Syria 



Damascus 


Day 1 Damascus 

Day 2 Damascus 



We begin this journey in the Syrian capital impressive. In Damascus,walking is the best way to experience the atmosphere of the old city. The city is a mixture of old and new, you not only in architecture but also found in the streets. Here you see modern-dressed women in high heels walking alongside heavily veiled women.

 Most attractions are located in the old city center. While the Syrians are going to boast that their capital is the oldest of the inhabited world, the oldest ruins date from Roman times. This is visible in the still partially preserved, original Roman wall, the old town Omgaf

 
It is an experience to the visit the large daily market, the Souq al Hamadiyyeh, and perhaps difficult to resist buying souvenirs. The souk is largely covered. On both sides of the streets, hundreds of small shops house beautiful silk and brightly colored substances of synthetic material, among many innumerable herbs, copper, and leather. The atmosphere here is unique because it has not been influenced by tourism.

 One of the main attractions in Damascus is the Ommayaden Mosque, located at the end of the souk. This place is successively an Aramaic temple, a Roman temple and before that, a Christian church. For a long time, one half of the mosque has been used by Christians and half by Muslims. You can even take in the first impressions on a terrace behind the mosque,  for example, visit the palace of al Azem family or you can relax in one of the many bathhouses for which Damascus is known. A visit to the National Museum is worthwhile. Here you see the treasures from Syriës long and rich history. Later during the trip you can visit the sites. sites.
   

Palmyra, Aleppo 



Day 3 Damascus - Palmyra 

Day 4 Palmyra - Aleppo 

Day 5 Aleppo 



From Damascus we drive in about 3 hours to Palmyra, the city of palms' to the east of Damascus where the desert is located. You will see imposing ruins of the old city, which sit peacefully in the middle of the desert. The bus takes you to the distant burial towers.
   
 Then you can wander around all afternoon along the colonnades, theater and the imposing temple of Bel the ancient Palmyra. Some streets are still almost entirely surrounded by columns where get a wonderful view from the top. Walk through the great theater sit on the stone banks. Even the wall behind the stage is still standing.  At night you can take a local bus to the castle to overlook the ruins. From here you can enjoy the sunset of the old city in a pink glow.


The next morning we drive north toward Aleppo. Like Damascus, this city began from an old town with markets, caravans, and mosques and a new city was built around it. We stay two nights in Aleppo, so enough time to explore this vibrant city. Aleppo has always been an important trading center and was the end of the famous Orient Express. You can also find some European atmosphere in the tree-lined streets.

 Still you can find in many nationalities in Aleppo. Armenians have been early 20th century in the Christian district established. Russian traders to travel and clothing to buy at local markets. In Aleppo, the largest indoor souk of Syria, where you walk through the many vendors on several occasions for a cup of tea or coffee is invited.

    It is very worthwhile for a number of attractive caravans  within walking distance. These are the inns, where from the 16th century, merchants from England, Germany and France remained in their way along the Silk Route. The most famous building of Aleppo is located just outside the souk the citadel. In this castle, high above the city uittorent you can spend hours in the catacombs and the richly decorated throne room.

The National Museum contains a splendid collection of art and objects. Both souk, the Citadel and the museum are within walking distance of our hotel in local style. You can also reserve a day for a visit to the Christian Quarter, where close to each other a number of state churches. Behind the doors in this area are sometimes hidden beautiful merchant houses with beautiful courtyards and many rooms. With a little luck and tact you by one of the residents invited to take a look.




Lattakia, Hama, Krak des Chevaliers, Damascus


Day 6 Aleppo - Lattakia

Day 7 Lattakia - Hama 

Day 8 Hama - Krak des Chevaliers - Damascus 

Day 9 Damascus 



When leaving Aleppo we drive south and we visit the Roman city Apameia where colonnad street is flanked by rich Corinthian columns. In Lattakia, on the Mediterranean Sea, you will see the ruins of Ugarit, where the oldest alphabet in the world was developed. 

The provincial town of Hama is a charming town on the River Orontes. There are is still huge water wheels creaking. This water wheel which dates from Roman times, and was the main source of irrigation of the surrounding country. Now they form the backdrop to the terraces located on both sides of the river there. Together with the Syrians, you can enjoy the atmosphere of the city from here. 

After an overnight in Hama we drive to Damascus. We stop first, however, at the most famous and best preserved castle of the crusaders of the Middle East: Krak des Chevaliers. The castle is strategically located on a hilltop castle and offers fine views from its walls to the surroundings.  This was the location of a 2000-strong garrison. 

