Travel to Israel

There are regular direct flights from major cities in Europe and North America, as well as from a number of Asian cities to Tel Aviv, Ben-Gurion International Airport, located only 25 KM west of the conference venue.

The Local PCO – Ortra LTD., operates a travel agency with attractive air travel fares to Israel.

For further details, you may contact Ms. Heli Belo, heli@ortra.com

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Transportation from/to Ben Gurion Airport

Taxi | Taxis are readily available at the airport. They operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Taxis can be found outside the Arrival Hall of the airport (to the left). Taxi services are regulated and the Taxi companies at Ben Gurion Airport operate under permission. The cost of the taxi is approximately 260 NIS (approx. 70 Euro).

Train | The train station is located on Level S of the Landside Building, adjacent to the Arrival Hall. The train will take you to the Central Station in Jerusalem (Jerusalem–Yitzhak Navon  station) from where you will need a Taxi to reach your hotel.

Bus | Public transportation services to Jerusalem are located at Terminal 3, level G, gate 1. Line 485 run from Ben-Gurion International Airport, to the Central Bus Station in Jerusalem, from where you will need a Taxi to reach your hotel. 

Car Rental | The car rental companies’ counters are located on the first floor of the East Gallery in the Arrival Hall. The service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Pre-booked Transportation and Airport Assistance

In addition to the public transportation, Private Airport Transfers are also available on a pre-arranged basis.

Private Arrival/Departure Transfer US$ 225 (up to 2 passengers) | Private Arrival/Departure Transfer US$ 265 (up to 6 passengers)

• Upon arrival, you will pass through immigration, collect your bags, pass through Customs, and then proceed to the Arrivals Hall.
• Please turn on your cell phone when exiting the airplane so that the service company can contact you – please send us in advance your cell number.
• For departure transfers your driver will be waiting for you in the lobby of the hotel, holding a sign with your name on it.
• Pick up for return transfer will be 4 hours prior to flight departure time.

VIP Arrival Escort Service & Transfer US$ 370 (up to 2 passengers)

• This service operates from the plane, where you will be greeted on landing at the end of the flight sleeve. A representative will escort you all the way through passport control, luggage collection, directly to the awaiting car transfer which will take you to your hotel.

Transfers can be booked via the meeting registration form.

Traveling to Jerusalem:

Jerusalem is about a 35–40-minute drive from Ben Gurion International Airport, one of the largest travel hubs in the Middle East. The high-level security standards at Ben Gurion Airport are unmatched, and there are several means of transportation between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem.

1.      InterCity Train (Rakevet Israel) – Utilizing the express train is the greatest and most affordable way to travel to Jerusalem.  The train ride is about 20 minutes time and costs 13 -18 NIS (about $5 USD).

2.      Taxi – You’ll find both private and shared taxi services at Ben Gurion Airport located at Terminal 3 Arrivals Hall Exit. A private taxi to Jerusalem costs approximately 230 NIS ($63 USD) Sunday – Friday and about 290 – 300 NIS ($80 USD) on Saturday.  Payments for taxi rides can be done either using cash or a local app called Gett (available for download on iOS or Android). There’s no need to book ahead for the trip, just be sure to have enough cash as not all taxis accept credit cards. Please note: by law, taxis must have a meter running. The driver may try to negotiate a fixed price but that is generally illegal.

3.      Shared Taxi (Nesher Sherut) – A Nesher Sherut (shared taxi service) is a cheaper alternative to a private taxi. You’ll find Nesher vans outside the Arrivals Hall and they will drop you off anywhere in Jerusalem. The service runs 24/7. Please note that travel from Ben Gurion Airport with this service does not require pre-booking however travel from Jerusalem to the airport requires booking 24 hours in advance and it is advised to note your flight’s departure time. The shared taxi costs 62-67 NIS (about $17), and you’ll find the current rate clearly posted outside the terminal.

4.      Bus – There is a direct bus that makes round trips between Ben Gurion Airport and Jerusalem daily. The No. 485 Afikim bus operates 24 hours a day (Saturday evening through late Friday afternoon) and departs from Terminals 1 and 3 at the airport and from several locations in Jerusalem, including the Central Bus Station. The journey is approximately an hour and costs 16 NIS (about $5 USD). Bus fare is only accepted through a card called Rav Kav, which you can purchase here.

