Jordan and Syria Explorer
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An amazing journey through the ancient civilisations of the Middle East
Few places offer the diverse cultural past of Jordan and Syria - a past that reflects all the great early civilisations - the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Turks and the Crusaders that made their mark across these ancient lands. Our journey combines visits to the main historical sites that shaped and inspired Jordan and Syria's rich and varied cultural history with a modern day perspective of the Middle East. In Jordan we absorb the country's many highlights including Petra, a hidden city carved out of rock and journey by camel through the spectacular Wadi Rum with the local Bedouin. Floating in the Dead Sea, exploring Crusader castles, the bustling city of Amman and the ancient city of Jerash, 'the Pompeii of the East' round off our time in Jordan before the journey continues to Syria. In Damascus we wander the labyrinth of alleyways and visit the impressive Ommayad Mosque before heading to Krac Des Chavalier, regarded by many as the best preserved medieval castles in the world. The ancient city of Aleppo with its souqs, castles and museums and the oasis city of Palmyra are the historical highlights of our time in Syria.
Highlights
- Visiting the ancient city of Petra
- 4WD driving in Wadi Rum
- Historical ruins of Jerash
- Taking a dip in the Dead Sea
- The Old City of Damascus
- Exploring the well preserved medieval castle Krac Des Chevalier
- Wandering the labyrinth of souks in the UNESCO heritage listed Aleppo Old City
- Desert Silk road ruins of Palmyria
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive Amman
If you are arriving on Day 1 you will be met on arrival and transferred to the group hotel for accommodation on a twin share basis. The day is at leisure to absorb the sights and sounds of this bustling city. Amman is the capital of Jordan, and was known in biblical times as Rabbath Ammon, and under the Ptolemies, as Philadelphia. It is situated on a series of Jebels (meaning hills) and is divided by wadi's (or dry river beds) into modern and ancient quarters. You may visit the Roman theatre, a site dating back to the 2nd century AD. Nearby are the ruins of the citadel hill, the Archaeological museum, Costume and Folklore Museum and Ashrafiah Mosque, all of which are excellent introductions to the archeology of the region.
Day 2 Desert Castles
A fascinating day trip is planned today from Amman, to visit the historical ruins east of Amman. Scattered throughout the black basalt desert these temples stand as testament to the beginnings of Islamic civilisation and widely considered the most spectacular monuments to early Islamic art. Overnight Amman.
Day 3 To Madaba via Jerash and Umm Qais
This morning we drive to Jerash - an increadibly well preserved Roman City. Jerash's golden age began with Roman rule, and when Emperor Hadrian visited in AD129, Jerash was already a thriving metropolis. We spend a few hours exploring the city, including the "Street of Columns" which runs for 600 metres from the oval Plaza. In the afternoon we visit Umm Qais, a former Decapolis city which was home to several classical poets and philosophers. Umm Qais is perched on a hilltop with excellent views of the Jordan Valley, the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. Continuing to the town of Madaba for overnight.
Day 4 To Petra via Mt Nebo and Kerak
Madaba is best known for its beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics, including the 'Madaba Map', a 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land. A remarkably well detailed layout of the region which is made up of two million pieces and shows the Nile, the Dead Sea and Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We make a visit to the nearby Mount Nebo, a high hill overlooking the Dead Sea from where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land. Our last stop before Petra is the well preserved crusader castle at Kerak, where we will also have an opportunity to have lunch in one of the local eating houses.
Day 5 In Petra
Chief among Jordan's archaeological riches is the soul-stirring, rose-red city of Petra, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in south Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. We will approach the city on foot or by horseback through a 1km long narrow gorge or siq, flanked by towering cliffs. The sudden view of Petra's most spectacular monument, the Khaznah, or Treasury at the end of the Siq, is a dramatic sight. Used in the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, this towering facade is only the first of Petra's unique structures. Various walks and climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, facades, tombs, baths, funerary halls, temples and haunting rock drawing and reliefs.
Day 6 To Wadi Rum
We leave Petra this morning and drive for about an hour and a half to the Wadi Rum, a unique valley of colored sand dunes surrounded by beautiful rugged mountains. This is true 'Lawrence of Arabia' country and has some of the most spectacular desert scenery in the world - a desert where black, windsculpted sandstone hills contrast sharply with the pale sands. Many describe this area as the Valley of the Moon. On arrival at the Visitors' Centre we meet our Bedouin hosts, and transfer by jeep to the entrance to the Rakebat Canyon, immediately opposite Rum Village. We begin our jeep safari and gentle walks through the most interesting canyons of Wadi Rum. This mountain range is a veritable labyrinth of canyons inside and crossing it is an exciting experience. The jeep safari will take about 2-3 hours, so we should reach our camel meeting point in time for a rest and an early lunch. Continue on camels through the dramatic landscape for 3 hours until we reach our evenings campsite.
Day 7 To Amman, via Aqaba
It takes around an hour to travel to Aqaba and we should reach the seaside resort by mid morning. Around 2 hours have been set aside to relax by the Red Sea, before continuing to the Dead Sea via the Dead Sea Highway and the lowest point on earth. We will have time for a dip in the famously bouyant waters which have a saline level around 30 per cent before returning to Amman for overnight.
Day 8 Amman to Damascus, via Bosra
Today we travel by road to the border to cross into Syria and onwards to Damascus, via Bosra which is one of the largest and best preserved Roman theatre’s in the region, to reach our hotel in the city.
