Travel through the heart of the Middle East, and take in the ancient cities of Damascus and Aleppo, the stunning rock formations of Petra, the incredible landscape of Wadi Rum and Egypt’s stunning Red Sea Coast. See the emergence of the modern Middle East amidst a sea of historic mosques, temples and bazaars on this fascinating journey.
Day 1 to 3 - Damascus - Aleppo
Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. We begin in Damascus, the capital of Syria and one of the oldest cities in the world.
Damascus first appearance in history around 15th Century BC as a city conquered by the Pharaoh Thutmosis III. According to the Old Testament, it was once the capital of the Aramean Kingdom in the 11th Century BC. In the 10th Century BC, it started being attacked and it was in battle with several other kingdoms including the Assyrians. Some years after the fall of the Assyrian capital, Nineveh, Damascus was destroyed by Babylon.
Your Tour Leader will leave a complete list of optional excursion to keep you busy on this arrivals day and also your departure time the following morning by private transport, here you will meet with the group and Tour Leader. You will be met by your local rep this evening who will welcome you and advise of the private transfer pick up to meet with the group and Tour Leader the following day.
On day 2 we head to Aleppo by private transport and will be met by the Tour Leader upon arrival. The people of Aleppo claim their city is the oldest inhabited city in the world. You can make your own mind up whilst wandering through the maze of covered bazaars, mosques, and temples. You will need to brush up on your bargaining skills due to the amount of local goodies to purchase!
We have a free day in Aleppo to take in the exotic atmosphere. Why not take a full day to loose yourself in the markets, souqs or Citadel of Aleppo. You can find more optional excursions to do in Aleppo in our Optional Excursions Guide.
Day 4 to 6 - Hama - Palmyra
The town of Hama is our next stop. On our way we will stop in Ebla, to visit some famous archaeological sites. Here you will see Maaret En Numaan, a site that became especially famous for the savage activities of the Crusaders, as well as Sergilla, one of the most interesting of the Dead Cities.
Hama is known for its ‘norias' (water wheels) which are said to date back as far as 1100 BC. The town is also an important agricultural and industrial centre, and is considered by many to be the most picturesque city in Syria. You can take time out here to relax in the attractive gardens along the river banks.
On day 5 we take a drive through the desert, keeping our eyes out for mirages, to the stunning oasis town of Palmyra. On our way we visit the imposing Crac des Chevaliers crusader castle and learn about its 800 year-old history. This castle is one of the most important preserved medieval military architectures in the world, still retaining its original structure.
In Palmyra ‘City of Palms' you can wander the streets, admire the temples, meet the friendly locals and indulge in the delicious local food. This was once a vital caravan city for travellers crossing the Syrian Desert.
Palmyra prospered from 2nd Century BC and was a well-established kingdom. You can see the remains of this today. There are many temples remaining in the architecture of the Palmyra ruins, which cover an area of 6 square kilometres. On a tour you can see the Baal-Shamin Temple, Bel Temple, Arch of Triumph, the Amphitheater, the Baths, the Straight Street, the Congress Council and the Cemeteries. You may also wish to take in a beautiful sunset at the hilltop fortress of Zenobia.
Day 7 to 10 - Damascus - Amman
In the morning we return to Damascus. You can spend your free time during our stay here exploring historical monuments, exotic bazaars and souqs. Try the traditional shisha pipes with a thick local coffee or simply shop ‘til you drop. You can visit the Damascus Museum which contains a world-class archaeological and historical collection of artifacts. You may also wish to do a walking tour of the Biblical sites of Damascus (optional) including the Christian Quarter, the Chapel of Ananias, St Paul's Chapel and window, St. Thomas' Gate and Beit Nassan Courtyard.
On day 9 we enter Jordan and travel to Amman, the country's modern yet conservative capital. Situated on a hilly area between the desert and the Jordan Valley, the city blends modern culture with an ancient past.
There are ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques to explore in the commercial hub of the city. You can also visit traditional coffee shops and artisans' workshops.
Visit the amphitheatre and the restored Roman Theatre, or walk up to the citadel and admire the fantastic view of the city and surrounding landscapes. From Amman you can also visit the Dead Sea. Other optional trips you can take include the Citadel and the Roman Ruins of Jerash. Take a Turkish bath if you wish, and visit the old souq to test your bargaining skills once more!
Day 11 to 13 - Amman - Petra - Wadi Rum - Aqaba
We begin with an early morning transfer to Wadi Musa, beside the infamous city of Petra. We check in and go to discover the site of Petra with our Tour Leader.
