One would have to travel endless hours in most parts of the world to encounter the remarkable physical contrasts which exist in Israel. Here, however, a simple one-hour drive takes the visitor from city to desert, from plain to mountain. Barely an hour of travel seperates Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Tel Aviv and Haifa, Haifa and the heart of the Galilee, Tel Aviv and Beersheva. And within these short distances are contained the sites and artifacts of the Bible and the early history of western civilization.
By air, a quick and easy flight takes a visitor from Tel Aviv to the Galilee; from Tel Aviv or Jerusalem to Eilat. It is only about a half hour, by air, from Amman and one hour from Cairo.
These short distances enable a richness of experience which is incomparable, as manifested in the great variety and sites along the way. This also means that a number of different locations, whether urban centers or resorts, can serve as conveient touring bases for the rest of the country.
Each has a broad range of accommodations, from popular-priced hostels or bed-and-breakfast facillities to fully appointed, modern hotels in every price range, many of them with well-known international names. Thousands of hotel rooms in every location serve the expectation and need of every vistors: religious and other vacationers, back-packers and culture-seekers, business travelers and families celebrating "simchas" (happiness).
Jerusalem - From the time that King David made its capital city some 3000 years ago and his son Solomon built the first Temple, the very name of Jerusalem has conjured up images of beauty and reverence, activity and excitement. The spiritual center of Judaism is also a thriving, ultra-modern city and Israel's capital, with infinite facets to its character. The Kotel- the Western Wall of the Second Temple- highlights the rich experience of the Jewish Quarter in the walled Old City, while the modern city offers world-famous museums, arts-and-crafts lanes and lively entertainment, together with the institutions of government.
Tel Aviv-Jaffa - and the Mediterranean - Proclaiming itself the "non-stop city," cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, the first modern Jewish city in the world, is simultaneously a resort and Israel's undisputed center of entertainment, culture and commerce. While less than 100 years old, it also incorporates ancient Jaffa, its refurbished "old city" and home to galleries, restaraunts, clubs and pubs. Further north on the Mediterranean coast are the resorts of Herzlia and Netanya, followed closely by the magnificent excavations of ancient Caesarea, with its modern town highlighted by a full-size golf course.
Haifa - One of the most beautiful cities in the region, rising on Mount Carmel above its mediterranean harbor, multi-cultural Haifa is also home to unique religious and cultural sites. The region, is both a gateway to and touring base for the north of the country and the Western Galilee.
Zefat, Tiberias and the Galilee - From the heights of Zefat- home of the Kabbalah, the Jewish mystics and sages- to Tiberias, the ancient center of learning below sea level, the Galilee offers a remarkable diversity of sites, sights, and activities. The patchwork of kibbutz fields and nature reserves- the glorious Sea of Galilee and natural spas- the tombs of holy men whose spirits may intervene with Heaven and rich archeological sites combine to make this one of the most variegated and fascinating regions in the country. With Tiberias as a touring base, or at the many kibbutz hotels dotted through the area, the Galilee offers the diversity of biblical and historical sites, resort and spa vacations, and active holidays.
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