Wadi Rum was the shooting place for the Hollywood movie, “The Martian“, and we guess you can see why it was chosen… also been the place for the “Lawrence of the Arabia” shooting!

A few words about Wadi rum

Wadi Rum is a great desert composed of red, yellow, orange and even white colour tones. Huge rocks and mounty surface can be found all over the protected area as well. The desert is located in south Jordan, only a few minutes away from Aqaba city!

T.E Lawrence of Arabia and S.F. Hussein based their headquarters at Wadi Rum desert during the Arab revolt  against the Ottoman in World war I. It also joined the UNESCO world heritage site list under both the natural and cultural significance categories!

The locals and authentic inhabitants of Wadi Rum are called Bedouins and they have an extremely interesting lifestyle which derives from ancient history of Jordan. They live in a small village while some of them own tents and camps for the visitors and travellers (find out more details below for cheap overnight and the most amazing way to experience Wadi rum).

wadi rum desert jordan

Useful info before visiting Wadi Rum

• To enter Wadi Rum area you must buy tickets at Visitors Center, which will cost you 5 jod per person.
• To reach the tents you need some local guide to take you there (you can hire a 4×4 vehicle together with driver and/or guide), the tents are several kilometres away where you can not go by your own vehicle which has to be parked at the parking area just after you have passed  Visitors center.
• The prices of the onsite bargain can be much higher than the other alternative which is to pre book prior arrival, of your staying and your touring, as we did.
• Desert at night is quite cold so get suitable clothes either you are staying in a camp or under the stars!
  
• Wadi Rum is a natural reserve so  dont expect any restaurants (there is one at the visitors center but its not inside the main desert area) just indulge your senses to local traditional food.

Activities and experiences in Wadi Rum

1. Overnight in a Bedouin tent  (choose among a simple or a luxury tent or even sleep under the stars depending on your budget and mood).
2. Try local traditional Bedouin food.
3. Desert Safari jeep tour
4. Endless hiking in a unique scenery with unlimited trails and choices to create the itinerary that suits you best (you can choose from half a day tour up to multiday staying which includes hiking every day and overnighting at different places in the desert, even in the white one, which needs more days to be explored than the red one).
5. Ride on camels or horses (we did not tried it as you already know, but its up to you).
6. Trekking in canyons and finding oasis.
7. Sandboarding (cool, isnt it?)
   
8. Walking tours

Our experience in Wadi Rum

To those of you who decide to explore Wadi rum we recommend our friend Salem, local Bedouin, raised in this unique desert, ready to show you around the most beautiful places of Wadi Rum!

Why Choose Salem

1. Firstly, because he’s a local Bedouin, which means he knows the area better than anyone, and he owns tents, which also means that you book directly from him.
2. Secondly, we have a personal experience that is totally positive and thus he is highly recommended by us.
3. Last but not least because you can have the itinerary that suits you better. Just share your input info with Salem eg. traveling days, arrival time, number of travelers, budget etc. and he ll prepare the most exciting itinerary for you including the overnight staying at his camp!

Itinerary ideas in Wadi rum

The itineraries you could try are countless, so we just mention some of them and of course you can adapt them accordingly!

• Experience Half day safari tour and a mini hiking (you can include walking tour, camel riding etc.)
  
• Walking Tour in Desert (also can adapt any other activities you wish)
  
• Experience One day safari tour and hiking trails (same here)
  
• Experience multiday Safari Tours and hiking trails to white and red desert including overnight sleeping at different spots (this must be the ultimate experience while talking about deserts and its certainly an experience we ll come back again to join!)
  

Extra hint: in summer prices are lower!

wadi rum desert jordan

Itinerary example of the sites you can ask Salem to plan for you

From Wadi Rum your guide will first go by jeep to visit Lawrence Spring. Then you will go to see the map then the sand dunes, a large area of sand dunes accumulating on the mountains. It’s fun to climb then race. You will have about half an hour in this area to climb and explore the sand dunes, and then you will go to see the ancient inscriptions. After seeing the inscriptions left by the old commercial caravans, you will travel to see the house of Lawrence and then you will go to see the famous mushroom stone, which is named because of the composition of natural rocks formed over many years and then we will stop for lunch after that you will go to the adventure of Mahama Canyon.

wadi rum desert jordan

A self-guided trail will be dropped on one side and collected at the other end, followed by the Umm Fruth Bridge (about 20 meters high), one of the favorite crowds, allowing you to enjoy fun and fun. Then you will go to see the Little Rock Bridge and then you will go to see Mount Khazali Canyon, a tour between the walls of the valley decorated with ancient rock inscriptions and paintings by the Nabataean people and the Samoud where you can walk inside to see the inscriptions.

You end up in the camp, where you can enjoy the stunning sunsets. After sunset, you will enjoy a delicious Bedouin meal

The overnight stay in the desert

Your overnight stay is perfectly safe in a wonderful and incredibly peaceful part of the desert away from the whole world and other camp tents. The tents are comfortable, have beds and everything necessary to keep you warm during evening. There is a large tent overlooking the desert where you will enjoy your breakfast and dinner and of course communal toilets and showers. If you wish so, Salem can provide you with brand new sleeping bags as well.

Always keep in mind that we are talking about desert, so what is worth there is experiencing a real taste of the desert, beyond the ordinary!

