11 Days The Hashemite Kingdom - Featuring Damascus, The Pearl of The East Tour Package
Duration: 11 Days / 10 Nights
Priced From: $2,102
(All pricing reflects twin-sharing, per-person Land Only expenses)
Dates: Feb, Mar, Oct
A land of Biblical fable, ancient legacy and stellar attraction, Jordan is one of the must-see destinations on tours in the Middle East. Signing up for this 11-day adventure yields comprehensive exploration of the ancient and modern faces of Jordan, from sauntering the busy streets of the capital, Amman, and reclining on the white sands of the beaches fringing the Red Sea, to exploring Roman amphitheatres in Jerash, colossal temples in the breathtaking UNESCO-Heritage city of Petra and settlements that date from the Neolithic period; some 8,500 years in the past. We admire elegant columns and elaborate tombs from ages past, see centuries-old structures carved from the living rock and investigate sites that were purportedly designed for offering human sacrifices to the Nabatean gods. As well as learning about the many historic attractions that we happen across by the dozen, like Lawrence of Arabia’s First World War base of operations at Wadi Rum and the Crusader castles along the King’s Highway, we spend time among Bedouin tribesmen and enjoy first-hand experience of the lifestyles and traditions of these nomadic herdsmen of the desert indigenous to the area. On a tour brimming with highlights, our foray into Syria as we near the end of our trip to witness the mesmerizing charm of Damascus proves the pièce de résistance.
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Amman
Arrival in Amman, Jordan. Amman, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, where the city's modern buildings blend with the remnants of ancient civilizations. Overnight in Amman. Dinner if required.
Day 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 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 10 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 11 Departure
Departure from Damascus. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!
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10/08
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