Tour Overview
Set on the ancient crossroads between Arabia and the Mediterranean Sea, Jordan is full of historic sites. Crusaders' forts along old trade routes and ancient cities carved from stone will captivate anyone in search of the past. And while the land might be ancient, Jordan's cities offer the modern conveniences that help make your trip to the past a little less demanding. When you tire of desert ardors, you can relax at a Dead Sea spa or go scuba diving in the Red Sea. Although it's mostly covered by desert, Jordan also has mountains, forests, marshes, beaches, plains, rolling hills and fertile river valleys. The Jordan Valley is actually an extension of the Great Rift Valley, which runs through Kenya and Tanzania in Africa. Syria is home to some of the best ruins in the world. For those interested in ancient history and the culture of the Middle East, it's an absolute treasure trove. Clubs, bars and cafes have sprouted all over Damascus, the capital, and it's quite common to see wizened old men in traditional kaffiyehs talking with young men in T-shirts or to spot old women in chadors mingling with young women in short skirts and makeup. The odd juxtapositions actually add to the country's allure.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 01: Amman, JordanMeet & assist at Queen Alia International Airport by your professional iExplore representative, who will assist you with visas, luggage, and customs. Amman, known during antiquity as Philadelphia, Jordan's capital and largest city (pop. 1,430,000) lies just a short drive from the Syrian and Israeli borders (it's about 45 mi/70 km northeast of Jerusalem.) The area has been continuously inhabited since 6,000 BC, though few ancient buildings remain. This modern and bustling city was not much more than a village when it became the seat of government in the 1920s - since then it has grown dramatically. Transfer in a modern air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel, Amman Marriott Hotel. Pre-check in will be arranged, and you can go directly to your room, and luggage will follow immediately. Amman Marriott Hotel is a renowned 5-star hotel, located in one of the capital's busiest centers, Shmeissani, with easy access to all historical sites and points of interest and a short distance of 30 minutes from Queen Alia International Airport.
Amman Marriott Hotel Day 02: Amman and the Dead Sea
City tour of Amman to include the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Theatre, and the Folklore Museum, and walk through the bazaars and the Gold Market. The capital, Amman, known in history as Rabbath-Ammon and in Greco-Roman times as Philadelphia. High above the city, at the ancient Citadel, study the traces of Amman’s many lives: the regal columns of a roman temple in silhouette against the sky, the elegant capitals of a Byzantine church, endlessly inventive carvings in the Umayyad Palace, fascinating displays in the Archaeological Museum, and digs and ruins everywhere you step. At the foot of the Citadel, take a seat in the Roman Theatre, a deep-sided bowl carved into the hill and still used for cultural events. Drive to the Dead Sea area. Enjoy lunch at the Jordan Valley Marriott Dead Sea Resort main restaurant and the afternoon at leisure for swimming and using the spa. At 400 meter’s below sea level, the Dead Sea is infinite in what it has to offer. Ever since the days of Herod the Great, people have flocked to the Dead Sea in search of its curative secrets. Due to high annual temperatures, low humidity and high atmospheric pressure, the air is extremely oxygenated, and the high content of oxygen and magnesium in the air make breathing a lot easier. With the highest content of minerals and salts in the world, the Dead Sea water possesses anti-inflammatory properties, and the dark mud found on The shores have been used for over 2000 years for therapeutic purposes. Return transfer to your hotel in Amman. This evening, transfer to Fakher El Din Restaurant for a set menu dinner (the best Lebanese restaurant in Amman.)
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Amman Marriott Hotel Day 03: Amman - Petra
Hotel checkout, depart Amman for a full day excursion to Mt. Nebo, Madaba, Wadi Rum and on to Petra for overnight. Drive to Mount Nebo, the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Holy Land… and not allowed to enter it. Nowadays the mountain is a memorial site. Here is the “Church of Moses”, built by the first Christians. Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrimage. Like Moses, you can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometres away. Continue to Madaba. South of Amman proudly stands the “City of Mosaics,” Madaba, perched on an archaeological site with more than 4000 years of history buried beneath it. The quality and quantity of mosaic flooring has made Madaba one of the most prominent cities in the world for mosaics. St. George’s Church houses the world famous mosaic floor depicting a large mosaic map of Palestine. Centrally located on this mosaic floor is a detailed map of Jerusalem as it was during the sixth century AD. At the Church of the Apostles, at the southern entrance of the city, is a mosaic floor attributed to the craftsman Salamanios, depicting the Sea, with the central figure of a woman encircled with a selection of creatures, vegetation and an inscription. Back to your vehicle and proceed to Wadi Rum via the Desert Highway. Enjoy lunch en route at a guesthouse, or lunch box. Arrive Wadi Rum Area and pick up your 4x4 car with driver for 2 hours drive inside the desert to watch the sunset. Wadi Rum. Otherwise known as Valley of the Moon, the landscape of Wadi Rum with its immensity, color and awe-inspiring shapes creates an almost supernatural atmosphere. The setting for the film Lawrence of Arabia and the actual location where T.E. Lawrence set his camp, whose book “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” was named after the seven natural columns varying in height located in route to Wadi Rum. Proceed to Petra via the Desert Highway, for hotel check-in and dinner this evening.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Petra Marriott Hotel Day 04: Petra - Amman
Full day tour of Petra. After breakfast check out from hotel and luggage will be stored at your vehicle. Start the visit with a horse ride from the main gate of Petra to the entrance of the old city. Then walk on foot along the to visit the rose-red city of Petra. The ancient city of Petra was built from 800 BC to 100 AD by Nabetean Arabs. In this era Petra was a fortress, carved out of craggy rocks in an area, which was virtually inaccessible. In the first and second century, after the Romans took over, the city reached the peak of its fame. Petra covers an area of about 100 square km, where over 800 monuments can be found. When shipping slowly displaced caravan routes, the city’s importance gradually dwindled; it fell into disuse and was lost to the world until 1812, when it was re-discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Nowadays Petra is Jordan’s number 1 tourist attraction, known as the “rose-red city half as old as time”. The Khazneh (the Treasury,) starred in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Buffet lunch inside Petra at Basin Restaurant. Return to your vehicle and drive to Amman via the Desert Highway. Check-in to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure in Amman.
