The
Best of Jordan , Syria and Egypt
A
true Grand Tour of the Near East
A 20 -Day Tour of Jordan , Syria and Egypt Including the Dead Sea
For Guests who want the BEST when touring the Middle East
See the top sights in Jordan , Syria and Egypt on this locally escorted
tour, including Cairo , Abu Simbel , a Nile Cruise , Amman, Petra, Wadi
Rum . We'll show you the wonders of fabled Syria--Roman
citadels, Biblical sites, great Omayyad mosques--and the ancient/modern
city of Damascus
start weekly year round . And a night at one of the resorts
of the Dead Sea ?
DAY
1 - CAIRO Tour
Starts weekly in Cairo - Arrive Wednesday or Friday .
Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your
hotel. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo
Airport for : Australian, NZ, American, EU , Canadian, Singaporean,
Mexican & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your
passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your
arrival in Cairo.
Visa
will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some
stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops,
at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers.
There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding
a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp
from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport
officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport
as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist
you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting
the terminal, our local representative will escort you , always
in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur to
the hotel
DAY
2 - CAIRO - Thursday or Saturday (BL)
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum,
including the "Mummies Room" , the Citadel of Saladin,
the Rifai Mosque and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster
,
lunch is included at a charming local restaurant : Naguib Mahfouz
or similar , after lunch , enjoy a walking tour of
the legendary Khan El Khalili bazaar district When in Cairo
touring is always in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur
and a private Egyptologist
DAY 3 - CAIRO - Friday or Sunday (BL)
After breakfast it is off to the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx,
and the solar boat , a short camel ride , more of photo opp is included
with our compliments. Lunch is included at the Mena House Oberoi or
Meridien Pyramids . The afternoon is for Memphis , Sakkara , the Mastabas
of the Nobles and the Step Pyramid .
In the evening we return to Giza for the Sound and Light ar Giza, transfers
and touring in Cairo are always on a private basis.
DAY
4 - LUXOR !
(or Aswan) - Saturday or Monday
(BLD)
We fly to Upper Egypt to board your Nile Cruise : Free upgrade to business
class on the domestic flights in Egypt ( subject to availability),we
land in LUXOR ( or Aswan subject to cruise availability at the
time you book with us ) and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious
lunch.
Complimentary
welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin .The gigantic Great
Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor
are our goals in the afternoon. We'll return in time for the afternoon
tea served on deck. You'll have a chance to explore your ship before
dinner.
DAY
5 - LUXOR , EDFU - Sunday or Tuesday (BLD)
We
tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings
including Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut,
we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.
Afterward,
we'll continue on Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective
on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir
el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of
Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives
us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed
and decorated the tombs.
Here
we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic
animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized
rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt
might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and
builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be
the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement
in its tour and cruise programs.
We sail in the afternoon we cruise to Esna to go through the
locks , and on to Edfu where we dock for the night. In the evening ,
we'll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias, the flowing
national costume, a galabya will be delivered to your cabin with
our compliments)
DAY
6 - EDFU, KOM OMBO - Monday or Wednesday (BLD)
We moor in Edfu, climb aboard
horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple
of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved temple. Re-embarking on our Nile
cruiser, we enjoy lunch as we sail further south upriver .
We disembark downstream at Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples
of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, the continue
our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner with music& dance.
DAY
7 - CAMEL CARAVAN, NUBIAN VILLAGE , ASWAN - Tuesday or Thursday
(BLD)
First we tour Aswan dams, then on to the new Nubian Museum then the
awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete
with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the
Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS .
In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the
Nile. For those who are interested : a short camel caravan &
ride is included ( almost a half hour ride) to visit a local Nubian
Village.
Our
farewell dinner this evening is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed
by a show featuring oriental performers, including of course a belly
dancer.
DAY
8 - ASWAN , Abu Simbel CAIRO - Wednesday or Friday
(B)
Board a short flight to Abu Simbel:
Ramses the Great's huge desert temple at Abu Simbel marked
the southern border of the pharaoh's dominions. Rescued from the rising
waters of Lake Nasser by an international effort, it is a marvel of
sacred engineering. Twice a year ,and only then the sun penetrates to
the Holy of Holies, illuminating the stone figures of Ramses and Nefertari.
Group tour exploring the two huge temple, admire their ancient aura
and artistry.
Jacquie
Kennedy & Abu Simbel:
All Americans alive during the 1960s remember President John F Kennedy
and First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Most Americans from that
time also remember Abu Simbel, the dramatic, ancient Pharaonic temple
threatened by the rising waters blocked by the new Aswan High Dam. It's
worth remembering that it was Jacquie Kennedy who provided crucial support
for the mammoth rescue project. Without her help, Abu Simbel might have
been lost. Read More
Fly
back to Aswan and connect with your our return flight to Cairo
and your hotel.
DAY
9 - AMMAN- Thursday or Saturday
Air ticket is included Cairo Amman in business
class, tax included. Fly to Amman .
Our staff will meet you upon arrival and help with the transfer to your
hotel in Amman .Transfers
are always
with a private air-conditioned vehicle, and a private chauffeur .
Complimentary visa is issued upon arrival for American , Australian,
NZ, EU , Singaporean, Mexican & Japanese passport holders. Passport
must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival.
DAY
10 - MADABA, KERAK & PETRA Friday or Sunday (BD)
Your English speaking guide will escort you from Amman all the
way throughout Jordan.
We drive south along the King's Highway, an ancient caravan route, to
Madaba to visit the church containing the oldest known map of the Holy
Land. Continuing to Mount Nebo, we enjoy the panoramic view of the Promised
Land the way Moses saw it for the first time. Further on, at Kerak,
we tour the ruins of its romantic Crusaders' castle of Renaud de Chatillon,
one of a line which stretched from Aqaba to Turkey. Finally, we arrive
to PETRA . When
in Jordan always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
DAY
11 - PETRA - Saturday or Monday (BD)
Today the fabulous Nabatean City of Petra awaits us. Made famous in
the Indiana Jones movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," its ancient temples,
tombs and striking Khazneh (Treasury) were hewn right from the pink
and violet sandstone. We spend a full day here, and another night. When
in Jordan always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
Now
open in Petra, The Petra Kitchen is a delightful way to round out your
Jordan travel experiences. Like any home kitchen, The Petra Kitchen
is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you’ll gather to prepare
an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision
of our chef.
Each
evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza and salads, and a main
course—all typical Jordanian dishes. You will have get an inside
glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant.
The
Petra Kitchen offers an evening of learning, fun and a very special
dining experience, with each dish gaining the special flavor of a reward
well-earned. Great care has been taken to make The Petra Kitchen a truly
Jordanian experience—right down to the furnishings, all crafted
in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women’s
Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered
by the Jordan River Foundation.
The
rate includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages
as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening.
DAY
12 - Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea - Sunday or Tuesday (BL)
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch is included enroute
We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the
"Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized
Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I. After our visit,
proceed North
to the lowest spot on Earth and experience floating in the waters of
the Dead Sea, where we spend the night : Kepminski Ishtar Dead Sea ,
the Mövenpick Dead Sea or SAS Radisson
DAY
13 - Galilee Syria - Monday or Wednesday (BL)
Breakfast at the hotel. Lunch enroute. Today we continue
northwards to Pella in the Jordan Valley. Visit Um Qais, Gedara of
the Bible (Matthew 8:28-34) for a spectacular view of the Sea of
Galilee, the Yarmouk River , then on to
The Syrian border, visit Bosra before continuing to Damascus.
Do you Speak THE
LANGUAGE OF THE JESUS IN THE LAND OF THE BOOK ?
Visit Maaloula in Syria . Jordanian departure tax is always included
in our rate. When
in Jordan and Syria always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
DAY
14 - DAMASCUS - Tuesday or Thursday (BD)
Morning day at leisure. Breakfast & dinner are included at the hotel.
