The Ultimate in Near East Touring
Syria , Jordan and a Foray into Lebanon
From Petra to Palmyra Tour Series


This 14-day PRIVATE tour takes you ancient cities and Crusader castles
in the Bible lands of Jordan and Syria that few have visited





After you've done what everybody else is doing, come with us for a real adventure
in the Middle East and a foray into Lebanon . We have even included all the tips
No Hidden Charges. No Additional tax
Compare with the : Best of Jordan Syria and Egypt
or the 9-day Syria and Jordan tour . Add Jerusalem

DAY 1 - AMMAN - Daily arrival-Year Round-Private Touring
Arrive Jordan, landing at Amman where our Jordan-based staff welcomes you, helps with arrival formalities, and escorts you to your hotel. Always private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. A fruit basket awaits you in your room, where you'll have a chance to unwind before stretching your legs and getting to know this Oriental crossroads. Shopping, a strong coffee at a sidewalk restaurant, and even a water pipe are possibilities--it's up to you. Hotel : Four Seasons Amman. Superior Room . Prefer to add air fare ? please click here. Need extra time in Amman ? Please click here.

DAY 2 - Jerash - Pella - Um Qais ( Cedara or Gadara) - Dead Sea (BL)
After breakfast, drive down to the lowest spot on Earth and experience floating in the waters of the Dead Sea. Continue northwards to Pella ( "Tabaqat Fahl "in Arabic) in the Jordan Valley , about 78 km north of Amman, Pella is one of the most ancient sites in Jordan , the famous spring in Pella never runs dry. The are seems to have been continuously inhabited since Neolithic times ; and some recent finds even date to Paleolithic times, around 100,000 years ago , on to Visit Um Qais, Gedara of the Bible (Matthew 8:28-34) for a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee, the Yarmouk River and the Golan Heights. We travel southeast to Jerash, among the best-preserved cities of the Romans, and walk among its colonnaded temples and theaters, enjoy lunch at a charming local restaurant , before heading back to your hotel in Amman . private air-conditioned vehicle.

DAY 3 - MADABA - MOUNT NEBO - Petra (BL)
We head southward from Amman today along the ancient King's Way. Your guide will escort you from Amman . At Madaba we visit the church that holds the oldest known map of the Holy Land. At Mount Nebo, we behold the panoramic view of the Promised Land as Moses saw it just before he died. His grave could well be right on the mountain. Further on, at Kerak, we walk among the ruins of the Crusader castle of Renaud de Chatillon, one of a line of fortifications which stretched from Aqaba to Turkey. At the end of the day, we reach fabled Petra. Lunch is included enroute at a charming local restaurant. In Petra your hotel : Petra Marriott or Petra Movenpick Hotel . private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

DAY 4 - PETRA (BD)
We spend the entire day exploring Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra was known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You'll feel like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq. We'll see the Temple of the Winged Lion, the breathtaking colonnaded Khazneh tomb, the El Deir Tomb overlooking the Arava Valley, and the imposing Treasury. You can even explore on horseback if you like. private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

In the evening we will call on you for a unique experience :
Dine as a local : 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 ( appetizers ) 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.

Tour experience tonight includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening.

DAY 5 - WADI RUM - Tea With The Bedouins - The Dead Sea (BL)
Today it's real desert adventure as we board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon," where Lawrence of Arabia organized the Arab Revolt against the Ottomans during World War I. As you pass Bedouin encampments, you'll believe that nothing has changed in the intervening years, we’ll break for tea with the bedouins . Lunch is included enroute. Drive back north drive to the lowest spot on Earth and experience floating in the waters of the Dead Sea. and your hotel.
Extend your stay at one of the Dead Sea resort.
private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

DAY 6 - BOSRA - DAMASCUS (BL)
We travel overland today to cross the border into Syria. Visa fee is included for a limited number of nationalities such as USA , Canada, Australia , NZ , EU Etc. Visit Bosra, a Roman City with a 15,000- seat amphitheater, before continuing to our next destination: Damascus and the Four Seasons Hotel in Damascus. Lunch is included enroute . private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

DAY 7 - DAMASCUS (BL)
Our tour of Damascus includes the National Museum, the Old Bazaar, Omayyad Mosque, Azem Palace, Via Recta, the House of Anania, the Eastern Gate (Bab ash-Sharqi) in the walls of the Roman City, and St. Paul's Window. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant . If there's time left over, the merchants of the city will be pleased to welcome you with a cup of tea, to ask after your family, and to negotiate a purchase, if you're interested. private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

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 8 - PALMYRA (BL)
We leave Damascus today and visit Palmyra. The many sites of this ancient city include the museum, the temples of Bel, Baal Shamin and Nebo, the Roman baths, the Tetrapylon, Diocletian's Camp, and the Valley of the Tombs. It'll take us all day to see it all, so we spend the night here. Lunch is included enroute
private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

DAY 9 - KERAK (BL)
Today we reach Kerak, the Krak des Chevaliers, the most spectacular of the castles erected by the Crusaders in Holy Land. After an appreciation of this military outpost, we'll head back to Damascus Lunch is included enroute. . private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

DAY 10 - Damascus –Anjar– Ksara – Baalbeck – Beirut – (BL)
Departure from Damascus to the Beqaa via Al Masnaa Border. Situated on the Beqaa plain, Anjar is the only site of Umayyad City in Lebanon. Its construction dates back to 705 to 715 and the site has well preserved historical relics. You can see remains of the mosque and the great palace, of which a part of the frontage was rebuilt and whose columns are splendid examples of Umayyad architecture. The thermal baths, the small palace and various shops and houses foundations tempt the visitor to a walk through antiquity. Then proceed to visit Ksara. Founded by Jesuit priests, today Ksara is the new image of a deliberately international vineyard, classified today as one of the largest. The wines of Ksara have a specific character, described as a “rare balance of dry fruitiness, of delicacy and coarseness, and of freshness and vigor.” Lunch at Kadri Hotel at Zahle.

