
Magic of the Arabian EmpireA
Grand 10-day tour of Syria, Jordan and Egypt
We'll show you the Ancient Pyramids, the wonders of fabled Syria. Biblical
sites in Jordan as well as the "LOST CITY "
of Petra
|
All Rates US$ |
First Class Hotels |
Deluxe Hotels |
In Triple Occupancy |
$ 3450.00 |
$ 3851.00 |
In Double Occupancy |
$ 3540.00 |
$ 3981.00 |
In Single Occupancy |
$ 4230.00 |
$ 5080.00 |
Air fare notes:
Important
Syria will not issue visas for any passport holder that may carry any
stamp or visa for Israel. Border crossings may take some time, depending
of several circumstances (traffic, police, documentation, visas, etc.)
Syria:
Once a vast Roman province, now a surprisingly friendly Arab country,
Syria is finally being discovered by travelers. Names on the
map of modern Syria positively ring with history: Aleppo, Damascus,
Latakiya, Palmyra, the Euphrates, the Orontes. Travelers come
to see all these and more. Expecting only desert, they find a
varied country of plains, mountains, valleys, rivers‹and
yes, plenty of desert. The climate is typical for the eastern
Mediterranean: dry in summer with hot days and cool nights, mild
and rainy in winter. The great Omayyad Mosque (705) in Damascus
is wonderful. At Palmyra (Tadmor), a hundred miles east of Homs,
are the extensive ruins of a fabulously wealthy Roman City ruled
by the famed Zenobia. Its theater, Great Colonnade, monumental
arch and various temples are on everybody's list of must-sees.
While you're here, don't forget to meet the Syrians. Many visitors
consider them the friendliest people in the eastern Mediterranean.
Come see for yourself!
Not Included :
Sample Charming Boutique Hotels in Syria :
Talisman Hotel: Damascus
Talisman is more than an hotel: it is more like a home. We will provide
you all the services and luxury of a five stars residence. Two wide
opened courtyards with outdoor swimming
pool. Private and exclusive Turkish Hammam.
The Talisman is a luxury «charm» hotel situated in the
old town of Damascus, twenty minutes from the airport, a hundred yards
from the old Roman straight way (Medhat Pacha) and the historical
Bab Sharqi, famous now for its souks and street markets. This old
Jewish palace, built in a quiet side street and easily accessible
by car, has been restored in the most authentic tradition of an Arab
house.
Each of the 16 rooms and suites at Talisman is unique with its personalized lay-out and decoration. All the rooms are equipped with the latest commodities:king size bed, mini bar, central heating, individual air-conditioning, plasma television set with decoder so that you may choose any channel you please, DVD reader, wi-fi internet connection, telephone. Executive suites are larger and have a desk corner. The bathrooms are spacious and planned for your rest and well-being: finely worked wooden basins with their matching mirrors, old cement tiled or beige marble floors, bath tub or shower cabin, or both, hair-drier and comfortable bathrobes.
Zenobia hotel: Palmyra
built in 1920 … Agatha Christy was one of the welcomed guests
, the Zenobia Hotel is ideally located in the middle of Palmyra archeological
site; rooms offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease.
The
26-room hotel offers a wonderful view of the traces of past civilizations,
which you can explore at your ease. The hotel is a masterpiece of
elegance and warm hospitality that is part of our commitment to tradition
particularly amidst this historical surrounding. You are welcome to
the world of Zenobia hotel where you relive the past and feel the
glorious days of Palmyra.
The hotel rooms; all are air-conditioned, with central heating and
a telephone. The Countess suite is a duplex room, with two double
beds and a private bathroom on each deck. ( Supplement applies, and
you must really book in advance to get this suite)
The Oasis restaurant offers a wide variety of delicious cuisine whether it is indoors or in the open air with a direct view on the ruins.
