Treasures of Syria and Jordan
(15 days)

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Day 1: Join tour Damascus

Arrive Damascus and check-in at hotel. in Beit Zaman Hotel

Beit Zaman Hotel
This colonial style hotel in the heart of old Damascus oozes old world charm. Stunning reception rooms and 28 guest rooms lead off from the peaceful courtyard, with the Jullak Tea Room being of particular note. Rooms are tastefully and individually furnished with antiques. There is even a hammam to relax and scrub up after a busy day sightseeing!

Day 2: In Damascus

Today is spent in Damascus getting to know more about this ancient and intriguing city, steeped in fascinating history. On our walking tour of the city we visit the Ottoman Azem Palace, the Ommayad Mosque, Saladin's Tomb, Hammadiyeh bazaar and the National Museum. The conservatism of the desert and of the Islamic faith have helped to preserve a sense of historic continuity. In the 7th and 8th centuries Damascus was the centre of the Islamic world and there are many memorials to the age of Saladin and the Ottoman Turks. There will be free time this afternoon to explore further, maybe biblical 'Straight Street' and the Christian quarter where you will find the ancient chapel of St Ananias. in Beit Zaman Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Day 3: Drive to Hama via Krak des Chevaliers and Apamea

A morning's drive brings us to the formidable Krak des Chevaliers – the best preserved Crusader castle in the Middle East. With its dramatic setting atop Jebel Khalil, the impregnable turrets and towers stand as a defiant reminder of the holy crusades against the forces of Islam by Christian knights from northern Europe, who established the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem (1100-1290). We admire the multi-layered fortifications, long dark passages, inner galleries and chambers at the heart of the fortress. After visiting this imposing castle we travel to Hama, famous for its ancient waterwheels, many of which are still used today to irrigate surrounding farmland. Heading into the Ghab depression, one of Syria's most fertile areas, irrigated by the Orontes River, we find the great city of Apamea, founded here in the 3rd Century BC by Seleucus I. A vast stud housed 30,000 mares and 300 stallions and the Seleucids also kept 600 elephants after Hannibal trained them in the art of elephant combat. Other distinguished visitors to this crossroad city were Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, after the campaigns against the Armenians. From Apamea we return to overnight in Hama. in Orient House Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Orient House Hotel
Built in 1890 in a typical Ottoman architectural style, Orient House is considered to be one of the most important houses in old Hama. Simple rooms which overlook the oriental reception are tastefully furnished and all have air conditioning and private facilities. 2 quiet courtyards allow space to relax and the hotel also has a coffee shop and restaurant.

Day 4: To Aleppo via Ugarit and Saladin's castle

This morning we drive to Ugarit, or Ras Shamra, mentioned in texts from the 14th century BC found at Mari on the Euphrates. A large number of engraved terracotta tablets were recovered from the Palace area, inscribed in the Ugarit alphabet of 30 cuneiform letters (the world's first alphabet). We then continue the dramatically located Saladin's castle, a highlight for many as one of the most prestigious castles of the medieval period. From Saladin's castle we travel to Aleppo for a two night stay. in Beit Wakil Included meals: Breakfast

Beit Wakil
This charming old Merchants Resident is one of Aleppo's first Boutique Hotels. It has retained is traditional charm whilst still helping you to enjoy the trappings of modern comfort. With its high vaulted ceilings, tranquil courtyard and warm welcome, this well located Hotel is a perfect place to enjoy your days in Aleppo.

Day 5: In Aleppo

On the trading routes with Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Aleppo has grown and flourished since the third millennium BC. Following its Greco-Roman plan, the vaulted bazaar winds through an amazing 15km of passages with beautiful adjacent caravanserai. A particularly fine example is the Khan al-Wazir whose archway is formed of elegant traditional black and white alternate bands of stone. This morning we drive to the monastery of St Simeon, where a strange mystic and holy man spent 42 years of his life preaching from the top of a column, advising emperors and commoners to mend their ways. After his death, a beautiful church was built around the sacred column. After our visit we return to Aleppo. A half day in Aleppo gives us the opportunity to explore the mighty Citadel, whose awesome walls dominate the city and resisted many fierce attacks. Surrounding the citadel are a moat and a steep bank of stones around the base, prevent the enemy from sustaining any direct hold on the bottom of the walls designed to 40 rectangular towers crown the battlements. in Beit Wakil Included meals: Breakfast

