Cradle of Civilization Tour
Egypt, Jordan, Syria

Day 1: Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome in Arabic. We will be met at the Cairo International Airport and transferred to our hotel for overnight.

Day 2: This is a day to go back in time, starting with a visit to the most famous of the Egyptian sphinxes, the Great Sphinx of Giza, followed by the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Completed around 2600 BC, this pyramid was 146m (478ft) high and consisted of over 2 million limestone blocks weighing over 2 tons each. Next, we are off to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamen. We will visit the citadel overlooking Cairo and end our tour with a visit to the famous Khan El Khalili Bazaars where we will have a free time for shopping or to relax at one of the famous Egyptian Cafés lining the entrance to the bazaar. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 3: After breakfast, we check out and transfer to the Cairo Domestic Airport for our early flight to Aswan. Upon our arrival in Aswan we will be met and transferred to our Nile Cruise ship. In the afternoon we will meet our guide for an orientation and then enjoy a tour to the Granite Quarries where the famous pink granite used in many of Egypt’s monuments originated. Afterwards we will go to the Lake Nasr side of the High Dam to visit the Temple of Philae, which is dedicated to the goddess Isis. We will also have a tour of the High Dam before boarding a felucca to sail around Elephantine Island, the Botanical Gardens and the Agha Khan Mausoleum. We will return to our cruise ship for dinner and overnight.

Day 4: During breakfast the ship will dock at Kom Ombo where we will have a visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo, shared by the two Gods Sobek and Haroeris. Sobek is depicted as a crocodile and you will find his image everywhere, as well as other signs of worship to this god. Return to the ship to sail on to Edfu. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 5: This morning we will visit the Temple of Edfu, belonging to the god Horus. A large statue of a falcon is located at the entrance to the inner temple. Afterwards we will return to our ship and sail on to Luxor, crossing through the Esna Lock. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 6: After breakfast we will depart for the West Bank of the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Colossi Memnon. In the afternoon we will visit the Temple of Karnak, the largest religious complex in the world, and the Temple of Luxor with its elegant colonnaded hall. Overnight on board in Luxor.

Day 7: After breakfast we will check out and transfer to the Luxor airport for our early flight to Sharm El Sheikh at 7:10 am. Upon our arrival in Sharm El Sheikh we will transfer by private A/C mini bus to Nuweiba to catch the ferry boat to Aqaba. Once at the Aqaba Port we will be met and assisted, then transfer to Wadi Rum for a 4x4 jeep tour. Wadi Rum is an expansive nature preserve that shows off the area’s geological features and variety of flora and fauna. Afterwards we will continue on to Petra for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: After breakfast we will enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Petra. Petra is one of the most magnificent sites in the Middle East. After passing the main gate we embark on horseback to the entrance of the siq (canyon). We will have a guide to explain the sites, monuments, and history as we wander among the tombs, temples, water cisterns, the Roman Theater, street of Facades, the Royal Tombs, the massive Courthouse, Roman Street and Triumphal Arch, ending at Qasr Al-Bint. Dinner and overnight in Petra.

Day 9: After breakfast, we will depart for Amman, stopping to visit Kerak, Bethany, and the Dead Sea for relaxing along the way. Kerak is a crusader fortress, built over older fortresses, located on the King’s Highway in the area known in ancient times as Moab. The history during the Crusades of this fortress is filled with intrigue, treachery, and murder. But the history of this area goes back to the Iron Age and the ancient Nabateans. After our visit here we will continue north to the Dead Sea and the Baptism site at Bethany, then on to Amman for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Today we will enjoy an Amman city tour, and visits to Madaba and Mt.Nebo. Amman, the capital of Jordan, offers both the old and new. Our day tour starts with a visit to see the Roman Amphitheater followed by the Citadel, the Archeological Museum, and the beautiful King Abdullah Mosque. We will spend time at the local souq and visit the newly built exclusive area of Abdoun. In the town of Madaba we will visit St. George the Apostle Church, home to a stunning mosaic map of the ancient Middle East. Lunch will be at a local restaurant then we will continue to nearby Mount Nebo where we will visit the church on top of the hill from where, it is believed, Moses viewed the Promised Land. His tomb is also located at this site, as well as a beautiful array of mosaics in the floor of the church. Return to Amman for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at our hotel.

