Israel & Palestine tours

If you’re visiting these two countries from elsewhere, as part of an organised tour, you won’t have anything like as much trouble crossing between Israel and Palestine, and you’ll be joined by a tour leader from one of these countries who is well versed in border crossing procedures. Often, passengers can simply remain in their tour vehicle and might not be required to show their passports. On some occasions, however, depending on which crossing it is and how the guards are feeling, you may need to get out of the vehicle to show your passport, or guards may come on board.

It is possible to walk through a crossing point, too, although the queues can be lengthy and you may be subject to a lot of questioning. Some checkpoints close in the evening and the queues for these are notoriously long.

The Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron, for example, and the 19th century Abd al-Hadi Palace in the Old City of Neblus are on the Palestinian side of the wall. Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee are in Israel, as is the Holy City of Safad – the highest city in Israel (900m) and the centre of learning for Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism.

Staying in Jerusalem allows access to the UNESCO-listed Old City which is recognised by the UN as part of Palestinian territory. Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Armenian quarters sit side by side here within a tiny walled area measuring less than one square kilometre. Stay overnight and wander around by day to get a proper insight into the real lives of the local residents. It’s easy to dismiss one side as a terrorist, or an aggressor, if you haven't listened to views from both camps. When you hear both sides of the story it’s clear that life in the Middle East is not always straightforward.

Our specialist travel companies have made the journey here many, many times before, and will keep a close eye on local security issues. Their guides and tour leaders will be able to explain what you’re witnessing, who you’re meeting and the reasons why one area or another has experienced tension and violence in the past.

Do note that certain Arab or majority Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Lebanon and Iran, do not accept visitors with Israeli stamps in their passport. For this reason it’s advisable to politely request your Israeli entry stamp be placed on a separate piece of paper, not in your passport. As of April 2019, Morocco, Jordan, Egypt, Oman and UAE do accept visitors with Israeli passport stamps, but be sure to check for updates before travelling to any of these countries.