Guaranteed Weekly Departure

Day 1 Depart USA on a scheduled flight to Damascus. All meals and beverages served on board flight.

Day 2 Arrive Damascus International Airport where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel, the Cham Palace Hotel for an overnight.(D)

Day 3 Breakfast, then start your tour of Damascus visiting the National Museum which is divided into five sections: the Prehistoric section, the Oriental section, the Greco-Roman section, the Byzantine section, the Arab-Islamic section and a modern art gallery. From there visit the old and colorful Bazaar. Visit the famous Omayyad Mosque filled with mosaics inlaid with gold, one of the largest mosques in the world and where the head of St. John the Baptist is buried. From there visit Azem Palace which was built in 1749 for Assad Al-Azem, Governor of Damascus then. In the afternoon visit Via Recta mentioned in the historic stories when Saint Paul was blinded by God's revelation on the road to Damascus. Visit also Anania's House where Saint Paul met Ananias, a Christian of Damascus, who put his hands on him so he might receive his sight and be blessed with the Holy Ghost. Continue our tour to visit Bab Sharqi (the Eastern Gate) and Saint Paul's Window. It is an old Roman gate, preserved by the Byzantines and the Arabs, and restored many times particulaly in the 12th century, Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

 

Day 4 Breakfast, then drive for about an hour and a half crossing the Syrian border into Lebanon. Visit Anjar, Lebanon's only remaining walled city. The stones and carvings were brought to this spot by decree of the Omayyad Khaliph-al-Walid in the early 8th century AD, who built the Omayyad Mosque. See the ruins of restored palaces, markets (souks), baths, colonnaded streets and walls. Lunch at a traditional Lebanese restaurant to experience the famous Lebanese cuisine. Continue our tour to visit Baalbek, the largest and best preserved Acropolis of Roman architecture left in the world. Its temples are dedicated to Jupiter, Venus and Bacchus, and were built in the 2nd and 3rd century AD. The ruins present a majestic ensemble: two temples, two courtyards preceded by propylaea (ceremonial entrances) as well as six immense columns still soar upwards. In the evening transfer back to Damascus for dinner and overnight. (B,L,D)

 

 

Day 5 Breakfast, then drive from Damascus to Maaloula, about an hour and half drive, to see the village where people still speak "Aramaic" the language of Christ. Visit the convent of Saint Sergius (Sarkis) where there is a small Byzantine chapel. This church is one of the oldest in the world dating back to the year 300 AD. Behind the monastery there is another convent dedicated to Saint Takla who converted into Christianity after being deeply moved by Saint Paul's epistle. A few steps and terraces will lead to a small church where Saint Takla is buried and water dripping from the roof is said to possess miraculous powers. Continue our tour with an hour drive to Krak Des Chevaliers and visit the famous Crusader castle from the 11th century. It is the most spectacular example of Crusader Military architecture in the Middle Ages. Drive for about an hour and a half to reach Hama. Dinner and overnight at the Cham Palace Hotel in Hama. (B,D)

 

Day 6 Breakfast, then visit the town of Hama with its Norias giant water wheels located on the Orontes river. You will be allowed time to take pictures of these 400-year old water wheels. A break for some Middle Eastern coffee at a coffee house. In the afternoon take an hour and a half drive to Apamea, the town built by Seleucos Nicator, one of the commanders of Alexander the Great, see the antique 1000-column Hellenistic city dating back to the year 299 BC, as well as a theater with a facade 450 foot long and is one of the largest known. Continue your tour to Bara. This is one of the largest and most impressive sties of the dead cities, extending a mile and half. Drive to the beautiful city Aleppo for check-in at the luxurious and historic hotel, the Dar Zamaria Martini Hotel. In the evening you will be met and transferred to a traditional Aleppo club where you will enjoy local music and a floor show performance while being served delicious Syrian food. Later transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 7 Breakfast, then start your tour with a forty minute drive in the countryside, visiting the beautiful cathedral of Saint Simeon dating to 420 AD, where Saint Simeon lived over a column for 42 years preaching. The Byzantine cathedral was the largest one in the Byzantine empire. A special lunch at a villager home, then continue your tour of Aleppo visiting the Aleppo museum with strong emphasis on the Iron-Age as well as the Byzantine era. Visit the Grand Mosque dating from 1090 AD and founded in the early Islamic period. Continue your tour to visit the 6-mile-long colorful bazaar of Aleppo. In the afternoon visit the Citadel which was constructed around 333-364 BC, and see some caravanserais and the old Christian neighborhood. A short visit and a stop for coffee at the historic and ancient Baron Hotel where Lawrence of Arabia stayed and see his signature on a few items and also view other historic items the hotel displays. Tour the hotel and later transfer back to your hotel. In the evening you will be met and transferred to a Syrian home in Aleppo for a traditional dinner and get acquainted with the local people and their culture. Later transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)

 

