Hi Karen, this is a trip i have always wanted to do. Thomson holidays/Portland do not offer this trip now because of all the fighting and bombings etc, but in resort several places do offer this trip, but thomson say it isnt safe yet. So really it is up to the individual whether they risk it. Sorry i havent been of much assistance.

Michelle x
sonesta beach resort queen

Hi Michelle

Thanks for your reply.

regards
Karen

I have done the trip to Jerusalem last year but I went from Taba. Did it through Portland Holidays and we did the whole tour round the Dead Sea then into Jerusalem and then flew back into Eilat. It was quite pricey, it was a very long day and it was very tiring..but I achieved a lifetime ambition to go.
Crossing the border is very difficult and took us over 2 hours...and we were escorted. Mind you..on the day we went, the Israeli's had shot an Egyptian on the border and there was alot of "unpleasantness" going on. Check with Portland to see if they offer it from sharm but I reckon you would have to fly if they did as its about 3 and bit hours from Sharm to Taba on a bus. We left taba at 3.30am and did not get to Jerusalem until 11am...long long time on a bus.

This link will give you an idea of what's available.
Long day and not cheap as mentioned above...

Where does it say it was cheap?

Anyway, thanks for the link, I am back at Sharm in a fortnight and want the boy to experience some culture and had thought about the trip to Petra. I think I will give it miss and do it next time we go back to Taba..might work out slightly cheaper and less time travelling.

I'm sorry I'll say that again...

"As mentioned above, it's not cheap!"

Is that better?

Visiting Jerusalem while on holiday in Sharm feels a bit like an Egyptian going to Blackpool on holiday, but wanting to visit London for the day while they are in England...

You can do Petra from Taba by boat, much easier than battling with the border crossings through Israel.

When we were in Taba last time unfortunately the trip to Petra was on the same day as we were flying home so I could not go..I was gutted and always swore I would try again. I think the best option is by boat..the border crossing was such a nightmare and as Rob was diving and the kids wouldn't get out of bed that early to go on the trip..I went on my own and found I was targetted quite alot for "extra" treatment by various Israeli guards as they decided I fitted their profile of the latest trend in suicide bomber..ie: a female travelling on thier own. Every time they stopped me..the first question after "passpport" was always "where is your husband..".
One guard terrified me at the Dead Sea by jumping up, waving a gun in my face and shouting "bag"..ie she wanted to search the bag. All she had to do was ask nicely..she didn't have to scare me to death in the process!