Arabian Adventure

Our guide will meet you at Amman Airport and transfer you to your chosen accommodation. Today is free for you to settle into your new surroundings and begin exploring Jordan’s cosmopolitan capital.

Overnight:

Four Seasons Amman

Meals included:

None

After breakfast we begin our sightseeing tour to visit the ‘Desert Castles’ many of which date back over 1000 years. Known as ‘castles’ these sites are actually palaces, fortresses and bath houses and make for a very interesting trip. We concentrate our time on the most impressive sites – Qasr Hallabat, Qasayr Amra and Qasr Hraneh which is visable from miles around.
After a short stop for lunch we head to the Azraq Wetlands Reserve which was once home to many buffalo, wild horses and thousands of bird species. Over the last few decades much of this wildlife has been diminished by extensive draining of the lakes. Work is under way at the moment to restore this area to its former glory.
Continuing a little further south we reach the Shaumari Wildlife Reserve which is haven for many endangered indigenous species such as the Arabian Oryx, Ostriches, Onagers and Gazelles. Within the area there area viewing towers which allow you to get a good perspective of the area and view the animals from above. Later this afternoon we return to Amman where you can relax within your hotel or visit the many souqs and bazaars which are located throughout the city.

Overnight:

Four Seasons Amman

Meals included:

Breakfast, Lunch

One of the best places to begin a days sightseeing around Amman is the Roman Forum and this will be today’s first stop. The Roman Theatre is cut into a depression in the hillside and the huge theatre offers spectacular views of the surrounding area. The original structure was built between 169 and 177 AD whilst under the reign of Marcus Aurelius. The theatre originally seated six thousand spectators and it is still occasionally used for concerts.
From here we head to the Odeon which is located just beyond the Amphitheatre. The original structure dates slightly earlier than the large theatre and once seated around 500 and was probably used for council meetings or small scale dramas.
Following our short tour of Amman we begin our journey south along the desert highway to Aqaba. We will spend the next 2 nights in a luxury beach resort.

Overnight:

Kempinski Aqaba

Meals included:

Breakfast

Today is free for you to relax beside the red sea, explore Aqaba or enjoy the many water sports which Aqaba has to offer. The crystal blue waters and colourful reefs around Aqaba offer some of the Red Seas best diving.

Overnight:

Kempinski Aqaba

Extras and options:

Scuba Diving or Snorkelling Trip
Red Sea Boat Trip

Meals included:

Breakfast

We drive out of Aqaba to the spectacular desert & mountains of Wadi Rum. The desert here, with its towering rust coloured rocky ‘jebels’ awed TE Lawrence during his visits during the Arab Revolt of 1917-18, and was later made famous in the film Lawrence of Arabia. We take a jeep safari this afternoon through the stunning desert scenery to see more of the sheer cliffs and bizarre rock formations. After a Traditional Bedouin Lunch we will drive to Petra where we have an afternoon tour to visit ‘Little Petra’ which gives you a good taste of things to come tomorrow when we have our tour to visit Petra.

Overnight:

Taybet Zaman

Meals included:

Breakfast, Lunch

The ancient capital of the Nabataean commercial empire until the Romans finally took over in 106AD, Petra was largely forgotten, except by the local Bedouins, until it was ‘discovered’ in 1812 by a young Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. This was partly due to its remoteness, and its situation on the edge of Wadi Aruba., whose canyon walls and surrounding hills make it almost impossble to approach except through a narrow, winding cleft in the rock, called the Siq. The city itself has very few free-standing buildings, as the Nabateans chose to carve their homes, buildings and tombs into the multi-coloured sandstone cliffs.
We have nearly a whole day today to tour this fascinating city, escorted by an expert guide (4 hour tour, then free time to explore yourselves). We start by walking through the Siq, which rises to 200m above us, and narrows to just 2m wide in places. The ancient Nabatean water channel can still be seen on one wall, as well as some remnants of the terracotta pipes that brought water into the city. All of a sudden, a now classic view appears around one corner, and one of Petra’s most impressive monuments, the Khazneh (Treasury) comes into view. Our guide will explain how this, and the other buildings here, are mainly elaborate facades carved into the rock from the top down, and also discuss the spiritual significance of the building style. From the Khazneh, the valley opens out, with tombs carved into the rock on both sides. We’ll see the ruined Roman amphitheatre, and colonnaded street, and can walk up a steep and narrow winding gorge past beautifully coloured sandstone cliff walls to the huge and imposing ‘Monastery’. The biggest of Petra’s carved monuments at 50m high and 45m wide, this is truly spectacular, as are the distant views west across Wadi Aruba and the Jordan valley.
Another climb can take us to the High Place of Sacrifice, and Lion Fountain.
All in all, this is a full & tiring, but hugely rewarding day touring one of the world’s most famous ancient sites. We spend the evening and night relaxing at our hotel.

