Middle East

LEBANON – Land of the Phoenicians

Posted by patricksyder on May 20, 2019
Posted in: Lebanon, Middle East. Tagged: .

Superb Lionhead sculpture, Jupiter Temple, Baalbek

Lebanon Tour (LB) Dossier 2020

A short but in-depth detailed tour of Lebanon, once known as the ‘Switzerland of the Middle East’. Scenically stunning with high mountains, deep fertile valleys and a stunning coastal stretch, along with a wealth of well-preserved archaeological sites with very few visitors and mixed with the region’s best cuisine and world rated wineries, the country has much to offer! The tour covers this small but alluring country in its entirety, allowing time to discover both its rich antiquities, in particular the great temples of Baalbek, but also appreciate its modernity in busy Beirut and the relaxed ancient harbour city of Byblos.

ISRAEL, PALESTINE and JORDAN – The Holy Land

Posted by patricksyder on October 19, 2017
Posted in: Israel and Palestine, Jordan, Middle East.

THE HOLY LAND TOUR

6 – 17 March 2018

Accompanied in JORDAN by Patrick Syder FRGS

This very comprehensive tour to Israel, Palestine and Jordan encompasses the best of the regions history, culture, food and people. Learn about the region that is home to three major faiths as you explore the Holy Land, visiting the town of Jesus’s youth, the sites of important biblical stories, and the modern cities of today. Experience the Holy Land with an in-depth itinerary that not only includes many on and off the path biblical sites but provides significant opportunities for engagement with the many cultures present today.

Itinerary

Tuesday 6 March 2018
Day 1 – Arrival Israel – Tel Aviv

Welcome dinner at top quality restaurant in Old Jaffa.
Overnight in Tel Aviv at the 65 Hotel (D)

Wednesday 7 March 2018
Day 2 – Tel Aviv / Jaffa

Visit to downtown Tel Aviv and Old Jaffa, Tour Old Jaffa. Walk through Tel Aviv’s first neighbourhood outside of Jaffa, Neve Tzedek to Rothschild Boulevard, the heart of “Old Tel Aviv” – originally known as “Ahuzat Bayit”. In recent years Rothschild Boulevard has become the financial center and primary dining district of Tel Aviv and the street and neighbouring alleyways are renowned for their Bauhaus period architecture. Tel Aviv is known as the “White City” and is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its high concentration of Bauhaus architecture.

Enjoy lunch on own in Tel Aviv’s famed Carmel Market.

Visit the Mind and Innovation Centre and learn about the “Start up Nation” from a local expert. Tour Independence Hall, the site where Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion declared the State of Israel.

Tonight we will enjoy dinner in downtown Tel Aviv

Overnight in Tel Aviv at the 65 Hotel (B, D)

Thursday 8th March 2018
Day 3 – Tel Aviv – Caesarea – Nazareth

Visit Roman Caesarea, Herod’s seaside fortress with its fantastically preserved hippodrome and amphitheatre. We will continue north for a view of the Baha’i Gardens and then drive up to Mt. Carmel for a panoramic view.

Enjoy Druze home hospitality over lunch.

Continue to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and view the Cave where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1: 26-37). Tour the Old City and see Mary’s Well and the ancient synagogue.

Overnight in Kinneret, Tiberias at the U Boutique Hotel, with dinner (B, L, D)

Friday 9th March 2018
Day 4 – Sea of Galilee

Begin the day with a boat-ride across the Sea of Galilee where Jesus walked on the water (Matthew 14:22-23) to reach Capernaum. We will visit the ruins of this village, often called the hometown of Jesus, with its synagogue church marking the home of Peter, and dwellings from the time of Jesus. Next, stop at the nearby Chapel of the Primacy of Peter, where Jesus appeared to the Apostles after the resurrection. Nearby is the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes at Tabgha, with its famed mosaic depicting the two fishes and the five loaves multiplied by Jesus. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gave His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7 and Luke 6) Drive south and stop at Israel’s first Kibbutz, Degania Alef, and enjoy lunch. Continue driving south through the Jordan Valley towards Jerusalem. Arrive Jerusalem and see one of the most magnificent views in the world: ancient Jerusalem as seen from the top of the Mount of Olives. Check into your hotel and freshen up.

