Secrets of Jordan & Syria
Trip Length |
Trip Code |
| 14 days | PGSJ |
Activities |
|
| Culture (Moderate) | |
Minimum Passengers |
|
| 6 people | |
Maximum Passengers |
|
| 15 people | |
Countries Visited |
|
| Jordan, Syria | |
Start City |
End City |
| Amman | Damascus |
From modern, diverse Amman, we drive to the Red Sea resort of Aqaba for beach time and colourful corals, before heading by 4WD into nearby Wadi Rum to explore its vast sands and surreal formations. A day in Petra, the hand-hewn ‘rose-red city half as old as time’, primes us for the ancient Roman city of Jerash and the mighty amphitheatre at Bosra. An afternoon spent at the Dead Sea is a great way to relax – here, in the highly saline waters, you’ll experience an otherworldly buoyancy that’s the perfect platform to read outdoors or simply bask. In Damascus, the celebrated Omayyad Mosque delights as much as the labyrinth of streets and souks that surround it, as does the imposing Krak des Chevaliers – the greatest Crusader fortress ever built. In Aleppo, wander the vaulted bazaars, enjoy great Levantine cuisine and perhaps indulge in an invigorating Turkish bath, replete with an exfoliating rubdown. We return to Damascus by way of Tartus, minds alight with splendid architecture, kaleidoscopic culture and breathtaking scenery.
Day to Day Itinerary
Day 1: Amman
On arrival at Amman's Queen Alia International Airport, you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day so you may arrive in Amman at any time. Note that hotel rooms are generally only available after midday. The balance of the day is free to explore your surroundings, but normally a Welcome Meeting is held in the evening where you meet your tour leader and fellow travellers.
Day 2: Aqaba
Meals included: 1 breakfast
After breakfast you are transferred to the bus station for the JETT bus direct to Aqaba. This is a very efficient service and the journey takes around four hours. On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel and the rest of the day is free for you to explore the town and port. In the evening you meet your tour leader along with any group members arriving from Egypt.
Day 3: Aqaba - Wadi Rum - Petra
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
With our guide we take a brief orientation of Aqaba, Jordan's principal Red Sea resort. We can visit the old castle (time permitting) before driving to spellbinding Wadi Rum, a landscape of rugged sandstone mountains standing tall among an ochre desert floor. We head into this desolate, romantic protected area in rather rickety old jeeps, operated by the local Bedouin community. This is an attempt by the Jordanian Government to bring much-needed income into this region - an initiative we also support. We visit several of Wadi Rum's distinctive rock formations and soak in the vast silence and spectacular desert landscapes. We then continue our journey to Petra and check in to our hotel.
Day 4: Petra
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
A regular and fully justified contender for the '8th Wonder of the World' title, the iconic Petra view – the Treasury's glorious façade, glimpsed from the narrow cleft known as the Siq – is arguably the single most striking sight of the entire region. The first sight of the exquisite craftsmanship among such stark scenery is a moment that both manage to be eagerly anticipated and also be still an unlikely and almost surreal surprise. Petra's greatest surprise, however, is its size. With our guide we explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several old tombs. We also climb up to the Monastery – the site's second beautiful façade – from where we have a magnificent view of the entire site. This is a memorable day exploring a truly extraordinary destination and sure to be one of the highlights of our trip. There is a cafeteria on the site, where we can enjoy a light lunch. In the mid-afternoon we return to our hotel and our tour leader will try hard to persuade us to take a Turkish bath! It's perfect timing after a day exploring Petra, as well as being his a great experience - Petra is an excellent – and safe - place to try this tradition of the region. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 5: Shobak - Dana - Madaba - Amman
Meals included: 1 breakfast
This morning we drive along the King's Highway, a road that pre-dates Old Testament times. We reach Shobak Castle, originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Saladin in 1189. We stroll through the site and continue to the ancient village at Dana, where local artisans sell attractive silver jewellery and charms. We then reach Madaba, where we visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George that houses an ancient mosaic map. This is of particular interest as it clearly depicts Palestine and Lower Egypt around 550 AD. We expect to arrive in Amman in the late afternoon, where in the evening we can try one of its several fine restaurants. (Please note that Kerak Castle is not included in your tour, as it is often very congested and busy. However, if there is sufficient interest among members of the group, your leader can also arrange an optional visit to Kerak Castle. Many travellers however prefer to spend extra time in Amman.)
