ITINERARY - SYRIA AND JORDAN TOUR (14-DAY/13 NIGHT)
Day 1, Wed 27 April: Arrive in Aleppo
We arrive in Aleppo where we will be met by our local guide and transferred to our hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Aleppo
Day 2, Thu 28 April: In Aleppo
After breakfast a full day sightseeing tour of Aleppo. Of all Syria’s towns and cities, it is perhaps Aleppo that leaves the deepest impression upon the visitor. A key town on trade routes (including the Silk Road) for thousands of years, it remains a thriving centre and a visit to the 12km of historic covered souks and khans enables you to see something of the town's current everyday life as well as beautifully designed and decorated monuments remaining from the past. The Citadel, which dominates the city centre, is a masterpiece of Arab military architecture. 2 nights Aleppo. (B/D)
Overnight in Aleppo
Day 3: Fri 29 April - Full day excursion to St. Simeon
Today after breakfast we visit the site where St. Simeon is reputed to have lived on top of a pillar for forty-two years. Today, remnants of the magnificent Church built after Simeon’s death remain and, from the Citadel, there are great views over the ‘dead’ towns of the Byzantine era. (B/D)
Overnight in Aleppo
Day 4: Sat 30 April - Aleppo - Ebla - Bara - Hama:
After breakfast, we leave Aleppo to visit the hill top site of Ebla. Destroyed in about 1600 BC, archaeological work continues here today. Continue to Bara, the largest ghost town in Northern Syria and now a centre of cherry and olive growing. But it was an important centre from the 2nd century BC with monumental tombs of surprising size and design. Proceed to Hama and overnight. (B/D)
Overnight in Hama
Day 5: Sun 1 May - Hama - Apamea - Crac - Hama
Following breakfast we see the Norias (ancient waterwheels) then we continue to Apamea which was an important Greek and Roman city. It is laid out in a chessboard fashion like so many other imperial cities. Crac des Chevaliers, our next stop, is a stunningly impressive Crusader fortress which was important in controlling inland Syria from the Mediterranean world. Return to Hama and overnight (B/D)
Overnight in Hama
Day 6: Mon 2 May: Hama - Palmyra:
We leave Hama after breakfast to travel through the Syrian desert to visit the oasis town of Palmyra whose ruins are impressive both for their extent and their remarkable state of preservation.
The ancient Arab city is gradually being restored in all its grandeur and its Agora, Theatre, Baths and Temples of Nabo and Bel are among the finest in this part of the world. (B/D)
Overnight in Palmyra
Day 7; Tue 3 May: Palmyra - Ma'aloula - Damascus:
After breakfast we drive to Ma’aloula, a honeycomb village hewn out of rock. Besides possessing two old convents (Saint Tekla and Saint Serge), Ma’aloula is remarkable for the fact that Aramaic, the language of Christ, is still spoken there. The Monastery of St. Tekla, a disciple of St. Paul, contains the remains of the Saint's body. We then continue on to Damascus for two nights.(B/D)
Overnight in Damascus
Day 8; Wed 04 May: Full day in Damascus
Said to be the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city (a claim disputed by Aleppo!), Damascus is now a modern city and Syria’s capital which charms the visitor with both its wonderful old quarters and modern aspects side by side. Within the famous ancient walls of the old city, we see the shrine of Sayida Zeinab, the magnificent Umayaad Mosque, Saladin's Memorial and the Epigraphy Museum, the Azem Palace, the Chapel of Ananias, the Suleimaniya Complex designed by famous Turkish architect Sinan, the Artisans and Covered Bazaars, the and the Street called Straight. We also visit the National Museum and Historical and Army Museums. (B/L/D)
Overnight in Damascus
Day 9; Thu 05 May: Damascus - Bosra and continue to Amman
We leave Damascus for Bosra with its most extraordinary monuments including the fortress-theatre, recently and beautifully restored, where the best ballet, theatre and folklore companies give performances every summer.
