Mitzpe Ramon is the town that overlooks the incredible crater of Makhtesh Ramon. For a few years some unusual hotels have been opening in this little town. It's a good place to stay to explore the crater.

Middle East

Shalom and welcome to Israël! Did you imagine lands dating back to the time of Moses? Israël has become a very modern country, with overwhelming technological advances: the GDP per capita of this tiny country is just behind the UK on a global scale! To come to Israël, is to immerse yourself in a land where legend and reality are intimately linked. From the little streets in Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives,, from the fortress of Massada, in Sinaï, to the wailing wall in Tel Aviv; there isn’t one place that hasn’t been mentioned in a historical text... and it’s for the best! However, Israël, isn’t only about that: the coastal resort of Eilat, the shores of the Dead Sea or even the long walks in the desert are all options for excursions, walks and adventures, just waiting to be lived. Why not also try and visit Palestine, where you will be welcomed by a proud and warm populace, always happy to share their history and amazing heritage, built up over thousands of years by different cultures who have resided there. So don’t be intimidated and go and explore this unknown land, to discover, day after day, the thousand and one facets of an extraordinary destination!

Israel

Mitzpe Ramon

’Arāba

Red Sea

The favorite seaside resort of Russian oligarchs and salt water bathing fans: the Dead Sea.

On this little portion of the Middle East, no larger than the size of Austria, the beauty of culture and nature permanently compete with one another. See for yourself: you are in one of the cradles of humanity and history in this land stretching back over more than 9 millennia. During your vacation in Jordan, you will peruse a life-sized history book. It only requires travelling to Jordan to experience it: from the banks of the enigmatic Dead Sea to the Jordan Valley passing via the superb city of Petra, rendered eternally famous by Spielberg in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Biblical echoes mix with those of Greco-Roman ruins. As far as nature is concerned, you will also be captured by the beauties of Jordan: At the top of the list, the desert of Wadi Rum, called “the valley of the Moon,” is a harmony of colours where rocks, sand, granite and sandstone intertwine to create the most magnificent life-sized murals. In addition, the deep canyons of the desert or the colourful underwater floors of the Red Sea will not fail to enchant you...

Jordan

Dead Sea

The capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the era of the Crusades, the ancient city of Acre was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001.

Acre

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Between the remnants of the Templars, the prison-museum which relates the fight for independence and the fortress where the Ottomans fought Napoleon, you can strongly feel the importance of history in Acre. Today it is a calm city where the economy is heavily tourist-based, which I noticed from the price of my freshly-squeezed orange juice bought from near the cathedral... For lunch, I enjoyed a little restaurant by the entrance to the market where I had some delicious houmous, still warm, for a very reasonable price. Meandering over the fortifications, I spend a moment watching the children diving into the water and fishing. I got the impressions that, in contrast to the cities in the south of Israel, the different religions coexisted peacefully in Acre. You can also visit a great many religious buildings, churches, synagogues and mosques and even a baha'i garden, a little way out of the centre but a true haven of peace.

The capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the era of the Crusades, the ancient city of Acre was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001.

I am passionate about history and come from a Christian family so I couldn't not go to Acre during my first <a href="/israel/">trip to Israel</a>. Israel is so small that the distances between places are not very big. Leaving from Tel Aviv, you can visit Acre in a single day. The town isn't very big. There is the new town that has been built outside the medieval walls, and the old town that is inside the fortifications. Most of the population are Arab, but Jews and Muslims live together peacefully and the town is tranquil and very charming. There are an incalculable number of historical sites (the Templar fortress, the old Turkish baths, the Templar tunnel, etc.) You also have to walk around the walls. Some beaches (especially one near the Templars' compound, which has cocktails and sunbeds on the sand,) are accessible from the old town and there are plenty of cafes and places to eat.

An ancient crossroads and important town of the Holy Land, Acre (Akko in Hebrew) or St John d'Acre, is nowadays a charming, mostly Muslim, town in the north of Israel.

Acre Vacations

Acre: How to get there?

Acre: See when to go ?

Acre: For how long?

Acre: What to see nearby?