Experience a Shabbat home hospitality dinner with a Jewish family.

Overnight in Jerusalem at Arthur Hotel (B, L, D)

Saturday 10th March 2018
Day 5 – Jerusalem (Old City)

Welcome the day at the Garden of Gethsemane at the base of the mountain of Olives the site where Jesus and his disciples were together before his arrest. Enter the Old City via Lion’s Gate, also known as St.Stephen’s Gate to the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed a paralytic. Continue along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrows, which tradition says Jesus went with the cross to Calvary. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, which passes through the colorful Old City markets to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the traditional site of the crucifixion of Jesus. Lunch in the Old City, together with local Christians, in the Wujoud Center located in the heart of the Arab market. In the afternoon continue to the Jewish Quarter and see the Southwestern steps of the Temple Mount stopping for private prayer at the Western Wall, the most significant site for the Jewish people. Visit Mount Zion and the Room of the Last Supper. Enjoy time at leisure for shopping.

Tonight enjoy dinner home hospitality at a local Muslim home in Beit Safafa

Overnight in Jerusalem at Arthur Hotel (B, L, D)

Sunday 11th March 2018
Day 6 – Jericho – Masada – Dead Sea Jerusalem

This morning we will enjoy a short city tour of Jericho and see the Tree of Zacchaeus. We will then ascend the Qarantal, the Mount of Temptation by cable-car. It is here that Jesus went into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days following His baptism and was tempted by Satan, as described in the
Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, enjoy the panoramic view of the Oasis of Jericho, and see the site of the first victory of the Israelites in the Land of Canaan (Joshua 6). After lunch, drive to Masada and ascend to visit this fortress by Cable Car. We will continue to one of the Dead Sea Beaches for an opportunity to float in its salty waters before returning to Jerusalem.

Dinner at quality restaurant in Jerusalem

Overnight in Jerusalem at Arthur Hotel (B, L, D)

Monday 12th March 2018
Day 7 – Jerusalem – New City

We will begin our day with a tour of Israel’s seat of government, the Knesset, based in Jerusalem. We will continue to the Israel Museum to see the Holy Land Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book. After lunch in the Machanei Yehuda market, we spend the afternoon at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial.

Dinner at quality restaurant in Jerusalem

Overnight in Jerusalem at Arthur Hotel (B, L, D)

Tuesday 13th March 2018
Day 8 – Ein Karem – Bethlehem – Jerusalem

We will drive this morning to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptist and enjoy a visit to the Church of the Visitation. Visit the renowned Chagall Windows at Hadassah Hospital. Continue through the Judean Hills to Bethlehem including a visit to the Church of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7), the birthplace of Jesus and stroll along Manger Square. Lunch with a Christian family in Bethlehem. Return to Jerusalem to rest and freshen up.

Farewell dinner at top quality restaurant in Jerusalem

Overnight in Jerusalem at Arthur Hotel (B, L, D)

Wednesday 14th March 2018
Day 9 – Departure
Transfer to Tel Aviv airport to fly to USA or continue to Jordan (B)

Cost of Land Package per person sharing a double room:- $3,750.00

Single Supplement – $795.00

Included in Package:

– Meet & Assist at airport upon arrival and departure including airport transfers
– 2 Overnights accommodation in Tel Aviv (65 Hotel or similar)
– 1 Overnights accommodation in Tiberias (U Boutique Kinneret Hotel or similar)
– 5 Overnights accommodation in Jerusalem (Arthur Hotel or similar)
– 8 Breakfasts and 1 Dinner at hotels
– 5 Lunches en route
– 4 Special Hospitality segments and Meals with families
– 4 Quality restaurant dinners
– 1 special Farewell Dinner
– Tourist Bus throughout tour as per itinerary
– Professional licensed Tour guide
– All entrance fees as mentioned
– Daily small bottle of mineral water per person

