95°F) at midday. The season running from October to March is more varied. Depending on the region, winter can mean a temperate sun with some rain, or biting winds and even occasional snow showers in the higher elevations. On the other hand, it is usually possible to swim in the Dead Sea even in the heart of winter, and sometimes in the Mediterranean too. When it comes to climate, any time is a good time to visit Israel. Other factors too may affect the timing of a pilgrimage. Budget-conscious groups are far more likely to travel during the traditional low-season, from November to February (excepting Christmas and the New Years holiday), when rates for land arrangements and airfare may be lower -
by a host of detection techniques. It is no secret that Ben Gurion International Airport, the major gateway to Israel, is considered the world’s most secure airport. The broad range of technological and individual surveillance and screening methods - some upfront, but mostly out of sight - direct questioning, searches and unabashed profiling may cause some minor inconveniences from time to time, but most tourists realize what all Israelis take in stride: there is nothing personal about the procedure, which has been streamlined in recent years, and it is for their own good. In a world challenged by terror in its many guises, Israel, paradoxically as it may sound, may well be one of the
though with the increase of pilgrimage travel to Israel in recent years and with yield management playing an important role in regulating prices, this is not always true. March to October is still considered a regular season, with some high peaks. As a result of the large increase in pilgrimage visits to Israel, groups wishing to spend Christmas or Easter in the Holy Land should expect to pay top rates and are urged to plan well in advance, as demand may outweigh supply. It is a good idea to take local holidays and their customs into
consideration when planning a pilgrimage. Jewish festivals can add a distinctive flavor to a stay in Israel, even if it does mean that only unleavened bread (“matza”) is available at hotels during the seven days of Passover or that there is no transportation for more than 24 hours on the Day of Atonement and just about everything will be closed! Safe & Sound in Israel As a country beset by geo-political challenges, but with firm resolve to do what it must to ensure that daily life continues normally in a region beset by abnormality, Israel has implemented a wide variety of sophisticated, state-of-the-art security measures that have left most of the country - and certainly areas frequented by the average tourist - perfectly safe and secure. Security is tight at airports and other border crossings, supported by trained, courteous but single-minded staff and supported
safest destinations your client could wish for, to visit and travel about. Staying in Israel An adequate pilgrimage program can be followed in one week (six/seven nights), although pilgrimages do range from five to 15 nights, or even longer. The itinerary should be planned around touring priorities, budget limitations and, needless to say, the religious traditions and beliefs of the group. A visit to the model of the wilderness Tabernacle at Timna in the Negev Desert may be essential for certain Evangelical groups, while Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher is a must for Catholics. Other matters to take into consideration: make allowance for the length of your flight: trans-Atlantic flights or those from the Far East may justify a longer stay and a more relaxed pace. Check that everyone in the group has proper insurance for the trip. Some Israeli companies have become very proficient in designing special insurance policies for pilgrimage groups, and
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