Take a look at our photos, read our adventures in Jordan, get inspired and get ready! It is a very exciting and unforgettable experience and hiking  will make it even more adventurous. Prices are low, considering that staying at tents prices start at 10€!  Prices for the tour are very affordable as well regarding for what they offer and include!

Salem: My name is Salem. I was born in the desert. All my life, I grew up in the village of Wadi Rum and in the desert. The red and white sand dunes were my playground. I have been working in tourism since a very young age and I love my sharing what it is like to live in the desert. I always want tourists to feel home and to really experience the bedouin lifestyle. This is why I created wadi rum fun tours with the help of my bedouin family, to help you have a real and unforgettable experience in the Protected Wadi Rum desert of Jordan.

Contact Salem directly, mention NONSTOPTRAVELLERS and let him help you prepare properly or with us to give you some more inspiration about iconic Wadi Rum desert!

wadi rum

The post DISCOVER THE ICONIC WADI RUM DESERT IN JORDAN appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

But why is Jordan so famous? Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Amman and Aqaba are the strongest highlights of the country! But let’s go find out our trip in details, information about visa, transportation, cost and sightseeing!

Jordan roadtrip petra

A few words about Jordan

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan or simply Jordan is a state of the Middle East. It borders Syria to the north, Iraq to the northeast, Saudi Arabia to the east and south, and Israel and the West Bank (the Jordan, an area occupied before 1967 and occupied by Israel) to the West. It shares with Israel the coastlines of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea. The main religion of Jordan is Islam and the main (official) Arabic language.

Travel itinerary in Jordan

Itinerary in few lines

• Airport Alia Airport – Petra 203 km (2.38 ‘)
• Petra – Wadi Rum 112 km (1.46 ‘)
• Wadi Rum – Dead Sea 295 km (4 hours)
• Dead Sea – Amman 65 km (1 hour)
• Amman – Airport

Jordan roadtrip petra wadi rum

Jordan itinerary

Day One

On first day we landed at Queen Alia Airport in Amman on a low-cost flight (see costs below), the other option is to land at Aqaba Airport so you will follow the opposite program of ours! We had already rented a car so our vehicle was waiting for us outside the airport. After we completed the standard procedures we departed to Petra and to the village of Wadi Musa. The journey time is around 2.40 hours.

At Wadi Musa we found easily our accommodation’s location which was very central and had many restaurants nearby and was only a 4 minute drive away from the entrance of Petra! There is also the option to stay right next to Petra’s entrance and walk just for 4 minutes. There is also the option to stay at the entrance of the village in order to enjoy the view of the whole area but prices are higher there of course! After we ate at Beit Al Barakah and we got some traditional sweets from the bakery we headed to Petra to enjoy the evening show Petra by Night candles show. For our experience there and useful information read more here.

Day two

Second day, waking up and departing towards Petra! In 4 minutes we were in front of the entrance next to the museum. The size of the whole area is huge so get ready for a lot of walking, hiking and even climbing! Overall we stayed there for 9 hours and that is only beacuse we had to depart to the Wadi rum. Read all the information you need to explore Petra with a special map, times and prices in our Petra blog post. Lunch time at Beit Al Barakah and departure to Wadi Rum.

Extra Tip Before leaving the village, stop and enjoy the panoramic view of the area where the # ? Petra sigh is.

After a couple of hours driving and a fantastic ride full of used tires on the roadside, countless trucks, sandstorms and desert views we arrived at Wadi Rum Visitors Center where you have to get tickets and then enter the site either with a guide who you find on the spot or with your vehicle if you have arranged a local driver to be waiting inside for you. Having seen the prices (see below) and from personal experience we can tell you that prices are lower if you pre book eg. Via Internet, as we did, rather that get a guuide over there. Salem, was waiting for us, a Bedouin born in the village of Wadi Rum, owner of Bedouin tents for rent and organizer of experiences and hiking in the desert. We were tranferred to our tents (you cannot go on your own, either ways have to book a tour guide).

Jordan roadtrip petra

Day three

The night before, as well as the morning we experienced in the desert was a magic time for us! We had experienced a similar experience in the Monument Valley desert  in the country of Navajo but the scenery here was also truly unreal, like a storyline from Mars. Morning found us waking up with a flock of camels that were all around our tent!

Read all you need to know about entering, staying and organizing experiences at Wadi Rum here!

We spent half the day exploring the desert, climbing hills of sand, feeding camels, hiking in canyons, sipping tea with Bedouins and eating in the middle of nowhere, lunch!

We said goodbye to Salem and Wadi rum (we will definitely return there though) and started our trip to Amman. The route is just uncomparable as it includes villages, towns, deserts, fields, mountain, countless camels, solar parks and of course the Dead Sea on the Jordan side this time (the side of Israel has been explored on our previous journey). After about 5 hours a stop at the Dead Sea for a  quick dive we arrived in Amman (attention while driving).

Day four

Awakening in the capital of Jordan, Amman, and waiting for the friend and old classmate in Thessaloniki city, Sofian, who offered to meet and take us around in his city! Those of you who don’t have Sofian can easily move around with Uber, almost all routes cost about 1.5 dollars, while going to the airport depending on where you are, of course, will cost you about $20 (price from West Amman to the Alia airport). After seeing the points of interest that we outlined below our friend, transferred us to the airport for our departure.