Just before we reach Damascus we stop in the interesting mountain village, Maaloula. There you will find spectacular thousands churches, thousands of years old. Here they speak Aramaic, the language common to this reach 2000 years ago. In Damascus there are a number of things to do.

A visit to the famous souk will alwaysbe  interesting. Visit the National Museum or take a trip to the mountain Kassioun to watch the sunset over the city.



Jordan 

Jerash, Amman



Day 10: Damascus - Bosra - Jerash - Amman 

Day 11 Amman, Dead Sea excursion 

Day 12 Amman, excursion desert castles

Day 13 Amman - Madaba - Kerak - Petra 



The drive to the Jordanian border takes about 4 hours. First we stop in the town of Bosra where you see the remains of one of the largest Roman theaters. The hard rock was covered by sand and discovered in the 40’s. At the border we bid farewell to the Syrian guide. On the Jordanian side, the Jordanian guide us to wait. 

At the border in Jordan, there is opportunity to exchange money in exchange and get something  to eat, while the guide handles visa formalities

Before arriving in Amman, we visit the Roman city Jerash. As a result of an earthquake, Jerash was covered for centuries with sand, and it is extremely well preserved. After the restoration work it will leave a vibrant impression. In addition to the theater you will find many temples still below the original pavement complete with a drainage system. 

The old center of the capital is built around the large Roman theater, with many busy shopping streets and the King Hussein Mosque, well worth a visit


The modern Shmeisani district is the center for the citizens of Amman, and the place to get good food and an to smoke one of the ornately-decorated hookahs. Amman is built on seven hills. In the evening take a taxi to the top of the hills for a magnificent view over the illuminated city. 

From Amman we make an excursion to the eastern desert castles. On the journey through the desert, you see these castles by their brackish color,  rising up from the sand. In the dry environment around the castles it is hard to imagine that centuries ago this area was covered with forests.


In the 8th centerly, in al-Amra, the rulers came to meet  Ommayaden. There was exuberant celebration and hunting. Beautiful murals still are testament to this time. 1917 was the time of Lawrence of Arabia during the march to Jerusalem. 

The other half-day from Amman brings us to the lowest accessible point on earth: the Dead Sea, which is not a sea but a lake. There is so much salt that even the worst swimmers float. Swimming is really much more difficult. Because of the rich minerals the Dead Sea water is also popular as a spa. After your experience in salt water, enjoy a refreshing shower  or swim in the pool of the resort. We spend half a day here before we drive back to Amman. 

The next day we leave early for the long but beautiful ride on the King's Highway to Petra. The old road leads along the mountain Nebo, where Moses overlooed the holy land, along Madaba where you can admire an old map of Palestine inlaid in the mosaics in the floor. The bus descends into the 900 meter deep Wadi Mujib (a beautiful descent, and a steep climb) to the crusaders castle of Kerak, where you can lunch. 

From here it is four hours on the winding road to Petra. On the bus of course we can  make stops for photos! At the end of the afternoon we arrive at our hotel in Wadi Musa, the village in the old city of Petra Nabatese. 



Petra, Wadi Rum 



Day 14 Petra

Day 15 Petra - Wadi Rum 



You have at least one full day to visit the  unique city of Petra to visit and to take walks through the beautiful nature. Keep in mind that the entrance fee for this site is relatively high and that regardless of whether or not you use the horse ride, included

You will walk for about a  half hour on an ancient paved road the “SIQ''', a deep gorge in the mountains.  You will be surprised by the impressive sight of the yellow-pink. This burial chamber is the first and most famous monument in Petra. The rocks around the city have a beautiful color and drawings on the rocks. You can beautiful walks to visit the many tombs, which until recently, were inhabited by Bedouin families. 

After a full day in Petra, you have a morning to walk through the pink city. After lunch on the second day in Petra, the bus will take you for two hours from Petra to Wadi Rum where you spend a spectacular night under the stars in the desert. 

During an optional jeep safari through the rugged landscape of multicolored rocks, you can see the landscapes of  Lawrence of Arabia’s camp. American producers oftenused this location for films about the “Wild West” .



Aqaba 


Day 16 Wadi Rum - Aqaba 

Day 17 Aqaba - Amman

Day 18 Amman - 



After  “sand” is “sea in the seaside town of Jordan, Aqaba. The temperature is always nice in Aqaba and it is a pleasant place to end of the journey, to rest and enjoy the beach. In the Red Sea you will find beautiful snorkeling or diving. The necessary equipment can be rented in the many dive centers in Aqaba.

It is fun to ride a glass bottom to view the marine life. Of course you can go for some last souvenirs. The bus takes you from Aqaba finally late in the afternoon to the airport of Amman, where the journey ends.