Day 8 Breakfast, then a four hour drive from Aleppo to Palmyra. Start your tour visiting the largest oasis in the desert which has the biggest Roman town in the Middle East. The ruins of Palmyra are very impressive both by their extent and by their remarkable state of preservation. Visit the great Temple of Bel and the sacrifice altar, the main colonnaded street and its associated buildings, the Diocletian's Camp, the Museum of Palmyra with religious and funerary art depicting the sculptural tradition of wealthy Palmyrian people and how they commemorated their dead, the Temple of Baal-Shamin, Temple of Nebo, Roman Baths, the Tetrapylon, the Theater, Statue of Queen Zenobia, the Funerary Temple, the Temple of Allat, the Damascus Gate and the tower Tomb of Kithoth built in 40 AD which stands 29 feet high. Lunch at Siahi restaurant facing the museum of Palmyra. Continue our tour to visit the Tower Tomb of Elahbel and his three brothers which was built to accommodate 300 burial spots. Transfer to your hotel, the Cham Palace hotel in Palmyra for check-in and overnight. (B,L)

Day 9 Breakfast and morning at leisure. In the afternoon, a three hour drive to Damascus. Arrive Damascus and transfer to the Cham Palace Hotel. Later you will be met and transferred to a Syrian bath and Spa for a rejuvenating experience, a Turkish steam bath, where they are still being operated the very same ancient way. It enhances your health by managing stress. This ancient art will include a loofah scrub to give your skin a new life by opening pores, stimulating circulation and removing dead skin cells. Also included will be a short massage for relaxation. Transfer back to your hotel. Balance of day at leisure. Overnight. (B,L)

Day 10 Breakfast, then you will be met by your tour guide and transferred to Damascus Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Arrive Istanbul where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel, the luxurious Intercontinental Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 11 Breakfast, then start a full day city tour to explore the famous treasures of Istanbul, the bridge between the past and the present: Saint Sophia, the Blue Mosque, famous for its colorful tiles; The Hippodrome, a center for political events of the old city; Topkapi Palace, Imperial residence of Ottoman Sultans exhibiting imperial treasury, weapons, calligraphy and more. Also visit Soliman Mosque built in the 16th century as well as the Grand Bazaar claimed to be the largest in the world with nearly 4000 shops. Transfer back to your hotel. Later in the evening you will be met and transferred to the Sea Port Fish restaurant in an old Turkish house for dinner on the Bosphorus. Transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 12 Breakfast, then you will be met by our representative and transferred to Istanbul airport for your flight to Ankara. Arrive Ankara and start your tour visiting the Museum of Anatolian Civilization which is located in a restored bazaar. The museum has the most unique and priceless collection dating back to the Prehistoric Era. Continue our tour to visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk. It is a magnificent structure serving as a tribute to the founder of modern Turkey. Drive to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel, the Dedeman Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 13 Breakfast, then start your tour visiting the Citadel of Uchisar which will enable you to get a panoramic view of the region, then continue to the Goreme Valley which is the highlight of the day. This valley houses the Goreme open air museum with its churches hewn out of rock with colorful frescoes which decorates them. Our next stop is Zelve and the caves of this ancient village, the underground city of Kaymakli (Derinkuyu) which was carved by refugees from persecutors during the early Christian Era. Dinner will be served in a typical Turkish restaurant with a Turkish folkloric show. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B,D)

Day 14 Breakfast, then drive to Ankara for your domestic flight to Izmir. Arrive Izmir where you will be met and transferred to the Hilton Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Day 15 Breakfast, then start your tour of Ephesus: This is the best preserved and most often visited of all sites in Turkey. It is dedicated to Artemis who is the virgin goddess of Chase. Continue our tour to visit the house of the Virgin Mary which is world famous. Drive to Izmir for dinner at a famous restaurant in Kordon, the most popular area of Izmir. Later transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 16 Breakfast, then start your tour of Izmir visiting the castle of Agora the antique and modern city. Transfer with your tour guide to Izmir airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. Arrive Istanbul where you will be met and transferred to your hotel, the luxurious Swissotel in Istanbul. Balance of day at leisure. In the evening you will be met and transferred to Pescatore, a famous seafood restaurant on the Bosphorus shore for dinner. Later transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 17 Breakfast, then start your tour visiting the Spice Bazaar and Dolmabahce Palace: the last residence for Ottoman sultans, with 365 rooms and 22 reception areas. In the afternoon visit Akmerkez, the beautiful and most popular shopping center in Europe. Transfer back to your hotel. In the evening you will be met and transferred to Kervansaray Night Club for dinner and a Turkish folkloric music dance show including a floor show and Turkish belly dancing. Later transfer back to your hotel for an overnight. (B,D)

Day 18 Breakfast, then you will be met and transferred to Istanbul airport for your flight back home. (B)

Also Included: All transfers within Egypt, personalized sight-seeing as mentioned in itinerary in a private car with a tour guide and driver. Entrance fees to all sights mentioned, and the services of a professional English speaking guide. Service charges imposed by hotels, porterage, cruise port charges, meeting and assistance at airports, hotels and docks are also included.

If airfare from the U.S.A. is not required, please deduct $920 from posted rate.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: For single occupancy in hotels and on board cruise, please add $369.

EXTENSIONS & OPTIONAL TOURS: Extra days and optional tours to sites are available upon request.