Day 6: Jerash - Dead Sea - Amman
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch
The Roman city of Jerash is one of the grandest ancient cities in the world, its archways and theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets constitute a striking collection and make it a beautiful place to explore. Grand ionic columns encircle the city's centrepiece, the Oval Plaza, a wonderfully atmospheric place to linger after exploring Jerash's riches. We visit the site in the morning and later drive down to spend the afternoon at the Dead Sea. Relax on the shore or take a dip like no other – the warm, highly saline waters make swimming difficult but bobbing on the water's surface a unique pleasure. Afterwards we return to Amman for the night.
Day 7: Bosra - Damascus
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Today we drive north into Syria, where we meet our Syrian tour leader/guide shortly after crossing the border. Our first stop is Bosra, a town constructed almost entirely from black basalt stone and built on the ruins of an ancient Roman city. Bosra sums up Syria succinctly - strata of history mingling together to spectacularly embellish a striking landscape. During the Middle Ages, Bosra was on the route to Mecca, bringing prosperity and the Arabian flourishes that surround the Roman remains. We visit the 2nd century Roman theatre, sensitively restored and one of the finest examples of Roman craftsmanship in the region, enclosed and protected by an Arab fort in the 12th century after continued attack by the Crusaders. We spend several hours at the site before continuing to Damascus for the night.
Day 8: Damascus - Palmyra
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
There's nowhere quite like Damascus. A place of beauty and drama, the picaresque streets are suffused with an unparalleled history that makes exploration a stirring, endlessly exciting prospect. Once a Persian capital, it fell to Alexander the Great and became an important Greek city, then later a keystone of the Byzantine Empire. In the 7th century it fell again, this time to the Muslims and then had a chequered history before becoming part of the Ottoman Empire. The resulting jumble of architectural styles can't but fail to captivate visitors. After breakfast at the hotel we visit the superb National Museum, providing the best introduction to Syria's capital as well whetting our appetite for Palmyra, with many artefacts from the Roman city. We also see the superb 2nd century AD synagogue with its brightly coloured frescoes. In the west wing, a tiny clay tablet found in Ugarit bears the 30 characters of the Ugarit alphabet, considered one of the oldest in the world. We then head to the Old City, where we visit the Umayyad Mosque. Built on the site of a Roman temple, it is an adaptation of a Christian cathedral and is considered the fourth most holy Muslim site after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock. For those lucky enough to visit, it is a place of remarkable beauty and calm, a transcendent aesthetic experience. The courtyard is particularly beautiful with its monumental arcades and brightly-coloured mosaics. We then walk through winding streets to the Souk al-Hamidiyya, a grand covered arcade of shops and one of the most evocative places in the Middle East, where traders have sold their wares for hundreds of years. After time for lunch we set off to Palmyra, where we make our way up to the Arab castle that overlooks the site. This is the most atmospheric time and place to view Palmyra with the glowing sun and failing light casting beautiful shades and shadows on the ancient remains and surrounding parched plains. We then head out to a Bedouin tent, where we enjoy traditional desert hospitality with dinner under a blanket of stars (please note that this option may not be available in the colder months, in which case we will dine at our hotel).
Day 9: Palmyra - Krak des Chevaliers
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Palmyra's pink granite columns, rising improbably from desert plains, provide one of the Middle East's blockbuster sights. Palmyra is simply one of the most striking ancient sites – some would argue the most striking – in the world with its exquisite architecture, austere landscape and cobalt-blue skies all combining to dazzling effect. Agatha Christie's description sums up Palmyra's appeal: 'lovely and fantastic and unbelievable, with all the theatrical implausibility of a dream'. Although its history dates back to the Assyrian Empire, Palmyra's 'Golden Age' was during the first two centuries AD, first as a Greek city and then as part of the Roman Empire. It was a major link in the ancient Spice Route to India and pack-camels once arrived here laden with spices and perfumes. We visit the splendid Temple of Bel, Palmyra's principal deity, often identified with the Roman god, Jupiter, and the Greek god, Zeus. We walk along parts of the ceremonial colonnade (once the main street) and explore the various other places of interest including the Baths of Diocletian and the remains of the agora (marketplace). At the conclusion of this splendid visit we drive to Krak des Chevaliers, where our hotel is situated in a valley overshadowed by the mighty castle.
Day 10: Krak des Chevaliers - Apamea - Aleppo
Meals included: 1 breakfast
T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), having visited some 37 castles in the region, described Krak as simply 'the finest castle in the world' and it is hard to deny this sentiment. Krak rises from the floor of the desert like a fairytale fortress and is one of Syria's premier attractions. It dates back to 1031, but it was the 12th century Crusaders who expanded and extensively remodelled the castle. The Great Hall is particularly impressive and we ascend to the southern ramparts for wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. The loggia, with its Gothic façade, is the castle's most impressive structure and we also visit the chapel that was later converted into a mosque. Afterwards, we head north, stopping at the pretty town of Hama. Situated on the banks of the Orontes River, the tree-lined streets, peaceful gardens and ancient water wheels make Hama a lovely place to visit. We then continue to Apamea, known as Pharnake before the conquest of Alexander the Great, and, in its heyday, one of the most beautiful cities in the region. Today, Apamea is celebrated for its magnificent colonnaded street (Cardo Maximus) which runs for 1.85 kilometres, is approximately 37 metres wide and was once lined on both sides with civic buildings and elegant porticoes. We walk the full length of this splendid street – perhaps the most graceful stroll in all of Syria. After Apamea it's time for one of the country's lesser known treasures: the 'Dead Cities'. Abandoned 1500 years ago, these Byzantine towns are as quiet and still as the Damascus souks are bustling. Few travellers visit here, but they are an atmospheric place and show another side of Syria. We'll most likely visit Serjilla; eerie and fascinating, the condition of the stone houses, tavern and church are remarkable. It feels as though the people left last week, not 1500 years ago. A castle, a Roman city, a pretty town and an ancient abandoned one: a long day, but a superb one with many of Syria's finest sights included. We continue on to Aleppo in the late afternoon.
Day 11: St Simeon's Monastery - Aleppo
Meals included: 1 breakfast
This morning we travel to Qala'at Samaan, or Church of St Simeon, where the ascetic Simeon Stylites spent nearly 40 years sitting atop a column. We visit the superb 5th century church, which was built in a burst of brilliant architectural activity commemorating the life of St Simeon. It's a large site in a wonderful location, atop a barren hill with views to the surrounding countryside. St Simeon's Pillar can still be seen in the centre of the church's courtyard. We return to Aleppo where the rest of the day is free to explore. Aleppo's French influence may be evident in the new town's post boxes and grand boulevards, but it's the age-old bazaars that captivate here. Abraham was said to have tended his flock on citadel hill, and sometimes the atmosphere in the souks can feel straight out of earlier times, a vibrancy to the streets and alleyways that has persisted over centuries. In the great vaulted bazaar, the thick pall of ground spices hangs in the air, gold shines from stalls and textiles provide a colourful backdrop to the daily commotion. The city is also renowned for its Turkish bathhouses (hamams) and the distinctive yellow-domed Hamam Al-Nasri is a beautiful example, dating back to the 14th century. If you would like to experience a traditional bath, your tour leader will help organise a visit this evening.
Day 12: Ugarit - Saone - Tartus
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Leaving Aleppo we drive to Ugarit, which dates back to 1600 BC (around the time of Egypt's New Kingdom) when it was a major centre of trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia. It is mainly noted for the discovery of stone writing tablets (now in the Damascus Museum). These depict one of the world's first alphabets (probably introduced from the Sinai) which replaced the previous hieroglyphic script. We wander through the remains of the ancient site and continue to the magnificent castle at Saone, described by T. E. Lawrence as 'the finest example of military architecture in Syria'. Taken by Saladin's forces in the 12th century, it is more commonly known as Qalaat Saladin (Saladin's Castle) although it is doubtful he ever stayed there. We visit this splendid ruin, located on a rocky wedge-shaped ridge strategically placed between two steep canyons, before continuing on to Tartus for the night.
Day 13: Tartus - Damascus
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Located on the Mediterranean coast, Tartus is now an important port; however, some of the original walled city built by the Crusaders in the 12th and 13th centuries still remains. Here we find the old Frank cathedral, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture, which serves as a small museum and contains antiquities recovered from nearby Amrit and many other sites in the region. After our visit we make our way back to Damascus, arriving in the afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure to shop or further explore – with numerous historical buildings, Straight Street (visited by St Paul), and the constant allure of souk exploration, there is always plenty to see in Damascus.
Day 14: Damascus
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Your trip ends today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12 noon and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Damascus.
Your Trip
What's Included
• The services of Peregrine's expert English-speaking local tour leader throughout the tour, and professional local guides at some sites.
