Back to Macleay Valley Travel Homepage

20 Day Conducted Tour to Jordan, Syria,
Lebanon and Eastern Turkey
       
Middle East and
Fertile Crescent Tour

For only $6,285
per person twin share

This price includes airport taxes and levies of $115

Tour departs Australia October 14 and returns November 2, 2010
This great price covers all of the following:
 If you do not have a travel partner but wish to travel at twin share rates we will do our best to match you up with another person, but this is not guaranteed. For a single room there will be an extra charge of $825.

Note: There is an optional post-tour extension of Western Turkey for $1375 per person twin share and an additional $355 for a single room. Please see the itinerary below for further details.

Tour Itinerary

Optional extension to West Turkey

Terms and Conditions
Booking Form

Top of Page

  Itinerary for Jordan, Syria & Eastern Turkey Tour - October 2010
Included meals are indicated as B = Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner
14.10.10 Depart Sydney at 9.50pm on EY 455, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 5.40am the next morning.
Depart Melbourne at 11.15pm on EY 461, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 6.35am the next morning.
15.10.10
(D)		 Abu Dhabi - Amman (Jordan)
All passengers depart Abu Dhabi at 8.35am on EY 513, arriving in Amman at 9.45am.
After passport control, you will be transferred to your hotel where there will be time to relax and rest.
16.10.10
(B/D)		 Amman - Petra
In the morning you will drive to Petra. On the way you will visit Madaba to see a Byzantine archaeological park and visit Mount Nebo, which features a beautiful view of the Jordan valley. You will also visit Kerak to see the ruins of a fortress built by the Crusaders. Arrive in Petra and dinner will be at the hotel.
17.10.10
(B/D)		 Petra 
Today you will take a full day tour of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven new wonders of the world. This city was carved into sandstone, Rock Mountains and was a stop along ancient trade routes. You will also see Al Khazneh (meaning 'The Treasury'), which is a detailed ruin built into a cliff. Late in the afternoon you will return to your hotel. Dinner will be at the  hotel.
 
18.10.10
(B/L/D)		 Wadi Rum - Amman
After breakfast you will drive to Wadi Rum. After a jeep safari and lunch at Bedouin tent, you then drive to Amman, where you will take a city tour. Dinner will be at the hotel.
19.10.10
(B/D)		 Amman - Damascus (Syria)
After breakfast you will drive to Jerash, which is a vast Greco-Roman city ruin that we will explore. Here you will visit the Artemis Temple, the Oval Palace, the Temple of Zeus and much more. If time permits you will also drive to Bosra. In the afternoon, you drive to the border that divides Syria and Jordan. Entering Syria you will drive to Damascus to check into the hotel. Dinner will be at the hotel.
20.10.10
(B/D)		 Damascus
On this day you will spend a full day touring Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world. Among the many things you will visit the Damascus Museum, the Azem Palace, Omayyad Mosque, the Tomb of Salhdine, Hananya Chapel, St Paul's Church and old town Damascus. If time permits, you will visit the beautiful Hijaz Railway Station, which was built by Ottomans. You will then enjoy a panoramic view of Damascus from the Qassioun Mountains. Dinner in Damascus.
21.10.10
(B/D)		 Damascus - Ballbeck (Lebanon)
Leave early in the morning where you take a day trip to Lebanon. After crossing the border, you will visit Ballbeck to see ancient Greek and Roman ruins. Some of the places you will visit are the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Baccus and the Temple of Venus. You also visit the Great Court and tour an underground tunnel, which houses many artifacts. Late in the afternoon you will drive back to Damascus. Arrive early in the evening at the hotel. Dinner will be at the hotel.
22.10.10
(B/D)		 Damascus - Palmyra
On the way to Palmyra, you will stop at Seydnaya to visit the Convent of Our Lady, which has a portrait of the Virgin Mary believed to have been painted by Saint Luke. You will also stop in Maaloula where you will see the St Thecla Convent and the St Sergius Convent, which is one of the oldest Greek churches in the world. The residents of this small village speak Aramaic, the language of Christ. Arrive in Palmyra, you will check into the hotel. Dinner will be at the hotel.
23.10.10
(B/D)		 Palmyra
You will spend a full day exploring Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and see among other things the Palmyra Museum, the Palmyra Theatre, the Bel Temple, the Temple of Baal Shamin, the Tetraplyon and the Valley of Tombs. In the evening you will have dinner in a Bedouin tent with a Bedouin traditional folk dance and music show.
24.10.10
(B/D)		 Palmyra - Aleppo
Today you will depart Palmyra to visit the well preserved Castle of the Knights (Le Crac Des Chevaliers), a fortress built by the French Crusaders, which was overtaken by Sultan Baybars in 1271. From the top of its towers, there is a beautiful panoramic view of the Mediterranean. You will spend the night in Aleppo. Dinner will be at the hotel.
25.10.10
(B)		 Aleppo
After breakfast you will have a full day city tour in Aleppo, visit the Aleppo Archaeological Museum, the Aleppo Citadel, the Omayyad Mosque, the Great Mosque and ancient bazaars. You will visit the St Simeon Monastery and Qalb Lozeh (Heart of Almond in Arabic) where you will see its beautiful church before returning to Aleppo. Dinner will be at the Sisi House Restaurant, a well known restaurant located in a 300 year old building in the Christian district of Aleppo.
26.10.10
(B/D)		 Aleppo - Gaziantep
Early in the morning you will drive to the Syrian - Turkish border and drive into Turkey to Gaziantep, an old merchant city. In Gaziantep, you will visit the many bazaars and handicraft alley where many of Turkey's famous crafts are made. Dinner will be at the hotel.
27.10.10
(B/D)		 Gaziantep - Urfa
In the morning you will visit the Mosaic Museum where we will see the famous gypsy girl mosaic among others found in Zeugma. Afterwards, you will drive to Urfa on the way will take a boat tour to the sunken city of Halfeti and seeing the endangered bird of Anatolia (Ibis).
28.10.10
(B/D)		 Urfa (Gobekli Tepe)
Today you will explore the Urfa, the birthplace of the prophet Abraham. You will visit nearby Harran and see the incredible beehive houses. Harran, according to the Bible, was the site where the prophet Abraham lived with his family for several years before moving to Israel, the Promised Land. You will also visit the holy sites at Ainzelha, a lake with domesticated fish. There are exceptional photo opportunities in this area. You will also visit Gobekli Tepe. Gobekli Tepe is lately a discovered archaeological site. It is a 14,000 years old temple complex and studies in this site have changed the known history of humankind.
29.10.10
30.10.10
(B)		 Urfa - Istanbul
Early in the morning you will fly to Istanbul.
Istanbul, once called Byzantium in the 7th century B.C., was renamed Constantinople in 326 A.D. by Constantine the Great when he moved the capital of the Roman Empire to what is now Istanbul. Istanbul received its current name from Mehmet II in 1453 and is the only city in the world that spans two continents. Here you will visit several of Turkey's most famous museums and mosques.