Things to do in Amman

First of all, you cannot imagine how many hills this city has! For food and coffee visit Rainbow Street and Jabal Al Lweibdeh. Amman is the capital of Jordan, and its a quite modern and prosperous city!

Tourist attractions in Amman:

• King Abdullah Mosque
• Amman Citadel
• King Hussein Mosque
• Jordanian Museum
• The Royal Automobile Museum
• Jordan Archaeological Museum
• Jordan Museum of Popular traditions
• Jordan river  and baptism site (few miles from Amman)

How much does a trip to Jordan cost? Prices per person

• Air Tickets €10 Roundtrip
• Car Rental €70 (3 days)
• Food €30
• Accommodation €50 (3 days)
• Visa Jordan Pass 75 JOD
• Candle Show 17 JOD
• Souvenirs €5

Is it safe to travel to Jordan?

Having traveled to various countries that may not be considered as safe ones as others, and except the fact that special attention must be payed during driving (it has many roundabouts) we can confidently say that especially in tourist places there is no sense or even suspicion of fear. The residents are completely familiar with the tourists!

Jordan roadtrip petra

Transports in Jordan

For the transportation we rented a car but there are certainly other options such as public transportation or taxis or organized tours. You can find more information here, but for example taking a taxi from the airport to Petra costs over 80 dollars per vehicle.

Do you need a visa for Jordan?

Yes! The first option is to get a visa at the airport (40 jod) while the other option is to pre buy a Jordan pass with which you have free entry to various attractions including Petra, comes out in 3 editions and is issued online (does not replace the visa just comes out cheaper and waves your visa fees). For the Jordan Pass click here, and for the sights included click here!

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The post ROADTRIP IN JORDAN – A TRIP TO THE MIDDLE EAST appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

A few words about Petra of Jordan

It is a whole city that spreads in a huge area near the village of Wadi Musa. Its name means “The one that has been carved” and dates back to about one century B.C.

It was the capital of the Empire of Nabataeans, then merged with the Roman Empire and later suffered damages due to an earthquake that led to its decline. It was a main commercial centre between Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Petra turned out to be a deserted area which was inhabited until today by Bedouins. In 1812 was re discovered by explorer of the West and since then it is the basic attraction of Jordan.

Petras most famous monument The Treasury appears dramatically at the end of the Siq. Used in the final sequence of the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, thsi is only the first one of the several secrets of Petra! (Map below)

It’s also known the lost city rediscoverd in 1812 by the westerns and the rose – red city.

petra jordan the siq

Basic Trails in Petra Guide

Here you will find almost all if not all hiking trails in Petra. The times are approximate and the degrees of difficulty as well! Generally speaking all trails  are easy for the average visotor as we witnessed it. The most difficult are those that lead to the monastery and the ascent to see the Treasury from above! If you dare it, however, the difficulty lies in the fact of duration in combination with the rocky environment.

Starting Point Visitors Center

• Main Trail Total 8 km (4 hours) degree of difficulty: moderate
• Main Trail 30 minutes (one way) degree of difficulty: easy
• The Treasury Viewpoint Trail 1.50 Hour (two ways)
• The High place of sacrifice trail 30 minutes (one way) degree of difficulty: difficult
• Wadi Farasa Trail 1 hour (one way)
• The Monastery Trail 1.5 hours (two ways) difficulty degree: Hard
• Al Khubtha Trail 3.5 km (2-2.30 Hours) degree of difficulty: difficult

Petra, the capital of the Nabateans

For more hiking

Those of you who enjoy hiking will definitely enjoy the adventure in Petra as it has many paths. You need to be prepared properly having chosen your routes prior arrival because there is no good signage, many times you just look for black arrows painted on stones!

The view of the Treasury from above is only possible by hiking. There are three options, one lasts for 10 minutes, the other one for 1 hour and the third one for 1.30 hour g and it is the one with the higher difficulty level. Guess which one we tried!

Petra map

See here the map and all points of interest!

Trekking in Petra at points of interest

Get ready for a full day hiking, equip yourself with comfortable shoes, a hat and a good mood! We suggest you to get the Jordan pass option for two days if you have time or you will spend all day hiking in the area of Petra, like we did!

• Bab Al Siq
• The Dam
• The Siq
• The Treasury (Al Khazna)
• The Street of Facades
• High Place of Sacrifice
• The Theatre
• The Royal Tombs
• The Nymphaneum
• The Church
• The Colonnaded Street
• Great Temple
• Qasr Al Bint
• The Lion Triclinium
• Ad Deir (Monastery)

Services you will find in Petra

• Visitors Center Here you can buy tickets (those of you who  do not have Jordan pass)
• Museum
• Tour
• Cafes
• Restaurants
• Toilets
• Carriages
• Camels
• Horses

Petra by night and the candle show

On every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday you can enjoy Petra at night and a show with homemade candles! Personally we didn’t like it at all, it’s very expensive (17 JOD), it has no limited tickets, it’s not even a show, the audience keeps coming, making noise and photographing with flash for all the two hours that theoretically lasts the show And generally you don’t enjoy the monument at all, you just wait for the time to pass so that you leave. What we liked is the atmosphere during our entrance to the Treasury and hiking through Siq under the stars and not so much the candle show itself. For more information,  read here.