Afternoon leisurely guides walking tour of the local souks and the Bazaar.
Itinerary in Syria is subject to change slightly to accommodate changes
for local souks and museums hours.
When in Jordan and Syria always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
DAY
15 - DAMASCUS - Wednesday or Friday (BD)
Today we explore the Syrian capital, visiting the National Museum, with
treasures dating from the 1400s BC; the bustling Old Bazaar, the Eastern
Gate (Bab ash-Sharqi) in the Roman city walls; the Street Called Straight
(Via Recta); the house of Anania; and the chapel with a window from
which disciples lowered St. Paul so he could escape those who sought
to kill him (Acts 9:24-25).
Complimentary
Dinner is included at a local home:
We are proud to be the only ones that are able to afford you such window
on the true warm and hospitable Syrian people , come and meet the locals,
you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family (
T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This
evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right
into the homes of some of the people of Syria l! You'll be invited to
a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties,
you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way
of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your
new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background.
Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that
you have more in common than you ever suspected. As some have inquired
after they returned , feel free to ask about the recipes for the local
dishes you will enjoy tonight , please let us know in advance of you
prefer vegetarian meals.
Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions,
by letting us know your preferences.
DAY
16 - PALMYRA - Thursday or Saturday (BD)
We drive to ancient Palmyra (Tadmor), in a desert oasis on the
trade route between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, to visit its
museum, the temples of Bel, Baal Shamin and Nebo, the Roman baths, the
Tetrapylon, Diocletian's camp, and the Valley of the Tombs, before
settling in at our Palmyra hotel.
When
in Jordan and Syria always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
DAY
17 - KRAK DES CHEVALIERS, HAMA & ALEPPO - Friday or Sunday
(BD)
Get your camera ready, for today we see the famously photogenic Krak
des Chevaliers, the most spectacular 12th-century Crusaders' castle
of all. From this marvel of military architecture we head north to Hama,
one of Syria's prettiest towns, to see its great norias (water wheels),
some up to 65 feet in diameter, scooping water from the fabled Orontes
River. We continue to Aleppo for the night.
When
in Jordan and Syria always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
DAY
18 - ALEPPO- Saturday or Monday (BD)
The sights of Aleppo (Halab) include the Grand Mosque, the vast
Ottoman bazaar, the 12th-century Citadel, and a camel caravanserai.
We visit them all, then continue to the church (Qala'at Samaan) built
to honor the Byzantine ascetic St. Simeon Stylites, who lived atop a
column for over 35 years in the 5th century. We return to our comfortable
Aleppo hotel for the night.
When
in Jordan and Syria always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
DAY
19 - SERGELLA, APAMEA, MAALULA & DAMASCUS - Sunday or Tuesday
(B)
We head south to Sergella, one of the 500 Dead Cities, fabled
ghost towns built between the 4th and 7th centuries which were abandoned
mysteriously around the 9th century. Our next stop is Apamea
(Qala'at al-Mudiq), the Hellenistic "city of a thousand columns"
built by Seleucus I Nicator in the 2nd century BC and named in honor
of his wife. We continue to Maalula, where villagers still speak
Aramaic, the language of Jesus, for a visit to the chapel of St. Sergius,
before returning to Damascus for the night.
When
in Jordan and Syria always
touring in a private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur and
a private guide
DAY
20 - DEPARTURE Monday or Wednesday (B)
Our local rep. escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Salam
and
Bon Voyage
Extend
to Dubai &
the United Arab Emirates
.
RATES
per person: in US
| |
Triple
|
Double |
Single |
| Deluxe
Hotels |
$
5710.00 |
$
5965.00 |
$
7484.00 |
Hotels
in Syria - For the Five Stars modest Deluxe ( or similar)
Damascus
, Damascus Cham Palace Hotel , 5 Stars . Palmyra , Palmyra Cham Palace
Hotel , 5 Stars.
Aleppo , Chahaba Cham Palace hotel , 5 Stars
For
Dec 20 - Jan 3 , Easter , please add %25 supplement to any of the listed
rates
Your
locally escorted tour includes:
- All
airport , hotel, Nile Cruise transfers, always with a private air-conditioned
vehicle, with a private chauffeur.
- All
guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees. Locally
escorted at all times . For example in Jordan you will always have
your guide from Amman escorting you throughout Jordan.
Same in Syria . Private Egyptologist for our group in Egypt even on
board the Nile cruise.
- Services
of local professional guides throughout the tour
- Air
fare Cairo Amman , in economy class, tax included, ticket issued &
delivered in Cairo Egypt.
- Jordanian
departure tax.
- Complimentary
visa is issued upon arrival in Cairo as well as Amman and Syria for
EU , Australian, NZ, Canadian, American, Mexican & Japanese passport
holders. Passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date
of your arrival.
- All
domestic airfares and transfers in Egypt. With possible free upgrade
to business class ( subject to availability)
- A
complimentary home hosted family dinner
- Bottled
water ( one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are
on board the cruise.
- Tea
or coffee /bottled water with each meal while on board the cruise.
- Hotel
accommodation with tax & service charges.
-
Nile Cruise with all meals & shore excursions.
- Complimentary
welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin on board the Nile Cruise
.
- Complimentary
galabya on board the cruise for the costume party.
- Preset
menu meals including B = Breakfast, (or cB,
Continental Breakfast) L = Lunch, D
= Dinner, all as per itinerary .
Syria
will not issue you a visa , if your passport has any Israeli stamps
or visa for Israel, you are responsible for ensuring that your passport
is valid and in order, please provide us with your passport info and
an eligible scan of the info page in your passport at least 45 day sin
advance to allow us to secure your visa .
The
tour does not include:
- International
airfare from / to your home country.
-
Travel Insurance, trip cancellation insurance, please ask
us for the flyer
- Personal
expenditures (beverages, laundry, special meals, etc.)
- Tips
to hotel and restaurant staff, drivers and guides in Jordan
| Sample
Hotel
Nile Cruise
Or Similar |
Deluxe
Hotels |
| Amman |
SAS
Radisson , Le Meridien |
| Petra |
Movenpick,
Marriott |
| Damascus |
Le
Meridien |
| Plamyra |
Cham
Palace |
| Aleppo |
Chahba
Cham Palace |
THE
LANGUAGE OF THE JESUS IN THE LAND OF THE BOOK
Syria
is truly the Land of the Book. The ancient alphabets of the Near East
grew into Aramaic and then Hebrew, and finally Arabic and the modern
Latin script that you're reading!
Jesus
spoke to His Disciples in Aramaic. And nowhere else in the Holy Land
does His language live as in Maaloula, where His words may still be
heard exactly
as He spoke them. For the believer, or for anyone who values traditions
of faith, it is a deeply moving experience.
Maaloula
is just a short drive from Damascus, and home to Christian community
that thrives after 2000 years. As much as any land, Syria is the birthplace
of the Christian faith. St. Paul converted on the road to Damascus,
and in the early centuries of the Church,
six Syrian bishops were elevated to the Holy See as popes. The grand
Omayyad Mosque is built on a sacred site shared by Muslims and Christians
for centuries,
expressing the true brotherhood at the center of both faiths. Two million
Syrians worship as Christians.
The
full panoply of the Christian experience in the Near East has been played
out in Syria. The Krak des Chevaliers is the unique never conquered
Crusader fortress
that stands intact as if ready to host the Knights of the Cross once
again––and is a must stop for the visitor of faith to the
holy sites.
Extend
your stay in Syria for one day and visit Maaloula
Back
to Jordan Tour List * Visit the Royal Society
for the Conservation
of Nature in Jordan
Dining
Room Reservations on board the Nile Cruise : Meet other passengers :
YOU will not require any, our dining rooms do accommodate all our guests
in one seating, one less thing to worry about while you are on the Nile.
Enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere with several different languages being
heard at dinner.
Do we get sea sickness while sailing the Nile ?
This is river sailing, so do not expect any waves , no rough seas
! Your Nile cruises is actually a floating hotel that moves from place
to place along the Nile. Actual cruising times are short and pleasant.
More
choices :
-
-
-
-
-
Add
a GRAND in-depth tour of Anatolia and Istanbul
:
Egypt, Jordan & Turkey
in 32-Days
A
Grand Dahabiya Sailing on the Nile . A True Romance , the best
Honeymoon vacation
Kempinski
Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
Amid
scenes of exquisiteness and peace, the Kempinski Hotel
Ishtar will give you the opportunity to enjoy its riches
where Marc Anthony, Queen of Sheba, Aristotle and even
Cleopatra once strived to unravel mystery.
Millennia
Of History, Welcome to Ishtar
Surely there is no region on earth where nature and history
have more wonderfully conspired, where so exciting a drama
has obtained so beautiful a theatre.
Amid
scenes of exquisiteness and peace, the Kempinski Hotel
Ishtar Dead Sea gives you the opportunity to enjoy its
riches - where Marc Anthony, Queen of Sheba, Aristotle
and even Cleopatra once strived to unravel mystery.
Indulge in the ultimate family escape to the Ishtar
Royal Villa.
The Ishtar Royal Villa is a three bedroom masterpiece
that allows the comfort of joining two
Ishtar Beach Chalets located directly on the beach to
it, making it an ideal secluded retreat for families seeking
unmatched personalised luxury and intimacy.
The
Ishtar Royal Villa offers the following benefits:
• Complimentary massage upon arrival in the privacy
of the wellness area of the Villa which includes a Therapy
Room, Steam Room, Sauna and a Shower Room
• Exclusive Dead Sea Bathroom Amenities
• Complimentary VIP Bar
• Complimentary High-Speed Internet Access
• Designer Tea and Coffee-making Facilities
• VIP Welcome Tray
• Fruit & Water replenished daily
• Laptops on request
• iPods on request
• Kids' VIP Welcome Set
• Luxury Turn-down Service
• Farewell Ishtar Gift
• International Newspapers
• Complimentary Pressing upon arrival
• DVD/CD Player
• Private Infinity Edge Pool and Outdoor Jacuzzi
• Personal Butler
• Personal Chauffeur during the entire stay, from
point of arrival at Queen Alia International Airport until
point of departure from the Airport
The Ishtar Royal Villa has an area of 476 sqm in addition
to 74 sqm in each individual Ishtar Beach Chalet, as well
as a private garden and pools, totalling a breathtaking
1,830 sqm of absolute luxury.
  
Ishtar
Spa Room
All rooms have natural stone floors and designer furniture,
featuring Kingsize beds, a living area, a working desk
and a walk-in wardrobe. Rooms are located on the second
floor and have an area of 68 sqm and a bi-level private
terrace of 45 sqm with terrace furniture and an outdoor
Jacuzzi.
The Ishtar Spa Rooms feature a state-of-the-art DVD/CD
player (upon request) and complimentary suit pressing
upon arrival.
Ishtar
Terrace
All rooms have natural stone floors and designer furniture,
featuring a Kingsize bed, a working desk and a generously
sized wardrobe. Rooms are located either on the first
floor or second floor. Rooms located on the first floor
have an area of 51 sqm and a terrace of 16 sqm with terrace
furniture and great views of the Dead Sea. Rooms located
on the second floor have an area of 40 sqm, a balcony
of 8 sqm with terrace furniture and great views of the
Dead Sea, as well as a private terrace of 68 sqm. Ishtar
Terrace Rooms feature a state-of-the-art DVD/CD player
(upon request) and complimentary suit pressing upon arrival.
More
Choices :
Combine this tour with any Travel in Style tour to Egypt, or Turkey
for an even more exciting vacation adventure.
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