When we talk about touring the Holy Land, we tend to assume all involved are physically capable of going on a tour. The standard Holy Land tour is not difficult or strenuous; however, they do require travelers to walk. A good number to aim for is 3 to 5 miles per day.
Unfortunately, this immediately excludes people who are disabled and physically challenged. Sightseeing can also exclude those who cannot see the sights. And hearing impairment can prevent a traveler from receiving information.
So, can people with disabilities visit the Holy Land? Yes. There are a growing number of aids for the blind and the hearing-impaired. These include braille at some sites, wireless tour guide systems, and in-depth information placards and signs. Although not as easy to conform to, mobility issues are becoming less of an obstacle with the implementation of curb ramps, wheelchair ramps, and handrails.
Let’s take a look at how the different disability categories are affected and what the Holy Land currently has to offer.
One thing to note before we get started. If you have a disability and want to go on a Holy Land Tour, talk to your doctor and your family first. The information I am providing in this post is for reference. I am not qualified to give professional medical advice. What you will find below is an attempt to help you make an informed decision.
All links are direct links.
Types of Disabilities and Health Concerns.
Blindness.
Eyesight is certainly a sense that we can take for granted. For the non-blind, it is difficult to understand how a blind or partially blind person will experience the Holy Land. What I do know is that blindness doesn’t negate the other senses. It forces reliance on the other four senses.
Sensory inputs from a traveler’s remaining four senses can benefit them immensely. Things like the smell of the air in the Old City and Market. The sounds at the Western Wall. The feel of the wind on the Mount of Olives or the Mount of Beatitudes. And the taste of the food.
The major obstacles to blindness on a Holy Land tour are the stone pavers and cobblestones in the Old City. They can have protruding edges, uneven transitions, grooves caused by centuries of traffic, and slippery surfaces. Dirt paths on many of the sites outside Jerusalem can have roots or rocks that stick up. Or the occasional pothole. And, the unfamiliarity of the environment can cause disorientation and confusion.
A blind traveler would most definitely need a guide to assist them.
For tours in Turkey and Greece, there will also be more interaction with street crossings than in Israel. So, blind travelers will have to pay attention to vehicles in motion.
The upside is that some sites do offer braille information guides. And due to the crowded nature of the Old City, tour guides often use wireless tour guide systems to speak to their groups. Each person gets a headset, and the guide gets a microphone. These systems keep crowd noise down and allow all group members to receive information effectively.
If blindness is the only disability, talk to your family. Take a buddy to help navigate the unfamiliar terrain.
Hearing-Impaired.
For those that are not completely deaf, the upside is that tour guides often use wireless tour guide systems, as noted above. Typically, they are only used in the Old City or at crowded sites. Travelers may be able to work out an agreement with the guide to use the device at all times.
If you are completely deaf, I would recommend bringing along an ASL interpreter. This may cost extra money, and that individual may also want to enjoy certain parts of the trip. But it’s certainly an easy option. And even easier if that person is a family member.
There isn’t much to be concerned with in terms of needing to hear noises. There are minimal streets to cross. Some tours might go down into the Kidron Valley from the Old City. Groups on foot must cross a road to visit the Garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of Olives. But for the most part, you will be on a bus or in the Old City.
For tours in Turkey and Greece, there is more interaction with street crossings than in Israel. So, hearing-impaired travelers will have to pay attention to vehicles in motion.
If hearing-impairment is the only disability, talk to your family and if needed, your doctor.
Dual impaired. For those that are both hearing-impaired and blind, these issues can compound. With this, I’m referring to travelers who have macular degeneration of their eyesight and hearing-impairment.
This condition can be a result of age or heredity in the case of younger travelers. Elderly travelers may also deal with the added difficulty of comprehension.
Ultimately, it’s up to the individual, their doctor, and their family to determine the practicality of going on a Holy Land Tour. Also, talk to the tour group leader. Are they comfortable taking you?
Mobility-Impaired: Needs a walker, cane, crutches, or prosthetics.
Each of these devices manages different disabilities. The similarity is that the traveler is still mobile.
For all of these impairments, the Old City is going to be the most difficult. It varies in surface type. Most surfaces are stone pavers and cobblestone, some of which are heavily worn. Which means they can be slippery, even when dry. And there can be trip hazards such as protruding lips, uneven transitions, and grooves from centuries of traffic.
The Old City sits on two hills, with a small valley in the center and two valleys on either side. So, pathways go up and down. For a young traveler who needs crutches, a cane, or prosthetics, these might be small obstacles. For elderly travelers who need the device because they can’t stand on their own, these may become large obstacles.
For tours in Turkey and Greece, there will be more interaction with street crossings than in Israel. So, travelers will have to pay attention to vehicles in motion.
