Petra, Palmyra, Baalbek, Byblos – the names roll off the tongue like an ancient Arabian fable. Indeed, few places in the world offer such an impressive mix of ancient monuments and flashpoints for literature. In Jordan, we explore the desert sands of Wadi Rum, the legendary lost city of Petra and the Crusader fortress at Shobak. We relax in high buoyancy at the Dead Sea, visit the evocative ancient sites of Jerash and Bosra, before heading on to cosmopolitan, diverse Damascus. Syria is an absolute delight; with fabulous bazaars in Aleppo; splendid ancient cities at Palmyra, Apamea and Ugarit; and amazing Byzantine mosaics at Maarat. At Krak, we explore the finest Crusader castle in the world. Arriving in Lebanon, we visit Crusader strongholds at Sidon, the beautiful Shouf Cedars Forest and the charming port town of Byblos – inhabited since 7000BC. The immense acropolis at Baalbek is further proof of a grand past, before our journey of discovery concludes in cosmopolitan Beirut.
Itinerary
| Day Number(s) | Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | (Sun) Arrive in Amman and transfer to hotel. |
| 2 | Drive to Aqaba. Afternoon free. |
| 3-4 | Jeep safari in Wadi Rum and full day in Petra. |
| 5 | Drive to Amman via Shobak Castle, Dana Village and Madaba. |
| 6 | Explore Jerash and the Dead Sea. |
| 7 | Visit Bosra. Drive to Damascus. |
| 8 | Visit the museum, Omayyad Mosque and bazaars. Drive to Palmyra. Tent dinner. |
| 9 | Visit Palmyra. Drive to Krak des Chevaliers. |
| 10 | Explore Krak, Hama, Apamea, Maarat-el-Numan and Dead Cities. Arrive in Aleppo. |
| 11 | Explore Aleppo's bazaars and visit St Simeon's Monastery. |
| 12 | Visit Ugarit and, Saone. Drive to Tartus. |
| 13 | Tartus Museum. Drive to Baalbek. Visit the ancient temple. Continue to Aanjar for a winery tour. |
| 14 | Visit Beit Eddine and the Shouf Cedars forest. Overnight Byblos. |
| 15 | Visit Byblos and the beautiful Jeitta Grottos. |
| 16 | Guided tour of Beirut. Afternoon free to explore. |
| 17 | Trip ends in Beirut this morning (Tue). |
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At A Glance
Trip Length |
17 days |
Trip Code |
PGCT |
Activities |
|
| Culture (Moderate) | |
Countries Visited |
|
| Jordan, Lebanon, Syria | |
Start City |
|
| Amman | |
End City |
|
| Beirut | |
| * Per Person, Twin Share | |
