Israel Itinerary

Friendship Force Trip to Israel Itinerary Raanana, Israel Exchange: October 21-28, 2008 October 28, Day 1 • Depart from Tel Aviv • Tour ancient Acco: the old walls, Turkish baths, Market • (Lunch on our own) • Rosh Hanikra – tour of the caves • Adamit – a short but beautiful walk • Arrive at our hotel in Pequi’in Dinner at hotel October 29, Day 2 • A short tour of the ancient parts of Pequi’in • Leave Pequi’in for Safed. In this ancient town we will visit the Art Quarter and one of the synagogues • (Lunch on our own) • Tour in Afula, a nature preserve noted for its bird populations or a similar site later on in the trip • Option- Travel through the northern border of Israel to Metula • Dinner and a short evening sail on the Sea of Galilee • Arrive at our hostel at Karie-Deshe October 30, Day 3 – Churches and Sights at the Northern Parts of the Sea of Galilee • The Beatitude Mountain (Church of the Beatitudes), Tabgha, Demos Galilea, the Synagogue at Cappernau’m • (Lunch on our own – Nazareth) • Return to our hostel • Drive to the Hot Baths of “Hammat-Gader” • Dinner October 31, Day 4 • Tour the Banyas Reservation • The Golan Heights, Volcanic Mountains – Bental: Learn about the “Yom Kippur War” • (Lunch on our own – Kazrin) • Visit the ancient synagogue in Kazrin • Shabbat dinner - hostel at Karie-Deshe November 1, Day 5 - Shabbat • Leave Karie-Deshe and drive to the Dead Sea • Visit the remnants of the ancient town of Beit-She’an • The synagogue at Beit-Alfa • Drive through the Jordan Valley of the Dead Sea • Visit the monastery at Dir Hajle • (Lunch on our own – Qumran) • Tour the Qumran area - “the Story of the Dead Sea Scrolls” • Check into the Royal Dead Sea Hotel, Dinner at Hotel November 2, Day 6 • A cable ride to the top of Masada – a tour of the mountain • (Lunch on our own) • A walking tour at Ein Geddi – a very special botanic garden • Free time at the (salted waters of) the Dead Sea • Dinner at the Royal Dead Sea Hotel November 3, Day 7 • A quiet morning at the Dead Sea • Drive to Eilat, via the Arava Route • (Lunch on our own) • Tour the “Route of Peace” between Israel and Jordan • Arrive at Eilat and check into Vista Hotel, Dinner at Hotel November 4, Day 8 • Travel to Jordan via Akkaba – visit the ruins at Petra. Lunch included • Return to Eilat for Dinner at Hotel November 5, Day 9 • A sail on a "glass bottom”: boat or visit to the underwater observatory or visit a Bird Resort in Eilat • Drive North to the area of Machtesh-Ramon • (Lunch on our own) • Visit the beautiful views from the burial place of David ben Gurion • Drive to Jerusalem and check into The Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem November 6, Day 10 • Tour the “New” Jerusalem: the University, Museum, visit the Knesset, the Hadassah Hospital • The Jerusalem Market • (Lunch on our own at the market: Falafel and other “Oriental” foods) • Visit different neighborhoods – religious, etc • Return to The Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem November 7, Day 11 • Visit the City of David • The Kiddron Valley • The Wailing Wall and the tunnels underneath the Wall • (Lunch on our own in the Jewish Quarter) • Walking tour of the Old City • Return to hotel, , Shabbat dinner at hotel • November 8, Day 12 • Visit the Mount of Olives: the story of Jesus in Jerusalem • Visit the Pater Noster Church • Gethsemane • Zion Mountain - the Tomb of David • (Lunch on our own at the Muristan Market) • The Christan Quarter and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre • Return to The Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem November 9, Day 13 • The Herzl Museum on Mount Herzl • Yad Vashem – the Holocaust Museum • (Lunch on our own) • Ein Karem • Return to The Caesar Hotel, Jerusalem and farewell dinner November 10, Day 14 • Free day in Jerusalem with (Lunch on our own) • Some members of the group depart today • Others return tomorrow, November 11 • Hotel this night for people departing on Nov 11 May 9, 2008* To all interested participants for the Friendship Force Home Stay in Raanana, Israel for one week plus the extension of 13 or 14 days, dependant upon your personal departure date, of touring through the Israeli tour company: International Geographic Campus. Exchange begins: 10/21/2008 with pickup at airport in Tel Aviv Extension begins: 10/28/2008 with pickup probably in Raanana or Tel Aviv Please check this out and/or call your local travel agent to make your own flight and insurance arrangements. I must have checks by Friday, May 16 For a guide in pricing the insurance you may use the following amounts. All checks are to be made out to the Friendship Force of Long Island and sent to me: Harriet Weidenbaum 11 Beech Place Huntington, NY 11743-4136 Eubios2@aol.com All transfers of monies to Israel will be made electronically by our treasurer. I will need checks immediately. • $140 for Israeli exchange group • $140 for International Friendship Force • $100 to for group kitty • $ 2115 to Israeli company for extension. • Add the following for single supplement $609 • The night of the 10 of November is not included and if you stay that night which I am doing there will be an additional $65 per person (in a double room) or $100 for a single room occupancy • Cost of your flight (which individuals are handling on their own
SAMPLE TOTALS: 140 140 100 2115 65 2560 TOTAL	OR with single supplement: 140 140 100 2115 100 609 3204 TOTAL
All totals do not include insurance and air fare. Since I wrote the following I have another insurance policy offered through Friendship Force so we can compare the coverage if you decide to join us. EVERYONE MUST HAVE TRAVEL INSURANCE THAT INCLUDES MEDICAL UNLESS YOU HAVE YOUR OWN MEDICAL INSURANCE. MEDICARE DOES NOT COVER ANYONE OUT OF THE USA. I would suggest you check out this site: http://www.insuremytrip.com. It allows you to compare some of the different choices available. I would suggest selecting something that covers trip interruption, bankruptcy of the company, airline, terrorism, etc. You are free to make your choices but remember that if something occurs the group will not be available to wait with you as it must continue on with the itinerary. It is safest to be prepared for all eventualities. If you are traveling with someone and departing and returning on the same date you might want to see how the price works out if you enter both. I was told that even if not co-insured; if your spouse, significant other, friend, etc., has to depart and you wish to accompany them you can always use the trip interruption part of the policy. Please confirm all I have written as I am far from an expert … and it’s always the small print that gets me. The agent at insure my trip said that in terms of Israel she would recommend and AIG policy (TravelGuard). They apparently had a meeting with AIG and AIG is still including Israel in all their policies. Even though war is excluded in all policies the coverage through the trip interruption part of the policy would allow us to be evacuated if the US State Department was calling for all Americans to depart.You will want to take out the insurance within the week you make your payment to be able to waive previous medical conditions. This is yet another item you want the insurance to cover. When you reach the site select on the left sidebar: Package Policies. Be sure to include in the cost all the checks you will have made out except the group kitty. Anyone having to withdraw from the trip will get a proportion of the monies refunded that have not been spent to that date. Ex: I’ve already purchased a calling card to call Israel. It is looking as though I’ll need another before the trip is finalized. Any questions call: 631-673-6116 Harriet Weidenbaum

Send mail to txtravel@flash.net with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: August 29, 2008

Send mail to txtravel@flash.net with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: August 29, 2008