ESCORTED SMALL GROUP TOUR
Trip Length: 11 days
Trip Dates:
March 22-April 1, 2011
9 nights in First Class hotels | 18 meals
2010 Rates: from $3695 double | $4595 single
Beirut/Amman & International Airfare are additional.
EXTEND YOUR TRIP
TIMELESS ISRAEL TOUR
| FLY USA to Beirut | |
| Arrival in Beirut | |
| Beirut City & the ancient town of Byblos | |
| Beirut for Tyre & Sidon | |
| Beirut for Anjar & the Roman Baalbek. | |
| Fly Beirut / Amman. Amman City Tour | |
| Amman for Jerash & Aljoun Castle | |
| Amman - Madaba - Mt Nebo - Dead Sea | |
| Dead Sea - Petra | |
| Petra | |
| Petra - Amman - USA or TIMELESS ISRAEL tour |
New York Times
Beirut, The Provincetown of the Middle East - August 2, 2009
In Beirut, Raw Materials Meet Magic - December 27, 2009
Byblos, Lebanon’s Ancient Port, Is Reborn - January 3, 2010
Lebanon was off the tourist route the past few decades as civil war waged in the streets of Beirut and around the tiny country. Most recently in a row with Israel, the center of Beirut was destroyed. Calm now prevails and tourism is back as is a new Beirut – and a spectacular new city center. Once known as the ‘Paris of the East’, Beirut commands a magnificent position, thrust into the Mediterranean. Behind the city are towering mountains, visible when the traffic haze settles down. The Corniche seafront boasts beaches, restaurants, theaters and a dazzling variety of shops and restaurants. The New York Times called Beirut “The Provincetown of the Middle East”, because it has several gay bars and a generally tolerant attitude for a Muslim country. In addition to exploring the rich historical sites of Lebanon, you may wish to check out the famous nightlife while you are there. Our program encompasses the most important historical sites of Lebanon before setting off for Jordan, where Biblical, Roman & Crusader history marks every mile of the Royal country. Set on the ancient crossroads between Arabia and the Mediterranean Sea, Jordan is full of historic sites. Crusaders' forts along old trade routes and ancient cities carved from stone will captivate anyone in search of the past. And while the land might be ancient, Jordan's cities offer the modern conveniences that help make our trip to the past a little less demanding.
Depart the USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Beirut.
Upon arrival at Beirut airport, you will be met by Coda’s representatives who will assist you to your transfer. Transfer to the hotel in Beirut.
Hotel: Hotel Coral Suites 4*
Room: Standard
Meals: No Meals
After breakfast, this morning, depart for a sightseeing tour of the capital of Lebanon, Beirut. Here history reveals a long string of invasions since the early Phoenicians settled here in the Bronze Age. Drive along the seashore Corniche to the picturesque Pigeon Rock. Continue through Hamra commercial district to the National Museum and Martyr’s Square. Continue to Byblos, the oldest continually inhabited town in the world. Visit the Souks, ramparts, citadel, Church of St. John the Baptist Church, begun in 1115 AD and the Roman amphitheater. Return to Beirut. This evening we will gather for a welcome dinner.
Hotel: Hotel Coral Suites 4*
Room: Standard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Welcome Dinner
Depart on a full day tour of Sidon and Tyre. Travel south via Damour, to the site of Sidon. Enjoy a visit to the Sea Castle built by the crusaders, and the souks before proceeding to Tyre (which was previously an island.) Here, the main points of interest are the Arc de Triumph, the Hippodrome and the excavation from Crusader, Roman, Greek and Byzantine eras. Visit the Temple of Eschmoun on the return to Beirut.
Hotel: Hotel Coral Suites 4*
Room: Standard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive through the Mount Lebanon via the Beka’a Valley to explore Anjar, a fortified city dating back to the Umayyad period (661-750 AD.) Continue to Baalbek, arguably the most important Roman site in the Middle East. Tour the site, including the Temples of Jupiter and Bacchus. Return to Beirut for overnight.