Traveling Around Jerusalem:

Jerusalem is a large city, with several neighborhoods interconnected by a system of public and private transportation. It is very easy to get around Jerusalem without a car, although rental cars are available throughout the city, and many sites can be reached on foot.  If you know your destination and have the proper app or website, you are set to go. It is easy to get around by bus and light rail in Jerusalem, and information is generally in Hebrew and English.

Another alternative way to travel around Jerusalem is by publicly available motorized scooters or bikes, which you can find pretty much everywhere.

1.      Light Rail and Bus – Public transportation in Jerusalem consists of a network of buses and a central light rail system that connects one end of the city (Mount Herzl) to the other side (Pisgat Zeev).

a.      Light Rail - Using the Jerusalem Light Rail requires you to buy a ticket before boarding the train; tickets can be purchased at all the stops. A single ride on the light rail is 5.90 NIS.

b.      Bus - Buses in Jerusalem are all run by ‘Egged’; they are mostly green although some are white with red stripes. There are several routes within the city, and the standard bus fare in Jerusalem is 5.90 NIS for a single trip.

c.       Paying for public transportation (buses, trains, light rail) is done by using a ‘Rav Kav’ with a smartcard chip. See below for more information.

d.      NOTE: No public transport on Shabbat – The Jerusalem bus and rail systems shut down for Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) on Friday afternoon. Buses stop about an hour before sundown, and light rail a few hours before. Service resumes after sunset on Saturday night (buses start about an hour after Shabbat ends, and the light rail a few hours later. Tip: Since there’s no public transportation in Jerusalem during Shabbat, be mindful of planning ahead for your visit to Jerusalem if you’re staying there during Shabbat. If your flight lands on a Friday night or a Saturday day and you need to get to Jerusalem, you may book a shuttle or private taxi ride from the airport to Jerusalem.

2.      Taxi – Taxis in Jerusalem are ubiquitous within the city limits. Taxi ordering apps such as Gett operate in the city, and be sure to ask for a receipt at the end of the ride.

3.      Car Rental – There are several car rental agencies in Jerusalem.

By Foot – Walking is the best way to experience the city and enjoy all its beauty. Much of Jerusalem is walkable; since the city is built on mountains, the humidity level is much lower than most cities – providing pleasant weather most of the time. The terrain in Jerusalem features a range of high slopes, hills, and steep ascents. In the Old City, many of the lanes and alleyways are inaccessible to cars, so you’ll have to tour on foot.

Jerusalem of Gold

 Drive to Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city. Stop at Mount Zion to visit King David’s Tomb, Room of the Last Supper, and the Dormition Abbey; Enter the Old City and walk through the Armenian and Jewish quarters to the recently excavated and restored Cardo, the Roman road. See the Jewish Wailing Wall and the Kotel, and continue to the Christian quarter. Walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Proceed to the New City and visit Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust (Self-guided).

On Saturdays and Jewish holidays, instead of Yad Vashem, drive to  Ein Karem, southwest of Jerusalem, traditionally known as the birthplace of John the Baptist; Stroll in the narrow lanes of the picturesque neighborhood, stopping by Mary’s spring and continue to visit the remarkable Church of Saint John the Baptist. Return to your point of departure.

NOTE: Modest dress (no shorts or sleeveless shirts) and head covering are required for visiting holy sites.

Departure: Daily | Pick-up time: 09:00.

Price: $81 per person.

Jerusalem & Bethlehem

Drive to Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city. Stop at Mount Zion to visit King David’s Tomb, Room of the Last Supper, and the Dormition Abbey; Enter the Old City and walk through the Armenian and Jewish quarters to the recently excavated and restored Cardo, the Roman road. See the Jewish Wailing Wall and the Kotel, and continue to the Christian quarter. Walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Continue to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born; Visit the Church of Nativity and Manger Square; View the Shepherds’ field. Return to your point of departure.

NOTE: Modest dress (no shorts or sleeveless shirts) and head covering are required for visiting holy sites.

Departure: Daily | Pick-up time: 09:00.

Price: $118 per person

• The tour is subject to Palestinian authority regulations.
• Palestinian guide meets the tour only after the border crossing.
• Border crossing may include a short unaccompanied walking portion.
• Change of vehicle may be required upon entering Palestinian authority territory.
• Passports are required.

