Capital : Jerusalem
Country Code : 972
Credit Cards : Major credit cards are accepted throughout Israel.
Currency : New shekel (NIS)
Departure Tax: There is no departure tax at the airport but crossing over into Jordan is a cost of 101 NIS ($30 USD)
Drives on the : Right
Electricity :220 V (European Two Prong configuration)
Ethnic Groups: 75% Jewish,21% Arab,4% other
Location: Israel is located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea with Lebanon to the north, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the south and west.
Official Language(s): Hebrew, Arabic
Religion: Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Baha’i
Time Zone: IST (UTC+2)
Tipping: Tipping is customary in Israel but in select spots. In restauarants, 10 – 12% is average and most staff request tips in cash, not added to credit card bills. Locals rarely tip taxi drivers.

The winter months of November to March are the coldest in Israel with snow in the northern reaches of the Golan Heights, and occasional snow fall in Jerusalem. The coast experiences the heaviest rainfall at this time though temperatures in places like Eilat are reasonably pleasant still.

Jerusalem and other highland areas are splendid in the summer (June – August) when temperatures are high with balmy evenings, and little chance of rain. Tel Aviv and the far south of the country are usually several degrees warmer, making it the perfect place to soak up the sun beach side. If you plan on visiting the Dead Sea or Negev Desert be sure to pack a hat to protect you from the sun.

The seasons of spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are the best time to visit Israel when temperatures are pleasantly mild throughout the country. During these spring and autumn months pack clothes that you can wear in layers, so that whether sunny skies or cool weather you will always be prepared.

Jordan’s prime attraction is Petra, an unforgettably dramatic 2000-year-old city carved from sandstone cliffs in the south of the country. Its extraordinary architecture and powerful atmosphere imprint themselves indelibly on most visitors’ imaginations.

There is a wealth of other historical sites, outstanding among them the well-preserved Roman city of Jerash, but also including Umm Qais, set on a dramatic promontory overlooking the Sea of Galilee, and Madaba, which has the oldest known map of the Middle East, in the form of a Byzantine mosaic laid on the floor of a church. After the Muslim conquest, the Umayyad dynasty built a series of retreats in the Jordanian desert, now dubbed the “Desert Castles”, including the bath-house of Qusayr Amra, adorned with naturalistic and erotic frescoes. Centuries later, the Crusaders established a heavy presence in southern Jordan, most impressively with the huge castles at Karak and Shobak. The Arab resistance to the Crusader invasion left behind another fortress at Ajloun in the north.

Jordan is part of the “Holy Land”: its religious sites include the Baptism Site of Jesus on the banks of the River Jordan, and Mount Nebo, from where Moses looked over the Promised Land. John the Baptist met his death at Herod’s hilltop palace at Mukawir after Salome danced her seductive dance. Nearby is Lot’s Cave, where Abraham’s nephew sought refuge from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Your most abiding memories of a visit are likely to be of Jordan’s varied and beautiful natural environment. With its sheer cliffs and red sands, austere Wadi Rum – where David Lean filmed Lawrence of Arabia – presents the classic desert picture of Jordan. Less well-known are the gentle northern hills around the Ajloun forests, hosting walks through flower-strewn meadows and cool, shady woodland. In the south, tranquil Dana overlooks a swathe of territory from verdant highland orchards down to the sandy desert floor, offering a memorable hideaway at the Feynan Ecolodge. The protected Wadi Mujib is a giant canyon, 4km wide at the top, that narrows to a high, rocky gorge carrying a fast-flowing river down to the salty Dead Sea, an inland lake too buoyant for swimming but perfect for floating, your body supported by the density of the salty water. Last but not least, Jordan has some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling in the coral-fringed Red Sea off Aqaba.

Steeped in religious significance, Israel is home to numerous sites of historical and cultural significance to Jews and members of other religions. Yet Israel is far more than just an open-air history museum, as can be seen by vibrant cities like Tel Aviv that have their finger on the pulse and are embracing modernity at a spectacular rate. Israel is the perfect blend of the old and the new and its festivals fully reflect this attitude.

Israel Festival

Originally established as a music festival, the Israel Festival has now become the leading Israeli event of the year and is the country’s chance to showcase the hottest, freshest talent in a multitude of different disciplines. Dancers, musicians, actors and artists all take to the streets and stage to display their phenomenal skills, each contributing to the prestige of the festival and the excitement of the program.

White Night Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv has so much to offer and is such a lively and bustling city that someone decided, why not keep the city open all night so people can enjoy it for even longer? Thus, the creation of White Night Tel Aviv came about. Shops, restaurants and historical points of interest stay open all night long with parties on every street corner across the city. Pulsing music will flow through the airwaves all night long as the city of Tel Aviv forgoes sleep for this exciting festival.

Karmiel Dance Festival

Once a year, Karmiel hosts one of Israel’s biggest dance festivals as 250,000 people from all over flock to witness the non-stop performances that take place over the course of three days. Showcases, workshops and competitions all make up the agenda for this lively festival with every genre imaginable finding its place somewhere in the program. Make your way to one of the venues for a visual treat, suitable for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Klezmer Music Festival

Held in the Old Jewish Quarter and the Artist Quarter of Tzfat, the Klezmer Music Festival lasts for three days with a program consisting of free performances that take place between 9pm and midnight. There are also workshops and jam sessions for those looking to learn a bit more about traditional forms of Jewish music. Bringing children along? Not to worry, the festival caters well to young ones with various activities on offer such as magic and storytelling shows and demonstrations of some of the unusual Klezmer instruments.