Middle East Vacations

Adventure Vacation Packages

 Day 1 Arrive in Tel Aviv

Today we arrive in Tel Aviv and transfer to our hotel. Stretched along the beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean, Tel-Aviv is Israel's largest city and biggest commercial center. It is a busy metropolis that inspires its visitors with a unique energetic atmosphere. Tel-Aviv presents a lively combination of entertainment venues, shopping malls, exotic markets, and golden beaches. It is also the country's greatest cultural center, home of a variety of museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls. Overnight in Tel Aviv. Dinner if required.

Day 2 Tel Aviv & Jaffa

Today we have a tour of vibrant Tel Aviv, a modern city with a unique mix of European and Middle Eastern influences. We see the Independence Hall and the colourful Carmel Market before visiting the Museum of the Diaspora, a multi-media depiction of the history of the Jewish people. This afternoon we will visit the Old Port City of Jaffa (Yaffo), an ancient and beautiful city located in the south of Tel-Aviv. Jaffa claims over 4,000 years of history and is the place where the prophet Jonas was swallowed by the whale, and the Rock of Andromeda can be seen jutting from the water. The Turks, Napoleon and the British also established their rule of the region through control of this city. We have a walking tour of the old city of Jaffa, a major attraction with winding alleys full of cafes, restaurants and art galleries. You will have free time for independent exploration. Jaffa is a mixed city with Jews, Christians and Muslims living together in harmony. Return to Tel Aviv. Overnight in Tel Aviv. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 3 Tel Aviv - Caesarea - Akko - Haifa

Travelling north along the scenic Mediterranean coast road, we will cross Netanya and visit the impressive ruins of Caesarea, once Roman capital of the Holy Land. Caesarea, whose construction began in 22 BC was dedicated by Herod to his patron Augustus Caesar. When it was completed 12 years later, only Jerusalem outshone it in its grandeur. The Roman theatre here once seated 3,600 people. By the main gate to the theatre is proof that Pontius Pilate, governor of Judea during the time of Jesus, actually lived in this area. At various times in its history, this beautiful coastal town has been a Roman Capital, a port and a major conquest for the Crusaders. We continue through this historic and dramatic landscape to Haifa via Megiddo, named in the Book of Revelations as the place of Armageddon, the place where the forces of good and evil will meet in the final battle for mankind. Of particular interest are the outlines of 5,000 year old early Bronze Age temples. After visiting Acre (Akko), with it's underground Crusader city and the crypt of St John, we arrive at the beautiful city of Haifa. Overnight in Haifa. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 4 Haifa - Nazareth - Tiberias

We begin our day with a visit to the summit of Mount Carmel with its breathtakingly panoramic view of the town, the bay, and a considerable part of western Gallilee. Later we will tour the Persian Gardens and the Bahai Shrine. We travel onwards to Nazareth where we visit the largest Basilica in the Middle East--the Church of Annunciation. According to one of the ancient traditions, it was here that the archangel Gabriel foretold the coming of Jesus to the Virgin Mary. The interior of the present church has a most beautiful design, incorporating fragments of much older buildings. We continue to Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (Yam Kinerett). Overnight in Tiberias. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 5 Tiberias - Capernaum - Tabgha - Tiberias

At the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee we visit Capernaum, one of the most important Jewish and Christian sites of the Roman and Byzantine period and home of some of the Disciples. Jesus is believed to have moved here from Nazareth because it was the home of his first converts, Peter and Andrew. Continuing, we arrive at Tabgha where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fishes. We visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. The mosaic floor is incredible, featuring ancient Egyptian motifs. We then board our boat for a delightful cruise across the emerald Sea of Galilee to ancient Tiberias, a relaxed seaside resort located in the cradle of Christianity. Overnight in Tiberias. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 6 Tiberias - Kibbutz Ein Gedi & the Dead Sea

