ANZAC Day & Beersheba Battlefield Tour of Israel - April 2010

Sample itinerary & subject to slight changes

Day 1 – Friday 23 April 2010 - Arrival

Arrival Tel Aviv airport early morning - Start your tour with a short visit to the Commonwealth War Cemetery at Ramle - Tour the fascinating tank museum at Latrun - Ascend to Jerusalem for check-in to hotel - Remainder of the day at leisure
Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 2 – Saturday 24 April 2010 - Jerusalem Old City
Start the day with a spectacular view of Jerusalem from Mt. of Olives - Walk down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane - Walk through one of the Gates to the walled Old City - Visit the renewed Jewish Quarter and Western Wall - Pass through Ecce Homo Arch to the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher – Spend the afternoon exploring the colourful bazaars in the Muslim Quarter.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 3 – Sunday 25 April 2010                      ANZAC Day
Experience an early morning ANZAC Day service at the Commonwealth War Cemetery on Mount Scopus - Meet Kelvin Crombie ANZAC historian (subject to confirmation) - Enjoy a tour of Jerusalem reviewing the military history of the area including the battles of World War One, War of Independence and the Six Day War - Afternoon at leisure or experience a visit to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity and grotto and pass by the Shepherds Fields.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 4 – Monday 26 April 2010 - Jordan Valley
Experience a moving visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial - Depart Jerusalem through the Judean Desert and drive by Jericho, the oldest city in the world - Continue via the fertile Jordan Valley to see the ancient city of Beith Shean, a fully excavated Roman/Byzantine city of Scytopolis - Stop for a swim in the warm natural spring waters of the Sachne Springs.
Overnight: Tiberias

Day 5 – Tuesday 27 April 2010 - Sea of Galilee
Experience an early morning sail across the Sea of Galilee - See the remains of a 2,000 year old boat - Visit Tabgha, where the miracle of the loaves and fish took place - Enjoy a lunch of St. Peter’s fish (not included in tour price) - Continue onto Capernaum to see the ancient synagogue where Jesus preached - Ascend to the top of the Mt. of Beatitudes - Drive up to the Golan Heights to the Syrian border for a military tour of the region - See the ghost town of Kuneitra, former Syrian fortifications and peer deep into Syrian territory from the top of Mount Ben Tal.
Overnight: Tiberias

Day 6 – Wednesday 28 April 2010 - Coastal Plain
Continue onto Nazareth and the Church of the Annunciation - Explore the secret crusader tunnels at Acre - Continue on for a panoramic tour of Haifa and the magnificent Gardens of the Bahai - Finish the day with a walk through the alleyways of the artists quarter at Old Jaffa.
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 7 – Thursday 29 April 2010 -Beersheba
Enjoy a special day in Beersheba commemorating the achievements of the Australian soldiers in World War One - Visit Tel Sheva and the main battlefield sites in the area - Review the Charge of the Light Horse that took place in October 1917 - See the magnificent park of the Australian Soldier and the new Beersheba ANZAC memorial - Continue onto Arad for a camel ride and Bedouin hospitality in the desert - Enjoy a Bedouin hafla (feast) in a tent.
Overnight: Bedouin tent

Day 8 – Friday 30 April 2010 - Dead Sea
Enjoy a day in the unique Dead Sea region, the lowest place on Earth - Ascend the mighty fortress of Masada via cable car - Walk to the waterfall at the Ein Gedi desert oasis - Enjoy an afternoon at leisure floating in the salty waters of the Dead Sea
Overnight: Dead Sea

Day 9 – Saturday 1 May 2010 - Departure
Transfer to airport for departure

JORDAN OPTIONAL EXTENSION TOUR:
Optional Petra extension

Day 9 – Saturday 1 May 2010 - Negev Desert
Travel south to the Negev desert - Visit Israel’s Air Force Museum at Hatzerim to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force - Visit Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave, overlooking the magnificent Zin valley - Stop at Mitzpeh Ramon to gaze into the magnificent geological wonder of Ramon Crater.
Overnight: Eilat

Day 10 – Sunday 2 May 2010 - Petra
Early morning departure for the Jordanian border - Travel through the Wadi Rum Desert where Lawrence of Arabia once lived and fought with the Bedouin - Enjoy a spectacular full day tour exploring the rose-red city of Petra. Enjoy a short horse ride, and then travel on foot through the awesome ‘SIQ’ valley. Visit the Treasury, and explore hundreds of buildings, tombs, temples, and a 3,000-seat theater from the first-century AD (including lunch) - Panoramic tour of Aqaba before returning back to Eilat in the early evening.
Overnight: Eilat

Day 11 – Monday 3 May 2010 - Departure
Visit Eilat underwater observatory, built into a coral reef and one of the largest sea aquariums in the world  - Onto Timna to see the copper  mines and King Solomon’s pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations.- Drive back to Tel-Aviv for transfer to the airport for late evening flight back to Australia.

LAND COST OF TOUR:

 NINE DAYS:

USD1,520.00 PER PERSON  TWIN SHARE (BASED ON TWO PEOPLE SHARING A ROOM)

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT RATES APPLY ON REQUEST

COST OF PETRA EXTENSION TOUR: (FOUR DAYS)

USD580.00 PER PERSON BASED ON TWIN SHARE

 COST INCLUDES:

• Airirport meeting  and assistance
  
• Porterage at airport
  
• Transfers as per the itinerary
  
• Air conditioned bus for touring and transfers as per the itinerary
  
• Licensed English speaking guide for all touring
  
• Entrance fees for the mentioned sites
  
• Taxes & service Charges
  
• Accommodation in 4 star hotels with en-suite facilities and air-conditioning
  

ACCOMMODATION:

The accommodation is offered at the following hotels:

City	Hotel
Jerusalem	Olive tree or similar
Tiberias	Kibbutz Ginnosar or similar
Tel Aviv	Mercure B and P or similar
Bedouin tent	Kfar Hanokdim or similar
Dead Sea	Moriah Classic or similar
Eilat	Vista or similar

.

MEAL ARRANGEMENTS:

Buffet breakfast and dinner will be served daily at the hotels offered in the itinerary.

Lunch is also included in Petra.

The above mentioned does not include:   

1. Any extra meals or beverages or hotel extras

2. Tips for guides & drivers

3. Any personal expenses

4. Passport, border crossing and visa fees

5. Travel insurance