Road to Damascus - 14 Days

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See the best of Jordan with a taste of Syria. Bob like a cork in the Dead Sea, range across ancient Roman Decapolis cities, discover the Rose City of Petra, explore Crusader castles and scrub up at a Damascus hamam.

Day 1: Amman
Saturday. Welcome to Jordan and the start of your holiday! Arrive Amman, included transfer to hotel and overnight. Overnight - Amman
Day 2: Roman Cities & Ruins
Amman - Jerash - Umm Qais - Amman. Driving north, we visit the Roman ruins of Jerash and continue to Umm Qais (Gadara), a dramatic black-basalt Roman city of the Decapolis. Overnight - Amman (B)
Road to Damascus - 14 Days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Opt ofr a dip in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea an hours drive from Amman
Day 3: Dead Sea
Amman - Mt Nebo - Umm ar Rasas - Petra. Today, we tour the citadel, Archaeological Museum and enjoy free time in the local souq before visiting Mt Nebo to take in the views of the Promised Land. Later we explore the roman ruins and beautiful mosaics of Umm ar-Rasas. The mosaic floor of the Church of St Stephen dates to 785, over 150 years after Muslim rule was established in Jordan, and depicts the cities of the day including Jerusalem, with Palestinian cities below such as Nablus and Gaza. Overnight - Petra (B)
Day 4: Petra
Possibly the jewel in Jordan’s glittering archaeological crown, Petra is now one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Accessed on a walk through a penetrative, narrow, deep siq, the end prize is the hidden valley where the Rose City of Petra lies. As you reach the end of the Siq, you’ll come across the spectacular façade of Al-Kazneh – the Treasury of Petra. It’s natural to have an Indiana Jones moment here as it was this building that served as the Holy Grail’s resting place and the prize that Indy so coveted. As the Treasury is passed, the hidden valley widens to reveal the remains of the city proper. An erosion-hewn masterpiece all but lost to the modern world until 1812 when a Swiss explorer rediscovered it, Petra is full of ancient tombs and ruins ripe for modern-day discoverers like us! The intrepid or should we say, very fit, can ascend the myriad stone steps to Ad-Deir, better known as the Monastery. Overnight - Petra (B)
On a camel safari through the Wadi Rum Desert
Day 5: Wadi Rum
Petra - Wadi Rum. A chance to revisit Petra before our afternoon drive to Wadi Rum. A vast, silent landscape of ancient riverbeds and pastel coloured stretches of sandy desert. The desertscape of Wadi Rum represents some of the most stunning and unspoilt countryside on the planet. The region is also home to semi-nomadic Bedouin living in their great goat hair tents, tending their herds of sheep and goat and preserving a lifestyle that has been practised here in the desert for centuries. Boarding 4x4 jeeps, we can get up close and personal to the picturesque scenery. Tonight, we enjoy a Jordanian dinner. Overnight - Wadi Rum (B, D)
Day 6: Mt Nebo
Wadi Rum - Karak - Dead Sea - Madaba. En route to Madaba we explore the 12th century crusader castle of Karak (or Shobak castle) and visit the Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the earth’s surface. The mineral content of this saltwater lake tops out at 33%. Think of a glass of water a third full of salt! Obviously, power boating is an impossibility but floating is very much a possibility! Whilst giving your skin the best detox it will ever have had thanks to the curative qualities of the water, the salt-rich waters will have you bobbing about just like a cork. Overnight - Madaba (B, D)
The crossing from Jordan to Syria by road
Day 7: Madaba
Madaba - Damascus (Syria). Madaba, a bustling Muslim-Christian market town, is renowned for its mosaics including the stunning 6th century Byzantine mosaic map depicting Jerusalem and other holy sites, located at the Greek Orthodox Church of St George. Small shops sell excellent copies of miniature mosaics and exquisite trinkets. Travelling onward we attend to immigration formalities at the border, and onward to Syria's charming capital. Overnight - Damascus (B)
Day 8: Damascus
Today, we enjoy a tour of reputedly the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth. Lying about 80 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea, Damascus has a wealth of historical sites dating back to many different periods of the city’s history. Since the city has been built up with every passing occupation, it has become almost impossible to excavate all the ruins of Damascus that lie up to 8 feet below the modern level! Damascus is made up of a sizeable old city, divided into the market area, Muslim area, Christian area and the Jewish area. All three groups are still represented in Damascus, even if the Jewish community now only counts a few thousand. Straight Street (Sharia Medhat Pasha), was one of the main streets of Roman Damascus and cutting a swathe through the Old City, still exists today. Studded with rich examples of Islamic and Ottoman architecture including the Umayyad Mosque - one of the largest mosques in the world, and one of the oldest sites of continuous prayer since the rise of Islam. This evening, enjoy a hamam experience at a Damascene bath house before enjoying the view and a drink on Mt Qassioun. Overnight - Damascus (B)
The ancient roman decapolis at Bosra in Syria
Day 9: Palmyra or Krac des Chevaliers
Free day to enjoy Damascus or book our optional excursion to Krac des Chevaliers, a crusader castle of epic proportion OR the spectacular ruins the beautiful of Palmyra – perhaps Syria’s number one sight (payable locally). Overnight - Damascus (B)
Day 10: Damascus to the Red Sea
Damascus - Bosra - Aqaba/Tala Bay. Bidding Damascus farewell, we tour Bosra and see one of the most impressive theatres remaining from the Roman period. We then drive back to Jordan, and south to the Red Sea resort town of Aqaba (approx 8 hrs driving). A further 15km away and our home for the coming 3 days are the idyllic beaches of Tala Bay. Upon arrival we enjoy an included hotel buffet dinner this evening. Overnight - Aqaba (B, D)
Explore the Red Sea coral reefs off the coast of Aqaba
Days 11 - 12: Red Sea R&R
Wake up to some Red Sea relaxation with the following days offering free for you to independently explore, swim, snorkel, dive or simply relax. Azure blue waters brimming with kaleidoscopic marine life are a real attraction here on Jordan's Red Sea coast line. Why not undertake some scuba diving or snokelling?