Not Included in Package:

– Airfare
– Basic Gratuities to Guide & Driver, Hotel Staff, and service charge at restaurants
– Drinks at Meals
– Items of personal nature
– Travel Insurance
– Small Gifts for Families (Wine / Chocolates / Flowers or traditional items
from your hometown)

Recommended Cash Payments for Customary Tipping: (not included in the above tour price; however, we recommend these amounts are budgeted for and collected by tour leader in advance for proper distribution at restaurant meals and at end of Tour) a total of $150.00 per person to cover tour guide, bus driver and restaurant staff

Extension to JORDAN

Accompanied by Patrick Syder FRGS

This optional extension tour to Jordan offers the opportunity to visit the biblical sites of Mount Nebo and Madaba and enjoy an extended two day visit to Petra; the ‘Rose-red city half as old as time’ and the highlight of our trip. We finish with a relaxing stay at a luxurious Dead Sea resort for our final evening

Wednesday 14th March 2018
Day 1 – Allenby bridge Border – Mount Nebo – Madaba – Petra

We will cross into Jordan and drive along the Jordan Valley before ascending to Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land. We take lunch in Madaba and view a unique mosaic map of Palestine made in the 6th century BC before we depart for Petra arriving in the late afternoon

Hotel: Mövenpick Hotel, Petra with dinner (B,L,D)

Thursday 15th March 2018
Day 2 – Petra

The full day will be devoted to exploring the breathtakingly beautiful city of Petra, carved into rose-colored sandstone including an afternoon hike up to the Monastery

Hotel: Mövenpick Hotel, Petra with dinner (B,L,D)

Friday 16th March 2018
Day 3 – Petra – Dead Sea

We re-enter Petra and climb to the High Place of Sacrifice. The views out over the city are spectacular. Afternoon drive to the Dead Sea.

Hotel: Mövenpick Resort and Spa, Dead Sea with dinner (B,L,D)

Saturday 17th March 2018
Day 4 – Transfer to Amman airport – Fly to USA

After breakfast we transfer the short one hour drive to Amman International airport for our flight home (B)

Cost of Land Package per person sharing a double room: $1,595.00 per person

Single Room Supplement: $320.00

Included in Package:

– Meet at Allenby Bridge
– Private transfers in 10-seater van
– English-speaking guide
– 2 overnight in Moevenpick Resort 5*/Petra on HB basis
– 1 overnight in Moevenpick Resort 5*/Dead Sea on HB basis
– 1 Lunch in Madaba / Haret Gdoudna Restaurant
– 1 Lunch in Petra / Basin Restaurant
– Entrance fees (including Petra 2 day ticket)

Not Included in Package:

– Airfare
– Basic Gratuities to Guide & Driver, Hotel Staff, and service charge at restaurants
– Drinks at Meals
– Items of personal nature
– Travel Insurance

Recommended Cash Payments for Customary Tipping: (not included in the above tour price; however, we recommend these amounts are budgeted for and collected by tour leader in advance for proper distribution at restaurant meals and at end of tour) a total of $100.00 per person to cover tour guide, bus driver and restaurant staff

A gulf between them: Understanding the Saudi-Iran dispute

Posted by patricksyder on January 10, 2016
Posted in: Iran, Syder Travel Blog.

People sit in from of a banner with the pictures of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali KhameneiCould open conflict now be one step closer between the two big regional powers in the Gulf? This week has seen tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran rise to dangerous levels following the Saudis’ execution of a Shia cleric and the subsequent storming of the Saudi embassy in Tehran by an angry mob.

