Israel places enormous importance on providing comfortable conditions for travelers with disabilities. Considerable efforts and resources have been invested to enable the handicapped visit destinations and attractions and to receive service comparable to that received by the general public.
The Israel Government Tourist Corporation, the executive arm of the Ministry of Tourism for developing infrastructure, has initiated numerous projects designed to make dozens of tourist sites throughout the country accessible. We encourage travelers with disabilities to come to Israel to travel, tour, and visit these sites. New sites have been made accessible and old sites have been renovated to make them more suitable.
For example, the summit of the Massada fortress near the Dead Sea is now accessible, and wheelchairs can now reach the upper level of the site. A special area on Masada has been adapted so that persons with visual disabilities can touch and feel the surroundings. Other sites, such as the Knights’ Halls in Acre (Akko), and the esplanade and amphitheater in Caesarea (Keysariya) have also been made accessible for the handicapped.
ACCESS ISRAEL provides detailed free information in English and Hebrew on sites accessible to travelers with disabilities: www.aisrael.org. This site offers detailed, up-to-date and reliable information on accessible tourism sites and accommodation, tours, halls, cultural events, restaurants, festivals, car rental agencies and other useful information for special needs travelers. Personalized accessible travel planning advice for Israel is also available.
A book describing accessible places is also available from lior@dorot-net.co.il .
Itineraries for People with Mobility Challenges
Additional information and tips for people with disabilities is available at:
Milbat
The Israel Center for Technology and Accessibility. Milbat, situated at the Sheba Medical Center (972-3-5303739) specializes in building, transport and other aides for people with disabilities. The center gives advice on transport solutions for people with disabilities. More Information is available at the Milbat website.
Yad Sarah
Yad Sarah is a volunteer organization with branches all over Israel that lends tourists wheelchairs, crutches and other aides without charge and only a secutity deposit. More information is available at Yad Sara website.or by calling +972-2-6444555.
Tour organizers for persons with special needs
Israel
For All - www.israel4all.com
SmarTrip - www.smartrip-israel.com