Topkapi Palace was first built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453 and was the home of the Sultan until the 19th century. St Sophia was built by the Roman Emperor Justinian and was completed in 537 A.D. It was the largest Christian church in the world for more than 1000 years. The Blue Mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet in 1603 and was constructed with the deliberate intention of rivaling the St Sophia. You will also visit the spice market, the Rustem Pasha Mosque with its exceptional titles and the impressive mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent.
31.10.10
(B)		 Istanbul
Morning free in Istanbul. Transfer to Istanbul International Airport, departing at 1.45pm on EY 096, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 7.55pm. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your Abu Dhabi Hotel.
01.11.10
(B)		 Abu Dhabi
A free day in Abu Dhabi. Transfer to Abu Dhabi Airport.
Sydney passengers depart at 10.25pm on EY 454, arriving in Sydney at 7.30pm (02.11.10).
Melbourne passengers depart at 10.35pm on EY 460, arriving in Melbourne at 7.15pm.
Top of Page
Optional Extension to Western Turkey - October 2010  
Note: Meals are included in the itinerary as B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner


30.10.10
(B/D)






 This morning you will say farewell to the other Middle East tour members and join with the Western Turkey tour group.
Morning departure to Ankara and after a five hour drive to Ankara, the capital of Turkey since 1923, we will visit the magnificent Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which is also known as Hittite museum. This museum presents relics from Catal Hoyuk, one of the earliest known human communities that existed through the Hittite and the Roman Classical period. We will also pay a visit to the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. 

31.10.10
(B/D)


 Cappadocia
Morning departure to Cappadocia, we will take a morning four-hour drive to Cappadocia. We drive along the Salt Lake. Optional Whirling Dervishes performance is held in 13th century Caravansary. Overnight in Cappadocia. 
01.11.10
(B/D)






 Cappadocia
Optional balloon tour can be done in the morning, flying over volcanic valleys and rock formations (fairy chimneys). After breakfast, we visit Goreme, Pasabagi, Uchisar, Kaymakli or Ozkonak underground city. While in Cappadocia, we will enjoy the unique landscapes of wind and rain eroded volcanic formations. Carved directly into stone, Cappadocia's amazing subterranean cities include ancient underground churches and cities hand-hewn from solid rock by early Christians. We will visit a local pottery workshop and see traditional Hittite ways of shaping red clay.
02.11.10
(B/D)


