Day 1, Sunday: Arrive Damascus

Arrive Damascus, the oldest continually inhabited city in the world! Transfer to the Cham Palace, a luxury hotel with excellent rooms and restaurants, very centrally located. Take the rest of the day at leisure.

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Day 2, Monday: Damascus

Morning, visit the National Museum of Syria to see a fine collection of Roman and Greek sculptures, archeological artifacts, a fragment of the oldest known alphabet in the world, and an 1800 year-old synagogue transported from Dura Europos on the Euphrates River. Also visit a craft market to view a colorful display of boxes, jewelry, oriental carpets, and more. Afternoon, see a section of the original Roman fortress wall, and visit a souq - a bustling covered bazaar that fills the senses with colors and life. Then, visit Salahadin’s mausoleum, and Ummayyad Mosque, the largest in the world, with gold-embossed motifs, and contains the tomb of John the Baptist.

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Day 3, Tuesday: Damascus

This morning, visit Al Azim Palace, once a luxurious home of the Ottoman governor, now a museum of Turkish lifestyles. Then, walk through Straight Street, the Christian quarter with its charming alleyways and handicraft shops, St. Annanias Chapel, and Chapel of St. Paul, built at the place where Paul was lowered in a basket to escape Roman soldiers. The afternoon is free for independent activities.

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Day 4, Wednesday: Damascus - Lattakia

Depart Damascus in an air conditioned coach, heading north, visiting en route the towns of Seydnaya and Mallula with its picturesque views and Christian heritage. Drive on to Crac de Chevaliers, where we will enjoy our lunch at a restaurant with a view of the castle. Then, visit the magnificent medieval castle of Crac de Chevaliers, built by the Crusaders in the 12^th century. Recount battles of valor as you explore a maze of towers, tunnels, living rooms, stables and a chapel. Drive to the coast, visit a cathedral museum at Tartus, and arrive at the pretty coastal town of Lattakia. Stay at Cote d'Azur de Cham Resort, with a splendid beach on the Mediterranean Coast.

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Day 5, Thursday: Lattakia – Aleppo

Take the morning at leisure. Visit Ugarit, a kingdom between the 16^th and 13^th centuries BC that excelled in administration, education, diplomacy, law and economics, and gave the world its first alphabet. Early afternoon, visit Salahadin’s Castle built on a rocky spur, the most impregnable crusader fortress. Continue across the Al Ghab mountain range to Aleppo in northern Syria. Stay at Chahba Cham Palace Aleppo, a 5 star luxury hotel with excellent facilities, and very central. 

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Day 6, Friday: Aleppo

This morning, visit the citadel, an impregnable fortress and fine example of Arab architecture, standing high above the city on a hill, above layers of civilization dating as far back as the Hittites. Explore the largest souq in the world, with 8 miles of covered lanes filled with colorful shops and wares. Then, walk through the Christian quarter, see the Grand Ommayad Mosque, and small but well laid out National Museum. In the afternoon, drive to the outskirts of the city to visit the fascinating Church of St. Simeon perched on a hill with pines, and 6^th C Byzantine church at Mushabak.

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Day 7, Saturday: Aleppo – Palmyra

We leave Aleppo heading south. En route, visit a museum at Maarat Al Numan, with ancient pottery, mosaics, coins and sculptures. Also visit the dead city of Serjilla, with remains of a Byzantine settlement, including houses, a church, baths, tombs and sarcophagi. Then, visit the Roman ruin city of Apamea, with a mile-long columned street intact.  Continue south to Hama, where we will have lunch at the Apamee Cham Palace hotel, and see functioning water wheels built by the French 200 years ago. We then drive via Homs eastwards, through the desert to Palmyra - the bird of the desert – an oasis town on the crossroads of ancient trade routes. Stay at Palmyra Cham Palace; first class, pretty location.

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Day 8, Sunday: Palmyra

Morning, visit the Temple of Bel, the valley of tombs (tower and underground tombs) with frescoes and stone carvings, a Greco-Roman museum with interesting exhibits, and an Ethological museum depicting lifestyles of Bedouins. Afternoon, visit the impressive Temple of Bal Shaman, built in 130 AD, the Nebo temple, Roman theater, triumphal arch, colonnade with 150 pillars still standing, and forum. Then, drive uphill to the castle of Ibn Maan and watch a spectacular sunset.

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Day 9, Monday: Palmyra - Damascus

A pleasant drive on a desert road takes us back to Damascus. Stay at Cham Palace hotel. Take the afternoon at leisure, with free time for independent activities.

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Day 10, Tuesday: Damascus –Amman, Jordan

Today, we’ll drive south for Jordan via Bosra. At Bosra, visit select sites, including the Roman theater, citadel and town ruins. Lunch at Cham hotel. Continue to Jordan border and complete immigration documentation. Enter Jordan, heading south towards Amman. En route, visit sites at Jerash and Ajloun in the hills of Gilead. Jerash is one of the best preserved Decapolis cities of the Roman Empire. Explore the oval plaza, colonnaded streets, hippodrome, Hadrian’s Arch, baths, churches and a cathedral. At Ajloun, explore a majestic 12^th century Crusaders’ castle overlooking the Jordan Valley. Continue to Amman, and stay at the Amman Cham Palace hotel.

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Day 11, Wednesday: Amman

This morning, visit sites of ancient Amman. At the Citadel, towering over the city, visit the Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace and a Byzantine church. Also visit the Jordan Archeological Museum, with pre-historic antiquities and an exhibit of the Dead Sea scrolls. Afternoon, visit a Roman theater, carved into a hill, and the interesting Jordan Folklore Museum. Finally, explore the souks to see a dazzling display of gold and silver ornaments, and an array of handicrafts.

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Day 12, Thursday: Amman – Petra

Depart Amman, heading south on King’s Highway. En route, visit Madaba, the city of mosaics; and Mount Nebo, to see a memorial church dedicated to Moses, which overlooks the Dead Sea valley and Jerusalem.  Lunch at a restaurant en route. Continue south on King’s Highway to Petra. At Karak, visit a Crusader’s castle and tomb/shrine of Noah. At Shobak, see another Crusader castle. Arrive Petra by evening, and stay at the Movenpick Petra hotel, renowned for its intricate Arabesque interior design and collection of antiques and artwork.

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Day 13, Friday:  Petra

Today, we explore Petra, a legacy of the Nabataeans that once dominated trade routes of ancient Arabia, set in a spectacular desert gorge. A walk through a narrow chasm between soaring cliffs brings you to a dramatic view of the Treasury. Move on though funerary halls, temples, arched gateways, haunting rock drawings, a street of facades, theater, royal tombs, and a colonnaded street that leads to the main temple and a museum. Finally, a climb brings you to an impressive monastery.

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Day 14, Saturday: Petra – Wadi Rum - Amman

Drive to Wadi Rum to explore the surreal beauty of red sand dunes, eroded pillars of sandstone rock, and the Hanging Arch. Wadi Rum inspired Lawrence of Arabia to write his book, ‘The Seven Pillars of Wisdom', and still remains intact with its breathtaking scenery. Lunch at site. Continue to Amman on the Desert Highway, arriving by late afternoon. Stay at Amman Cham Palace hotel. Evening at leisure for independent activities.

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Day 15, Sunday: Depart Amman

Morning, at leisure. Transfer to international airport for flight back home.

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