The
Best of Jordan and Syria
Tour these great land of Arabia in 10 Days
See
the top sights in Jordan & Syria on this fully escorted tour, including
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 in , start in Amman weekly year round .
Compare with
the 9-day private touring : Daily Arrival
DAY
1 - AMMAN - Thursday - Weekly - Year Round
Our staff will meet you upon arrival and help with the transfer to your
hotel in Amman .Complimentary visa is issued upon arrival for American,
EU & Japanese passport holders. Passport must be valid at least for
6 month beyond the date of your arrival. Arriving
at Aqaba by sea from Egypt, Sinai ? Please click here
Do you prefer to start in
Damascus ? Please click here.
DAY
2 - MADABA, KERAK & PETRA - Friday (BD)
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 .
DAY
3 - PETRA - Saturday (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.
DAY
4- WADI RUM & Syria /Bosra - Sunday (BD)
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 to to The Syrian border, visit Bosra before
continuing to Damascus.
For
American , Australian , NZ , EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens,
visa will be issued upon arrival at the border , your passport must
be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival, our local
rep will escort you to your hotel.
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 .
Do you Speak THE
LANGUAGE OF THE JESUS IN THE LAND OF THE BOOK ?
Visit Maaloula in Syria . Jordanian departure tax is included in
our rate.
DAY
5 - DAMASCUS Monday (B)
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
6 - PALMYRA Tuesday (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.
DAY
7 - KRAK DES CHEVALIERS, HAMA & ALEPPO Wednesday (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.
DAY
8 - ALEPPO Thursday (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.
DAY
9 - SERGELLA, APAMEA, MAALULA & DAMASCUS Friday (BD)
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.
DAY
10 - DEPARTURE Saturday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home. Do
you prefer to start in Damascus ? Please click here
Extend
to Dubai &
the United Arab Emirates
. Salam
& Bon Voyage . Check
Baptism site in Jordan
RATES
per person: in US
| |
Triple
|
Double |
Single |
| First
Class hotels |
$
2210.00 |
$
2335.00 |
$
3260.00 |
| Deluxe
Hotels |
$
2790.00 |
$
2930.00 |
$
3844.00 |
This
tour operates each Wednesday from Amman, year round
Hotels
in Syria - For the Five Stars modest Deluxe ( or similar)
The Hotels in Syria may not be meeting same standard for 5 & four
stars
- Damascus
: Damascus Cham Palace Hotel , 5 Stars .
- Palmyra
, Palmyra Cham Palace Hotel , 5 Stars.
- Aleppo
: Chahaba Cham Palace hotel , 5 Stars
Your
fully escorted tour includes:
More
Choices :
Combine this tour with any Travel in Style tour to Egypt, or Turkey
for an even more exciting vacation adventure.
The
tour does not include:
- International
airfare from / to your home country .
-
Travel Insurance
- Personal
expenditures (beverages, laundry, special meals, etc.)
- Tips
to hotel and restaurant staff, drivers and guides in Jordan
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
More
choices :
More
Choices :
Combine this tour with any Travel in Style tour to Egypt, or Turkey
for an even more exciting vacation adventure.
.
Sample
of the Deluxe hotels in Syria:
Four Seasons Hotel Damascus:
Rising in a pillar of timeless architecture beside a lovely public
garden and an ancient mosque in a
prime area of downtown Damascus – within easy reach of embassies,
business, retail and cultural sites – Four Seasons is designed
to be the city’s pre-eminent address for visitors and social
events.
Palmyra Cham Palace Hotel:
Located just outside Palmyra, next to the world famous archaeological
site, this five star oasis is an up-to date
cosmopolitan refuge amidst the ancient splendour. Not to be missed;
the ancient cave bath with sulphuric water.
Sheraton
Aleppo:
Built on our own city block in the downtown Bab Al Faraj district,
the historical city of Aleppo and all its wonders are right outside
our door. From the famous Citadel to the Omayyad Mosque,
National Museum, Public Park, and Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions,
you will discover history around every corner. We are also just 15
minutes from Aleppo International Airport, keeping your trip stress-free.
Recommendations
and conditions:
Every
effort is made to adhere to the planned itinerary, however, for reasons
beyond our control, it may be necessary to change routings, sequence
of visits, and departure times.
Important
Syria will not issue visas for any passport holder that may carry
any stamp or visa for Israel. Border crossings may take some time,
depending of several circumstances (traffic, police, documentation,
visas, etc.)
Sample
Charming Boutique Hotels in Syria :
Talisman Hotel: Damascus
Talisman is more than an hotel: it is more like a home. We will provide
you all the services and luxury of a five stars residence. Two wide
opened courtyards with outdoor swimming
pool. Private and exclusive Turkish Hammam.
The Talisman is a luxury «charm» hotel situated in the
old town of Damascus, twenty minutes from the airport, a hundred yards
from the old Roman straight way (Medhat Pacha) and the historical
Bab Sharqi, famous now for its souks and street markets. This old
Jewish palace, built in a quiet side street and easily accessible
by car, has been restored in the most authentic tradition of an Arab
house.
