dead Sea, Masada and Old Jerusalem.
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Fantastic Israel
This 8 day tour spends time in Tel Aviv, Tiberias and Jerusalem in addition to travelling to the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee.
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Jewels of Israel
A one week tour that starts and ends in Tel Aviv and visits Israel’s most essential travel destinationsL Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Masada, Jericho and Golan Heights.
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Real Food Adventure
Celebrate classic dishes and delectable delights on this Real Food Adventure through Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
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Discover Egypt, Jordan and Israel
Myth, religion and wonder come together on this adventure holiday across the timeless terrain of Egypt and Jordan.
Book it: http://www.tnttoursearch.com/tours/discover-egypt-jordan-israel#sthash.gmd2aOOb.dpuf