The BBC’s Frank Gardner, whose attempted murderer was also executed by the Saudis last weekend, examines the historic enmity between the two regimes and assesses whether they can ever settle their differences.

In Saudi Arabia, a country that last year put to death a record 153 convicted prisoners, there has rarely been a more controversial execution in recent years. Amongst the 47 condemned men whose sentences were carried out simultaneously on 2 January one name stood out from all the others.

Sheikh Nimr Al-Nimr, a firebrand Shia cleric and popular figurehead for thousands of disaffected Saudi Shias living in the country’s Eastern Province.

Arrested in 2012 in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings and charged with “disobedience to the ruler” and bearing arms, Al-Nimr’s supporters insisted he only ever called for peaceful protest and fair rights for the Shia minority. His critics, including Sunni hardliners, called him a terrorist, while the Saudi government suspected him of being an agent of Iran.

Of the 47 people executed that day, 43 were Sunnis and most of those were extremists. One was the last surviving criminal from a gang that attacked our BBC film crew in Riyadh in 2004, killing my Irish cameraman Simon Cumbers and putting six bullets into me and crippling me for life.

Yet it was the death of the Shia cleric Al-Nimr that was always going to be the most inflammatory in a region already beset with sectarian fault lines. There have been angry protests by Shia in Bahrain, Iraq and Lebanon.

In Iran, a country ruled since 1979 by Shia clerics, and which reportedly executed nearly 1,000 of its own people last year, the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei said the Saudi leadership would face “divine revenge”.

Optimists hoped that was a subtle way of absolving Iran from having to take any action itself.

But within a day an Iranian mob had vented its fury on the Saudi embassy in Tehran, setting it on fire and prompting Riyadh to sever all diplomatic, trade and transport links with Iran. For the hardliners in the Iranian regime, wary of their country’s coming return to the world stage, this was probably a relief.

But for moderates and pragmatists keen to see last year’s nuclear deal ratified and billions of dollars unfrozen, the embassy storming was an embarrassment they could have done without. One by one, Riyadh’s allies – Bahrain, Sudan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE – have taken their own punitive measures against Iran. Saudi-Iranian relations are close to their lowest ebb for 30 years.

So where did this Saudi-Iranian hostility spring from and is it all about religion?

19 January 1979: More than a million supporters of an Islamic republic assembled around Shayad (Shah Memorial) monument in Tehran, Iran

As a nation, Saudi Arabia has only been in existence since 1932 but the land it governs – most of the Arabian Peninsula – is the birthplace of Islam and home to its two holiest shrines, in Mecca and Medina.

In the early years of the Islamic conquests in the 7th Century AD Muslim armies burst out of Arabia to defeat the Persians, ending their Sasanian Empire. Later on in that century, following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, a dispute erupted over who should succeed as “khalifa”, or caliph, to rule the burgeoning Islamic empire.

A breakaway group believed it should have been Ali, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, who was assassinated and his two sons denied the succession. The group became known as “Shia Ali”, the party of Ali, and Shias still harbour this historic grudge. Today they are in a majority in Iran, Iraq, and Bahrain.

But in more recent times, the Saudi-Iranian rivalry has been primarily about power play, sparked by Iran’s Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Before then, while the Shah of Iran was on the throne, relations were cordial and the Arab Gulf states were content to let Iran’s navy act as “the policeman of the Gulf”. Hence the American term coined at the time, calling it “the Persian Gulf”. Western expatriates living in either Iran or Saudi Arabia enjoyed a relatively relaxed, liberal lifestyle with frequent alcohol-fuelled parties in both affluent north Tehran and in the housing compounds of Dhahran.

That all changed with the Iranian revolution. Suddenly, a competition emerged to prove which country was most worthy of leading the Islamic world. As Iran’s new rulers vowed to export their Islamic Revolution and undermine what they saw as corrupt, unworthy princes, Saudi Arabia outdid itself to crack down on anything deemed to be un-Islamic.