Entrance fees

The first option is for those of you you who have a Jordan pass, for you the entrance to Petra is included. You simply choose between a day’s entry or two consecutive days. For the rest, the entrance fees start at 50 jod but they depend of some factors like if you are an accomodated traveller in Jordan for many days or not, so check out all options here.

To conclude, the exploration of Petra was a unique experience, certainly different from many other monuments that we have visited before. If you find yourself in Jordan do not miss to visit the red city!  Read the itinerary we created and followed, get ideas for light traveling because you do not need to carry much with you and prepare for one of the most amazing travels!

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You can start your travelling in Vietnam from Hanoi its capital city! You ll arrive at Noi Bai International. We suggest that you choose a central hotel, which is quite cheap and in walkable distance to the city’s highlights. First day take a rest guys and explore the city by yourself! Discover the market area Dong Xuan Market or the night market Hang Dao. There are a lot of trully cheap hostels centrally located but it wasnt an option for us since we didnt like the district where they are located.

vietnam hanoi

Day 2

On the second day you can visit the Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and his former residence, the one Pillar Pagoda and the Quan Thanh Temple. Before travelling make sure you have checked the opening hours and days. You can also visit other sites on the same day such us the Temple of literature, Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake. Between those visits you can try having a cyclo tour and in the evening you can watch a Water Pupper Show for some Vietnamese folklore art.

vietnam hanoi

Day 3

Third day must be spent at Hallong Bay and enjoy a cruise discovering this amazing  natural beauty! The name Hạ Long means “descending dragon”. Administratively, the bay belongs to Ha Long City, Cam Pha City, and is a part of Van Don District. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various shapes and sizes.

vietnam hanoi

Day 4

Book a fight to Danang airport and arrive at Hoi An. Start exploring this colourful place, its quite small and more touristic that Hanoi. You ll see the difference immediately. Visit old markets, old houses, silk factories and get some info about the floods! If you are visiting Hoi An on full moon you ll get the chance to enjoy a beautiful festival thta takes place. On that noght people put some candles into the river and make wishes!

vietnam hanoi

vietnam hoi an

Day 5

You cant leave Hoi An without visiting a traditional house of a close village. Visit the countryside ask for the families that use to accommodate and take around tourists and spend half day with them. Ask them if you could eat with them and feel like a local!

Day 6

Last city visited must be Ho Chi Minh or Saigon! Again our first day advise is to walk around the city on your own without any planning. This is a big city with too much noise and scooters all over the place! We liked a lot the flea market Ben Than Market where you ll definetely get lost! Watch out for your stuff, its really overcrowded over there! Yu can also visit Reunification Palace, War Remnants Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. Later explore the bay area!

vietnam hoi an

Day 7

One of the most unique experiences in Vietnam is visiting the Cu chi tunnels the iconic area of whole Vietnam. Stay awake while driving to the tunnels and look at the spectacular rise fields! The tunnels of Củ Chi are an immense network of connecting underground tunnels located in the Củ Chi District of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, and are part of a much larger network of tunnels that underlie much of the country. The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong’s base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968. he tunnels were used by Viet Cong soldiers as hiding spots during combat, as well as serving as communication and supply routes, hospitals, food and weapon caches and living quarters for numerous North Vietnamese fighters. The tunnel systems were of great importance to the Viet Cong in their resistance to American forces, and helped to counter the growing American military effort.

Day 8

Last but not least you can visiti the Mekong Delta this peaceful place and a small town called Ben Tre.You will get lost into jungles, rivers, canals. You will meet local people who are really hospitable, share theri stories and even have some lunch with them. Try local flavours, they are really great! A great fact about Mekong river is that it is a trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia. It is the world’s twelfth longest riverand the seventh longest in Asia. Its estimated length is 4,350 km, and it drains an area of 795,000 km² , discharging 475 km³  of water annually. From the Tibetan Plateau the river runs through China’s Yunnan Province, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Food ideas at Hanoi (proposed by a local to us):

• Street food (Pho, Cha lua, Cha gio, Cha ca)
• Madame Hien Restaurant
• Lý Club Hanoi
• Wild rice

Useful info:

• Vietnam’s currency is Dong (VND) and Credit cards are generally accepted.
• Carry small money on you.
• Tipping is a common thing to do when in Vietnam, everyone expects you to tip them!
• Watch out when it comes to street food.
• Only drink bottled water and stay hydrated.
• Bargain at the markets! Everyone expects you to do so!
• Always respect the locals.
• Transportation: rickshaw rides or cyclo (always negotiate first) and taxis (prefer the green ones).

The post TRAVEL IN VIETNAM FOR 8 DAYS appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

israel

How to reach Tel Aviv from Ben Gurion Airport

The shuttle bus transfer service from Ben Guron to Tel Aviv and back is one of the most convenient and cheapest ways to reach from the airport to the city. From the airport to Tel Aviv buses run from $19 per person each way. The shuttle service is available 24/7 free of charge, so travellers can choose a time of pick-up that relates to their time of arrival, i.e. less waiting time at the airport. More information can be found here!