If a traveler needs a walker, cane, crutches, or prosthetics, and this is their only disability, talk to your doctor first. This goes for all ages. Get the physical requirements from the leader of the tour you are interested in as well.
On my trips to Israel, I saw travelers using all of these devices. I would also consider a wheelchair as a backup. For prosthetics, brings extras if you have them. Or consider using a sports prosthetic. Be cognizant of how long you can wear the prosthetic before rubbing causes debilitating pain.
Mobility-Impaired: travelers who are mobile but need a wheelchair or mobility scooter.
These are the people who, for example, play in wheelchair basketball leagues. Or do races in specially designed racing chairs. Or who are young and need a scooter because of a severe disability, but are still strong mentally.
Almost all of the steps in the Old City have small to medium-sized curb ramps. The stone pavers and cobblestone pathways are generally even but can cause bouncing. On a regular wheelchair, the castors will take a beating. So, I would recommend a ruggedized chair if possible. Or bring extra castors.
There are also signs in the Old City for an “Accessible Trail” to get to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Getting to the Western Wall is best done from the south entrance as it is both a pedestrian and vehicle entrance.
At the sites away from Jerusalem, there are some challenges. Some sites are not equipped to support wheelchairs.
For travelers using mobility scooters, much of the same applies here. However, there are a few extra things to cover — namely, equipment needs. For a great article on the use of mobility scooters in Jerusalem, check out this blog post by curbfreewithcorylee.com.
Cory is a travel bug who needs a mobility scooter to get about. His site offers travel tips for wheelchair and scooter users.
A concern with wheelchairs and mobility scooters is logistics.
Some of Cory’s recommendations include but are not limited to:
- Understand the location where you are going before you go
- Talk with your airline before departure
- Bring extra parts
- Determine if your scooter’s power supply can take power at your destination
- Research repair shops in the area
- Research rental shops if taking your own device is not an option
- Determine your medical emergency options
Mobility-Impaired: travelers who need a wheelchair or mobility scooter and are not mobile.
This category includes people who need a wheelchair or scooter due to age, severe mental disabilities, and severe health issues. Though a wheelchair or mobility scooter is needed, the person is not mobile, meaning they do not get out and about.
I won’t go over the challenges of traveling again. The main obstacle here will be the traveler’s ability to cope with the environment. In the summer it’s hot. In the winter it’s cold. Tours get on the bus and off the bus a lot. Crowds can get big.
If I were to ask one question to determine if a traveler should pursue a tour or not, it would be this. How often does the traveler get out and about?
What needs to be determined is whether the traveler has routine interaction with:
- inaccessible curbs
- narrow sidewalks
- rough or even surfaces and surface transitions
- encroaching crowds
- being ignored
- falling over
Routine interaction with common mobility challenges helps to develop the habits necessary to cope effectively. If the mobility-impaired person does not have solid coping skills, I do not recommend travel.
Talk to your doctor, though. And talk to the tour group leader. Are they comfortable taking you?
Having severe health issues, but mobile.
This category includes people who need frequent or full-time medical attention due to age or terminal cancer. Or it could be someone who has Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bone Disease). Or possibly the need for an oxygen tank.
Talk to your doctor. As stated at the top, travelers should be able to walk 3-5 miles a day. Surfaces and surface transitions can be uneven. Crowds can get big. In the summer it’s hot. In the winter it’s cold. Tours get on the bus and off the bus a lot. A tour can be draining for those not prepared.
Gather all the information for the tour you are interested in. And talk to the tour leader. Are they comfortable taking you? Do you need to take someone with you to assist you at all times?
If your doctor does give you the recommendation to go, have them help you design a preparation and training plan. You need to be ready physically and have contingency plans for a bad day. You also need to learn how to cope with challenges your health issues may present to you.
Having severe health issues and not mobile.
This category includes, but is not limited to, people who are bedridden due to illness or weight and unable to leave the house.
I do not recommend going on a Holy Land Tour. There are other options available, such as a video series. Dr. Carl Rasmussen has a great series published by Zondervan. He teaches the geography of the Holy Land and he leads tour groups several times a year.
Carl’s videos are very instructional and well put together. For ways to learn from home, check out my recommendations right here.
What does it mean to be an accessible site?
Accessibility, as it relates to disabled persons, is about 1) the use of a wheelchair or mobility scooter, 2) walking with assistance, 3) visual impairment, and 4) hearing impairment.
Are sites prepared with curb ramps or wheelchair ramps? Do they have wheelchair-accessible restrooms where stall doors swing outward rather than inward? Are dirt walkways unimpeded by roots, potholes, or rocks?
