MIDDLE EAST ARCHEOLOGY TOUR  (9 DAYS)
9 Days • Syria and Jordan • From $3,699 Including Air Fare
Valid to December 2011 • Departures Every Saturday

DAY 01 (SAT) JFK/ SYRIA
Evening departure from the U.S. to Syria by wide-body jet via Amman, Jordan.

Day 02 (Sun) Damascus
Upon arrival in this historic ancient city, you will be met at the airport by our representative, assisted through customs and formalities, and escorted to the hotel for check in.

Day 03 (Mon) Palmyra
Early morning, we begin our full-day tour of Palmyra. We leave Damascus via direct desert road to Palmyra, the Bride of the Desert and the capitol of Queen Zenobia’s Empire. Visit the Temple of
Baal, the Colonnade, the Agora, the Arch of Triumph, the museum tower, and underground tombs. Return to Damascus for overnight. (B,L)

Day 04 (Tue) Damascus
Early morning, we depart for our full-day tour of Damascus. We visit the Omayad Mosque, the Church of St. John the Baptist, Salahulddine’s Tomb, the Azem Folkloric Museum-Palace, St. Annanias Chapel, Straight Street, St. Paul’s Window, the Suleimanieh, the Sultan Salim Mosque, the Domed Mosque, and the National Museum. A tour of the old and new quarters of Damascus includes a panoramic view of the city from Kassion Mountain. (B,L)

Day 05 (Wed) Jerash / Ajlun
Depart Damascus in the morning and drive to the best-preserved example of Roman civilization in the Middle East, the city of Jerash, Jordan where you will be met by your Jordanian host and guide. Jerash, part of the Decapolis (the ten large Roman cities of the East) has been called the Pompeii of the East because of its unique state of preservation. The city features theaters, churches, temples (Zeus and Artemis), a Nymphaeum, and colonnaded streets. After the visit, we proceed to the Saracen castle at Ajlun. This 12th century castle was built by Saladin in his successful campaign to drive the Crusaders from Jordan in 1189 and is an outstanding example of Arab/Islamic military architecture. In the late afternoon we proceed to your hotel in Amman for overnight. (B,L)

Day 06 (Thu) Madaba / Mt. Nebo / Kerak
We depart Amman for Petra via the Kings’ Road. En route, we visit the mosaic city of Madaba, where the oldest map of the Holy Land exists on the floor of Saint George’s Church. Madaba, or Medeba in antiquity, features many famous mosaics in public and private buildings. After Madaba, a short drive will bring us to Mt. Nebo, the alleged burial site of Moses overlooking the Jordan Valley and the DeadSea. Here Franciscans have built a structure that protects a 4th-6th century Byzantinechurch. After visiting this site, we continue on via the scenic canyons of Wadi Mujib (Arnon’s Valley, in the Bible) to the Crusader castle at Kerak. This 12th-century hilltop fortress features galleries, towers, chapels, and ramparts that recall the gallantry of the Crusaders. Then it’s on to Petra to check in to your hotel. (B,L)

Day 07 (Fri) Petra
After breakfast, we depart for a full-day tour of Petra. Once the ancient Nabatean capital, this city has a lot to tell it's visitors. We are assigned Bedouin-guided horses for the journey to the entrance of the lost city. After passing some tombs located outside the city, we will pass through the Siq, an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone. It is a winding, one-kilometer-long fissure between overhanging cliffs that seem to meet more that 300 feet overhead. Near the end of the Siq, we will make one last turn out of the gloom into a towering brightness, where Petra’s most impressive monument, el Khazneh — “The Treasury” — stands. This most elegant remnant of antiquity is carved out of solid rock in the side of the mountain. It is nearly 140 feet high and 90 feet wide. Beyond el Khazneh, we are surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a carved Roman theater, large and small houses, burial chambers, and much more. The Victorian traveler and poet, Dean Burgon, gave Petra a description which hold to this day — “Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time.” In the afternoon, we transfer to our hotel in Amman. (B,L)

Day 08 (Sat) PETRA / Wadi Rum / AMMAN
Visit the Wadi Rum Desert (a short ride in 4x4 vehicle) and its awesome moonlike landscape, where the film “Lawrence of Arabia” was shot. Time permitting we may have a short visit to Aqaba. Return to Amman on the Desert Highway. Overnight in Amman. (B)

Day 09 (Sun) AMMAN / JFK
Morning bid farewell to this ancient city as you are escorted to Amman Airport in time for your return flight to the U.S. (B)

(For extension options to Egypt, Israel, or Lebanon please contact us.

Book this package by September 30, 2010 & save $100 per room

Minimum 2 passengers required for this tour. All rates are per person in double or triple occupancy. Rates are subject to airport taxes and Sept. 11 security fees (of $2.50 per segment, not exceeding $10 total), which can be in the range of $118 to $198 per person. Other gateways available, please call for add on rates.  Tour Extension to Lebanon or Israel are available.Note: Min 2 passengers to operate. Supplement 1 person taking the tour alone $350 Note: All services in Syria by private car with guide.

US citizens must obtain their visa to Syria before arrival.

Air Seasonality Chart

*Low Season A:	Shoulder Season: $150	Peak Season : $450
Jan 01 - Apr 30 Sep 01- Dec 10 Dec 25 - Dec 31	May 1 - May 31 Aug 01- Aug 31 Dec 11 - Dec 22	June 01 - July 31
Season Air supplements are based on Q class of service. If Q class is not available an additional supplemnt may apply. Other U.S Gateways available.

 

Hotel Location	First Class	Deluxe
In Damascus, Syria	Carlton	Cham Palace Hotel
In Amman, Jordan	San Rock Hotel	Le Meridien or Similar
In Petra, Jordan	Petra Palace	Beit Zaman or Similar

 

 

 

 

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To book this tour see your travel agent or call 1-800-783-7839