Guest post by Jeremy Albelda from The World or Bust…
Until recently, Israel was not on too many travellers’ bucket lists. It is surrounded by countries that many Westerners (especially women), are a little wary of and has a lingering public image of exploding buses and the religious extremists. But, thank God, Allah, Shiva or Bieber, there are in fact many areas which security advisory websites for Israel regard as safe to travel to. So, get ya bags packed and head to one of the world’s best kept secrets.
Birthright Israel – Visit for Free!
A huge reason for the boost in traveller confidence is due to the Birthright programme which offers young Jews aged 18-26 free 10-day trips to Israel (includes airfare, food and lodging). Thanks to these recent visitors (myself included), the word is out that Israel is an awesome place to travel, regardless of any religion you do or don’t follow. This is a country that offers something for everyone including 10,000 years of history and amazing architecture, delicious cuisine, heart-pumping nightlife, miles of pristine beaches, modern cities and outdoor activities from hiking to sky diving. The whole country is about the size of New Jersey (Snooookie!) and makes anything you want to do just a hop, skip or jump away.
Here are my top 5 things to do when heading to the Land of Milk and Honey which I discovered while on Birthright…
1. Nightlife in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv is a modern city. It was created in the early 1900’s and definitely feels more like Miami than some dust blown desert town with its soaring glass skyscrapers and cosmopolitan inhabitants. Situated right on the beach, there are plenty of tanned and toned bodies, beautiful people and you know what that means, awesome nightlife! There is a large population of young people, and on Thursday night through Sunday morning, both locals and tourists hit the streets and party hard. Just like in Europe, things don’t get going until late, so don’t expect to see the clubs packed until 2am or 3am. Nightlife is centered on and around Allenby Street where you’ll find a wealth of restaurants, pubs, and every club you could ask for from tiny dance spots to huge mega clubs with every type of music you could imagine. Some great clubs to check out in Tel Aviv’s downtown area are Clara at Prof. Yehezkel Kaufmann and Maxim at 48 King George St.
A couple of cool annual events to watch out for include gay Pride Tel Aviv (June), and White Night, when lots of galleries, museums and clubs stay open through the night and host a special programme of cultural activities.
Find hostels in Tel Aviv.
2. The Old City in Jerusalem
A trip to the old city in Jerusalem is a must-see when in Israel. Less than an hour away from Tel Aviv, Jerusalem is the cultural and traditional hub of the country and is a great place to see how religions try to live harmoniously alongside each other. While Jerusalem is the largest city in Israel, it exists in pretty stark contrast to modern and secular Tel Aviv. The old city in Jerusalem is one of the most holy centres for all three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) and boasts amazing architecture and sights that you might have thought were just long-lost stories from scripture. Spend a whole day walking around the four quarters of the old city which include the Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Armenian Quarters. Some of the amazing sights include the Western Wall, the Jaffa Gate and the Dome of the Rock that will definitely make you go, “Wowza”.
3. Sunrise Hike up Masada
Masada is an impressive historical site about 90 minutes from Jerusalem that you can reach by bus or car (renting a car is recommended). The former city and fortress is located on top of a mesa that overlooks the Dead Sea and offers some epic stories of battles, sieges and human perseverance. A tour guide is definitely worth the small investment at Masada as they will share some amazing stories about why the ruins are so important to modern day Israel and the Israeli psyche.
You can reach the summit of Masada by cable car on foot. If you stay at a nearby hotel or hostel, wake up early and make the one-hour hike up the eastern face to take in the breathtaking sunrise over the Dead Sea.
4. Take a Dip in the Dead Sea
Believe it or not, the Dead Sea is the lowest elevation on earth on land and is actually a large salt lake. It earned its morbid name because the water is so salty, that no fish, or anything for that matter, can live in it. The high salinity also makes the water more dense, and therefore you, more buoyant. Put on your swimsuit and go for a swim and see how easily you float. You can hang out just floating around for hours with virtually no effort. The Dead Sea is world-renowned for its healing waters, and Dead Sea Products are sold internationally (mostly by Israelis at mall kiosks in the US), but, you can get the real thing for free! You’ll see a number of people completely covered in mud that they scoop and lather on themselves from the sea bottom. Try rubbing it all over your body, letting it dry, and then jumping back in the water, you’ll feel like a million bucks!
5. Visit Ein Gedi Oasis
Resting on the shores of the Dead Sea, Ein Gedi is the perfect escape from the strong Israeli sun. A true desert oasis, you will be overcome by the outstanding natural beauty of the place. Humans have been luxuriating in Ein Gedi’s tranquil splendor for more than 5 millennia, and King David is even mentioned to have spent time there in the Old Testament. Ein Gedi is fed by four fresh water springs that create a number of small cascading waterfalls and crystal clear pools that make for the perfect afternoon of lying around pretending you are a Berber goat herder who just stumbled upon the oasis of your dreams. Ein Gedi is also a wildlife reserve that houses some of the most unique animals you’ll ever see like the hyrax, a rodent-like creature that is actually related to the elephant!
So as you can see, Israel has plenty to do for every type of traveller, so what are you waiting for? Check it out for yourself!
Jeremy is the creator of The World or Bust, a travel blog with funny personal anecdotes from his frequent international trips, tips on how to make travel a reality on any budget and guest posts from like-minded travel heads. He is based in Miami, FL and runs an internet marketing business.
Thanks to Ran Yaniv Hartstein, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It. World Tour, rachelyra, kudumomo and trespassers william for the images off Flickr. Please note, all images were suitable for use at the time of publication according to the Creative Commons license.
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