Breakfast, Lunch
Amman Marriott Hotel
Day 05: Amman - Damascus, Syria
Full day tour en route to Damascus, Syria. Visit Jerash, the Roman excavations are of about the same size as the modern part of the town. Sometimes called the Pompeii of the East, Jerash flourished in the first century AD and thrived by trade due to the benefits of the “Pax Romana.” Located north of Amman in the biblical land of Gilead lies this city sheltered in a fertile and well-watered valley. At its height, Jerash was home to over 25,000 people. Theatres and temples were continuously added as the city thrived under the Roman empire. In 330 AD Emperor Constantine announced that Christianity would be the new religion of the Roman Empire’s eastern half, and Jerash fell into the newly formed Byzantine segment. A spate of building ensued, some temples were transformed to churches, and many new churches were erected, with mosaic floors similar to those found at Madaba. The massive ruins are spread over a large area divided and crisscrossed by colonnaded streets whose pavements still show the grooves of chariot wheels.
Back to your vehicle and transfer to the Jordanian-Syrian border. The Jordanian guide will assist you in the immigration procedure at the Jordanian side, and he will leave you with our driver to take you to the Syrian side. Our driver will assist you in the visa procedures at the Syrian side. The Syrian guide will meet you at the Syrian side of the border, and drive to Bosra You will have lunch at a local restaurant en route. After lunch continue to Bosra for a visit. Small center almost at the border with today’s Jordan, 140 km. South of Damascus, its origins are lost in the dawn of story: its name is mentioned at the days of Pharaoh Amenofi IV (Akhenaton) in the XIV century B.C. It became important under the Nabateans, because in a strategic crossing point for the commerce from South (Aqaba) and Far East to Europe. Conquered later by Romans, under Traian became the capital of the Arabia Felix province, and in the Middle Ages was still a center on the route of the pilgrimages to Mecca. When the roads became too dangerous, Bosra rapidly lost importance. The different periods of its construction, and the fact that the town is still inhabited, make the discovery of the old structures difficult but also very interesting: the theatre itself, its best preserved monument, is enclosed in a Fatimid fortress. Back to your vehicle and continue to Damascus.
Breakfast, Lunch
Damascus Cham Place Hotel
Day 06: Damascus
Full day tour of Damascus. The walls date back to Roman times, when the architect Apollodorus also re-planned the town layout, to resemble a Roman camp. Along the main road, the Straight, there are still remnants of arches and columns. After the Arab conquest of the town, the walls were reinforced, and successfully resisted several Crusaders attempts to conquer it. There are still seven doors opened in the walls, remodeled by the Arabs, and some of them well preserved. Not to be missed: the Azem Palace, rich example or Ottoman architecture, today hosts the Arts and Popular Traditions Museum, belonging to the complex of the Umayyad Mosque, also to be visited; the Salah Eddin tomb and Coranic school; St. Paul’s window, the prison from which the tradition says that St. Paul was freed by the angels; and St. Ananias’ church; the citadel and the immense Souq, or covered markets. Lunch at a local restaurant in Damascus.
Breakfast, Lunch
Damascus Cham Place Hotel Day 07: Damascus - Lattakia
Full day of sightseeing en route to Lattakia. Early this morning, head to Sydnaya, the chapel and convent are perched on an outcrop of rock in the center of the actual village, a legend relates that Justinian (-527-565) founded the monastery. The miracles associated with the image of the virgin brought the chapel wide fame. Today, Sydnaya is a place of religious pilgrimage rather than of outstanding archaeological remains.
Continue to Maloula, which is an old Christian village built in the rock in a spontaneous order. Its inhabitants speak Aramic the language spoken by Jesus-Christ. This language was transmitted orally from parents to children. Lunch at a good local restaurant en route. Continue to Homs (Emesa) lies 165 KM north of Damascus nearby, the Egyptians fought the Hittites in the battle of Qadesh. The Roman Emperor Septimus Severus married Julia Domna, the daughter of the principal priest of Emesa. The Syrian dynasty of Roman emperors sprang from this union. Khaled Ibn Walid captured the town in the year 632. Nothing remained of the history of Emesa save two main churches of St. Elian and Oum Al Zunar and Khaled Inb Al Walid mosque. Continue to Crack Des Chevaliers, is one of the most impressive castles of the crusaders, It was the headquarters of the hospitalers. It stands 650m above sea level and commands the strategic valley between Homs and Tripoli. It was never taken by storms, but surrendered to the Mameluke Baybars in 1271.
Breakfast
Cote D’Azur Cham Place Hotel Day 08: Lattakia - Aleppo
Full day of sightseeing en route to Aleppo. Early this morning, head to Ugarit (Ras Shamra) 10 kilometers north of Lattakia lies Ugarit that has been described as "probably the first great international port in history " During the recent Bronze Age , this kingdom and gave humanity its first alphabetic system carved on a clay tablet conserved in Damascus museum .
Continue to Saladin Castile, this castle has been exploited before the crusaders; nevertheless it was described as most impregnable crusader fortress. It was completely isolated from the plateau by a deep ditch dug right through the connection neck of land. Apamea, located at 95km northwest of Homs, over the right side of the Oronte river, it represents a beautiful example of Hellenistic architecture in Syria. Founded by Seleucus I, Alexander the Great general, in 3000 B.C., named after his Iranian wife, Afamia. Conquered by Romans that, strangely enough, did not destroy it, grew in splendor and in reputation; renowned and powerful because on the East-West commerce routes, it declined when these land routes were abandoned in favor of the sea commerce. Siege in vain by the Crusaders, was late conquered by the Ottomans. To be seen: a fortified citadel together with various churches of different periods and a small but interesting museum. was one of the main Greek cities of the Seleucid Empire. Seleucus Nicator who inherited Syria as one of the four parts of immense empire which were divided among the generals of Alexander founded it in the third century B.C.
Breakfast, Lunch
Sheraton Aleppo
Day 09: Aleppo
Full day of sightseeing of Aleppo and St. Simeon. Aleppo, second Syrian city after Damascus, located in the north at about 350 km. from the capital, 320 m. above sea level, it’s the most “oriental” of all Syrian towns. The name of this city is mentioned starting from the VIII Century B.C., but surely it’s much older, according to the Biblical tradition, Abraham sacrificed on the summit of the hill where today the Citadel is. The Citadel itself is the most beautiful and best-preserved example of fortified acropolis, it lies on a natural hill and is surrounded by high walls, and the only access is the ramp on the Southwest side, once a drawbridge. Other places of interest are the Great Mosque, dedicated to John the Baptist’s father Zacharias, erected by the Umayyads over the site of an old Byzantine church; the caravanserai, and the Souq, or covered markets, extending for many miles between the buildings in the old heart of the city; and the Archeological Museum, where among other exhibits it is possible to admire the famous Ebla clay tablets engraved with the Summer wedged characters. Qal’aat Samaan (St. Simeon) The citadel is42 KM to the north west of Aleppo it is in the place that Saint Simeon lived in the 5th century AD. After his death, and to commemorate his memory, a church was built in the same place and was named after him to become one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the east. Later many towers and walls were built around it in the 10th century AD. And the church was turned a fortress known as Qal’aat Sam’aan
Breakfast, Lunch
Sheraton Alleppo Day 10: Aleppo - Palmyra
Transfer to Ebla for a visit, then to Hama, continue to Palmyra for overnight.
Early this morning, head to Ebla (Tell Mardikh) was the capital of a powerful kingdom, which flourished between 2500 till 2250 B.C. in the palace of this great kingdom, there was, discovered a library containing about fifteen thousand clay tablets.
Continue to Hama, where you view the gigantic wooden waterwheels that are turned by the Orotes River.
Breakfast, Lunch
Palmyra Cham Place Hotel Day 11: Palmyra - Damascus
You are collected from your hotel for a full day tour of Palmyra, and return to Damascus for overnight. Called Palmyra by the Romans, the original name, Tadmor, appeared for the first time on Assyrian tablets dating back to the 2nd millennium B.C. this very ancient city took advantage of the decline of Petra and played a vital role in the 2nd century A.D. in as much as the Palmyrian army protected the frontiers of the Roman Empire. Emperor Diocletian attacked and destroyed the independent state of Palmyra in the 3rd century. Places to visit: Temple of Bel, Tombs, Baths, Theatre, and the Museums. Lunch at a local restaurant in Palmyra and transfer to Damascus for overnight.
Breakfast, Lunch
Damascus Cham Place Hotel Day 12: Damascus - Depart
Transfer to the Damascus International Airport for your departure flight. Breakfast
