1. Prioritize Comfort

If you’re planning to walk in the “footsteps of Jesus”, then be prepared to walk a lot! On a trip to the Holy Land, there are many places to go see and most of them involve a decent amount of walking especially if your itinerary includes Jerusalem or the Judean Desert.  Pack a pair of good walking shoes or sneakers. If you’re interested to explore some hiking trails, the country has spectacular landscape in the springtime. You can also choose a stylish pair of comfortable sandals for beach days. Most importantly, bring what you’ll feel best in.

2. Dress Modestly

Basically, the clothing style in the Holy Land is slightly more conservative, but it depends on which places you’ll be visiting. For example, avoid short skirts, shorts and sleeveless tops if you’re visiting religious sites such as churches, mosques or places like the Western Wall. There are some sites that require women to cover their head and shoulders or wear long skirts. If you’re visiting Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth or other religious attractions, be mindful to bring a scarf along with you. As for men, consider wearing bottoms that cover the knees and shirts that cover the shoulders. In some Jewish religious sites, men should also cover their heads with a kippah.

3. Prepare for the Sun

No matter what season you fly to the Holy Land, there is sunshine almost all year round! Many find it really hot and humid in the summertime with the temperatures as high as 32˚ but cooler in the evenings. However, if you’re visiting Jericho or Masada, it can be extremely hot during the months of July and August. Even in the winter, be sure to bring with you sunscreen, sunglasses and a sunhat so you can explore the country without getting sunburned. And, don’t forget your swimsuit either! You don’t want to miss swimming in the Mediterranean or floating in the Dead Sea.

4. Stay Connected

Stay connected with your family and friends at home while you travel overseas. If you are coming from the United States, you will need to bring a plug adaptor for your electronic devices. The Holy Land uses 220V at 50Hz. The standard plug is Type H which can accommodate Type C as well. If you travel with an electronic device that does not accept 220 Volts at 50 Hertz, you would actually need to buy a voltage converter to get that device to work. Check online to see if your country uses the same electrical and plug system. As for the Wi-Fi connection, it is also widespread in the country. Chances are you’ll be able to connect on the bus or at your accommodation for free. However, if you’re using a local SIM Card during the day, we encourage you to turn off your data and simply enjoy the journey.

5. Travel Light

When you plan a trip, perhaps the most things you consider is packing as light as possible so that nothing will hinder your movement. We definitely encourage you to pack the absolute essentials and keep room in your bag for the gifts! But, traveling light does not necessary means traveling with less stuff. Visiting the Holy Land is an experience unlike any other. It’s a journey of faith; an opportunity to let go of the past, forgive others and be inspired. Don’t travel alone to the Holy Land. By traveling with a group, you bear one another’s burdens, share joys and lighten the load of your journey. Bring your Bible with you if you want. When you replicate the walk of Jesus at the Way of the Cross or when you visit the spot of His crucifixion, you are quickly reminded of the scriptures. It brings it all to life. You’ll be able to see and touch the places you’ve read about for a long time. You will feel blessed.

1. Olive Wood Carvings

Olive wood carving is an ancient tradition in the Holy Land that continues until today. The vast majority of the wood used for carvings comes from the seasonal clippings of olive branches that are pruned annually. Being handmade, each piece has a distinct character all its own. For many centuries, the Christian artisans in Bethlehem have relied on this art form and its trade for their livelihood. What could be more special than purchasing a hand carved Nativity set from the place where it all happened! You do not only possess a unique reminder of the Christmas story that will remain in your family for generations, you also help preserve the ancient tradition of olive wood carving and support local Christians in the Holy Land that make them.

2. Hand Painted Ceramic

In the heart of the Armenian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, you’ll find a beautiful selection of hand painted ceramics made by the Armenian community. This ancient art and craft was first brought to the Holy Land around 1919 when several Armenian master craftsmen came to Jerusalem to renovate the ceramic tiles of the famous Dome of the Rock. They remained in Jerusalem developing the art of Armenian ceramics and until today, they continue to make beautiful ceramic pieces with the same authenticity and originality. From the oldest hand painted tile stores in the Middle East, you will definitely find the right item to decorate your home or to give as a gift!

3. Jewelry and Accessories

Jewelry made of mother of pearl is also very popular in Bethlehem. This traditional handicraft has been brought to the city from Italy in the 15^th century.  Whether you are looking for a necklace, earrings or a brooch for yourself or a loved one, you will find something right for you.  You can also find some of the trendiest and most unique jewelry in the Holy Land. For example, in Bethlehem, handpicked olive leaves are transformed into unique sterling silver pieces. This process makes each piece a one of a kind. You can also meet with the local jewelry designers and find pieces that reflect the culture and heritage of the country. If you like distinctive designs of accessories, you’ll definitely find this as a perfect gift.

4. Colorful Embroidery

Hand embroidery is a beautiful art that has always been pursued by local women. Its root is ancient and the earliest forms of embroidered cross stitch in the Holy Land were found around the 11^th century.  Artisans continue to create traditional folk embroidery with colors and patterns where each piece reflects remarkable beauty and tells a story of identity. Today, you can find beautiful designs of cushions, table runners, bags, shawls and other accessories embroidered by hand. You will not only take a piece of culture back with you, you will also support local women to sustain themselves.