The final straw was the brief storming and occupation of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by a dissident Islamic group. The Al-Saud regime was shaken to the core and decided its key to survival was to cement its ties with the austere Wahhabi religious establishment, giving the clerics a huge say in areas of public life like education, justice and social mores.
Tension spikes

In practice this has led to a sort of quasi-arms race for influence, with both Iran and Saudi Arabia exporting and promoting their own versions of Islam, in direct competition with each other

Iran’s allies now include Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria’s President Assad, and the powerful Shia militias in Iraq, such as Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haqq, the same group that kidnapped five Britons in Baghdad in 2007 and murdered four of them.

The Saudis believe that what they call Iran’s “meddling” in the region extends to other countries too, giving them a degree of paranoia. They accuse Iran of fuelling Shia discontent in Saudi and Bahrain and of backing the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Iran’s rulers for their part accuse the Saudis of bankrolling such an extreme, intolerant brand of Sunni Islam that they hold them responsible for the rise of jihadist groups like al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State (IS).

The current war of words between Riyadh and Tehran is only the latest in a succession of spikes in tension.

For eight years, as Iran and Iraq fought each other to a standstill in what locals called “the First Gulf War” from 1980-88, Saudi Arabia and its Arab Gulf allies backed Saddam Hussein’s Iraq as a bulwark against revolutionary Iran.

In 1987 over 400 people were killed in Mecca when Iranian pilgrims held a political rally and clashed with Saudi security forces, leading to a three-year break in diplomatic ties.

When Iran’s moderate President Khatami came to power in 1997, better relations followed.

Soon after he was elected I sat with Iranian friends in a cafe in Shiraz. “You see those guys over there?” they said, pointing to a group of well-built, thuggish-looking men with scruffy beards and military jackets, sipping sweet tea and scowling. “They’re the old guard, die-hard revolutionaries who hate the West and its allies. Their time is over.”

How wrong they were. In 2005 Khatami was succeeded by the combative President Ahmadinejad and relations with the Gulf Arabs took a nosedive as his mentors, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps, were once more in the ascendant.

When the Arab Spring protests erupted in 2011, Iran, which had crushed its own democratic protest movement two years earlier, claimed the credit for sparking reformist movements across the Arab world.

This only deepened the Saudis’ distrust of Tehran and in March that year, as Shia-led protests erupted in Bahrain, the Saudis sent 1,000 National Guard troops into Bahrain to guard key installations. It was a largely symbolic gesture, aimed at warning Tehran to back off and forget any idea of toppling the island’s Sunni monarchy and replacing it with a Shia Islamic republic.

Today, Iran once again has a relatively moderate, pragmatic president in the form of Hassan Rouhani, while Saudi Arabia has embarked on a new and aggressive foreign policy that has seen it bogged down in an unwinnable war in Yemen.

Yet only two weeks ago there was talk of Saudi Arabia and Iran burying their differences around the table at the Syria peace talks. Perhaps a grand bargain could be struck that would finally end that country’s appalling civil war. IS could be defeated as a common foe and Saudi Arabia and Iran could both end their military support for opposing sides.

Today those goals, while not impossible, have definitely receded over the horizon.

IRAN – Treasures of Ancient Persia

Posted by patricksyder on January 26, 2014
Posted in: Middle East.

Imam mosque, Isfahan
The Imam Mosque, a fine example of Iran’s incomparable Islamic architecture, Isfahan

4 – 18 October 2016

Places Available

Escorted and guided by local expert Mr Rahman Mehraby

Iran Tour (IR) Dossier 2016 Click to download itinerary (pdf format)

A detailed and comprehensive journey through Iran, concentrating on its rich legacy as the once great Persian Empire. The itinerary allows time for the traveller to appreciate the concept of modern Iran, as well as the stunning Islamic architectural heritage and archaeological monuments of ancient Persia. Highlights of the tour include Persepolis; the great ceremonial capital of the Archaemenid kings and Isfahan, the famous 17th century Safavid capital described then as ‘half the world’ with its rose gardens, stunning blue domes and tiled minarets.

CENTRAL ANATOLIA – A Journey through Antiquity

Posted by patricksyder on January 3, 2014
Posted in: Middle East. Leave a comment

Römisches Theater in Aspendos, Antalya, Südküste, Türkei
Aspendos Roman Theatre, Antalya

9 – 19 May 2015

Places Available

Turkey Tour (TCA) Dossier 2015 Click to download itinerary (pdf format)

An inspirational journey through Central Anatolia from Ankara, Turkey’s modern capital, to Antalya, perfectly located on the southern coast, and still retaining much of its antique character. Along the way we discover the vast range of varying religious faiths that have influenced the region’s historical and cultural legacies. From the power of the Hittite civilisation and the might of the Roman Empire to the exquisite art of the Byzantines and the mystical philosophy of the Sufi Dervish, this tour promises the traveller a rich and varied experience of an unspoilt and little visited region

IRAQI KURDISTAN – Land of the Kurds

Posted by patricksyder on August 30, 2013
Posted in: Middle East. 1 Comment

Erbil, Kurdistan
The main square, Erbil

Iraqi Kurdistan Tour (IK) Dossier Click to download itinerary (pdf format)

Kurdistan is not only safe and peaceful, it’s scenically splendid, historically fascinating and its people are hugely welcoming. This comprehensive eight day escorted tour includes the three major cities of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulymaniyah. We explore the colossal citadel in Erbil, marvel at the beauty of the Gali Ali Beg canyon, dine at a traditional Kurdish picnic and acknowledge the terrible legacy of Saddam Hussein. Throughout our journey across the region lined with fertile valleys, stunning waterfalls, green pastures and snow-capped mountains, we experience the warmth, generosity and pride of the Kurdish people who despite the challenges of their recent past, are now looking forward to a prosperous and bright future. Now is the time to visit before the crowds discover this hidden world

TURKEY – A Journey through Anatolia

Posted by patricksyder on June 5, 2013
Posted in: Middle East. Leave a comment

Church of the Holy Cross, Akdamar Island, Anatolia
Stunning carved exterior of the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, Lake Van

20 May – 3 June 2014

Places Available

Turkey Anatolia Tour (TA) Dossier 2014 Click to download itinerary (pdf format)

A detailed journey through the Anatolian plains of Asia Minor, visiting the little discovered eastern region of Turkey where great empires have flourished and faded over the millennia, and stunning scenery and landscapes capture the imagination. This area contains the complete spectrum of chronology covering the Bronze and Iron Age, where various cultures came and left their mark including the Assyrians, Hittites and Phrygians. As well as these earlier civilisations there will be an opportunity to admire Byzantine churches and the architecture of the Seljuk and Ottoman Turks. The climax to the trip is the visit to the mountaintop of Nemrut Dagi, famed burial place of Antiochus I. Time is also spent in the ancient city of Constantinople; Istanbul today

JORDAN – Treasures of a Fabled Land

Posted by patricksyder on June 4, 2013
Posted in: Jordan, Middle East. Leave a comment
Monastery, Petra, Jordan

Soft evening light on the Monastery, Petra © Patrick Syder Images

This classic Jordan tour offers a varied and comprehensive journey through the Royal Hashemite Kingdom. You will be able to visit a magnificent Crusader castle at Kerak, explore one of the best preserved Roman cities at Jerash, drive by 4WD through Lawrence of Arabia’s Wadi Rum, float on the Dead Sea, and enjoy an extended 2 day visit to Petra; the rose-red city half as old as time and the highlight of your trip. Jordan’s scenery is truly stunning, ranging from the desert sands of Wadi Rum to the green Jordan Valley and the coral rich waters of the Red Sea