Day 9 In Damascus
Damascus is said to be the world's oldest continuously inhabited city which 3000 years ago served as the capital for the Aramean Kingdom, and was later conquered by Alexander the Great, when it became an important Greek city. It was also a major city of the Roman Empire and fell to the Muslims in 635 AD. In later years the Mongols, Ottomans and Mamelukes also enjoyed periods of occupation. It's charm lies inside the Roman walls of the Old City where ancient temples and mosques emanate the elegant attitudes of Arab architects. We visit the famous Omayyad Mosque built in 705 on the site of ancient temples and St Paul's Chapel. The latter, found in Via Recta, the "Street called straight", and mentioned in the bible, is the famous refuge of Saint Paul. St Pauls window, found inside the chapel was made famous by a brave escape where St Paul was lowered in a basket before fleeing the city. These are a few of the places of interest which will be on the days’ agenda. Time permitting we also plan to visit the covered souqs and city square, and the modern and archaeological museum. Overnight in Damascus
Day 10 To Palmyra
Visiting Palmyra is a unique experience. It is easy to see why it is Syria’s most popular tourist destination as this desert oasis is home to Syria’s greatest ruins. Dating back to the 2nd Century AD, the city was subject to the annexation by Rome in 217, burnt to the ground in 273 and was hit by an earthquake in 1089. There are plenty of ruins to explore! We have a full day set aside to view this vast ruined city, including the Temple of Bel, the Great Colonnade, Tombs, Agora and the theatre. The main street is full of interesting handicrafts and artifacts. The city’s most powerful leader was Queen Zenobia, said to be a descendant of Cleopatra. This astonishing woman ruled Palmyra from 266AD. Powerful and ambitious, she set her armies against the Roman Empire and managed to capture Syria, Egypt, Arabia and Anatolia. It was only when she set out to attack Rome itself in 271AD that she was defeated by the forces. Zenobia was taken prisoner and the Roman army sacked the city.
Day 11 To Hama via Krac Des Chevaliers
Today we will drive west through the Syrian desert, to Krac Des Chevaliers where the fabulous and well preserved Crusader castle stands. The imposing Crusader fortress of Krak Des Chevaliers is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the world. Also known as the Qala’at al-Hosn or “Castle of the Knights”, the fortress is situated on an important defensive site, a gap in the mountain range between the city of Homs and the sea. Built in the 12th Century from basalt, it was later added to using limestone. Due to its impregnable structure, including an outer wall with 13 towers separated from the inner structure by a moat, it was used during the Crusades by the Knights Hospitallers. Following our exploration of this castle we will either visit the St. Georges monastery or Safita Tower and continue on to Hama. Hama’s major drawcard is its great “norias” or ancient waterwheels used back to Byzantine times and were used to bring water from the river up to the aqueducts. We overnight in a hotel in Hama.
Day 12 To Aleppo
After breakfast we drive north towards Aleppo. The ancient city of Aleppo is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, since the eleventh millennium B.C. Aleppo, built over 5000 years ago is Syria’s second largest city, with a European feel. From ancient times through to modern day, it has been an important trading city and sits at the crossroads of civilisation. This alone adds to its appeal. Many of the street signs are written in Armenian script due to the large population of Armenian refugees who fled here from Turkey after World War I. The most impressive sight we visit here is the Citadel of Aleppo which dominates the city. Whilst the interior has been mostly ruined, the throne room has been well restored and there is an excellent view of the city from the walls. We’ll explore Aleppo’s fascinating covered souqs, a maze of narrow streets about 7km in length covered by a vaulted stone roof. Also on our agenda is a visit to the northern end of the souqs, home to the Grand Mosque. Named after Zakariah, father of John the Baptist, the mosque comprises a free- standing minaret built in 1090.
Day 13 Aleppo to St Simeon and the Dead Cities
Today we make our way to the Dead Cities, which are located among the limestone hills between Hama and Aleppo; as the name suggests the towns were deserted (the reason remains a mystery) although the ruins are now inhabited by small villages. We visit the ghostly town of Serjilla which has numerous unfinished buildings with impressive stonemasonry and continue on to the ruins of the ancient town of Ebla. Elba is of great fascination to archaeologists and historians, as it was one of the most powerful city-states in Syria in the late 3rd millennium BC.
Day 14 To Damascus via Apamea
This morning we have a brief visit to the Archaeological Museum in Aleppo, which has a fine collection of artifacts from Mari, Ebla and Ugarit. Our journey continues to the picturesque Greek and Byzantine site of Apamea, before arriving at Maaret Numman where there is an excellent mosaic collection housed in a caravanserai. We then return to Damascus to overnight in a hotel.
Day 15 Trip concludes in Damascus
Trip concludes after breakfast. A group airport transfer will be arranged.
Additional Information
Inclusions
- 14 breakfasts
- 3 to 4 star twin share accommodation
- Camping in Wadi Rum
- Sightseeing as per the itinerary including entrance fees
- Ground transport in private vehicle (air conditioned)
- Local English speaking guide and driver
- Site guides at Petra and Jerash (2 hours at each)
- Wadi Rum Camel trek and jeep drive
- Arrival and departure transfers on day 1 & day 15
Summary
- 13 nights hotel accommodation
- 1 night desert camp in Wadi Rum
Trip Main Activities
- Day walking
- 4WD driving
- Camel ride (optional)
Group Size Min
Group Size Max
Accommodation Summary
Equipment Required
Whilst there is no specific equipment for this journey a good pair of walking shoes is essential along with a day pack to carry your water bottle, camera and other personal items when sightseeing. (a comprehensive gear list is provided in the pre-departure information provided on booking)
What You Carry
You will be required to carry your own luggage to and from the bus and hotel reception. On sightseeing days you carry your day pack with all personal items (water bottle, camera etc) required for the day.
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from
USD$2,990
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