5. Handmade Blown Glass

Hand-blown glass makes a beautiful and special gift. You can watch local artists in Hebron make it in front of your eyes or you can enjoy the experience of trying that yourself! Hebron has been famous for its traditional glass-blowing for centuries and in 2016; Hebron has been officially awarded the title of World Crafts City by the World Crafts Council. All items are original hand blown creations by local artists and we are sure these unique glass art designs will be a great thoughtful souvenir.

6. Organic Cosmetics

In the Holy Land, you will find amazing and natural cosmetics of great quality that can be used on all skin types. One of the unique products is soap made with olive oil, olive seeds, almond oil, sage and other herbs that are native to the land. These soaps are handmade and free from chemicals, artificial colors, and preservatives. Other kinds of soaps contain natural ingredients with healing properties such as mud from the Dead Sea, lemon, honey or even camel milk. If you are looking for beauty and skin care products, the Dead Sea provides essential minerals that are vital to your skin. From bath salts to mud masks, you’re not only getting products to nourish the skin, you’re also giving a feeling of relaxation as a gift.

7. Herbs and Spices

After visiting the Holy Land, you would wish you can bring our cuisine back with you! But, since there can be restrictions on what food you can take with you, you can never go wrong with spices. From the market of the Old City of Jerusalem to Machane Yehuda market, you will find mountains of traditional spices of all kinds and colors with a smell hard to miss. With an endless selection of spices, Za’atar is our all times favorite.  This well known spice is thyme mixed with toasted sesame seeds. It is perfect with toasted bread or in salads making this the perfect thing to bring home and share with loved ones. You can taste Jerusalem even if you are not there.

8. All-Natural Medjool Dates

Dates are considered the oldest cultivated fruit in the world and they’ve been cultivated for about 6,000 years in the Middle East. It is grown, harvested, packed and distributed in the ancient city of Jericho. Dates are probably one of the best tasting fruits ever. In addition to being healthy, they are prized for their rich flavor, large size and chewy texture. Take a sweet taste from the Holy Land back with you. But, make sure to check what food items are permitted to enter your country.

9. Books and Posters

It is no surprise that a city with a history that dates back thousands of years, Jerusalem has always been a source of inspiration for writers. In the heart of the city, there are many bookshops selling a great selection of books on Middle Eastern history, Israeli-Palestinian relations, culture and politics. You can also find collections of maps, travel guides and books on Arab-Israeli history as well as numerous antique editions of scholarly works. You can find academic books in English, Hebrew, German and French that you can take home with you as a souvenir.

History & Culture

Though less than half an hour away from the city of Jerusalem, this small town has its own character. Being very much influenced by the Roman culture, today you can witness that when you visit the Basilica of the Nativity built by the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great after his mother Helena’s visit to Bethlehem in 325. Built on the site of the birthplace of Jesus, the Basilica is considered the oldest church in the Holy Land as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bethlehem is also home to Christian iconography, the only project of its kind in the Middle East. This mystical art of Byzantine liturgy came to birth in the Holy Land over 1,500 years ago. It’s hard to miss when you visit churches across the Holy Land. Start exploring the famous Manger Square surrounded by local souvenir shops, olive wood factories and award-winning restaurants.

Walking & Hiking

Just outside of Bethlehem, nature lovers have plenty to keep them satisfied with different kinds of trails nearby. To the west of Bethlehem, Battir village, known as land of olives and vines, is famous for its cultural landscape and unique irrigation system that utilizes man-made stone terraces. A Roman-era network is still in use, fed by seven springs which have provided fresh water for 2,000 years. Being one of the few places left in the region where such traditional method of agriculture remains, Battir is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While to the east of Bethlehem, you will be hiking in the Judean Desert around the desolate and amazingly looking Saint Saba’s Monastery. This Greek Orthodox Monastery, built in 483 AD, is considered one of the oldest continuously active Christian monasteries in the world. Once you get your fill of the great outdoors, relax and taste a local “Wise Men” beer!

Food & Wine

In a little town like Bethlehem, hospitality is very important. The welcoming nature of the locals will not make you feel like a tourist, but more like at home. Everywhere you walk, people will invite you for tea or coffee or even for a meal. Bethlehem is home to numerous bed-and-breakfast accommodations, hotels and homestays that can accommodate any budget. You will have a stronger chance to connect with the local people. Plus, you better come hungry! You will be experiencing delicious, home-cooked and quite simply the world’s healthiest food. Also, just a five minutes’ drive away in Bethlehem are cellars of Cremisan, a 7^th century Byzantine Monastery producing various types of red and white wine where only local grapes are used in the process. Every year, a wine festival takes place to introduce international visitors to its fine wine.

Arts & Festivals  

Bethlehem is famous for its local art galleries, street art by international artists such as Banksy, the British artist and graffiti master, and folk dance- Dabkeh.  This traditional dance is about community, national identity, preserving heritage and celebrating life. It is widely performed at weddings and festive occasions. With a population under 30,000, many of the residents know one another and festivals come as a great excuse to come together. This little town has blossomed into the Arab Capital of Culture in 2020, with amazing arts and music festivals each summer. This town does not only embrace all these qualities, but it will be unveiling a new gospel music festival that make visiting in 2021 particularly special.

