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Greenish ALEXANDRITE
Syria & Jordan 22 days, 21 nights
 

Camping, walking & hiking program:
Syria & Jordan 22 days including the following new sights:

Sukari Palace – Abasieh Spring – Rasafeh – Ja'abar Citadel – St. George Monastery – Barada Valley – Ain Elfijeh – Ain Elkhadra – Heffeh – Little Petra .
We can combined with YEMEN or OMAN.
 

Day 01:Damascus
Arrival at Damascus international airport to be met & assisted by the assigned guide, then we transfer to the hotel for dinner & O/N

Day 02: Damascus / Palmyra
After breakfast we leave Damascus towards Palmyra the pride of the Syrian Desert, the deep routed Semitic village which was grown up the contribution of the Silk Road and climaxed by Queen Zenobia. We also visit the temple of God Bel, the archeological museum, tower & underground tombs, the arch of triumph, the via Recta….. Lunch is to be taken at a local restaurant. Then we hike up the hill to Ibn Ma'an's fortress to watch the sunset. Dinner & O/N at the hotel
Day 03:Palmyra / Al Sukari Palace
After breakfast we leave Palmyra for a splendid tour on camels taking the shape of an oriental caravan through the charming desert towards the main stations for the Roman caravans which traveled from the coastal line of Syria towards the east; we start with the Al Sukari Palace, then we have lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner & O/N at a camp close to the Al Sukari Palace under the moon light.
Day 04: Al Sukari Palace / Al Abasieh Spring
After breakfast we head towards Al Abasieh Spring, lunch en route then we set our set our tents near Al Abasieh Spring to enjoy an unforgettable shower in the mineral spring of Al Abasieh. Dinner & O/N

Day 05:Al Abasieh / Kousaibeh
After breakfast in our camps we head to our next stop Kousaibeh Area, lunch en route, dinner & O/N in our camps near Kousaibeh