Israel’s railways connect all trains to Israel with Ben Gurryon Airport (Terminal 3) and trains have frequent connections to Tel Aviv from Ben Guron Airport, however, you should know that the stations in Tel Aviv Is on the edge of town and a bus/taxi is required to reach almost all hotels unless you walk! We chose train to go from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport and bus from the airport to Jerusalem.

tel aviv israel

Everything you need to see in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a pedestrian friendly city, so first we suggest you try a walking tour! The points of interest are:

• Clock Tower
• Old Jaffa
• Old Port
• Andromedas Rock
• Flea Market
• Suzzanne Delal Center
• Beach
• Neve Tzedek
• White City (Bauhaus architecture)
• St Peters Church
• Rithschild Blvd
• Carmel Market
• Dizengoff Square
• Habima Square
• Tel Aviv Museum

tel aviv israel old jaffa

What to do in Tel Aviv

Bike or electric scooter on the beach!

How Safe is to travel to Tel Aviv?

As safe and dangerous as any other trip! If you are particularly concerned about safety issues, we would advise you to go to places where you will feel even placebelly more comfortable! On the other hand see it as a challenge! But Do not forget that these issues are many times real only in our minds and of course there is life in these cities too, people who live their daily lives as you do in your own country! Israel has a lot of police and army in the streets and is considered to be a rather safe country to visit on the basis of security systems.

tel aviv israel

Accommodation-Where to stay in Tel Aviv

Israel in general is an expensive city! So the accommodation will cost you something morethan the usual! We chose the hostel Florentine backpackers and we were very happy about it! We Had the chance on our excursion to Masada with Touristisrael to meet two travellers from Greece with whom by chance we stayed at the same hostel and we met better, the one of them Cali can be met on her bike somewhere in the world cycling!

Food-Exit

For The food choice we will suggest you what we said in our post about Jerusalem. We ate like thousands falafels and a lot of hummus! The Best falafel we found accompanied by 2 salads is here!

For your nightlife exit you have many choices since the whole city center has fantastic bars! In General Tel Aviv is a very lively city, has many young people on the streets, is very gay friendly and generally very advanced with the positive point of view!  Follow the streets Yizkhak Yediya Frenkel and Nahalat Binyamin Streer and you will find many interesting bars for all tastes!

tel aviv israel

And four things for the end…

• One element that may surprise you is that you will see all over the city women soldiers, as army is obligatory for everyone!
• Download the Gett application to have it in case you need to move and send the link to friends to get 5 free routes!
• One of the characteristics of the city is that it is full of graffiti, something that gives it special character and color!
• Finally, do not forget to go to the old Jaffa and find the spot with panoramic views across the beach of Tel Aviv!

For your trip to Tel Aviv we will not recommend any special program as you can actually find all the above attractions on foot. It is Also a city where you will go for a weekend and not for some special historical background etc. So you don’t need a program! We warn You that the distances are really long and you will need enough time to reach from one area to another!

The post VISIT TEL AVIV – ATTRACTIONS AND THINGS TO DO appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

It is almost 7.45 in the morning, we are on time at the rendezvous point and we are already getting to know our fellow travelers and our tour guide, all  gathering together, full of excitement about the adventure that is about to begin. So, lets descend together through the Judean Desert below sea level to the lowest region on Earth…

israel dead sea lowest point on earth

Masada

First stop the Masada National Park! After we crossed the extraordinary landscape of Judean Desert having to our left the Dead Sea and on our right those wild mountains and rocks we arrived at the Museum of the National Park of Masada. The fun fact of the case is that in order to reach the fortress we had to get a cable car. Masada can be reached on the east via road 90 by cable car or the snake path, or on the west via Atad and the ramp path. We ascended Masada via the cable car and explored with our guide the ruins of King Herod’s palace and the fortified site which is a symbol of heroism in Jewish history and Israeli society.

israel dead sea lowest point on earth

It is very difficult to describe the incredible view that we got to see up there, it is something that one have to experience himself in order to feel the greatness of the place and imprint it in his mind. A multi-level fortress made for King Herod with many points of interest which we got to meet during the interesting guided tour. Find a few moments on your own to feel the breeze and the sun and enjoy a view beyond any imagination.

Make sure you have a hat with you because it has enough sun and the whole Masada is really huge to visit it al from side to side. Facing down rom the fortress you will see the snake trail the path that can lead you to the Masada but we left it for our next time there! You can try however the Masada Sunrise Ein Gedi and Dead Sea tour which arrives at Masada at sunrise so it is also ideal time for a hike (the descent takes about 30 minutes, the ascent exceeds one hour). The way down was again by getting the cable car offering us even more incredible views!

Ein Gedi

Second stop at the Oasis Nature Reserve Ein Gedi (Spring of the Kid (young goat) “). Leaving behind us the Masada we stop for a short hike to get to a real oasis! During the hike you will meet amazing little creatures and birds so keep an eye out! There are a lot of trails over there for the lovers of trekking (eg. Wadi David, the ancient synagogue rtc.)! After we passed two or maybe three small waterfalls we reached the point of Oasis Ein Gedi. Incomparable beauty and only the sound of water that falls so unique in the desert was heard… Sit on one of the rocks in order to enjoy the view and the momentum of the water, nourish yourself a bit and if you feel thirsty do not hesitate to drink some.