ITINERARY

 Day 1   Fly to Amman

Depart from Heathrow with Royal Jordanian. Evening arrival and transfer to the centrally located Geneva hotel for two nights

Day 2   Visit Amman and Jerash

We start the day at the capital’s open-air museum sited at the Citadel which houses the National Archaeological Museum, the Roman Temple of Hercules and the Roman Theatre below. We continue north of the capital to visit the fabulously well-preserved Roman city of Jerash with its evocative Theatre, grand circular Forum and the paved way leading to the impressive Temple of Artemis. Welcome dinner in typical local restaurant (B,D)

Day 3   Visit Madaba, Mt Nebo and Kerak

Depart this morning heading west and visit the monastery at Mount Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. There is a visit to the Archaeological Park at Madaba that includes the church of St. George with its unique 6th Century mosaic map of Palestine. Heading south along the ancient Kings Highway we pause at Umm Ar-Rasas, where the small church of St Stephen houses some fine 8th century mosaics. We continue to Kerak for a visit to the Crusader castle built in the town in 1142 by Baldwin I of Jerusalem. We drive along the Desert highway to the fabled city of Petra for a three-night stay at the Petra Panorama hotel with panoramic views across the mountains that surround the ancient city (B,D)

Day 4   In Petra

The ‘Rose Red City’ of Petra is the highlight of Jordan’s ancient treasures. We have a guided tour this morning of the main magnificent facades, temples and architectural wonders of ancient Petra. In the afternoon there is the option to climb the steep steps to the stunning Monastery (B,D)

Day 5  In Petra

We have a day at leisure to enjoy walking in the site to marvel at the architectural wonders and stunning landscape that makes Petra so special and unique. You might want to climb the steps to the High Place to get the most outstanding views across the ancient city (B,D)

Day 6  Visit little Petra. Drive to Wadi Rum

This morning we visit Little Petra before leaving for Wadi Rum desert, which so inspired Lawrence of Arabia and where he wrote The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Here we board 4 wheel-drive vehicles for a two hour excursion into the desert and enjoy exploring the dramatic landscape of fabulous rock formations and colourful desert sands before arriving at our luxury camp for a night under the stars. (B,D)

Day 7  Drive to the Dead Sea

We continue to the Dead Sea for two nights at the Crowne Plaza hotel located along the shore. An afternoon at leisure to enjoy the floating experience in the Dead Sea or perhaps the rejuvenating properties of a mud bath! (B,D)

Day 8  At leisure at the Dead Sea and visit Bethany

An opportunity to visit the recently discovered site of Bethany where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist this morning. Free afternoon to enjoy the various relaxing options available at our luxury hotel. (B,D)

Day 9  Fly to UK

We have a morning transfer to the Queen Alia airport for our return flight on Royal Jordanian Airlines to London Heathrow (B)

OMAN – Jewel of Arabia

Posted by patricksyder on October 18, 2012
Posted in: Middle East, Oman. Leave a comment

Locals at Barka market
Locals at Barka Fish Market

This fascinating in-depth tour combines breathtaking natural beauty with a well-preserved cultural heritage of one of the least known, yet most exciting tourist destinations of the Middle East. The Sultanate of Oman tour focuses on magnificent forts and palaces, the rolling dunes of the Wahiba Sands, the stunning spectacles of mountain oases and deep canyons as well as pristine white sand beaches and so discovering one of the region’s best-kept secrets. We travel the region in the comfort of air conditioned 4WD Toyota Landcruisers allowing for a more flexible and personalised trip. Also there is the opportunity to extend your visit with a three night stay in the southern city of Salalah.

