Health & Safety

A Word about Security and Safety

Many prospective pilgrims understandably ask about safety in the Holy Land. News from the region can be unsettling, and it is right to take those concerns seriously. I want to speak openly and clearly.

Safety is always our first priority. We work with highly experienced local Christian tour operators and guides who monitor conditions continuously. Decisions are made locally and in real time, and routes or destinations are adjusted whenever appropriate. Our groups do not travel to the Gaza Strip, as there are no pilgrimage sites there. We also avoid any areas where protests, demonstrations, or instability is expected. One of the strengths of the way we plan our itinerary is that, with an abundance of sites to visit, we can quickly adjust the itinerary and substitute alternate sites without diminishing the spiritual experience.

I have led pilgrimage groups to the Holy Land seven times over the years from 1990 to 2026. Because this is a small and complex region, there are almost always troubling headlines somewhere in the background. Yet the experience on the ground for pilgrims is very different from what many imagine. Time and again, we are met with gracious hospitality by both Israeli and Palestinian communities, who value and welcome pilgrims. Local economies depend significantly on pilgrimage and tourism, and visitors are treated with genuine care.

Media coverage naturally focuses on dramatic events and breaking crises. That is the nature of news reporting. What the news cycle does not show is how daily normal life continues across most of the country, including in the major pilgrimage areas. In my own travels throughout Israel, the West Bank, and Jordan, I have never felt unsafe. As with travel anywhere in the world, we remain aware, attentive, and sensible — but we never take our groups into areas where they would be at risk.

Practical Precautions

Practical travel precautions are the same as in any major destination:

Keep valuables secure
Use hotel safes for excess cash
Carry your passport in a secure inside pocket
Remain situationally aware in crowded marketplaces

These are normal travel habits, not special emergency measures.

It is also reassuring to note that pilgrimage and tourism resume quickly whenever tensions ease. The region is very accustomed to welcoming international visitors and maintaining secure travel corridors and visitor services.

Finally, our group includes an important additional support element:
Carole Hodge, my wife, will be traveling with us. She is a retired Registered Nurse and an experienced traveler, providing an added layer of practical care and reassurance for our pilgrims.

If you have questions or concerns, I am always glad to speak personally. Pilgrimage is meant to be prayerful, transformative, and well-supported — not anxious. Careful preparation and wise local guidance allow us to focus on what matters most: walking where our Lord walked and encountering Scripture in living context.

Water and Vaccinations

Drinking Water

Israel
Tap water in Israel is safe and delicious. But, you will also find bottled mineral water everywhere. (It’s important to make sure you drink a lot, especially if you are walking, hiking or exercising during hot weather.)

Jordan
Tap water in Jordan is safe to drink - but often has a slight taste, because the source is desalinated ocean water. It’s important to make sure you drink a lot, especially if you are walking, hiking or exercising during hot weather -dehydration is a serious risk. Personally, I usually drink bottled water in Jordan but use tap water to bathe and for brushing teeth. More info click here.

Turkey
While tap water in major Turkish cities like Istanbul and Ankara is officially treated and monitored, we recommend only drinking bottled water. Locals and travelers alike rely on inexpensive bottled water, called damacana for large jugs, due to heavily chlorinated tastes and inconsistent plumbing in older buildings.

Safe Uses: Tap water is perfectly fine for washing hands, showering, and brushing your teeth in modern hotels and apartments. In most standard hotels, cafes, and restaurants, ice is made using filtered or bottled water.

Vaccinations

Covid-19: We recommend that all members of our group are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Israel
No special vaccinations are necessary before a trip to Israel. Israel has an advanced level of hygiene, health care, diagnosis and medicine that is the envy of much of the world and on par with the best of North America and Western Europe. The list of recommended vaccinations for Israel is pretty much the same list as is recommended for Canada.

The PHAC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Israel: typhoid, hepatitis A, polio, rabies, hepatitis B, influenza, pneumonia, meningitis, chickenpox, shingles, Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) and MMR (measles, mumps and rubella.)

Jordan
Most Canadians already have the standard recommended vaccinations recommended for Jordan. Check with your family doctor.

The WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Jordan: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, yellow fever, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.