Day 06: Kousaibeh / Palmyra
Breakfast, then getting back to Palmyra, lunch is en route, dinner at a Bedouin tent with a very nice party (Bedouin dance) over night at the hotel
Day 07: Palmyra / Dura Europos / Mari / Deir Ezzor
After breakfast we leave Palmyra & proceed to the Arab village of Salhieh, this was the historic town built by Seleucus Nicator, Alexander's lieutenant, the fortified town of Dura Europos. This town was closely linked with Palmyra, serving as an important forward line of defense against the Persians. Continue our tour for a 120 km drive south of Dura to the kingdom of Mari which dates back to the 3rd millennium BC. It was ruled by kings of 10th dynasty after the flood, lunch box to be taken in Mari. We drive the way back to Deir Ezzor for dinner & O/N at the hotel
Day 08: Der Ezzor / Raqqa / Resafeh / Ja'abar Citadel / Deir Ezzor
After breakfast we head to Raqqa located on the left bank of the Euphrates between Aleppo (188 km) and Deir Ezzor (105 km). It is an ancient city build by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. This city is famous for Pottery and glass and there is even a museum in the city captaining many relics of ancient Raqqa. A lot of these relics can also be seen in museum in New York, Washington and other western cities. Our next stop will be at the southern part of the Euphrates and north of the Syrian semi- desert, 160 km south east of Aleppo and 30 km south of the Aleppo /Raqqa road. This is Rasafeh Palace which was the residence of Hisham Ibn Abdul Malek, the tenth Umayyad Caliph, whose era was a golden one. This Palace was originally a church built to commemorate a Roman officer (St. Sergios) who died in defense of Christianity in the 4th centaury. Then we head to the pink fortress which appears reflected in the blue water of Al Assad Lake. This is Ja'abar Citadel, one of the Selucid fortress reconstructed by Nur Al Din in the 12th century. And finally we turn back to our hotel in Deir Ezzor for dinner & O/N     
Day 09: Deir Ezzor / Aleppo
After breakfast, we leave to the second capital of Syria (350 km) north of Damascus, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in history. We drive into the core of Aleppo on which stands the gigantic Islamic medieval citadel of Aleppo that reflects the glory of Islam in its heydays. The grand mosque of Aleppo which was burned down in the 10th century is to be visited. Lunch is at a local restaurant then dinner & O/N at the hotel
Day 10: Aleppo
Continue the city sightseeing of Aleppo, leave your hotel by bus to the archeological museum, continue walking to the old city, visit Halawieh school Wazir caravanserai, Bazaars, Jermuk caravanserai. After the visit continue by our bus for lunch and visit to the Armenian orphanage and Armenian Basilica in the old city. Back to your hotel for dinner & overnight.     
Day 11: Aleppo / Dead Cities / St. Simeon / Aleppo
Leave Aleppo by bus, and head to the dead cities, the bus unloads the clients upon arrival to the first village before Barah, hike the road towards Barah throughout the ruins and orchards (Two hours hiking tour).The bus meets the clients in Barah village, and continues with them to Serjelh for a visit, driving to Qatoura then continues walking to Simeon village via the Pilgrimage road (via Zakra) visit St. Simeon and back to your hotel in Aleppo. Lunch box during the tour in the dead cities
Day 12: Aleppo / Saladin castle / Heffeh / Ugarit / Lattakia
Breakfast, drive to Saladin castle where the bus leaves them, walk to Heffeh via the forests up & down the mountains, we take the gyards of Saladin castle to accompany us during this walking tour. (Three hours hiking tour around 10 km) meet the bus at Heffeh town, then drive to Ugarit, a seafarers kingdom whose mighty men conquered the very east coast of America 2800 years before it was discovered by Christopher Columbus. Dinner & overnight at your hotel in Lattakia.
Day 13: Lattakia / St. George Monastery / Crack des Chevaliers / Ma’aloula / Damascus
Depart  Lattakia to St. George Monastery (Two hours drive) visit the church and then walk to Crack des Chevaliers “The wholly admirable castle in the world” as Lawrence of Arabia commented. Arrive Crack des Chevaliers for visit & lunch. (one-hour hiking tour around 7 km) drive to Ma’aloula , unload clients at Sergeos & Bacchus convent in Ma’aloula, start  walking through the valley visiting the village in which tradition, mythology and even the old Aramic language still drawing their daily way of living as they are isolated in the Qalamoun range of mountain. Stop at Ain Etineh village. (one-hour hiking tours around 7 km) get in the bus, drive to Damascus for dinner & overnight.
Day 14: Damascus / Barada Valley
After breakfast, leave Damascus by bus towards Ain Esaheb where the clients hike the road towards Ain Alfijeh through the well-irrigated area where the Damascenes used to enjoy their weekends. You pass by Basimeh & Ain Elkhdra villages. The bus will be waiting in Ein Elfijeh   and after lunch, they drive back to Damascus hotel. (Four hours hiking tour around 25 Km). 
Day 15: Damascus
After breakfast, start a full day hiking city tour to include the national     museum, Tokieh Suleimanieh, handicraft market, HIjaz railway station, Hamidieh bazaar, Umayyad Mosque, Saladin Mausoleum. Lunch is at a local restaurant in the old town, Azem Palace, Straight Street, Ananias church. Meet with your driver by the eastern gate to highlight the end of the day by driving to Qasioun Mountain for a full panoramic  view of Damascus city. Back to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 16: Damascus / Bosra / Jerash / Amman
After breakfast, transfer to the Syrian-Jordanian border; visit Bosra en route, we visit the Roman Theater, baths, lantern gate, the    underground market and the wind gate.
Cross the No-body’s land, meet with your Jordan guide at the Jordan side, we hit the road to the ancient city of Jerash, here at a well-watered site in the hills of Gilead, you find remains from the Neolithic times as well as Greek, Byzantine, Umayyad and others.
You can see Artemis temple, Zeus temple, a vast Roman forum, Hadrian’s triumphal arch, an impressive theater and a mile long street of columns. After we finish this wonderful tour, it is time to experience our first meal in Jordan at Al Wadi Al Akhdar rest. (Green Valley Rest)
After lunch, we proceed to Amman for dinner and overnight.
Day 17: Amman / Dead Sea / Petra
After breakfast at the hotel, we start discovering Amman, the     thoroughly modern city; the most impressive monument is the huge 2000 year old Roman amphitheater, standing beautifully restored in the center of the city, which represents the costume and folklore museums and contains rare collections of traditional Jordanian dresses &       handicrafts. Other sites of interest are the Roman ruins on citadel hill and the nearby archeological museum.
Now we go down to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea where you can relax in the gently lapping water.
After this unforgettable experience, you will continue to the south for the rose city of Petra. Check in your hotel, dinner & overnight.
Day 18 & 19: Petra/ Little Petra
Early breakfast, start down the Siq to discover the legacy of the Nabateans, Petra’s most famous monument “The treasury” appears dramatically at the end of the Siq. This towering façade is only the first of Petra’s secrets. Various walks & climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings, facades, tombs, baths, hunting rock drawings & relieves enough to keep you here for many days. You find a 700-seats theater from the time of Jesus, a palace tomb in the Roman style & a gigantic third century monastery (Deir). These sites are at their best in the early morning & late afternoon when the sun warms the multicolored stone, and you can view the majesty of Petra as Burckhardt saw it in 1812.
Day 20: Petra/ Wadi Rum
After breakfast, Transfer to Wadi Rum, hiking and exploring by wheel drive. Dinner and overnight (in tent, ender the stars)
Day 21: Wadi Rum / Madaba / Mt. Nebo / Amman
After breakfast, head to Amman, on the way we visit Madaba, “City of Mosaics” its chief attraction, in the contemporary church of St. George, is a wonderful vivid, sixth-century Byzantine map showing Jerusalem & other holly sites. With two million pieces of mosaic tile and a full 25 X 5 meters in its original state, the map depicts hills & valleys, villages & towns, as far as the Nile Delta. This masterpiece of other scattered through Madaba’s churches & homes. Then you have a break to have a lunch in Madaba. Somewhat farther west is the most revered site in Biblical Jordan: Mount Nebo, where Moses climbed survery the Promised Land & where he is presumed buried. A small square church was built on the spot by early Byzantine Christians & later expanded into a vast complex. 60 years of excavation reveal a Basilica-Church and a large cluster of Monastic buildings. From a platform in front of the church you take in a breathtaking view across the Jordan valley to the rooftops of Jerusalem & Bethlehem. Back to Amman, dinner & overnight at hotel. 
Day 22: Departure
Leave to the airport for departure to Yemen or Oman.


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