Day 11: After breakfast, visit Jerash then depart to Syria with our bus. At the huge Roman site of Jerash we will see the Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome, the Temple of Zeus, the Forum, the mile long street of Columns, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Artemis and the Viaduct Church. The Amphitheater is still used for an arts festival and is remarkably well preserved. Continue north to the border with Syria where we will cross and meet our new guide and driver. After the formalities have been taken care of we will head towards Damascus, stopping at several sites along the way: Ezra’a, Chahba, and Bosra. In Ezraa we will visit two Orthodox churches in this southern Syrian town. One was built in 542 AD and the other in 515 AD and is considered the oldest basilica in the world. Chahba is a Roman and Nabataean site. In 244 AD, Philip the Arab, with origins from this small village, became Roman emperor. He decided to reorganize its city-plan and decorated the town with new monuments, renaming it Philippopolis. We will continue on to Bosra, another Roman and Nabatean site. The monuments and buildings in this city were constructed using black basalt stone, rather than lime stone or other lighter colored stones. Bosra has the largest Roman amphitheater in the world. It was one of the leading Nabatean cities before becoming the capital of the Roman province of Arabia in 106 A.D. Dinner and overnight in Damascus.

Day 12: After breakfast, we will spend the day in Damascus enjoying a full day tour of the city. We will visit the National Museum that contains an amazing treasure trove of artifacts from several civilizations, many dating back to the earliest days of human settlement in the region. The gates of the museum are the gates from an ancient fortress that were carefully removed and restored and placed at the entrance to the museum. We will also visit the Tekkiye Sulimaniya Mosque and the Omayyad Mosque, known for its unique artwork and also that its original structure was first a pagan temple, a Roman temple, then a Byzantine church and now the great mosque. This will be followed by a visit to the tomb of Salahdine, the Azem Palace, and the Hananya Church where St. Paul made his escape through window to avoid being captured and persecuted. We will end the day with a drive up Kassioun Mountain for wonderful view of the city of Damascus. Dinner and overnight in Damascus.

Day 13: This morning we will depart Damascus for the desert oasis city of Palmyra. Palmyra was once referred to as the Pearl of the Desert and was a major Nabatean, then Roman, city. As a Nabatean center, its most famous leader was Queen Zenobia who was eventually conquered by the Romans. We will be able to see the Palmyra Castle, Palmyra Museum, Theater, Temple of Bel, ancient tombs, and the main avenue and the Queen’s Bath. Overnight in Palmyra.

Day 14: After breakfast we depart Palmyra for Aleppo, making several stops along the way. We will visit the famous Krack Des Chevaliers fortress that was pivotal in protecting the interior of Syria during the crusades. It sits high in the coastal hills and is very well preserved. We will have time to roam the ramparts, visit the stables and the kitchen as well as the great hall. Continue on to Ebla, also called Tal Mardikh. This "Tal" is 25 km south-east- of Idleb. It is the site of important and recent archaeological discoveries that have revealed a very old Syrian civilization, that of Ebla, which flourished in the 3rd and 2nd millenniums B.C. In the palace of this great kingdom, a library containing more than 17,000 clay tablets was uncovered with the earliest written documents in Syria. Continue on to Aleppo for dinner and overnight.

Day 15: Today we will enjoy a full day of sightseeing in Aleppo. Aleppo vies with Damascus as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with evidence pointing to over 10,000 years of continuous settlement by humans. The city is said to be named for the story of Abraham stopping to milk his flock on the site of the current city, and the name of Halab (milk in Arabic) was bestowed upon the site. Visit sites such as the Qalat Halab (citadel) located on the plateau in the center of the city, the old city, museum, the suq, and the Omayyad Mosque. St. Simeon was an ascetic monk who lived for over 40 years at the top of a pillar, surrounded by his followers. The ruins of the compound include a remnant of the actual pillar and a basilica, all with sweeping views of the surrounding plains. Return to Aleppo for dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Then we make our way to Damascus, stopping at Maaloula and Sydnaya along the way. Both these villages have monasteries and churches containing important Christian icons, and the ancient language of Aramaic is still spoken here. It is believed that was the same language spoken by Christ. After exploring these villages, continue to Damascus for dinner and overnight.

Day 17: Transfer to Damascus Airport for departure.

Included:

• Meet and assist upon arrival and departure
• Transportation by air conditioned vehicle, depending on size of group
• Accommodation, double occupancy, half-board basis
• English speaking guides throughout
• Entrance fees to all mentioned sites
• 4 night Nile Cruise, full board
• 4x4 jeep tour in Wadi Rum
• Horse ride in Petra
• Group Visas for Jordan and Syria

Not Included:

• Air Fare
• Egyptian visa ($20, paid upon arrival by passenger)
• Items of a personal nature such as phone/fax, laundry, mini-bar, room service, souvenirs, etc.
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Trip Insurance
• Departure taxes

Call Caravan-Serai Tours for more details!

Phone: 800-451-8097 or 206-545-1735, Fax: 206-547-8607

www.caravan-serai.com info@caravan-serai.com