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Day
01: Arrive Amman
Arrival at Amman airport. Meet and assist and transfer
to hotel. Check in starts from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Ramada Hotel, Amman (1 night)
Day
2: Amman / Umm ar Rassas / Madaba / Mt. Nebo / Kerak / Aqaba
(Drive 263 kms / 164 miles)
Before heading southwards along the King's’ Highway
to Aqaba, a stop will be made at Umm ar Rassas to see some
of the finest Byzantine church mosaics. Next stop is
Madaba, where lies the oldest map of the Holy Land, and its
Mosaic School, Mt. Nebo and the alleged burial site of Moses
overlooking the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley; then drive
through the magnificent scenery of Wadi Mujib to Kerak to
visit the Crusader Castle of (stop for optional lunch).
Overnight: Aqaba Gulf Hotel, Aqaba (1night) (B, D)
Day
3: Aqaba / Wadi Rum (Drive 42 kms / 26 miles)
A brief tour of Aqaba before we head for Wadi Rum, the land
of Lawrence of Arabia to embark on a two hours 4x4 jeep safari.
This evening enjoy a BBQ dinner while star gazing.
Overnight: Jabal Rum Camp, Wadi Rum (1 night) (B,
D)
Day
4: Wadi Rum / Petra / Amman (Drive 240 kms
/ 149 miles)
A magnificent days ahead as we continue to the pink city of
Petra to visit its many sites. This city was carved
into the rose-red Sharah Mountains by the Nabateans and lost
to Civilization until re-discovered by the Swiss Burkhardt.
Walk through the Siq, a narrow and winding fissure between
the cliffs, to reach the Treasury, the Roman Theater, the
Courts, Qasr Bint Pharaoun, Temple of the Winged Lion and
other monuments. A break for optional lunch, or you may wish
to climb up to the Monastery. Return to Amman.
Overnight: Ramada Hotel, Amman (2 nights)
(B, D)
Day
05: Amman
Morning tour of Amman city, which is also known as
Philadelphia. Then drive to visit Jerash, the Greco-Roman
city, where we also cover the Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome,
the Temple of Zeus, the Forum, a mile long street of Columns,
the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Airtimes and the Viaduct Church.
(B, D)
Day
06: Amman / Bosra / Damascus (Drive 215 kms / 134 miles)
Proceed towards the northern border with Syria. Meet
& assist and proceed to Bosra to visit its Roman amphitheater,
which dated back to the 2nd century AD, together with an ancient
Islamic minaret. Continue to our hotel.
Overnight: Talisman Hotel, Damascus (2 nights) (B,
D)
Day
07: Damascus
Visit one of the world's oldest cities where many
civilizations have left their marks over the centuries: Armenians,
Greeks, Romans, Byzantines and Arabs. Some of the most popular
sites to visit: The Omayyad Mosque, Al-Azem Palace, the Chapel
of St. Ananias, St. Paul's Window, the National Museum, Hamidiye
Bazaar, Saladin Mausoleum and the legendary Straight Street
of Damascus. (B, D)
Day
08: Damascus / Maaloula / Palmyra (Drive 217 kms / 135 miles)
Drive to Maaloula, one of the most beautiful and
picturesque villages in the region (60km from Damascus) and
1300 meters above sea level. It is said to be the first monastery
in Christianity, and the unique thing is that the inhabitants
still speak Aramaic (the language in which Christ preached
and addressed his pupils). Proceed to Palmyra.
Overnight: Semiramis Hotel, Palmyra (2 nights)
(B, D)
Day
09: Palmyra
Palmyra was the capital of the Arab Emirate of Tadmor,
which stretched to Egypt and the Bosphorus strait in the third
century A.D. During the rule of its queen Zenobia who
challenged the Emperors of Rome. Visit its highlights: Bel
Temple, Bel Shamin Temple, Nebo Temple, the Street of Colonnade's,
the Theater, the Forum, the tombs, and the Museum. (B,
D)
Day
10: Palmyra / Krak des Chevaliers / Hama / Aleppo (Drive 211
kms / 131 miles)
This morning depart for Krak des Chevaliers, the
castle that played a vital role during the crusaders war.
Visiting this strategically built castle, we then continue
onto Hama, a historical city located on the Orontes River,
to visit the ancient water wheels (the norias). Arrive
Aleppo, the second Capital of Syria.
Overnight: Dar Zamaria, Aleppo (2 nights) (B, D)
Day
11: Aleppo
Today's tour starts out with a visit to the Archaeological
Museum of Aleppo. Then onto visit the most dominating
site of Aleppo, the Citadel, which was dates back to the Fatimid
& Ayyubid eras - 11th & 12th centuries
AD. Next stop is the Grand Mosque and Al Wazir Caravanserai
with all kinds of goods. We then continue for St. Simeon
- a striking example of the architecture during the times
of the Dead Cities that flourished for more than 400 years.
(B, D)
Day
12: Aleppo / Damascus (Drive 311 kms / 193 miles)
After a journey into history, we return to Damascus
for our last night stay. Farewell dinner.
Overnight: Talisman Hotel, Damascus (1
night) (B, D)
Day
13: Depart Damascus
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight out.
Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)
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