Kingdoms and Crusades
The Middle East is a complex interwoven tapestry of colour, culture, politics and history. This tour takes you to a time of kingdoms, crusades and ancient civilisations. It explores the Arabian Middle East in depth. Starting in Amman and moving on to Syria with its wealth of ancient cities, you can opt to cross the snow-capped peaks of Lebanon to visit the Roman city of Balbeck and Beirut before returning to Jordan, to Jerash, the Dead Sea and Petra, the Red Rose city, and on to Egypt and the Ancient Egyptians.
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Details |
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Price Includes |
(OE-3292-P) |
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Fully Escorted Tour - Kumuka Tour Leader and Driver |
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All Activities, Sightseeing + Entrance Fees as Per Itinerary |
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All Meals whilst Camping |
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All Tolls and Taxes |
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Accomodation |
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Price Excludes |
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Flights, Local Payment 400 USD, All optional excursions, visas and meals unless otherwise stated in the itinerary. |
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Suitability / Level |
Easy |
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Theme |
Small Group Travel
(Click to Search All) |
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Itinerary
& Highlights |
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Days 1-2: Amman to Aleppo. Leaving Amman at approx. 08.00am we overnight in Damascus before heading to Aleppo. At first sight Aleppo appears to have no other purpose than to fill a dip in the landscape. It competes with Damascus for being the longest continually inhabited city in the world and can boast a commensurate level of culture and history. The recorded history alone goes back to the early second millennium BC! Aleppo’s covered ‘souq’ (market) is the best in Syria and goods range from beautiful antique carpets to fresh cow’s heads.
Days 3-4: Crac des Chevaliers and Palmyra. From Aleppo we visit the Crac des Chevaliers, an old crusaders castle once described by Lawrence of Arabia as ‘the finest castle in the world’. The castle itself is in very good condition and mostly intact, it was the castle that ‘Richard the Lionhearted’ was based. Our visit to the Crac last for approx 2hrs and is accompanied by a local guide. We camp at the site just near the Crac. The following day we drive to Palmyra to visit another set of impressive ruins. Palmyra is the most easterly part of the Roman Empire. They never really wanted to go but Hadrian enjoyed travel and when Palmyra decided to challenge the authority of Rome he decided to head over and ransack the place. A lot of restoration work has been done since and it’s in remarkably good condition. The site itself covers 12 square kms and there is a lot to see. For the real historian there is the option of visiting the Temple of Bell, which is equally well preserved, or to visit a family tomb. At Palmyra we stay the night in the desert except when storms prevent this then we will use a small Hotel in the new town with en suite facilities. Our visit to Palmyra lasts approx 3 hrs and uses the services of a local guide.
Days 5-7: Damascus, Jerash and Amman. The next morning we drive for approximately 5 hours to the ancient city of Damascus where we stay at the local campsite or hostel for 2 nights. Damascus is generally considered to have just pipped Aleppo to the post as the world’s oldest constantly inhabited city (5,000 years). Three years after the death of Mohammed, Damascus fell to the Muslim Arab army, ending a thousand years of rule by western powers as diverse as Egypt, Greece and Rome. In 1516 Damascus fell under Turkish rule and in 1918 it was the turn of the French. It was only at the end of the Second World War that Damascus actually became the capital of an independent Syria. The oldest city in the world then, is a fairly new political entity! Constant upheaval has left the Syrians a little security conscious. At any one time in Syria you can see at least 100 pictures of the president. We spend a free day in Damascus, which can be spent looking around the city, or an optional day trip to Beirut is available. This trip departs at 7 am and returns at midnight. Included in the cost are a Guide, the ruins at Balbeck (tallest columns in the world), visas, lunch and a tour of Beirut city. All transport to/from the Campsite is also included. Dinner is spent usually at the Hard Rock Café and is not included, as are their T-shirts, which are US$15. (Please note, security and safety will be taken into account before the trip to Lebanon is offered as an option. The region does occasionally become a little unsettled.)
From Damascus we drive to Amman via the impressive archaeological site of Jerash. Jerash is one of the impressive and best-preserved provincial Roman cities in the Middle East. The inhabitants were quite cultured and quite well off, resulting in lavish architectural designs principally in the ‘oriental baroque style’. Other interesting features include chariot tracks etched into the pavement and the famous moving columns (you can put your finger into one of the lower joints and actually feel them swaying – not recommended for violinists or during earthquakes). Amman is the capital of Jordan – bustling, big and largely unplanned. Supposedly designed as a series of circles it is virtually impossible to find your way around from the maps or to recognise anything remotely resembling circularity. It is however, great fun being lost in Amman, which, all things considered, is fairly fortunate. Amman boasts all the healthy eating options of home – Big Macs, Pizza Hut, Subway and KFC. There is a good Safeway supermarket, which, rather surprisingly for a Muslim country, actually has bacon for sale and lots of other western goods. We stay at a comfortable hotel in the centre of town in triple rooms with shared facilities. There is an Internet café in the lobby.
Days 8-10: Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba. We leave Amman and head down to the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea. The high salinity of the sea makes swimming great fun and swallowing repulsive. The extra density provided by the salt means that it takes very little effort to stay afloat. Those unfortunate enough to have the odd open wound tend to yelp a bit at first, but the therapeutic properties of the water make it worthwhile in the end. Mud baths are also possible and are also reputed to have therapeutic qualities showers are available. We then continue towards Petra staying for two nights in a town called Wadi Musa, hotel accommodation (twins with en-suites). Wadi Musa is reputed to be the place where Moses struck the rock and found water for his people or so the locals say. Many historians now believe that this event actually took place at Mt Sinai in Egypt. In fairness it is possible that Moses made a habit of striking rocks and producing water and that striking one rock in Egypt does not preclude the striking of another at Wadi Musa. Moses’s brother is also reputed buried here up on the hill behind the hotel. The name Wadi means Water and Musa means Moses. Wadi Musa is our base for exploring the famous archaeological site of Petra, the city that the Nabateans carved out of rock. We spend 2 nights in Wadi Musa, which allows us a full day to visit Petra.
The only way in which to see Petra is by foot so people should come prepared to do a lot of walking. Special shoes are not a requirement; it’s up to the individual. We usually enter Petra as early as possible as it can get very hot around midday, the day at Petra although tiring is well worth the effort and a full day is enough time.
Leaving Petra behind, we head into the desert for the spectacular scenery of Wadi Rum. The unusual desert scenery of Wadi Rum is as impressive as when it humbled Lawrence of Arabia in 1917 and is virtually unspoilt. We hire four-wheel drive jeeps to go right out into the desert. This is a 3-hour excursion that visits impressive rock bridges as well as some of T E Lawrence's old hideaways. Leaving Wadi Rum and the desert we head to Aqaba, the port of Jordan on the Red Sea – a bustling three-way border with Israel and Egypt.
Depending on ferry times we will either stay in Wadi Rum under the stars or in the bustling city of Aqaba.
Day 11-14: Sinai, Dahab and Cairo. Leaving Aqaba we cross the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea and enter Egypt at the port of Nuweiba this crossing is done by ferry and takes 4 hrs, on paper! In reality the trip on the water does take 4 hrs but leaving the port can also take a few hours, as does entering the port in Egypt. This ferry can also suffer delays during Ramadan and the Haj (the annual pilgrimage to Mecca). We then head into the Sinai to visit Mt Sinai. Mt Sinai is where Moses reputedly saw the ‘burning bush’, which he considered to be a sign. Prompted by this he climbed the mountain returning at sunrise with the Ten Commandments. We follow in his footsteps – returning at sunrise but probably without any commandments. However, the dawn views compensate a little for the lack of religious revelation. After visiting Mt Sinai we head to the small coastal resort of Dahab. The primary reason for this visit is to enable people an opportunity to dive at the Red Sea. For those not wishing to dive there is a lot to do around the town whether it’s lying on a beach or visiting a local market. The diving in Dahab is excellent for both experienced divers and novices alike. If you already have your PADI certificate, diving costs USD $35 per dive and you must bring your certificate (PADI) and a current diving log. If you have forgotten your diving log, then you will have to take a ‘check up dive’ to make sure that you can dive. This costs USD $25. For non-certificate holders there is the option of an introductory beginner’s dive for USD $45. We continue across the Sinai Peninsula the following day as we drive to Cairo via the Suez Canal. It is no longer possible to see the actual canal for security purposes, but we still see ships as if they are cruising through the desert and cross the canal by a short tunnel.
Days 15-18: Cairo and the Western Desert. Cairo is the largest city in Africa with between 12 and 18 million inhabitants – nobody is sure, but there are quite a few. Driving is an experience, as it appears that Egyptian vehicle inspectors are fairly lenient and that the only roadworthy requirement on the cars is a workable horn, which must be continuously tested. The city itself is fascinating. Apart from the rich history, there are good markets, restaurants, banks and even a metro (underground railway). In typical Egyptian style, there are no maps of the underground so you will have to ask the tourist police. Our first stop in Cairo takes us to the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. Though fairly overrun with tourists, it is still an extremely impressive sight. A trip to Cairo would be incomplete without a visit to these two sacred sights. There is a guided tour included at the Pyramids. From the pyramids we head into the western desert for 3 days to visit some oases and experience desert life. This unique experience is 1300 kms long and passes through the White and Black deserts and visits 3 oases towns. Travelling through the desert we camp under the stars for 2 nights (no faculties) and on a rooftop for the third night. It is important to have warm clothing, as well as swim wear, as between November and May the desert gets cold. Our route leads us South, arriving in the city of Luxor late on the fourth day we stay at a hotel in the centre of Luxor, once known as Thebes.