Today we journey through the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea Highway to Ein Gedi, an Israeli collective kibbutz, where we spend the night. Time permitting, we can visit the Ein Gedi spa adjacent to the kibbutz. Here we will have the chance to bathe in the mineral-enriched mud or have a float on the Dead Sea. Overnight in Kibbutz Ein Gedi. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 7 Kibbutz Ein Gedi - Masada - Wadi David - Jerusalem

This morning we travel south to Masada. This great flat-topped mountain and natural fortress was once held by a small band of Jewish zealots for three years despite the force of Roman armies. On this site 1,000 people committed mass suicide rather than be enslaved. Flavirus Josephus said, "Who decided a long time ago, brave soldiers that we are, not to be slaves of the Romans or of any person other than God; for he alone is the true and just master of men." From Masada we travel northward to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve. After a short walk we reach Wadi David (David's Spring), a waterfall hidden in an oasis of luxuriant green vegetation that hangs clustered in a canyon wall. We continue our journey toward Jerusalem. On the northwest shore of the Dead Sea we encounter the settlement of Qumran. In 1947 it was here that two shepherd boys made one of the most significant discovery in religious history, the Dead Sea Scrolls (written texts of the Old Testament) hidden in the caves. The people who wrote them are believed to have been the Essenes who lived here until AD 68. Later in the day we arrive in Jerusalem, the City of David. Overnight in Jerusalem. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 8 Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Jerusalem

Old and new merge seamlessly in Jerusalem. This sophisticated, sleek and reverent capital welcomes visitors to share its heritage. Our tour takes us by way of the Knesset, Israel's parliament, to the President's House and the Yad Vashem Memorial and Museum to the Holocaust. We will visit the inspiring Chagall Windows that depict the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and the incredible model of Old Jerusalem, a miniature of the city at the time of Jesus. From Jerusalem we continue to Bethlehem.* We visit the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus. Built like a citadel over the cave where it is believed Jesus was born, the original 4th century church commissioned by Constantine was altered in AD 530 by Emperor Justinian. It was later captured by the Crusaders and then came under the jurisdiction of Saladin and then the Mamluks. *NOTE: Due to security concerns / procedures that change frequently, Bethlehem exists in our programme on a provisional and tentative basis only. In the event that a visit to the West Bank is not appropriate by departure time, we may remain in Jerusalem and expand our sightseeing there. Overnight in Jerusalem. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 9 Jerusalem: The Old City

Today we will see the Old City from the vantage point of the Mount of Olives. We then enter through the Jewish Quarter to witness the Herodian Mansions, a lavish palace in antiquity and built formerly of white marble, followed by a visit to the most important site in Judaism, the Western Wall. This is followed by a tour to one of the glories of Islamic Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount. Following the last steps of Christ along Via Dolorosa, we approach Calvary and the most sacred site in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Most Christians venerate this site as the location of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. In Jerusalem, you may hear the Muslim call to prayer competing with the clanging of bells from Christian churches and the prayers of Jews bobbing before the Western Wall. Everywhere you turn you'll see reminders of the three religions - Islam, Judaism and Christianity - that have shaped this part of the world. Overnight in Jerusalem. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 10 Jerusalem, Israel - Amman, Jordan

Today we travel by road to Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Our journey takes us to the border where we will transfer to our Jordanian vehicle for the remainder of the trip to Amman. Though we will be crossing early in the day when traffic is usually lighter, please be advised that the border crossing can take some time. Amman, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. The city's modern buildings blend with the remnants of ancient civilizations. The profusion of gleaming white houses, kebab stalls with roasting meat, and tiny cafes where rich Arabian coffee is sipped in the afternoon sunshine, conjure a mood straight from a thousand-and-one nights. Overnight in Amman. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 11 Amman - Jerash - Desert Castles - Amman

