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Traversing Through Jordan And Syria

15 Day Tour - Departs USA Feb. 3 returns Feb. 17th, 2001
$2430.00 ppdo with Roundtrip Air from JFK
Single Supplement: $400

Feb. 3 - Fly from the US to Amman on RJ 262 from New York's JFK International Airport at 9:00pm.

Feb. 4 - Arrive in Amman at Queen Alia International Airport at 4:45pm. Upon your arrival proceed through Jordanian customs. After you pass through customs and you will be met and assisted by a Caravan-Serai representative, and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Feb. 5 - After breakfast, the group will check out of the hotel and board your bus for a city tour of Amman including the Citadel and Roman Theater. Then set out from Amman to Petra. Along the way you will stop at Madaba and see the famous, geographically accurate mosaic of Palestine. Next, travel to Mt. Nebo from where Moses viewed the Promised Land, and experience the spectacular panorama of the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Judean Hills. Upon arriving at your hotel in Petra enjoy a time of rest before dinner and overnight.

Feb. 6 - After breakfast, this morning mount your horse and ride to the head of the Siq (canyon). Petra, the "Rose Red City," was for centuries an incredible hidden city, inhabited by the ancient Nabateans, and concealed from 100 AD until it was re-discovered by a Dutch explorer in 1871. See the Treasury, carved in pink stone, and continue past the Roman Theatre, the Corinthian Tomb and the Palace Tomb. Enjoy a full day of walking and hiking through the ancient city before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Feb. 7 - After breakfast, depart Petra for Wadi Rum. Made famous by both the film and the legend of Lawrence of Arabia, this Wadi is one of Nature's Wonderlands. Behold the towering limestone and granite cliffs that make up this unusual pastel-pink desert terrain. Travel into this amazing region of Jordan by 4x4 and visit 2 sites along the way. Return in the afternoon to Amman and visit Kerak, an impressive medieval fortress, en route. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Amman.

Feb. 8 - After breakfast, depart Amman for a visit below sea level at the Dead Sea. Look out over the waters to Jericho, and marvel at the unique crystaline formations coating the rocks on the shore. Continue on to Bethany (or Bethabara). Here, it is believed, is where John the Baptist lived, preached, and baptized. This area includes the place where Jesus was baptized, according to the overwhelming evidence of the available biblical, archaeological and historical textual resources. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight.

Feb. 9 - After breakfast, drive to the ancient Roman city of Jerash. One of the best preserved roman cities in the world. Here you can see the Elliptical Forum, the Street of Columns, and the Temple of Artemis. This ancient city hosts an annual Arts Festival, with performances taking place in the theater. Also Visit Ajlun, Pella and Umm Qais (the desert castles) before returning to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Feb. 10 - Following breakfast, depart for the Jordanian-Syrian border. Crossing at the Ramtha Border a stop for lunch will be made along the way. Dinner and overnight at your Damascus hotel.

Feb. 11 - Enjoy breakfast then board your bus for a city tour of Damascus which vies for being the "oldest continuously inhabited city of the world" and was once the capitol f the Islamic world under the Omayyad Calips. Explore the famous Omayyad Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and and the street called "Straight" where St. Paul received his vision. Have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, tour the Damascus museum to learn about the ancient history of this country. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight in Damascus.

Feb. 12 - After breakfast board your coach and head north to Sydnaya and Maaloula, the village where Aramaic, the language of Christ, is still spoken. You will visit St. Sergius and St. Taqla's Mountains and enjoy a leisurely drive through the agricultural countryside of St. George Monastery. You continue past groves of pistachios ("Persian Nuts"), to Palmyra, Queen Zenobia's city.

Feb. 13 - Wake up early today to see the sights of Palmyra with the sunrise. Visit the ancient ruins and views of the oasis from atop the Arab fort high up a nearby hill. Walk through the ancient colonnades, visit the archaeology museum, and see the Temple of Baal. From Palmyra depart in the afternoon for the town of Aleppo. Dinner and overnight at you Aleppo hotel.

Feb. 14 - After enjoying breakfast spend a full day touring Aleppo (Haleb). You see the restored citadel, the old city, the National Museum and the souk -- the best place for shopping for hand crafts by local artisans -- still used by the local inhabitants. Dine on local fare at lunch and dinner and return to your hotel for overnight in Aleppo.

Feb. 15 - After breakfast, depart for a full day of touring to the Dead Cities and St. Simeon's basilica. Here you will see where the famous Stylite lived for over 40 years atop a pillar, surrounded by pilgrims. You will marvel at the ingenuity that went into constructing the pillar to accommodate a person's basic needs for four decades! Return to Aleppo for your overnight.

Feb. 16 - Following breakfast, depart for Ebla and visit the archaeological dig going on there. Continue on to Apamea, which was a major Seleucid city and military garrison with magnificient Roman and Byzantine ruins. It was a powerful city in the early Bronze Age after 1800 BC. Continue of to the Crac Des Chevaliers, a well-preserved Crusader castle that for centuries was the key defense of inner Syria. Continue on to Damascus for overnight.

Feb. 17 - After an early breakfast, depart for the airport. Fly form to JFK on flight RJ261 arriving at 655pm New York Time

CITIES & SITES TO BE VISITED
Amman, Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Petra, Damascus, Palmyra, Desert Palaces, Euphrates River, Aleppo, Ebla, Crusader Castles, Damascus, Dead Sea, Syndnaya, St. Simeon, Apamea, Crac de Chaveliers.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

INCLUDED:
Accomodations at 5 Star / 4 Star Hotels
Breakfast and Dinner. (Half Board)
Assistance for your arrival and departure by a professional staff member inside the border.
Round-trip airfare from JFK
Transportation by a modern, air-conditioned motor coach with English speaking guide.
Entrance fees to the above sites and horse ride in Petra.
Local guides where available. Government taxes.

NOT INCLUDED:
Tips for guide and driver(we usually recommend $2 or $3 for the driver and $5 for the guide-all per peson per day), extras, drinks or meals.
Items of personal nature.
Departure tax.

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