Israel
For a fine view of the city of Jerusalem make your way to the top
of the Mount of Olives before taking a walking tour through the
fascinating history of the beautiful old city below. Travel through
the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth and
have a float in its salty waters. Visit the charming old port and
ancient Crusader Capital of Akko, and the important Mosque of El-Jezzar.
At Eliat on the Red Sea they'll love Coral World which lets you
view the wonderful marine life including sharks and turtles from
underwater observatories or swim with the dolphins at the nearby
Dolphin Reef research centre. There are some great beaches to just
enjoy the sun, sea and sand.
Grab a snorkel or your scuba gear and enjoy the wonderful underwater
scenery of the Red Sea; this is also a great place for any type
of watersports such as sailing and windsurfing. There are some great
hiking trails in Israel from the lush landscapes of Galilee to the
dramatic Samaria desert. Or how about trying your hand at inner-tubing
or kayaking on the Jordan River.
You'll find a range and mixture of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean
food here using wonderful local produce and herbs. Snacks such as
felafel - balls of fried chickpeas are sold on pavement stalls on
most street corners. Try out some of the local fish cooked in a
North African style like harimeh - with tomatoes, cumin and hot
pepper. For dessert in an Arabic restaurant try baklava - filo dough
with nuts and sweet syrup. Sample some of Israel's wines or to finish
of your meal with a sabra a chocolate orange liqueur.
In September / October the Jewish Feast of the Tabernacles celebrates
the end of Simchat Torah and is celebrated with singing and dancing
in the synagogues and streets. The Israel Festival of Music and
Drama centered around Jerusalem takes place in May of each year
with the country's leading artists and also top class visiting groups
and artists.
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Where to dance the night away
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Nightlife in Israel is very lively especially around the larger
resorts and in Jerusalem and particularly around the seafront in
Tel Aviv. Bars and discos are busy through the night but the evenings
start late around 10.30pm, Thursday is the big night out.
In the bazaars and markets in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth
and other towns you'll find a range of handmade arts and crafts
using olive wood and mother of pearl. Religious articles are very
popular gifts and for something more unusual some of the Batik or
woven textiles make wonderful wall hangings.
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Language: Hebrew, Arabic and English
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Currency: New Israeli Shekel (NIS)
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Visas: None required
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Time: GMT + 2
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Climate: Hot and dry summers highs of 40șC in Eilat and mild
and cooler winters with lows of 6șC in Jerusalem
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UK Tourist Office: Israeli Government Tourist Office, 18 Great
Marlborough Street, London W1V 1AF. Tel: 0171 434 3651.
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Vaccinations: Hepatitis A, Polio and Typhoid recommended
Click here for a video tour of Israel
Ancient city of Jericho video tour
Israel - River Jordan & The Sea of Galilee video tour
Call us on 0845 299 4450 for further details
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