Exploring the north part of the Beqaa plain and visit Baalbeck, Heliopolis city of the sun classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage site for being in a high degree of preservation. You can walk through rows of ancient ways between the three main temples and the houses that surrounded them. Originally Canaanite, (3rd millenary BC), Assyrian, Greek (who named the city Heliopolis), Roman and Byzantine influences succeeded each other in this place, and each one left many relics that rival each other with their splendor. Visitors will appreciate an outstanding sunset view while proceeding to Beirut. private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

Day 11 – Beirut (BL)
Our full day includes a full tour of Beirut. Beirut gleams with well-preserved Ottoman buildings and rebuilt quarters with the latest in avant-garde architecture. We’ll see the central neighborhoods, the marina, and of course the National Museum with its treasures from times ancient to Ottoman. There will be time for last-minute shopping today in the many fine and surprising boutiques .We have researched some of the best local Beirut restaurant for your culinary pleasure ( lunch included ) , and this is one of them : the Basha’s Shawarma ! This popular Beirut is the best place in town to try out this tasty Middle Eastern specialty (the Shawerma); if you are vegetarian then we'll go for the excellent spinach pies. . private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

Day 12—Beirut, Sidon, Beiteddine, Deir El Kamar (BL)
after breakfast, we’ll call for you at your hotel, and whisk you off toward the south. Our first stop is the port city of Sidon, an ancient Phoenician city that tells its story through a heritage of sandstone mosques, a medieval Crusader castle, an Ottoman palace, and a Roman theater. We’ll continue inland to Beiteddine, known for its intricate nineteenth-century palace where medieval armaments and Phoenician treasures are displayed. Just outside of town is Deir El Kamar, with its tile-roofed sandstone palaces, and center of arts and galleries. Lunch is included today at the Baadaran Village with the locals: The village of Baadarane up in the Chouf Mountains is known for its traditional Lebanese architecture from the period of the Emirs. Some say the origins of the name origins are Phoenician and translate Baadarane as “a rest station,” citing its role as a Roman army post in 20 B.C. The local tradition of looming is still in evidence here and visitors to the village can view Nazih, a local craftsman demonstrating his skill. . private air-conditioned vehicle. Private Chauffeur. Private Guide

Day 13—Beirut (B)
Breakfast is always included at the hotel. Full day at leisure to explore Beirut as you wish , or do your last minute shopping .

DAY 14 - Departure from Beirut (B)
Our local rep. Escorts you to Airport for your return flight. Bon Voyage . Add Egypt in a grand 25 day in-depth tour of the Middle East .

Rates per person

Enjoy the warm Syrian Hospitality at the Four Seasons Damascus

Our hotels include the following, as available, similar hotels may be substituted

Deluxe Hotels: charming Boutique Hotels in Syria

Rates per person

Your tour includes:

• All transfers Hotel accommodations, including tax and service charges.
  
• Pre-set menu meals as indicated with preset menu (cB = continental breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
  
• Private sightseeing by private air-conditioned vehicle with private guide
  
• All entrance fees as per itinerary
  
• Complimentary Horseback ride at Petra ( for interested guests)
  
• Visa fee for Jordan, Lebanon and Syria . Visa issued upon arrival, American, EU ,Japanese, Canadian passport, your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond arrival date. To allow us to secure your visa for Syria, please e.mail us your passport details : passport number, date and place of issue, date it expires, date and place of birth , no photos required.
  
• Damascus Airport Departure tax.
  
• Tips to guides, porters and driver

Not Included:

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance
• Personal expenditures and beverages.
• International air fare from/to your home country
• Airport taxes.

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 and Lebanon 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.)

Extend your stay in Jordan with a resort stay on the Dead Sea

More Choices :

• Compare with the : Best of Jordan Syria and Egypt .
  
• The 11-day version with a short stay at a resort on the Dead Sea.
  
• Add a Dahabiya sailing cruise on the Nile
  
• Syria and Jordan Tour: From Petra to palmyra .
  The Ultra Deluxe Version. Four Seasons Hotels in 12 Days , or 9 day edition.

• Compare with the Best of Jordan, Syria and Egypt Tour

• Compare with : Egypt and Dubai Tour

• Add Morocco, in a Grand North African Crossing .

• Best of Jordan and Syria in 10 Days

• Tour Syria , Jordan , Israel and Palestine All in 11 Days
  
• Back to Multi-Country Tour List .
  
• Add Lebanon
  
• Add Jerusalem

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.

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, read more .

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. Read More .

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, read more .