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From Palmyra to Petra

The glorious ruins of Palmyra

Click on the name of the hotel for details

13 days from £1792

excluding international flights

DAY 1 – Depart UK.

Recommended flight from London: bmi from London Heathrow (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 – Damascus.

On arrival in Damascus in the early morning you will be met by a representative of World Discovery outside immigration and customs and taken by private car to your hotel. The rest of the morning has been left free for sleep and relaxation. In the afternoon your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you for an afternoon's sightseeing in a city that is believed to be the oldest continually inhabited in the world. You will visit the old city including the Omayyad Mosque, originally built in the 8th century as a Byzantine Cathedral, and also the Tomb of Saladin dating from 1193.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 3 - Damascus. Via Sednaya and Maalula to Homs.

Further visits this morning will include the Street Called Straight, mentioned in the Bible, the National Museum and the Azem Palace, a magnificently decorated former home of the Governor of Damascus (18th century). In the afternoon you will head north to the small village of Sednaya to visit the Greek Orthodox convent which contains a famous icon of the Virgin Mary claimed to have been painted by St Luke. Continue to Maalula, where Aramaic (the language of Christ) is still spoken, before reaching the city of Homs, where you stay overnight.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 4 - Krak des Chevaliers. Drive to Palmyra.

After breakfast drive west from Homs to visit the imposing crusader castle of Krak des Chevaliers [more].  In the afternoon journey through the Syrian Desert to the oasis city of Palmyra, where you will stay for the next two nights.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 5 - Palmyra.

A full day to explore the impressive ruins of Palmyra [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 6 - By road to Bosra.

A full and interesting day as you drive off the beaten track through the volcanic landscape of the Jebel Druze mountains. First stop is at Suweida, whose small museum displays some excellent moasaics from Roman Chaba (Philippopolis - see below). Continue to the town of Qanawat with its 2nd century AD Roman temple, built in the black basalt that is typical of the region. Our final visit is to Chaba (Philippopolis) itself; founded by Philip the Arab, the only Arab ever to become a Roman Emperor, the city flourished in the 3rd century AD, and you can still see today the colossal Roman baths, the theatre and the forum. The site museum also has some spectacular mosaics from the period. In the late afternoon reach Bosra.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 7 – Bosra, Jerash. Continue to Amman.

Morning visit to Bosra [more]. On leaving Bosra, drive south and cross the border into neighbouring Jordan to visit another Roman gem, the breathtaking ruins of Jerash [more]. Continue to Jordan's capital city, Amman for overnight.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 8 - The King's Highway to Petra.

Today's journey takes you along the scenic King's Highway, the main north-south trade route through Transjordan since prehistoric times. First stop is at Mount Nebo [more].  A short journey to the town of Madaba next takes you to the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George with its superb mosaic map of Palestine [more]. Traversing the spectacular Wadi Mujib, often referred to as "Jordan's Grand Canyon", continue to the majestic Crusader castle of Kerak [more]. As well as exploring this masterpiece of 12th century military architecture, you will have lunch in the town of Kerak before continuing south. In the late afternoon today's historic journey ends with arrival in Petra, the highlight of any visit to Jordan.
Meals included: Full breakfast, lunch.

DAY 9 - Petra.

A day to explore Petra, undoubtedly one of the world's great destinations [more].
Meals included: Full breakfast.

Pictured left: The dramatic first view of Petra's Treasury as you emerge from the 'Siq'.

DAY 10 – Petra.

World Discovery will provide you with a special 2 day Petra entrance ticket so that you can return to the city for further exploration this morning if you wish at no extra cost. Alternatively we could arrange for you to visit Siq al-Berid, often referred to as 'Little Petra', or to take a late afternoon trip to Wadi Rum to see the glorious mountain and desert colours change as the sun goes down.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 11 – Shobak, the Dead Sea.

Leave Petra after breakfast and head north to Shobak, another Crusader castle which is smaller than Kerak but still of great interest. Descend from the mountains into the Jordan Valley, continuing through a barren yet dramatic landscape to the banks of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth (408m/1,305 ft below sea level). Your hotel is located on the northeast shores of this unique inland sea.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 12 - The Dead Sea.

At leisure. A variety of spa treatments are available at the hotel.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 13 - Depart for home.

Private transfer to Amman's Queen Alia Airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

International Flights

We recommend the direct services of bmi from London Heathrow. Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Damascus. Depart at 21.00; arrive Damascus at 04.30 (next morning)
Amman/Heathrow. Depart at 09.10; arrive Heathrow at 13.00

From Palmyra to Petra (Tour Reference: WDSY004)
2010 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded rooms with private bathrooms.
• 12 full breakfasts and 2 lunches as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation throughout.
• Your own private English-speaking guides in Syria (days 2 to 7) and Jordan (days 8 to 11).
• All sightseeing as shown, including entrance fees.

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing. The World Discovery representatives in Syria will be pleased to organise any additional sightseeing you may wish to include during your stay.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.
• Syria Departure Tax (introduced in July 2008). This must be paid in local currency at the border on departure and costs 500 Syrian Pounds (approximately £6).
  
• Syrian visa. Although this can be obtained on arrival in Damascus, delays of up to an hour are not unusual, so we strongly advise you to obtain your visa in the UK prior to departure. We recommend that you obtain it through CIBT in London - www.uk.cibt.com. The Jordanian visa can be obtained before departure from the Jordanian Embassy in London, or alternatively you can purchase the visa (current price JD10 or approximately £7.50) at the Syria/Jordan border (recommended).
  

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your travel arrangements must be paid at least 8 weeks before your departure date.