This morning we leave Amman by bus for a tour of the extensive Roman site of Jerash. In the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, Jerash was a wealthy city and is today considered one of the most important and best preserved of all Roman sites. We visit the famous elliptical forum, the beautiful amphitheatre with its superb natural acoustics, and the site of the huge Temple of Artemis. This afternoon we travel east from Amman into the Jordanian Desert. Here we see some of the Desert Palaces built by the Umayyad Caliphs in the 8th century AD. Of particular interest is Qasar Amra, with its unique frescoes of hunting scenes and dancing girls. Qasar Azraq, built entirely of black basalt, was used as a base by Lawrence of Arabia in his later campaigns against the Turks. We return to Amman via a road that is one of the main trade route between Jordan and nearby Iraq. Overnight in Amman. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 12 Amman: City Tour - Madaba - Mt Nebo - Petra

This morning we tour Amman, visiting the Roman amphitheatre, Folklore Museum, Museum of Popular Traditions, Archaeological Museum, and the ruins of the Temple of Hercules. From Amman we travel to Madaba, a small town famous for its magnificent mosaic floors. A unique mosaic covers the floor of St. George's church and consists of a huge map of the Holy Land as it appeared in the 6th century AD. Driving to the edge of the Jordan Valley we reach Mount Nebo from where Moses and the Children of Israel first saw the Promised Land. On a clear day you can look down to see the Dead Sea and the River Jordan. On the other side of the valley is the city of Jerusalem. Here we see a huge mosaic of hunting scenes covers the floor of a ruined Byzantine church. We leave Mt Nebo and travel south via the Dead Sea Highway, making a stop at the Dead Sea en route. King David, King Herod, Jesus, and John the Baptist were closely linked with the Dead Sea and its surroundings. During the Egyptian conquest it is said that Queen Cleopatra obtained exclusive rights to build cosmetic and pharmaceutical factories in the area. Later on, the wily Nabateans discovered the value of bitumen extracted from the Dead Sea used by the Egyptians for embalming their dead. The Dead Sea contains 10 times more salts and minerals than the Mediterranean Sea. The high salt and mineral concentration enables everyone to float in its waters but doesn't allow the proliferation of fish and other marine life. We continue to Petra, arriving in the late afternoon. Overnight in Petra. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 13 Petra: Site Tour

Petra was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom from the fourth century BC to the 2nd century AD. From the 12th century until its rediscovery in 1812, Petra was lost to the world--a closely guarded secret of the local tribes. Today the 'rose red city half as old as time' is probably the most impressive archaeological site in the Middle East, rivaling the temples and pyramids of Egypt in grandeur. This morning, on our way into the hidden valley of Petra, we will see the Obelisk Tomb and the irrigation system that carried water from a dam throughout the desert city. Access to the monuments of Petra is through a narrow gorge in the towering rocks called the 'Siq'. As we emerge from the 'Siq' you stand in awe in front of the 'Treasury' (El Kazneh), a graceful structure carved from the living rock. After pausing to admire the elegant columns and carvings we carry on into the valley where elaborate tombs are carved into the multi-coloured walls. Everywhere the sandstone swirls and twists in shades of red, orange, yellow, pink and white. Next we will see the Roman amphitheatre, carved directly out of the mountain, with space for over 3,000 spectators. Further on in the main valley of Petra, are the Royal Tombs including the Palace Tomb and the Silk Tomb. We visit the temple of the Nabateans' main god, Dushara, and we also see the 'Temple of the Winged Lion'. Our formal guided tour of the site terminates with a visit to the Petra Nabatean Museum. At this point, you may explore further on your own, or return to our hotel to relax and / or shop. You may also take a strenuous walk up a narrow pass to see the magnificent 'Monastery' building, El Deir. The views of Petra and the surrounding area are expansive. The walk is steep, mostly on steps carved into the rock, and will take APPROXIMATELY one hour up (30 minutes down). This evening after dinner you may like to go for a drink in a bar partly built into a 2,000 year-old Nabatean tomb! NOTE: Access to Petra is by means of footpath only. The main sites occur near ground that is level and well-worn, though the overall site is huge. Our pace is leisurely with frequent breaks; however, to fully experience Petra you must be prepared for a considerable amount of walking and little shade. Overnight at Petra. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 14 Petra: At Leisure