Day 6: Visit Rasafa en route to Palmyra

Moving east, we journey through the arid, barren desert with short stops en route to visit Lake Assad and view the Euphrates Dam. After a short drive we encounter the imposing walls and bastion towers of the pilgrimage town, Rasafa. Here Sergius, a Christian commander in the Imperial Guard, was horribly martyred and became the patron Saint of Christians in the Roman Army and among local desert nomads. Rasafa was a frontier fortress constructed from shimmering white gypsum, a strange and frightening vision for invading forces.From here, after a guided visit, we continue our Journey into the one of the towns at the heart of the Syrian Desert - Palmyra,one of the most famous caravan cities in the world. The bankers of this highly developed oasis financed the camel convoys moving between the East and West, and Palmyra grew so rich that, under the leadership of Queen Zenobia, it became a challenge to Rome itself. Roman legions razed the city walls in 271AD and carried the spirited lady off to Italy in golden chains. Its former glory can still be seen in the colonnades, triumphal arches, monuments and temples dyed pink by time and sun. in Zenobia Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Zenobia Hotel
With a location overlooking the ruins of Palmyra, the Zenobia Hotel is hard to beat! Built around 1900 and renovated in 2007, it is the most characterful of Palmyra's hotels. Comfortable, generously sized rooms are plush with kilims, paintings and inlaid wooden furniture. The hotel also has an excellent restaurant. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy a cool drink whilst watching the sun set over the ruins!

Day 7: In Palmyra; drive to Damascus

We spend the morning exploring Palmyra. The Arab castle of Fakhr ud-Din sits atop a hillside just to the west of the city. Looking down over Palmyra, colonnaded streets draw the eye towards the impressive monumental arch and onwards to the great enclosure and the white limestone Temple of Bel, built around AD32. With many walls missing, the lines of Corinthian columns and tetra pylons link together like the bare bones of a skeleton shimmering in the desert heat. The barren desolation surrounding the city is broken on one side by the palm oasis of Ain Eafa Spring, the main water source for the 200,000 inhabitants who lived in Palmyra at the pinnacle of its economic power in the 3rd century AD. This afternoon we drive through the stark Syrian desert, before arriving back in Damascus. in Beit Zaman Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Beit Zaman Hotel
This colonial style hotel in the heart of old Damascus oozes old world charm. Stunning reception rooms and 28 guest rooms lead off from the peaceful courtyard, with the Jullak Tea Room being of particular note. Rooms are tastefully and individually furnished with antiques. There is even a hammam to relax and scrub up after a busy day sightseeing!

Day 8: Drive to Amman

Today we transfer from Damascus to Amman to begin the Jordanian tour of the Middle East and also to meet other members of our tour who will join us for the week. in Grand Palace Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Grand Palace Hotel
Our choice of hotel in Jordan's Capital is a centrally located Hotel in Amman's most progressive district, Shumesani. It is also situated next to the Royal Cultural Center and the Amman Stock Market and only steps away from the shopping, commercial, and banking centers. This offers you a glimpse into modern life in Jordan before we venture south to explore its desert and historical centres.

Day 9: Amman, city tour; PM Visit Ajlun and Jerash

This morning we take a guided tour of Jordan's Capital City. The origins of this remarkable city have been traced back some 9,000 years, but it was the arrival of the Ammonites in 1200BC that saw the city begin its rise to prominence as the great city of Rabbath Ammon. The intervening centuries saw it fall under the influences of the Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ptolomids, Seleucids and the Romans, under whose auspices it thrived as one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis. Our tour this morning will take in some of the highlights of ancient Amman (Philadelphia), including the Temple of Hercules, the 8th century Ummayad Palace and the Roman Theatre and Nymphaeum. We'll also take in the sumptuous grandeur of the King Abdullah Mosque, one of the city's major landmarks, before paying a visit to the gold and herb markets in the city's downtown district. This afternoon we drive to the hilltop fortress at Ajlun, the only truly Islamic castle in the country. Built in 1184AD by a nephew of the great Saladin, to counter the Frankish threat of the invading Crusaders, its strategic location saw it commanding the trade routes between southern Jordan and Syria. Destroyed by the Mongols in 1260 the citadel was then rebuilt by the Mameluke Sultan Baibars, going on to serve as an Ottoman outpost. After our visit we continue to Jerash. Located in the Gilead Hills, it is considered to be the best preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Roman cities. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths. From here we return to Amman for our overnight stay. in Grand Palace Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Day 10: Drive to Petra, via Madaba, Mt Nebo and Kerak Castle

