Land Tour: October 28 - November 12, 2006
$2500 per person, double occupancy

Oct 28 Welcome to Jordan and the Levant! Upon our arrival in Amman, we will be met by our representative and transferred to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Amman.

Oct 29 After breakfast we will take a tour of Amman, an ancient city built over several hills, with impressive Roman ruins. After the city tour we will drive to Madaba to view the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land, then on to Mt. Nebo, where Moses stood to see the Promised Land he could not enter. Afterwards we will depart via the Jordan Valley for Petra for dinner and overnight.

Oct 30 After an early breakfast we will begin our exploration of Petra. This incredible hidden city, inhabited by the ancient Nabateans, lay concealed from 100 AD until it was re-discovered in the early 1800s. It was carved out of the canyon to be easily defended - approaching enemies had no chance of getting through the narrow canyon to the main city. Take a horse ride to the "Siq" (Canyon) then walk the rest of the way in to see the Treasury, carved in pink sandstone, and continue past the Roman Theatre, the Corinthian Tombs and the Palace Tomb. Overnight in Petra.

Oct 31 This morning we will depart for Amman, stopping at Wadi Rum, called the "Valley of the Moon". This was the route that Lawrence of Arabia took in WWI. 300 kilometers south of Amman, it displays early Paleozoic sandstone of different periods, textures, and rich colors. Continuing on to Amman we will pass by Kerak, a crusader fortress built to help protect the inland trade routes. The location is in ancient Moab, and was significant even before the crusaders built the fortress there. Dinner and overnight in Amman.

Nov 1 After breakfast we will descend more than 1300 feet below sea level to visit the Dead Sea, known for its therapeutic and healing properties. We will also visit the recently discovered site of Bethany, settlement of John the Baptist and where Jesus was baptized, before returning to Amman for overnight.

Nov 2 After breakfast we will check out and head north to the Syrian-Jordanian border. Along the way we will visit Jerash. Jerash is one of the Roman Decapolis cities that has been very well preserved, and the theater is still used for an annual performing arts festival. In Jerash you will see public bath, theater, a hippodrome for chariot races, Hadrian's triumphal arch and the temples of Zeus and Artemis. We will cross the border into Syria and continue on to Bosra, another Roman stronghold with exceptional ruins and theater. Continue on to Damascus for overnight.

Nov 3 After breakfast enjoy a full day tour of Damascus, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. We will visit the Omayyad Mosque, the "Street Called Straight", Azzam Palace, the suq, and the National Museum. Overnight in Damascus.

Nov 4 After breakfast we depart for Palmyra where we will enjoy a full day exploring the city of Queen Zenobia (267-272AD). This oasis, rising up out of the desert, is one of the most graceful and splendid ancient sites in the east. Its glory and greatness are still evident after 2,000 years. Visit the baths, stroll the temple lined boulevards, the tombs, and the Temple of Baal. Overnight in Palmyra.

Nov 5 After an early breakfast we will head for Aleppo (Haleb). Established over 10,000 years ago, Aleppo vies with Damascus for the title of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. On the way we will visit the Crak Des Chevaliers, a 12th century crusader fortress later captured by the Arabs. Roam the ramparts, see the Great Hall, kitchen, stables, barracks and more. Continue to Hama to see the ancient wooden water wheels, or norias. They emit a distinctive groaning noise as the wood wheels slowly turn. We will also visit Apamea, a major Seleucid city and military garrison, with magnificent Roman and Byzantine ruins. Apamea was a powerful city in the early Bronze Age after 1800 BC. Overnight in Aleppo.

Nov 6 Today we will spend a full day exploring Aleppo and the surrounding area. We will visit the famous souks, housed in miles of labyrinthine passageways at the foot of the Aleppo Citadel (Qalat Haleb), the museum and the Citadel itself. After lunch we will visit the Basilica of St. Simeon, where St. Simeon the Stylite, a Christian ascetic, settled in 412. He lived for nearly 40 years on the top of a column, surrounded by pilgrims. Afterward we will visit the ancient cities of Ebla, where the earliest libraries have been discovered, and Ain Dara. Overnight in Aleppo.

Nov 7 After breakfast we will continue our tour of Aleppo before departing for Damascus in the afternoon. Overnight in Damascus.

Nov 8 After breakfast we will depart for Beirut, visiting the Ksar Winery, the ruins at Baalbek - Lebanon's most famous Roman treasure, and Anjar- architecture exclusively from the Omayyad period, along the way. Dinner and overnight in Beirut.

Nov 9 Today we will explore the ancient and dynamic city of Beirut. We will see evidence of this city's vitality and long history as a trade center, both in modern times and in ancient times. We will also visit Beit-Eddine, an excellent example of early 19th century Lebanese architecture. The place takes its name from Beit-Eddine (House of Faith), a Druz hermitage that is now part of the Palace. Overnight in Beirut.

Nov 10 After breakfast we will visit the ancient cities of Harissa and Byblos. Byblos was an important center for papyrus trade, hence the name which means papyrus in Greek. In the afternoon go to the famous Jeita Grotto before returning to Beirut for overnight.

Nov 11 Today we will visit Sidon on the coast south of Beirut. Sidon dates back several millennia and is now a commercial center with a small town atmosphere. Continue on to Tyre, known throughout ancient history for glass and a prized purple dye. Return to Beirut for overnight.