Days 19-21: Luxor and Hurghada. We spend the next morning visiting the amazing Temples of Karnak and Luxor, where we have a guided tour. Karnak is an outstanding temple, with huge columns, walls covered with hieroglyphics, and Sphinx Avenue. In the afternoon we make the 5-hour journey to the coastal resort town of Hurghada on the Red Sea. Here we stay in a hotel and have the option of a boat trip on the Red Sea, which includes lunch and snorkelling equipment, there is the option to scuba dive, we suggest that this is only for experienced divers as the dives are from the boat. We return to Luxor after our two-night stop in Hurghada, once back in Luxor you can have a free afternoon wandering around market stalls and along the banks of the Nile. The next day in Luxor is spent on the West Bank of the Nile at the Valley of the Kings and Queens. We include entry into the Valley of the Kings allowing you to visit three tombs of your choice. Most people visit the tombs that the Egyptologist suggests as they spend their life in tombs and know which ones are the best. There is also Tutanhkamoun’s tomb which is unfortunately an optional extra, the reasons for this is that the Egyptian government tends to open and close this due to the recorded humidity levels and so we cannot guarantee it will be open. We also have the option of visiting the beautiful three-tiered temple of Hatshepsut one of the only women pharaohs of ancient Egypt. The entrance fee to the Valley of the Queens is also included in the trip cost. This entry covers the two tombs but not the third, which is Nefertari’s tomb, which has spectacular colours. Once again it opens and closes with humidity. This tomb when open allows only 150 people per day entry, and so Kumuka is unable to guarantee entry to this tomb. The reason tombs close for humidity is because the moisture in peoples’ breath encourages growth in the salt content of the stones causing the coloured sections to flake off.
Days 22-26: Luxor to Aswan and Feluccas. From Luxor we head south, catching a train to the city of Aswan. Our first afternoon in Aswan is when we visit Phile Temple. We go via the Aswan dam wall before taking the short boat ride to Phile Temple. The following morning is when excursions can be made to Abu Simbel. There are currently two options for this trip to be made, either by air or coach. The cost of the flight is USD $100 including all transfers, Egypt air flight and guide. The coach journey takes approximately 4 hours each way, and costs USD $25 including services of a guide. We also have the chance to take a boat to Kitcheners Island, this is a botanical garden and it is very pleasant to stroll between the trees after spending 3 days in the desert.
After 2 nights at Aswan we board a felucca. A felucca is a traditional Egyptian sailboat of the type that has plied the Nile for centuries. Travelling in this way is one of the best ways to get a taste for the timeless nature of this ancient river. We sail north towards Luxor sleeping under the stars in the warm Egyptian night. During the voyage we will visit the Temple of Kom Ombo and Edfu. The felucca is inclusive and lasts for 2 days (2 nights).
Days 27-28: Luxor to Cairo. On disembarking from the feluccas we make our way to Luxor we board a night train back to Cairo. This train is 2nd class coach and is comfortable. The train will arrive back into Cairo approximately 07.00am in the morning. On our final day of the tour in Cairo, we visit the Egyptian Museum for a guided tour. The museum is home to millions of artefacts, mummies and reclaimed artworks alongside the extremely impressive Tutanhkamoun exhibition. The trip ends in Cairo after visiting Cairo Museum. NO accommodation included on Day 28. |
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Accommodation
& Centre Details |
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-Camping/Hotels (27 Nights)
CAMPING - Overland Expeditions.Camping is always great fun and our vehicles are loaded with all the first class equipment needed. Campsites vary from established sites with all facilities to the occasional roadside stop or rooftop or free camp. We use large two person tents and if you come alone, we’ll team you up with another group member. Camping during the heat of the summer months, especially in Egypt, may involve sleeping on big mats under the stars, as the evening temperatures are still too hot to be in tents. You will be given the choice however to erect a tent if you so wish.
Please Note: You will need to provide your own sleeping bag and sleeping mat.
HOTELS - Overland Expeditions. We choose our hotels, guesthouses and hostels for their location, comfort, security and hygiene standards. All are located near the city centre usually within easy walking distance of services and facilities. Most rooms are on a twin, double or triple share basis with private bathrooms, however, occasionally, bathrooms may be shared or larger apartments used by several members of the group. Most rooms do not have air conditioning.
Accommodation is not included in the city of departure or arrival unless within the specified tour dates. |
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Holidays
Extras |
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| Trip: |
Kingdoms and Crusades |
| Duration: |
28 Days |
| Company: |
Kumuka Worldwide
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| Location: |
Amman |
| Region: |
Jordan,
Middle East |
| Price: |
From
GBP695
p/p |
| Flights: |
Not Included 
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| Availability: |
January, February, March, May, July, September, October, November, December, |
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| Related Searches |
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| Overland Tours in Jordan |
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