This morning we take a tour by bus to the nearby site of 'el Beidha' (known as 'Little Petra'). We will also see a settlement dating from the Neolithic period, some 8,500 years ago. This is one of the oldest sights in the Middle East; it shows evidence of habitation by a Pre-Pottery population who were herders experimenting with agriculture. We return to our hotel by bus. This afternoon, you can either relax or re-enter the breathtaking main site of Petra (the entrance fee today is at your own expense). You can join your Tour Leader on a steep walk to the 'High Place', which (some believe) was the site of human sacrifice to the Nabatean gods. From here it is possible to see the tomb of the Jewish prophet, Aaron. This site offers the best views of the entire site of Petra, but should be attempted only by the fit! Overnight at Petra. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 15 Petra - Aqaba - Wadi Rum - Aqaba

Leaving Petra we stop briefly at 'the Spring of Moses', supposed to have magical properties. We then continue down the Desert Highway to Jordan's only port, Aqaba, on the Red Sea. We will have time this afternoon to relax or visit the Red Sea beaches. Later this afternoon we make an excursion to Wadi Rum where Lawrence of Arabia conducted many of his campaigns during the First World War. While at Wadi Rum we take four wheel drive vehicles out into the desert where the sand is red and the rocks look like gigantic multi-layered chocolate cakes melting in the setting sun. We may be invited into a goat-hair tent to share a glass of tea with some Bedouin tribesmen--the nomadic herdsmen of the desert who made up Lawrence's army. Running along the floor of the valley is the Hejaz Railway that Lawrence blew up repeatedly. After sunset we return to Aqaba. Overnight in Aqaba. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 16 Aqaba - Shobak - Kerak - Dead Sea

Today we travel along the historic King's Highway. Along this route castles and towns were positioned a one day's travel distance apart. The first castle we come to is Shobak Castle, built by the Crusaders in 1115 and sacked by Moslem forces under Saladin in 1189. Farther north we explore Kerak Castle, also a 12th century Crusaders fortress. The castle's huge water cisterns and commanding position on a hill top allowed it to hold out against many sieges. We continue to the Dead Sea. King David, King Herod, Jesus, and John the Baptist were closely linked with the Dead Sea and its surroundings. During the Egyptian conquest it is said that Queen Cleopatra obtained exclusive rights to build cosmetic and pharmaceutical factories in the area. Later the Nabateans discovered the value of bitumen extracted from the Dead Sea used by the Egyptians. Our hotel is located on the shores of the sea where you will have the chance to swim and experience your amazing buoyancy in the ultra-salty waters. Overnight at the Dead Sea. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 17 Dead Sea, Jordan - Bosra - Damascus, Syria

Today we cross from Jordan into Syria and make our way to Bosra, where we discover a beautiful Roman amphitheatre hidden inside an Arab castle. Bosra is rich in its layers of history; at various times in antiquity it has been a capital city under the Nabateans and the Romans, when it became the capital of their province of Arabia. An important Christian city, it was here that a monk met a young man named Mohammed and foretold of his imminent prophethood. We will pass through the Gate of the Wind and see one of the three oldest mosques in the world, among other sights. The ancient city is especially striking because of the dark basalt rock used in its construction and the fact that there are still people living on the site itself. From here we drive northward to Damascus, across the fertile Hauran Plain, Syria's breadbasket. Off in the distance, to the west, we might catch a glimpse of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. Damascus is one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, and reports run back at least 3,500 years. Many claim that Damascus is the oldest continued inhabited city in the world. While modern Damascus is today a largely modern Middle Eastern city, it was famous for centuries, and often referred to as the "Pearl of the East". Overnight in Damascus. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 18 Damascus: City Tour

Today we walk within the old city, surrounded by an ancient wall which originally had seven gates named in Roman times after the stars that made up the constellation of the Seven Sisters. We see the remains of the massive Roman Temple of Jupiter, walk through the absorbing Hamadieh Market, and visit the Great Ommayad Mosque, one of the first great mosques of the Muslim world built in AD 718 by the Caliph el-Walid. After a visit to Saladin's tomb, we continue to a visit of the lovely Azem Palace, seat of the Ottoman governor during the 18th and 19th centuries. In its airy courts, we can imagine the Ottoman ruler savouring a warm Damascene evening, looking up at the three minarets of the great mosque illuminated by a full summer moon. The Azem Palace is today an ethnographic museum displaying the costumes of the different classes of Syrian society in the different parts of this varied country. You will have some free time later in the afternoon for shopping or exploring on your own. Overnight in Damascus. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 19 Damascus: National Museum & Christian Quarter

This morning we visit the immense National Museum with its monumental gateway transported from an Umayyad (Ommayad) fortress in the Syrian Desert. The collections in the museum span a period of over 9,000 years and include the brightly-painted frescoes from one of the oldest synagogues in the world. At the Takiyyeh as-Sulaymaniyyeh we see a beautiful Turkish mosque built in 1554. Next to the mosque is a Sixteenth Century Ottoman caravanserai which has been converted into a handicraft centre where you can see traditional Syrian handicrafts being made and sold. In the afternoon we will enter the Christian quarter to walk along the Street Called Straight (mentioned in the Bible). Near the great gate, Bab as-Sharqi, we visit the Chapel of Ananias where St Paul hid after his conversion to Christianity. This afternoon is free for you to explore old Damascus. This evening we finish our day by driving up to Mount Kassioun for a view over all Damascus Overnight in Damascus. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 20 Damascus - Hama - Orontes Valley - Homs

Travelling northward today, we arrive at Maloula where we visit one of the oldest churches in the world, the Church of Saint Sergis. Here we can see how a Christian altar table has been adapted from a pagan sacrificial stone, and perhaps hear the priest recite some of the liturgy in Aramaic, the language of Jesus Christ, spoken in only three places on earth. Aramaic was, at one time, the lingua franca of western Arabia and is related to modern Arabic and Hebrew. The people of Maloula--most of whom are Syrian Christians--still speak Aramaic among themselves, though it is a dying language. Maloula is also the spot where a young woman, Tekla, who had rejected pagan practice and embraced Christianity during the Roman era, found a miraculous escape from her Roman pursuers. Arriving in Hama, we view a unique and lovely example of ancient engineering: the great Noria water wheels, first constructed in Roman times. The wheels still turn and groan under the power of the Orontes River, delivering water to the fields around the town. In Hama we visit the 18th century inn that now houses the local museum. North of Hama, in the heart of the Orontes Valley, we visit the impressive second century BC ruins of the Roman city of Apamea. This huge site was once a city of one-half million inhabitants which was visited by Mark Anthony and Cleopatra. The focus of the site is the long double row of fluted columns rising from the surrounding fields. The museum near the site contains several beautiful and extensive mosaics. Above the Roman site stands the Thirteenth Century Arab castle of Qala'at al-Mudiq. Overnight in Homs. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 21 Homs - Palmyra

From Homs we drive eastward into the Syrian Desert to reach Palmyra, the great city of the Palmyrans, one of the greatest archaeological sites in the world. By the time of Christ, the Palmyrans had developed a vast trading empire which extended as far as India. The setting is magnificent, in a fertile depression in the vast flat desert. The heritage of trade is evident in the marvellous statuary depicting prominent merchants draped in Roman style robes and wearing Persian boots and pantaloons. We can walk along the main thoroughfare of the immense antique city, lined with columns bleached by sun and wind. Because this was first and foremost a trading city, the main street is a pathway of sand so that camels carrying their burden to the market square would not slip on the paving stones. We see the Monumental Gateway, market place, amphitheatre and Tetrapylons. Today we may also have the chance to visit a Bedouin village. We visit the magnificent temple of Baal, and learn about the rebellious Queen Zenobia, who flouted Roman suzerainty, declared an independent kingdom and struck coins bearing her own image. The Emperor Aurelian finally conquered her armies and brought her to Rome in golden chains. We also visit the Ethnographic Museum to see displays depicting Bedouin tribal life in this desert area. Overnight in Palmyra. Breakfast and dinner