Every year, Bethlehem welcomes around 3 million tourists coming from all over the world. Far away from the hustle and bustle of big cities, a small town can be great for a change. Bethlehem might be a small place but it offers a big experience. You will have an authentic, high-quality experience that you will remember for a long time. This little town in the Holy Land might not have made it onto your bucket list yet, but it absolutely deserves a spot!

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Jesus were to physically walk around the Holy Land today? Where do you think He would go?I can assure you that you’ll not find Him at a fancy hotel drinking coffee and updating His Facebook status! By looking at the model Jesus left us in the Scriptures, one discovers a journey unlike the pilgrimages of today. The footsteps of Jesus were far from limited to famous sites, marketplaces, and hotels. Instead, the Scriptures reveal a path of service, love, and restoration.

If Jesus were visibly present in the Holy Land today, He would be in the streets talking to the marginalised just like He talked to the Samaritan woman at the well (Jn 4:7–26) and shared a meal with the unwanted (Lk 5:29–32). He would be healing the sick even if they were considered to be the “enemy,” just like he healed the official’s son (Jn 4:46–53). He would be taking care of the poor, the needy, and the weak (Lk 14:13–24), the orphan and the widow (Mt. 19:14).

If you are searching to join a spiritual journey to the Holy Land, do not seek perfection because a pilgrimage is not always what it seems to be. Let it be a journey of faith where you might experience unexpected delays, wrong turns, or unpleasant lodgings; but always remember where it will lead you. It’s your opportunity to express the love of God and grow spiritually.

We invite you to be a living disciple of Jesus as you visit the sites made sacred by His life and ministry. As a pilgrim, you’re a stranger in a new place. Meet the people of the land; let them welcome you to their homes and let yourself experience their hospitality. Pray with them and share reflections. When you walk in Palestine, you’ll discover that the society that Jesus was living in is very similar to today’s society. Consider spending some time with those who have been wrongfully oppressed and impoverished. Visit Palestinian refugee camps and do service work to help those who would have been considered the outcasts of society during Jesus’ time.  Help those who are vulnerable whether by providing them shelter by taking part in rebuilding Palestinian homes that have been demolished by the Israeli military or by supporting them in picking their olives during the harvest season. There are so many ways in which you can follow His approach, methods, and teachings and make your pilgrimage more meaningful. Come experience the footsteps of Jesus, a pilgrimage unlike any other, by visiting various schools, hospitals, retirement homes, and orphanages in the area, places where Jesus would have shown his love and prayed for others. Come do what Jesus did, not just walk where he walked. Embark upon a powerful spiritual experience in our beautiful land as you truly follow the footsteps of the One who came “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28).

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Little Blind Text didn’t listen. She packed her seven versalia, put her initial into the belt and made herself on the way. When she reached the first hills of the Italic Mountains, she had a last view back on the skyline of her hometown Bookmarksgrove, the headline of Alphabet Village and the subline of her own road, the Line Lane. Pityful a rethoric question ran over her cheek, then she continued her way. On her way she met a copy. The copy warned the Little Blind Text, that where it came from it would have been rewritten a thousand times and everything that was left from its origin would be the word “and” and the Little Blind Text should turn around and return to its own, safe country. But nothing the copy said could convince her and so it didn’t take long until a few insidious Copy Writers ambushed her.

When, while the lovely valley teems with

vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of blist.

I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions!A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which

I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions!A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquis

I throw myself down among the tall grass

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and

Text, that where it came from it

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Littl

• Far far away, behind the word mountain
• When she reached the first hills
• A small river named Duden flows
• A small river named Duden flows by their plat.
• Far far away, behind the word mountain

Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their plate.

When, while the lovely valley teems with

vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath of that universal love which bears and sustains us, as it floats around us in an eternity of blist.

I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions!A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which

I sink under the weight of the splendour of these visions!A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, which was created for the bliss of souls like mine. I am so happy, my dear friend, so absorbed in the exquis

I throw myself down among the tall grass

I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary, I throw myself down among the tall grass by the trickling stream; and, as I lie close to the earth, a thousand unknown plants are noticed by me: when I hear the buzz of the little world among the stalks, and grow familiar with the countless indescribable forms of the insects and

Text, that where it came from it

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth. Even the all-powerful Pointing has no control about the blind texts it is an almost unorthographic life One day however a small line of blind text by the name of Lorem Ipsum decided to leave for the far World of Grammar. The Big Oxmox advised her not to do so, because there were thousands of bad Commas, wild Question Marks and devious Semikoli, but the Littl

• Far far away, behind the word mountain
• When she reached the first hills
• A small river named Duden flows
• A small river named Duden flows by their plat.
• Far far away, behind the word mountain

Copy Writers ambushed her, made her drunk with Longe and Parole and dragged her into their agency, where they abused her for their projects again and again. And if she hasn’t been rewritten, then they are still using her.Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their plate.