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Itinerary
for Israel Tour
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Included meals are indicated as B =
Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner |
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| 17.11.11 |
Depart Melbourne
at 8.40am on KE126, arriving in Seoul at 5.50pm.
Depart Sydney at 9.00am on KE122, arriving in Seoul at 5.10pm
Transfer to Capital Hotel or similar in central Seoul.
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18.11.11
(B,L) |
Today we will have
a full day tour of Seoul visiting the Korean Folk Village, Gyeongbok
Palace, The National Folk Museum, plus a photo stop at the Blue House.
The Korean Folk Village a living museum type
of tourist attraction in the city of Yongin a satellite city in the
Seoul metropolitan area. The purpose of Korean Folk Village is to
display elements of traditional Korean life and culture. There are
multiple sections to the park. There are numerous replicas of
traditional houses of the different social classes (peasant, landowner,
yangban) and the various regions.
The park also has a traditional street market, restaurants and
showcases of traditional wordworking and metalworking techniques. There
are performances of traditional dances, equestrian skills, marriage
ceremonies and recreational activities.
An amusement park section has rides and games, and art museum a
sculpture garden, a Korean Folk Museum and a World Folk Museum which
highlights traditional lifestyles from around the world.
Gyeongbok Palace was originally established in
1395 as a royal palace of the Chosun Dynasty. However in the war in
1592, most of the buildings were destroyed by fire and it had not been
reconstructed for 273 years.
It was rebuilt under Emperor Kojong in 1868. The dynasty had to move to
Deoksu Palace and Gyeongbok Palace lost its place as the royal palace.
Gyeongbok Palace still keeps its gorgeous looks of 500 years Chosun
Dynasty's history by having many stately buildings. Gyeongbok means
shining happiness.
Afterwards we continue to the
National Folk Museum, which displays the religious rituals, dwelling
customs, household tools, food, traditional costumes and the social
dynamics of traditional Korean life. The Jogyesa Temple is our next
stop. It is the headquarters of the Jogyejong, the largest sect of
Korean Buddhism. It is located in the heart of Seoul. It provides a
different atmosphere to enjoy. We may make wishes regardless of our
religion. |
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19.11.11
(B)
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Morning Free in
Seoul. Late morning transfer to Seoul airport, departing at 3.30pm on
KE957, arriving in Te Aviv at 8.40pm.
You are welcomed by our representative for assistance with arrival
formalities. Meet your guide and transfer to hotel in Tel Aviv for
overnight.
Accommodation Tal Hotel or similar. |
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20.11.11
(B)
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Breakfast at the
hotel. Tour Tel Aviv, known as the 'city that never sleeps'. Visit the
multi-media Palmach Museum to learn of Israel's struggle for
Independence. Then visit the Old City of Jaffa and stroll through the
renovated artists' colony and the ancient port. See the home of Simon
the Tanner. Tonight enjoy dinner on your own in one of Tel Aviv's great
restaurants.
Accommodation Tal Hotel or similar. |
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21.11.11
(B) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Depart Tel Aviv and drive to Caesarea, one of
the Land of Israel's most important cities during the Roman Empire;
visit the Herodian theatre and newly excavated hippodrome, palace and
bathouse and explore the 900-year-old crusader city built on the same
site with its new hologram interactive activities centers. Continue to
Mt Carmel and enjoy a traditional Druze lunch and hospitality. Drive to
Haifa for a breathtaking view of Haifa Bay and the magnificent Bahai
Gardens. Conclude the day with a visit to the Church of the
Annunification of Christ in Nazareth. Dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation Prima Hotel or similar. |
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22.11.11
(B,L,D) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Enjoy a wooden boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee. Continue the
day with a visit to the Church of the Beatitudes located on Capernaum,
on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the site of Jesus' teachings and
the remains of a second century synagogue. Visit Tabgha, traditional
site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fish, and the site of a modern
church built on the remains of a Byzantine church from the fourth
century. Drive to Safed to see a center of Jewish mysticism for
hundreds of years, and a contemporary artist' colony; visit the many
unique synagogues, stroll through the quaint art galleries and shop in
the artists' colony. Return to the hotel for dinner.
Accmoodation Prima Hotel or similar. |
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23.11.11
(B,D) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Visit the Talmudic synagogue at Katzrin. Head up the Golden
heights to Mount Bental and peer deep into Syria. Further north visit
Banias and Caesaerea Philippi. Take a short hike at Tel Dan (weather
permitting.) Return to the hotel for dinner.
Accommodation: Prima Hotel or similar. |
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24.11.11
(B,D) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Continue on to see the archaeological excavations in one of the
largest Roman-Byzantine cities uncovered in Israel. Depart Beit Sheam
and drive to Jerusalem passing Jericho on the way. Upon entering
Jerusalem, stop at the Haas Promenade to say the traditional
'Shehechiyanu' blessing, recited upon entering Jerusalem.
