Jerusalem Travel Forum

Well we are heading to Jerusalem for the World Meet 2008 in September, but I am confused about visas.
I know that I need visa for Israel, but what about the Palestinian teritories??
I am Macedonian national who live part of the year in Macedonia and the other part in UK.
And we would like to visit some of the towns in Palestine,but question is are we alowed??
Also if somebody can advise me on reputable travel agency wich can arrange short 3 days trip to Petra-Jordan from Jerusalem??
After the World Meet we intend to stay another 10 days and explore the country and the region, hence the trip to Petra and meaby Wadi Rum.

Many thanks,
Valentina

There are no visa requirements to enter the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.

BTW, if you are travelling on a Macedonian passport, the information I have says you do not need a visa to enter Israel. I'd advise contacting the nearest Israeli consular office. The Serbian one can be reach at telephone 381-11-3672400/1/2/3 or via e-mail INFO@BELGRADE.MFA.GOV.IL. The one in Athens may be reached at telephone 30-210-6719530 or 30-210-6719531, or via e-mail at INFO@ATHENS.MFA.GOV.IL

I forgot. If you are in the UK, this is the contact information for the Israel embassy in London:

Tel: 44-20-79579500
E-mail: INFO@LONDON.MFA.GOV.IL

I just got back from Israel ( incl. Jerusalem) and Jordan (incl. Petra & Wadi Rum). I cannot answer your Visa question except to say that if you can get one I dont think you will have any issue getting to the West Bank. We had a tour guide take us to Bethlehem, etc. -- for some reason Jericho was off limits to us, though.

For Petra and Wadi Rum, I would just get a bus at the Jerusalem or Tel Aviv bus station and go to Eilat. Then grab a cab to take you to the border crossing and cross into Aqaba -- its only about 2 or 3 km. There are always cab drivers on the Jordanian side that can take you to Petra or Wadi Rum. My travelling companions did it a bit differnt than that because we rented a car in Jerusalem and dropped it in Eilat which allowed us to drive to Masada, the Dead Sea and take our time travelling thru the Negev. We arranged accomodation thru the Petra Moon Hotel in Petra (contact Sameer at info@petramoonhotel.com) and they picked us up at the border and took us to Petra where we stayed at the hotel right next to the entrance to the Petra site and then they transported us to Wadi Rum where we did a two-day tour including an overnight stay in a Bedouin Camp -- then they transported us up the Kings Highway with stops at the Crusader Castles to Madaba where we stayed at the Mariam Hotel (www.mariamhotel.com) and then we crossed the King Hussein Bridge thru the Palestinian territories and back to Jerusalem. So, this was a full circle.

I only have one word for this trip and it is AWESOME. You will be completely blown away by Jerusalem and southern Israel. You should make sure you spend at least 1 1/2 days (because you will arrive around noon from the border crossing) in Petra and 2 days in Wadi Rum -- both of these places are incredible. In fact, you will find that Jordan has very interesting geography and the people are about the friendliest you will meet anywhere.

Shalom, Shalom:
Try contacting Mirianamak (Mirjana), she was just her for a visit from Macadonia and may be able to give you more exact details.
Martin

Some of VT members who come to WorldMeet2008 want very much to visit Petra.
As an extra, value added, to Jerusalem & Dead-Sea WorldMeet on Sept, I'm in contact with Israeli guide who is expert of Petra & Wadi Rum. We are
planning to "jump" to Petra for 3 days from Eilat, before or after WM08.
This guide talks about option of combination of Eilat + Jordan (Petra + Wadi
Rum) + Sinai [Egypt: Mount Sinai, Nu'eiba- Red Sea].
Pls stay tuned, I hope to gather a group of 12 - 15 people for this international [Jordan - Israel - egypt] winning route.

Thank you to all who took their time to answer my Qs.
I started on the websites and after few telephone enqueris I got clearer picture of what I need, definatly visa for Jordan!!!

Many thanks to all of you.
Valentina