From here, a narrow ancient road leads into the Decumanus near a triple arch known as the Gate of Lanterns. We proceed to the border for formalities and cross into Jordan.
We are met and assisted upon arrival at Jordanian border then visit Jerash, a huge Roman site and one of the 10 cities of the ancient Decapolis. We will see the Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome, the Temple of Zeus, the Forum, the mile long street of columns, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Artemis and the Viaduct Church. The Amphitheatre is still used for arts festivals and is remarkably well-preserved. Continue to Amman, the capital, for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Overnight in Amman
Day 10; Fri 06 May: In Amman
After breakfast, an Amman city tour offers both the old and new. We see the Roman Amphitheatre, the Citadel and the Archaeological Museum, then spend time at a local souq and the exclusive newly built area of Abdoun. In the afternoon we visit Bethany where John baptized Jesus then the Dead Sea, where you can float at the Earth’s lowest point. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Overnight in Amman
Day 11, Sat 07 May: Amman - Petra
This morning after breakfast we visit Mt Nebo and Madaba. At Mount Nebo we see the hilltop Church erected on the site from where it is believed Moses saw the Promised Land. His tomb is also located here and there are as a beautiful array of mosaics in the floor of the church. In the town of Madaba we see St. George’s Church, home to a stunning 6th century mosaic map of the ancient Middle East before continuing to Kerak, a crusader fortress built over older fortresses and located on the King’s Highway in the area known in ancient times as Moab. Dinner and 2 nights in Petra (Wadi Mousa). (B/L/D)
Overnight in Petra
Day 12; Sun 08 May: In Petra (Wadi Mousa)
After breakfast, we will enjoy a full day sightseeing in Petra, one of the most magnificent sites in the Middle East. From the main gate we sit on horseback to the entrance of the Siq (canyon). Your guide will explain the sites, monuments, and history as we wander among the tombs, temples, water cisterns, the Roman Theatre, street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, the massive Courthouse, Roman Street and Triumphal Arch, ending at Qasr Al-Bint. Later, we visit nearby Little Petra. (B/L/D).
Overnight in Petra
Day 13; Mon 09 May: In Petra (Wadi Mousa) and transfer to Madaba.
After breakfast we drive to Wadi Rum for a four-wheel drive jeep tour of about four hours. Wadi Rum is an expansive nature preserve that shows off the area’s geological features and a variety of flora and fauna. It was also the World War I base of Lawrence of Arabia. Then we transfer back to Madaba for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)
Overnight in Madaba
Day 14; Tue 10 May:
Transfer to Queen Alia International Airport (Amman) for departure. (B)
TOUR DETAILS
14-DAY SYRIA/JORDAN TOUR 2011
(This tour starts in Aleppo in Syria and finishes at Queen Alia Airport Amman, Jordan)
Tour Dates: |
Wednesday, 27 April to Tuesday, 10 May. 2011 This tour may be combined with ANZAC tour starting in Istanbul on 21 April AND/OR Grand Sultan tour starting in Istanbul on 10 May).
|
Tour duration: |
14 days / 13 nights |
Tour price: |
$3,875 per person twin share. Single Supp: $725 |
Group Size |
Minimum:8, Maximum: 20 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The tour price includes:
- Accommodation in special category or four-star hotels or the best available.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
- Transportation in modern air-conditioned coach or minibus with spare seats.
- Arrival transfers on Day 1 (in Aleppo) on meet-and-assist basis and departure transfers on Day 14 (in Amman).
- All entrance fees, tips to hotels & restaurants and other charges.
- Services of Australian tour leader who is with the group 24/7.
- Services of professional English speaking tour guide.
- 4WD tour Wadi Rum
- Horse ride in Petra
- Drinking water on the coach.
- Visas to both countries
The tour price does NOT include:
- International flights (i.e. flights to Syria and from Jordan)
- Travel insurance
- Departure taxes, levies and other charges
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, minibar, phone calls, etc.
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Lunches in Syria
- Beverages at meal times.