Overnight:

Taybet Zaman

Extras and options:

Petra By Candle Light - An option is available to return to the Siq in the evening for the Petra by Candlelight tour through the Siq to the Treasury.

Meals included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Today we begin our drive north to the Dead Sea up the King’s Highway (a slower, but much more interesting and beautiful drive than the busy Desert Highway). Our first stop is at the old Crusader town and castle at Kerak, which lies on the ancient Egypt-Syrian caravan routes. Built in 1132AD by the Crusader King, Baldwin 1 of Jerusalem, the castle fell to Saladin in 1188AD. It is still an impressive building with commanding views over the surrounding hills & plains.
From Kerak, we head further north crossing several deep Wadis, including the majestic Wadi al-Mujib, where the road winds down, and then up the other side of this 1km deep canyon.
Arriving in Madaba, an important Christian town in Jordan, we stop to see some of its famous and priceless Byzantine era mosaics, including one of a 6th century map of Palestine in the Greek Orthodox St. George’s church, which was laid out in 560AD on an area of well over 100square metres, using more than 2 million pieces.
Close to Madaba is the Mt. Nebo area, used as a memorial to Moses. There are 3 peaks, with spectacular views to the Dead Sea, and on a clear day, all the way to the church spires of Jerusalem.
We finish our journey today with a short drive to the Dead Sea.

Overnight:

Kempinski Dead Sea

Meals included:

Breakfast

This morning we will visit the Baptism Site which is one of the most important discoveries made in the middle-east over the last few years. The site is known to be the place where John the Baptist lived and where he most likely baptized Jesus Christ.
In the afternoon we return to the Dead Sea where you with free time. the Dead Sea where we stop to enjoy a swim in this strange place, over 200m below sea level. The intense salinity - around 33%, of the waters here - caused by the intense evaporation rate, leads to a very strange swimming experience. In fact, normal swimming is not really possible, and it is easier (and more photogenic!) just to float, sitting or lying in the water. Be careful not to get any water in your eyes, as it will sting very strongly – you’ll also discover various tiny cuts you never thought you had. We ensure we bathe where there are clean water springs or shower facilities so that you can wash the salty water off before it dries and starts to itch!.

Overnight:

Kempinski Dead Sea

Meals included:

Breakfast

Today we have a full day tour to visit the Roman Ruins at Jerash and Ajloun Castle. Our first visit to Jerash takes us to what is probably Jordan’s second most visited tourist site. As with Petra, this is for good reason, as the Roman ruins here are very well preserved, and an excellent example of a Roman provincial city. Gerasa (Jerash) was founded around 170 BC and it was around this time that the idea of a Decapolis emerged. In 63 BC the Romans liberated Gerasa and the following decade saw a period of unprecedented growth – the original town plan was laid down at this time and this still survives today. At Jerash you have a guided tour and plenty of free time to explore further on your own.
From Jerash we head to Ajloun Castle which was constructed between 1184 and 1185 AD by Izz al-Din Usama – the nephew of Saladin. The castle at Ajloun is believed to be one of only a few build specifically to protect the country from Crusader attacks.
Following our visit to Ajloun we return to the Dead Sea for our final night in Jordan.

Overnight:

Kempinski Dead Sea

Extras and options:

Chariot Races at Jerash

Meals included:

Breakfast

This morning we drive north and cross the border into Syria. Our first stop will be at Bosra – Syria’s second most important Roman City after Palmyra. The city makes for a good contrast against Palmyra. Palmyra is built from pale sandstone where as Bosra was constructed from Black Basalt. The sites famous Theatre was recognised by UNESO as a World Heritage site in 1980 and justly so, the Theatre at Bosra is probably the worlds most intact and perfectly roman theatre in the world. From Bosra we continue to Shahba. Shahba is a small town which sits in the shadow of the extinct volcano Tell Shihan. We have a short tour of Shahba to visit some of the many Roman Ruins located throughout the town.
Our final journey today will be the City of Damascus – Syria’s capital city.

Overnight:

Talisman

Meals included:

Breakfast

We begin our sightseeing today with a visit to Syria’s National Museum. The National museum is home to an immense collection spread over 2 wings. We include a guided tour here where our guide will point out some the museums treasures before allowing you some free time to explore on your own. From here we have a short walk to visit the Tekkiye Suleymaniye Complex. The Tekkiye Mosque is one of Damascus’ most attractive spots; the beautifully designed complex was created by the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan.
After a short break for lunch we head to the Old City where we continue our sightseeing with a visit to the historic Azem Palace. The former home of the Azem family is the oldest and most palatial Ottoman residence in Damascus. Despite being converted to the Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions in 1954 it retains much of its original architecture. Close to the Azem Palace is the Great Umayyad Mosque whose impressive minarets tower over the surrounding buildings, the modest tomb of Saladin is located within the complex. Our day concludes with a drive along ‘Straight Street’ and a stop for shopping at Hamidiye Souq.