Palmyra
was known as the bride of the desert, where once stood as one of the
greatest Roman oasis cities of all times. The extensive roman ruins,
only a three-minute walk from the hotel; stand gracefully to remind
us of the glory of Palmyra's past
Beit Wakil Hotel: Aleppo
A true example of the distinguished 16th century Aleppine
architecture,is a charming palace situated just outside the old city
walls.This perfectly preserved structure which has stubbornly defied
the destructive elements of time,ranks among the most elegant and
beautiful palaces in the region.
The Old City of Aleppo is a labyrinth of cobblestone streets and shops.
This alley at the entrance to the Old City also led to Beit Wakil,
whose sign and awning are visible to the left. Beit Wakil is an old
merchant serai that has been renovated into a charming 14 room hotel.
The hotel is centered around the courtyard pictured at the right,
and the rooms are all arrayed around this central point. Our room,
shown at the left was one floor up from the courtyard. The rooms are
very traditional, dark wood with equally dark woven rugs on the floor,
a bed and nightstand. For privacy one closes the wooden shutters.
Except for electricity and your cable tele , the room could have been
from an Indiana Jones movie set
The Hotel is in " Jadidah" which is a particularly picturesque quarter. Next to the main Maronite church is Sissi Street, which is full of old Arab residences. Most have now been converted into small boutique hotels and restaurants serving the delicious local Arab-Syrian cuisine for which Aleppo is famous. Beit Wakil is one of the loveliest examples. Simple on the outside, but you enter a beautiful courtyard with a fountain, a majestic arch, coloured marble flooring and arabesque glass windows. You can descend past an underground bar into stone-built cellars with a labyrinth of tunnels, said to lead all the way to the Aleppo Citadel.
Beit Wakil,a true example of the distinguished 16th. century Aleppine architecture,is a charming palace situated just outside the old city walls.This perfectly preserved structure which has stubbornly defied the destructive elements of time,ranks among the most elegant and beautiful palaces in the region. Faithful to the old Aleppine tradition the exterior is castle like,simple and void of any decoration,but as soon one enters inside a magical oriental story like world comes into existence
The beautiful courtyards with breathtaking relief and tracery work of their walls, the marble fountains among the jasmine and lemon trees, the unique iwan with its majestic arch and colors marble flooring,the elegant arabesque woodwork of the wall cupboards,the hand drawn wooden ceilings with corniche, the famous central Qa'a (large room: Lobby ) with its suspended dome and coloured arabesque glass windows,the stone built cellars and the lime stone caves below with a labyrinth of tunnels , one of which , links the palace to the Citadel of Aleppo , are just few of the many elements which distinguishes the Aleppine masonry art and Arabian architectural genius
Today,
Beit Wakil welcomes its guests as a four star hotel with all the modern
comfort facilities. Beit Wakil rooms and suits are centrally air conditioned,
with traditional comfortable Aleppine furniture, minibar, music, T.
V and satellite services, phone and private bathrooms. Both our summer
and winter restaurants offer a wide verity of delicious Aleppine mezes
and specialties together with an oriental entertainment program of
classical Arabic music and dancing.
Aleppo includes a virile population, a splendid architecture,and a fine Arab tradition. Aleppo AL-Chahba, 355 Kilometers from Damascus, has been a prosperous city since the 3rd millennium B.C. and has maintained its status through town development and an increasing population. It has played a vital role in the history of the area from the time of the Akkadian and Amorite Kingdoms. Until recently it has always been the center of the junction of the ancient trade routs. The old city was surrounded by a wall incorporating defense towers and fortified gates built during the Islamic period. A large part of the wall still standing, for example Bab Qinisrin, Bab Al-Nasser, Bab Al-Hadid, Bab Antakia. Aleppo is also known for its mosques and churches and is considered the third city in the Islamic world because of the number of its mosques and schools. The Archaeological Museum contains exhibits from the stone age to modern times. It has particularly interesting collection of antiquities from some of the most ancient site in Syria (Mari, Ugarit, Ebla) , objects found in the Euphrates Basin, Hama, Tell Halaf and Ein

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