ITINERARY
Day 1 Fly to Muscat
Evening departure from London Heathrow direct to Muscat with Oman Air
Day 2 Afternoon City Tour of Muscat
Morning arrival and transfer to the Park Inn hotel. Spend the afternoon in Muscat sightseeing, including Muttrah, a delightful quarter of Muscat, complete with a traditional souq with narrow alleys and the aromas of incense plus the old town of Muscat that houses the Palace of Sultan Qaboos and the Portugese fortresses of Jabali and Merani. We also visit the Bait Al Zubhair museum, which houses a fine collection of Omani artefacts. Welcome dinner in a traditional local restaurant (B,D)
Day 3 Drive to Nizwa. Visit Bahla Fort and Jabrin Castle
We drive to Nizwa with a spectacular drive through the Hajar Mountains via the oases of Fanjah and Birkat Al Mauz. We visit the Nizwa souk, famous for its Bedouin silver jewellery. We also see the impressive 17th century fort. We stop in Bahla to view the UNESCO listed Fort before reaching Jabrin with its fine castle. Two nights at the Golden Tulip hotel in Nizwa with dinner (B,D)
Day 4 Day excursion to Jebel Shams
Boarding comfortable 4WD vehicles and taking a picnic lunch with us, we head north through the mountains under the craggy peaks of the Jebel Akhdar to the village of Misfah set into the mountainside where houses cling to the rocky escarpment. Our journey ends at Jebel Shams (Mountain of the Sun) at 3,000 m, the country’s highest peak, with astonishing views down Oman’s very own ‘Grand Canyon’. We return to Nizwa in the late afternoon (B,L,D)
Day 5 Visit Wadi Bani Khaled and the Wahiba Sands
This morning we continue in our 4WD’s via Sinaw, a market town with a thriving souq and camel market and the village of Mudairib to see its traditional watchtowers. We continue to thebeautiful green oasis of Wadi Bani Khalid, and have a picnic lunch around its clear green natural spring water pools. From here we drive into a vast sea of sand covering about 15,000 square kilometres, the Wahiba Sands. These great dunes rise to 100 metres in height with a red base and a honey coloured top creating an alluring landscape of changing contours and colours. We enjoy an exhilarating drive across these vast dunes before arriving at our night stop, the Safari Desert Camp, a Bedouin encampment, where we have an unforgettable night under the stars enjoying traditional Arabic and Omani cuisine and hospitality in comfortable surroundings (B,L,D)
Day 6 Coastal drive to Sur. Visit dhow boat yard and old town
We continue through the desert this morning, heading north. In spite of its barren feel the sands contain a phenomenal amount of life. As well as the Bedouin, they are home to wolf, fox, wild cats and white-tailed mongooses. Some 115 species of birds have been recorded here and its one of the few refuges for the elusive Arabian and Sand Gazelles. From the Wahiba, we enter Sur, a picturesque fishing town famous for its traditional Dhow boat building. Overnight at the Sur Plaza with dinner (B,D)
Day 7 Visit Qalhat, Finns Beach and walk in Wadi Shaab
Leaving Sur behind, we drive north in our 4WD vehicles following the coastal road north to Muscat. We stop at the archaeological site at Qalhat before we reach Wadi Shaab, a beautiful oasis of freshwater pools. After an option to walk in the wadi, we continue to Quriyat a picturesque fishing village with beautiful white sand beach and providing the perfect picnic stop with a chance for a swim. Arriving into Muscat in the late afternoon we transfer to the Park Inn for two nights. Dinner at the hotel (B,L,D)
Day 8 Visit Sultan Qaboos Mosque and Nakhl Fort
We start the day with a visit to the newly built Sultan Qaboos mosque, a splendour of Islamic architecture. We then have a day excursion outside the capital stopping at Barka to visit a fish market and the Palace of the Imams, continuing through the Batinah Plains, the main agricultural area of Oman. We stop at Nakhl oasis to visit its impressive fort and at the natural warm springs of Thowarah. A farewell dinner has been arranged at a local restaurant (B,D)
Day 9 Fly to London
After a leisurely breakfast or some final shopping time we transfer to Muscat airport for our Oman Air flight direct to London Heathrow Terminal 3 arriving in the early evening (B)