Day 22 Palmyra: Area Tour

Today we have a full day in Palmyra and the desert oasis in which it is situated. We will visit the spectacular Archaeological Museum where we will see a well preserved collection of statuary from the Palmyra site, as well as collections from prehistoric Palmyra. We will visit the necropolis, comprised of multi-storey tombs that were rented out rather than sold. The builders of the tombs themselves become rich through the rent they collected. In the afternoon, you may wish to walk through the oasis with its palm and olive groves and its gardens separated by irrigation canals. In the evening the small town of Tadmor is busy with locals and visitors. Overnight in Palmyra. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 23 Palmyra - Syrian Desert - Dier ez-Zor

This morning we travel across the vast expanse of the Syrian Desert to the River Euphrates. This afternoon you may like to explore the town of Deir Ez-Zor and the lively Bedouin market. The town is a meeting place for the local tribes who come in from the surrounding desert to trade sheep, skins, milk, butter, and cheese for goods and fresh produce grown by the farmers along the Euphrates Valley. Each Bedouin tribe from the desert frontier areas has a slightly different style of dress, and the women often tattoo their faces and hands. The Bedouin are referred to locally as "Shawi", from the Arabic verb "to grill", as they are renowned for their boundless hospitality, often going so far as to slaughter one of their prized flock for the benefit of a guest. Those who do not wish to have a free afternoon in Dier ez-Zor may join our bus excursion south of the Euphrates to the 5,000 year-old Mesopotamian city of Mari. Here we discover a civilisation remarkably advanced and complex that dates back to the Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian and Babalonian periods. In Mari we walk through the halls of the great mud palace to the throne room of Semurilim. En route back to Dier ez-Zor, we stop at the vast walled city of Doura Europos, built by Seleucis Niikator, one of the generals of Alexander the Great, as a defensive garrison on the eastern frontier of the empire. Overnight in Deir Ez-Zor. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 24 Dier ez-Zor - Ar-Raqqa - Resafa - Aleppo

Following the course of the Euphrates, once the lifeline of ancient Mesopotamian civilisations, we observe how the waters have receded greatly in recent years. The river valley today supports large-scale cultivation of wheat, sugar beets and cotton. In the Bedouin town of Ar-Raqqa, we visit the old Abbasid city walls and the Baghdad Gate of the great fortified city that once stood here. Nearby we make an excursion to the ancient walled city of Resafa, known in antiquity as Sergiopolis, after a Roman soldier who, along with his friend Baachus, embraced Christianity and was martyred for his heresy. During the Byzantine period, Resafa became an important place of pilgrimage and the Emperor Justinian had an impressive series of ramparts built against marauding desert Arabs. The city has huge underground cisterns to hold water. Many of the column capitals are carved from gypsum, a crystalline rock that looks like glass. Further up the river we arrive at the Thawra Dam, completed in the early 1970s. It was the first great dam project to harness the mighty waters of the River Euphrates, creating Lake Assad. We arrive in Aleppo in the early evening. Overnight in Aleppo. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 25 Aleppo: City Tour

Today we explore the city of Aleppo, beginning with a visit to the Citadel, situated on an eminence at the centre of the city. In the past anyone who took control of the citadel took control of Aleppo, and it's easy to see why. During the time of Saladin, the walled fortress we see today was given its present shape. This afternoon, you may wish to make your own explorations or join your Tour Leader on a tour of the Grand Bazaar. It is often said that if you did not get lost in the market then you have not seen it! You will find for sale Bedouin goat hair tents, felt shepherds' coats lined with sheepskin, Bedouin carpets and headscarves amidst a tumult of activity. The bazaar has a real "Thousand and One Nights" atmosphere with narrow, cobbled streets lined with vendors of every kind. The market is particularly famous its gold and silver items. Overnight in Aleppo. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 26 Aleppo - St Simeon's Monastery - Aleppo