This morning we head south to Madaba, a small Christian town with its collection of extraordinary mosaics, including the Great Map of Palestine (6th century). Discovered in 1896, and only fragmentary, it contains a good picture of Jerusalem. Moving on we investigate Jebel Neba (808m). Better known as Mount Nebo, it is a pilgrimage centre for Christians principally because Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land from this summit. Then following the desert highway we reach Kerak, imposingly sited on a hilltop. Kerak became famous in the time of the Crusades as one of a chain of fortresses in the Holy War against Islam. The castle was built in 1132 by Baldwin of Jerusalem, a Crusader king. After visiting this magnificent castle we then continue down to Petra for a 3 night stay. in Beit Zaman Included meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Half day Guided Tour of Petra, free PM

Abandoned centuries ago Petra was the rock cut stronghold of the Nabateans, a fortress city built to protect the lucrative levies its citizens imposed on the rich caravans heading north. Surrounded by imposing mountains and approached through a deep, narrow cleft in the rocks, known as the Siq, it is a unique and unforgettable place and, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience. Our tour enters the Siq on foot, following its towering sandstone walls towards the site of the captivating and iconic splendour of the beautiful Khazneh (The famous Treasury). A guided orientation tour will take us to some of the key parts of this remarkable and ancient site, one of the most impressive and exciting anywhere in the world. We'll take in the Colonnaded Street and the Royal Tombs, enjoy the site of its amazing theatre, with its 8,000 seats carved from the solid rock, before a free afternoon to continue exploring at your leisure. This evening there may be a possibility of enjoying an enchanting tour of the city by night (optional). in Beit Zaman Included meals: Breakfast

Day 12: Free day in Petra

Today you have a full free day at Petra ('rock' in Greek). Returning to the city you can climb steep paths to the sacrificial 'High Places' (altars) for stunning views over Wadi Araba and the Negev Desert. The Monastery is the largest of Petra's monuments and certainly worth the climb up to it. Towering to a height of 40m its doorway alone measures 8m in height, dwarfing anyone framed within it. It is a place to lose oneself in the atmosphere of the past. We also recommend a trip to El Beidha (or 'Little Petra' as it is known) or to an excavated Stone Age village where you can see the remains of houses, fireplaces and workshops dating from around 6000BC. And after a full day's sightseeing, what better way to relax than with a traditional Ottoman Bath (optional). in Beit Zaman Included meals: Breakfast

Day 13: Drive to Wadi Rum; Optional Camel trek or 4x4 Drive in Wadi Rum

Leaving Petra behind this morning we continue south, crossing more of the rolling desert landscapes towards the haunting vistas of Wadi Rum. Turning off the main road we come upon the remains of the Hejaz Railway, famously attacked by TE Lawrence and his Arab army during the turbulent days of WWI. From here we enter another world, one inhabited by the nomadic Bedouin for generations and steeped in the legend of Lawrence of Arabia, whose exploits have become the stuff of legend. Indeed scenes from the remarkable film of his life were shot here, deep in the fabulous purple-black mountains that rise from the sand of the desert. On arrival at the Visitors Centre you have the option to take either an optional and unforgettable Camel trek through the dramatic Siq al Barrah marvelling at the panoramas of what must surely be some of Jordan's most dramatic wilderness or an optional 4x4 drive exploring the dramatic scenery of Wadi Rum. Words struggle to adequately convey the beauty of this special place. After these optional activites, we then continue onto Jordans Red Sea town of Aqaba. Here you will have further options of relaxing by your roof top pool, soaking up the sunshine and taking a break to recap on your weeks adventure or enjoy a snorkelling trip. in Days Inn Included meals: Breakfast

Days Inn
Located close to both Aqaba City Centre and close to the beach, our hotel is chosen for its proximity to the activities you might enjoy doing whilst in Aqaba. The facilities are all that you might expect from a well established 4* Hotel Chain.

Day 14: Drive via the Desert Highway and the Dead Sea to Amman

Leaving Aqaba behind and returning north we travel one of the oldest trade routes in the world, the King's Highway,that once carried the richly laden caravans of Solomon. We journey through the stunning Mujib Canyon and continue to our final destination for today, the unique saline waters of the Dead Sea. At nearly 400m below sea level this is the lowest point on earth. Surrounded by barren hills, this unparalleled water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) that means no animal life survives and that it is almost impossible to sink! We will have time here to enjoy the strange delights of floating on the Dead Sea and bathing in the skin soothing (and allegedly youth making) Dead Sea mud before heading back to Jordan's Capital, Amman. In Grand Palace Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Day 15: Tour ends Amman

Included meals: Breakfast