Each
of the 16 rooms and suites at Talisman is unique with its personalized
lay-out and decoration. All the rooms are equipped with the latest
commodities:king size bed, mini bar, central heating, individual air-conditioning,
plasma television set with decoder so that you may choose any channel
you please, DVD reader, wi-fi internet connection, telephone. Executive
suites are larger and have a desk corner. The bathrooms are spacious
and planned for your rest and well-being: finely worked wooden basins
with their matching mirrors, old cement tiled or beige marble floors,
bath tub or shower cabin, or both, hair-drier and comfortable bathrobes.
Zenobia hotel: Palmyra
built in 1920 … Agatha Christy was one of the welcomed guests
, the Zenobia Hotel is ideally located in the middle of Palmyra archeological
site; rooms offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease.
The
26-room hotel offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease. The hotel is a masterpiece of
elegance and warm hospitality that is part of our commitment to tradition
particularly amidst this historical surrounding. You are welcome to
the world of Zenobia hotel where you relive the past and feel the
glorious days of Palmyra.
The hotel rooms; all are air-conditioned, with central heating and
a telephone. The Countess suite is a duplex room, with two double
beds and a private bathroom on each deck. ( Supplement applies, and
you must really book in advance to get this suite)
The
Oasis restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious cuisine whether
it is indoors or in the open air with a direct view on the ruins.
Palmyra
was known as the bride of the desert, where once stood as one of the
greatest Roman oasis cities of all times. The extensive roman ruins,
only a three-minute walk from the hotel; stand gracefully to remind
us of the glory of Palmyra's past
Beit Wakil Hotel: Aleppo
A true example of the distinguished 16th century Aleppine
architecture,is a charming palace situated just outside the old city
walls.This perfectly preserved structure which has stubbornly defied
the destructive elements of time,ranks among the most elegant and
beautiful palaces in the region.
The Old City of Aleppo is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and shops.
This alley at the entrance to the Old City also led to Beit Wakil,
whose sign and awning are visible to the left. Beit Wakil is an old
merchant serai that has been renovated into a charming 14 room hotel.
The hotel is centered around the courtyard pictured at the right,
and the rooms are all arrayed around this central point. Our room,
shown at the left was one floor up from the courtyard. The rooms are
very traditional, dark wood with equally dark woven rugs on the floor,
a bed and nightstand. For privacy one closes the wooden shutters.
Except for electricity and your cable tele , the room could have been
from an Indiana Jones movie set
Beit
Wakil,a true example of the distinguished 16th. century Aleppine architecture,is
a charming palace situated just outside the old city walls.This perfectly
preserved structure which has stubbornly defied the destructive elements
of time,ranks among the most elegant and beautiful palaces in the
region. Faithful to the old Aleppine tradition the exterior is castle
like,simple and void of any decoration,but as soon one enters inside
a magical oriental story like world comes into existence
The
beautiful courtyards with breathtaking relief and tracery work of
their walls, the marble fountains among the jasmine and lemon trees,
the unique iwan with its majestic arch and colors marble flooring,the
elegant arabesque woodwork of the wall cupboards,the hand drawn wooden
ceilings with corniche, the famous central Qa'a (large room: Lobby
) with its suspended dome and coloured arabesque glass windows,the
stone built cellars and the lime stone caves below with a labyrinth
of tunnels , one of which , links the palace to the Citadel of Aleppo
, are just few of the many elements which distinguishes the Aleppine
masonry art and Arabian architectural genius
Today,
Beit Wakil welcomes its guests as a four star hotel with all the modern
comfort facilities. Beit Wakil rooms and suits are centrally air conditioned,
with traditional comfortable Aleppine furniture, minibar, music, T.
V and satellite services, phone and private bathrooms. Both our summer
and winter restaurants offer a wide verity of delicious Aleppine mezes
and specialties together with an oriental entertainment program of
classical Arabic music and dancing.
Aleppo
includes a virile population, a splendid architecture,and a fine Arab
tradition. Aleppo AL-Chahba, 355 Kilometers from Damascus, has been
a prosperous city since the 3rd millennium B.C. and has maintained
its status through town development and an increasing population.
It has played a vital role in the history of the area from the time
of the Akkadian and Amorite Kingdoms. Until recently it has always
been the center of the junction of the ancient trade routs. The old
city was surrounded by a wall incorporating defense towers and fortified
gates built during the Islamic period. A large part of the wall still
standing, for example Bab Qinisrin, Bab Al-Nasser, Bab Al-Hadid, Bab
Antakia. Aleppo is also known for its mosques and churches and is
considered the third city in the Islamic world because of the number
of its mosques and schools. The Archaeological Museum contains exhibits
from the stone age to modern times. It has particularly interesting
collection of antiquities from some of the most ancient site in Syria
(Mari, Ugarit, Ebla) , objects found in the Euphrates Basin, Hama,
Tell Halaf and Ein
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