Overnight:

Talisman

Extras and options:

Arabic Story Telling - At the Nawfara Café close to the Umayyad Mosque, Arabic story tellers recount traditional folk tales. This will give you a great insight into the Arabic language – very interesting even for non-arabic speakers.

Meals included:

Breakfast

We leave Damascus after breakfast and head north to the Aramaic speaking village of Ma’loula where you have the opportunity to explore and visit the monasteries of Mar Sarkis and Mar Taqla. After lunch we continue our journey towards the ‘Bride of the Desert’ – Palmyra. After checking into your hotel you have some free time to explore and relax.

Overnight:

Tadamora Palace Hotel

Meals included:

Breakfast

Palmyra is one of Syria’s most famous and most visited sites, here you will find one of the worlds most complete classical cities with ruins dating back to the 2nd and 3rd centuries. Our tour includes visits to the most important and best preserved ruins including the Colonnaded streets, Roman Forum, Theatre, Temple of Bel and much more. You will also have plenty of free time here to explore a little further on your own.

Overnight:

Tadamora Palace Hotel

Extras and options:

Desert Camping – As an alternative to spending the night in a hotel at Palmyra, tonight can be spent with the local Bedouin at a desert camp.

Meals included:

Breakfast, Lunch

We bid farewell to Palmyra after breakfast and head through the desert. Our first stop will be at the ruins of Qasr el Hir a former palace and important stop of the ancient caravan routes. Continuing north, our second stop will be at the ‘Dead City’ of Rasafa which dates back to the 9th Century BC when it was an important stop of the trading routes between Palmyra, Europos, Dura and Aleppo. We make our final journey for today to Aleppo where you will check into a 5 star hotel. This evening is free, why not visit the Jdeideh District where evening meals are often accompanied by live music.

Overnight:

Mansouriya Palace

Extras and options:

Euphrates Boat Trip – En-route from Palmyra to Aleppo there is the opportunity for you to take a short boat trip on the Euphrates river.

Meals included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Today we have a full day of tours around this historic city. Our first visit is to the National Aleppo Museum. The museum houses an impressive collection, notably from the early Iron Age sites around Syria. From here we drive to Bab Antakya – the western gate of the old walled city which dates back to the 13th century we will begin our walking tour here. After passing through Bab Antakya we will emerge onto Souq Al-Attareen; the perfume sellers souq which continues for 1200m to the foot of the Citadel. There are 12km of souqs in this area waiting to be explored and you will have free time later today to explore on your own. After walking just over half way along Souq Al-Attareen we reach the Great Mosque. The mosque was built in the 8th century a decade after the construction of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus and features a beautiful 50m tall minaret. Continuing on along Souq Al-Attareen we reach our final destination, the mighty Citadel. The Citadel dates back to the 13th century and is a magnificent demonstration of Arab Military architecture. We will tour the Citadel before giving you free time to explore the Citadel and Souq further.

Overnight:

Mansouriya Palace

Extras and options:

Beach extension - If you would like to combine your cultural tour with some time to relax then why not add a tour extension to visit Syria’s Cote d’Azur – close to Lattakia. Here you will find impressive beaches and a good choice of luxury accommodation.

Meals included:

Breakfast

After an early start we head north to visit the 5th century basilica of St Simeon. The basilica took 14 years to build and at the time it was the largest and probably the most important church in the world. This was surpassed by Haghia Sophia in modern day Istanbul. After free time at St Simeons we drive south to the ancient ruins at Apamea. Excavations around Apamea prove that the area has been inhabited since the early Bronze Age but it reached it’s peak around the 3rd century BC whilst under the rule of Seleucus Nicator. At this time the city was said to house 500 Elephants, 30,000 Mares and 300 Stallions. During Seleucus’ rule, Apamea was known as a centre for Elephant taming, a skill which was brough from India. Whilst at Apamea you will have a guided tour and a little free time. After departing Apamea we continue our journey south to Hama, where we will spend tonight.

Overnight:

Orient House

Meals included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Before departing for Krak des Chevalier we have a short walking tour of Hama (approximately 2 hours) where we will visit Nur Al-Din Mosque with it’s striped exterior, the Azem Palace and the famous moaning waterwheels of Hama. From here we head to Krak des Chevaliers – the worlds best preserved Crusader Castle.
The original fortress at Krak des Chevaliers was built in 1031 by the Emir or Aleppo and later extended by the Knights Hospitallers between 1150 and 1250. We have an extensive guided tour followed by free time. After departing Krak des Chevaliers in the afternoon we end our journey in Damascus.

Overnight:

Talisman

Meals included:

Breakfast, Lunch

Your time in Syria comes to an end today. You have some free time in Damascus today before our guide transfers you to the airport for departure.

Extras and options:

Extra Nights in Damascus
Day trip to visit Beirut and Baalbek
Overnight trip to visit Beirut, Baalbek and Byblos
Day trip to visit the southern cities of Bosra, Shahba and Swaida.

Meals included:

Breakfast