This magnificent city is made up of stone structures carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an ancient Arab civilisation. The Nabataeans settled in Petra over 2,000 years ago and turned it into an important trade route linking China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. Located deep inside a narrow desert gorge, it is the most mystical and historical of all Jordan's treasures. You will be able to see the remains of what was once a prosperous, thriving community. The beautiful colours of the city lost in the desert have to be seen to be believed!
On day 12 we have the morning free to re-visit and explore the site of Petra. Later in the afternoon we travel to the spectacular desert area of Wadi Rum where we will spend the night in a Bedouin-style camp. Whilst staying at the Bedouin camp there are no showers and no hot water. Sleeping arrangements are open plan sharing with other members of your group. A sleeping bag is required. Dinner plus breakfast are provided.
We spend 3 hours exploring the desert by 4 wheel drive and ending our day watching the sunset. Wadi Rum is one of the desert wonders of the world, where endless layers of golden and red sands are enclosed in towering carved rock mountains. We stay with a local Bedouin family, eating local food cooked over a fire under a full sky of stars.
On day 13 after our Bedouin-style camp, we travel to the picturesque Red Sea port of Aqaba. Aqaba is a pleasant resort town and the gateway to the Red Sea. Here you will also find bustling markets and medieval archaeological sites.
Day 14 to 16 - Nuweiba - Dahab - St Catherine - Mt Sinai
We board the fast ferry to Nuweiba and then transfer to Dahab on the Red Sea coast. Dahab is a beautiful town famous for its diving and snorkelling.
Meaning ‘gold' in Arabic, Dahab has amazing beaches and an almost unrivalled variety of coral gardens and coloured reefs. Here you may find yourself hanging out in a beach café with a shisha pipe, eating sea food while watching the moonlight reflect on the crystal water, riding a camel in the desert, having tea with a Bedouin family or simply watching the local children wander beneath the palm trees selling handmade Bedouin crafts.
On day 15 after a free day in Dahab we transfer to St Catherine late in the evening. Named after the monastery at the foot of Mt Sinai, St Catherine is surrounded by spiky granite mountains, and between two of the highest and most religious mountains in the Sinai, Mt Sinai and Mt St Catherine. Take a walk around the village and you'll be sure to come across Bedouins, camels, trekkers and pilgrims united by the spirit of adventure found so close to Mt Sinai. We leave Dahab in the late evening and transfer to Mt Sinai - no hotel is required for this evening.
On day 16 we have a very early start to climb Mt Sinai in time for sunrise. Mt Sinai is believed to be where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God. Following in Moses' footsteps we have the opportunity to ascend to the summit in time for sunrise. This means a very early start (between 1-3am depending on the time of year) and involves a fairly strenuous uphill walk along a camel path and finally up 750 stone steps accompanied by your tour leader. The climb takes about three hours although it is possible to take a camel up as far as the steps or hire one halfway up if necessary!
There are teahouses dotted along the way and one at the top so not only can you follow the glow of their lights but you can stop for a hot drink and a breather. The view from the top as day breaks is worth every step. There are two routes down the mountain. From the top you must follow the 750 stone steps back down and then can either return along the camel path or follow a winding route down the 'steps of repentance'. Neither route is difficult (particularly as you will no longer need your torch!) however the 3000 or so steps of repentance do have some steep sections and can take around two hours to descend. This afternoon we drive to Cairo via the Suez Canal.
Day 17 to 18 - Cairo
When you arrive in Cairo you are thrown headfirst into the hustle and bustle of this wonderful city. As you wander the streets your senses will be assaulted on all levels – with cars tooting, donkeys braying and the call to prayer; the mix of smells like the aroma from cooking pots and the scent of apple tobacco; the delicious taste of mint tea as you sit in a shaded café to relax; and the endless river of life that you can watch roll past you – women haggling in the bazaars, men talking whilst enjoying a traditional shisha pipe, cars vying for space on the crowded roads, camels ambling serenely along and children playing in the back streets.
You have an included visit to the amazing Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza guided by an Egyptologist. The Pyramids really do have to be seen to be believed! To get there we weave our way through the manic Cairo traffic, out into the suburbs and then, suddenly, there they are: huge majestic tombs rising out the desert, towering above the modern city of Cairo and an incredible testament to the immense achievements of the Ancient Egyptians.
Built over five thousand years ago the Pyramids are the only one of the seven wonders of the ancient world that is still standing. We explore the Pyramids and the Sphinx with our local leader who can explain all the mysteries surrounding their creation, were they built by aliens or are they aligned to the stars? Our tour will end after breakfast on Day 18. If you don't want to go home yet then continue the fun and join one of our tours in Europe? See our brochure or website for a full list of trips.
