Palestine's ancient history and dramatic desert landscapes will surprise you and open your eyes to new revelations at every turn. Whether you explore the souks and ancient wonders of Jerusalem, the archaeological Arcadia that is Jericho, walk along with its panoramic nature, wildlife, and valleys, take in the beauty and religious significance of Bethlehem, sleeping under the stars in a Bedouin camp or move between numerous remarkable cities and villages witnessing a flourishing metropolitan scene in a uniquely challenging context, you will constantly be experiencing the welcoming warmth of its people with radiant smiles, delicious food, and unyielding hospitality. Palestine is one of the most intimate and exciting places to visit on earth!
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- About Palestine
Palestine has been ruled by numerous groups throughout history, including the Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Fatimids, Seljuk Turks, Crusaders, Egyptians, and Mamelukes. The word Palestine derives from Philistia, the name given by Greek writers to the Philistines' land, who in the 12th-century BCE occupied a small pocket of land on the southern coast, between modern Tel Aviv–Yafo and Gaza.
When World War I ended in 1918, the British took control of Palestine.
Further complicating the issue was the Balfour Declaration of 1917, promising British support for a Jewish "national home" in Palestine.
This action was to win Jewish support for Britain's First World War effort. Simultaneously, the British had promised the Arabs that a united Arab country, covering most of the Arab Middle East, would result if the Ottoman Turks were defeated.
Before Israel became recognized, most people dwelling in the region were Palestinian Arabs from different religious backgrounds, including Christians, Jews, and Muslims. They all lived as one community in what was then known as Palestine.
The history of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict began with establishing the State of Israel in 1948. This conflict came from the intercommunal violence in Mandatory Palestine between Israelis and Arabs from 1920 and erupted into full-scale hostilities in the 1947–48 civil war. The United Nations approved a plan to partition Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state in 1947. On May 14, 1948, Israel officially declared a state with David Ben-Gurion, marking the first Jewish state in over 2,000 years.
Two decades later, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the Six-Day War of 1967 and has maintained control since then. The term "Palestinian territories" has been used for many years to describe Israel's territories since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip.
Since the Oslo agreements were signed in 1994, Palestine has been granted limited powers over the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while Israel maintains the overarching authority. Until Palestine can act independently of Israel's rule, it cannot be considered a de facto state.
Much of this land is now considered present-day Israel. Today, Palestine theoretically includes the West Bank (a territory between modern-day Israel and Jordan) and the Gaza Strip (which borders modern-day Israel and Egypt).
Israel is occupying the territory of Palestine. Israel is internationally recognized as the occupying power in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Modern Palestinian culture reflects a confluence of the many peoples in Palestine throughout history, from the early Canaanite period onward.
Despite their geographical separation, cultural contributions to art, literature, music, costume, and cuisine express the Palestinian identity.
Palestinian cultural traditions define and enrich Palestinians' daily lives. Palestinian culture is far from homogeneous, with many distinct regional variations. And Palestinians living in countries outside the Middle East often adopt some of the cultural practices common to their new homes. Palestinian literature refers to the Arabic language novels, short stories, and poems produced by Palestinians. Forming part of the broader genre of Arabic literature and poetry, contemporary Palestinian literature is often characterized by its heightened sense of irony and the exploration of existential themes and issues of identity. References to the subjects of resistance to occupation, exile, loss, and love and longing for the homeland are also standard. Mahmoud Darwish museum is worth visiting as part of your cultural sites in Palestine.
The Palestinian music is an organic part of Arab music, and more specifically, of the music from the Levant. Nevertheless, music composed by Palestinians has a unique character: it uses Palestinian folklore as a foundation for musical composition, and it draws on the different genres of world music that have penetrated Palestine since the late nineteenth century. The traditional Palestinian musical instruments are the oud, shebbabeh, rababeh, mijwez, yarghoul, nay, buzuq, and the qanun. Sr Al Thakafa in Ramallah typically has events enjoyable musical events.
And when we talk about Palestinian food, we can say that it is one of Palestine's most impressive attractions. Colorfully varied and, above all—delicious, Palestine's cuisine follows the traditional Levant style, with its own unique identity. Each city, village, the town of Palestine has its different recipe secrets, priding itself on its character ingredients and individuality. Regardless of the tour type that you choose, be sure to taste the local Palestinian cuisine. Enjoy the very best food once you explore the vibrant cities, holy places, museums, old towns, markets, stunning architecture, and Palestine's unspoiled nature.
Palestine has a temperate, Mediterranean climate. While it has four seasons, most of the year remains relatively soft and fresh. Winters usually last three months and are at times uncommonly bitter. However, much of spring and autumn present mild weather that makes sightseeing possible and, above all—enjoyable. Summers tend to be dry, with occasional hot spells that bring in sizzling daytime temperatures. However, it's another story at night—the cool Mediterranean night breeze ushers in a soothing relief that makes nightlife even more pleasant and exciting. Overall, Palestine's mild weather is ideal and enjoyed by locals and foreign visitors alike.
The best time to visit is during Spring and Autumn where the temperature is around 23C ( 74F). In summer, the temperature may reach 35° C while it may fall to zero in winter. Tourists are generally advised to wear light clothes in summer and sweaters in the evening, and in winter, they should be equipped with warm clothes.
You can arrive in Palestine from different entry points, depending on your preferences. We can enter through Tel-Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport or arrange your arrival at one of the borders of Jordan. The options are the Allenby Bridge or the Sheikh Hussein Bridge, which cross the legendary Jordan River.
Though you may encounter checkpoints and red signs on your way into Palestinian cities, let this be of no concern: even though Palestine is usually (and unjustly) depicted as unstable, it has always been safe for tourists to visit and tour the country. Tourists are welcomed by all the citizens who love to share their land and traditions with people worldwide. And there is no need to worry about crossing between Palestine and Israel, as hundreds of tourists safely make the crossing every day. Note that you should carry your passport and entry visa with you to pass through the checkpoints. There is no need to take vaccinations before arrival. Drinking tap water is safe in Palestine and mineral water is available everywhere.
All visitors must hold a machine-readable or biometric passport at the port of entry and it must be valid for at least six months after the date of departure. If you are a citizen of the following countries and do not plan to stay more than three months, you do NOT need a visa before arrival.
- Africa
Botswana, Central African Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, South Africa, Swaziland, Vanuatu - Asia Pacific
Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji Islands, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (South), Macau, Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Tonga - Europe
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Malta, Man and Canal Islands, Moldova (biometric only), Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom - Central and South America and the Caribbean
Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay - North America
Canada, United States
However, it will be your responsibility to double-check the above information with the diplomatic mission in your country. It is also important to note that tourists wishing to continue their visits to other Arab countries, except Egypt and Jordan, should ask that an Israeli stamp not appear on their passport upon entry.
When you sign up for a Golden Globe Tour package, you are required to secure adequate travel insurance to cover the duration of your trip.
The Local currency is the New Israel Shekel (NIS), or Shekel for short. However, several coins are accepted for everyday transactions, like Us Dollars, Euros, and Jordanian Dinar. But it would be better to exchange foreign currency at one of the plenty exchange agencies all over Palestine or in the airport, borders, and banks. Holders of international credit cards can withdraw local or foreign currency from banks or Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
It is essential to follow the traditional dress code when traveling in the Middle East. We suggest dressing modestly. A scarf and long dress will be needed for women to enter several holy sites like the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.