Good day everyone!
My name is Brendan and I am thinking about visiting Israel in August this year. I've never been to that part of the world but I am really interested in going. I know for sure I will be in Egypt at the beginning of August and I was thinking about going to Jordan and Israel.
What country would be best to visit first, Jordan or Israel (I ask because of visa issues and rumors problems at borders from people that have been in one country or the other first).
I think it'd be best to travel by land? But if anyone has any suggestion of traveling cheaper that would be great.
Any suggestions of places to see or a couch to offer, I welcome that!
Thanks for your time, I appreciate it!
PURA VIDA!
-Brendan
Reply to this You shouldn't have visa problems visiting Egypt or Jordan with an Israeli visa in your passport. I'm travelling to Israel in June with a brief stop in Jordan, and I don't envisage any problems with that route.
From what other travellers have told me, it is easiest to travel by boat between Nuweiba in Egypt and Aqaba in Jordan - though not the cheapest. The cheapest method is to go from Taba in Egypt to Eliat in Israel which is a land journey.
For attractions, it would be probably easier to see Jordan first, as you can pass the main attractions of Wadi Rum and Petra on the way north to Amman, at which time you can head west into Israel. Since it will be summer, it will be very hot in parts of your journey. The Negev - which lies in southern Israel - will be one of them, so you may not want to spend as much time there anyway; thus a further incentive to head via Jordan which has more star attractions in the southern part of the country then southern Israel does in my humble opinion.
Note that if you have an Israeli visa in your passport, you will be denied entry into Syria - so if you have plans to travel further north - then do it before Israel.
Reply to this Eilat in Israel is a very welcoming and turistic city - you can find there all that a traveler need: hostels, hotels, restaurants, diving centers etc. I disagree that the southern part of Israel has less to offer! though it is August and it is going to be hot, it is just as hot in Jordan (if not even more). Once you are in Eilat (you can cross overland from Sinai in Egypt to Eilat without any problem), you could cross also to Jordan to view Petra and then return to the Israeli side to go up north. In Israel you can see on your way from Eilat in the south toward north: the Arava, the negev which both offer unique desert like sceneries, the Timna park, the dead sea which is the lowest place on earth and offer unique experience of floating on water and Messada besides it with the special history and stories related to this area. From there you can reach Jerusalem, which is a very special city offering variety of museums, hidden streets, a lot of culture within its different inhabitants (musleums, jews of all kind and christians all living together) etc. From there, an hour ride or so and you are in Tel Aviv the commercial center of the country which also offers the best night life in the area, international atmosphere and great food - along great beaches of the medditernean sea. The options for travel in Israel are endless, and you can find all - good food, all attractions and activities like sky diving, surfing, kite surfing and more.
Reply to this Yes, a good point, Jordan will also be hot so it would be a matter of preference as to what attractions one wishes to see on the way to the central part of Israel. From my reading, Jerusalem does look a very special city, and am planning to spend one week in that city alone - but I will do side-trips to Qumran, Bethlehem and to the Mar Saba Monastery.
I am so interested in the history of Masada, that I'll be staying at the hostel at the foot of plateau - I'll arrive in the early afternoon to spend a bit of time in the area before prior to climbing the next morning. I am sure it will be one of the highlights. For me, the day tours from Jerusalem do not appeal due to the limited time in Masada, I'd rather stay there for longer to appreciate the place more.
Reply to this Definitly stay in the area of Masada. It is great there. You can also enjoy the dead sea that way. The hostel at the foot of the mountain is a very good one, it is actually in the level of a hotel. From there you could either walk or take the cable car up to the mountain and the hostorical ruins.
There are so many places around Jerusalem and inside the city to see, that I cannot even list them. Definitly the wailing wall, the 'Via Dolorosa' are a must in the old city. The Yad Vashem holocost museum is also a must in my view - it will let you better understand the background of the Israel state.
Reply to this Thanks for the suggestions - the Via Dolorosa was already on my list - I planned my visit to Jerusalem in order to see it on a Friday (afternoon I believe). The Wailing Wall is also an obvious choice for me. I was unsure of the Yad Vashen Holocaust Museum - but will add it on your suggestion. I visited Auschwitz almost twenty years ago and spent many hours there - it was an emotional day.
I may even head up to Masada twice - once on the cable car on the afternoon, and then again by foot in the early morning - I will see how I feel when I arrive there. Friends of mine who have visited Israel rate Masada as one of their favourite places, so I believe it is worthy of a lot of time.
Reply to this Thanks to all of you for your feedback and insightful comments.
Reply to this Hey!
A good way to get Egypt to Jordan or vice versa is to get the ferry across from Aqaba (Jordan) to Nuweiba (Egypt) and the journey onyl takes a couple of hours.
The easiest crossing point into Israel from Jordan is the southern one between Aqaba and Eilat at the Arava Crossing. There is seldom any delay here, nearly always one can go straight through. Of course, the drawback is that Eilat is a long way from Jerusalem where most people visiting Israel want to go.
Have a great trip!
Suzanne
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