Dead Sea

Third Stop the Dead Sea! A sea with 24% more salt than the average sea water and you can understand that this is the main reason that it is very difficult for any organism to survive there. Its surface is located about 400 meters below the surface of the Mediterranean sea, which makes it the lowest point of surface on the mainland of the whole world! From the side of Israel you can see the mountains of Jordan, which is located on the other shore only a few miles away! Stopping on the banks of the Dead Sea includes two great adventures that you should definitely try! First one is to let yourself float in the salty water which because of salt won’t let you go easily down. The second one is the mud. It’s a lot of fun, grab some mud on your hands and spread it all over you! Be careful not to taste it though just float on the waters of the Dead Sea, and bathe in the muds.

On the way to the tour Masada, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea and More

On our way we had also the chance to see (time permitted):

• The Sea level instagrammable point
• The oldest and lowest city in the world, Jericho, and the mountain of Temptation
• The place where the Dead Sea manuscripts were found in Qumran

israel masada

The itinerary in a few lines:

• 06:30 – Pickup from Tel Aviv
• 07:45 – Pickup from Jerusalem
• 09:30 – Arrival to Masada. Ascend via the cable car and explore the site with a guided tour
• 11:45 – Ein Gedi. Hike in this beautiful nature reserve, a desert oasis, with guide
• 14:00 – Dead Sea. Enjoy floating in the waters and immersing in muds of this uniques place, the lowest on Earth. Free time for lunch
• 16:30 – Depart from the Dead Sea
• 17:30 – Arrival back in Jerusalem
• 18:30 – Arrival back in Tel Aviv
  NB – all timings are approximate

This was our adventurous experience in the desert of Judea in the south of Israel offered by Touristisrael. For more information about the tour we joined or other tours that you can try in Israel and not only, you can definetely trust Touristisrael. Our experience was really beautiful and fantastic at the same time. We hope that we manage to travel you to Israel through our day trip excursion and we are looking forward to seeing your adventures in Israel soon!

Thank you Touristisrael for the unforgettable experience!

The post MASADA, EIN GEDI, DEAD SEA AND MORE TOUR BY TOURISTISRAEL appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

From Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and even beyond, the emotions and images are alternating and vary a lot. Through this post we want to help and inspire every traveler who wishes to travel to Israel to do it right away and we do not intend to comment in anyways the situation regarding the Palaistine.

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Our travel schedule in general (For detailed information please visit our detailed posts)

Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, a modern city with great technological achievements and high growth rates when it come s to economy terms, is a seaside town with its skyscrapers, modern areas for young people and a glimpse of the old town located at the old port. A beautiful city full of wonderful graffiti, countless shops, cafes and bars, with bicycles and electric skates and a well-groomed beach that fits perfectly in the urban profile of the city while respecting pedestrians, tourists and our little friends, pets. More information about Tel Aviv, places to eat and drink and points of interest can be found in our detailed post about Tel Aviv!

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Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a city that is on the east side of Israel. It’s considered to be… The Mecca of Christianity! The Holy land for Christian believers! There lies the most important “symbol ” of Christianity, the Church of Holy Sepulcher. In the same city, however, there is a plethora of both Christian symbols of faith (Orthodox, Coptic and Catholic), Jewish and Islamic. All located at four quarters inside the old city of Jerusalem. That’s exactly what made us a positive impression in this place. The peaceful coexistence of so many heterogeneous elements of religious (generally of course the region has gone through a lot of conflicts). Visit our post about  Jerusalem to find out everything you need to know before your travel there.

bethlehem palestine

Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a small town located only 15 minutes from Jerusalem by car. It is known all over the world because it is the place where Jesus Christ was born at the Church of Nativity. Of course it has too many points of interest amd the most interesting fact is perhaps that Bethlehem is located in Palestinian territories… Crossing the borders of Palestine with a passport, of course, you enter another world and you cannot keep away any emotions when you see the wall that is built along the Palestinian territories by Israel. Read more in our post about Palestine and Bethlehem and the comments are all yours.

Masada Ein Gedi and Dead Sea
A one day excursion to one of the most beautiful natural landscapes we have ever seen! Check out our adventures in the area and find out how you can easily move there with Touristisrael.

Jericho

Jericho is also a city located on Palestinian territory. It is the oldest and lowest city in the world and its history begins in biblical times! There you can ascend to the mount of temptation via a telepherique (Jericho cable car, prebook your tickets coz its cgeaper). You can visit the cave swhere Christ lived for 40 days and nights. Enjoy the views.

Dead Sea

The Dead Sea, this extraordinary sea with the unbelievably salty water 24% more than the sea water, attracts millions of travelers. You’ve all seen the effects of awesome buoyancy and tourist photos floating comfortable on it! You’ve also all seen the smattering with mud! More information about the visit to the Dead Sea can be found in our relevant post.

