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Morocco in one week from Malaga Spain



 

Magic of the Arabian Empire

A 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

We have even included all the tips. No Hidden Charges. No Additional Tax

 

Magic of the  Arabian Empire

Add Alexandria , or compare with Egypt and Jordan version 7-Day
Compare with the one week cruise version.

 

 

DAY 1 - JFK, Friday - Weekly - Year Round
Board your wide body jet at JFK, we usually use one of the following air
carriers: KLM, British Airways or Lufthansa). Overnight across the Atlantic. 

 

 

 

Day 2- DAMASCUS, Saturday
Our local rep. will meet you at the Airport , with a sign , and escort you to your hotel.
You can begin your explorations of this "Arabian Nights" city just after you arrive.

 

 

DAY 2 - DAMASCUS ,Sun (BL)
Today we explore the Syrian capital, visiting the National Museum, with
treasures dating from the 1400s BC; the bustling Old Bazaar, the Eastern Gate (Bab ash-Sharqi) in the Roman City walls; the Street Called Straight (Via Recta); the house of Anania; and the chapel with a window from which disciples lowered St. Paul so he could escape those who sought to kill him (Acts 9:24-25). Lunch included in a local restaurant.

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
We are proud to be the only ones that are able to afford you such window on the true warm and hospitable Syrian people , come and meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Syria l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. As some have inquired after they returned , feel free to ask about the recipes for the local dishes you will enjoy tonight , please let us know in advance of you prefer vegetarian meals.

Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences


 

 

DAY 3 - PALMYRA/DAMASCUS,Mon (BLD)

We drive to ancient Palmyra (Tadmor), in a desert oasis on the trade route
between the Mediterranean and Mesopotamia, to visit its museum, the temples of Bel, Baal Shamin and Nebo, the Roman baths, the Tetrapylon, Diocletian's camp, and the Valley of the Tombs, before returning to Damascus. Lunch included in a local restaurant. Dinner served at your hotel. 

 

 

 

 

DAY 4 - Damascus / Bosra/Amman, Tue (BD) 
Morning departure for Bosra then onward to Jordan & Amman
Bosra was mentioned in Egyptian 18th-dynasty records as Busrana. It became part of Seleucid domains after Alexander's conquests and was seized by Judas Maccabeus in 163 BC. When the Nabatean kingdom rose to local prominence in the 1st century BC, Bosra came within the North reaches of their control. In 106 AD, the Romans extended direct rule and established "Provencia Arabia." It became heavily influenced in its cultural and civic life by Roman models. Bosra was made the hub of an important network of trade routes linking Egypt, Red Sea, Syria and the Mediterranean, Mesopotamian regions. It retained its importance through the Christian era of Later Roman Empire, it was however a Monophysite center and thus often on bad terms with Constantinople. Dinner & overnight Amman hotel.

 

 

 

Day 5, Wednesday - Amman & Jerash, (BLD)
Today is dedicated for the visit of Amman, the capital of the Kingdom, with
its archeological and modern sites, Ajlun and Jerash, the best preserved Roman City of the East. Lunch is included enroute . Return to Amman and an evening dinner and folk show at Taybet Zaman

 

 

Day 6 , Petra , Thursday (BLD) 
Today we visit Mt. Nebo where Moses is said to have been buried. Then continue on to Madaba and visit the oldest map of the Holy Land, St. George's Cathedral, and KERAK. Lunch enroute . Proceed to Petra for check-in and overnight at the hotel of your choice.

In the evening we will call on you for a unique experience :
Dine as a local : The Petra Kitchen is a delightful way to round out your Jordan travel experiences. Like any home kitchen, The Petra Kitchen is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you’ll gather to prepare an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision of our chef.


Each evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza ( appetizers ) and salads, and a main course—all typical Jordanian dishes. You will have get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant.


The Petra Kitchen offers an evening of learning, fun and a very special dining experience, with each dish gaining the special flavor of a reward well-earned. Great care has been taken to make The Petra Kitchen a truly Jordanian experience—right down to the furnishings, all crafted in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women’s Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered by the Jordan River Foundation.

Tour experience tonight includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening.


 

.Petra Tour, Adventure tour, Syria Jordan Egypt

 

 

Day 7 , Petra - Amman - Cairo : Friday (BL)

A full day tour of the most famous site in Jordan, the rose-red city of
Petra. Venture through the SIQ (gorge between two towering mountains) until you reach the treasury which, like the most of the structures at Petra, is carved into the rose-red Nubian sandstone. In the afternoon, drive back to Amman Airport fly to Cairo, our rep will escort you to your hotel. Air ticket Amman/Cairo is included & will be issued & delivered to you in Jordan by our local office/rep. Egyptair flight normally leaves around 10 PM from Amman

Visa will be issued upon arrival. As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

 

 

 

DAY 8 - CAIRO, Saturday (BLD)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummies Room. We'll continue to Royal Manial Palace of former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali , on to the Coptic Museum, and the Church of Abu Sergha, and the Beni Ezra Synagogue.
Lunch is included at Abu El-Sid restaurant or La Bodega
We'll see where , according to the legend, Moses was found along the banks of the Nile by the Queen of the Nile and Pharaoh's wife . We'll take our lunch at a local restaurant.
Enjoy a walking tour of the ancient Khan El Khalili Bazaar district , then a brief stop at El Rifai Mosque where the late Shah of Iran is buried , as well as King Farouk Egypt's last king, before we head back to your hotel. Dinner is included tonight on board the Hyatt Dinner cruise with folk show.

 

 

 

DAY 9 - CAIRO- Giza Sunday (BL)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza.
The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years , the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of Ancient Egypt.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour: For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.

Lunch is included at the Mena House .

Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town). This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

 

 

DAY 10 - DEPARTURE Monday (B)
After breakfast, our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight home.
  

 

 

Rates are per person, in US:

 

 

 

 
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:

 

  • International Air fare add on:
    For departures from most west coast cities, as well as Phoenix, Dallas-Fort Worth or Atlanta in , please add $ 450 to the above rates. This doesn't apply when you handle your own air fare.
  • For travel in May to end of Sep , please note that a $ 450 air-fare supplement is added to the above rates.
  • When you handle your own air fare, please deduct $ 600 from the listed rate.

 

 

Rates include;

  • All transfers in Egypt,Syria and Jordan , always on a private basis.
  • Air fare from / to JFK. Economy class , tax included .
  • Hotel accommodation as listed including tax and breakfast daily .
  • Air fare Amman - Cairo in economy class, tax included .
  • Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees.
  • Meals as per itinerary. B: breakfast. L/D: Pre set menu lunch/dinner.
  • Complimentary Jordanian, Syrian and Egyptian visa fee (valid only for Australian, NZ, Canadian, American, Australian , NZ , EU , & Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). As well as Jordan's Departure Tax.

 

  • Air fares are always subject to change without notice. Air fares are only guaranteed when air ticket is issued.

 

 

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.)

 

More choices :

 

 

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 :

  • Tips.
  • Insurance , please consult your own insurance agent

 

 

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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