From our base in Aleppo, we journey into the countryside to visit the monastery of St Simeon, where the famous anchorite spent 42 years in meditation atop a pillar in the fifth century. Here we visit the basilica which represents one of the most graceful and important examples of early Byzantine architecture. From this spot, we have lovely views over the landscape of northern Syria and into Turkey. We will stop to see a beautifully preserved section of Roman road. In this area there are many Byzantine "Dead Cities" whose populations were devastated by the Black Death brought via the Silk Road in the Middle Ages. Today they stand as empty testaments to the advantages and pit-falls of living from trade. Returning to Aleppo city, we tour the museum with its excellent collection of artifacts from the period of the great Mesopotamian kingdoms, including the water-bearer statue from Mari and some excellent cuneiform tablets from Elba. Overnight in Aleppo. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 27 Aleppo - Saladin's Castle - Safita

From Aleppo we cross the coastal mountains, a lovely area famous for its fruit orchards. We take a spectacular mountain road up to the dramatic ruins of Saladin's castle, a crusader fortress situated above a breathtaking pine-covered ravine. Before reaching the Mediterranean coast we visit Ugarit, the Phoenician trading city where the world's oldest known alphabet was discovered. We arrive this evening at Safita, situated on the coast. Overnight in Safita. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 28 Safita - Crak de Chevaliers - Damascus

From Safita we make our way to Crak de Chevaliers, situated at a strategic break in the coastal mountain chain. This huge castle stands guard over the valley pass below, controlling the route from the Mediterranean coast through the mountains to Damascus and the interior of the Levant. It was considered by Lawrence of Arabia to be the most perfect castle in the world, a splendid place to gain a sense of how these medieval adventurers lived in their kingdom of Outremar--"the land across the sea." We visit the great hall, kitchens, chapel (later converted to a mosque when Muslim forces won this redoubtable stronghold) and walk along the extensive ramparts. From Crak de Chevaliers we drive to Damascus. Overnight in Damascus. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 29 Damascus / Optional Excursion into Lebanon

Today is free to further explore the covered bazaar, walk the Street Called Straight, and / or re-visit the National Museum. Alternatively, you may join our optional excursion to Lebanon. We cross the Anti-Lebanon Mountains from Damascus and enter the Bekaa Valley, a fertile land of apple and pear orchards and many vineyards. We drive northward to Baalbek, thought by many to be the most impressive Roman site in the world. Touring the temple precincts, we pass through the massive propylaea with its granite columns from Aswan, Egypt. We enter the octagonal court and from there, the sacred core of this complex: the titanic temple of Jupiter, completed in AD 60. This Roman construction was built on such an enormous scale in order to impress upon the subjects of these ancient provinces the power of Imperial Rome. From Baalbek we drive to the cellars of the famous Ksara winery in order to sample some of Lebanon's excellent wine. Established in the mid-19th century, Ksara is the country's oldest vintner, boasting an extensive catacomb of cellars hewn from a limestone hill. Anjor, an Omayyad Islamic city with its lovely Caliph's palace built in the 8th century, is our final stop before driving to the border for our return to Damascus. NOTE: The rules for visiting Lebanon change constantly. Your Tour Leader will inform you of necessary arrangements earlier on the tour. If local conditions permit or require, we may alter the above programme and drop the winery visit in favour of a trip into Beirut. Generally, the cost of this excursion includes the cost of your Lebanon visa, transport, and entrance fees to the sites we visit. The cost can vary depending on the number of participants, but please expect to pay 120-150 USD (CASH ONLY) per person (this price can change at any time without notice). Overnight in Damascus. Breakfast and dinner.

Day 30 Departure

10/08

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