For walkers, do stairs, curbs, and ramps have handrails? Are steps wide and short? Do bathrooms have wheelchair stalls or regular stalls equipped with hand grips?
For the blind, is braille offered on placards and information signs? Are listening devices offered to offset the inability to read placards and information signs?
For the hearing-impaired, are listening devices offered? Are signs and placards easy to read?
Is the parking lot equipped with designated spots for visitors with disabilities?
Does a hotel pool or beach have means for a disabled person to enter the water? Are dressing rooms equipped to accommodate a disabled person?
Security Considerations for Disabled Travelers.
Any time you travel, safety should be a planning factor. Some destinations have more safety concerns than others. The Holy Land, in general (Israel, Turkey, Greece, Jordan, and Egypt), tends to be known for its problems with terrorism. But this is not going to be the number one issue any traveler will encounter.
The biggest threat to security is going to be pickpockets and swindlers. Don’t assume for one second that these people will have a heart for a disabled person and overlook an opportunity.
An opportunity is an opportunity.
A disabled person is an easy target. The single best deterrence against pickpockets is visual awareness and attentiveness. A traveler who can keep his eyes up and constantly scanning the area will tell a potential criminal to stay away.
For travelers inhibited by a disability or condition, keeping a constant lookout can be difficult. But measures can be taken to present a viable personal security posture.
1) have a travel buddy. Someone that can keep an eye out.
2) prepare wheelchair and mobility scooter attachments and bags to prevent pickpockets. Attach bags and pouches with three or more points of connection. Do not let anything hang off of, or dangle from the wheelchair or scooter.
Use zippered bags and pouches or install zippers. For a discussion on zippers, check out my post on zippered pants pockets right here. Use the information in the post to come up with ideas.
Pickpockets are often small children. Because of this, wheelchairs and mobility scooters offer opportunities to potential perpetrators because they are lower. The downside for perpetrators is that the victim’s eye level is also lower.
Doing Research.
In the military, before we enter the battlefield, we do research. We find out who the bad guys are, as well as the good guys and neutral players. We look into the security situation. We might even send some people in to gather intelligence from the locals.
We call this Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace. The purpose of this post is to prepare. An organization that has done some preparation for us is Access Unlimited. They are a volunteer organization in Israel that advocates for the disabled.
Since 2000, Access Unlimited has categorized 835 sites around the country for disabled access. The list includes parks, holy sites, hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas. Not everything a Holy land Tour has on their itinerary is in the Access Unlimited database. However, they are slowly adding to their list.
We are going to use the Access Unlimited Database to do our intelligence preparation.
I do not currently have any information on accessibility in Turkey, Greece, or Jordan. But I will add that information when I get it.
Accessible Holy Land Tours.
Finding the right accessible Holy Land tour is going to be difficult. Most Christian organizations don’t have designated accessible tours. So, it’s incumbent on the disabled traveler to make sure the tour can accommodate.
Companies that do offer accessible tours may not be theologically sound or motivated. Some companies offer Christian Accessible tours and stick to typical Christian tour group stops. So, it’s not all bad.
If you are looking for an accessible tour, you may have to consider one of these companies.
Travelujah is an interfaith organization started by a Jewish-American woman who lives in Israel with her family. The company does not have a statement of faith posted. They offer Christian Specific accessible tours.
Smartrip-Israel is a non-religious organization based in Tel Aviv. They have no statement of faith; however, they advertise for Christian specific tours and Christian specific accessible tours. The tours do not appear to stop at the Bahai Gardens or any questionably religious sites.
Sage Traveling is a non-religious organization started by an American who suffered a spinal cord injury in his twenties. After having some bad experiences with travel, he started an accessible travel company. Sage Traveling does not offer full trips, only daily excursions. So, you can pick and choose, but there aren’t a lot of offerings in Israel. The company has a wide footprint, in that they offer accessible travel throughout Europe and a few outlying countries. They have travel tips and resource pages for accessible travel planning.
Israel4all is an Israeli travel company that offers accessible tours. They are not a religious organization and have no statement of faith. The Christian tours they offer visit the standard sites and do not include questionable sites like Bahai Gardens.
Resources
Access Unlimited – Accessible Site Database. Founded in 2000, this is a non-profit organization located in Israel. They advocate for the disabled. The link is a database of over 800 sites (hotels, holy sites, parks, restaurants, and more) throughout Israel.
Access Israel. Founded in 1999, this non-profit organization promotes accessibility and inclusion of the disabled in society. They are located in Israel and their website has a wealth of knowledge on accessibility in Israel.
206 Tours is a Catholic tour company. They provide Holy Land accessible tours, but what I want to point out is the information they provide on this page. They have some great pictures and information.