Masada & The Dead Sea

Depart Tel Aviv via the Judean hills to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth; Visit a Dead Sea cosmetic products shop. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada and learn about the heroic story of the Jewish fighters. Ascend by cable car and tour the mountain fortress built by King Herod, where the Zealots of the first century made their last stand against the Romans. Visit the remains of the walls, palace, synagogue, water cisterns, mosaic floors, roman baths, and other findings. Descend by cable car. Continue to the Dead Sea; Enjoy the unique opportunity to float in the Dead Sea and cover yourself with the mineral rich mud that many believe has therapeutic effects. Return to your point of departure. 

NOTE: Comfortable walking shoes, hats, sunscreen, bathing suits, and towels are recommended.

Departure: Monday-Friday | Pick-up time: 09:00.

Price: $123 per person

Tel Aviv City Tour

Visit the Diaspora (Anu) museum; Drive around the main streets of Tel-Aviv, the center of business and entertainment of Israel; Also known as The “White City,” Tel-Aviv was declared by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site for its Bauhaous style buildings. 

Stop at Rabin square, the location where the Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated. Continue to old Jaffa, one of the oldest port cities in the world; Visit the ancient ruins and walk along the Artist’s Quarter. Visit Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1887 and Nachlat Binyamin, the pedestrian mall of the city, where you can enjoy live street music, arts, crafts, and homemade jewelry.

Departure: Friday | Pick-up time: 06:00.

Price: $132 per person

*Guests picked up from Jerusalem will join the tour from Tel-Aviv. Transfer from/to Jerusalem may be accompanied by a driver only.

Biblical Highlights of the Galilee

Drive through the coastal road and the landscape of lower Galilee to Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph. Continue, via Kana, to Tiberius, the lively resort town on the Sea of Galilee. Drive along the Kineret Lake to Capernaum and view the ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught; Continue to Tabgha and visit the Church of Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes with its beautiful mosaic floor. Proceed to Yardenit, the famous baptismal site located where the Jordan River flows out from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea; enjoy the peaceful and natural surrounding on site. Return to your point of departure.

NOTE: Modest dress (no shorts or sleeveless shirts) and head covering are required for visiting holy sites.

Departure: Monday-Friday | Pick-up time: 06:00.

Price: $110 per person

Pearls of the Western Galilee

Drive along the coastal road to Caesarea, the ancient Roman capital and port; enjoy a walking tour of the theatre and the archaeological ruins and excavations. Continue to Haifa for a scenic view of the City, the Port, and the magnificent Baha’i Gardens and Shrine. 

Proceed to Rosh Hanikra; descend by cable car into the underwater grottoes and admire the spectacular natural formation.

Onto Acre, the Old City recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site; Walk through the market, the mosque, and the old port; Visit the remarkable underground Crusader City and crypt and learn about their fascinating history and culture. Return to the point of departure.

Departure: Tuesday or Friday | Pick-up time: 06:00.

Price: $136 per person

*Guests picked up from Jerusalem will join the tour from Tel-Aviv. Transfer from/to Jerusalem may be accompanied by a driver only.

Private Tours

If you are interested in a private tour – please contact us at: CTX2023@ortra.com   

Terms & Conditions

Tourism Services

• Registration to daily tours opens until August 21, 2023.
• Tours operate on a share car basis.
• Meals are not included.
• VAT for Israeli passport holders will be added accordingly to the law.
   

Cancellation Policy for Ground Transportation and Tourism Services

For alterations of reservations or any other invoiced item, an administrative charge of 30 USD will be charged. Alternative participants are readily accepted for an administrative fee of 30 USD.

Refund of payments made towards registration will be refunded if written notification reaches the Meeting Secretariat, Ortra Ltd. CTX2023@ortra.com as follows:

• Cancellation is received within 14 days from the date of registration (unless registration was made during the 7 days prior to the Meeting) Full refund, excluding 30 USD handling fees.

If cancellation is received 15 days or more from the date of registration refund will be made as follows:

• Until June 26, 2023 – Full refund with a deduction of 30 USD handling fee
• From June 27, 2023 – 50% refund
• From July 27, 2023 – No refund