• Sightseeing (including entrance fees where applicable): Aqaba, Shobak Castle, Dana Village, Madaba, Jerash, Bosra, Damascus, Palmyra, Krak des Chevaliers, Hama, Apamea, Aleppo, Ugarit, Saone castle and Tartus.
• Wadi Rum jeep safari operated by the local Bedouin.
• Full day exploring Petra including the Monastery, old Roman road, amphitheatre, and several old tombs.
• Dinner in a Bedouin tent enjoying traditional desert hospitality.
• Off-the-beaten-track exploration of the 'Dead Cities' abandoned 1500 years ago.
• An afternoon at the Dead Sea.
• Free time to explore Amman, Aqaba and Damascus.
• Arrival transfer.
Summary of accommodation, transport & meals
Transport
- Bus
- Jeep
- Private aircon bus
Accommodation
- 11 nights Comfortable hotel
- 2 nights Historic hotel
Meals
- 13 breakfasts
- 1 lunch
- 3 dinners
Highlight of Highlights
The 'Dead Cities'
Discover one of Syria's lesser known treasures: the 'Dead Cities'. Abandoned 1500 years ago, these Byzantine towns are as quiet and still as the Damascus souks are bustling. Visit a castle, a Roman city and Serjilla - eerie and fascinating, the condition of the stone houses, tavern and church are remarkable!
Not Included
International flights, meals unless specified, drinks, departure taxes, visas, travel insurance, tips (see below), spending of a personal nature, optional sightseeing, departure transfer.
Optional Extras
We have chosen some great optional activities to enhance your travel experience. You will need to cover any additional costs yourself. Speak to your leader if you are interested in any of the following:
- Aleppo - Hamam al Nasri
US$18 - Aleppo - Turkish Bath
US$5 - Petra - Petra by Night
US$17 - Petra - Turkish Bath
US$21
What to know
VaccinationsVaccinations may be required for this trip. Talk to your doctor about the up-to-date information for this region.
Visas and PermitsIt is your responsibility to ensure you have all required visas for your trip. Rules and regulations governing the issuance of visas are constantly changing, and vary for different nationalities and you should check visa requirements with your travel agent or relevant consular authority well before travel.
Jordan
Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, British and Canadians require a visa for Jordan. All other nationalities should check with the Jordanian Embassy or Consulate in their country for up-to-date visa information.
Visas are available on arrival at the airport in Amman for approximately US$30 however this must be paid for in Jordanian dinar. As the process can sometimes be time consuming, you may wish to consider obtaining your visa prior to arrival.
If you are arriving in Jordan by ferry at the port of Aqaba it is possible to obtain a Jordanian visa on board, either as an individual or as a group. There is normally no charge for this visa.
Important For those continuing on to Israel after Jordan please ensure that you obtain an individual visa only. Do not enter Jordan on a group visa, as you will find entry to Israel at the Allenby Bridge border difficult. If you obtain your Jordanian visa on the ferry boat from Nuweiba keep your passport separate from your group and obtain the visa individually.
Syria
Australians, New Zealanders, Americans, British and Canadians require a visa for Syria. All other nationalities should check with the Syrian Embassy or Consulate in their country for up-to-date visa information. You should arrange visas prior to arrival in Syria. It is possible in an emergency to obtain one on arrival at the land borders however it can be a problematic and time-consuming procedure and we do not recommend this.
Any evidence in your passport of any visits to Israel including Jordanian entry/departure stamps from the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge border will exclude you from entry to Syria.
You are required to have travel insurance before heading off on a Peregrine trip. Insurance can be organised by your Peregrine representative or your travel agent.
Responsible Travel
Our Responsible Travel ethos is at the heart of everything we do, from getting the basics right like respecting local cultures and the environment, to initiating projects that make positive contributions to communities, to our staff’s fundraising efforts and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Please visit our Responsible Travel (http://www.peregrineadventures.com/rt) page for more information.
Our Pre Departure Information packs (provided upon booking a trip) provide tips on how you can show respect for the local customs and culture in the country you are travelling in.
The information listed above is a brief description of some things you may need to consider when booking a trip. Once a tour is booked you will be provided with a Pre Departure Information pack which will contain detailed information.
Further Reading
JordanSeven Pillars of Wisdom-TE Lawrence
Desert Queen-Janet Wallach
A Winter in Arabia-Freya Stark
Leap of Faith-Queen Noor
Last Act in Palmyra-Lindsey Davis
From Beirut to Jerusalem-Thomas L Friedman
Desert Queen-Janet Wallace
About this Information
The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!
Last Updated
24 April 2012