Hotel: Hotel Coral Suites 4*
Room: Standard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Fly to Amman. When you arrive at Queen Alia International Airport, Coda’s representative will be there to assist you with visas, luggage, and customs. Transfer to the hotel. This afternoon, visit Amman, including the Citadel, the Archaeological Museum, the Roman Theatre and on to visit Darat al Funun. Darat al Funun is a home for the arts and the artists of Jordan and the Arab World. Overlooking the heart of Amman, Darat al Funun is housed in three historical residences built in the 1920’s alongside the remains of a 6th-century Byzantine church. Afterwards, walk through the oldest part of Amman located in “Jabal Amman” the 1st circle, where most of the houses of the well known families of Amman were living or are still living there today. Most of the houses were built in the 1920’s or 1930’s.
Hotel: Intercontinental Hotel Amman
Room: Standard
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today our depart for a full day excursion to Jerash and Ajloun. Sometimes called the Pompeii of the East, Jerash flourished in the first century AD and thrived by trade due to the benefits of the “Pax Romana”.
Located north of Amman in the biblical land of Gilead lies this city sheltered in a fertile and well-watered valley. At its height, Jerash was home to over 25,000 people. Theatres and temples were continuously added as the city thrived under the Roman Empire. In 330 AD Emperor Constantine announced that Christianity would be the new religion of the Roman Empire’s eastern half and Jerash fell into the newly formed Byzantine segment. A spate of building ensued, some temples were transformed to churches and many new churches were erected, with mosaic floors similar to those found at Madaba. The massive ruins are spread over a large area divided and crisscrossed by colonnaded streets whose pavements still show the grooves of chariot wheels.
Enjoy lunch in Jerash and then continue on to Ajloun. Visit the castle of Ajloun “Al Rabad Castle”. Qalat er-Rabad, the name in Arabic, is located on a high peak overlooking the city of Ajloun. According to Salah-Eddin biographer, this castle was built between 1184 and 1185 by one of the Salah-Eddin nephews to oppose the Crusaders castles of Kerak and Shobak.
Hotel: Intercontinental Hotel Amman
Room: Standard
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast and hotel checkout, depart Amman for a full day excursion along the Kings’ Highway and on to Petra for overnight.
Drive to Mount Nebo, the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Holy Land but not allowed to enter it. Nowadays the mountain is a memorial site. Here is the “Church of Moses”, built by the first Christians. Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrimage. Like Moses, you can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometres away.
Continue to Madaba. South of Amman proudly stands the “City of Mosaics” Madaba, perched on an archaeological site with more than 4,000 years of history buried beneath it. The quality and quantity of mosaic flooring has made Madaba one of the most prominent cities in the world for mosaics. St. George’s Church houses the world famous mosaic floor depicting a large mosaic map of Palestine. Centrally located on this mosaic floor is a detailed map of Jerusalem as it was during the sixth century AD. At the Church of the Apostles, at the southern entrance of the city, is a mosaic floor attributed to the craftsman Salamanios, depicting the sea, with the central figure of a woman encircled with a selection of creatures, vegetation and an inscription.
Drive to the Dead Sea. Check in and the balance of the day at leisure.
Dead Sea, at 400-meter’s below sea level, the Dead Sea is infinite in what it has to offer. Ever since the days of Herod the Great, people have flocked to the Dead Sea in search of its curative secrets. Due to high annual temperatures, low humidity and high atmospheric pressure, the air is extremely oxygenous, and the high content of oxygen and magnesium in the air make breathing a lot easier. With the highest content of minerals and salts in the world, the Dead Sea water possesses anti-inflammatory properties, and the dark mud found on the shores have been used for over 2000 years for therapeutic purposes. Enjoy a Farewell Dinner this evening together with fellow travelers.
Hotel: Movenpick Dead Sea
Room Standard
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Drive to Petra. Enjoy the morning for a swim in the Dead Sea. After lunch, drive to Petra. En route, visit the Crusaders Castle of Kerak. Kerak lays 120 kilometers south of Amman and was the last stop on the Kings’ Way to Petra. Already capital of the Moab reign, Kerak was chosen by the Crusaders to build their stronghold because it was built over a promontory overlooking the valley 360°, it was mid-way between Jerusalem and Shobak, another Crusader castle.