Accommodation Prima Kings Hotel or similar for 4 nights. |
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25.11.11
(B,D) |
After breakfast at
the hotel, begin your visit of Jerusalem. Tour the Jewish Quarter of
the Old City, the ancient Roman Cardo, the newly restored Hurva
Synagogue (pending confirmation) followed by a stroll through the
colourful Machane Yehuda Market to enjoy the bustling crowds preparing
for Shabbat. Next on to Bethlehem, the site of the birth of Jesus and
the Church of the Nativity. Tonight enjoy a traditional Shabbat Dinner
and overnight at the hotel. |
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26.11.11
(B) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. After breakfast, begin your day in Jerusalem with
an overview of the city from the top of Mount of Olives, the
traditional site of Jesus' ascension to heaven. Walk down the side of
the mountain to the Garden of Gethsemane. Then enter the Old City
through St. Stephen's Gate and visit the pools of Bethesda at St.
Anne's Byzantine and Crusader Church. Continue along the Stations of
the Cross on the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
After eating lunch on own in the Old City enjoy time for shopping at
the Arab bazaar. Dinner on own at the Ben Yehuda pedestrian and outdoor
shopping promenade, watching Jerusalem come awake after the quiet
Shabbat. |
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27.11.11
(B,D) |
Enjoy a visit to
the Western Wall (Kotel), the remaining wall of the Second Temple and,
today, the holiest prayer site in the world to Jews. Walk through the
Western Wall Tunnel that runs along the entire length of the Western
Wall of the Temple Mount. Explore the excavations at the Davidson
Center by the Southern Wall. This afternoon visit Yad Vashem, the
memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Stop at the Israel Museum to
view the model of the second century Jerusalem and the Shrine of the
Book, displaying the Dead Sea Scrolls. Dinner at the hotel. |
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28.11.11
(B,D) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Depart Jerusalem in the direction of the Dead Sea Basin. Stop at
Qumran, walk through the impressive Dead Sea Sect community area and
see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and view the new
interactive audio visual program. Enjoy a short hike to 'Nahal David'
the freshwater spring at the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a lush oasis in
the palace and site of the Jewish Zealot's last stand against the Roman
Legionnaires.
Accommodation Prima Oasis Hotel or similar. |
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29.11.11
(B,D) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Morning free to enjoy the amenities at your Dead Sea spa hotel.
Experience the weightlessness of the Dead Sea as you float in its
waters. Afternoon departure for Eilat-Israel's Red Sea resort. Stop at
Timna and King Solomon's Copper mines. Tonight enjoy dinner at an Eilat
fish restaurant and stroll the waterfront promenade.
Accommodation Prima Music hotel or similar. |
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30.11.11
(B,D) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Optional tour to Petra the rose red city.
Relish in the 'Rose City's hidden beauty', deep within the mountains of
Wadi Araba. See the fantastic and impressive stone carvings and
stifling beauty of this amazing treasure and find yourself in a time
'half as old as time'. Pick up from the hotel lobby in Eilat at about
7.00am by our representative. Assistance at the Jordan border. Once on
the Jordanian side you will meet your local English speaking guide.
Transfer through the beautiful desert landscape past Wadi Rum (approx 2
hours) to the small town of Wadi Moussa / Petra.
Enter the magic of Petra through Al-Siq, a winding trail at the bottom
of a powerful, deep, natural canyon, following the magical trail to
reveal the simply breathtaking and monumental treasure. Learn about the
Nabateans who established Petra as their Capital on the 'Spice Route'.
Lunch break at a local restaurant on site. Afternoon drive back
Aqaba/Arava Border for border crossing to Israel. Our representative
will meet you on the Israeli side and take you back to your hotel.
Approximate Itinerary:
07.00 - Pick up from Eilat Hotel
07.30 - Cross ISR / JRD border and drive to Petra
10.30 - Enter Petra, visit site.
14.30 - Lunch at Petra Museum or similar
16.00 - Exit Petra and drive back to Aqaba.
18.00 - Estimated return at Arava border
Cost is $255 per person plus $55 required at border crossing for visa
fee.
Alternately enjoy a day at leisure in Eilat to snorkel, dive or enjoy
the beach.
Accommodation at Prima Music Hotel. |
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01.12.11
(B,L) |
Breakfast at the
hotel. Visit the world famous Underwater Aquarium
where the beautiful tropical fish get a chance to look at you. Farewell
lunch before departing to Eilat airport for a flight to Ben Gurion
airport to catch your international flight.
Depart Tel Aviv at 10.10pm on KE958, arriving in Seoul at 3.40pm the
next day. |
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| 02.11.11 |
Melbourne
passengers depart Seoul at 6.10pm on KE125, arriving in Melbourne at
7.10am the next day (03.12.11)
Sydney passengers depart Seoul at 7.10pm on KE121, arriving in Sydney
at
7.10am the next day (03.12.11) |