In Depth Cultural Discovery Tour In Jordan & Lebanon

Arrive Beirut and check-in at hotel.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

This morning we travel along Lebanons Coast to the town of Sidon or Saida with its 13th century Crusader sea castle guarding the mouth of the harbour, an impressive reminder of its continued importance throughout history. We also wander through its atmospheric souks and its caravanserai before travelling up into the Chauf mountains where we enjoy our lunch with a local family in the traditional town of Baadarane. Please note that during winter season it may not be possible to join the local family for lunch due to weather and time restrictions.  Should this happen on your tour, we will still provide an included lunch but it may be in a restaurant.  Following our lunch we will continue our journey to visit the impressive Beittedine Palace, enjoying its beautiful architecture, impressive artwork, Byzantine mosaics and its reminders of Lebanon’s rich cultural and historical past. From here we journey to Deir El Qamar where we check into the guesthouse for the night.

Overnight Basic Hotel (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning we visit one of Lebanon’s well known cities – Tripoli.  The 2^nd largest city in Lebanon, its history dates back to the 14^th Century.  The name Tripoli is from the Greek meaning 3 cities.  This dates back to the Phoenician times when it was part of a confederation of 3 cities with Tyre and Sidon.  Tripoli has been touched or inhabited by many cultures ranging from Phoenicians through to the Romans, the Byzantines, the Arabs, the Mamluks and the Ottomans.  Today there is a very strong Arab influence in the city and its architecture and culture makes for a fascinating contrast for us to compare it to other parts of Lebanon.  Another example of the range of diversity in this small country. After this visit we will drive to Byblos where we spend our next 3 nights.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive back to Beirut getting to know more about this ancient and intriguing city, steeped in fascinating history. On our walking tour of the city we visit the Martyr Square and national museum. Beirut has been a prosperous trading city since the Phoenicians (1500BC); it was famous in Roman times for its School of Law and was still an important commercial centre in the 1970s when many international companies had their Middle East HQ in Beirut. Physical reminders of the recent war years are apparent with many bombed out buildings increasingly being demolished or renovated. However, Beirut still retains an element of the glamour from the time when it was known as ‘the Paris of the Middle East’. Once the city tour of Beirut is completed and lunch is enjoyed,  and we are en route back to Byblos, we make a visit to the Jeitta Caves, a cave the size of a cathedral sheltering a large lake.  A short boat trip across the lake will take you for a close up look at the magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations.  From here we make the short journey to Byblos, our home for the next 2 nights.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we visit the historical site of Byblos, which claims to be the oldest continuously inhabited town in the world. Long before the time of Athens or Rome, it was an independent city state, trading cedarwood with Egypt in exchange for papyrus. Its name derives from the word for sheets of paper, ‘biblos’, from which we get the word ‘Bible’. We explore Egyptian temples, the Phoenician Royal Acropolis and the Crusader castle. Your time will be free afternoon after this mornings visit so you can enjoy the charms of Byblos at your own pace.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to and visit the Tannourine Cedar Reserve. Throughout history, the cedar trees that grow high in the Lebanese mountains have been valued by kings and conquerors for the durability and fragrance of their wood. Some of the cedars date back 1500 years and possibly even to the time of King Solomon, who cleared much of the forest to construct his palace. Since Lebanon’s wealth has been closely connected to the cedar, it has become the national emblem and appears on the flag. We enjoy a 2 hour walk through this National Reserve before driving to our overnight stop at the peaceful Monastery of St. Antonio's where we experience the serenity and peacefulness of monastic life.

Overnight Monastery (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After our morning visit to the Gibran Museum in Bcharreh, we journey into the Qadisha Valley. On foot today we discover the Maronite sites in the Qadisha Valley. This rugged, remote area provided ideal protection for the early Maronite Sect sheltering from Christian persecution. Originating in Syria, the Maronites were believed to have avoided subjugation by mainstream Christians by seeking refuge in the mountains. Today Qadisha’s valley slopes and cliffs are strewn with red-roofed Maronite villages, monasteries built into the sides of cliff faces and hermitages where the 13th century frescoes remain on the walls. Nowadays Maronite services are conducted in Syriac, which is a language closely related to Aramaic, the language of Christ. The traditional Syriac translation of Qadisha is ‘Valley of the Saints’. Our walk is approximately 5 hours, where the first 45 minutes involves a steep descent into the Valley, but we are rewarded by stunning views and the ever changing Lebanese landscape. After our walk, we transfer back to Beirut for our night stay.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we fly from Beirut to Amman to begin the Jordanian tour of the Middle East and also to meet other members of our tour who will join us for the week.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive north to ancient Jerash, considered to be the best preserved city of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Roman cities. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths.  From here, we journey back to Amman for our overnight stay. This afternoon we head south to Madaba, a small Christian town with its collection of extraordinary mosaics, including the Great Map of the Holy Land (6th century). Discovered in 1896, and only fragmentary, it contains a good picture of Jerusalem. Moving on we investigate Jebel Neba (808m). Better known as Mount Nebo, it is a pilgrimage centre for Christians principally because Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land from this summit.  From here we journey back to Amman for our overnight stop.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we head south to Kerak, imposingly sited on a hilltop. Kerak became famous in the time of the Crusades as one of a chain of fortresses in the Holy War against Islam. The castle was built in 1132 by Baldwin of Jerusalem, a Crusader king. We continue south to Petra. Abandoned centuries ago, Petra is unique and unforgettable: a strange otherworldly place, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience. Here a guided orientation tour will take us to some of the key parts of this remarkable site before our free day tomorrow where we can explore in some more detail, its beautiful and awe inspiring buildings and scenery.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

A full free day at Petra, or ‘rock’ in Greek. You can climb steep paths to the sacrificial ‘High Places’ (altars) for a stunning view over Wadi Araba and the Negev Desert, trek up to the impressive ‘Royal Tombs’ or choose from a number of spectacular walks and hikes around Petra, a place to lose oneself in the atmosphere of the past.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

We spend today experiencing the beautiful area of Wadi Rum. We head off south for an exciting half day drive along a 4WD drive route to Wadi Rum. Via the old Roman road, we explore the lesser known northern areas of Wadi Rum, seeing natural rock bridges and viewing incredible rock sculptures on the way to our overnight camp. During the afternoon you may take an optional camel trek through the dramatic Siq al Barrah. We ride or walk for 2 hours through a landscape of sandstone mountains and white and pink coloured sands. The desert is another world, inhabited by the nomadic Bedouin peoples for generations. The whole area is soaked in the Lawrence legend and scenes of the famous film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ were shot here – deep in the fabulous purple-black mountains that rise from the sand of the desert. Before our night under the starry sky, we may be lucky enough to witness a spectacular desert sunset. We sleep in a single, large, traditional goat hair tent (the best protection against typical desert extremes of hot and cold) which is laid out with mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags. The evening is normally spent around a campfire, with spectacular desert stars overhead: Washing facilities and WC are available at the camp. Overnight in Bedouin style tent.

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Wadi Rum by bus (we walk to our bus in the morning) we drive to Aqaba on the Red Sea. Here you have a chance to swim in the warm waters and go snorkelling or a ride in a glass bottom boat over the coral reef (optional).

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

We drive on to the shimmering Dead Sea. Surrounded by barren hills, this unique water body has an amazingly high salt content (33%) that means no animal life survives and that it is almost impossible to sink! Finally we drive on to Amman and spend our last night in the bustling capital.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast