Crusader Trails
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 flash points 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 and Tripoli, the beautiful Shouf Cedar Forest, Bcharre and the Qadisha Valley 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 Beirut. |
| 14 | Continue to Aanjar for a winery tour. Visit the ancient temple at Baalbek. |
| 15 | Drive into the scenic Qadisha Valley via Bcharre and the cedar forest. |
| 16 | Visit ancient Tripoli, overnight Byblos. |
| 17 | Explore Byblos, drive to beautiful Jeita Grotto. |
| 18 | Visit the Phoenician city of Sidon, and the modern Palace at Beit Eddine. |
| 19 | Explore the historic site at Deir al-Qamar, Shouf Cedar Forest and tour Beirut by foot. |
| 20 | Our trip ends in Beirut after breakfast (Fri). |
Trip Highlights
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At A Glance
Trip Length |
20 days |
Trip Code |
PGCT |
Activities |
|
| Culture (Moderate) | |
Minimum Passengers |
|
| 6 people | |
Maximum Passengers |
|
| 15 people | |
Countries Visited |
|
| Jordan, Lebanon, Syria | |
Start City |
|
| Amman | |
End City |
|
| Beirut | |