Travellers will be accommodated in a 4 star hotel with sea or pool view room. The resort complex of Tala Bay features a number of hotels, restaurants, 3 swimming pools, private marina, Gym and fitness centre, private beach (300m away) water sports, diving, and snorkelling. There is also a free shuttle service running three times daily allowing you to choose to spend the day by the beach/ pool or shopping, dining and or enjoying the nightlife of nearby Aqaba. Overnight - Aqaba (B:2)
Day 13: Tala Bay to Amman
Aqaba/Tala Bay - Amman. Spend the day at the beach or pool. Alternatively head out for a last minute shopping and or souvenir hunting. Both Aqaba and Tala Bay are located within Jordan's a Duty Free Zone making this the ideal place to purchase alcohol, perfume, cosmetics and many other duty free items. Afternoon transfer to Amman and evening at leisure. Overnight - Amman (B)
Day 14: Amman
Friday. Morning at leisure before hotel check-out and included onward departure transfer to Amman's Queen Alia airport. (B)

The Petra Kitchen - something good's cooking!
Ever wanted to know how to make real, authentic Middle Eastern hummus? Based just up the road from the entrance to the Rose City, Petra Kitchen - a locally managed business staffed by local Jordanian people, offers a hands-on approach to the preparation of a Middle Eastern repast. At Petra Kitchen, enjoy a cooking session which will result in the mysteries of dishes such as baba ghanoush, fattoush, sambousek b’jibn (cheese triangles) and proper hoummus-from-scratch dispelled before your very eyes and with your very involvement. Then enjoy the fruits of your labours - a faraway feast, fit for a king, sultan or khedive!
Bolt-on the Petra Kitchen and cook up a storm!

PLEASE NOTE: Group size of 4 or more, the group will travel with a driver (not a tour guide) from Madaba - Damascus and from Bosra to Madaba. Our driver will attend to all immigration formalities for passengers and vehicles. If less than 4 persons, public transport will be used on the journey from Madaba - Damascus, with representation at the Syrian border.

 

 



Tour Details
  • Starts in: Amman / Ends in: Amman
  • Departs: Saturdays - year round
  • No local payment required
  • Breakfast:13, Lunch: 0, Dinner: 3
  • Hotel Rating: 3 star
  • Tour Guide: Yes
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