 Konya
Today we will travel from Cappadocia to Konya. We visit Mevlana Mausoleum and Musem, explore the city of Konya which was a capital of Anatolian Seljuk. Overnight in Konya.
03.11.10 & 04.11.10
(B/D)






 Antalya
Today we drive to Antalya and see the Toros Mountains. Antalya is a beautiful and historic city snuggled between the Mediterranean Sea and the Toros Mountains. During our stay in Antalya, we will tour the city as well as visit the ruined sites of Aspendos and Perge. Aspendos dates back to the time of the Hittites, yet the only visible remains are from the Roman Period. The restored theater at Aspendos is said to be the best in all of Turkey. Perge reached its height under the Romans and Alexander the Great. Today, what remains are the ruins of a great theater, a stadium and the colonnaded main street. Afternoon we will visit the excellent Antalya Archeology Museum and old city in the harbour.
05.11.10
(B/D)





 Aphoridisia - Pamukkale
We will depart Antalya early and drive to Aphrodisias, the city of art dedicated to the Goddess Aphrodite. Octavian once said that "of all the cities in the world, Aphrodisias is my favourite". The marble theatre here is beautiful and the stadium that seats over 35,000 is immense. It is also the largest in the world and the best preserved. Aphrodisias was a center to cultivate the finest sculptors, whose works are found all over the Roman Empire. After Aphrodisias we will continue to Pamukkale.
06.11.10
(B/D)




 Kusadasi
Morning departure to Kusadasi, we will visit another Greco-Roman city "Hierapolis". It has an incredible necropolis (city of the dead) and we will see many sarcophagi (burial monuments). We will visit the snow-like travertine of calcium for which Pamukkale is famous. Pamukkale is one of the natural wonders of the world, beautiful mineral springs, clinging to the hillsides that willl amaze you. Afternoon we will arrive to Kusadasi.
07.11.10
(B/D)




 Ephesus - Kusadasi
Full day tour starts visiting the incredible city of Ephesus and its colossal Greco-Roman Theater where St. Paul preached. This particular theater is still used for performances today. The Marble Road, the Celsus Library and the Temple of Diana are just a few of the sites we will visit. We will also visit the house where St. Mary liver her final days. (After the crucifixion of Jesus, St. John brought her to Ephesus).
08.11.10
(B/D)





 Peragmum - Troy - Canakkale
During a scenic three-hour drive up the Aegean Coast, we will stop in Pergamon to see the Asklepion, an ancient hospital complex. Then, we will drive three-hours to Canakkale, where we will visit the legendary city of Troy. Here, we will have the opportunity to see a replica of the Trojan horse. To date nine different Troy's have been discovered, all built one on top of the other. While in Canakkale we will stay at the hotel which overlooks the Dardanelles and Gallipoli across the Straits.
09.11.10
(B)


 Dardanelles - Gallipoli - Istanbul
Morning departure to Gallipoli and across the Dardenlle visit Anzac Cove, Chunuk Bair, Lone pine cemetery and Gallipoli War Museum. We will drive to Istanbul in the afternoon. Overnight is in Istanbul.
10.11.10
(B)




 Transfer to the Istanbul International Airport with the West Turkey tour members.
Depart Istanbul at 1:45pm on EY 096, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 7:55pm.
Sydney passengers depart Abu Dhabi at 10:25pm on EY 454, arriving in Sydney at 7:30pm (11.11.10).
Melbourne passengers depart Abu Dhabi at 10:35pm on EY 460, arriving in Melbourne at 7:15pm (11.11.10)
Note:


 After deducting the value of the missed day in Istanbul and the Abu Dhabi stop-over from the Middle East tour, the extra cost of doing the West Turkey extension is $1375 per person twin share plus an additional $355 for a single room. 
Top of Page


Conditions for Macleay Valley Travel's Jordan, Syria & Eastern Turkey Tour - October 2010

Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $400.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 10 weeks prior to departure. 
Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.
Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.
Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.Visa are required for Turkey. Current cost is $25.00 USD which is obtained on arrival at the Syrian/ Turkey border. Visas are also required for Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, but their cost is included in the tour price. There will be an extra charge of $8.00 USD for Jordanian departure tax and Syria will charge $12.00 USD departure tax at both the Lebanon and Turkey borders. These prices can be subject to change.
Basic Tour Price and Taxes -  Air taxes and fuel levies are included in the basic tour price, therefore, as air taxes change regularly the exact amount will be advised at time of final payment. Total tour cost may therefore change by a small amount. Any alterations to the airflights may incur a fee.
Not Included in the Cost - All items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals, (except those specified in the itinerary), travel insurance etc. 
Health and Fitness
Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour.  Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.
Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of out tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affiars (fair trading) department.Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies. 
Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.
Top of Page