Our itinerary in Israel

Day 1 – Jerusalem

Day 2 – Bethlehem – Jericho – Qumran-Galilee

6:00 Jerusalem-Bethlehem 30 minutes

6:30 Bethlehem (Palestine) – 1 hour there

• Church of the Cave of the Nativity
• Infant Cave (Herod)
• Shepherds Village
• Bethlehem-Qumran 1.30 Time – 1 hour there

7:30 Bethlehem-9:00 Jericho 1.30 time (lowest and oldest city in the world) 1.30 time there

• Cable car 16 Jericho cable cars to temptation mount-View Momonastery Deir al Kntl
• Hishams Palace

10.30 Jericho-12.30 Galilean – North Israel – Nazareth 2.3 Road (Palestinian road check)

30 Nazareth (Church of the Annunciation 20 minutes-12:50 departure
13:00 1 hour food Nazareth Mahroum (Knafe Sweets) – Alsheik (Eat) 14:00 departure
14:35-in the Desert Saints caves 20 minutes there 14:55 departure
15:40-Ascent Mount Tabor (Monastery on Mount) 20 minutes there 16:00 departure
16:50-Cana (Monastery of St. George)

17:30 Kapernaum (Capernaum Synagogue-Holy Apostles Monastery – Jesus healed the paralyzed) 15 minutes 17:45 Departure
Tiveriada (lake-Boat)-Lake Gennesaret Sea Gennesaret (we see it as we go Capernaum) departure
17:45 return Jerusalem 2.30 hours Road-20:15

3rd day Masada, Ein Gedi and Dead Sea by Touristisrael

• Read our detailed itinerary with Touristisrael 59 euro
• Masada 18.5 Euro
• Eni Gedi 7 Euro
• Dead Sea (included in 59 Euro Kalia beach entrance 8 Euro with umbrella and shower (get a newspaper for photography)

Day 4, Tel Aviv

• Avenue Rosfield-Nachlat pedestrian street or bike
• Carmel Market
• Jaffa Old Town-old Port
• Nevé Jedek
• Check out the amazing bars in the area

israel masada

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The Dead Sea first of all is very very salty, its salt exceeds 24% of the salt of a normal sea. With this level of salt, therefore, it is particularly difficult for organisms and plants to survive over there. Other than that there are some further interesting facts about Dead sea! Lets find them out!

dead sea

The Dead Sea:

• It’s a lake.
• Its the lowest place on earth.
• It is Surrounded by Israel, Jordan and Palestine.
• It Is a natural border between Israel and Jordan.
• It has 24-30% more salt than the Mediterranean sea.
• Its width is relatively small, so from one bank you can see the borders of the country beyond.
• Each year it is reduced by 1 metre.
• Because of the salt presents great buoyancy that keeps the body high on its surface.
• It’s full of black mud, perfect for a mud bath!
• It Has private beaches with showers, changing rooms, food and drinks and you pay an entrance of about €8 to enter the facilities.
• There are points that you can approach byyourself the sea but they are not easily accessible.
• From the side of Israel just drive along the banks and as soon as you find a local taking his bath, park your car and take a bath. On the Jordan side find the correct coordinates that will lead you to the sea and enjoy your bath byyourself.
• On summer months it gets especially warm and therefore it is not so enjoyable.
• If you visit it by yourself take with you plenty of water because… theres so much salt that you ll get to pain without washing your body after taking a bath.
• The taste it… cannot be described, but its aweful!
• Two are the must do for those who visit the Dead sea. One is to take a picture while floating and holding a newspaper. And the second one is to enjoy a mud-bath! Dont forget to bring your swimming suit and a towel!

You Reach the banks of the Dead Sea either by car or by an organized tour like the one we chose, Masada, Ein Gedi and Dead Sea by Touristisrael! On the Israeli side, right on the last turn before the beach you will see an entire village full of abandoned buildings which are full of creative graffiti. It Is an old army camp which has been transformed into a unique space of expression and creation.

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bethlehem palestine

How to get from Jerusalem to Palestine

What is usually said by both locals and travel blogs is that anyone wants to visit Palestine needs to join an organized group or get a tour guide who will leave them on the side of Israel, and then after crossing  by yourselves the borders they will meet the Palestinian guide on the other side of the wall! Admission to Israeli people Is forbidden, as well as israeli rented cars!

The second option is to take a bus that starts from the Damascus gate costs little and passes you across the checkpointt 300 then you need to walk or take a taxi.

bethlehem palaistine

The third and best solution according to us is the one we followed and has the peculiarity that you have the time to witness this strange experience on your own without any time pressure  and walk along the wall where you will see some very interesting graffiti with political and not only comments. So if you plan on making a car day trip, begin your trip by your car, reach the check Point 300 find some outdoor parking at the side street and leave there the car (Israeli security does not cover the car entrance to Palestine). Walk for around 500 feet and cross the borders. On the way back, you and your bags and your passport will pass security checks. Don’t forget to take your passport and visa  with you!

Bethlehem

We crossed the border on foot and we walked along the wall towards the city. We will avoid making any comments that have nothing to do with the purpose of our travel blog so we share some photos and you can make your own assumptions.

Outside the Temple of the Nativity you will see too many people waiting in line, we recommend that you take a guide just outside the church who will lead you faster within the temple, the price is negotiable. Most people speak Greek and not only so don’t be surprised listening to  languages other than english! Visit The Nativity Temple!