Built by Payen le Bouteiller starting from 1142, it could compete with Syria’s Crac des Chevalier.
After Salah-Eddin conquered it, it was amply rebuilt and enlarged. A steep drop of the terrain naturally protects the south and north sides and a ditch surrounded the castle. Today’s access is in the north wall. Living rooms, storage rooms, courts, stairs and turrets are still largely visible and give an idea of how mighty this fortification was in its heydays. Never inhabited by a court, but mainly a defensive stronghold, the different utilities are still clearly identifiable.
Hotel: Movenpick Petra
Room: Standard
Meals: Breakfast
Start the visit with a horse ride from the main gate of Petra to the entrance of the old city and then walk on foot along to visit the rose-red city of Petra.
Nabetean Arabs built the ancient city of Petra from 800 BC to 100 AD. In this era Petra was a fortress carved out of craggy rocks in an area, which was virtually inaccessible. In the first and second century, after the Romans took over, the city reached the peak of its fame.
Petra covers an area of about 100 square kilometers, where over 800 monuments can be found. When shipping slowly displaced caravan routes, the city’s importance gradually dwindled; it fell into disuse and was lost to the world until 1812, when it was re-discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Nowadays Petra is Jordan’s number one tourist attraction, known as the “rose-red city half as old as time”. The Khazneh (the Treasury,) starred in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Hotel: Movenpick Petra
Room: Standard
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to the airport (3 hours) for return flights to the USA or continue on Timeless Israel tour.
Meals: Breakfast
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Al Hamra is perfectly located in the heart of Beirut minutes away from the city’s business and shopping districts. The hotel’s convenient location in the capital, midway between the north and south, offers you the opportunity to explore with ease Lebanon’s rich cultural heritage and vibrant nightlife. With the hotel as a comfortable and luxurious base you can easily visit the city’s marvels and historical sites in a day. |
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Situated atop one of Amman’s seven hills, the hotel is in the heart of the business district, within walking distance of the city centre and a short taxi ride from popular sites such as the Citadel. |
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Located directly at the entrance to the historical Nabatean city of Petra, the luxurious Moevenpick Resort Petra is certainly one of the most notable hotels in the Middle East.. The resort is renowned for its intricate Arabesque interior design, and collection of antiques and artwork. |
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The Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea is found in a traditional village setting nestled amongst lush gardens that serve to restore your well-being and balance. Set on the northern shores of the Dead Sea, the resort and its Spa is an oasis of tranquillity. |
| Double | $3695 |
| Single | $4595 |
| Intra- tour airfare Beirut / Amman |
Approx. $200 |
Visas are required both Lebanon & Jordan. It is possible to obtain a Lebanese & Jordanian visa upon arrival at the airports if both countries. This is the simplest way to get them. If you have an Israeli stamp in your passport, you will not be allowed to enter Lebanon. Please see the bottom of our page for a link to our recommended visa service.
The State Department maintains a travel warning for travel to Lebanon. Please visit Travel.State.Gov to read these warnings. Note that Coda International Tours is not responsible for financial losses incurred as a result of changes in plans or cancellations made as a result of unrest in the area.
None required or recommended. It is recommended you have your regular vaccinations up-to-date before traveling. For further information, visit the Center For Disease Control website.
American Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Air Canada and Air France are among airlines that can be used for this trip. We recommend booking at least 7 months in advance if you want to try to use Frequent Flyer Miles for free tickets or upgrades or the American Express Platinum card 2-4-1 program.
All departures are guaranteed on a minimum of 6 participants. Rates will vary according the final number of participants as indicated in the Tour Rates. A Coda Tour Manager will accompany the group on a minimum of 10 travelers.
The best times to travel in Lebanon & Jordan are Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when the climate is warm but not uncomfortable.
