Travel Information

Travel light. One suitcase of up to 20kg (to check in free) and one cabin bag of up to 7kg will satisfy most airlines’ requirements for economy passengers. Some travel companies supply pilgrims with appropriate cabin bags and day bags.

Don’t fill your bags. Leave room for items you may buy on the trip.

Don’t take more than you can comfortably carry or trundle on wheels. Travelling light also makes it easier to keep track of your luggage when it is being loaded on and off buses, and in and out of hotels.

• Suitcase: Clearly label your suitcase inside (name, home address, phone number and destination) and outside (name and destination). Remove old labels. Put a photocopy of your itinerary on top of your clothes.  Attach a sticker, ribbon or other identifier to your suitcase to make it easier to spot.
• Airline security regulations require that checked baggage be unlocked (unless you have approved locks that security personnel can unlock and relock).  Do not pack anything expensive, such as a camera, in your suitcase.
• Cabin bag: Your carry-on bag should contain everything you will need on the way to your destination, such as essential medication or toiletries (but see below about liquids).
• Day bag: A shoulder bag or backpack is extremely useful for a pilgrim. It can carry such items as your Bible (or New Testament), water bottle, any medication you need during the day, sunscreen, insect repellent, wet wipes, a small roll of toilet paper (travel rolls can be bought), hand sanitizer, a small torch, pen and notepad.
• Be prepared for the possibility, however remote, of your checked-in suitcase getting “lost in transit” for a day or two.

Note:  Medically necessary injection needles require a doctor’s note for verification.

Traveling through Israel is NOT a fashion show.

• If you travel to Israel during the cold/cool months – Dress in layers (colder in the morning, warmer in the afternoon), and a coat will be important to take. Jeans are acceptable, and casual, comfortable clothes will be best.
• If you travel to Israel in the summer months, it will be hot. Short sleeves, capris or long shorts that cover the knees are acceptable. To enter holy sites, knees and shoulders need to be covered.

Plan to wear comfortable walking shoes. Water shoes will make your experience in the Jordan and the Dead Sea more comfortable. You will need a swimming suit and a change of clothes for baptism or for floating in the Dead Sea. Also, it is a good idea to bring a small bag for day trips (remember the sun screen, sun hats and sunglasses).

Light, loose-fitting, mix-and-match clothing is the pilgrim’s standby. Think convenience before fashion. Wear layers of clothing that can be shed or replaced at will (cardigans or stoles are handy). Even in summer, a jacket or sweater will be needed in the cool evenings.

Women visiting religious sites in the Middle East should cover legs, cleavage and shoulders (even arms in some mosques). A long skirt in a “cool” fabric is suitable for day or evening wear (and an advantage when using some toilets). Trousers are also acceptable. Eastern Orthodox sites might require women to cover their heads. A light shawl that can serve as a wrap or headscarf is a useful modesty aid.

Men will find that shorts are unacceptable at some religious sites. Men should cover their heads in mosques and synagogues (but not in churches). At some Jewish sites (such as the Western Wall) a kippah (skullcap) is provided free.

Recommended Footwear:

Comfortable walking shoes or sneakers with thick rubber soles are best. Leather or plastic soles can slip on smooth stone surfaces.

Because you will be doing a great deal of walking, often over uneven terrain, wear in your shoes before you leave home.

If you are on regular medication, bring enough for the whole trip and carry at least a week’s supply in your cabin bag. Bring a copy of a prescription as well. Medication should preferably carry pharmacy labels.

In addition, a basic checklist includes medication for:

Diarrhea, headaches, insect bites, stomach upsets and motion sickness, plus bandaids and possibly pressure bandage for ankle or knee.

The electric current in the Israel and Jordan is 220-volt AC, 50Hz cycles.

Sockets in Israel are round-pronged and three-pinned (though many can accept two-pinned plugs). In Jordan, they are round-pronged and two-pinned, though some square, three-pinned British sockets are also used. Adapters should be bought prior to departure.

If your appliance is for 120 volts only (as used in Canada and the United States), you will also need a transformer to avoid damaging your appliance.

Make sure your passport will not expire until at least six months after you return home.

In case documents get lost or stolen, make two photocopies of the following:

• Photocopy the front pages of your passport and your travel documents
• The first two pages of your passport
• Traveler's checks and credit cards
• Airline tickets and itinerary
• Travel insurance details

Leave one copy with a contactable friend at home and take the other with you (separate from the originals) or give it to a friend who is travelling with you.

US dollars are accepted everywhere. It is advisable to bring or use small US bills as you will usually receive your change in Shekels. Check for the current exchange rate, but the dollar is currently strong.

Let your credit card company know you will be in Israel. Credit cards and cash are best for purchases. ATMs are available, as well.

There may be a few restrooms that request 2 shekels (about 50 cents) for the restrooms (Mt. of Beatitudes, St. Anne’s Church, and Capernaum), so you may want to exchange a few dollars to have change.

Sunglasses, sunhat and sunscreen.

Wet wipes, small roll of toilet paper, hand sanitiser, insect repellent.

Small LED torch or pocket lamp and spare battery.

Pens, notebook.

Additional memory card for your digital camera.

Sleeping mask and ear plugs.

Photocopies of all travel documents (and leave another copy with someone at home).

Don’t forget a Bible (or at least a New Testament), preferably the light-weight travelling kind.