Later cross the street and find yourself at the central square of Bethlehem, get a map from the Museum of Bethlehem and walk towards the alleys of the market  amongst local people. Personally we always like to see the life of the city as the locals do to taste their country’s flavors and walk in their neighborhoods so that we can blend within their everyday life. Do it fearlessly but with respect, especially women do not forget that you are in Islamic neighborhoods. In the end grab a taxi, negotiate the price  and get yourself to the borders finishing your experience in Bethlehem peacefully.

Our experience of the passage to Palestine, the city behind the wall, was unique for many reasons and we would not like to expand further on that, we simply suggest you to visit it., either alone or with a group. We have not encountered any problems whatsoever, neither in the city nor at the borders!

The post PALAISTINE – A VISIT BEHIND THE ISRAELI WEST BANK WALL appeared first on Nonstoptravellers.

Visa for Israel

The visa to enter and stay in Israel comes out as soon as you arrive at the airport. Beware only because the passport is not stamped but they give you a paper instead which you should not miss especially if you are going to enter Palestine territories.

jerusalem israel

How to get from Ben Gurion Tel Aviv Airport to Jerusalem

The first option is to take the 485 bus outside the airport. The bus is located on the Platform 3 on the 2nd floor at gate 23 and takes about 50 minutes to reach Jerusalem. It makes around six stops so check out the one that suits you best.

The second one is by train, the new fast train of Israel which in just 20 minutes will reach you to Jerusalem. At the airport, search the counter in green colour, take out a RAV Kav card and scroll quickly and easily.

From Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport take the bus from 220 Jaffa Street-16ils

How to get from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem bus 480, 405

Things to do and see in Jerusalem

Quarters

• Christian Quarter
• Jewish Quarter
• Islamic District
• Armenian Quarter

jerusalem israel

Via Dolorosa

After the many cultural changes that took place in the area over the centuries, 14 stops of Christ Golgotha were established:

1. Praetorium. The place of the death sentence of Jesus.
2. Praetorium. Jesus receives the cross.
3. Corner of El Ouad Street the first fall of Jesus due to the weight of the cross.
4. Armenian Catholic Chapel. According to the folklore tradition, the meeting of Jesus and his mother was held there.
5. House of Simon of Cyrenaean. The Roman soldiers are on the job to carry the cross for a few meters
6. The house of Veroniki. According to legend (The Veil of Veronica), Saint Veronica wipes with her veil the face of Jesus and is depicted in it miraculous the image of his face.
7. Gate of conviction in the Latin chapel where the second fall of Jesus took place.
8. Jesus meets and comforts the daughters of Jerusalem entering the Church of Resurrection where the third fall of Jesus was held.
9. East of the Holy Court
10. Chapel of Armenians and Syrians, where Jesus is stripped to begin the process of crucifixion.
11. Golgotha outside the chapel of the Latin Calvary
12. Golgotha outside the chapel of the Greek Orthodox
13. Point where Jesus was taken off the cross.
14. Holy Tomb

Shopping – markets

• Yeluda
• Old city markets
• AD Dabbagha Market
• Beit Habad Streets
• The three markets
• Signs of an interesting

jerusalem israel

Places of interest

• Alexander Nevskjy church
• Arch of The Virgin Mary
• Armenian monastery
• Christ Church
• Church of the holy Sepulchre
• Church of the redeemer
• Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
• Greek Catholin Patriarchate
• Room of the last Supper
• St James cathedral
• The Greek orthodox patriarchate
• Via dolorosa
• Kings David tomb
• The western wall
• The temple mount – All Haram Al sharif
• Al Aqsa mosque
• Dome of the rock
• Tower of David museum
• Yad Vasem museum

Watch our video to have an idea about Jerusalem!

Gates

• Golden Gate
• Damascus Gate
• Dung Gate
• Herods Gate
• Jaffa Gate
• Lions Gate
• New Gate
• Zion Gate

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Food-coffee-night life

For food, its all about falafel of course! You will find it everywhere fried in large cauldrons with colorful vegetables waiting to be served along with the falafel. The prices are a bit pinched but they will leave you satisfied.

For breakfast try either the sweet yellow fluffy buns that you will find by street vendors being sold or visit the wonderful bakery we discovered in the Islamic quarter. Just take the road to Herods gate! The owner is really amazing and will be happy to introduce to you all the staff! Try the ones with the baked meat or cheese.

Coffee we tried only in the Islamic quarter, Arabic  coffee, tastes a lot like the greek one but much more aromatic!

For your nightlife escapes we suggest you go to the Yeluda market! A whole market is transformed into cool bars, and anything you like from food and drinks or for dessert! Crowded and full of great graffiti, we personally liked it very much and it is worth to visit it a least once in the late evening.

Accommodation

Staying in Jerusalem can be rather expensive. We recommend trying a hostel located outside the old town and close to the Yeluda market. The rooms are maily mixed dorms! Make the best choice for you by clicking here! 

How safe is to travel to Israel

You may wonder if it is safe to travel to Israel. Israel, however it sounds, can be said to be the safest city in the world. A trully moerdm city, full of technology and equiped with camera systems everywhere while is being policed from soldiers all over the streets. Do not forget that a hitch can happen everywhere and it is not an absolute feature of certain cities. As we have said before, we need to respect the local habits and religions and you will be fine (e.g. in the wall of tears if you find yourself on a Friday afternoon when Sabbath starts, photos are prohibited!). Just enjoy your stay, be careful and dont trying anything stupid!

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